revenge…

We finally made it back to the manor, but I had to carry both Eris and Sylphie. They were still hurt, their bodies sore from the aftermath of the fight. I couldn't fully heal them, so the pain lingered. I carried Eris to her room first and then Sylphie, but as I tried to let her go, she clung to me.

"Sylphie, you need rest. You're hurt," I said, trying to gently pull away.

She shook her head, her grip tightening. "I want to sleep with you… and only you." Her voice was soft but firm, and she wrapped her arms and legs around me as though she wouldn't let go.

Sighing, I realized Paul might've been right. I had gotten myself into this situation, and now there was no backing out. "Alright, alright. We'll go back to my room."

I made my way back to my room, carrying her all the way, and once there, I lay her down next to me. She held onto me even tighter, her small body snuggling closer. I patted her head, letting my fingers caress her hair, which had grown longer since I last noticed.

"I'm sorry, Sylphie," I said quietly, "You're in pain because of me."

She pouted and, with a mischievous look, hit me gently on the head. "I'm sorry, Rudy," she mimicked, her voice dripping with playful innocence. "You're in pain because of me."

I chuckled. "I guess we're even then."

We both laughed together, the tension in the air melting away for just a moment.

"So, Sylphie," I began, trying to distract us from the stress of the day, "Want to learn the magic I used?"

Her eyes lit up with excitement, her whole face glowing. She nodded rapidly, her enthusiasm contagious. "Yes, yes! That move you did was so strong! I can't wait!"

She looked at me with such admiration, like a fan eager to meet her idol. Even after everything that had happened today, her smile, her laughter it was all so genuine. She was like a beacon of light in my life, always there to pull me out of the darkness.

Sylphie was my family. She was someone I cared about deeply, someone I would protect with my life. I would never trade her for anything in the world.

"I can't wait to show you," I said, cupping her cheeks and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. As I hugged her, I felt her relax into my arms, the weight of the day catching up with her. She fell asleep in my embrace, and I followed shortly after, my mind at ease with her by my side.

The next morning, I woke up early, the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. I decided to start on my sword project, but before I could even make it to the room, I ran into someone I hadn't expected to see Eris's grandfather.

"YOU BOY, RUDEUS!" he bellowed, his voice booming down the hallway.

I quickly dropped to my knees before him. "Yes, my Lord," I said, offering a polite bow, the way I'd seen in novels.

A smile spread across his face, though it was hard to tell if it was out of amusement or something else. "Just call me Sauros," he said, his tone softening. "Are you Paul's son? You seem too polite for someone raised by him.."

I smiled awkwardly, remembering the conversation I'd had with Phillip about this before. "Well, actually, I take more after my mother." I explained it to him, though it wasn't the first time I had to say it.

"Ah, that makes more sense. But I'm here to thank you for saving my granddaughter. I want to repay you in any way I can." His voice held a serious tone as he lowered his head in respect.

"No, no," I said quickly, feeling uncomfortable with the bowing. "Please, sir, lift your head. I could never ask you to bow to me." I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "But there is one request I have."

Sauros raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"

"I want to go to Ars with Ghislaine and Sylphie," I said, my words slow but deliberate. "I want to kill the people who orchestrated everything, the ones behind this whole mess."

I clenched my fist, the image of that walking meatball Darius flashing in my mind. I could barely contain the disgust I felt.

Sauros seemed surprised, his mustache twitching as he stroked it thoughtfully. "Hmm… You know who did it. How did you come by this information?"

I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Before I fought the kidnappers, they mentioned a noble in Ars called Darius. I don't know much about him, but I want him dead."

Sauros's face shifted. His surprise turned into a simmering rage, his body tense. He looked as though he wanted to tear everything apart. It was clear that Darius's actions had crossed a line for him.

"Darius…" Sauros muttered, his voice full of fury. "That man is well-protected. Ghislaine going into Ars alone might raise suspicions."

I could feel his hesitation. This was dangerous, and he knew it.

"That's why I'll bring Eris along," I said quickly, seeing the opening. "Ghislaine will look like she's accompanying her, guarding her. No one will suspect anything."

Sauros's anger flared again, his voice sharp. "Are you mad?"

I had anticipated this. "Don't worry," I said, my confidence unwavering. "Eris will be in good hands. With me, Sylphie, and Ghislaine, we could probably take on an emperor-level threat. Besides, it'll be good for Eris. She'll come back stronger, more disciplined. I'll risk my life to keep her safe. You have my word."

He seemed to weigh my words carefully, as though replaying them in his mind a dozen times. He knew this could give him the chance for revenge, but it also meant putting his granddaughter at risk once more. After a long pause, his gaze hardened.

"I'll let you go," he finally said, his voice quiet but resolute. "But you have three months. You have three months to go there and return. If you don't come back in that time, you're fired."

I nodded, the relief in my chest barely contained. "Give me three days to prepare. Then we'll set off. And don't tell anyone, except for Ghislaine."

With that, I walked away, my mind already set on the task ahead. I needed to make a sword, a weapon capable of absorbing heat. Imagine if I could channel large amounts of heat through it, cutting through someone with the scorching power or even launching blasts of heat from it like ichigo's dad.

It was an ambitious project, but it was the perfect weapon for what was to come. I would need to add magic circles to ensure its durability, but this was only the beginning. This was my first step in making sure that when we went to Ars, we would be ready to face whatever awaited us.

A/N: last chapter of the 3 is about to drop. I'm sorry I can't keep up I'll as compensation I'll release 3 more chapters today since we got to 40 power stones