Chapter Twenty-Eight: Acclorite

(Grey)

"That won't work." I said as Agrona turned around, his scarlet eyes sweeping across the room filled with relics.

We were currently inside one of the lower floors of Taegrin Caelum, investigating multiple relics.

"So, Grey, what are your thoughts on the Denoir girl?" Agrona asked, his back still towards me.

"What about her?" I replied, keeping my defenses up.

"Well, you see, you never talk about what have you been doing in Alacrya all this time. But you were seen with the Denoir girl a lot," Agrona said and turned around, "Perhaps, is the mighty, apathetic King Grey finally smitten?" He asked with a smirk, his thin brows raising in anticipation.

However, I didn't feel like he was trying to explore my mind this time around.

After failing multiple times, Agrona stopped tampering with my mind. I never gave up the impression of knowing what he was doing since in doing so, I can fall into trouble. And as of now I am not strong enough.

"She's a child in my eyes." I replied, still unsure what I was supposed to feel.

"She isn't that young. Besides, you're just 12." Agrona said and took out another cylindrical relic and brought it in front of his face, examining it from top to bottom.

"I did meet her all those years ago when I first somehow arrived here. We've been friends ever since." I replied, casually shrugging it off.

"So, what changed your mind?" He asked as I felt his scarlet eyes burning a hole in my skull.

"Nothing changed." I replied, making myself busy with if anything could catch my eyes.

"So why not make her your retainer?" He asked as I turned back.

"Retainer?"

"You heard me. Lyra along with Melzri and Viessa are in charge of training Nico for the time being, helping him get the hang of the powers he already possesses. And I am dispatching you to Dicathen to make a survey and..." his voice trailed off before a benevolent smirk formed on his face, "Possibly find your biological parents in this world."

My heart surged with an ecstatic rush, "Really?"

"Yes. I might seem selfish wanting yours and Nico's and the legacy's powers for my own end goals, but I still want the best for you. You all have been through enough. As compensation for my selfishness, I can at least help you reunite with your parents and offer them protection." Agrona said as a flurry of feelings invaded my heart.

Trusting him was a fool's play but at the same time, I wanted to protect them. Dicathen was not ready for what was coming for them.

"I'll take up on that offer." I replied as a gleaming stone got my attention.

"Agrona, what is this?" I asked as I bent over and picked it up. It almost looked like a jagged rock.

"Oh that? That is an acclorite. It is something that is used to form custom weapons for asuras. The Titan race were really efficient in it. Although, it is useless to me as Basilisks can't forge weapons and forming a weapon from it takes decades as every single detail has to be calculated. You can keep it if you want." Agrona replied and walked over to me.

"Let me show you how it works." He said and took my hand into his. The next moment I knew, the jagged rock was buried deep inside my skin, a trail of blood dripping down my skin.

"What was that for?"

"That is how it works. Anyhow, I knew you'll agree to it, so I have already called Caera of Highblood Denoir. The announcement will be made shortly too. Although, there would be no ceremony. Go get dressed. You don't to stink in front of her." Agrona replied with a hearty chuckle as started to leave the underground place.

Once he was away, I saw the Acclorite absorbing mana. But it wasn't my own. It was the mana from Cadell's horns. Isolating one of them, I let it absorb just one of his horns.

Once all the mana was absorbed, the horns disintegrated, reduced to ashes.

Looking up, I sighed, "I have to dress up."

(***)

Walking outside the bath with my casual clothes on, I heard a slight knock on the door outside. Opening the door, I saw Caera standing with a subtle blush on her face. She was wearing a full black suit coupled with a jacket on top.

My eyes caught a glimpse of her striking presence. She stood there motionless, her navy-blue tresses cascading down her shoulders in disarray, creating a stark contrast against her porcelain skin. Her ruby eyes were the only windows to her soul, and as they locked with mine, I saw a whirlwind of emotions brewing beneath their depths.

Betrayal and sadness resonated in her gaze, yet the faint smile that graced her lips contradicted the turmoil within her. I could sense the melancholic ambiance that enveloped the room, and it only added to the intensity of the moment. It was as if time had come to a standstill, and we were trapped in an unbreakable spell.

I could feel her eyes piercing into my soul, struggling to reconcile the mixed feelings she harbored towards me. On one hand, she had every right to be furious with me for not reaching out to her after the events of Victaroid, and on the other, she was happy for being my retainer, allowing her to be by my side always.

Her emotions seemed to be at war with each other, and I was caught in the middle, unsure of what to do or say.

The air was thick with tension, and the silence was deafening. We stood there, staring at each other, each lost in our thoughts, unable to find a way to bridge the chasm that had formed between us. It was a poignant moment, one that left me feeling hollow and desolate.

As I inched closer towards her, I couldn't help but notice the despondent aura that enveloped her. Her face, once radiant and full of life, now bore the marks of a deep-seated sorrow. My heart ached as I observed the pain etched onto her features, and I knew that I had to do something to alleviate her suffering.

However, as I opened my mouth to speak, my words fell short, and my tongue felt heavy with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. The gravity of the situation was too much to bear, and I was lost in a sea of emotions.

Yet, sometimes, words are not what one needs. Sometimes, a comforting silence and a reassuring presence can work wonders. Taking a step towards her, I extended my arms on either side, beckoning her towards me. She looked up at my face, and I could see the hesitation in her eyes.

Without a word, I took a step forward and stood right in front of her. She lowered her head, and her long locks cascaded downwards like a waterfall. My heart sank as I saw her shoulders slump, weighed down by the burden of her emotions.

She didn't look up but instead rested her head against my chest, letting her long hair flow downwards like a cascading waterfall.

"How are you, Caera?" I asked.

Slowly, delicately she wrapped her arms around my waist, "Not good." She replied, her voice muffled due to burying her face.

"I am sorry for not contacting you when I should've had done it." I said, patting her head.

For a moment, she remained silent, and I held my breath, unsure of what she would say next. When she finally spoke, her words were laced with hurt and disappointment. "You better be sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Actually, on a second thought, I am not." I said as she looked up to me with wide eyes but stifled a laugh instead as she hugged me again, "Don't leave us like that again." She said.

Us.

So, she doesn't know what happened between me and Seris.

"I won't."

She finally peeled her face away from me before looking around the room, "You really have a minimalistic way of living. You never change, do you?"

"Some habits die hard, Caera." I replied as I motioned for her to come inside.

She stepped in and I closed the door, locking it. She walked slowly in the room before sitting comfortable over the bed.

"So, how have you been?" I asked sitting right beside her.

"Well, except the constant worries you and Seris cause me, I think I've been pretty well. Seris still hasn't talked to me so that hasn't been removed from my list of worries." She said, rolling her eyes.

"You're too young. You shouldn't be worrying about so many things."

"Haaah! Young? Talk about yourself. I am older than you!" She said while poking my chest.

"Well, you are younger mentally. Even for your physical age." I teased as she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"Very."

"Why you-" She attacked me with her hands but stopped abruptly as we heard a subtle knock on the door.

"Were you expecting someone?" Caera asked, looking crestfallen.

"Not really." I said and stood up, walking towards the door.

Placing my hand on the handle of the door, I turned and opened it.

"You see the acclorite would need some base to be used as catalyst before it actually beginning to start manifes- huh???" Nico got out of his daze as he looked up at me and then inside the room in Caera's direction, "Am I interrupting something, Grey?" He asked with a sly grin but kept his eyes set on Caera.

Rolling my eyes, I pulled him in and locked the door.

Caera stood up, her eyes alternating between me and Nico, "Oh yeah. This is my friend, Nico." I introduced as Caera looked at me with wide eyes.

"I-Isn't he a scythe?"

"Yeah, he is." I said, wrapping my arm around his neck and held him in a chokehold.

"Greeting Scythe Nico, I-"

She was interrupted as Nico grunted, fighting to break free from my hold, "You musclehead, let go of me."

Finally breaking free he adjusted his clothes before walking towards Caera, "Hi. Like he said, I am his best friend, Nico. Nice to meet you, Miss...?" His voice trailed off as if asking her name.

"Caera. Caera Denoir." She introduced herself, shaking Nico's extended hand as he kept his gaze on her. I could feel the subtle uncomfortableness in Caera's eyes before Nico suddenly looked back as if he had remembered something crucial.

"Ah, yes, the acclorite." He said, ruffling his own hair as he got close to me, "The acclorite in your palm doesn't have enough base. It would most likely manifest in the form of a weapon with somewhat unique essence, so you need to add something that would act as catalyst."

Catalyst. Does that mean I have to add more mana sources to it?

"Do you understand what I am saying?" Nico asked as I nodded.

"Yes, I do." I replied, having a hint of what he was trying to say.

"Well then, my work here is done. See you around." He said and stopped, looking back as she addressed Caera, "You too." He said with a smile.

Saying that he went to the door and vanished in the next instant.

"What was that about?" I asked myself, noticing some differences in his behavior. But it could be just me being extra sensitive after the incident with Cadell's family.

"Your friend seems kind of out of his element." Caera remarked with a hearty chuckle. Her laughter echoed throughout the room as she savored the humor in her own words. The creases at the corners of her eyes deepened as she chuckled heartily, amused by the social awkwardness exhibited by Nico.

"He isn't normally like this." I replied, scratching the back of my head. "By the way, Caera?"

"Hmm?"

"It's been some time we've went out to get lunch together. Want to go tomorrow?"

"Aren't we being dispatched to Dicathen for surveillance purposes tomorrow?" She asked, tilting her head, clearly confused.

"I know. How about we grab a lunch in Dicathen?"

Caera smirked as she looked at me, "Oh? So, you're inviting me to a date on another continent? Quite the romanticist Grey."

"Well, that is one to put it." I replied with a grin of my own as she looked the other way suddenly.

"I'll take you up on that offer." She replied, her voice quivery for some reason.

"Well then, I will be waiting." I said as she stood up and walked closer, hugging me once again, "That's a lot of hugs for one day, isn't it?"

She replied with a giggle and stayed like that for a while before replying, "Me too. I will be waiting." The conversation died out, but the moment kept on living for a long while with nothing major happening as we stood in a cozy bistro, surrounded by warm tones and plush furnishings that exuded a sense of understated elegance, the ambient light filtered through large windows, casting a gentle glow upon our faces giving a sense of utmost calm, contentment, and joy.

(*****)

Author's note.

First of all, I am sorry for not updating this fic. I promise I will now focus on this. My bad for not updating a fic that has the most stable audience amongst all of my fics.

Secondly, do comment on the chapter to let me know what you liked and what you didn't as I read every comment and more comments just motivate me that much to write more.

With that I am out, See ya all SOON.

Sayonara!