Chapter 20

Feeling mana enter back into his body from the mana stones and herbs held in the ceiling, Noah thought he finally got his chance to escape. Much to his dismay, that was the last thing he could try, as black flames started to surround him.

Unlike normal orange red flames that could be seen in a campfire or a candle, the black flames seemed to be in a class of its own. The flames seemed to have a conscience of its own. Noticing Noah's presence, the flames started to gently flow towards him.

As if climbing, the flames at the outer ends of the chamber started travelling to the center, towards Noah, merging and growing thicker and denser.

As the flames touched his skin an intense pain and fear started coursing through him. The flames stuck to the sides of his legs as if multiple hands were pulling and dragging him.

As his reflex kicked in, Noah raised his feet to jump away trying to throw himself back, but as soon as he did ice started to form on both of his hands before covering his legs.

'Master, keugh, are you trying to kill yourself by throwing yourself into the fire?!'

Skadi's pained voice echoed in Noah's mind, snapping himself out of his fear stricken state, allowing him to think of the present situation more calmly.

Looking at the half formed ice armour surrounding his legs, Noah couldn't be more thankful for having a weak body, allowing Skadi to use the skill by herself.

Just as Noah was about to reprimand Skadi for using his body without permission, Noah remembered the contract. As this was a master slave contract, there was always a huge penalty when the slave acted outside without permission of the master.

Pushed into a corner and stuck in a situation where he could only cower himself in fear, made Noah to act on impulse, almost getting angry at the person who saved his life. Noah could only let out a laugh, feeling funny about his situation. The anger that he felt now was just a powerless animal instinct. It felt wrong. Although he wasn't sure of what to do with the second chance in life he got from Aditi, there was one thing he was certain about and that was to live with people he could trust and fight for, together, people he could call his family.

'All my life, I tried my hardest, but it was all for nothing as I wasn't able to help the people who tried their hardest for me. I still don't know if I can meet the possibility that Aditi spoke of, but I want to make sure I meet my family before I am done.'

Taking the bracelet out from his inventory, Noah calmly wore it on his wrist.

Seeing the series of illogical acts that Noah made the scientists wonder if he was mentally broken already.

'Skadi, you are the strongest spirit I know so far. Show them a good show.'

'So far? And what do you -'

Before Skadi could complete, Noah leapt to the ceiling with all his might using his wind elemental. Although he hadn't learnt any skills yet, he was able to create small gusts of wind just by awakening, enough for him to reach his current goal. Seeing the sudden change in movement, the black flames rearranged itself becoming denser and shooting up like a pillar, following him.

Striking the holding that held the mana stones and herbs, Noah felt himself falling back to the ground towards the black fire alongside the entire stack of mana stones.

'Make me proud, Skadi.'

'Heh, I'll try.'

Looking at the entire scene from outside the chamber, the prisoners, the guards and the scientists stood still, mouth open. Until one of them spoke, realising what was about to happen.

"Fuc-"

===

"How far do you think we would need to go?"

"Not sure Edgar, we might still be far off. The taros are not showing any sign of stopping."

Sigh.

"Edgar!" A voice called out.

Reynard and Turk caught up to them.

"Hey, do you think we should set up camp?"

"Yeah, it's already night out. It's best that we set up camp, but if we do we might end up losing Noah's scent…"

"Noah?" Turk interrupted.

"Yeah. That's the boy's name," Reynard replied in a matter-of-fact way.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Why what's the -, oh" realizing suddenly, "don't tell me that little girl with you is the -"

"Keep quiet. I think we'll be leaving this expedition. Please convey the urgency to the elder."

Without waiting for a reply, Turk set out back towards where Emilia was. Although he knew that Emilia wasn't talkative, that didn't mean there was a chance that she would overhear the name. Seeing her walking with the chattering priest girl, Turk was far from happy.

Cutting the one sided conversation between Melissa and Emilia, Turk interrupted, "Miss there seems to be an urgent issue. We need to leave right now."

"Right now? It's already dark. I think it's best if we camp and leave in the morning, don't you think?"

"It's really urgent."

Sighing, Emilia bid farewell to Melissa. "It was nice hearing stories about him. I hope you find him."

"Thanks. After we find Noah, I hope the three of us can meet sometime. I am sure you and him will hit it off, he is kind of like you, all quiet and mysterious. Anyway, I am glad we had the talk, I can't stop worrying… Farewell then."

When Turk heard her say the boy's name, he couldn't help but look at Emilia's face to see for changes in her expression. Not seeing any difference Turk grew increasingly worried.

As they lightly walked back to the village, Emilia finally spoke.

"Is there really an emergency or are we just leaving because his name was Noah?"

"."

"Why are you not answering? Did you think I'd cry? Did you think I'd go back to that ridge again? Huh, did you?" Bawling her eyes out, Emilia stood in place clenching her fists.

Looking at the crying Emilia, Turk could curse at himself for ever agreeing to bring her here, far from the capital or her home, thinking that it would be a good change of pace for her.

Even though seven years had passed, he knew that no one in the Wyte family was the same after that day.

Forcing himself not to remember that horrible day, Turk lightly hugged Emilia.

Standing quietly for a minute, Emilia finally spoke.

"Heuk, why is it so cold?"

"What do -," seeing the cold air leave his mouth, Turk couldn't make sense of the unnatural phenomena. Although Aruk village was near the mountain range, it wasn't this cold.

Turning around, both of them could see ice slowly forming around the roots of the tree and leaves in the ground from where they were walking from.

Just as Emilia squatted down to see the incredible unnatural mana phenomena she could feel her heart beating wildly.

A bright light suddenly erupted from the ground to the sky in the distance, followed by black flames and a loud roar.

Although the roar sounded more like a cry rather than fierce or majestic. For Emilia, she didn't have to hear it twice to identify which species made that roar as it was unique to the species of spirits that the members of the Wyte family were born with, the roar of a dragon.

===

At a large mansion. A tall man with light blue hair and deep blue eyes entered his room quietly after giving out a few orders to the butler in the mansion.

"Honey, I am home."

Seeing his wife and eight year old daughter comfortably laying on the bed, reading a book together, the tall man went towards his wife to give her a light kiss. As the eight-year-old daughter started peeking through from the covers shyly, the man went to give a light kiss on her forehead as well.

"Why the long day today? Did you have dinner yet?"

"You know why..No, I haven't had yet. I asked Sebastian to prepare, I'll -"

Stopping himself mid-sentence, he looked outside towards the window before unknowingly letting his mana leak out.

Seeing her husband in an agitated state, she asked carefully. "Edwin, is everything okay?"

"It's a Wyte dragon roar…"

"What trouble has she gotten into now?," getting out of the bed, the woman started walking towards the wardrobe to get ready, "Turk should be with her so it should be okay but still we should go."

"Trish, It-it wasn't Emilia's…," Edwin said not believing his own words.

Stopping in place, Trish could only look back at Edwin, unable to get words out of her mouth, she started rushing out.

===