Chapter 35

(Ashborn's POV)

Soon the party came to an end when the bell rang at midnight. Officially making it Ellie's birthday, after more dancing and drinking guests started leaving, allowing maids to start cleaning.

Mother and father both gave Ellie beautiful hair ties with some ornaments as presents.

'Father... Wasn't that a cheat move?' I thought.

While we were planning to gift individual presents. Father cooperated with mother, and mother being a woman could choose something for a girl. The excited expression on Ellie made me wonder if I had a chance of winning, she even asked the mother to tie her hair with it.

I'm glad that she got to enjoy this party. She got disappointed when learned that Twin Horns wouldn't be able to attend the party, because of their mission in the guild. I myself would like them to come. Even though I could easily transport them here, the mission they were doing was important. (Keep in mind Dungeons are blocked for everyone. Nobody can enter aside for Ashborn.)

There was also Tessia present. She gifted Ellie a bow, it wasn't on the same level as Ellie's current bow. But it could be used for normal training. When mother asked who gifted it to her, Tessia just raised her hand.

"I-It was me, Hehe..." With an awkward laugh, Tessia answered.

Surprisingly Ellie hugged and thanked Tessia, startling her.

Now was time for Arthur's present. Seeing wrapped boxes in Arthur's hands Ellie's eyes shone brightly.

"Happy birthday, little sister." Arthur handed one box to Ellie and the second to mother.

Ellie, without wasting time, opened the box immediately. What she saw was a necklace with a golden chain and a light pink gem attached to it with the symbol of the phoenix. Mother's reaction was even stronger than Ellie's. She stared right at the light pink gem.

"Wow! It's so pretty!"

"Th-This is gorgeous..."

"Keep it all the time, okay?" Arthur told them satisfied with his gift, It was hurt to say if he even wanted to compete against us.

"Now, it's my time. Ellie, actually your gift is already waiting for a long time. Go to your room and see." This was a little moment of surprise for Ellie, her curiosity didn't allow her to stay here anymore. She took off and run to her room.

"What are you gifting her?" Both father and Arthur asked me. I just kept silent and waited for the right moment.

"Kyahh!" We heard Ellie's cute scream.

Everyone looked at me before running upstairs to see what's going on. The door in her room was open, so everyone entered it.

"Kya! Soo cute!!!!!!!!" Everyone sighed in relief when they saw that Ellie wasn't hurt.

"Wait... What is she holding in hands?" Arthur asked, he couldn't see anything because of darkness.

"It's a puppy." I said while my mother seemed relieved. Father and Arthur were both glaring at me as if saying 'That's cheating dude'.

"Brother! Is that puppy for me?!" Asked Ellie and when I nodded to her, others realized...

I won.

Ellie liked my gift most, it was clear as the sky that Ellie was most emotional after seeing the little puppy. Black puppy with purple eyes, yes it was my summon with the ability to change body properties.

"I never saw such a species in my life, Is this really just a normal puppy?" Asked Vincent.

Obviously, you wouldn't find mana-beast on the surface. They inhabit a dungeon in Beast-Glades, while clearing some dungeons, I accidentally found this mana-beast and decided to take him. To my surprise later it has grown into a strong shadow soldier with decent physical prowess.

(Why did I decide to choose a puppy? I got inspiration from that art)

"Now that I think about it. This puppy kinda looks like Hawky." Arthur noted. Everyone looked at me.

"When I saved it. I inserted a lot of my mana in him, maybe that is the reason?" I couldn't exactly tell them that the puppy was actually the soul of a dead beast.

"That explains colors." Hummed father with a nod.

"Anyway, it's time for sleep." Announced mother.

(3'rd POV)

After Eleanor's birthday, time passed quickly. Ashborn's and Arthur's birthday arrived, unlike Ellie's party, they only invited people closest to them, including guild leader Kaspian and artificer Gideon.

Unfortunately, Twin-horns couldn't manage to visit them, because of their missions in the guild. From communication scrolls, Leywin's knew that Twin-Horns were alive and safe.

Also, Tessia was staying with Leywins from now on. Her grandfather convinced her parents to let him stay there, also knowing that an S-Class adventurer is living under the same roof relieved them.

Arthur was getting prepared for Xyrus Academy. While Ashborn continued visiting Beast Glades and increasing his army count, also he was improving the interior in his new castle. Which was now guarded by a barrier and a few hundred shadow soldiers.

The council of Dicathen meanwhile worked on other issues. Ashborn who only helped them out in Beast Glades wasn't enough for them, because of this Virion became another member of the council.

Virion was actually the only competent king with enough experience to fix current problems. Uto who Ashborn assigned and monitored Dawsid hasn't seen anything suspicious, no encounters with Alacryans. This could only mean one thing...

They already contacted Dawsid or Ashborn was just too cautious. Either way, Ashborn wasn't planning to kill Dawsid right now. He brought back Uto and assigned a different soldier to Dawsid, who would kill Dawsid at his command.

"My king, we found a bunch of high-class monsters with chaotic mana, I suspect this might be Vritra's doing." Cylrit informed Ashborn telepathically.

Ashborn just sank his Shadow appearing right next to Cylrit. He walked forward and observed corpses.

'They mutated a few hours ago. Hm, what's this?' Ashborn sensed something being alive.

'Cylrit, did you leave anything alive?' Ashborn asked his loyal soldier who just shook his head in denial.

"Some beast is pretending to be dead, but actually is alive." Ashborn said out loud for that beast to hear.

"That was very rude, I'm not some mindless beast." The Voice of some woman interrupted Ashborn.

"You have mana of a beast. Not entirely, but it's certainly like mana beasts." Ashborn said and moved towards a new voice.

"You know where exactly am I? That's impressive for a human..." Voice was surprised and emerged from the darkness. Cylrit narrowed his eyes at the newly emerged figure.

The figure had obsidian-colored horns that glowed in the darkness. Her pearl-colored hair swayed around, while her dark eyes were directly locked on Cylrit.

"Hm, now that I think about it... Your mana is similar to Cylrit and Uto before I summoned them." Ashborn's sentence shocked the woman, but she regained her composure quickly.

"So it was you who killed my loyal retainer?" The woman suddenly asked.

"They were the first one to attack. I responded in the same manner, should I expect the same from you?" Ashborn answered with the question, at which the woman shook her head.

"You are certainly powerful enough to make Asura fear. Whole Alacrya was on their toes after what happened, I don't plan on suicide yet." Woman answered.

"What makes you think that you will leave this place alive?" Ashborn asked again. The woman tensed up, she tried to create a teleportation gate and get out there, but it got quickly dispelled.

(Remember how the chairman died? :C Yes, exactly that barrier.)

Ashborn didn't even take woman seriously. In the physical aspect without any usage of mana, woman had a big advantage, but she of course wasn't going to rush in battle without any information.

The woman started releasing a mist. Almost like what Cylrit did when he fought against Ashborn. Mist easily reached Ashborn and he just casually inhaled it. Ashorn coughed a little after exhaling and black smoke came out from his mouth.

'It can also explode? If I hadn't protected myself with mana, I would have many things to regenerate including my lungs.' Noted Ashborn.

This shocked the woman even more because her spell of Cursed Mist didn't do any visible damage to Ashborn. Cursed Mist is actually a technique that can detonate after someone inhales it.

"Are you even human?" The woman asked Ashborn.

"Pretty much." Ashborn answered shortly, he didn't like talking in battle. But getting more information wouldn't be harmful to him.

"What is your name?" Ashborn asked, but instead of the woman, Cylrit did.

"Her name is Seris. She is a Vritra-blooded Alacryan. She also has the position of Scythe and directly works under Agrona Vritra." Woman, now already Seris glanced at Cylrit.

"Cylrit if this is really you, did you betray me? Or is this person manipulating you?" Seris asked and Cylrit just shook his head.

"My king reopened my eyes in the darkness. It's the greatest honor for me to serve him, I will not tolerate such words towards my king." Cylrit prepared to attack Seris with his sword, but got stopped by his King who said next thing.

"I can keep you alive. Only with one condition."

"Why? You aren't a person who will let the enemy live." Seris asked deciding to play a mind game with Ashborn.

"I already know that both Scythes and Retainers are stationed on the last two Relictombs. You, on the other hand, are still here. I highly doubt that Vritras are still going with the old plan of mutating beasts here. So I will ask you a question now... Why are you here?" Ashborn returned the question.

"Why should I tell you?"

"In any case, you will answer me, but you won't be alive if you won't answer now." Seris didn't have any other choice now, it was a do-or-die situation.

"I was doing my own investigation." The short answer from Seris wasn't what Ashborn wanted.

"If that's it, I might as well get answers out of you by force." Ashborn's deep voice made Seris shiver.

"..." Seris remained silent.

"Still being silent. It might be better for you to reveal most of your information now, than later reveal everything. Why aren't you answering?" Ashborn deliberately increased pressure on Seris.

Ashborn narrowed his eyes at Seris. She was still not answering, as if already accepting her fate.

"I said, didn't I? I will keep you alive on one condition." Said Ashborn breaking the tension in sealed space.

"You will give me information about those Asuras and Vritras, if you will do this I will keep you alive." Seris looked up to Ashborn.

"Cylrit will be in your shadow. This way I can keep an eye on you. If you try to leak information about me to Vritras, I will kill you. Understand?" Ashborn asked without even waiting for answers as if already knowing it. After some time of silence from Seris, an answer ring out in his ears.

"I understand." Again Seris answered shortly. Ashborn, satisfied with the answer, removed the barrier and retracted all mana he was leaking.

He didn't kill Seris for a very simple reason. Acquiring a spy which is highly positioned in Alacrya is useful. Killing her and summoning will definitely change her appearance, so this was no go.

But Ashborn in the end did come out with a lot of benefits. He can gather information and if Seris decides to betray him, Cylrit can kill her or call for me.

And so Ashborn accidentally also gained a big influence on Alacrya itself too.

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Double release again! I don't know what's going on with me. I'm... I'M IN THE ZONE! Btw today might be an update of Severing Fate FF on Wattpad. The link is down there...

Discord: https://discord.gg/tQk4cBspt7

Second FF: https://www.wattpad.com/story/284711075-tbate-severing-fate

Cyaa