climbing Family class

The forest side had never seemed more quiet, each dreadful silence only broken by the occasional howling of breeze through the trees.

"What the hell are you doing here dad" Phonzo's shaky voice broke through cold silence.

He couldn't comprehend what was happening as from his pov it seemed as though his father had returned to reconcile with him. Feelings of happiness flowed through his body like water, his arms trembling in contained excitement.

Though he couldn't have been more wrong...

Helbert nearly wretched at the sight of his condition. A former member of the fredriks dressed in rags, so weak he couldn't find a decent source of income amongst Hagi 's cultivation ranks.

Averting his gaze from phonzo, he turned towards Ammaina, using his eyes to brush through her luxous features. Unlike phonzo she looked much too refine to have originated from poverty, unable to take his eyes off.

Though his act's of admiration made her feel a little like ant's crawled up her skin, his stare sharp as knives cut through her Will to protest....

"My daughter Ammaina, show some respect and greet your father" His words odd yet hinted his intentions.

Her mother remaining silent, hiding behind the man's robust figure, trying to avert eye contact with Ammaina.

It didn't take phonzo long to understand Helbert wasn't there for him, his footsteps crunched on the rocky terrain of the forest road as he reversed his steps in disbelief, his eyes staring at Ammaina in confusion her only response a mutual exchange of glares.

Right then a possibility struck in Ammainas pondering thoughts. what if she had already been sold to the fredriks?

Her 19th birthday had arrived so it wasn't impossible,

The mutual glare she exchanged with phonzo flickered for an instant, her face twitching at him as she felt his jealousy seath through him wrapping itself around her like a snake. The friendship they held for so long was more fragile than glass.

Helbert took few steps closer to Ammaina, her body unable to react to his dominating presence. she was used to killing magic beasts that snuck into the forests occasionally but had never felt the chilling sensation he gave off before.

"Will you come with me dear Ammaina" his voice gentle yet harshly cold.

His request rang in her ear like bells, her instincts nearly submitting to his choking presence, "I refuse" her equally cold reply hid her unease.

Impressed by her display Helbert returned reversed his footsteps slowly, turning to the opposite direction of the forest exit. Mrs Valkyrie and phonzo left as spectators in the drama

"I'll give you till tomorrow. If you accept I'll make your widest dreams come true." We're his final words before shambling through the rocky terrains, her frightened mother tailing him from behind.

"What about me?" phonzo asked with a pail voice, tightly clenching his raggy clothes as his held tears, "you see the condition I'm in right? Won't you at least take me back..... father?"

Helbert stopped for an instant to listen yet wasted no time before resuming his steps not even turning his head towards phonzo. His frail request was snobbed as though he never uttered a word from his lips.

Clenching his fist's tightly phonzo swore in his mind to make his rue this day before turning his head to Ammaina once more.....

Though she'd already left, her presence unfelt by phonzo as though she vanished into thin air leaving only him in the deserted road. His seething rage began to cool as the result of his petty behavior pierced him like a fired bullet.

Redirecting his gaze to the forest, his eyes wondered through every tree and grassy path trying to grasp even just a small glimpse of her shadow. Alas his efforts were fruitless, she was nowhere in the vicinity any longer.

Ammaina was already dashing through the city streets and buildings on a set course to meet her father who served as a cobbler for the city's cultivators. Not just by mending their worn and torn shoes but also enhancing magic tools with his mana experience.

The pay was small but he made a decent name for himself amongst the people.

Ammaina reached his tattered shop gliding her feet over it's concrete floor, it's roof made of nylon sheets that stretched to it's edges held down by heavy wooden planks. Instead of her father she was met with disappointment....

"Closed" were the words boldy written on the front sign.

Everything started mending together in her head. Her father was never the type to go to work early, Her mother was a house wife who hated the outdoors yet she left the house, her sister attempted to have a conversation with her after 5 years...

It was fairly obvious they'd prepped for this day, hiding themselves till the storm know as Ammaina was taken away, unable to own up to their actions not face it's consequence.

Ammainas body fell beneath it's weight, the impact leaving a loud resonating THUD!. Thankfully no one was around to see her break down, all the cultivators in the area were either busy improving their techniques or aiding Zack reach body enhancement, Even then her heart weighed within her chest.

How many years had passed since she felt the bitter - cold taste of disappointment on her tongue? She wondered with her palms smacked to the ground.

Anxiety welled up within it's way through her body till it made every part ache. Her gentle head felt like it'd been hit on brick wall. She was used to getting hurt while fending off beasts in the forest but non of her battle scars had ever hurt this much.

Her right palm gripped her face tightly as though trying to prevent tears from pouring out. But she wouldn't need to worry about such things as tears, after all her ability to cry died with her family when she was little. Or so she told herself.....

Suddenly the noise of approaching footsteps made it's way to her ears. The sound of feet tapping violently on solid ground woke her dormant danger sense.

Ammaina was startled for a brief moment before leaping into a positioned stance, her heavy head lightened with her palms folded tightly into aimed fists ready to attack, her focus sharpened.

Her eyes lit up a bright green, everything she laid her gaze on lost shape but formed into a wavy ooze like smoke each having a unique motion patter. Indeed it was possible to detect mana of living things once a cultivator evolved above the first stage of the foundation realm, however what was making it's way to her didn't have one as though it weren't a living being.

"Ammaina.." phonzo spoke, his seemingly battered figure stood shakily behind her.

Awe took over Ammaina, she was neither able to react nor sense phonzo yet he snuck past her defenses. An impressive feat no one had ever done before.

"I don't like my family, they're not good people and are incapable of treating those who aren't up to their tase right" his eyes fixed on Ammainas "That's why as you are now you'll be worth their time"

Phonzo's gaze made it's way to Ammainas father's shop shifting his focus from her. He was her long time friend so naturally he was familiar with some of the family traits and behaviors.

Taking little time to decipher the recent events the weight of guilt pushed his head to the floor, rendering him incapable of staring Ammaina straight in the eye. Phonzo thought she was involved only to find out she was a pawn in his father's whole game.

Well aware both of them were no match for his gruesome wealth and power as they were currently, bitter words escaped his lips in realization.

"We both didn't deserve the families we were given..... A weak boy born in the family of strong and a strong girl born in a family of weak. Life plays such cruel jokes sometimes" phonzo continued to avert his gaze from Ammaina "That's why we'll have to correct fate's mistake. we.....At least one of us deserves better."

His words began to stammer as he spoke the last sentence, "Ammaina....I want you to accept my father's offer and become a member of the Frederik household.