21 Chapter 21

(Ashborn's POV)

After clearing the second Relictomb and creating another layer from Black Heart. It was finally time to go to Dicathen.

I spent few weeks in Relictombs, but in Relictombs time flows differently. Few weeks there can be months outside and maybe even the opposite.

Crystal told me the truth. Fragments really started leaking their power, now this so-called Aether has properties of fragments.

In total, I spent 8 months on Alacrya. I can return to Dicathen and spend some time with my family. Also, it's time to take Beast Glades in my hands and I shall increase my army quickly.

I decided that I will make guild independent organization long ago, but I shall do it now. To minimize future problems. The main problem is that it would be dangerous for people to enter Beast Glades because I plan to give my soldiers freedom. They will kill everything that they see on their way and humans will be included in 'everything'.

"We are leaving, everyone ready?" I asked my soldiers.

"Yes, my liege." Beru answered for soldiers.

[Shadow Exchange]

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Walking through the streets of Xyrus, why? Because I have to find a present for Ellie. I promised that and I'm a man of my word.

Why am I walking in the streets when I can create something from mana? because I don't know what to create.

Now here I am searching for an original present that my sister will like. I don't have problems with finances because I can at least create coins from mana.

'Also, I can visit the guild on the way.'

'My liege, I recommend gifting small daggers. I think Lady Ellie would be happy to receive such a present.' Beru suggested and I almost agreed.

'Wait, I don't want my sister to fight in melee.' It certainly wasn't an option. If my sister has to fight, which is almost impossible when she has 50 soldiers in the shadow, she should at least fight from distance.

'Then what about the bow, my liege?' Now, this was something that I can approve of.

'It's decided. Bow it is then.' I announced to my soldiers who looked at me with deadpan expressions from the shadow.

I decided to visit Kaspian on his work.

[Shadow Exchange]

I changed position with a soldier which was in Kaspian's shadow. He was sitting in his office and reading some reports. I decided to just put my hand on his shoulder.

"Ah!" He screamed and turned around and when he saw me he just sighed.

"At least notify when you are showing up, Mr.Ashborn." Kaspian said and calmed down.

"It was 8 months since I left, anything happened in this period of time?" I asked because I didn't have time to always observe some person so I didn't know what was happening in guild.

"Nothing much... maybe yes..."

"What is it?" I asked.

"There was the person who took the examination. He had a mask and I couldn't see his face, but he had auburn hair and blue eyes just like you. Maybe he was your relative?" Kaspian does have a great observation.

"Yes, that was my brother. This could be a pointless question, but did he pass the examination?" As Arthur's brother, I do have my faith in him and I already knew the result I personally watched him through my shadow.

"Yes, certainly. I personally fought against him and I can say that he is strong." As expected of my brother.

"But, I can't say that he is as strong as you." Kaspian hasn't seen me in action yet, but he thinks that I'm stronger than Arthur. (Bruh of course.)

"Aren't you overestimating me?" I asked at which he shook his head.

"This is ridiculous, but only just your aura made me shaken. There's no mistake, you are the strongest person in Dicathen." Kaspian may be the only person who can truly comprehend my power. He directly felt my aura and can deduct that I'm not even showing my full force.

"Yes, you are right." I agreed. I didn't know if there was anyone in this world that can be stronger than me. Even though I don't know the whole world. I have the confidence of a Shadow Monarch.

"Even you agree, so what is your reason for your sudden visit Mr. Ashborn?" Kaspian asked.

"I think it's already time to move our plans. I want to request a meeting with the king, tell him to come here." This sounded probably like a command than a request.

"I understand, it shall be done."

"Also I wanted you to give me a suggestion, it will be very important." I said with seriousness and Kaspian also tensed up at this.

"W-what is it?"

"Tell me... is it normal for brother... to gift their sister with a bow?" I asked and Kaspians expression eased up.

"O-Oh. I think it's not normal, but a great gift." Even Kaspian said that it's a great gift. It seems I don't have to worry about this matter anymore. (What a doting brother we have. Just like Sung *Drips* Woo)

"Then just notify me when King comes here, I shall come immediately." Blaine would come without any objections, he is too fearful of me. I would like to use this fear to make him give me Beast Glades whole, but what would other countries think? I'm not someone who would spend my time on getting such a thing.

Blaine does have a reputation and could force other countries to agree on this. Besides with the support of the S-Class adventurer, it would make his job only easier.

"I'll be going now."

[Shadow Exchange]

I changed position with the soldier that was don't he roof of Helstea manor. Why there? I have to create a bow first. It should be something small and...

"Beru help me out."

It may be embarrassing for someone like me, but the next few hours me and my high-ranking soldiers spent time discussing what kind of bow I should gift Eleanor.

"My king, maybe we should create a bow that can choose its form that is most compatible with the owner?" My Alacryan soldier made the first ever suggestion in our long discussion.

"My liege, this is cheating!" Beru didn't like that the best idea came out not from him, but from Alacryan servant.

"You shall also receive the award. From now on you are Alvis." I named my Alacryan servant. He showed me smartness of a whole different level today, Alvis meaning all-wise. Yes, that should be his name. (Finally received name. Poor Alvis will serve his liege and make better suggestions.)

"It is decided then. I shall gift my sister a multifunctional bow." I announced so that every my servant hears this.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

(Alice Leywin's POV)

Already been months since both Ash and Art left. Art is sending us letters through the guild, Ash meanwhile sends his bond which is always appearing behind us mysteriously. Somehow he does understand us and when we ask questions if Ash is okay he nods.

I'm extremely angry with Ash. First, it appeared that the S-Class adventurer is my son, then he left only leaving some latter.

Then we received offers to accept the status of nobility AND Rey rejected them! I almost freak out, but in response, King just told us that if we need something then we can always call for him.

This was something that I didn't expect. Maybe Ash has to do something with it? his potential got noticed by King? or something entirely different?

'I just hope he didn't threaten the royal family.' I thought and went to search for my daughter.

After Art left for his adventures, Ellie worked hard to make his brother proud. The whole day she was meditating with Lilia. Tabitha and Vincent were so overjoyed when their daughter started to form her core.

Rey also managed to assimilate with the beast-will. This core that Ash gifted him was S-Class core, I'm not sure how Rey managed to assimilate with such beast-will but he does work with him well.

Both Ash and Art do soo many things for us and I'm ashamed of myself to be called their mother. I should be the one to protect my children, but it's the opposite.

"Mom are you sad?" I looked at Eleanor who peeked out of her room.

"No, just thinking when your brothers come back." It wasn't a lie nor a truth, I'm sad and happy at the same time. I have such great sons.

"But I can feel it. You are sad that's clear."

"I'm worried about Ash." He left without anyone supervising him. Even if he has a strong bond with him, I'm still worried. The same situation is with Art, he left with Jasmine.

"My brothers are strong! They will come back without scratches." Ellie exclaimed. I felt relieved at her words.

"Yes, as Ellie said. Without scratches." I heard someone's voice behind me.

"Brother!"Ellie shouted and run towards brother? Wait.

I looked back and saw Ash standing and looking at us with his usual expressionless face. I of course got shocked and happy instantly. I also ran towards him.

"It was only 8 months not much." He said and hugged Ellie who ran at him first.

"Brother! You left without saying goodbye to me." Ellie removed fake tears from her eyes.

"Ashborn Leywin!" I shouted and also hugged him. I also had tears in my eyes, they were real. Tears of happiness...

"It was only 8 months..." Ashborn muttered and hugged us back softly.

"Oh, no-no. I won't overlook this now, Young Man. You left without even telling us beforehand."

"Mom, just forget it already. My brother came back!" Ellie shouted to me. But no...

As a mother, I have to teach my child so they won't do reckless things in the future again!

"Mother, how is father doing?" Ash asked me.

"He is doing pretty good. He won't stop bragging about you and Art with his colleagues. He also managed to assimilate with beast-will."

"It shouldn't have to be a problem for him. Wolf from who I got core didn't have elemental affinities. It used only mana-arts." So it was still him who got those cores.

"Ashborn... How many S-Class beasts did you fight?" Wolves fight in packs mainly. They never fight alone, does that mean Ashborn fought a few of S-Class beasts?

"There was around five?"

"Why am I even asking... I'm just glad you are okay." I gave up, can something even surprise me after this?

"Ellie, I said in the latter that I will bring you a present didn't I?" Ash turned to Ellie.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

(Ashborn's POV)

"Okay, Ellie. Are you ready to shoot?" I asked my sister.

Right now we were in the backyard of Helstea Manor, testing a new weapon that I created for Ellie.

A bow that I created was only made out of mana. Altering its size and form for users is an easy thing to do because of that. Besides, it can be fueled by my mana, distance doesn't matter.

It can shoot normal spears enhanced by mana or just mana arrows. Which are created from my mana again. Besides how much mana does it takes depends on the user's emotions, if my sister feels fear then I will pour whole my mana into it.

Like that someone who dared to scare my sister will perish from this world.

"Ellie, do you know how to shoot with a bow?" I asked my sister who nodded.

"Yes, I remember how Helen used a bow." She took the stand and pulled the string closer to her.

The string was also made from mana and it was easy for the user to pull, but after letting it go it will return to its starting position quickly while launching an arrow with tremendous speed.

When Ellie pulled mana-string towards her, she widened her eyes when mana-arrow manifested and was ready to be launched.

"Don't worry Ellie, Just lessen pull if you are afraid of launching an arrow." I told her.

Ellie just grinned and just let go of the string launching mana-arrow towards the small forest behind Helstea Manor.

Mana-arrow just went through few trees cutting them in half. I had to even disperse my mana so it won't reach out of this small forest and kill someone. Yes, it still things that have to be fixed...

"I see you are having fun without me?" The familiar voice of my father snapped me out of my thoughts. He already arrived, his mana signature really did change after assimilation.

"Not really, It will begin now. Show me father, what assimilation you went through." I was seriously intending to test how strong he got after assimilation.

"What an honor, sparring with S-Class Adventurer." He only grinned and started approaching us.

"Just don't break everything here." Mother said.

"That's not guaranteed." My father's grin didn't disappear.

"I agree. Let's get it started."

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Ah hello, readers. Few problems showed up.

My Radeon Software went nuts after updating and GPU is working unstably. Reason? maybe drivers who knows. I have to fix it.

I wrote this chapter on my phone and used Grammarly to correct mistakes.

Please forgive me, but I have to upload a chapter like this. There are probably a lot of mistakes.

Cya.