Chapter 19: ‘Strangeness or Surprises’

Warm sunlight covers through the vast expanse of grassland that stretches before them.

Though an illusion, it felt real, the wind passed through imaginary blades of grass.

Currently, both of them are inside Aurora's Facility room. Its design was a little different from his, but most of the features are the same.

'Nothing less I expected from her status.' Asher, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement, gave a satisfied nod.

A few paces away, Aurora fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her cheeks flushed pink.

"Ash! Don't stare too much," she mumbled softly. Her brother's serious gaze always made her a little nervous, like butterflies doing a tap dance in her tummy.

Stealing a glance at him, she noticed a faint smile playing on his lips.

Confidently, she took a deep breath and stretched out her hand, a determined glint in her eyes.

Dark particles swirled around her palm, swirling faster and faster like a miniature tornado.

With a bright flash that made Aurora squint for a moment, the particles condensed into a magnificent long sword. Its surface was completely dark, polished to shine.

She released the breath she hadn't realised she was holding, a wide smile breaking across her face.

Excitement bubbled within her, spilling over in the way she hadn't even bothered checking the details of the weapon, so excited was she to show it off.

"See, Ash!" she exclaimed, holding the sword out to him like a precious offering. "Look! Isn't it amazing?"

"It's a beautiful sword, Aur." Asher's eyes widened slightly.

"N-nothing less than what you'd expect from your sister, right?" A shy smile crept onto Aurora's face, her heart swelling with pride. Her brother's praise meant the world to her.

He didn't say anything more for a moment, and Aurora watched with bated breath as he slowly walked towards her.

His expression was a mix of curiosity and something deeper that she couldn't quite place.

"Ash?" she asked hesitantly, tilting her head like a curious puppy. But didn't utter anything more, waiting for what her brother wanted to say.

He stopped just two steps away from her, his eyes tracing the silver patterns on the blade.

"Is that what you like?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. Aurora, watching his curious look, simply extended the sword towards him.

Is he interested in Silver Patterns? But she doesn't know what it is.

Asher hesitated for a moment, his fingers hovering just above the cool metal of the blade.

He didn't have much experience with swords, but even he could sense the quality of this weapon.

Asher's fingertip traced the delicate silver patterns on the hilt, his brow furrowed in concentration. For a moment, a flicker of worry crossed Aurora's face

"Is something wrong?" As curious as she was, she finally asked.

A slow smile spread across Asher's face, chasing away the worry Aurora feeling.

"It's really… beautiful," he murmured, his hold on to the blade tightening.

A radiant smile bloomed on Aurora's face…

'Exclusive Anima, Rarity SSR.' He nodded his head with a smile.

During the Anima awakening, the golden glow shows the Rarity/Quality(Game/Kyros) of the Anima.

The Silver Patterns on the sword display the special quality meaning if it's the Exclusive Anima(Premium) or not.

Suddenly, Asher's gloves materialized around his hands as if responding to a deeper instinct. A flicker of surprise appeared on his face as a strange familiarity washed over him.

His touch felt warm and strangely familiar, sending a jolt through Aurora. As he ran his finger along the silver patterns again, their hands brushed ever so slightly, causing Aurora's to tremble ever so slightly.

Her heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed a rosy pink.

Aurora looked at his face up close, seeing how close both of them were, her face turned a little more rosy, and something stirred within her.

And their eyes met, hers wide with innocent surprise, his gaze holding an unreadable depth.

For a moment, the world seemed to quiet around them. The only thing that mattered was the warmth of his touch and the intensity of his gaze.

A strange feeling fluttered in Aurora's chest, something she couldn't quite explain.

Looking at his gaze, she felt something different about him.

Her heart thumped a little faster, a new rhythm that made her cheeks burn even brighter.

Aurora hasn't felt something like this before. But Asher's voice, soft and gentle, broke the spell.

"Can I hold it for a moment?" he asked, his hand slowly wrapping around both hers and the sword's hilt.

The warmth of his touch sent shivers down Aurora's spine. She could barely manage a small, dazed…

"uh-huh" as her trembling fingers relinquished their hold on the sword, leaving it solely in his grasp.

Asher took the weapon and stepped back creating a slight distance between them as he needed space to see the something he felt.

Aurora looked dazed at Asher.

He inhaled deeply, his chest expanding as he rose to his full height. A sense of calm came over him, momentarily pushing everything.

With a flick of his wrist, he drew the sword, the weight of the sword, though unfamiliar in its weight and balance, felt strangely familiar in his grip.

It wasn't a weapon he'd wielded before, but his body instinctively understood its purpose.

He slashed diagonally, the blade singing through the air, then followed with a swift, precise thrust.

The motion was completely smooth and felt familiar to him.

Asher lowered the sword, his expression unreadable. He ran his finger along the silver patterns again, a faint glow emanating from both the blade and his gloves.

××××

Name: (Not decided)

True Name: '???'

Rank: SSR(Exclusive)

Progress: <Favilla: 3.79%>

Type: Artifex - Combat System - Offence Type

Description: A soul manifestation of Aurora Agnes. Once-a-pristine blade, now darkened with ??? And ???.

Property:

Unnatural Sharpness: The blade is unusually sharp and able to cleave with ease. <Depends on the Bounders strength>

???

???

True Owner: Aurora Agnes

[Note: Some of the Demon Monarch Essence founded(Already Devoured).

Co-owner: Asher Agnes

-In Limited Range(Near Aurora Agnes): you can summon the Sword.

Current Range: 50 Metres.]

***

'As I thought.' Asher's eyes narrowed as he examined the beautiful silver patterns on the sword hilt. A mysterious glint flickered in his depths, and a knowing smirk tugged at his lips.

Aurora, on the other hand, stood open-mouthed, unable to process what had just happened, a sense of amazement filled her.

It seemed her brother had accomplished the impossible.

But she couldn't gasp what he did? Those fluidic movements? Or taking the sword from her hands?

Asher chuckled softly watching her expression.

He released the sword, and In the blink of an eye, it shone brightly and vanished from his hold, only to reappear moments later in Aurora's sudden outstretched hands, which she instinctively caught.

"What was that, Ash?" she squealed, excitement bubbling over. A bright smile plastered itself across her face as she skipped closer to him.

"Beats me, Aur," he said, his smile stretching wider looking at her, "But..." He leaned in closer, pausing for dramatic effect, then winked.

"Keep this a little secret between us, okay?" his voice dropping to just a whisper, playfully shushing her with his fingers pressed against his lips.

Aurora giggled, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"A secret, huh?" She mimicked his gesture, pressing her tiny hand over her mouth. "Our little secret," she whispered with a secretive grin.

On other hand, Asher was in his own thoughts.

'Surprise after surprise,' Asher reflected to himself, his mind swirling with questions while thinking of some theories.

While Anima typically manifested as weapons or objects, using another's Anima, the physical embodiment of their soul, was strictly off-limits.

It was a feat considered impossible for anyone but the owner. Yet, somehow, against all logic, he'd managed it.

'Could it be... because of her?' he wondered, his gaze flickering towards Aurora, his smile deepening. He looked down at his own hands, the gloves faintly glowing.

Shaking his head, Asher gently cupped her face in his hands.

Aurora leaned into his touch, her eyes blinking at the corners in pure joy.

"Hehe~" Aurora giggled, her heart soaring with a mix of curiosity and the secret she now shared with her brother.

Rubbing her cheeks with his hands, a goofy grin spread across her face, pure joy radiating from her.

A feeling bloomed in Aurora's chest, unfamiliar yet not unpleasant.

It fluttered like butterflies whenever she thought of the warmth of Asher's touch, the mischievous sparkle in his eyes, the secret smile that played on his lips.

It was a feeling she couldn't quite define, but she knew one thing for sure – she didn't want it to go away.

[Aurora Agnes] I think it's cute~ So why not Show it. {Image}