15 Oliver Dalma
After the meeting concluded, Fray and Elisa exited the throne room, making their way through the mansion's corridors.
Walking beside Fray, Elisa inquired, "Granting us the freedom to act independently and keep the rewards – that's not typical for him."
Fray responded calmly, "It wasn't his decision."
Confused, Elisa pressed, "What do you mean!? Are you suggesting someone else is giving orders to the head of the family?"
Fray reassured her, "Something like that, but don't dwell on it. Everything will unfold in due time."
Elisa pondered ( the Patriarch wouldn't heed orders from anyone, considering his strong-willed nature...) However, her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a voice calling her -" Elisa!"
Elisa pivoted on her heels, only to discover three approaching figures. At the forefront was Oliver, the family's firstborn, exuding an air of authority. Behind him loomed Liam, the fourth child, his dark hair framing a smirky countenance and deep, penetrating eyes. Completing the trio was Jared, the seventh child.
Oliver, without glancing at Fray's direction with a formal smile, said, "Wait, Elisa. I want to talk to you."
"I'm busy. Make it quick," Elisa replied with a cold voice.
Oliver, completely ignoring Fray's presence, continued, "I noticed your interest in the Old Continent. Join my team, set any condition, and I'll fulfil it."
Fray observed Oliver with a stoic expression, (Trying to take my followers in front of me. I have never interacted with him so he's from the Confident type the easiest type to deal with.)
"I'm not interested," Elisa's voice grew colder, and she answered rapidly growing impatient.
"Oh, is it because of the tall boy behind you? I remember him; my brothers used to play with him," Oliver remarked, turning to glance at the two young men behind him. "Am I right?"
"Yes, we used to play all the time," Liam chimed in looking at Fray with a smirk "But I haven't seen him for a long time. If I remember correctly, it's been two years since he left for the United Academy."
Backed by their mother, the influential daughter of a powerful family, and their elder brother Oliver, who held a formidable position, Liam and Jared routinely bullied Fray, who had little support. Despite Fray's resistance, the duo consistently found support among other children and servants, making his battles a daily struggle.
Unwilling to linger any longer without acknowledging the trio, Fray opted to depart without uttering a response. "Let's go," he instructed Elisa as he took a step forward.
"Alright." As they moved away, Elisa cast a serious gaze back at Oliver and cautioned, "Remember what I told you that day."
Fray and Elisa departed, leaving Oliver with a calm exterior but clenched hands betraying his inner anger ( just wait, you will regret this decision, Elisa )
"Oliver, are you sure about this?" Jared suddenly interrupted the silence.
Hearing Jared's question, Oliver maintained a calm expression, but his eyes betrayed a deep-seated aggression. "What do you mean, Jared?"
"..." Sensing Oliver's cold aura, a shiver ran through Jared's body. Mumbling in fear, he answered, "I-I'm sorry, brother. I just think it would be better if we tried to get Fray on our side instead of making an enemy of him ?"
Gritting his teeth inwardly, Oliver replied in a stoic persona, "Do you mean I'm weak to the point of lowering my status and asking him personally to join me?"
"I-I'm sorry, brother. I didn't mean it," Jared stammered.
"I admit he was a threat before he left, but now he's just a dead body walking. If he wants to join me, he should beg for it just like the rest of them," Oliver declared with a cold voice as he turned to walk away.
(I hope you're right. I know Oliver has never dealt with Fray, so I can't blame him, but I know that Fray is much more dangerous than my brothers give him credit for.) Following Oliver, Jared thought with an uneasy expression.
....
The next morning following a well-deserved rest, Fray, Elisa, Casper, and Adam assembled in the training yard behind the former head of the family mansion. As the quartet gathered, Fray fixed his gaze on the trio.
"I've brought you all here to assess Elisa's skills," Fray declared" There's a huge chance that we will use it in the upcoming mission, so we need to understand its limits"
Adam, with a grumpy expression, questioned "why the entire group was required if the focus was solely on Elisa?"
Fray, mysterious yet resolute, replied, "You'll find out soon enough just check your stats and commit them to memory, "
As Fray ordered he also summoned his stats window, with a focused expression
[ Name: Fray Dalma
Age: 17
Level: 2 ( 200 exp to upgrade)
Class: Spirit warrior
Title: ???
Stats:( your stats have reached their limits, upgrade your level to extend the limits )
-Strength: 10 + 131' ( 90exp to upgrade)
-Speed: 10+ 112' ( 90exp to upgrade)
-Energy: 0+0' ( unable to upgrade)
-Defense: 10 + 123' ( 90exp to upgrade)
Exp points: 3987 ]
( In just a week, I've attained nearly 10% of the power I've been honing for the past decade. At this pace, my strength in the old continent will soon match my current power, then I'll wield twice the power here.) Fray, studying his stats, pondered before facing the trio, asking, "Are you prepared?"
Elisa, Casper, and Adam, all responded affirmatively. Fray then instructed Elisa "You can begin "
Elisa stood at the centre, her figure bathed in a radiant indigo glow. The energy around her resembled a delicate dance of luminous wisps, spiralling and weaving like ethereal threads. As she focused, the energy intensified, forming a protective cocoon that pulsated with a rhythmic, otherworldly hum.
The currents of energy that surged from her extended like tendrils, each one carrying the vibrant essence of the Indigo energy. They arched gracefully towards Fray, Casper, and Adam, creating a mesmerizing display of intertwined light.
As the energy enveloped Fray, a window materialized before him.
[You are under the effect of Lumina Essence.]
[Your stats will be reinforced by 20%.]
"20%? This skill is stronger than I thought," Fray mused, summoning his stats window to discover that all his physical attributes had grown by 20%.
[Strength: 12 + 157' ( 90exp to upgrade)
-Speed: 12+ 134' ( 90exp to upgrade)
-Energy: 0+0' ( unable to upgrade)
-Defense: 12 + 145' ( 90exp to upgrade)]
" This skill is potent," Adam exclaimed, surprised by the connecting energy. "It might be the second most powerful bloodline skill I've ever seen."
Examining his stats with a rare serious expression, Casper thought, (So this is a bloodline skill. It's formidable, but unlike my title skill, Elisa seems to use energy to maintain it.)
Three distinct categories of skills shape the prowess of warriors: Energy Manipulation Skills, Bloodline Skills, and Title Skills, each with its unique characteristics.
Energy Manipulation Skills are honed through training, where warriors harness the energy and undergo special exercises to refine their abilities.
On the other hand, Bloodline Skills are inherent and cannot be cultivated through training. Individuals born with distinctive auras or body types possess innate abilities, known as Bloodline Skills.
The rarest and most enigmatic of skills are Title Skills. Individuals endowed with unique souls, like Fray with his golden soul, possess a profound connection with the Laws of the world. These skills involve the manipulation of fundamental laws, transcending the need for energy. However, mastering Title Skills is exceptionally challenging due to their intrinsic connection to the very fabric of reality.
After an hour of meticulously testing various aspects of Elisa's skills—the distance to maintain the bond, the energy required—Fray gathered all the necessary data from the experience.
As Fray observed Elisa, her breaths echoed the exertion of her abilities. Adam and Casper, standing beside her, mirrored the anticipation in the air. In the charged silence, Fray spoke, " I'm planning to go on a journey for the coming days, I will leave tomorrow"
Casper, curious, inquired " Where are you going, sir ?"
Fray's response was cryptic yet purposeful, "It's time to gather the final members of our group." The trio, surprised but trusting, refrained from further questioning.
Elisa, breaking the silence, offered her assistance, breathless yet determined " Do you need me to come with you ?"
Fray, however, reassured her, "No need. Stay and prepare for the next opening."
Adam, seemingly exhausted, mumbled " Then, Take care " while opening a portal
Fray, catching the weariness in Adam's voice, said. "But I'll need your help, Adam, the destination is very far away from Iskar city,"
Adam sighed, resigned yet accepting, "I knew it, just when I thought I could take some time to rest "
