REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC51- Disappointing
Alex needed quick cash to buy the necessary ingredients for Soul Stone refinement. The money he brought along would be used to buy just the cauldron, but he had several more things to buy as well. Like the herbs and also, he has to afford his living this whole month, considering he had no idea how much the Steelhound would pay him.
As such, he decided to choose the most efficient path to gain some quick cash; the Grand Arena.
Situated in the heart of the city, the arena doesn't prohibit anyone from participating if they can provide a certain betting amount. There is no restriction on women and men. You go in the ring and you become a warrior involved in a death match.
Alex slowly made his way inside the Grand Arena, looking around the place as he moved.
It was a wild fest of cheers and roars from the rising stands on all sides. The people were throwing anything, including curses, cheers and alcohol, to show their excitement.
Alex felt his ears turning numb at how many people there were. He has participated in these kinds of fights in his previous world, but the number of audiences here easily exceeded any of those unofficial MMA fights he participated in.
'Good thing I brought my blade with me…' With those thoughts, the silver head took a seat near the arena and began watching the ongoing match.
"Ahhh!!! Come on!" The man with long black hair that curtained his face growled and provoked his enemy to get up and attack. Alex noticed the emblem of a certain clan pinned to the man's bare chest.
On the other hand, the masked fighter was no longer in a condition to fight. His left arm was shattered, his body was shaking, and the person looked on the verge of death. However, the rule of the ring doesn't allow you to surrender; either your enemy throws you out of the ring to conclude the match or you get killed.
The masked man already knew that if he didn't get up, he was done for. So after gathering all the strength and willpower he was left with, the man pushed himself off the ground and while raising his still intact hand, he tried to punch the raven-haired.
*SWING*
The last punch was easily evaded as the raven-haired man caught the masked one by his elbow, followed by a loud crunch as the winning side easily snapped the masked one's arm like a twig.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!" The agonizing cry of the fighter filled the hearts of the audience with excitement as their cheering intensified.
The almost winner then picked the masked man with his waist, pulling him high in the air before a slim and long curved blade extended from the raven-haired's knee—using which he impaled his enemy easily through the chest and ruptured his heart.
Blood pooled in the ring as the raven-haired again pulled away the man and stabbed him again…and again…and continued to do it until the life from the defeated one and craziness from the winner's eyes didn't fade.
Alex realized that the man was into sadism and was eager for a good match since just after the masked man was taken away, he announced,
"Come on! Do you guys are all sissy to just sit there and watch! Come here and fight me!" His provocation was met by another loud cheer.
Alex heaved a sigh, he could somehow see himself in that man. Not his current self but once upon a time, he indeed was like him.
Getting up, he approached the arena and found many people jeering at him, but none of it concerned the silver-haired teenager as he drew closer to the arena master.
"Here—I am going in." Handing a platinum plate, which didn't surprise the arena master considering people bet much more than this, Alex hopped inside the cage.
The raven-haired man looked at Alex and scoffed, "A child? Do I get charged with the sin of murdering a child now?"
The taunts were so cliche and boring that Alex was genuinely surprised. Do NPCs not get many brain cells in the world—he wondered.
With his sword still sheathed, Alex bent forward a little, his left leg extended back and his hand resting over the handle of his blade.
The man frowned, he could sense the intent of murder from the boy. That look in his eyes suggested that he intended to go for the kill. And the man knows that only those who has killed people before could show such confidence.
"I am Luke! Luke Greyhart! What is your name?" The man, who named himself Luke, got into a fighting stance before asking.
Alex responded in a hush, "Quick Silver."
Before Luke could have asked what kind of name it was, his eyes widened, and instinctively, he conjured several blades, covering everything around his neck.
*CLANG*
Under Luke's widened eyes, one of the blades he conjured to protect his neck was snapped and sent flying away as his opponent stood a few meters behind him.
'When…did he move…?' Not only Like but everyone in the stands was dumbfounded upon noticing how the boy teleported past Luke and broke his priced blade so swiftly.
Alex glanced at his sword. It was unharmed, gleaming from the recent clash.
But he didn't have time to appreciate it. A presence crept behind him, and his instincts kicked in. Alex leapt, dodging a swift strike that sliced through the air where he'd just stood. Mid-jump, he twisted, swinging his sword to decapitate his attacker.
CLANG!
A deafening clash echoed as Luke blocked the attack, his massive blade held against the side of his head.
Without pause, Alex launched himself forward, driving Luke back with a relentless flurry of strikes. Sparks flew with each impact as their blades locked and collided, filling the air with ringing steel. Luke gritted his teeth, struggling to keep up with Alex's speed and ferocity.
Just then, Luke saw an opening and lunged, his sword coming down in a wide arc. Alex sidestepped and countered with a ruthless slash across Luke's arm. Blood sprayed as the blade sliced through, but Alex didn't stop. He spun low, aiming for Luke's legs. Discover exclusive tales on empire
Luke stumbled, his defences faltering as Alex closed in with relentless speed.
"Linear Slash!" Alex shouted, his voice cutting through the noise as his blade carved through the air in a straight, deadly line. The crowd fell silent, the sheer force of his strike tearing across the arena. The impact blasted Luke backwards, sending him crashing into the metal wires surrounding the ring.
"Khuk!" Luke choked out, clutching his sides. His face twisted in pain, and he staggered, barely able to hold himself up. If he hadn't extended several of his own blades to absorb the blow, he might have been split in half
Luke gritted his teeth, pain flashing across his face as he braced against the wires. But he wasn't finished yet. With a fierce snarl, multiple blades extended from his arms, shoulders, and legs, glinting menacingly as they sprung forth from his body.
"Not so fast!" Luke roared, launching himself at Alex, his blades slashing in rapid, unpredictable arcs. Each strike was a blur, a deadly web of steel that forced Alex onto the defensive, his sword ringing as he blocked and dodged with razor-sharp reflexes.
Luke's barrage was relentless; blades thrust from all angles as he closed in, each strike faster than the last. Alex barely had a moment to breathe, weaving through the vicious onslaught. Luke's movements grew wilder, his face twisted with fury as he pressed the attack, determined to cut Alex down.
At some point Luke kicked Alex in the gut, throwing the younger one to crash against the arena border as the older one remained standing at his spot.
Luke was breathing roughly, having faced this kind of enemy for the first time who is not only a master of offence but also annoyingly good in defence as well.
The roar from the audience was turning wild, they were practically on the verge of breaking the stands as they thumped their feet and cried in excitement.
Luke readied himself. He cannot delay this anymore since his opponent doesn't look exhausted, even a bit.
His whole body was covered in blades, not a single part left unprotected as the man decided to crush the kid and end this battle once and for all.
'Sorry kid but-huh?' Just as Luke was about to launch himself forward, he saw Alex sheathing his sword and biting his nail.
'Has he gone insane?' Luke snarled, not like it mattered if the kid was sane or not; he had to end this battle!
"BRACE YOURSELF, KID!" All the blades extended even more before Luke sprinted towards Alex.
However, the man's pace slowed down when he saw something approaching...
**THUD**
Dead silence ensued in the arena, as Luke fell dead without Alex moving an inch from his spot.
Sucking on his thumb which bled, Alex walked out of the arena before grabbing the pouch of his reward and making his way out of the place.
'It was disappointing...' Alex sighed.
However, at that time, he didn't know the consequences of killing the man.
A headache was approaching.
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A/N:- Drop a comment
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC52- Truth
There are several races living on this planet, but majorly they are divided into four—human, beast, elf, and vampires.
The list ranks each group by strength, with humans at the bottom. However, in terms of population, it's the opposite: vampires are the rarest.
That's why Alex could be considered one of the strongest within the domain of humans, but when compared to the other races, Alex doesn't even come on the list yet.
During the final selection before the ascension contest, most of the champions came from the other races and only Edric was chosen from the human side.
Thanks to the fact that the veils separating each realm, the creatures from the other domains don't come here; otherwise, even if two of the three realms decide to attack the human settlements, they would easily reign dominance.
That wolf which Alex and the others faced during the raid was one of those exceptions that escaped the security around the veil and came here to hunt and gather strength.
That explains why Alex was able to defeat Luke so easily. And not only him, with the pace Alex was moving he would be able to reach the highest ranking within a month.
Currently, his stats look like this:
[Name: Alex]
[Age: 17]
[Str: 27] (Avg: 30)
[Spd: 34] (Avg: 30)
[Int: 81] (Avg: 25)
[Skill: Storage, Sword Arts, Rapid regeneration, Heightened comprehensibility.]
[Soul Energy: 520]
[Upper limit: 500]
[Lower limit: 25]
…
Thanks to his battle with Luke, he finally surpassed the upper limit, and his other stats are finally moving as well.
Until he could maintain his SE above the upper limit, his stats would constantly grow.
"Haah…finally I have it.' Looking at the gold-coated cauldron resting on the table along with a whole sack of herbs, Alex heaved a sigh of relief.
He won two platinum plates in the battle, allowing him to use two of them in his purchase and he still has the one he originally brought along.
He would send the materials back to the academy as soon as possible in the morning since bringing it to the Steelhound would be foolish. They would instantly know that he has some kind of knowledge regarding refinement.
Laying down on the bed, Alex decided to get much-needed sleep since tomorrow, he had to resume his journey.
—--------**---------
"I don't understand it…you say you are Alex's guardian, then who was Celeria and Brendon?" Hector couldn't help but rub his eyes after he heard from the silver-haired woman who introduced herself as Alex's guardian.
"They were his foster parents, someone whom my mother trusted to take care of that child."
Hector had a hunch that Alex was not the son of those two given Alex's facial features, and his hair suggested that he belonged to a noble family.
And this woman, Beatrice, was suggesting that Alex is the disowned child of the Frostbate clan—the leading clan of the North.
"See, lady, even your words seem believable since Celeria and Brendon didn't show much of the traits of being Alex's true parents, I cannot trust you without any evidence."
Beatrice got up from her seat before stating, "I have evidence—" Closing her eyes, she chanted something under her breath, and the moment she opened her eyes, the scene of the office shifted.
It was a scene of the Capital, Hector remembers the design of the entrance to be quite different at that time.
Hidden beneath a cloak, a woman handed a small unconscious child who looked the smaller version of Alex to someone whom Hector knew.
It was Brendon.
The projection clearly told that, indeed, Alex was given to Celeria and Brendon by someone from the same clan as Beatrice, given the cloaked figure's hair was visible.
Once the projection ended, Beatrice told him, "I received this memory from my mother in case I need to make someone believe in me."
Hector was really troubled now. Although there was evidence and the woman seemed believable, there was something bothering him,
"Why now?" He asked, "Why, out of all time, did you decide to reach me? What changed?" Hector deemed the sudden strength Alex gained after that Soulless incident that attracted her. It wasn't much of a guess, since Alex has been attracting quite a few prominent people's attention.
However, "Because those two idiots escaped even though I told them never to leave Grimland." Beatrice answered, her voice cracking a bit near the end. The woman looked agitated and Hector could understand the reason behind it.
However, "Why was Alex sent here in the first place? What makes him…special?" Maybe through Beatrice, he could know the cause behind the Holy Maiden's attraction towards Alex.
Beatrice heaved a sigh and sat back down. She knew it would happen one day and maybe this was the day when she would reveal the situation with Alex. After all, there could be no better person than the Headmaster of the Soulforge Academy to help her.
Taking a pause, she began, "Alex…is the heir of the Frostbate clan; son of the Patriarch's third wife. Alex was a very pure child, from what I remember, always smiling and playing around. He was a bright child as well…being able to read and write by the age of two. His parents and the clan council have high hopes for him."
"They believed that he might awaken a skill that could succeed the Patriarch."
Hector was surprised—had Alex always been strong?
However, her following words took him by surprise,
"It was then when he reached the age of four, he showed the sign of his curse." Drinking some mouthful of water, she added, "One of those days…he went to train with his siblings…and at the end of that day, one of them disappeared."
"Disappeared? What do you mean?"
Beatrice seemed hesitant, but ultimately, she revealed, "You know what happens to one's grimoire when they die, right?"
Hector responded, "Yes, they disintegrate into fragments."
Beatrice nodded, "And what happens if their grimoire disappears while the person is still alive?"
Hector frowned, "It has never happened in the past."
Beatrice added, "Yes…it was unprecedented for the people of the Frostbate clan as well…until that day when one of the heirs consumed his brother's grimoire by accident."
A horrifying realization dawned upon Hector as he slowly mumbled, "Alex?"
Beatrice grimly nodded, "Yes…Alex consumed his brother's grimoire and that resulted in his disappearance. Later that day, when he was locked inside the cell and was interrogated, it was revealed that he was able to see everyone's grimoire all along but felt the urge to consume one that day."
"And when Alex was told to reveal the stats of his own grimoire…" Taking an audible gulp, she said, "...he revealed that he possessed those skills that his brother had."
Hector covered his mouth with his fingers, sweat building on his forehead.
A child…capable of eating someone else's stats and pushing them to their demise…Hector couldn't even think of what kind of chaos it could cause if the word gets out.
'To consume your enemy and grow your own strength…' Hector inwardly muttered.
Beatrice looked down at the ring she was given by her mother, as she added, "My mother was among that council who locked that curse of Alex and all the memories he possesses regarding the clan and the person he has killed. It was decided that Alex would get executed right away…however, my mother chose to betray her clan."
Beatrice has seen how much Alex was tormented in the jail. The way people interrogated the boy was disheartening. And his own parents rejected his existence, saying he was a monster.
That…broke Alex from within. He was just a four year child at that time whose whole world revolved around his parents and siblings. However, he was cast aside and was scorned by every single person he deemed as his family member.
That's the reason why Beatrice's mother felt sympathy for the child and decided to take him away.
Hector remained silent for a long time before he stated, "Okay, I will tell you where you can find him."
—-------**---------
A/N:-Surprising?
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC53- Departing
Alex boarded the carriage early in the morning and headed towards his destination which was six hours away from Dunvale.
He accomplished what he came for. Buying the necessary equipment for Soul stone refinement and once he returns with plenty of them, Alex finally would be able to increase his SE using the stones alone.
"Did you spend a good night, sir?" The coachman asked as he rode the carriage out of the town's territory.
"Yeah, kind of. The food was to my liking."
The driver smiled, "I knew you would like it. That inn is run by my sister-in-law after all."
Alex raised his brows, "Surviving in this city must be tough."
The coachman sighed, "Well, you can say she has now adapted to the surroundings after her husband's death. After all the responsibility of her children lies on her."
Hearing about that, Alex was reminded of his last life. He had also turned numerous married women into widows. Although the gang he worked for never actually cared about them, if possible, Alex used to provide some funds if he found them unable to afford their living.
'Haah...these days I am thinking a lot about my past. Not good...' Shaking his head, he decided to take a nap, given he didn't have much sleep last night.
---------***--------
It was the first day of Edric joining the training camp under Aborne's mentorship.
He arrived at the location yesterday and was given a small quarter to sleep in. He brought some pairs of clothes and his weapons along, since here, he would be mostly covered in armour.
In the morning, someone came to fetch him; the usual morning routine cycle, they said. It consisted of around five miles of jogging around the forest, through the obstacles. Then came basic exercises and light sparring that allowed everyone to lighten up their bodies before breakfast
There were seven trainees working under Aborne and the one holding the duty to guide them through these morning rituals was a knight under Aborne's command.
There was a long wooden table—more like a thick plank made into a table—on which Edric and the others were eating their first meal in silence.
They were offered high-caloric breakfast since until night, they wouldn't be getting anything.
Edric has been taught by Amanda—she was quite stern about it—to eat mannerly when sitting with strangers since one day, Edric would become a knight. And a knight is the symbol of discipline and manners.
Amanda is a good teacher but her way of teaching becomes quite harsh from time to time.
'Well, that shows how much she cares about me...' Edric smiled thinking about his beautiful lover.
"Cadets, attention!" Hearing the command everyone stopped eating and instantly stood from their seats with their postures straight.
From the head side of the table, a figure of a red-haired man with broad shoulders and towering height emerged. Every single person was aware of the Knight Commander's identity, and seeing him for the first time in person had some of them hold their breaths in anticipation.
Aborne stood with his hands folded behind him as he eyed the trainees, "Although it's unexpected, we need to leave for an urgent task."
"A huge horde of beasts have escaped the veil... all of them being the wolfkin."
Edric's brows drew closer upon hearing that, which didn't go unnoticed by Aborne, as he added, "They carry such blood lust that they even allowed some of their comrades get sacrificed so they could cross the veil and head towards a specific region situated in the west."
Edric's eyes widened as he silently mumbled, "The Steelhound."
Aborne nodded, "It seems they are here for revenge."
Edric clenched his fist—this has to be related to that labyrinth. There is a saying that the wolfkin can share the memories with their comrades/kin of moments before their death. And the one who killed that wolf was Alex. And the place they are heading to is...
"We are leaving for the Steelhound's territory today. Pack your bags."
-----------**----------
Amanda was told to report to the Capital in three days, and since she was allowed to leave the Academy on her own accord, she decided to first visit her hometown and spend some time with her family.
Her father—Count Hades Lockwood's territory was situated near the western border. The capital was in the centre of the kingdom, and it would take her almost the same time to travel from home to the Capital and the Academy to the Capital.
Her mentor was Devon so even if she arrives a little late, she doesn't think he would get offended.
She was currently having lunch with her family members. She has one younger sister and an elder brother—the possible successor of the throne.
Her family is quite laid back, not like the strict noble houses which adhere to etiquette and norms.
Amanda was currently slicing the apple pie which her mother had baked when she heard her father asking, "When will you be leaving?"
Amanda raised her brows, "Am I being a burden?"
Her little sister giggled, and her elder brother sighed, "It's not that, Amy. Father is just asking casually."
"I don't think so..." Amanda said, her tone a little serious, as she added, "I have noticed that father is being a little too stiff after I came here."
Hearing that, Lord Lockwood didn't say anything immediately and kept his gaze locked on the food.
His wife, Kaira, asked, "Dear? Is there anything we should be concerned about?" Just like Amanda, she also has light green hair and a pair of almond-shade eyes.
The man of the house remained silent for a moment before he shared, "She is coming."
"Who is coming, Papa?" The youngest one in the family asked curiously.
Hades looked up and informed, "Your eldest sister, Sasha...is coming home."
*CLANG*
The spoon from Amanda's hand fell to the table as she stared at her father in disbelief.
The mother of the young lady had a similar reaction since she never heard anything from her husband regarding her eldest daughter.
Hades continued, "She will be joining the summit which would happen during the solstice and most probably will come home-"
"There is no need for her to come home." Amanda, unnaturally emotional, stated in a shaky voice. Her hands were clenched in a fist as she stared at the table and stated,
"She doesn't need to come here. She doesn't need to see us since she doesn't desire a family." The raw anger one could sense in her voice signified what she felt for the eldest sibling of the family.
Her elder brother said, "Lily, come with me." The youngest one was still confused; however, hearing her brother's words, she didn't resist.
However, before getting up from the chair, she tugged Amanda's sleeve before whispering, "Please don't cry, Amy."
Amanda slowly nodded as she somehow extended her lips in a soft smile before telling her, "I won't. Don't worry."
Once Lily was taken away, the lady of the house flared, "Why didn't you tell me anything about it before?"
Hades heaved a sigh as he wiped his hand in a towel before informing them, "I got to know about it yesterday from Devon when he sent a letter to notify me about Amanda's internship. He mentioned that the Holy Maiden would be participating in the summit as well, this year."
"And she didn't say anything about us, right?" Amanda asked in a low tone.
Hades extended his hand and held Amanda's as he said, "You need to understand, honey. She's no longer just your sister; she now carries the hope of this world. In times of worldwide crisis, there is only one Holy Maiden the people look to. This life wasn't her choice… it was a blessing, a responsibility placed on her shoulders."
"And she abandoned us...for the sake of her duties." Amanda asked, tears flowing down her eyes, "She could have sent a letter at least once in a while to ask how we are doing...or are we even alive. But no...not even once she cared about us. She just got up one day and started behaving like she doesn't know any of us."
Hearing that, the lady of the house was about to say something while shaking her head, however, she paused when her husband held her hand firmly and wordlessly stopped her.
Amanda suddenly got up from her seat, and just as she was about to walk away, her father asked, "Where are you going?"
Amanda paused before relaying her intentions, "I am leaving for the Capital today."
"But Amy, it's already evening. Why you-"
"I will go with her," Suddenly the only son of the family stepped forward and told them, "I will take Amanda to the Capital."
The head of the family heaved a sigh, before he gave his assent, "Okay, you two can go."
Amanda wiped her tears and gave a thankful nod to her brother before making her way to her room.
She doesn't want to stay idle anymore—she knows it would only lead to overthinking. It's better to exhaust herself with a full day's work, to stay so drained that she can forget about the woman she once called her sister.
---------**--------
A/N:- She...is coming.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC54- Bond?
The territory of the Steelhound was known as Chainedvale. It is a very…unique name that the first patriarch of the Steelhound family decided on.
Alex reached Chainedvale by afternoon, aided by the lack of monsters along the route and the leniency at the checkpoints. With two major approvals in hand, he passed through without a thorough inspection.
One from the Academy and the second from the Steelhound.
The town was quite…dull in a sense. Most of the buildings were painted in red and black, and there weren't any overly populated markets here, like the ones back in Dunvale.
There were very few people around and more than the civilians; one could find the soldiers, wearing the crest of a hound, roaming around; cautiously, they patrolled, and once Alex's carriage passed by, they never missed sending a glare at him.
Alex rolled his eyes; they seemed edgy.
The weather of this place remains always good—the nights here are chilly and the days; warm.
The labyrinth in this single town easily exceeds any of those territories which were built for the purpose of containing labyrinths. Steelhounds catch so many creatures every single day that they can practically wage a war without utilizing a single soldier from their side.
Alex spotted quite many weapon shops in the vicinity and little to no fun shops around. Even the children he could see were playing with daggers, injuring each other, and laughing like it was a matter of fun.
'They are crazy, all right.' Alex blew a breath in amazement. He has never seen people this crazy before.
Soon the carriage came to a pause as the coachman informed, "We are here, dear sir."
Alex picked up his bags and hopped out of the vehicle not so long after.
He eyed the mansion before which he stood. The ominous three-storeyed building was painted in pure black, with a conical roof and barely any windows available.
Must be paranoid of long-range weapons users—Alex thought. Not so far away from here, the territory of elves begins. Steelhounds are actually in charge of the security of the veil around this corner as well.
"Seems like a house which one should not approach…"The carriage driver heaved a sigh as he stood beside Alex and looked at the mansion.
Alex took out some silver coins before handing them to the driver, "Here, for all the sweet gossip you shared. Thanks to you, I was able to utilize the noise isolation artifact I brought along."
The driver laughed as he took the money, "Honored to be helpful. Now then, see you!"
Once the carriage was out of sight, Alex stepped toward and approached the soldier stationed near the entrance.
"You can go in," The soldier informed before he pulled the barricade and nodded towards his comrade to pull the huge gates.
Alex didn't waste a word. Lifting his bags, he walked toward the door. Strangely, they hadn't even bothered to check the bags.
Just as he reached the doors of the mansion—
*THUD*
The bag he held dropped to the ground. Alex's body tilted to the left, his hand shooting up just in time to catch an arrow aimed straight at his chest. His eyes widened as he realized the arrow was coated in poison.
*SWISH*
He twisted to the side as another arrow streaked toward him, barely dodging it. His gaze shot to the first floor, where a dark figure leapt down, another arrow drawn and aimed.
"Quite a way to welcome someone," he muttered, drawing his sword from the ring on his finger. His eyes tracked the assailant's movements, reading every shift and stance.
*SWISH*
The next arrow sliced through the air, heading for where Alex would have been—had he not pivoted, letting the arrow sink into the ground just inches away.
A shrill laugh echoed from the attacker as they dropped the bow and drew a dagger, rushing at him with a wild gleam in their eyes.
*CLANG*
Their blades clashed, the metal ringing through the space. Alex dodged the flurry of strikes, each move sharper than the last, his reflexes sharpening as he studied the attacker's every move.
Step by step, they closed in on the wall. Alex held his ground, parrying each slash with growing precision, his focus unbreakable. Finally, he forced their blades to a deadlock, pinning the attacker in place.
He leaned in, meeting their gaze with a fierce glare. "My turn."
In a heartbeat, the tables turned. Alex moved with a flawless, relentless rhythm, echoing the assailant's tactics—but with a crushing force behind each strike. His blows hammered against the dagger, wearing it down, blunting its edge with each collision. The attacker's arm began to shake under strain, their defense faltering.
Desperate, they aimed a kick at him, but Alex caught their leg effortlessly. With a swift counter, he kicked their other leg out from under them, slamming them to the ground. Their head struck the wooden floor with a harsh *thud*, leaving them dazed, their weapon slipping from their grasp.
Alex stood over them, his sword poised, his gaze cold and unyielding. Alex leaned down, his knee pressed against their chest as he threatened, "Move again and I will take your head as my welcoming gift."
The person did move, however, just to lift the mask and reveal a woman in her early twenties, currently smiling with insanity filling her eyes. Her cheeks were dyed red and her sharp canines peeked slightly.
Alex's eyes widened seeing that face. He knew her…she is a named character who would be participating in the ascension contest.
Maybe it was because he was too stunned by her presence here, he never noticed when she wrapped her arms around his head and bit into his neck.
"Hammm~"
Alex jolted out of his daze as he felt the stinging sensation on his neck and the vivid sound of his blood being gulped by the woman.
He hurriedly parted himself from her, and while covering his neck, he spat, "What the heck did you do?!"
"She…made a blood bond with you." A third person entered the scene and told Alex what just happened.
It was a man in his early twenties with similar black hair and red eyes as the woman.
Offering his hand to the lady who was still on the floor, the man asked,
"I am Eric Steelhound and you must be Alex, right?"
Alex calmed down a bit and nodded, "Yes, I am. But first, can you tell me what is wrong with her?"
"I am insane…insanely in love with you~~~" With a face full of smiles, the woman declared, and if not for Eric holding her hand she might as well have jumped on Alex.
Eric informed him, "She is the youngest daughter of the Steelhound family, Rebecca. And what she did to you is called Bonding…just like marriage in human terms."
Alex's eyes widened as he looked at the man in disbelief, "Did I get married to a crazy woman?"
"I am right here, honey. Let's get onto baby-making already~"
Eric sighed, "I would ask you to refrain from calling my sister crazy. She might be a little unusual but it cannot be denied that she is a part of our family."
'A little unusual?' Alex wanted to ask but he held himself.
Eric then said something to his sister, urging Rebecca to pout.
Her expression shifted when she looked at Alex and flashed him a smile and while waving, she made her way back inside the mansion.
"Come with me," Eric said before he began walking towards the left.
Alex followed the man after he picked up his bags and sheathed his sword.
"There are not many rules you need to follow while you will be staying here. Just, don't enter anyone except Rebecca's room."
"Why are you saying it like we are actually married?" Alex asked while rubbing his tired eyes.
Eric stated, in a matter-of-fact tone, "A vampire can only bond once, and Rebecca has chosen you as her partner. So yeah, it's in your hands to accept her or not, but the fact cannot be changed that you both are tied in a relationship."
Okay, that was fucked up. Alex didn't know anything about vampires and also the fact that the Steelhounds were actually not humans in the first place.
He had no idea why that woman chose him to be her partner, but Alex had no intention to continue what she started.
Soon, they reached a room on the ground floor, which was huge enough to accommodate at least five hundred people easily.
Alex was impressed by the facilities provided. There was a large bed, a dressing table, a tea and a study table, and several shelves of books standing at one side, and without even peeking at it, he knew the bathroom would be enormous as well.
Eric gave Alex the keys to the room and stated, "Rest, eat and sleep if you want, since around midnight, our work begins."
—-------**---------
A/N:- I have posted most of the illustrations on discord. Will make a glossary here as well.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC55- Welcome
'This is fucked up…' In the novel, it was never mentioned that the people of the Steelhound were not humans. And he never knew that the vampire shown amongst the ten champions was a member of the Steelhound.
And now he was caged inside a house that was filled with such beings who suck blood and remain sleepless.
'No wonder why they are so infamous for their wild hunting style.' Alex heaved a sigh as he stretched his body after a few hours of sleep.
*Knock*
Hearing the knock, he draped a shirt over his naked form, and while wearing shorts on his lower half, he went to open the door.
"Yes?" There stood a mesmerizing woman with black hair and violet eyes. She was holding a tray of tea and some snacks, as she asked,
"Can I come in?"
Alex nodded, "Yeah, sure."
He hurriedly put away the bags and offered a chair to the lady, "Sorry for making a mess."
"No, it's okay. Rather, for a teenager, you are still too well-mannered. When Eric was of your age, he used a curse before and after each sentence."
Alex was surprised since the man he had met previously was quite well-mannered and poised.
The lady rested the tray on the table as the duo sat around the table.
"Please have some."
Alex didn't shy away and picked a few cookies and began to munch on them as he heard her say,
"My name is Veronica, I am Rebecca and Eric's mother."
He somehow expected her to be the mother since the vampire's age very slowly.
"You must have already figured out that we are vampires…something we were supposed to keep hidden from everyone. That's why we never took any interns before, and in this mansion, only the four of us live."
Alex nodded, "Understandable…but why me? Why break the rules?"
Veronica sighed, "Well, my dear husband took interest in you after you killed that guy…what was his name?"
"Abeth?"
"Yeah….I heard he was a pervert?"
Alex nodded.
The lady crossed her arms on her magnificent assets, as she said, "Well, that's the reason why my husband got interested in you and made this exception. Although Your Majesty warned him that you might discern our true identity, Anvil insisted."
"And now is he regretting?" Alex asked as he sipped on the tea. It was too damn good.
"No, not at all. In the first place, it was Rebecca's fault that our identity was revealed. And not like you are going to openly advertise it."
Alex shrugged, "I have no such tendency. I am here for the internship, and it doesn't matter whether the one teaching me is a human or a vampire."
Veronica grinned, as she softly caressed his cheek, "Good boy you are."
Alex was somehow reminded of Sarah. She was, in a way, similar to this woman. Or maybe she behaves like this since she is a mother?
Regardless, she soon realized her mistake and apologized, "Ah, I am sorry…it's just, it has been ages since I met a child, and my motherly side couldn't resist."
"Nothing to be worried about…then, can I ask you something?"
Veronica nodded before Alex asked, "Why do you live here and not in your realm? Answer only if you don't mind."
Veronica rested her hands on her thighs and looked at the table with a nostalgic gaze.
After a moment of pause, she revealed, "The situation of the place where we used to belong is quite bad. It's the inhabitant of brain-dead people." Looking up at him, Veronica added,
"Vampires don't age for a long time, and having offspring is nearly a miracle back on the land. As such, the old generation, with time, lose their sanity and start doing mindless things…experimentations to be precise."
Alex frowned, "So the smuggling of humans and elves is not just a rumour?"
Veronica heaved a sigh, "I cannot say it for sure, but yes, they used to practice interracial copulation by forcibly abducting people."
Alex wasn't surprised. An empty mind is a home to evil. And vampires have a lot of time on them to do such things.
After taking a pause and calming herself down, the lady added, "That's why when Anvil and I got together, we decided to leave that realm, and through our connections, we landed here. And now, for the past century, we have become an integral part of the Kingdom."
There was a sense of pride in her voice when she said that, and Alex could understand the reason. After all, there was profound distrust among different races. Because of some idiots, like the ones Veronica mentioned, people from different races don't trust each other, at all.
And in such circumstances, to change their residence and become a part of one of the three major human settlements, was a big deal.
"I heard from Eric, that Rebecca forced a bond on you?"
Alex nodded, a weary exhale escaping his lips, "I don't know why and how, but she was convinced that it should be me?" Looking at the lady, he asked, "Is she whimsical?"
Veronica giggled, "Well, on most occasions she is…but, not when deciding her bond."
Alex frowned, he was confused.
Veronica revealed the reason behind her action, "She was there, with her father, when the assessment happened. She saw you fight and was quite attracted to you."
Alex scratched his head, 'No wonder I felt someone watching me constantly…'
The older one continued, "Then you went ahead and killed the man we chose as her partner."
Alex's eyes widened but before he could ask, about whom she was talking, a name popped up in his mind,
"Luke Greyhart…" He knew that the emblem he wore on his chest belonged to one of the leading clans in trade and harvest.
So…he was the chosen partner?
"Yes, he was the one we chose. However, fate has its own game, and guess what, the boy we chose for Rebecca was killed by the boy she chose for herself."
Alex was genuinely shocked here. He could have never expected the events to take such a strange turn that an already infatuated girl would become insanely attracted to him just because he wanted to earn some quick cash.
Veronica got up from the seat and assured him, "Although now she is your mate, it's not necessary for you to accept her, since it's a fact that she forced herself on you."
Heaving a sigh that made her shoulders relax, she added, "But as a mother, I request you to please give my daughter a chance."
Alex also got up and said, "I will try." Although he said that, he just didn't want to stress the lady who welcomed him so warmly.
Veronica smiled at him and raised her hand to ruffle his hair, only to halt once she realized her mistake, "Old habits die hard."
Alex smiled, as he bid farewell to the lady of the house and returned to his room.
Looking around, he decided to first clean the room and get changed since midnight was approaching, and Eric said they would be leaving to hunt at that time.
It didn't take much time for him to arrange his clothes in the wardrobe and hide the money he brought along. Once he was done, he checked the bathroom, and dear lord, it was huge.
A huge pool was built on the other side of the bathroom, inside which there were options for warm and cold baths.
Alex quickly chose the warm option, finding his fatigued body in desperate need of some relaxation.
While he soaked in, he looked at the ceiling and wondered things about the other realms.
It has been almost a month since he came here, and only four months before the prophecy arrived regarding the tournament.
After that, the government from each realm would send their champions to compete in a tournament to decide who could become a warrior to participate in the ascension trials.
Naturally, they filtered out the weak so Alex needs to keep showing his potential unless he wants to get into a feud with the government.
'Haah, let's get out…' He was feeling a little sad leaving such a comfortable place but staying there any more means he would be late for his internship just on the first day.
Alex tied a towel after briefly wiping his body and made his way out of the bathroom…only to freeze up when he found a person sitting on his bed.
"What are you doing here?" Alex frowned as he found the young lady of the family casually waiting for him.
Rebecca grinned as her eyes went from his face to his well-toned body. She bit her lips sensually while she eyed him as she subconsciously muttered,
"The dinner looks appetizing."
Alex frowned, ready to take out his sword. However, Rebecca soon chuckled and after hopping off the bed she said,
"Come with me. Eric is waiting for you."
—-------**---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC56- Debut
It takes a Soul point every thirty minutes if Alex utilizes his skill to store his blades. Sure, he has more than enough SE to keep the blades by his side for a long time, but Alex decided otherwise. He didn't desire to go below the upper limit.
That's why he was holding only two swords, hung on either side of his waist and the rest of them were back in his room. Not like Alex solely needed to rely on every sword to fight. And if he really does, then Alex is seriously flawed as a swordsman.
Following the girl, who seemed rather silent compared to the first time they met, Alex walked out of the mansion.
However, the streak of silence was soon broken, as Rebecca asked, "You must be baffled by the sudden revelation, no?"
Alex shortly responded, "Kind of."
Rebecca slowed her pace until she was walking beside him before she asked, "And you must be hating me for forcing a bond on you?"
"Certainly," Another short answer but held conviction.
Rebecca gave a slight chuckle, her eyes crescent and sharp canines on display. If the term 'deadly charming' had a face, Rebecca would be the top contender.
"Don't worry, I won't go on and force myself into your life. It was just when you drew closer, and threatened me….the smell of your blood made me thirsty, and before I knew..."
Alex heaved a sigh, "Have you not drank blood from someone before?" He was unsure, given if sucking blood can make bonds, and if Vampires bond only once, then was she thirsty until now?
However, "No, consuming blood and forming bonds are two different things. When forming a bond, we share our own blood with the other one as well—it is a kind of ritual."
Alex cringed, "You mixed your blood with mine? Doesn't that cause disease?"
Rebecca grinned, drawing closer to him, she whispered, "Then treat me as an illness, and let me cling to you."
Alex rolled his eyes and continued to move forward without responding to that.
Rebecca was grinning ear to ear, enjoying his reaction and the closeness(?) between the two.
Soon, they reached the forest near the mansion, where a familiar black-haired man stood while looking into the distance.
"Alex, tell me. What are the weak points of a minotaur." As soon as they reached him, Eric asked casually.
Alex raised his brows before he responded, "Their tail and horns. The tail helps them navigate, and horns are part of their head, so cleaving them would cause excessive pain."
"Right, but there is a far better option than going for the weak points." As he said, Eric turned his questioning gaze towards Alex.
The silver head narrowed his eyes before answering, "Beheading."
"Yes, beheading. It helps not only to remain efficient but also allows all the poisonous blood to drain out if left in the open."
Alex nodded, "I understand."
Eric took a deep breath before pointing toward the front, "There, we can find hefty minotaurs. They have built several shelters in that direction, and despite how much the people from our clan tried, they couldn't contain them in the labyrinth. They are too huge and too wild to be put in the cage."
Looking at Alex with cold eyes, he added, "Become a deterrent for us, Alex. Slay the Minotaurs and spread the message that the compensation of retaliation is not something they could handle."
Alex brought his hand over the blade handle, before nodding, "Alright."
---------**---------
Edric was restlessly fidgeting in his place as he sat inside the carriage along with others. They had already left the camp yesterday and were heading toward the Chainedvale.
The report stated that more than a hundred wolfkin were advancing towards the territory of Steelhound with bloodlust surrounding them as a mist. No one could stop them while they were marching unless the forces wanted to be annihilated.
Together in a pack, the wolves become exceptionally dangerous—and angered beasts can be the worst enemy for anyone.
"Everything will be fine, Edric." The man sitting beside Edric encouraged him, "Commander Aborne with us, what possibly can go wrong?"
Edric didn't want to reveal to them that alone Aborne couldn't do anything to that horde. However, just to not get into an argument, he smiled,
"Yeah...what possibly can go wrong..." Edric faced a beast a few days ago and realized the flaw in the ranking system.
The humans rank the monsters based on their magic capabilities. However, monsters like wolves, Minotaurs, and orcs cannot be solely judged based on their magical might. Even a B-rank can go toe to toe with Edric—who is a three-star warrior.
Although Aborne is strong, one of the strongest in the realm of humans, fighting against a revenge-driven horde of monsters would be incredibly tough.
'I hope you remain safe until we reach there, Alex...'
-----------**----------
Amanda was displeased and that was something which one could tell just by looking at her expression right now.
The girl, who mostly remains stoic and unreadable, was currently frowning and tapping her foot on the surface of the carriage continuously.
Her brother, David, brought his hand and rested it on Amanda's, before telling her, "You are being anxious for nothing. Not like she is coming to meet us, specifically."
Hearing his words, Amanda raised her brows before asking, "Are you also displeased about her sudden decision to come back?"
Her brother seldom reveals any emotions, regardless of who is in front of him. He always tries to keep things to himself and even when Sarah left them, he didn't show much of a reaction.
His parents assumed that David was never close to Sarah as compared to Amanda. However, it wasn't true.
More than anyone, David has spent time with his elder sister. They were actually close, and often, David went to her to take suggestions and to hear stories.
Naturally, when she left, he was devastated; however, that day, when he saw pure indifference in her eyes, he decided to seal away his emotions as well.
His grip around her hand turned a little firm, as he added, "Displeased? You can only feel displeased by those people whom you consider a part of your life. But that lady is no longer a part of our family."
The conviction in his voice made it certain that her elder brother was also quite frustrated about this sudden return of the woman whom they once called their elder sister.
Amanda didn't say anything after that however, having someone who can share her emotions helped her to feel a little calmer.
**SCREECH**
David frowned and so did Amanda as suddenly the carriage came to a screeching halt, urging the older one to ask, "What is it?" His tone was harsh making the carriage driver flinch.
However, his tone couldn't make him any more terrified than he already was, as the driver said,
"Sire...there is a horde of monsters blocking our way." David's eyes grew sharper as he realised that they must be crossing from the area of the Minotaurs.
Taking his dagger, he told Amanda, "Stay inside," before hopping off the carriage.
Amanda also peeked out of the window to look at the reason why they stopped.
Her eyes widened when she realized that the monsters in the questions were buffalo-faced creatures, popularly known as Minotaurs. And the more astonishing fact was that they were currently engaged in battle.
...and not among themselves. Rather, they were fighting against a human.
A familiar human ...
"Alex?!" She exclaimed, urging David to ask, "Do you know him?"
Amanda didn't respond until she was out of the carriage, "He is a friend! We need to help him."
Before David could say anything, Amanda shot forward, her ice forming a snowy path on the girl skidded through the distance and reached near the horde of monsters trying to crush a certain silver head.
However, the ice user had to come to a halt, as suddenly someone jumped in front of her, cracking the ice and denting the ground.
Amanda glared at the woman who interrupted her, before demanding, "Move out of the way!"
The woman smiled menacingly as she twirled her dagger on her fingertips and conveyed, "Trying to interrupt my darling's debut? Not like I can allow that to happen."
Amanda frowned, "Darling...?"
"Isn't he handsome? Now back off before I pluck off those eyes which dared look at my darling."
Amanda scoffed; this girl looked nothing but crazy. Thankfully, it was her(Amanda) facing the woman, not Celestria. Otherwise, this crazy girl would have received a more violent response.
Amanda conjured two ice lances in both of her hands before warning her, "Move out of the way. Last warning."
The woman chuckled, biting the dagger between her teeth she tied her hair in a bun, before provoking,
"Come at me."
Amanda huffed, so be it. She was frustrated anyway; she might as well use this opportunity to vent some anger.
---------**--------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC57- Itch
A lot of Soul Points he saw when Alex came across the horde of Minotaurs. He couldn't express how thankful he was that he was sent here. No bullshit training or delaying. Just move right to the action.
Now, Alex could be seen dodging and moving about to let those Minotaurs use as much Soul Energy as they could while trying to crush him.
Alex took three Minotaurs by surprise and separated their tails, to create havoc. Now, he was just allowing himself to jump in between the gaps and allowing them to waste as much energy as they could.
"Hupp!" Finding the massive hand of the Minotaurs above him, Alex jumped diagonally and slashed his single-edged sword, leaving a cut on the dark skin of the monster.
"*GROOOOH*" The beast behind him howled in anger as it saw Alex advancing towards it; however, in mid-air, Alex launched the Tempest Dart and threw one of the stone marbles he was carrying.
**BOOOOOOM**
The projectile struck the beast right in the eye, and despite not carrying full strength, it was forceful enough to penetrate the Minotaur's eye, making it stumble back and fall on its gigantic ass.
Alex glanced at the incoming beast, its hands clasped in a hammer and aiming to crush Alex.
Alex straightened his position and launched 'Linear Slash'.
The heavy wave of air slashed through the battleground and forced the beast to stop in its tracks to handle the waves. It pushed against the force. However, the slash dug into its thick skin.
Alex was restless. Just as he saw the beast resisting, he jumped and used another Minotaur's shoulder as a platform,
"Quick Silver." A streak of light phased through the air, and when Alex landed behind the one who was protesting, a dull thud was heard as the head of the monster hit the ground.
"*GRUOH*" However, Alex didn't have the time to celebrate as suddenly one of the beasts landed its massive paw near him, not aiming to hit him directly.
The ground shook under the heavy weight of the monster, making Alex stumble on his feet, before from behind, something struck him hard and heavy.
"Fuck!" Alex was sent forward once the boulder hit him on the back and with enough force to threaten to crush his bones.
Alex braced himself as suddenly, a massive paw came swinging in his direction.
**DHAK**
He crossed his arms but it wasn't enough to subdue the pain that came with that kick, hurtling Alex backwards.
Another Minotaur tried to kick the incoming target, however, Alex twisted his body mid-air and with his strike fueled with frustration, he launched,
"Seventh Step!" A single swing was taken, and the results were,
**BOOOOOOOOOOM**
The ground shook, and the Minotaur to which the attack was intended burst into pieces, blood and bones scattering away by the sheer intensity of the attack.
Several beings standing around were enveloped in the fierceness of the attack that Alex stored inside him after being struck by several attacks.
The heavy resonance of the explosion caused the battlefield to come to a halt as Alex landed on his feet, breathing violently with his eyes blood red.
He stared at the remaining ten or so Minotaur and then at his sword—which indeed snapped from the middle.
'Fucking useless...' Grabbing the sword in a reverse grip, Alex took out one of the healing potions which Amanda gave and consumed it in one big gulp.
*THUMP* *THUMP*
While Alex took out the second vial and was gulping on it, he saw another Minotaur advancing, urging Alex to twirl a three-sixty on his heels, and with the momentum, he threw the broken sword using the Third Stance.
**SWIIIISH**
Cleaving the air, the broken blade flew across the battlefield, and before the buffalo faced could have thought of moving away, the Dart penetrated its chest, and stabbed into its heart.
**DHAK**
There was no doubt that Alex's strength had increased while fighting these beasts since, even though they were of low ranking, the skin of a Minotaur is quite thick and stubborn. And initially, Alex couldn't penetrate his weapon past their skin. But now,
"It's an easy game~"
---------*----------
On the other side, Amanda was facing off against the strange girl so she could help out Alex. However, the small exchange they had just now showed that the red-eyed girl was experienced in combat.
'Why am I hesitating?'
With a sharp inhale, Amanda summoned shards of ice around her, each one glinting with razor edges, hovering in a wide circle.
Rebecca narrowed her eyes, her daggers gleaming in the pale light as she closed the distance in a heartbeat. Her steps were fast and quiet, each one perfectly balanced, giving her the appearance of a prowling predator. Before Amanda could release her ice shards, Rebecca slipped past, slashing her dagger at Amanda's arm, forcing her to step back as blood oozed from a shallow cut.
But Amanda didn't hesitate. She clenched her fists, and the ground beneath Rebecca turned slick with a thin layer of ice, trying to steal her balance. With lightning reflexes, Rebecca leapt back, digging her daggers into the ground for stability. She smirked, her eyes flashing with the thrill of the fight, and then charged forward, dodging as Amanda shot jagged ice spears her way. However, it was easily dodged, a testament to what physical might Rebecca carried.
Amanda threw up a wall of ice as Rebecca closed in. The barrier shattered under Rebecca's relentless strikes, and she burst through, delivering a swift kick to Amanda's stomach that sent her sprawling backwards. Amanda gasped, struggling to catch her breath as pain radiated from her core.
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to ignore the throbbing pain, and unleashed a blizzard-like swirl of snow, reducing visibility. For a moment, she hoped it would buy her some time, but she could barely follow Rebecca's figure slicing through the mist.
"She is relentless!" Amanda exclaimed.
Rebecca lunged in, a blur of deadly movement, slashing at Amanda's side. Amanda felt the sharp sting as blood trickled down her waist, staining her clothes. With a desperate burst of magic, she formed a spiked shield of ice around her arm and swung it towards Rebecca, who twisted her body just enough to evade the blow, countering with a slash across Amanda's thigh.
*Thud*
Dropping on the ground, covered with ice, Rebecca eyed the girl, "You look miserable...and weak. For someone to call herself my darling's backup, you disappoint me."
Amanda frowned, the ice around her hand cracking. Was this girl provoking her to fight better, or was she really disappointed? And what the heck is darling? Is it a common phrase used here?
Regardless, Amanda only knows that if she doesn't end this battle soon, she won't be able to help Alex.
Amanda's eyes narrowed with fierce determination, and her lips moved in a soft chant, each word pulling at her remaining reserves of strength, as she got back up on her feet. The air around them grew even colder, and a faint, shimmering blue light began to radiate from her body.
Rebecca hesitated, her instincts screaming that something dangerous was coming. She crouched low, ready to move, but before she could act, a massive dome of ice erupted from the ground, encircling them both. The walls shimmered with an otherworldly light, casting an eerie glow as they sealed off any escape.
"Cocytus!" Amanda shouted, her voice echoing ominously within the dome.
A bone-chilling wave of frost exploded from Amanda's outstretched hands, sweeping across the ground and crashing over Rebecca with brutal force. The temperature plummeted, and Rebecca felt the bite of the cold clawing at her skin, seeping through her flesh and numbing her limbs.
The relentless waves of freezing energy came in bursts, each one stronger than the last, filling the dome with a brutal, unyielding cold.
Rebecca staggered, her breaths coming in ragged gasps that clouded in the icy air. She grits her teeth, trying to keep her footing as her boots begin to freeze to the ground, the relentless waves sapping her strength with each passing second. Ice crept along her daggers, making them harder to grip as she fought against the paralyzing cold.
She looked at the chanter and, albeit a lot lesser than Rebecca, she was suffering from the frost as well.
'What a crazy girl...' Rebecca smirked before she tore off her sleeve, and dug her nails before drawing some blood
The single streak of blood levitated away from the source, and Amanda's eyes grew sharper at that.
Before the green-haired teenager could have thought of what she should be anticipating, the streak of blood launched forward and shot Amanda in her left leg.
"AGHHHHH!!!" Amanda cried as her leg burned and not only that, the streak of blood tore through her flesh and penetrated the other leg as well.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!" The loud reverberation of her pain resonated across the battlefield as the freezing dome came down, and when the most settled, only one person was standing.
Rebecca heaved a sigh as she felt something cold pressing against the back of her neck, "Darling...why am I the villain here?"
Alex, who was standing behind Rebecca with utter indifference in his eyes and slight blood lust oozing, threatened the girl,
"Make another move, and your head will be rolling on the ground."
Rebecca felt a sudden rush of heat travelling down her spine, and something between her legs began to itch.
The blood lust he was radiating was too appealing~~~~
However, before she could have moved to see what her Darling might do to her, someone interrupted,
"Put your blade down, Alex."
Alex turned towards the source of the voice and found Eric standing there with a boy, having the same features as Amanda in his captive.
---------**---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC58- Take her away
Eric knew something like that could happen—Alex threatening his sister—that's why he went ahead and took David into his captive.
Naturally, Eric knew that Amanda and Alex were friends, and so did Rebecca. However, the very fact that a woman other than herself was close to Alex, irked her. And that girl ended up hurting Amanda.
"The situation turned unfortunate and I would like to extend my apology for what my sister did." After returning to the mansion, Eric stated.
Since David was unconscious, he shifted him to the guest room and Amanda was resting in Alex's room for now. She was treated by the medic; however, it would take time for her to recover.
Alex crossed his arms and told the man, "Look, Mister Eric...I know you love your sister, and it's pretty natural. However, you can't expect her antics to be tolerated by others as well. Not even once did I allow her to interfere in my life, so she has no right to make any decisions for me."
Eric nodded slowly, "I know, and I am sorry about that-"
"I will keep her away." Suddenly a third person joined.
Alex turned towards the older female, who was no longer smiling like the first time she came to meet him.
Veronica stood before the silver-headed teenager before assuring him, "I know Rebecca has caused trouble already too much for you; that's why I am assuring you that I will keep that girl away until you are here."
Although it was Veronica who requested Alex to give her daughter a chance, she was now regretting it. She heard from her son about the whole ordeal and the fact that Rebecca, in a fit of jealousy, severely injured Alex's friend.
More than anyone, Veronica was aware of her daughter's possessive nature. If she can kill someone over a dress which she likes...then here is a person in question whom Rebecca has chosen as her life partner.
Alex heaved a sigh, feeling a little calmer than before, as he said, "I apologize if it hurts your sentiments, but it would be great if you could keep her away. Excuse me." Saying so, Alex walked away.
Left alone Veronica turned toward her son and told him, "Take her to the shelter and keep her there for the time being. She needs to cool down her head."
Eric frowned, "But mother, father is not home and for me to leave like this..."
Veronica heaved a sigh, "Not like some kind of catastrophe would descend in your absence. And even if it does, there are several capable soldiers under our command who can protect us."
Eric was still unsure, however, he didn't defy his mother and nodded, "Okay, I will take her there tonight."
------------**-----------
"Agh...." Amanda's legs were throbbing as she climbed out of her slumber and looked at her surroundings. It was an unfamiliar place.
She thought back on what happened before she fainted...and instantly, she knew the cause of her pain.
A black-haired crazy woman stabbed her multiple times and forced Amanda to use one of those spells which she has only reserved for monsters. After all, spells like 'Cocytus' and 'BlizzStorm' are meant to kill, not just to damage.
Yet...that woman survived. And not only that, she was able to damage Amanda enough to make her surrender.
'I heard that the clan members of the Steelhound are strong...but this...' Amanda heaved a sigh as she straightened her back and rested it on the headboard.
**Knock**
Hearing the knocks, she was startled and reflexively conjured ice lances...only to stop when she heard him saying, "It's me."
"Oh, yes, come in."
Alex stepped inside the room holding a tray of what seemed like bread and soup.
"How do you feel now? I heard there was no lasting injury." Alex said as he rested the tray on the table beside the bed.
Amanda shook her head, "No, everything is fine. There are only a few injuries which the medic couldn't heal."
Alex sat down on a chair, and after a moment of pause, he asked, "Since when were you able to pull a Saint-rank spell?"
Saint-rank is the third in the list and only two ranks were above it. And considering Amanda is just a two-star mage, it was surprising for her to chant such a high-ranking and high-taxing spell.
Amanda sighed, "I have a ton of Soul Energy in reserve which I gained over the years. And my knowledge of spells comes from my father. Combining both of them, I needed just some experience and that I got after enrolling into the academy."
It doesn't explain much, but Alex didn't ask anything further. He was new to the whole concept of Magic and how the magicians work.
He offered her the food, and thankfully her hands weren't injured.
As Amanda calmly picked a spoonful of soup, she heard Alex asking, "Were you going somewhere? Since there's no way you came here just to save me." The sarcasm was evident in his voice, urging Amanda to grumble.
She poked him in the ribs with her elbow, "Be thankful that I tried."
"Should I worship?"
"You must," Amanda haughtily added and not so long after both of them chuckled.
Amanda then told him, "I was going to the capital to get started with my internship as well. En route our carriage was stopped by a horde of Minotaurs...and then I spotted you."
'No wonder...' Alex didn't know that Amanda had returned to her hometown before moving to the capital, that's why he was surprised to see her here.
After a brief pause, Amanda asked, "Alex...who was that woman who kept calling you 'Darling'?"
Her voice turned grim and the girl looked exasperated even while mentioning her.
Alex slumped back in his seat before telling her, "A confused being who assumes momentarily affection as love."
Amanda was not surprised; she sensed the infatuation that the woman carried for Alex.
With a smirk, Amanda added, "It would have been a good drama to witness if Celestria had been here."
Alex rolled his eyes, "Don't talk about her...she is no better than Rebecca."
Amanda smiled, "But I can say she doesn't carry temporary affection for you. It's something more profound and pure."
Amand has sensed it; the growing feelings of the Princess have reached a realm that anyone around her could tell that the girl is head over heels for Alex. And naturally, Alex must have also sensed it, the boundless care and affection Celestria possesses for him.
Alex didn't comment on that; rather, he asked, "When were you supposed to report to Sir Devon?"
Amanda didn't have to think twice before she answered, "In four days."
Alex raised his brows, "Since you had time why didn't you spend some more time with your parents?"
Hearing that question, Amanda's expression turned a little stiff, and the shift in her temperament didn't go unnoticed by Alex.
"If you don't want to say-"
"My elder sister is returning." Amanda suddenly revealed, which took Alex by surprise,
"You have an elder sister as well?" Again, there were not many deep details of characters provided in the novel, which is why Alex didn't know. However, from what he remembered there was no mention of Amanda's elder sister. Sure, her younger sister and elder brother were shown during the tournament arc, but no one mentioned an elder sister.
Amanda nodded, "Yes...but she is more like a stranger to me. She abandoned her family years ago to serve the church. And now, after years of isolation, she is returning."
"And since I know I might not be able to retain my calm after seeing her, I decided to leave before she arrived."
Alex understood her reason and was slightly curious about this mysterious sister who had been serving the church for years
He couldn't help but say, "She must have awakened a strong skill to get recruited by the church."
Not just anyone can serve the church or work there. The church administration invite people based on the skills of the person.
Amanda smiled slightly, as she told him, "Absolute Healing...a Monarch rank spell she chanted just after awakening. The warmth she radiated at that time, healed everyone within the town. And naturally, the church also got notified about it."
Alex was extremely shocked hearing that. Monarch-ranked magic....is like a one-in-a-million magician could chant. And just after awakening no less?
No wonder she was snatched away by the church. The healers, regardless of their rank or experience, use the patient's life span or others' body parts to heal someone. Even Melissa was the same.
However, Absolute Heal means making the injury disappear without utilizing anything except for the SE of the chanter. It's a miracle.
Alex was about to ask Amanda something when suddenly someone knocked on the door.
"Can I come in?"
It was Rebecca.
----------**---------
A/N:- Okay, let me make it clear. No more than four girls! Not more or less! That's final!!!!
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC59- Farewell?
Rebecca didn't enter the room, as per what her brother instructed, and while standing at the threshold, she waved at Amanda,
"Hey! You are Amanda, right? How are you doing now?"
The green-haired teenager glanced at Alex before responding, "What do you think?"
Rebecca's smile slowly faded as she confessed, "I knew you came to save Alex. However, I didn't want anyone to disturb him. After all, based on his performance today, he would have been sent on missions accordingly….that's why I attacked you."
Taking a pause, she added, "And…I was a little jealous that you are close to him."
Amanda was…flabbergasted. She couldn't predict this girl at all.
She was genuinely surprised as she asked, "You were looking out for Alex and were jealous of me, that's why you nearly killed me?"
Rebecca frowned, "But… I purposely targeted the thickest muscle in a human body…did it hurt like you are about to die?" She sounded genuinely curious.
Amanda heaved a sigh, followed by a smile, "Seriously, you are not right in the head."
Alex got up from his seat and told Amanda, "Rest for now, I will go and talk to her."
Amanda nodded, and then she suddenly remembered something, "Where is my brother?"
Before she lost consciousness, Amanda saw that her elder brother was knocked out cold by Rebecca's older brother.
Alex informed her, "He is resting in the guest room and is completely safe. Don't worry."
Amanda nodded before Alex made his way out of the room, and naturally, Rebecca followed him.
Standing under the stairs, he looked at her happy, smiling face and asked, "Look, Rebecca, the feelings you have for me…I cannot reciprocate them since I don't know you. I don't know anything about you. So please, let's mind our own business until I am here."
"Ah, don't worry, I am going." Rebecca added, her smile going down a bit, "Brother said you don't want to see me so he is taking me away."
Alex didn't say anything which expressed that it was true.
She took a deep breath and asked, "I caused a lot of trouble right? Here, you can hurt me if you want…" She suddenly handed Alex a dagger, which surprised him.
"What is this…?"
"It's made of an alloy which prevents even vampires from regenerating. So yeah, you can go ahead and hurt me if that can stop you from hating me."
Alex heaved a sigh…a long one. He looked at the girl and found she genuinely meant what she said.
He heard from her mother that Rebecca wasn't too sociable and didn't like to go out much. Not being able to mingle with humans and being kept away from vampires, Rebecca surely has a different thought process and values.
"Hurting someone doesn't pacify someone's anger. And Rebecca, you shouldn't reveal such dangerous weapons to someone whom you met just today."
"But I trust you, Alex." Her swift response took him by surprise as he looked into her eyes to see if this was also one of her jokes.
However, all he could gaze at was sincerity and certainty.
"Okay….but still, take this back," Extending it toward her, he added, "And I don't hate you."
Rebecca's lips again extended in a blooming smile hearing that, before she told him, "Please keep the dagger; it's a gift from me to you. And maybe when you use it, you will be reminded of me~"
Alex slowly shook his head in defeat, 'She doesn't change, huh…'
Rebecca then weakly parted her arms and asked, "Before I go, can I get just a small hug? Like hold and release?"
Seeing the fear of rejection Alex was suddenly reminded of Celestria.
Well, who can say no to embracing such beauty? While paying caution that she doesn't end up sucking his blood again, Alex stepped forward and embraced her.
Rebecca snuggled her face in his neck, and relished the sensation of being so near to him in these last few moments. The future was uncertain, so she decided to enjoy these few seconds, as much as she could.
Her attraction towards Alex was just because of his strength and the fierceness he carried…however, forming the bond with him allowed her to know the real him as well. Not just Alex who shows fierceness on the battlefield, but this gentle side as well, who listens to others' plea and can hug so warmly.
'The more time I spend with you…the more I fall for you…what should I do?'
Not so long after, Rebecca was called by her brother, and very reluctantly, she had to part ways with her mate.
Alex rested his hands on his waist and pondered what he should do.
'Let's do some training.' The best timepass.
—-----**--------
"We have gathered here to discern if the preparation for the summit is on point or not." Inside the conference hall, several prominent figures of the Kingdom, including the First Prince as well, sat around the table to discuss a matter of concern.
It has already been decided what security arrangements would be required for the meeting, however, with the inclusion of the Holy Maiden, it was apparent they needed to revise the arrangement.
The King has gone to meet the members of the church regarding the same matter, and here, Ryan was handling the security arrangements.
"Why is the security chief not present in the meeting?" The chief advisor, Harold Hayden, asked no one in specific.
Devon informed him, "Some sort of emergency arrived so Sir Aborne had to leave. But don't worry, in his stead, Lady Shelby would be delivering all the necessary information regarding the security concerns."
The short-haired woman gave a light bow before informing, "I have been working as Sir Aborne's assistent for a while now and every security detail is within my knowledge."
Harold frowned, and asked the woman, "Do you know why Sir Aborne had to leave so suddenly?"
Shelby informed, "A horde of beasts has breached the veil and are running havoc. Sir Aborne went to take care of the situation."
No one was surprised, but a frown was shared hearing that.
Has the Veil security turned weak—they thought.
No one was unaware of the beings residing on the other side of the veils.
Without veils, there was a high chance for the beast tribes to attack human kingdoms to reign supremacy. Among the four races, the beasts are the most wild and unruly ones.
"Do we need to first worry about the Veil then about the Summit?" Devon asked, as he sensed the growing stress among the people.
However, Harold shook his head, "The church is responsible to maintain the Veil and with Your Holiness on our side, we shouldn't be worried about getting the Veil breached. It's just the soldiers who works at the Windows needs to be more strict."
Windows are the small gaps created in Veil on monthly basis to transport materials from other realms. Like potions mostly come from elven territory and Vampires are being provided with livestock(criminals) from the human realm.
And when these Windows are opened, some times a small group of vigilants breaches the veil and enters a different realm, illegally.
So indeed, the Veil wasn't the problem, it's the guards working around it.
"Returning to the topic, I think we should ensure some strong soldiers as the personal guards for the Saintess." Devon added, to which many of them nodded.
The Saintess held as much importance as any Monarch of any major Empire. She has been offered to migrate, thrice by elven and the beast race. The Saintess was offered a world of fortune, to switch sides, but she never hesitated even once from rejecting them.
Not only is she benevolent but she is loyal to her motherland as well.
Naturally, they would be concerned about her security, given there were many who holds grudges against her, and there were those who doesn't want the humans to possess such a great asset.
That's why it was necessary to take very cautious steps which involves the Holy Maiden.
"We need someone unknown and strong to act like her guard. A known face would be easy to target." Harold suggested.
The chief of castle security nodded, "Yes, it would be best to have someone completely new and unrelated to military to take the job. Naturally, we would have the Shadow Hawks surroundings her all the time, but someone needs to be there in person to be around her all the time."
Devon hummed a bit before he casually suggested, "How about taking a student from the Soulforge Academy? Not only they are possibly stronger than any of the soldiers, they are completely unrelated to the military as well."
Harold frowned, "Are you suggesting Edric here? I must remind you, he was one of the the most trending sensations last year-"
"No, Harold, I am not talking about Edric." With his lips stretching in a smile, he suggested,
"There is someone as strong as Edric and someone whom Sir Aborne had taken a liking to."
"Alex?" Shelby suddenly asked, and Devon grumbled. He had such a golden opportunity to reveal the name after hyping it up.
But well, "Yes, it's Alex."
—------***--------
A/N:- I sense plotting.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC60- Compromised?
Release the breath, loosen your muscles, widen your senses and dance.
His body moved as Alex closed his eyes and moved around the room. His body flawlessly moved in an arc, from the left in a wide 'C' moving toward the position which was just parallel to his previous position.
No footsteps were heard, and no Soul energy was used. It was the art of swordsmanship which has taught him brutality and now, the same arts allowed him to show grace with lethality.
His blade swung, in a very delicate arc, not waving his muscles enough to let it stress. He just needed it to swing like he was waving it at someone—no harm intended.
However, the moment Alex's blade swung, the paper he earlier hung by the curtain rod, was split in perfect two—not showing only the sharpness of the blade but the precision of the swordsman as well.
Alex came to a halt and looked at the paper. He finally released his breath and felt his vision instantly darkening.
It was strange that within half a second, his body utilized so much oxygen that he became breathless.
'A drawback…' He read in the book that to perform the Moon Style, the breathing of the swordsman needs to be regulated accordingly. Until now, Alex never found the need to work on his breathing given most of his targets were slaughtered just by a single move.
And that old man only taught him the basic way of breathing to maximise his stamina and increase his strength.
'Well…not like I can become proficient in everything just by training a few days…' Although his learning speed was far greater than any being in existence, some of the things can only be learned through experience.
"Training?" Hearing that voice, Alex turned towards the door and found the familiar boy standing there.
"Yep~some light training for better sleep," Alex replied as he sheathed his blade and asked,
"How do you feel now?"
David rubbed the back of his neck as he responded, "It stings slightly, but most probably, I will recover by tomorrow."
Alex nodded, "Did you have dinner?"
"Yes, they provided a lot and then a lady came to apologise along with the dinner."
Alex smiled, "Must be Lady Veronica. Can't believe such a kind woman resides in this family of hunters."
David raised his brows as he added "Kind but cautious."
Alex was confused, "What do you mean?" In front of him back then, she showed no sign of being on her guard. She didn't even bring anyone along with her when she came to meet him.
David crossed his arms and asked, "Let me guess, you are not good at sensing Soul Energy."
Alex allowed an exasperated sigh to escape before he affirmed, "Yep~not much good."
David informed him, "Well, since you are Amanda's friend and are staying here for the internship, I am telling you this," Drawing closer, David added,
"Lady Veronica is undoubtedly using a skill to keep an eye on the whole mansion. Even our conversation is being heard by her."
Alex frowned; he never expected that.
The way she kindly smiled and casually talked, Alex never thought she would be so cautious to actually keep an eye on the whole place without anyone's knowledge.
Alex gave a thankful nod to the man before asking, "Did you meet Amanda?"
"Yes, and…do you mind if I sleep in the same room since moving Amanda-"
"No, it's okay. I will sleep in the guest room." Alex assured him. Since Amanda was in his room, it would be surely inappropriate for Alex to stay there, even if he slept on the sofa.
Soon the duo said their goodnights and went their respective ways.
—------**-------
In a different room, Veronica sighed. As she thought, the boy was too observant and he also informed Alex about her skill.
'Haah…there goes my reputation…' Veronica sulked; her potential son-in-law must be thinking badly of her by now.
However, she soon frowned upon sensing someone in the nearby forest.
She focused on the presence and extended her senses to look at the person who appeared to be severely injured.
Veronica focused her senses only on the man and a name escaped her lips,
"Ellion?!"
Her figure disappeared in a streak as she jumped out of the window and, in a flash, appeared in the forest. It didn't take much time for her to locate the man since the scent of his blood was actively wafting in the air.
She squatted and flipped the man to look at his bloodied face. A hundred or so years ago, she might have had problems facing him in this state, but now she could easily control her bloodlust.
"Ellion?! Talk to me! What happened?! Who did this to you?" Ellion was the messenger who used to bring notice and information from the Capital to them.
"Lady….I-I..it was someone from…the council…t-they didn't want you…to get…this message…"
Veronica frowned before she took the scroll from him, and after storing it in her pocket, she carried the man and brought him to the mansion.
"My lady?!" The maid sensed her mistress' aura from afar, so she was waiting for her at the doorstep.
Veronica had a grim expression as she handed Ellion to her and said, "Take care of him. Don't let him die."
"A-As you command, my lady." The maid instantly took the man and marched inside the mansion. She has seldom seen the lady being so serious in the past.
Veronica took out the notice and read it from top to bottom within seconds.
The hold around the parchment tightened as she got to know the incoming horde of wolves toward their territory.
'Those mutts…' Her anger doesn't stem from the incoming lot but rather from the fact that someone was plotting against the Steelhounds, and that person is one from the council.
'Are we compromised?' She couldn't think of a reason which could force the King to betray them. Then what…
"Lady Veronica!"
"Ah!" The lady was shaken off her daze as she heard Alex's voice.
Looking around she realised that not only Alex but David was also standing there along with the other servants and soldiers serving the clan.
Her aura was domineering enough to alert everyone.
Well, it was better that they were here, "Alex…we are going to get attacked and I want you to leave the territory with your friends. Now."
—------**--------
A/N:- Alex be like: I am not in danger, I am the danger.
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