Chapter 71: First Synchronized Cultivation
Back in the grand banquet hall, the atmosphere was thick with music, laughter, and the constant chime of crystal against crystal. The ceiling sparkled like stars had been woven into the very woodwork. Elton Solman stepped into the light, emerging from the corridors that led to the upper floors where his private meeting with Duchess Aeloria and Duchess Royalin-Oak had just ended.
His return was like a ripple in still water.
Heads turned. Conversations paused. And then, like moths to flame, nobles and merchants alike began to swarm him.
"Ah, greetings Margrave Solman! My name is Willow Quince of the Nature Purification Company! An honor to meet you!"
"Mr. Solman, I'm Anchon of the Leaverton District! It's truly a pleasure t—"
"Lord Margrave! Tell me, what grand deeds earned you such recognition? I am—"
"Milord, how splendid you look! My name is—"
Wave after wave came, and Elton did his best to maintain his composure, offering polite nods and short, respectful responses. But the flood of names, titles, and agendas quickly blurred together. He'd barely taken five steps before being surrounded.
Thankfully, help came fast.
Shirleaf, Amberleaf, Luno-Oak, Dino-Oak, and the two other Fanged Elf nobles moved in swiftly and, with practiced subtlety, began to gently extract Elton from the mass. Their firm yet elegant words pushed back the tide. Soon, even the two Royal Guards were stepping in, and then other security followed.
For the next three hours, Elton, Ramiro, and the ever-silent Zoro bore the full force of noble attention. They ate, they conversed they danced or at least Ramiro and Elton did. Zoro watched from the shadows with arms crossed. The crowd drank in their every move like they were performers on stage.
Through it all, Shayleaf remained by Elton's side, not just like a guest but like a personal guard—close enough to raise questions and stir gossip. Whispers spread like pollen in spring. After all, Shayleaf was a member of the Royal family. Every glance, every touch, every smile was being noted, dissected, and embellished by hungry eyes.
When the banquet finally waned and the nobles began to disperse, Elton and his group managed to leave ahead of the stragglers. They returned to the guest housing with sluggish steps and half-lidded eyes.
Ramiro stretched and yawned loudly, "By the stars, I thought my cheeks would break from all that fake smiling…"
Zoro just grunted, already halfway to his room.
Shirleaf smiled, brushing a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Of course it was no problem. You are my friend, after all. Besides…" she grinned, "it was kind of an order. Hahaha."
"Kufufu~" Amberleaf giggled behind her fan. "My Royal self actually enjoyed the evening—even if those people were overly chatty. I… I wouldn't mind hanging out again. If you want to of course..."
Ramiro raised a brow. "Hahaha! We certainly can, Miss Amberleaf! Let us all enjoy our time together again soon."
"Yes, Amberleaf. I'd like that," Elton said warmly.
"J-Just call me Amber…" she mumbled.
"Eh?"
"I-I said just call me—Never mind! I will see you later, B-Brother Elton!"
Face flushed, Amberleaf turned and ran toward her carriage, leaping aboard the four-winged Faery Duck. The group watched her departure in silence. Then, slowly, everyone turned to Elton.
"…What?" Elton asked, confused.
Shayleaf frowned and stepped closer, suddenly grabbing Elton's arm. "I'm staying here with Brother Elton."
Everyone froze.
Shirleaf blinked. "You're what?"
Shayleaf puffed up her cheeks and huffed. "Tomorrow we're supposed to be staying in the villa together anyway. Why not just stay now?"
Even the two Royal Guards couldn't hold back this time.
"Miss Shayleaf, such an arrangement has n—"
"I SAID I'M STAYING!" she shouted, eyes fierce. "Look! I have an authorization leaf badge! Given to me by big sister Aeloria herself!"
She whipped out a gold-colored leaf of enchanted parchment, shimmering with magic. At the top was the insignia of the Nightbloom family, and at the bottom, the unmistakable signature: Aeloria Nightbloom.
That shut everyone up.
Even the Royal Guards stepped back, expressions tight behind their masks. The word of a Duchess was near-absolute. Aeloria was one of the three Dukes of the kingdom, her authority only challenged by the King or the Matriarch herself.
With a proud humph, Shayleaf clung tighter to Elton's arm. "Now then. Show me to my room, Brother Elton~"
Elton blinked. "…Yes, Lady Shayleaf."
"Just Shay," she said, smiling.
After all the farewells were said, the remaining Fanged Elves boarded the four-winged Faery Duck, leaving behind only Shayleaf. The skies shimmered with prismatic winds as the majestic beast soared off. Zoro and Ramiro, both grumbling about exhaustion, trudged off to their rooms without much fanfare. The long day had taken its toll.
Elton, still feeling restless, stepped out to take in the night air. Shayleaf followed him.
"Ah, I don't think I can ever really get tired of this," Elton said, gazing at the starlit horizon.
"Hehehe, I never get tired of it either, and I've lived here most of my life," Shayleaf replied. Her eyes sparkled under the moonlight. "Though honestly, I wish I could explore the world more instead of constantly being stuck in one place."
She leaned on his arm gently and looked up at him with a mischievous grin. "Brother Elton, let's promise to explore the world together in the future, okay?"
Elton smiled warmly. "Sure, Shay. It's a promise."
They lingered a while longer, walking under hanging moss and floating spirit lights, before returning to the guest residence. Elton mentioned heading to his cultivation chamber.
"I'll come with you," Shayleaf said, a strange seriousness in her tone.
Inside, Elton set up the ancient cultivation mat he had taken from the Abandoned City. As he was about to sit, Shayleaf softly spoke.
"I want to try that synchronization method Big Sister Aeloria gave you… I already know it too, so…"
Elton froze slightly, heart pounding.
She noticed and chuckled nervously, "I—I'm joking. Maybe. Not really."
"Alright," he said quietly.
Shayleaf's face lit up with surprise and joy. She hugged him tightly before taking her place behind him.
He sat cross-legged on the mat. Shayleaf slid into position, placing herself in his lap with her back to his chest. Her ears twitched and her cheeks flushed.
"Try to relax," Elton said, calming himself as much as her. "Let the energy flow naturally."
She nodded, weaving a hand sign every few seconds while Elton channeled his Ki Essence. Elton placed his left arm around her almost hugging her. Shayleaf's fangs began to extend subtly. Without a word, she softly bit into his left forearm. A faint moan escaped her lips.
Elton gritted his teeth, focusing his breath, letting the flow of ki between them deepen. The synchronization grew stronger with each minute. Their energies aligned.
He felt his affinity to Nature Essence rising, slowly but clearly. A foreign but pleasant sensation.
"Could this… evolve my bloodline someday Perhaps in the future I would give off an aura as if I had Elf forefathers" he thought.
Shayleaf, on the other hand, felt as if she stood on the cusp of something stirring within her. It wasn't a full awakening yet but eventually it would be within reach.
Then—
BOOM!
The chamber trembled.
Shayleaf's body jolted. Her aura exploded outward.
"I broke through! Silver-Tier 3!" she shouted with glee, turning around in his lap, Elton's blood on her lips. "It's all thanks to you, Brother Elton!"
He blinked, a bit dumbfounded, staring at her glowing expression… and the crimson smear on her face.
"Congratulations, Shayleaf," he said with a soft chuckle.
"Yes! Thank you, Brother Elton!"
Later that night, they lay on opposite sides of the queen-sized bed, separated by a large sheet.
"Good night," she said softly.
"Night."
Sleep came quickly.
Elton woke early, the first rays of dawn barely peeking through the curtains. He opened his eyes to find Shayleaf curled around his arm, softly snoring.
He sighed wryly, content to let her rest.
Then, that familiar, condescending voice echoed in his mind.
"Hahaha! Oh, what fate! First the girl from that Red Star Eyes family… then there's that distant relative from the same clan that's immensely talented… and now this high-purity Elf-Vampire hybrid. A fanged elf, ha! Descendants of sinning elves who bred with noble vampires tens of thousands of years ago. All of them will benefit you greatly!"
"Please… shut up…" Elton muttered mentally.
Guilt surged through him. He didn't want to see his friends as tools and he felt genuinely about them, But his feelings were blurring in certain aspects..
"Don't deny your instincts, boy. Acceptance is the key to breakthrough. Grow weak, and I will take everything from you…" the voice warned before falling silent.
Elton let out a long sigh.
"Good morning, Brother Elly," Shayleaf yawned.
"Brother who?" he said with a smirk.
That afternoon, after farewells with Zoro and Ramiro, Elton and Shayleaf were escorted to Duchess Aeloria's Dukedom.