Lucian was dressed up to start his journey. He was excited to see 'Eclipse Iron Guild'. This guild managed three S-rank adventures in their guild. They extracted mana stones from dungeons.
Lucian came out to the main gate of the mansion. The whole Valemort family was standing there waiting for him.
"You are late, Lucian." 'The second son of Valemort house,' Edric Valemort said. "I hope your health recovers." He put his hand on Lucian's shoulder and murmured in his ear. "I really feel bad for our house that has someone like you. I wish you luck for your job. But it's big brother to remind you that I may be kind, but Emilia is not. You should be on your gua…".
"Leave him alone, Edric." A long-ripped boy, Atahsia, first son of Alaric. He didn't have any emotions on his face. "Come here. Work hard so you don't fall behind."
Lucian nodded. He moved to Alaric.
Alaric had a massive body structure. His aura was terrifying. His voice was deep enough to make any commoner kneel in front of him. "You changed a lot."
"It's time to go, Lucian. Sit in the carriage." Nayra said.
Lucian sat in the carriage. Nayra came near to Alaric.
"I see. So Father decided not to come." Nayra was disappointed, but it didn't affect her much.
"You know him. He didn't like Lucian."
Nayra looked inside the mansion gate, then into Alaric's eyes. "He knows that it wasn't Lucian's mistake, but he still refused to accept this fact."
"We can't do anything about it. But… What happened to Lucian? He seems different." Alaric looked at Lucian.
Lucian wasn't paying attention. He was happy to sit in the golden carriage.
"I know, it all happened after Edric and Lucian's mock battle." She said,
"Leave it be. Tell me, when will you come back? You know, I'll feel alone without you." Alaric's eyes fixated on Nayra's beauty.
"Don't worry, I'll come back after one month. After that we will resume our battle in our soundproof room." Nayra smiled and turned. She sat in the carriage.
She nodded to Alaric and waved a hand to Atahsia and Edric. "Move the carriage coach."
Thirty-one carriages moved out to Valemort House. Lucian was looking outside at the streets. He was very happy because everything was developed and clean.
"Everything is so developed and well maintained." a thought jumped out from Lucian's mouth.
"Aurengarde city is our capital. It represents our image to other kingdoms. So, of course it's going to be the best city of our kingdom." She gave him some information. She was sitting on the opposite seat.
Lucian looked at the street. "Hmm, and I didn't see any beggar or poor person on any street."
"Because we either relocate them to another city or remove their existence before they ruin our kingdom's reputation." She said calmly.
But Lucian was shocked. "This is not the right way to handle this situation. It's inhuman."
"It's not, dear. Those people are just pests. And every household should clear pests before they damage their homes."
Roy's way of thinking was different from her. "How can you be so cruel, Mother?"
"I am cruel. First tell me when you became this soft." Nayra closed her eyes. "Only those who can benefit us are humans and our allies. Don't put pressure on your brain. That little thing can't understand how a business works. Our journey is too long, so have some sleep."
Lucian didn't reply. He decided to remain silent. He read many novels and understood the power dynamics of the fantasy world. He knew, when the power gap became too much, the meaning of justice changed.
Nayra slept in the carriage, but Lucian was wide awake. Lucian decided to see his new abilities.
[Fate vision.]
Lucian's both eyes became red. This time he saw a soft silver-pink thread coming out from Nayra's heart and surrounding Lucian's body. The thread was thin; it was not a rope but a living force vibrating with love, affection and obsession. It was gentle but resilient.
Lucian grasped that thread through his fingers. He didn't touch that physically; instead, his will wrapped it around.
[–6 FP]
The thread became thick. Lucian didn't understand what happened. But he figured out that he can manipulate these threads.
[Congratulations, you manipulated the Love thread.]
[Anchors are unlocked.]
[Love Anchors: Emotional Spark
Bond Reinforcement
Dependency Trigger
Commitment Event]
"(Anchors, if I use them properly, I can change their feelings towards me. I don't think it's going to be easy. I know there will be a price to pay.)" Lucian looked outside. They were crossing the forest.
Navelhound was in the southwest direction in the Silverblock Bay of the Valdoria kingdom. They had to cross this dangerous forest to reach there. This journey was four days long.
Soldiers prepared a camp at night for both queen Nayra and young Master Lucian. Lucian was refining his core even further. Mana density of this forest is high. That's why this was the best place for monsters.
"I don't need mana stone to cultivate here." Lucian sat down to cultivate.
A few minutes later, someone entered his tent.
Lucian opened his eyes. "What happened, Mother? Do you need something?"
"No, it's just I am having a hard time sleeping." She was holding her pillow in her arms. "This forest is full of monsters, and I am scared. Can I sleep here with you?"
"(What's going onnnn…. Why is she behaving like that? Is it because of thread?)" Lucian was shocked but had a straight face. "Sure, you can sleep on that bed." Lucian split both beds and the distance between them. "Here, sleep on this bed."
"Why did you split both beds?" She clenched her pillow.
"It's rude to sleep with a woman on the same bed. And I have something to do. So, you should sleep first." He sat down on his bed to refine his mana core.
Nayra lay down on her bed. She was sulking.
[Core stability: 75%]
[Gained skill]
[Mana slashes (Lv. 2)]
[Water manipulation (Lv.3)]
Four days later, they reached Navelhound in the morning. Lucian saw that there were mountain peaks. Lucian was watching the streets. He saw people carrying armour and weapons with them. Their carriage stopped in front of the 'Eclipse Iron Guild'. There were people standing to welcome them.
That guild was four floor tall made up of red stones. Nayra and Lucian came out from the carriage.
"Welcome, Mother and Lucian." Guild manager Selene, twin sister of Lucian, welcomed them.
"You really turned into a fine lady." Nayra complemented Selene's beauty.
"It's because of your genes." Selene moved forward and hugged her mother.
Nayra patted her head. "You made quite a profit this year."
They moved inside the guild. All adventurers were standing there to greet them. The four adventurers were standing in the front line. They bowed in front of them. 'Welcome back, my queen'.
"Kael Draven, Lyra Venshar, and Seraphina Vale, you are serving your nation quite well. I appreciate your efforts." Nayra was the one who found these S-rank adventurers.
They kneel in front of her.
"We are ready to give our life for you, milady." Kael Draven, The Ashen Sovereign. He was a calm, battle-hardened 23 years old warrior who commands flame and destruction. He was known for wiping out an entire dungeon outbreak alone.
"Yes, milady. You are the one who saved me from my death. Just say a word, and I'll be there for you." Lyra Venshar, Whisper of Ruin. She was a calm, precise assassin-type S-rank. She Used wind and shadow magic to kill her targets before realizing she was there. She was 22 years old but she killed S-rank monsters twice her age, alone.
Seraphina Vale also known as Moonfang Oracle. A 20 years old silver-haired lady who was the swordmaster. She predicted her enemy's movement before it happened.
Her presence was elegant, mysterious, and also unreadable. She had a big scar on her face as proof of her bravery. Her head was down, she wasn't even looking at Nayra.
"What happened Seraphina, did I do something to upset you?" Nayra asked her.
Seraphina finally looked towards Nayra. Her eyes filled with tears. "No milady, it was me who was unable to save my fellow adventurers. If mister Darius didn't come to save us. Everyone would have died."
"You don't have to feel bad about something that didn't happen." Nayra consoled her. "You are more than a crybaby. I have more expectations from you. I hope you won't disappoint me in future."
"Yes milday." Seraphina's confidence came back to her.
"By the way, who is Darius?" Nayra asked.
Selene pointed her hand towards a well muscled man. Who was holding a shield and wore armour. "He is Darius Blackthorn, our fourth S-rank adventurer. He is the one who saved twelve A-rank adventurers in the S-rank dungeon."
"Serve your kingdom with your heart, Darius." Nayra said.
"I will stop every attack that comes on our kingdom." Darius was a tank type adventurer. He had unbreakable defence.
After that, they went to Selene's office. Nayra, Lucian and Selene were sitting on the sofa in the manager's office. They were drinking juice in a glass.
"Where is Arkon? I didn't see him on the ground floor." Nayra asked about Arkon. He was the one who identified the dungeon's rank.
"Five new dungeons appeared this morning. He went to analyse them." Selene told her.
Nayra looked at the yearly report. "You made quite a profit this year."
"Thank you, Mother; it's just because you were my teacher. But I don't understand why Lucian came with you. It's the second time he left the mansion." Selene tried to discomfort Lucian. "I hope he didn't forget what happened when he left the mansion for the first time. That day is still considered a black day for the Valemort house."
Roy was confused because he didn't know about Lucian's past. So, Roy decided to portrayed as he was ashamed of his actions.
"Enough, Selene." Nayra closed the file. Her eyes were cold.
"Sorry…Mother." Selene went silent.
Lucian activated 'Fate Vision'. He saw three threads. One light thin soft pink thread connecting Selene and Nayra. And a thin one connecting Lucian with Nayra. But there was a new thread that was different. It was a thick gold thread flowing force from Selene to Lucian, showing Selene's authority over Lucian.
"Lucian will be assistant manager of my guild. I'll be leaving in the evening for the city Radiant Spire." Nayra stood up. "I hope you will treat him well. So I don't have to come back to promote him before time."
When Nayra appointed Lucian assistant manager. The power thread's thickness became thick, showing that the authority of Selene had been increased over Lucian.
Lucian and Nayra left her office. Selene was still sitting. She stood up and went to her main chair. She was looking outside. She put her hand on the chair. "Lucian, you shouldn't come out of the mansion?" She clenched the chair.
Lucian and Nayra were in Lucian's new office. Nayra's servants were arranging his office with new things. Nayra placed a chair at his main desk.
"Dear, sit on this chair and let me know if this is comfortable for you." Nayra slid the chair behind a little.
There was a door inside that office. Nayra opened that door. "Look dear, you can sleep in this room." That room was quite spacious.
Lucian lay down on bed. "It's really comfortable." The bed was made by royal carpenters.
"You can rest now. Selene will tell you about work later. Till then…have fun." Nayra was arranging Lucian clothes by her own hands.
"Mother, you don't have to do that. I will arrange myself later." Lucian stood up from bed.
"Don't worry dear, every mother wants to arrange their children's clothes. And they feel really happy while doing it." Nayra was almost done.
"(All mothers are the same.)"
"Dear, now I have to take my leave. I have urgent work in the city of the Radiant spire of the Holy kingdom Sanctum Aurelion." Nayra kissed Lucian's forehead and left the room.
Lucian lay down on bed. "Is her behaviour becoming more obsessive because of that thread?" If that's the case then it would be a problem in future?"
[Anchor: Hidden Resentment detected]
[Second anchor will trigger Thread]
[Either erase this anchor or be ready for consequences.]
Lucian was shocked. "Fate vision." He saw poison-green thread; it was light thin. That thread was clinging to his right hand like a chain.
Lucian's fate was changing continuously with time and his actions.
[Deviation Index: 1%]
[FP: 18]
To be continued…