Grimoires & Masters - Chapter 14

Aoun woke up after a sound sleep and stretched his arms lazily. He searched for Elena on the bed, but she was not here. The comforter did not have her scent on it, and that meant that she had not come to bed while he slept.


He was tired after their long journey, but so was she. He worriedly got up from the bed and walked out of the tent wearing sleepwear and slippers.


Outside the tent, on the porch, was placed an amulet, isolating the sounds from entering the tent.


Aoun stored the amulet in his ring and turned to look in the direction where the muffled explosions were resounding. Soon, he was at a loss of words.


A little monkey was flying in the air, teleporting at short distances, and it was fighting against Mera.


The little Chaos fox shot Fireballs at it, and in reply, the little monkey shot balls of green light.


The two elemental attacks collided, bursting like fireworks, and muffled explosions reverberated in the valley. For the sounds to reach him hundreds of meters away meant that these elemental attacks were quite concentrated. However, the Beasts only seemed to be sparring, not adamant about hurting each other.


His eyes searched for Elena, and he found her on the other side of the lake, wielding her twin-swords, she intercepted a barrage of blue Ice shards that Winter shot at her. The speed at which those shards of Ice reached her was quick, but Elena was adept at swordplay. She elegantly danced under the rain of attacks and destroyed each one of them with her swords.


Her body was emitting a blue flame-like aura, and Aoun was shocked beyond belief at that. He recognized what it was. It was the Bloodline Power of House Zaryven.


Many races in the World of Aurora were born with Bloodline Powers, but Ashaya were not one of them. However, there were a few Blessed Royal Families with a Bloodline Power, and his Blood was one of those few.


The Bloodline Power of Zaryven was called Flareonova. And only Masters were able to utilize their Bloodline Powers.


A normal person would generally take a couple of years before they can utilize this Power, but Elena was using it only two weeks after her awakening. And by the looks of it, she was growing familiar with it as she stayed in that state.


Flareonova of Zaryven replenished their mana and strength and also increased them at least two-fold for the duration of it.


A Zaryven could not easily be tired or drained of their mana and got immensely strong, but there was a catch to it. A safe duration for using the ability, and if exceeded, it burned the Blood, costing lifespan as a price. However, the durations varied from person to person, depending on their strength and talent. And that was what made the House of Zaryven a terrifying force in the world.


Aoun concentrated on his special bond with Elena, and he felt what Elena was feeling. The exhilarating heartbeat, the rush of adrenaline, and the soulful joy, she felt invincible under the state of Flareonova.


He learned from her memories how she activated it, and it had just happened for her when she was at her limits. His heart tightened when he learned that she had been training for the last four hours. And right before he was about to pry into her reasons, he stopped in respect to her privacy. At least, she was enjoying herself. And her drive had led her to gain such a massive boost in strength.


Winter kept unleashing a barrage of ice shards on her, but then it formed spikes of ice, sharper, longer, faster, and hurled them at her. And right at the same time, spikes started erupting from under her feet.


Elena was taken by surprise, but she composed herself and dodged the attacks, not willing to meet them head-on. She succeeded in evading all but one. Caught in an awkward situation where she was about to get hit, she didn’t bother struggling.


The spike was about to hit her back, but a wall of darkness formed around her. And Ice Spike disintegrated at the soundless collision.


Winter stopped attacking and ran over to Elena. It rubbed its small head on her face, and from her shadow, Shuvi emerged and did the same.


Aoun took a sigh of relief when he saw that. His tightened heart eased, and a smile appeared on his lips.


The other battle between Mera and the little monkey was still going on, and they seemed immersed in it. Perhaps, they loved the fireworks that they created, and it was just another fun game for them.


Flareonova wore off, and Elena looked in his direction, waving at him. He waved back at her, and then rushed back inside the tent to change into clothes for training.


What waited for him outside the tent was Elena, rushing at him ruthlessly. Her Twin-Swords came at him, one headed for his head, and the other aimed at his abdomen.


It wasn’t the first time he had been in such a situation, but her speed was many times greater than it had ever been.


He called out his sword from the ring, and spun around at the last moment, letting the sword on his head miss, and intercepting the sword on his waist by his weapon.


A distinct metallic sound erupted as he unsheathed his sword. And the sheath fell on the grass with a muffled sound.


The next attack was already on him, and Aoun now danced under it with familiarity and confidence.


Even though Mellisa had taught both of them, they had gone on to develop their respective styles.


Elena had started with a long-sword, to be like him, but switched to the Twin-Swords as she tried to become his greatest nemesis. Her style was elegant, ruthless, and relentless. And his style was elegant, patient, and deadly.


Sword Art helped a person shape his skills and provided them with a sound style, but in actual battles, improvisation and instincts decided the results.


She was fast, her Swords were the right length and dangerously sharp. She forced her opponents to go on defense, and once they did, it was game over.


However, Aoun was not like the rest. He had dueled her enough times to understand that she had solely chosen this path to counter him.


In the heat of the battle, his wristband flashed, and a Gauntlet with an Arm-Shield appeared on his left hand. He fearlessly took her attacks now. The two of them entered a state of stalemate, with both failing to capitalize on the openings. But it was short-lived.


Elena was soon wrapped in a blue flame-like Aura.


“This is cheating!” Aoun complained, but the smile on his face had not paled.


“Is that so…” Elena mockingly grinned and showed him what the real strength of a Zaryven was.


Her speed had not had any significant change, but even if it was a minor change, it was enough to make things easier for her, and her strength had enhanced two-fold.


Aoun knew that he could not win this. Even if she didn’t utilize the other benefits of the Flareonova, she would still be the last one to tire out. And by the heaviness of her attacks, it was evident that she was going to finish it sooner than later.


He was a Prince with his pride. It was his loss, but he would not give up and still resist. It was his respect for his opponent too. But Elena was in the mood to humiliate him.


Under the clanks of the swords, a bright-blue flash of light blinded Aoun. His eyes closed instinctively, and he felt a cold-sharp blade kissing his neck in a fraction of time.


“77-92,” Elena announced their new score and smiled.


“I am still in the lead.” Aoun flashed a smug smile and then shook his head. “I can’t win against you as it is. And not when you are reading my mind.”


“Huh…” She dangerously smiled. “You could do the same, brother…”


He shrugged at her words and then sat down. The Gauntlet changed back into the form of a wristband.


Aoun took out a whetstone from his ring and silently worked it on the edges of his long-sword. In his mind flashed the events of his recent defeat, and he reflected on his short-comings.


“You are over-powered…” He sighed.


No one else knew her secrets, and even if he had his Primordial Rune, it was useless against her.


Shuvi happily called out to him and then sat on his shoulder, rubbing its small face on his cheek. And Winter planted a light kiss on his neck before turning into a white light and disappearing inside his heart.


From their bond, he felt that the little fox was tired and wanted to sleep.


“Chino woke up…” He turned to look at the little monkey that was still busy fighting against the Fire Vulis.


“Mhm…” Elena sat by his side and then called out her Grimoire before handing it to him. “I contracted it.”


Aoun glanced at the little monkey before looking at the page that had its information on it.


“The Paradise Wanderer?” He frowned at the name and tried to recall if he had read about it, but failed. “What are its Powers?”


“Element of Wind,” Elena answered him. “And then it can float in the air, and also… I think what it is using from time to time is Blink. The range is around sixteen meters.”


“Blink?” Aoun was surprised at those words, and now that he observed the battle between the Beasts again, he concluded the same as well.


“I think it evolved after eating those berries,” Elena informed him.


“You still have some right?”


“No,” She shook her head. “Had three, but I offered them to Chino in a deal. And it ate one before giving one to ray and one to Maya.” She pointed to the two Horses that were soundly sleeping behind the Great-Tree. “The foxes were not interested in those fruits.”


Shuvi made sounds, nodding to Elena’s words.


“Didn’t try eating them?” He asked with a smile.


“I wanted to, but Mera stopped me.” Elena smiled at him, and Shuvi again nodded its head. “It seems like only Beasts can handle it.” She leaned on his side and rested her head on his shoulder.


“How long can you stay under the sate of Flareonova?”


“I have used it for fifteen minutes so far, and I think I can hold on for five to six more minutes.”


“Twenty minutes…” Aoun brightly smiled. “Ten more than Father when he first awoke it.”


“Hehe…” Elena proudly smiled. “I am the best.”


“Of course…” He replied with a nod and then took out a pocket watch.


“You slept for over ten hours.”


“And you spent that time training…”


“I did take some rest.” She planted a kiss on his shoulder. “And since I drank some water from the lake, my tiredness was washed away.”


Aoun curiously looked at the Lake of Death and sighed.


“You filled the gourd?”


“Mhm..” She nodded lazily and closed her eyes.


“It will be three years before we can fill it up again…” He sighed at the mysteries of the lake. “And have you decided where you want to go next?”


“We have two weeks to stay here, and then three days to get as far away from the Whispering Forest as possible.” She opened her eyes and looked at the necklace he was wearing. “We will head to the Kingdom of Dreams first.”


Aoun was glad that she decided such.


The Wild North was not the place that they could explore with their strengths.


His mind started preparing a training program for himself, but then he sighed and shook his head. They had to make the most of these two weeks, but more than that, they had to enjoy themselves.


“Hungry?” He planted a kiss on her head and asked.


“Yes!” Elena smiled brightly got up on her feet. “Lunchtime!” She cried out, and the two Beasts that were fighting stopped and flew over to her side.


Chino arrived first, blinking the distance in a few seconds and sat on Elena’s shoulder.


“Come here!” Aoun smiled at it and called out.


Chino did not hesitate and appeared on Aoun’s shoulder.  


“The ability sure is handy.” Aoun praised it and gently patted its head before picking it up in his hands and staring right in its eyes.


Its curious, bright eyes looked back in his and then turned to look at the necklace he was wearing.


Chino pointed at his necklace, and Aoun smiled before taking it off and handing it over.


As soon as he took it off, the Aura of an Emperor wore off, but Chino was not surprised.


The little monkey curiously traced the purple gem of the necklace with its small hands and then handed it back to Aoun.


“What is it?” He curiously asked the little fellow.


And to the surprise of Aoun and Elena, the little monkey placed both hands on its heart and swayed its head left and right.


They could not speak the language of the Beasts, but they got its message.


“It is very precious?” Elena asked it, and Chino nodded its head.


“You are a Treasure Seeker?” Aoun frowned and asked.


His words dissatisfied Chino as it proudly turned its face away, but eventually nodded.


“So a Treasure Seeker, but the best.” Aoun smiled.


This time, Chino was pleased and happily nodded before sending his hair fluttering with a soft gust of wind.


“Interesting…”


Aoun meaningfully looked at Elena, and they both smiled helplessly.


Treasure Seekers were one of the most prized Beasts, but Chino was a Treasure Seeker with Supreme Bloodline. They had to be very careful not to let people discover Chino’s secret, and for that, Elena had to take her time and teach her little Beast a few things.


All of them entered the Royal Tent. Everyone helped in setting up a table and then they started eating.


Chino was fine with eating almost anything, but the Foxes only ate fruits. When they were all done eating, everyone except for Aoun entered the bed to get some rest.


Elena laughed as Chino, Mera, and Shuvi tickled her and played around.


Aoun let them be and exited the tent before walking to the lake. He crouched down and carefully took a mouthful of water in his hand and drank it.


A rush of ecstasy pulsated in his veins, and all his senses felt as if they got the long lost freedom.


His heart started racing, body warmed up, and then the Darkness inside of him unleashed itself.


A cage of darkness spread from inside of him, engulfed him, and kept spreading. A black dome formed, spanning over 36 meters, and whatever it covered was hidden from all eyes. Inside it was the eternal silence, but Aoun could hear it all, feel it all, and see it all. And even inside the cage of Darkness, the Water of the lake was softly shining, but it provided no light.


Minutes later, the darkness receded inside of him. Everything was just like it had been before. But Aoun had a light smile on his lips.


The Rune of Annihilation was revolving in its craze. He summoned his sword, and in the silent valley, under the sparkle from the lake, he danced with it. Little by little, his speed increased, and then it was no longer just elegant, but a battle dance that reeked of bloodlust. Every move of the sword cut the air, making it cry continuously.


Aoun utilized his mana, enforced his Aura with it, and circulated it to become faster and stronger.


His thoughts were clear, and his mind solely focused on one goal. He wanted Power, and for that, he needed strength first.


The recent defeat to Elena fueled his desire even more. She was trying her best for him, and he could not let her down.


After hours of a craze, he managed to grasp the basics of the Elemental control. He could now form shields of Darkness and Ice to protect himself, and his sword was layered in a transparent blue hue from the Element of Ice he borrowed from Winter.


The little fox was soundly asleep inside his heart, and he only needed it to be there to use its Element.


Aoun loved the cries of the air as he swung his sword, and that was why he found himself not fond of covering his sword in his Darkness. The Element of Darkness turned it into a silent sword that could not be heard, and as deadly and useful it might prove in battles, he was not going to bore himself by playing it in his training.


He sprawled down on the soft grass and gazed at the stary sky.


—————————————————


At the center of the World of Aurora, in the Heart of the Isles of Solomon, right at the center of the City of Skyians, there stood a tower that reached the Sky and disappeared in the clouds.


Inside the tower, on the topmost floor, there was a lady in white with flawless white hair, sitting silently inside a mandala in a spacious hall.


The black door of the white room opened, and inside walked a group of people that were dressed in silver gowns, and a few of them had snow-white feathered wings on their backs.


“Saintess!” They all bowed to the lady and called out in unison.


There was no reply from the lady, and they all stood there silently and respectfully, waiting for her to acknowledge their presence.


“Have the awakening ceremonies concluded?” A mellow voice sounded, and the enchantingly beautiful lady opened her crystal-grey eyes.


“Yes, Saintess!” A lady with wings on her back stepped forward.


A transparent screen of light appeared over her hand that she drew forward.


“All the Awakening Ceremonies in the five continents and the Isles of Solomon have concluded. 33 people have been classed Violet, 336 Indigo, 987 Blue, 4635 Green, 9865 Yellow, 16877 Orange, and 39876 Red. A total of 72610 Masters have appeared this year, almost twenty thousand less than the last year. However, the numbers are comparatively higher when we look at the Blue ranked and above Masters.” The lady respectively summarized things to Saintess.


“And which Empire gained the most?” The Saintess asked with a smile.


“The Empire of White Winter.” The lady smiled. “It is the first time in their history that they have gained the most out of an awakening ceremony. 2 Violet talents, both Royals, the Princess, and the Second Prince. And then they gained 7 Indigo talents and 21 Blue talents.”


“How many of those Indigo and Blue appeared on the first day?”


“Nine Blue talents on the first day. They gained the rest over the next five days.”


The words brought a bright and meaningful smile on the Saintess’ lips.


“We will perform the ceremony now.” She told them and closed her eyes.


The group of people scattered, each taking their spot on the mandala, and after they were at their positions, all closed their eyes.


The mandala brightened in myriad lights, revolved, and the stary roof of the room revolved with it.


When the phenomenon finally subsided, all of them fell on their knees, panting for breath, haggard to their limits.


“Saintess…”


The lady that had given information on the Awakening Ceremonies managed to call out to her.


Her words brought the attention of others to the roof over their heads, and they felt their souls tremble in fear.


The 102 bright stars were now 110, each with their distinctive shape and color. But what caught everyone’s attention was the group of three stars that were together. This group was not present before, and one of those three Stars had been on this roof for over two centuries, and it had always stayed away from the rest.


Other than the people in the room, no one knew the significance of these Stars on the roof. Only those stars that were linked to certain prophecies appeared on this roof. And for the Stars to be in groups meant something extraordinarily terrifying.


“Who are these two Stars?” One man curiously asked as he looked at the Black and the Blue Stars that were together with the old Purple Star.


There was no way for these people to tell which Star represented which Empyrean, only the Saintess could tell them that.


“The Chaos Twins have appeared in the world.” The Saintess whispered solemnly.


“Do we…” A man was shivering in fear and was about to suggest something dreadful before he stopped himself.


Everyone in the room knew what he wanted to say, but they sighed and shook their head.


“Kill them?” The Saintess smiled at the man. “Do you dare?”


“My apologies, Saintess…” He kneeled to her and sighed.


“If the World shall burn, let it burn.”


The words of the Saintess constricted their Hearts, but there was nothing they could do about it.


They knew better than anyone that Empyreans could not be stopped, and that they must never try to stop them.