ACT III
THE PARVIAN MESS

CHAPTER 73
KROSH ARTS

  The mention of the otherworlder, followed by the supposed God named Aadya and the ring of Chaos, had Vanessa on edge. These were no small matters, and she certainly did not want her brother Hans getting involved with them. However, as she watched him jump with excitement at the mere possibility of knowing the forging method of the artefact, she couldn't help but feel more anxious because the situation was evolving in a bad way.

  On the other hand, she couldn't help but feel grateful for Aredhel's intervention in putting a stop to this dangerous development earlier. Still, her anxiousness was apparent since she knew that secrets had a way of unravelling themselves in due time.

With a sigh, she decided to steer the conversation back on track. Turning to Aredhel as she asked,
So Professor Aredhel, you never told us the meaning of your daughter's name.   Aredhel turned to gaze at Vanessa, a girl who wasn't meant to be there but had become an unlikely confidante to Sierra. She responded to Vanessa's question with a simple answer, I don't know, her father named her and he never mentioned the meaning. He was not from here as you know.

  Hans nodded in agreement, indicating that he had been previously informed of this fact. Meanwhile, Delimira sat quietly, looking down, unable to comprehend why her mother was reopening old wounds by discussing her father, whom she herself knew through stories.

As Hans delved deeper into the topic, asking if Aredhel's husband was not an elf, Aredhel confirmed,
Yes, he came from another world, chasing Red demons who purged his world.

A sudden realisation hit Hans, causing him to clasp his hands in surprise. "Oh, now I get it," he exclaimed, "That's why she has different mana than anyone I've seen before. It shines brighter, even from far away. That's how I found her last time."

Aredhel chuckled, already aware of this fact, and replied playfully,
So if my daughter ever goes missing, I know who to come to find her.

Hans couldn't resist making a joke, responding,
Sure thing, but I'll have to charge you a hefty price next time. My Gramps is a miser, so my allowance is like ant poop.

Rudolf was quick to scold Hans for his impertinence, saying sternly,
What do you say, you brat?

Hans refuted,
Gramps, her daughter could buy a café and I still have to eat in the cafeteria because I'm always short on money.

Rudolf's anger flared up,
Who asked you to spend money on weird things? Who pays thousands of coins for strange seeds that don't even grow? You get scammed left and right. Giving you money is like throwing it down the drain!

As the argument escalated, Sierra was forced to come out of her sunken mood and threatened both of them,
If you want dinner tonight, you both should shut up.

  The words had an immediate effect, silencing the room. For once, Delimira found herself enjoying the company. She didn't have to pretend or watch out for anyone. The room felt pure, far cleaner from her usual environment filled with ulterior motives which she was used to. And seeing her mother conversing without any ambition for once, looked comfortable in her eyes. She thought about how good her life would have been if she grew up in this kind of family instead of the prison called the royal palace. But her thoughts were interrupted as Hans asked Rudolf,

"Gramps, you never told me how you're acquainted with them."

"Didn't I tell you? We were allies in the war against the red demons," Rudolf replied.

"That's all?" Hans asked, surprised.

Rudolf thought a little and said,
She was also friends with Sam. There were three friends of Sam in Clandor. Oh, and her husband was one of them too.

"Oh!" exclaimed Hans.

Aredhel chimed in,
Those were good times, no worries about the future, just plain, simple life. Ah…

Sierra also agreed with her,
Yes, that was a good time...

  The idle chatter between elders continued, Hans and Delimira quietly listened to their words as elders reminisced about the past. At some point in his small life, Hans wanted to ask something from an elf if he ever got close to one so he asked Aredhel who seemed like she could provide him with an answer.

"Professor Winters, can I ask you something?" he asked.

Aredhel replied sipping the tea
It's not like you'll stop if I deny it, Mr Hans, so ask away.

"I have heard that Elves used to live thousands of years. So why do humans and Elves have similar life spans now?" inquired Hans not wasting the chance.

Aredhel not expecting this question was startled for a moment but explained to him,
That's not hard to answer. Just like Osiris, Elven gods used to stay here in these lands, but for some reason, they left, and with them, so did the longevity blessing on Elves, but our birth rate returned to normal.

Hans found the answer to be anticlimactic, but he accepted it nonetheless. Then, Aredhel fixed her eyes on Hans and asked a question of her own.

So, Mr Hans, why do you think Elf and human relations are sour?

Hans gazed at Aredhel, contemplating what she wanted to hear from him, before cautiously stating what he knew.
Because your kind thinks highly of yourselves and finds humans as barbarians and beneath them.

Aredhel smirked, "Not barbarians but my kind do think the other thing" She added, "But what about your kind? They abduct young elves to increase their lifespans."

Hans was taken aback, this was news to him so he asked to confirm,
Is that possible?

Aredhel's voice held a hint of disdain as she spoke,
I will spare you the gruesome details, Mr Hans, but humans have devised a way of using a unique herb that works on young elves. It can extend their lifespan by one or two years with the sacrifice of a single young elf.

Hans was taken aback once again, his eyes wide with shock as Aredhel continued.
But let's not forget, Elves have not always been righteous either. They have long looked down upon humans and suppressed them with magic in the past. The Elves' greed to remain a superior race and the humans' desire for longevity have led to this vicious cycle. It's hard to say who was in the wrong first.

Hans inquired,
What was your point, professor?

Aredhel paused for a moment before responding,
Hans, can I call you that?

"Of course," replied Hans.

Aredhel continued,
Hans, as the wielder of Inheritance, you have the power to peer into the past. It will allow you to witness many events and conflicts, but you would only see the past from a human's perspective, only one side of the story. So I wanted you to be free from any prejudice that you may gain after witnessing those events. You are from the next generation, and I want you to be free from the past mistakes that we or previous people made.

  Sierra and Rudolf both shared this belief too, which was the reason they refrained from intervening in Hans's friendship with Chris, the son of the man who caused Samson's downfall. They wished for Hans to grow up without being burdened by the past. And Samson had the same view as well, which is why he made it clear early on the first few pages that he didn't want revenge to be sought on his behalf.

  Delimira was also intently listening to the conversation. Previously, she had become fascinated with Samson's hidden power that was capable of suppressing ancients with ease. Now, she had learned that it was a ring that Hans may be capable of crafting in the future. While the elders were focused on protecting Hans from others, they seemed to have overlooked the fact that Delimira was also one of the people chasing the ring now. Hans's worth had just increased exponentially in her eyes.

Each person in the room had their own thoughts, veering away from Rudolf's original intention of questioning Aredhel. Rudolf cleared his throat and addressed her, but Aredhel cut him off mid-sentence."Before we continue, may I ask a favour from Lady Sierra?" Aredhel requested.

Sierra inquired in a low voice,
What is it?

"I would like you to teach my daughter the KROSH ARTS," she replied politely, seeking her permission.

  Delimira was aware that her mother's sincerity would not last long, and it seemed like she had reached her limit. Before, Aredhel had mentioned to Delimira that she would make her Sierra's disciple, but she didn't know that it was for the Krosh art, an infamous skill of the past. People had forgotten about it because many unique personalities had risen since the time when this art had made its name known. However, she also knew that mastering this skill was impossible at least not without Sierra's guidance.

Delimira was looking at Sierra who was in deep thought, waiting for her answer but Hans suddenly came close to her, nudging as he whispered, "Hey, what is Krosh art?" it was a new concept but no one was explaining it to him so he asked her cause she looked like she had the answer.

  As She turned towards Hans, a heavy sigh escaped her lips. She couldn't help but ponder over the sheer lack of knowledge that he possessed about his own household. The desire to be both a mage and a Knight was a coveted dream for many, and Krosh arts had almost made it a reality. However, the progress of this art was only supported by divine mana, leaving aspiring imitators to forfeit their very lives in the pursuit of its power.

  Delmira paused to collect her thoughts, taking a deep breath before delving into the intricate details. As she began to explain, she couldn't help but notice the excitement that lit up Hans's eyes, but she knew that she had to burst his bubble before it grew any larger.

"Unfortunately for you, it's strictly for women only," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "And even if it was not, you must possess the mana circles required to practice it."

  Hans's face fell, "Darn it", a curse escaped his lips. Delmira couldn't help but feel a small sense of amusement at his frustration, a guilty pleasure she had come to enjoy over the year. But her joy was short-lived, as a sense of unease began to settle in her stomach. It wasn't that she doubted Sierra denying to teach her Krosh arts. No, her concern was rooted in the knowledge of the immense pain that it could bring upon those who attempted to master this power.

***

Announcement

NEXT :The Ressurection Plan