This magic signature is very familiar to Akira because he had stayed with this person for hundreds of years. This magic power belongs to Irene. But why did she come here ? And why is she locking down this port city? Don't tell me she had somehow managed to sense him. Wait, she definitely sensed me; otherwise, how could this town still function normaly under her pressure? It seems I can't run away anymore.
Numerous thoughts rang in his mind as he mechanically turned to look at Grammi and spoke in a dry tone, "Well, Grammi, I may have to excuse myself for now. I will leave one of my clones with you if the departure time comes and I still haven't arrived yet. Please don't hesitate to leave without waiting for me. "
Hearing the strange, serious tone in his voice, Grammi's face instantly paled. Although she couldn't feel heavy pressure in the air, but seeing Akira—who had been so calm and composed the entire week—look this tense made her heart race.
"Akira... what happened?" Grammi whispered, her arms tightening around the sleeping Brandish. "Is it someone from the Empire?"
" Yes, and she had already marked me and is waiting for me to come to her " Akira said with a smile that was almost crying.
"Can't we just run away?" Grammi asked, trying to find any way out of this situation. "With your magic and that car, can't we just slip past her?"
"If I try to run, she won't just follow—she will tear this entire port apart to find me," Akira said, shaking his head with a tired sigh. "Right now, her magic is focused entirely on me. The townsfolk can't even feel it because she is containing the pressure, targeting only my senses. If I step out to meet her, her attention stays on me, and you and Brandish will be completely safe."
Grammi bit her lip, looking at Akira with deep concern and helplessness. She knew the level of mages that existed in the Empire, and seeing Akira this shaken meant the person outside was definitely not someone simple. Maybe this person may actually be one of those 12 strongest mages who are called,
"Don't worry too much," Akira added, forcing his expression to soften as he raised two fingers. With a soft poof, a shadow clone appeared right beside him. "My clone will stay with you, hide your presence, and make sure you both get onto that ship safely tomorrow morning."
The clone stepped forward, taking the heavy luggage with a calm smile. "I'll keep them safe, don't worry."
Akira turned back toward the window, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. "If everything goes well, I'll join you on the ship before it leaves. But if I'm not there when the sun rises, take Brandish and go back to Ishgar. My clone is strong enough to escort you two to Heartfilaia mansion. "
Grammi looked at him for a long moment before giving a firm nod. "Please... be careful, Akira."
"I will," Akira said. " And besides, you actually don't need to worry; she most probably won't hurt me " he added as he left through the window and turned into black smoke and left the inn.
…..
On a tall cliff near the port city stood a very beautiful woman. She had long, braided red hair and wore a big black witch hat. Her clothes looked fancy and majestic, with a dark top, a long cape, and a long skirt that exposed her legs. In her right hand, she held a large wooden staff shaped like animal horns.
This was Irene Belserion, one of the strongest mages in the Alvarez Empire.
She stood still at the edge of the cliff as the cool wind blew through her red hair. Her sharp eyes watched the black smoke moving fast toward her. A small smile appeared on her face, and she lowered her staff as her magic pressure softened a bit.
The black smoke landed on the grass a few feet away and turned back into Akira.
He took a slow breath, trying to stay calm, and looked at the familiar figure. Although she was a bit different now, he could still recognise her even if he was blind. This bloodline connection cannot lie.
"It's been a while, Mother," Akira said with a small, helpless smile.
Irene stared at Akira, her crimson eyes scanning him from head to toe. For a moment, the cold, distant aura around her softened, replaced by a complex look of nostalgia, amusement, and a hint of anger.
"Mother, is it?" Irene spoke, her voice smooth and dangerous. "How come I never knew that I had a child who is half dragon. "
Akira scratched the back of his neck, letting out an awkward chuckle. " Um, mother, can you stop acting like that? I still remember everything from my childhood?"
There was a heavy, awkward silence on the cliff as Irene's expression completely froze. Her usual calm and playful smile disappeared, replaced by a look of pure shock.
For a few long seconds, she just stared at Akira with wide red eyes, unable to say a word.
"You... remember?" Irene asked slowly, her dangerous voice dropping into a quiet whisper.
"Yes, I remember everything," Akira said, taking a step closer with a gentle, reassuring smile. "I remember the days you were in prison, the pain you went through, and how hard you tried to protect Erza and me, how you almost went insane trying to turn back to human."
Irene stood completely frozen, her hand gripping her large wooden staff so tightly her knuckles turned white. The powerful, scary image of the 'Scarlet Desolation' completely melted away, leaving behind just a mother who was scared to meet her son.
A small tremble ran through her shoulders. Tears slowly pooled in the corners of her sharp crimson eyes, though she quickly turned her head slightly to hide them behind her large witch hat.
At this moment, Akira, although he had that gentle expression, inwardly he was actually on guard just in case Irene suddenly went on a rampage. You never know what a mentally unstable person would do.
And it seemed his caution was well-founded.
For a second, the cliff was completely quiet. Then, a soft laugh came from Irene's lips. It started out quiet, but quickly turned into a cold, scary laugh that echoed across the rocks.
"My, my... what a nice little story," Irene said. Her voice was polite and sweet, but extremely dangerous. She lifted her big black witch hat, her red eyes shining with a wild, crazy light. " Did you really think I would break down and show sympathy towards a monster like you? You are nothing but a burden I discarded"
Seeing Irene losing her cool and being on the verge of rampaging, Akira immediately activated the teleportation magic circle he had prepared beforehand. A bright light flashed as a huge magic circle appeared under them, teleporting both of them away from this place.
******
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