Aurelia Ardent gently ran her fingers through Eren's hair.
The room held only silence—deep, heavy silence.
After a while, she asked—
"Son, why did you work so hard to save her?"
Eren paused for a moment.
She's going to become a great talent in the future, but I need to come up with some excuse.
Then Eren spoke softly—
"Mother... do you remember when I was little?"
Aurelia's eyes softened.
"You taught me," Eren continued, "that the strong have a duty... to protect the weak."
"So I just... did that."
Aurelia placed her hand on Eren's cheek.
"You're exactly like your father."
Then her voice grew serious—
"But son... the world isn't as simple as you think it is."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Once.
Twice.
"Come in," Aurelia said.
The door opened.
Lina entered. Worry was clear on her face.
"Young Master, are you alright?" she asked.
"Yes, Lina," Eren replied. "And... how is Merry?"
Lina's eyes widened for a moment. Then she said—
"She... she's fine. The healer has healed her too."
Eren breathed a sigh of relief.
Aurelia stood up. She placed a gentle kiss on Eren's forehead.
"Rest, son," she said. "I'll leave you alone."
She left.
Lina started to leave as well—
The intense sunlight was blanketing the entire Ardent family estate.
In one room of the Ardent family—
On one side of a long stone table sat Aldric Ardent. Eren's father.
Standing across from him was the masked man. His face was now visible.
Scarred. Hardened. Experienced.
Both elders—the first and second—stood in the corners of the room. So quietly, as if nothing was happening at all.
Aldric remained silent for a while. Then he spoke slowly—
"So... who are you?"
The masked man laughed.
"I'm just a traveler. Someone who showed up at the right place at the wrong time."
"Lies," the first elder said immediately. "People like you don't show up by coincidence."
The masked man looked at him. "Sharp. But that's the truth."
Aldric leaned forward. "Why did you save my son?"
"Because," the masked man said, "I'm interested in that girl. Merry Ardent."
Silence filled the room.
"Why?" Aldric asked.
"There's a mark on her hand," the masked man said. "A very rare mark. The symbol of an ancient bloodline."
Aldric's eyes narrowed.
"And what does that matter to you?"
The masked man smiled.
"Nothing. Not yet, anyway."
Just then, the second elder stepped forward and said—
"Master, our informants have delivered their report."
Aldric focused his attention on them.
"Speak."
"The northern bandits are getting organized," the elder said. "And... a faction war has begun at the Royal Academy."
Aldric's fingers began tapping slowly on the table.
He was thinking.
Then he looked at the masked man.
"Do you know anything else?"
The masked man became serious.
"Yes," he said. "A powerful family... operates in the shadows. They've sent a spy inside your family."
Aldric's breath caught.
"Spy?"
"Yes," the masked man said. "And he's still here right now."
Aldric stood up. Cold anger flickered in his eyes.
"First Elder," he said, "take the spy in Eren's room to the dungeon. Right now."
"Yes, Master," the first elder left immediately.
Aldric looked at the masked man.
"You can stay here for three days. But if you do anything suspicious..."
His voice became dangerous—
"Then you know only one member is worthy enough to kill you."
The masked man smiled.
"Fair enough."
That night—
Eren was sitting in the garden. Alone.
Stars were shining in the sky.
He closed his eyes.
Slowly, green energy began entering his body.
Stable.
Calm.
Then he touched the blue energy.
At first, everything was fine—
Then suddenly—
Crack!
A small hole formed in the ground.
Eren opened his eyes.
"My control is still weak."
Just then, a voice came—
"You're very lucky, boy."
Eren immediately turned around.
The masked man was sitting on the windowsill.
"Why are you here?" Eren asked.
"Just... came to see."
Eren remained calm. Then he asked—
"Why did you save me?"
The masked man laughed.
"I didn't save you. I saved that girl."
Eren's heart began beating faster.
"Merry? Why?"
"Because," the masked man said, "there's a power inside her. An ancient bloodline."
Eren thought—
Yeah, I already know that. What's new about this?
"Why didn't you take her with you?" Eren asked.
The masked man smiled.
"Do you really think I could've taken her right in front of your family?"
Looking into Eren's eyes, he said—
"Yes, I know that," Eren also said calmly.
"Now tell me this—why did you go to save that rookie girl?" the masked man asked quietly.
Eren thought for a while and said—
"What you know, I know too."
"You knew that too?" the masked man said.
"I need to ask you a question. Will you answer?" Eren said, stepping back slightly.
The masked man nodded his head yes.
"Do you know about the great assassin Clen?" Eren asked, choosing his words carefully.
It seemed as if some change came over the masked man's face.
"Yes, I know," the masked man said.
"Then let's form an alliance," Eren said after a moment.
"What alliance?" the masked man said, shocked.
"I'm a great assassin. Do you think I'll form an alliance with a rookie?" the masked man said with arrogance.
"This will happen quickly, but I need this right now. Listen, create a barrier so sounds don't escape outside," Eren said, taking a deep breath.
The masked man created a barrier.
"Yes, now speak," the masked man said.
Eren remained silent for a while.
"Now speak already!" the masked man said, getting somewhat annoyed.
"Yes, listen now. Masked man, you're interested in Merry Ardent." Eren was speaking, but the masked man interrupted midway—
"Hey, I don't have that kind of interest."
"Yes, I know."
"Now listen. As far as I can figure out, you're from the great assassin Clen. You must be one of their members."
"Yeah, so you think I'm not a member of assassin Clen?"
"Yes, you're not one of their members," Eren said quickly.
"So listen, I can solve two of your problems," Eren said again.
"One about your younger brother, the other about Merry."
Eren said this after thinking carefully.
"What younger brother?" the masked man said.
"You'd better not try acting ignorant."
"Alright, will you fulfill my condition?"
The night deepened, and in one room of the Ardent family estate, Eren's father Aldric was smiling as if he'd heard something amusing.
The next morning—
Eren was standing in his father's chamber.
Aldric looked at him. Then he said—
"Eren."
"Yes, Father."
"You'll have to leave from here now," Aldric said.
"Where, Father?" Eren said.
"Royal Academy," Aldric said.
"No, Father. I'm not going there," Eren said.
"Why?" Aldric said.
"Secret Royal Academy," Eren said just those words.
And Aldric's face tensed as if he'd heard some dangerous name.
What will happen next?
To find out, keep reading My Fiction Became My Reality
Friends, due to some technical issues I could not release the chapter. So friends, don't be angry Another chapter will come till Abhi Shyam