In the Song domain...
[You have slain Fallen Monster, Critton Burrower.]
[Your soul grows stronger...]
Crash!
The sound of a body hitting the snow echoed as Merlin kicked off the nightmare creature impaled by his sword.
Around him, similar nightmare creatures lay dead on the ground, all partially covered in snow with blood flowing out of their precise stab or slash wounds.
"Huu... that's the last of them" He muttered as he swiped his sword to remove the blood.
"You missed one..." a voice sounded from behind him.
"No I didn't Bin, that creature is already your thrall, I don't see any need to kill it" He replied without turning around.
Eubin walked to his side, not refuting his words, she stared at his face for a few seconds, then turned to the direction he was facing.
In front stood a nightmare creature similar to the dead ones, but bigger and more profound.
"That's the leader... what rank is it?" She asked.
"Fallen Tyrant... since you already knew, why ask me? And why are you even here?" He sighed as he turned to face her.
"Don't look at me like that, I don't want to be here either, I was busy on my own until I heard you were out here kicking up a nest of nightmare creatures that I didn't even know was hidden here" She scoffed, then turned to the nightmare creature.
"So? Do you need help?"
He shook his head and summoned a bow and arrow, he pulled it back and aimed at the Fallen Tyrant.
Twip.
Twip.
Twip.
Three consecutive shots, at the same location, the three arrows hit the weakest part of the fallen devil at a speed that made it unable to react.
[You have slain a Fallen Tyrant...]
He sighed as he dismissed the weapon and started walking forward, he didn't bother with the shards anymore, after all he was currently one of the richest people he knew, he was earning money from two different sides, and the Song clan took care of his every need, so all the money went to his other self.
As he walked forward, Eubin hesitated for a moment before walking after him.
"Where are you going?" She asked as she approached him.
"I didn't come out here looking for nightmare creatures in the first place... I'm doing something else" He replied as he continued his walk.
"Mother said no one should go too far beyond the border" She said calmly.
"I know... I'm not going that far" he replied, still walking.
The reason he was out here was simply because he was thinking about how to scam Ki Song out of a few people without being too suspicious about it.
About a week ago, Valor had come out to announce the addition of Changing Star and her people to their ranks, and thus the Valor clan gained another princess, and in retaliation, Song domain made him a prince and also announced his position to the world.
To those who didn't know, it would seem like the great clans are striving for togetherness by gathering friends that could work together, however, those who knew, already felt the weight of their actions, two friends on opposite sides of the battlefield.
However, those who really knew, could tell that all of these were just him playing checkers with the great clans, after all, none of that will be an issue after the Sovereigns are dead.
The ones who really knew about it were the cohort with Silver and Ariel, Jet was going to know soon too. The only person who wasn't part of the cohort and had some suspicions was Saint Cor, Wake Of Ruin.
He already expected it since he had bragged about some things to the Saint, however he still didn't know the full picture, all he held was a piece of a puzzle.
As a prince of the Song domain, he naturally had the attention and boons that came with the position, however he rejected them all, the last thing he wanted was having more of Ki Song's people breathing down his neck.
So as a result, he usually spent his days away from the castle.
Yes, he was living inside the palace, he knew Ki Song was doing it to keep an eye on him, however he didn't mind at all, because it was partially his fault.
So instead of dealing with the palace people, he simply spent his time hunting or moving through the endless snow.
Currently, he was thinking of how to get a few benefits from Ki Song, and he was sure it was going to take a lot more than saying 'please', at worst, he'd have to reveal a few secrets, and that wasn't looking good.
On the other hand, he could simply not ask for permission and just go ahead and kidnap the people he needed, but that would just put a target on his newly formed organization.
He sighed and shook his head as he turned around, he was making no progress at all, sometimes he wished he could just have three bodies.
"You're going back?" Eubin asked.
"Do you want me to keep walking forward Bin? If Her Majesty knew you were hoping to send me to my death, I don't think she'd be too happy" He replied calmly.
"What are you talking about? And you're a prince now, you're supposed to call her 'Mother'..." Eubin countered.
He stopped and looked at her.
"I only ever had one mother, and she's already gone..." he looked into her eyes, staring at it for a few seconds before he said.
"You really have beautiful eyes..."
"Huh?" She blushed slightly and glared at him "what are you even saying?"
He shook his head and turned around.
"I wasn't talking about you..."
As he was walking, Eubin that heard his last words, rushed up to him and bumped him on the shoulder, he fell to his knee as he held his chest slightly.
"Huh? You fell from just that? You're supposed to be strong" She mocked, but after seeing his hand on his chest, she walked to him and asked worriedly.
"Hey Merlin, what's wrong?"
He shook his head that was buzzing and cursed under his breath, then he stood up and answered her.
"it's nothing, just essence drain"
"Essence drain? Why's that? you're not doing anything that requires essence are you?"
"It's not like that, it happens to me sometimes" he explained.
"Why?" She asked as she watched him.
He sighed and said in a cryptic tone.
"A price is to be exacted for what fate bestows"
She scoffed, "Now you're an oracle?"
"You already knew that I have visions from time to time" He stated plainly.
She sighed, "although I'm curious about your words, Hel is already the limit I can handle when it comes to oracles"
"I thought you'd be curious how I have such an ability" he tilted his head and said with an amused voice.
"I'm curious, however I doubt you'll answer me" She shook her head.
He watched her then smiled.
"Do you want to know?"
"Sure" she shrugged.
"What's my ascended ability?"
"Something about borrowing others' ability to use once with their permission" she answered.
He nodded, "and in what situations have I received visions?"
"Come to think of it, it always comes right before another person gets one" She said in enlightenment.
"That's right..." he confirmed "It's likely a side effect of my ability, but it doesn't need permission, I can just tap into their visions right before it happens"
What he said was the truth, the visions were a side effect of his ability, as for which one, he never specified. He couldn't tell whether Eubin had something she could use to tell whether he was lying or not, but even if she did, it would show that he was telling the truth.
The truth he was telling and the truth she was understanding might not be the same, but who cares.
"I understand... thank you for telling me" she smiled.
"It must be tough... being the one in charge of getting more information from me" he chuckled.
"Hopefully Seishan can come back soon... I'm tired of the stress, all this would be better if I could just use my abilities to make you confess your deepest secrets to me, but if I tried it, I'm sure you would kill me" She sighed helplessly.
He raised an eyebrow at her, then he chuckled and said.
"Since you admitted it so easily, I promise I won't kill you... I'll just keep you inside my soul sea, with no way out, and I'll have you all to myself forever"
"I can't tell if I want to reject or accept that offer~" She smiled seductively, as her alluring pressure breezed through his mind.
She immediately restrained it and apologized.
"I'm sorry, it slips out sometimes"
"Are you actively suppressing your seductive pressure?" he asked.
"Yes... I don't want you to misunderstand, it's a result of my presence as a transcendent, it's a natural reaction" she sighed helplessly.
"Then don't suppress it, I can handle a little aphrodisiac effect" he gave her a go ahead.
Eubin sighed in relief as she stopped actively suppressing her presence.
"Thanks... such a relief"
He nodded absentmindedly as he regretted his decision, although the effect wasn't much on him, it was still there, and not only that, Eubin was a beautiful lady, and although he was interested in her, he was holding himself back, only indulging slightly.
But now, he felt that if they left him and her alone in a room, his self-control would snap easier than a dried twig in Autumn.
"I have to admit... I can handle this much, however if I flirt with you more often, don't take it to heart" He said calmly.
Ebin's smile became more profound, "Oh~ Being flirted on from you would be more interesting than whatever secrets you have~"
"Don't push your luck..." he turned his head away "you're just solidifying the ideas of me keeping you all to myself"
"Haha.... I don't want to take what belongs to Shan, but if she rejects you, I can have you right?" She smiled teasingly.
"We'll see" he replied casually as he made his way back.
...
A few days later...
Merlin sat crosslegged on his bed, his eyes closed as he took steady breaths, inside the large room, there was only him and one other person, someone who had walked into the room earlier and hadn't said anything.
The lady sat quietly opposite Merlin, on a chair that he hardly used, just quietly staring at his meditating figure.
Merlin on the other hand didn't change his position or feel any discomfort, he just kept meditating, he had been doing this ever since he arrived at the Song domain, he didn't sleep, just meditate.
He sighed and spoke without opening his eyes.
"Is there something I can help you with?"
"I know I've said it before, but are you always this casual when you're not in front of my true body" the lady spoke calmly.
"Yes" he answered shortly, "to what do I owe the in-room visit?"
"I doubt it'll be what you expect" the lady smiled teasingly.
"You sound just like your daughters, you really did a good job raising them" he chuckled.
The lady paused for a second then asked.
"Do you think so?"
"I just said so... they truly take traits after you" he said honestly.
"I see..." The lady smiled "Merlin, what do you think of my children?"
He still didn't open his eyes as he replied calmly.
"I haven't met them all, only Bin, Hel and Seishan... Bin took most of your calm and free characteristics, Hel took your sly mischievousness and Seishan took after your grace and poise... for a set of adopted children, I can say you did a really good job"
The lady kept quiet for a minute, then asked in a quiet voice.
"Merlin... do you know what my flaw is?"
He opened his eyes and gave a precise answer.
"Yes"
"How do you know?" She asked.
"At this point, explaining it is meaningless... I know what you want to ask, and yes you're a good mother, although you're not very active, at least you're still there" He said calmly.
"If you're the one saying it, then I guess it's about half-right" she chuckled.
"It's about time you told me why you're here" He relaxed his position and sat straight.
The lady's demeanor turned serious as she looked him in the eye.
"In the coming war, where does your loyalty lie?"
"As a prince of the Song domain, it's my obligation to fight for my kingdom... I'll fight for your cause as long as you give the order" He said calmly.
"And if that order is to kill a Saint?" She asked.
"Then Valor loses a Saint"
She nodded, then asked, "What if that order is to kill Changing Star?"
He didn't answer for a few seconds, then he sighed and said in a low voice.
"You see... to me, Changing Star and her cohort are like family, I would protect them from any danger, that includes your people... your problem with Valor should end with Valor, if my friends stand in your way, move them, however if any of them die, then you're going to have a problem with me"
"I understand... I'll see to it that none of your friends die" she nodded then asked "are you not interested in the reason we're going to war?"
He sighed and spoke melancholicly.
"You see… everywhere you look in this world, wherever there is light, there will always be shadows to be found as well...
As long as there is a concept of victors, the vanquished will also exist...
The selfish intent of wanting to create peace initiates wars...
And hatred is born in order to protect love...
There are simply nexuses that cannot be separated"
She listened to his words and nodded in understanding.
"Your logic is very profound, I appreciate your insight... before I leave, I just have one question"
He gestured for her to continue.
She nodded and asked.
"Do you have any idea when Seishan will return?"
He thought for a while, then he brought out a coin and flicked it into the air, the coin carved an arc and landed smoothly in his palm.
However he didn't open his hand to check, his eyes were not even open, he was currently using dream divination.
"You're in luck... She should be returning in a few days from now" he offered a smile.
"I understand... thank you" She nodded and stood up, "I'll take my leave"
He nodded and returned to his meditation.