It didn't take long for some clothing to be delivered to Aron. It was nothing glamorous like what the females wore but he had expected that much from the beginning.
What he found odd was that it was brought in trunk carried by several large males.
The clothing set was actually a light armor piece with silver colored metallic gauntlets, boots, helm and a chest plate with a crimson red cloak attached to it. The other areas were made of dark grey hard leather while his belt was simple and brown in color and also had some crimson red cloth hanging from it.
"I thought this would suit you best."
Alongside the woman who brought was Helar who commented this as she looked at Aron as of proud of him.
"Who did it belong to?" Aron didn't care the false interest she was displaying simply because he now had value and his tone of speech showed this.
"We don't know, the males kept it as a sort of symbol of strength… a goal to reach if you will since no one has been able to wear it and move due to the weight. The material it's made of couldn't be smelted either so it became a symbol that no one wore, it's a relic belonging to our ancestors."
"Even father couldn't wear this?" Aron eyed the piece of armor that really didn't look to special.
He approached and lifted the helm first with great ease, it certainly wasn't light but calling it heavy was an exaggeration. He felt the others were simply weak.
He thought she had probably spoken so well of it so that he could feel important to them. The more time he spent with them the more he understood what his father meant back when he ranted about how cunning Koliean women are.
The armor piece wasn't better than what he initially had, it was simply that it was made for beings who were tier six. Aron's body alone had now reached a frightening tier seven whereas his mana capacity and control were around the sixth tier.
"I see, this is fine then." Aron's attitude was seen as arrogant by the males who brought the equipment to him but none spoke up.
They were smart enough to know he was being favored by Helar and even Elise, making him an enemy wouldn't do them any good.
Aron wasn't going to pretend to be flattered or moved, coming across as easy would only make them try to subdue him more.
However if her showed reluctance then they'd be more careful with their approach, after all it wasn't like taming one of their males but instead an emperor with powerful allies.
'Stubborn like his father and clever like this mother, he won't be easy but he must be won over.' Helar thought while maintaining a smile on her face on the surface.
"What will you do about the one called Celes, I think you should meet her demands. We lose nothing and we can avoid conflict, arrogant as she may be she is powerful that much is clear."
Helar began to advise as Aron was dressing up. Little did she know that immediately he was told about the situation he had made his own plans on the matter to breed the most benefits.
"Tell her I'm willing to hand over Celes but not the pillars and in exchange I'll have her meet her daughter." Aron revealed nonchalantly.
Helar didn't know much about the situation but it seemed conflict would be avoided so she had no reason to protest.
She turned to one of the armored women and gave her a knowing nod. This was immediately understood and so she proceeded to deliver the news.
…
Night fell and Sayiva had agreed to the terms.
The venue for the meeting was set to be at Aron's residence within Galos City. Before the venue was agreed upon the Aethelians demanded to be allowed within the city just in case of anything.
If it were a trap then they would fight to their last breath taking as many lives as they could with them.
This lead for quite the heavy atmosphere as numerous powerhouses gathered in-front of Aron's residence.
"I can feel three mana presences there…"
Sayiva stared at the gate for a moment before walking past it alone after confirming not more than three people were inside. One had to be Aron, the other Celes and the last her daughter.
'I wonder what he's planning now.' Lady Rose also stood near the gate but didn't enter, since Aron was yet to speak to her she could only speculate what was going through his mind.
Sayiva entered the premises while being on high alert. She didn't need to knock on the door as it was already opened so she just made her way in.
"Mmmmm!"
Upon entering she could here loud muffled noises coming from the living the room. She peaked carefully only to see Celes tired up while on her knees with a cloth covering her mouth.
Her bloodshot eyes were a clear testament to the anger she was feeling at that moment.
"Down here, you can leave with her after." Before Sayiva could even comprehend the situation, Aron's voice resounded from the staircase going downwards.
Sayiva slowly turned away from the angry Sayiva and proceeded down stairs before encountering one door, she slowly opened it and found herself within Aron's lounge.
He sat comfortably on a lounge chair and standing by his side nervously was an Aethelian female with long silver-ish hair and blank eyes… she was Mirai.
Sayiva's focus was solely on the Aethelian girl who she eyed up and down, the more she looked the teary eyed she became. "Zun…" Sayiva called out this nickname in a cracky voice while walking forward slowly.
"Mother…" Mirai also called out in a low emotional voice with tears running down her face as well as she took steps forward to meet the woman.
The two met at the center of the room and embraced one another with tears running down their faces.
N0 v el Next. CoM
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you, please forgive me." Sayiva's domineering demeanor had completely faded and was instead replaced by that of a sorrowful mother.
"I forgive you and I'm sorry too." Mirai showed a complex smile as tears continued to run down her blank eyes.
"Don't be sorry please, you've done nothing wrong Zun…" Sayiva shook her head at the apology and hugged Mirai even tighter.
"But I have…" she said in an even more cracky voice as tears continued to flow down her face.
"!!"
Suddenly Sayiva showed a look of surprise and slowly broke the embrace between her and Mirai, she then looked at her stomach only to see it pierced by a dagger.
Before any words could be exchanged between the two, Aron spoke.
"Invoke."
Following his command a runic pattern appeared on the floor beneath the both of them.
Aron stood from his chair and walked over to personally remove Mirai from the formation as their movements had been frozen and they couldn't speak within it.
Once out she looked at Sayiva who looked at her with wide sorrowful eyes.
Eyes that asked… why?
"I did it for the good of our people, I may not remember much from a child but I know my mother isn't a murderous being who would kill her own people, you loved your people just as much as you loved me and father… I'd like to believe that."
"Rather than shed more blood, it's better you rest. I'm sorry you suffered for my sake, please know that I love you deeply and I'm thankful to have you as a mother…" Mirai said tearfully while clenching a bloody dagger in her trembling hands.
The once wide eyed Sayiva's expression softened and she showed Mirai a smile despite having great difficulty in even moving her facial muscles.
Mirai then turned and looked up at Aron. "Thank you and please don't let her suffer." She muttered before walking out of the room.
Once out Aron looked at Sayiva coldly.
"Things may have been different if it weren't for that thing inside you. I don't know whose in control but I know for a fact you can't survive without a host so either reveal yourself now or die alongside her."
Aron muttered and almost immediately a figure resembling the same creature that arose when Evanora slept had appeared behind Sayiva although having a more slim figure as compared to Evanora's.
"You… do you find us alluring?" It asked but Aron only smirked at it.
"As I thought, you yourself can't control mana willfully. You only depend on one ability outside your hosts, unfortunately for you that won't work on me. So you have two options instead."
"The first is to die alongside your host, even if you can live long without one this place will soon be abandoned with no host to take you while the world itself will perish…"
"…the second however is to live with me as your host. However your only benefit will be getting fed mana occasionally, in other words a contract in which you completely belong to me."
