Aenon

Silence reigned in the larger than necessary room. Aenon and Thalindra looked at each other as they relived their experience. Aenon had more notifications to get to, and was sure that Thalindra did too. But neither was in a mood to focus on that. The green haired woman was seething in anger, her glazed eyes boring into something only she could see.

"Let me guess," Aenon broke the tension cautiously. "Got rid of several soul debuffs?"

She finally turned to him with furrowed brows, her shock being overpowered by the simmering rage.

"Sigh. Let's grab a seat, shall we?" Aenon beckoned towards some couches on the side of the room. He knew this was going to take a while; might as well get comfortable.

As they took their seats in silence, Aenon ordered some tea for the two of them using a communication crystal. They sat in silence as they waited for the servant to arrive. Thalindra was staring at the floor, completely lost in thought, while Aenon studied her.

Knock knock.

After the maid brought in the tray with some biscuits, Aenon thanked and dismissed her. Only then did Thalindra speak up.

"Forty years," she said softly. "That's how long I have lived in constant fear of my own powers. Not even realizing that he was the one responsible for it. I…wasn't even allowed to think or mention him to others. Almost like…a puppet with no purpose. He didn't even use me for anything. Just shackled my soul and left. I could have been so much more…"

Aenon didn't even need to ask who 'he' was. The presence of the conniving old elf when he held the malicious chains was unmistakable.

"What's done is done," Aenon said firmly to drag her out of her dark thoughts. "As a combat Classer, you have an eternity to grow. Four decades is nothing compared to that."

Thalindra regarded him solemnly but gradually calmed herself. She hadn't come this far by being sentimental about trivial losses.

"How do you know him?" she asked, some fire returning in her eyes.

"He almost chained my soul too," Aenon replied with a shrug. "If not for a lucky break, I would have been under his spell too."

"I don't think shattering your soul into a trillion pieces can be considered a lucky break," a raspy voice chimed in his head. Aenon ignored it.

"My point is," Aenon continued. "We need to be more on guard now. And since we are in the same boat, it might be a good idea to put our cards on the table."

Thalindra nodded without reservation and told him of the one encounter she had with Velcodirust. Her entire noble house was in an uproar that day owing to the unannounced visit. The Overseer had brushed it off as a formal check-in among old friends, but now it sounded more sinister. Her patriarch probably knew something about it, since he was against the idea of the Overseer meeting anyone from the younger generation. If not for Thalindra's excitement, she never would have come across the older soul mage.

In turn, Aenon too explained his interactions with the scheming elf. How he had attempted to make his granddaughter fall for him, and his subtle but nosy interference in Aenon's life. When both were done, the tension in the room was at its peak.

"So, it looks like, he either shackles any potential talent to serve him, or places seals that stunts their growth," Aenon summarized.

"And has been doing so for quite some time," Thalindra added. "The number of chains I saw was…inconceivable."

Her soul still emitted anger and hate, something Aenon knew couldn't be quelled quickly. But he didn't want her to dwell on it constantly.

Clap

"Well, nothing left to do but keep getting stronger," Aenon said energetically.

The sudden clap and outburst snapped Thalindra out of her reverie. She glared at him with doubt and confusion, before sighing.

"I really wish I could be as easy going as you," she said with a weak smile.

"Oh, I'm not easy going," Aenon said seriously. "He will pay for everything he has done. Every. Single. Thing. But it's not today. We are nowhere near the power level required to face him. So, we bide our time. Waiting for our chance. Just like any other hunt, this will require preparation. And an unimaginable amount of patience."

"Heh. You are a predator, alright," Thalindra said while shaking her head with a smile.

Aenon heard a dry chuckle, but nothing else from the System Nurse. She was getting more…hands on with his life by the looks of it.

"What's that?" Aenon asked in confusion. But neither woman explained further. Thalindra decided to change the topic instead.

"I guess our first order of business is to get your house in order," Thalindra was back to her professional behavior. "Let me go and arrange that meeting you mentioned. And oh, good move on kicking those insolent brats out. I was going to suggest it but looks like you beat me to it."

"Yes. We need to secure our neighboring territories to keep Nocthrya's existence a secret," Aenon too got serious. "Plus, I don't want power hungry politicians from my old world gaining a foothold here. They will sell us out to the highest bidder when the tutorial ends."

"You think this alliance's leader is a politician from Earth?"

"Not a hundred percent certain. But I can make an educated guess based on what I have observed. Either that, or its some gaming addict trying to live out their power fantasy."

"You mean like Erwin?" Thalindra asked thoughtfully.

"Yeah, I heard about that," Aenon said with an appreciative smile. "If not for you, this alliance might have started here in Pinespire."

Thalindra merely smiled before standing up.

"I will arrange the meeting," she gave him a formal bow.

"You don't have to do this cringy stuff when there is no one around," Aenon said uncomfortably.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Thalindra eyed him with a complicated expression.

"Before this interaction, perhaps," she said with zeal and conviction. "But I have glimpsed at what you truly are, Lord Fenrast."

"You don't have to call me that…"

"Yes, I do," Thalindra interrupted him with complete seriousness. "Your presence in my soul…I have felt it. The authority; the commanding presence; there can be no doubt. You are destined to be a sovereign."

Aenon was taken aback by how passionate she was about it. Perhaps sensing his doubts and discomfort, she spoke more softly to convince him.

"Plus, I wasn't kidding when I was talking about people getting executed for not using the proper nobility titles in the wider Multiverse. You may feel it's frivolous, but a divide between a ruler and subject is required to maintain order. You can choose to be a kind and just monarch, but you need to maintain your image. Kids, like Talia, can be given some leeway. But grownups need to display the proper respect to your station."

Aenon could clearly tell that any argument would be futile, so he just rolled with it.

"Very well," Aenon nodded. He sensed Thalindra getting nervous.

"I have a request," she finally said. Aenon merely raised his eyebrow questioningly. "Please let me handle the planning for the upcoming confrontation. I have handled…"

"Done," Aenon cut her off. She was obviously about to explain her credentials or what not. But Aenon was neither interested, nor needed the boring lecture. Her handling of the adventuring party was interview enough.

"Oh. Umm," she stuttered. "Thank you for having faith in me."

"I know you will do a phenomenal job," Aenon reassured her. Only then did she relax and leave his room.

Aenon collapsed on his bed, trying to come to terms with his insurmountable odds. From what Thalindra told him, Velcodirust had shackled countless people to his soul. And if he gained any kind of stat benefits from each…

Aenon sighed and pushed the thoughts away, deciding to take a nap instead. Even though he wasn't injured, he felt drained. Overpowering those chains had tired him in ways he couldn't describe.

When he woke up, he noticed Mira standing by his bed, all poised and ready.

"I am not injured Mira," Aenon said as he sat up. "Don't need anyone feeding me again."

He felt her expectant mood disappear, but she didn't show it on her face. She was getting better at her maid duties.

"I am here to escort you to the meeting," she said with a bow. "But Lady Sylvathorn wanted an informal gathering first. Said she wanted to discuss a few things before the 'War Council' convenes."

Mira put special emphasis on the words 'war council'. And Aenon could see why. The rumor mill must already have started to churn about the city's future. Aenon nodded grimly and asked her to bring over the others to his room.

The mood was tense as six people, and a shadow entered the room. Bane emerged silently and sat down next to Aenon's couch. Once everyone was seated, and Mira left them, Thalindra started the discussion.

"Henry just informed that the adventurers have moved out. And the elderly citizens have been reinstated to their former quarters," she summarized what was surely a tense confrontation. "They did try to raise a ruckus. But Ignar's mere presence smoothened things out."

Ignar, true to his nature, just shrugged like it was no big deal.

"That's good," Aenon nodded in acknowledgement, asking her to continue.

"By my estimate this so-called representative will take a few days to arrive," Thalindra spoke seriously. "We need to consolidate our immediate gains before that. We might not have time for further leveling, but I suggest we focus on upgrading our System Skills. And for those of us who have Awakened, make sure you can control your Aura."

"Why?" Jenny asked curiously.

"We need to hide our power," Thalindra didn't explain further though.

Aenon noticed her surreptitiously giving him a side eye.

"We need to stalk our prey to find their weaknesses first. But we also need to master our Aura control. Especially you, Lord Fenrast," she said with concern laced words. "Your abilities make you a prime target for more than half the Multiverse. I wasn't even aware till I made my own connection, but I can clearly see the soul links between every single individual in this room to you."

Everyone had different reactions to the new information. Bane was indifferent, already knowing their bond based on whatever knowledge the System had seeded into him. Jenny was…happy? Aenon sensed curiosity of course, but the primary emotion was happiness.

Ignar and his party on the other hand were merely curious. But not one person held any reservations or concern at the shocking news.

Even so, Thalindra hurriedly explained. "To clarify, these are not some kind of restriction or curse. Far from it. For I can sense the link is going both ways, each boosting the other. The strongest ones are between Lord Ashryn and the wolves, followed by Nocthrya. I don't mean to pry, but are you receiving any benefits when in their presence?"

Aenon simply nodded, not explaining the specifics. Thankfully, Thalindra seemed content with his response.

"I assumed as much," Thalindra said thoughtfully. "No one has seen wolves such as yours, and neither has anyone seen a World Tree with the ability to conceal itself in mist."

"What about my link?" Jenny asked sheepishly.

"I don't think Lord Fenrast gains anything from the rest of us, since our bond isn't as strong," Thalindra replied with sadness. "Or rather he hasn't acknowledged us as someone close to him."

Jenny's shoulders literally drooped when she heard that. But it made sense to Aenon. He had a special place in his heart for his pack and Nocthrya. The others were…close acquaintances at best. He would risk his life to protect them, but he wouldn't expect the same. Only his pack and Nocthrya displayed such unwavering loyalty.

Thalindra continued, ignoring the sulking red head. "We have decided to follow you. But for our own selfish reasons it seems. A soul link does not lie."

Aenon was impressed by her brutal honesty. She didn't try to sugarcoat it or try weaving a web of lies. But what she said next perplexed him.

"Doesn't mean the bond cannot be strengthened," she said with a small smile. "We each have been saved by you in one way or another. Hence, we trust you. But we haven't done anything to earn yours."

"I appreciate the honesty," Aenon said with a nod. "Eternal bonds of friendship aren't something that can be coerced or forced. They need to be forged with blood and tears."

"Exactly," Thalindra smiled broadly. "In that, we are in complete agreement."

She looked at Ignar, his wife, and the two dwarves, her soul emitting a mix of sorrow and guilt. But they soon got swept away with just one emotion: determination.

"We each have been victims of greed," Thalindra turned to Aenon with fire in her eyes. "But in you, I sense nothing of the sort. And although we didn't really start off with our best foot forward, I want us to one day achieve the same solidarity you share with your pack."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned heavy. Another Aura flared to life, one that no one had experienced so far.

Bane stood up and approached the seated soul mage, his Aura bearing down on her.

"Do you realize what you are asking?" Bane said in a chilly voice. "The bonds between a wolf and their pack aren't mere social connections or fickle alliances. Neither is it a question of gains, or benefits. The entire pack would lay down their lives to defend their weakest member. That is what it means to be a pack. Are you prepared for that?"

Everyone was surprised at the outburst. Everyone, except Aenon. For he understood why Bane would take offense to Thalindra's comment. Because she had inadvertently made it seem like a transaction. Power for power, protection for protection. But that wasn't how Aenon viewed his wolves, or Nocthrya for that matter. They were a part of him, as was he a part of them.

He was about to diffuse the situation but held himself back at what he sensed from everyone's souls.

"You severely underestimate the bonds between adventurers," Thalindra said proudly. "We leave our lives in the hands of our comrades all the time. Even when faced with death. So yes, I know what it to be part of a pack."

For the first time, the soul mage unleashed her Aura without fear or remorse. As did five others.

Bane continued his stare for a minute before walking back to his earlier place. He lay down without a word and closed his eyes. Only Aenon could sense the small smile hidden in Bane's eyes.

"Very well then," Aenon finally said with a smile of his own. "But earning the trust of a wolf pack won't be easy. Make sure you understand that."

The adventurers shared a look with each other before they all smiled at once. No words were spoken, but their resolve was absolute. They would stop at nothing to be acknowledged as part of Aenon's pack.

Personally, Aenon wasn't opposed to the idea. It was like they said, everyone in this room was an adventurer at heart. And forming unbreakable bonds of camaraderie was part of the job description. They just hadn't spent enough time together to get to that point yet. Something Aenon planned to rectify soon.

"Looks like the pack is growing, Alpha," Bane whispered in his mind.

"Seems like it," Aenon responded. "I just hope it is enough to face what is headed our way."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.