[ Rank 0 broadsword.

Made by rank 0 blacksmith Esimo Ashton ]

" This appraisal system is not detailed," Kailen couldn't help but mutter, his brows furrowing slightly as he gazed at the hovering blue window.

He wanted to find more about the weapon, and what it could do—the limits it could achieve and what not—so that they could know the limits of Esimo's skills, and figure out how best they could make use of his weapons in the upcoming society wars.

As if Esimo had read Kailen's mind, he said,

" Yeah well, that's an appraisal for you. The limits of its capabilities will have to be tested through usage. I can make a couple more of different weapons, and we can have the society members try them out and report back to us on that."

Kailen's lips twitched with restrained approval.

" That would be very helpful. Anaya and I will inscribe some runes on the weapons after that, and we will use them for a plan I'm thinking of during the society wars."

Esimo couldn't help but sigh and shake his head when he saw the familiar dangerous glint that flashed through Kailen's eyes. That gleam—half madness, half brilliance—always preceded trouble. Whatever this fellow was planning was gonna cause an uproar in the society wars.

" Right, I'll get to work right away."

Kailen nodded slightly. " Thanks man. Anyway, don't forget to come out of the closet."

Esimo froze mid-step, hammer in hand, staring at Kailen with a very weirded-out expression. The silence stretched long enough for an awkward moment.

Kailen realized how what he said sounded and couldn't help but raise his hands sideways. " My bad," Kailen clarified quickly. His lips curled into an embarrassed grin. " I meant don't forget to let the group know that you guys are in a relationship."

Esimo groaned. " Yeah yeah, get the hell out of my smithery, I need to work."

" The effrontery. Your smithery… heh." Kailen shook his head with a light smirk, eyes glinting in amusement before leaving Esimo to his devices. Esimo,hitting hammer on metal , produced clangs that followed him out, each strike a testament of his renewed dedication to the craft.

***

Virtual universe.

In a villa.

" What's up with you? You seem down."

A soft feminine voice full of concern, accompanied by gentle, deliberate footsteps, resounded in Miranda's ear. The faint scent of jasmine wafted in Miranda's nose as the footsteps approached.

" Mum. Took you a while." Miranda's voice was low, tired. She stared at the female beauty radiating a mature and calm yet tamed ferocious demeanor, approaching her with eyes of gentle love . Morgana's presence always filled the room—quiet but commanding.

" Tell me about it, perks of being an emergency fill-in for your husband." Morgana's voice dimmed.

It carried a weight that made the air feel heavier. A flicker of melancholy crossed her eyes.

" I can't believe father really became a crippled awakener at the front lines." Miranda sighed deeply. Her shoulders trembled weakly as her composure melted away. She tried to blink back the tears converging around her eyes, but her shaky voice betrayed her.

However, her mother's figure flashed swiftly .

Morgana reached out, held her daughter's trembling hand, stopped her from wiping the tear that dared fall, then pulled her into her embrace softly.

Her warmth enveloped Miranda like a shield. Morgana's fingers, calloused yet gentle, caressed her daughter's hair, and her voice softened into a whisper.

" You poor thing. It's been hard on you."

" No mum, I'm… I'm fine, really." But her words betrayed her choky voice, and the ceaseless tears that kept falling from her eyes. Her shoulders shuddered against her mother's chest.

Morgana held her tighter, eyes glistening yet firm. " I know we raised you to be a tough, independent girl, but now is not the time for that. Your father's misfortune is hard on all of us, so it's okay to not be okay. But let's look on the bright side. At least he's alive, right?"

Miranda sniffled, her voice low, melancholic. " Mmmm. You are right, mum." Then her tone rose sharply with emotion. " Damned vimodial contractors! I fucking hate them."

Morgana's gaze hardened. Her eyes brimmed, with calm confident assurance

" Then become strong. Strong so that his sacrifice is not in vain."

She cupped her daughter's face, and her thumb brushed away the trail of tears. Morgana looked deeply into her daughter's eyes—the same shade as Harrison's—softly but with a core of unyielding determination. Her little girl's expression caused her heart to ache, but she steeled herself.

Morgana added, " And more importantly, so that he doesn't have to see you end up like him, okay? If you or I end up like your father, not only will he be devastated, the three of us will be done for. In the universe, the weak are trampled upon, and the strong can decide their own fate. For his sake, we have to be strong and grow stronger, okay? He has sacrificed so much for us, and given so much to make you and I happy. It's time we step up as the two women of the family and take care of him, okay?"

Miranda nodded with renewed resolve. For a moment, her teary eyes revealed determination. Her expression shifted, from a fragile to a fierce one , shortly " Yes ma'am."

" Oh dear, come here."

Daughter and mother hugged deeply once more, clinging to each other as if afraid the universe might break them apart.

Quietly , the silence of the ceiling light above, as well as the calmness of the room was interrupted by occasional sobs.

After several moments, they chatted about various things happening at the front lines. The heaviness in the room slowly lifted.

" Kailen, that boy—his master is not that bad. He broke into the galactic level during a battle, and slaughtered about seven rank 1 beginner-stage galactic-level vimodial contractors despite being new to the galactic level. Jackson Bloodfallen is a real nut job. They are calling him the Tyrant Slayer now."

Morgana couldn't help but recount. Although she was not in the same camp at the front lines as Jackson Bloodfallen, she had heard of the fellow's feat travelling softly from camp to camp. The name itself had begun to carry weight—spoken with a mix of admiration and fear.

" Some are even suspecting he's a Black Flask, but they are just rumors."

Miranda leaned back slightly, a faint, knowing smirk tugging at her lips. " Apple doesn't fall far from the tree," she murmured, voice holding a mysterious glint, one her mother couldn't help but be curious about.

" What are you hiding from me, daughter?" Morgana's eyes narrowed, though the corners of her lips curled faintly in curious amusement.

" Oh nothing. It's just that if Jackson Bloodfallen is a Black Flask, it would be really terrifying."

" Yeah right." Morgana rolled her eyes and layered further, " I know you are keeping some sort of secret, but since it's something you can't tell me, I'm sure it's worth keeping a secret, so I won't bother you."

" Thanks mum."

" Mmmm. Anyway, Jackson Bloodfallen saved your father's life. Had it not been for his timely intervention, Harrison would have died, according to the reports."

Miranda's eyes widened in surprise. Her lips parted, breath catching mid-sentence. " That means…"

" Yep," Morgana interrupted her midway. " You have to do everything you can to help Kailen Darkhaven, as a way to repay his master for saving the life of the man who made you and I what we are today."

Miranda sighed deeply. " This keeps getting more complicated."

" How so?" Morgana asked, puzzled. " You are part of his society, right? Just help him as a society leader."

" You don't get it, mum." Miranda's voice grew soft, a tinge of pink appearing on her cheeks. Her eyes darted away, the memory of Kailen's rejection unbearable " I have feelings for him. I asked him out and he rejected me—not rudely though. Said he was engaged. It's been hard looking at him or even talking to him for a while now."

Morgana exhaled slowly, then reached across the table, caressing her daughter's hands. " Look, Morgana Morrison Harrison, you are an extremely beautiful girl, and getting hung up on a single man who has made his intentions clear about not being interested in you is not gonna help your emotional life. Save yourself the stress and move on, my daughter. You deserve the best."

Miranda nodded doubtfully, eyes glimmering with conflict. Was there anyone that could match Kailen's level? His calm, his confidence, that aura of command—he had raised the bar impossibly high. She sighed, shoulders sinking. " I hope so."

" And don't make any man feel like you settled for them because you couldn't have Kailen. Before you ever decide to enter into a relationship, make sure you've moved on from Kailen completely. When you find time, read about Arrie Hall, she's extremely famous on Earth. After reading about her, you'll understand why Kailen does not have eyes for any other woman apart from her, and you'd understand that if you were in his position , you probably wouldn't either,no matter how excellent the person is.

It will make moving on from him easier for you."

Miranda's gaze drifted toward the window, as the moonlight bathed her face.

Her reflection stared back— a vulnerable expression associated with a melancholic and vulnerable sigh.

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