Chapter 4

I entered a room with a long rectangular table at the center of the room. Nila and Lania were both sitting together and eating. It wasn’t a grand feast but rather just some sweets and biscuits, it looks like the sister’s parents just wanted to talk. I saw the two adults sitting on the other side of the table and they gestured towards me to come. I walked up to them and was intrigued by them. The father was a human with brown hair with a white streak on the side while the mother was an elf with the bright green hair. I didn’t realize that Nila and Lania were part elves, they didn’t have pointed ears.

“Hello Ultimias, My name is Fael and this is my husband, Hor.”[Fael]

“Nice to meet you. Pardon my rudeness but I didn't know you had an origin of an elf.”[Ultimias]

“I hope it doesn't bother you. My mother was a human adventurer but for some reason, I just look more elf~ish than half-elf. My daughter looks more human but they still got my green hair, Lania the older with dark hair and Nila with lighter ones.”[Fael]

I nodded and took a sweet before eating it. I didn’t need to eat at all with this body. The food that goes into my body simply just gets absorbed and turned into dust. Despite the fact I don't need it, I can still make taste buds a wow these sweet taste good.

“You don’t have to explain what you did back at the cave, Lania explained it to us. We just wanted to thank you for saving our daughter. ”[Hor]

I nodded before asking my questions.

“I wanted to ask, how was Lania kidnapped by the bandit? You both seem like loving parents and I wouldn’t want to believe that she could’ve been that easy to take along with these too.”[Ultimias]

I put on the table the ten gold coins that I took from the cave. They gave the gold coins with a solemn look. They looked back at the sister but the table was long enough that they wouldn't hear us.

“Lania also told us about these gold coins. They weren’t supposed to be in the carriage, Lania found those coins hidden in a secret compartment and she tried to hide these coins from the guards. She speculated that the guards at this mansion put it there and wanted to bring them back to tell us but got kidnapped instead. We though the bandit managed to take them away when they escaped you it seemed like you didn’t give them time to take a single one. If she stayed kidnapped we would’ve never got the news, thank you.”[Hor]

“As of how the bandits got to her, I communed with the plants that were close by when the event happened. First, there was an explosion somewhere on or near the carriage flipping it over. The explosion released a large amount of white smoke. Some guards rushed in immediately and some exited carrying ‘wounded’ soldiers. Then the bandits emerged from the smoke and ran for the forest. the trees in the forest showed me that they used some sort of teleportation spell after they lost the guard but I didn’t know where they went. I also couldn’t get a proper view of the explosion because the grass, which isn't as big plants like the trees, could only give blurred images and with the smoke blocked the view even more. The closest ones got burned by the explosion so I couldn’t get information out of them. All the big plants like the trees of the forest were too far to give a proper view.”[Fael]

“Although I want to ask where do these guards come from? They don’t seem too loyal.”[Ultimias]

Their crest’s shape was clicking something in my head but I couldn’t pin-point the feeling at all. All I had are just chill and sense of unease whenever I see the crest they wear.

“These guards were bought in by a company named the guardians of the sunset. They’re a company that was supposed to provide guards if you hire them and they provide protection. My husband wanted more protection for his daughters but I guess instead we hired robbers.”[Fael]

She pinched Hor’s face with a hard face and a scary aura around her. But I can only fixate on the name of the company. Then slowly a memory started flowing in…

//////////

“Don’t you realize Aurum?”[???]

I struggled with the restraint on me, it glowed in a dark green light. I couldn’t change my form nor disperse myself to escape this restraint.

“We were under all of your noses but no one saw. We got favors from noble and they paid those favors back, and us, we took their treasure without them knowing. We protect the nobles and they also protected us from rumors since they were just ignorant fools. We followed on this mission to help you but now I betrayed you.”[???]

He picked me up by the hair and leaned me against a tree. While I was still struggling against the restraint he took out a sort of metallic cylinder.

“This mission was extremely beneficial. The artifact that we needed to find was right here and you bought us for it. And we also need a soul of an immortal and your here just for that.”[???]

He plunged the cylinder into me and I can feel it enter me. Then it wrapped around one of my soul stars. It entered the tube and when he pulled it out I couldn’t sense that soul star anymore. When I try to control the soul star from the inside, it was suspended in the cylinder so I couldn’t make contact with anything to turn to dust. He then put his mouth next to my ear and slowly said,

“Remember, we are the guardian of the sunset and we protect the organization until the night returns. If you want to find the night return, you must go through us first.”[???]

Then there was an explosion and Llya walked out through the smoke, her hand holding the horn of a decapitated demon duke's head. She saw me sitting against the tree, dropped the head and started sprinting at full speed to us

“Wow, taking a demon duke all by herself, she’s a monster.”[???]

The person took out a scroll and started opening it. The scroll then shone and he started to shimmer. Llya saw what he was trying to do and threw her sword with full strength, it was spinning straight to the man in a whirlwind of pure mana. Unfortunately, that threw it off balanced it and only took an arm as the figure disappeared. The sword smashed through the tree I was resting against and tore the tree in half right over my head. With my first ever thought of permanent death against that sword, I slowly fell unconscious from shock as Llya ran towards me with her face full of worry.

//////////

“Hello?”[???]

I snapped back, it seems like I dozed off a bit too much. But that was a flashback, so if it did happen, then… I looked at the girls, they still haven't heard anything, good.

“Fael and Hor, It’s just a strong hunch but do you perhaps believe these ‘guardians of the sunset’ are perhaps connected if not related to the organization, night return.”[Ultimias]

They looked at me with a serious look with Fael looking with an even deadlier look than she gave her husband moments ago.

“Do you realize what kind of claim you’re making? All from a hunch, if this is false we might as well be attacking innocent people. Although now that they have attempted to steal treasures from our place, I’m more inclined to believe you but not to this extent.”[Hor]

“Despite that, it might be too much I’m just listing one of the suspects. There might be more but that organization is my go-to target because I’m sure that they have already come here before you hired the guards.”[Ultimias]

“What. How did they get into our household? Explain to us.”[Hor]

At that moment a maid came in an orb in her hand, it was a proficiency perception tool. The maid handed to me silently and bowed while I nodded in return. The maid turned to leave and I turned back to the parents and whispered,

“The maids can be trusted, right?”[Ultimias]

“Yes, they’re all saved from my mother. I doubt they’ll betray us. Most of them use chlorokinesis, but there are some exceptions.”[Fael]

I nodded again and started viewing the object in my hand. It was an actual decent tool, looks like the captain delivered. Of course, this tool was improved in the future. Before I added the improvement with my dust I asked some questions to Fael and Hor to answer their question.

“According to the story of Lania, her proficiency test was taken privately. What made you think there needed to be no disturbance?”[Ultimias]

They looked at each other and slow realization was creeping towards them like a premonition of what I’m about to reveal. Hor was the first to answer.

“Well I was born in a family that never used magic so I was never tested, but my family was known for their architecture, I was the one that designed and built this house. However, since I never took a proficiency test I didn’t know the process”[Hor]

I nodded and looked at Fael, waiting for her answer.

“In my clan, we didn’t have a tool, but an old man that would look at our palm to see what we’re proficient at. Although ever since my clan was destroyed by deforestation, most of the people are gone including the old man. So when I needed to find a person to check our daughters we hired a random person who claimed he can help us find our daughter's proficiency. When he asked for privacy, I thought the tool he carried has the same ability as the old man but he said it would pick up other people's mana from other people within the room.”[Fael]

“I guess those are a good explanation but sadly the proficiency perception tool isn't that faulty. And if my guts are right then I think Lania has magic powers.”[Ultimias]

As I finished the sentence I started walking towards Lania who was still talking to her sister. I also started attaching dust to it making it look like a miniature planet with a ring around it. My dust can't turn into the exact materials, but it can copy characteristics and it was good enough. I held the orb that now floated on my hand to Lania and asked her,

“This is slightly modified from the usual orb but it should be the same result, can you touch the orb, it should be able to show what kind of power you have.”[Ultimias]

“But I don’t have any power, nor proficiency. I’m just like my father.”[Lania]

“Well it doesn't hurt to try”[Ultimias]

She looked at me and back at the floating orb as her parents slowly stood up. She closed her eyes and her finger slowly approached the orb. When they were about to touch there was a spark and her eyes snapped open. The orb started to bask in a proper golden light and letters started appearing on the ring. I read the character on the ring silently to confirm if she has the same kind of magic as my past life. They stared silently as I nodded and took out one of the glass orbs that the girl had handed back. I reached into one of the orbs and pulled out the shining light which was my soul star and handed it to Lania and I quickly formed a broadsword with my dust and showed it to Lania.

“I want you to shape that light until it looks like this sword. It should function just like the normal orb when it was still encased.”[Ultimias]

She nodded, slightly dumbfounded, as she cupped her hand slowly around the light and closed her eyes. Then it began to form as it starts taking shape of my sword. When it was done it was a near-identical copy but instead, it was pure white and it seems to fade around the edge. The whole sword appeared ethereal.

“Well, you see according to the orb, Lania had the power to shape a soul into a weapon and those light are souls from animals that I use to control my weapons. I hope you know what this means, right?”[Ultimias]

They slowly realize many things. Their daughter has a power that was unique from most users and that the man that came to ‘help’ them lied to them.

Hor and Fael both moved separately. Hor first called for the maid to perhaps attempt to find the mysterious person, although I’m sure that he’s far gone by now. Fael went and bought some other maid with her to kick out the guards.

“Ultimas, is it okay if we can hire you to protect our daughter?”[Fael]

“Sure, I also want to catch the night return. But I can only stay a few days so let us hope we deal with this matter before I need to leave.”[Ultimias]

When they left I looked back at the girl, they were hugging each other for a bit of comfort since now they realize that she had powers. Another maid directed us from the room and onto the third floor, the highest floor of the house. We could only wait but I decided to hand a few soul stars to Lania.

“Since your parents are busy right now I guess we can only practice, I think we should improve on your fighting skills. Let’s move to a more proper room to fight and I’ll be your instructor for both of you. I don’t believe they would give up on you easily.”[Ultimias]

Both sisters nodded and we moved to a bigger reinforced room. There were also beasts that their parents caught for them so that they can absorb its mana, so we decided to use them as punching bags. When the girls fell asleep I patrolled the hall since I didn’t need to sleep. The first day simply passed without much accident apart from the rebelling guards. Oh and I should mention that there was also some spy, but they didn’t last long.

//////////

“Why did the guards' captain give them a working perception tool!?”[???]

If it wasn’t for the armor he was wearing he would’ve died when I pushed him against the wall, but he still fell unconscious nevertheless. After shaking the man a few times I sighed and dropped him on the ground.

“Take him back to the main base, he shall be a ‘volunteer’”[???]

“Yes, master Behn.”[Butler]

He opened a scroll and wrote some things on it before putting it down on the table next to him.

We discovered that one of our seers managed to predict that there would be a girl that can shape one’s soul. She was supposed to be captured so we can bring her back to the main base and use her power, but instead those bandits did the exact opposite. It was good that the mysterious adventurer bought her back but now instead he somehow revealed that the girl had the power that needed to be protected and kicked out the guards we took so long to place into the mansions. After that message from one of our spies we lost contact with them, they probably were discovered. He may have ruined some of the plans but now that the girl was back, we still have a second chance. It’s not yet over.

“Bass, please gather the soldiers around the city.”[Behn]

“Very well, at the same time, I shall report to the higher-ups.”[Bass]

I clicked my tongue silently. Despite that Bass is serving me right now, he was simply here to ‘watch’ over me. This time I will succeed, I will not become a ‘volunteer’. The scroll beside him glowed and he looked at it, then he turned to me

“I received just a message we do not need that soldier as a volunteer, his blood is saturated with drugs, he’s not fit. You can kill him and absorb his power.”[Bass]

I looked at the unconscious soldier, then I extended my hand towards him and purple mist started appearing from my palm. The mist made contact with the unconscious man and his skin slowly started melting until it reached his bone leaving it clean. Then a voice resounded in my head.

You absorbed Blaude Calor’s power.

Your mana pool increased by 102 points.

I nodded and looked back at Bass.

“We’ll attack tomorrow, around nighttime once we gather enough force.”[Behn]

//////////

The wolf ran around dodging the vines that sprouted between the tiles. It tried to attack Nila because she seemed to be the defenseless one but Lania always blocked the attack with her glowing sword. The sword left burn marks that slowed down the wolf and the thorns on the vines were poisonous. Eventually, the wolf couldn’t stand anymore and fell. Lania looked at the wold and extended a hand towards it, a white light appeared from the wolf and floated in her hand. She just received her third soul, and both girls absorbed the mana in the wolf.

“You're not going to absorb the mana?”[Nila]

“No it’s your kill, your parents caught those beasts themselves, and I'm sure that they'll attack around tonight so you need to prepare as much as possible.”[Ultimias]

When you kill a living creature you can absorb the residue mana to increase your mana capacity, same said for animals too. The only thing is that I can only upgrade my magic stars by scraping other stars. If my stars were able to absorb residue mana that means that if I go to a mana rich zone I can absorb all the mana x the amount of magic star I have x the magic potential that each star hold. Sadly I don’t have the luxury to do such a thing. I get magic stars by capturing magic cores from living things or a magic object. Since I don't 'absorb' the mana the system doesn't acknowledge it and dismisses it and the result is that I don't get any messages. I also can't take magic cores from living creatures while they're still alive, I need to weaken their life force or kill them to be able to process anything into stars or store them in my storage stars.

“I can at least give you the wolf body, I still feel indebted to you.”[Lania]

“Then I will take it, thank you. By the way, how much mana you have?’’[Ultimias]

“I received 176 points.”[Lania]

“Wow, I received 98. Do you absorb more mana than normal?”[Nila]

“Yeah, I think so.”[Lania]

"And those souls look more like little fairies floating around you. At least you don't need your own proper container."[Nila]

//////////

It was the dark of night and we sat there waiting. Lania and Nila are already secured inside the vault that is protected by giant leaves that blocked the entrance. Then the front door started creaking, Fael and the maids got into a stance with their chlorokinesis ready, Hor with his armor and ax and me with the black suit that had glowing stars on it except for the helmet which had a pair of glowing eyes instead. I stood on the railing up on the third floor with a pair broadswords ready. Then the door broke loose and havoc poured in.