Chapter 18: Progress
The sun had barely begun to set when the four of them arrived back at Veldroth. Aurevia, Cellione, and Serineth were flushed with excitement, their faces bright and full of energy.
The latest hunt had gone well, and they had completed another monster hunting mission, collecting proof of their kills and making their way to the Adventurer's Association to submit their findings.
Alaric, still small and youthful in appearance, walked behind them, his golden hair catching the last rays of sunlight as he moved. Though a child in body, his sharp eyes and presence spoke volumes of his quiet authority, his every movement seemingly calculated, purposeful.
The three girls, despite their rank and growing power, couldn't help but follow his lead. There was an unspoken understanding between them: Alaric was their master, and they, his loyal slaves.
Though the connection between them was mutual, it was also complex. They had seen Alaric's ability to feed them with Mana, but they didn't know the full extent of his power.
Every day, they relied on his mana to replenish their auras, and though it was a strange and unexplainable process, they trusted him completely.
***
Aurevia walked ahead, her regal bearing evident even after a long day of hunting. The [Peak-Rank-3] warrior had become stronger with each passing mission.
She was a woman of sharp features and gentle smiles, but Alaric saw beyond her beauty. He could sense the depths of her strength and the growing bond of trust between them.
Her crimson eyes flicked back to him as she continued her way toward the Association, and despite not knowing how he provided his support, she felt reassured by the constant thread of connection that was always there, unseen, but unbreakable.
It was during these quiet moments, when he watched her go about her tasks, that Alaric had discovered something remarkable. He had tested the limits of the thread—something that had grown stronger with each passing day.