Three months had passed since the Crimson Hunt.

  The Whispering Village was quieter.

  But Sarya was not.

  She trained.

  Every day.

  Alone.

  The necklace with the eye of the Nime Spider rested on her chest.

  Not as a trophy.

  As a reminder.

  She still thought about the human.

  The silent leap.

  The absence of presence.

  But something else bothered her more.

  Alara.

  The Autumn elf.

  Pregnant.

  And the father…

  Human.

  Whispers ran through the village like wind through dry leaves.

  Betrayal.

  Mixture.

  Impurity.

  Sarya did not speak.

  But she observed.

  And judged.

  That day, the wind changed.

  The forest became heavy.

  It was not ordinary mana.

  It was something denser.

  Older.

  The leaves did not move.

  They yielded.

  A man walked through the entrance of the village.

  Alone.

  No escort.

  No announcement.

  Dark hair.

  Straight posture.

  Eyes that did not seek approval.

  Kyros.

  Patriarch of the South.

  But Sarya did not know.

  She only saw a human.

  And behind him, Alara.

  Protected.

  Pregnant.

  Sarya moved.

  Without warning.

  Mana in her feet.

  Absolute silence.

  Blade drawn.

  She appeared like a shadow.

  — Stay away from her.

  Kyros stopped.

  The wind completely ceased.

  — You are fast.

  She did not respond.

  — Humans lie.

  The blade descended.

  Kyros did not move.

  The sword stopped two fingers away from his neck.

  Not because it was blocked.

  Because of weight.

  Something pressed the air itself.

  The blade trembled.

  Sarya frowned.

  — What is this…

  Kyros sighed.

  — So you are the newest Autumn Rubra.

  She attacked again.

  Faster.

  More direct.

  Impact.

  The ground cracked.

  But he was no longer there.

  She turned.

  He was behind her.

  Without sound.

  Without visible movement.

  — You learned well how to hide your steps.

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  She spun her body, low strike.

  He blocked with two fingers.

  Two.

  — Good technique. Excellent instinct.

  She retreated three meters.

  Her aura expanded.

  Orange.

  The air burned.

  The leaves began to vibrate.

  The elves of the village froze.

  Aurelius emerged from the castle.

  — Stop.

  Too late.

  Kyros raised his hand.

  Not to attack.

  But to exist.

  And then…

  The aura appeared.

  Black.

  Not like darkness.

  Like an eclipse.

  An invisible circle formed.

  Pressure descended.

  Sarya felt it.

  Her body trembled.

  Her knees almost gave in.

  The entire forest seemed to bow.

  — What is it? — Kyros asked calmly. — Are you trembling?

  The ground beneath her sank.

  Not from physical force.

  From dominance.

  — You have not yet met someone with the aura of Absolute Dominion.

  This is the peak of human aura.

  The Dominae.

  The aura of absolute dominion.

  She forced her legs.

  Her core vibrated.

  — I do not bow.

  She advanced even while trembling.

  The blade cut the air.

  He dodged by centimeters.

  Without difficulty.

  — Courage is not the absence of fear.

  She attacked again.

  Faster.

  Punch.

  Kick.

  Blade.

  He blocked.

  Dodged.

  Analyzed.

  — You have potential.

  She roared and concentrated her Anchor.

  Orange explosion.

  The ground split.

  Houses trembled.

  Kyros opened his eyes.

  For an instant…

  — You said you would not kneel. Then remain standing before a superior aura, Rubra.

  His aura expanded completely.

  Full eclipse.

  The sky seemed to darken.

  Sarya fell to her knees.

  Not from pain.

  From difference of existence.

  The Dominae of the Eclipse.

  An extremely dense and heavy aura that imposes the user's will over others.

  — Do you understand, Rubra? This is the Dominae. The absolute dominion of humans.

  It was like trying to cut a mountain.

  He approached.

  Without hurry.

  With each step he took, she felt the density of the refinement of human aura.

  — Damn… he is strong. Much stronger than Patriarch Aurelius…

  He lowered himself until he was at her height.

  — You still have much to learn.

  She tried to stand.

  Failed.

  — But I admit.

  He smiled.

  — You are strong.

  Aurelius approached.

  Silent.

  Respectful.

  — She did not know who you were.

  Kyros looked at him.

  — I know.

  Alara, behind them, watched with tears in her eyes.

  — She protected me.

  Sarya raised her head.

  Confused.

  — You… are not an enemy?

  Kyros extended his hand.

  — I am Kyros.

  The air became heavy again.

  The elves bowed slightly.

  Even the Rubras lowered their heads.

  Sarya froze.

  Patriarch of the South!

  — Hahaha, yes… me indeed.

  A wide smile appeared on his face.

  She forced herself to stand.

  Even while trembling.

  She did not remain kneeling.

  Kyros noticed.

  And smiled again.

  — Good.

  He withdrew the aura.

  The weight disappeared.

  As if it had never existed.

  But everyone knew.

  He could have destroyed the village in seconds.

  Kyros turned to Aurelius.

  — She is ready for something greater.

  — She is still young — replied the Patriarch of Autumn.

  — Precisely because of that.

  Kyros began walking toward the entrance.

  — Hey Aurelius, did you see what Tailer brought? What do you think?

  — I think it is great that Delos is open to other races, not only humans. The emperor is trying to change the walls of the empire. You are important to me, so your opinion matters. I am not a dictator.

  — I want to know… there are advantages for us, right?

  — Let us talk somewhere else, Kyros!

  — Ah yes, of course.

  — My dear, I will explore the famous Whispering Village.

  — Alright, Alara… but be careful. Do not push yourself too much.

  — After all, you carry our baby.

  Sarya watched.

  A baby?

  A half-human?

  And why is she laughing so much?

  Is she really happy… beside a human?

  The Patriarch seems different.

  Just like my mother once said.

  He does not seem to carry hatred or prejudice toward other races.

  Alara suddenly appeared beside Sarya.

  Sarya startled.

  — What?

  Too fast for a pregnant woman.

  — Hi. You are Sarya, right? We have heard about you. The Seventh Rubra who killed the Nime Spider.

  — Even Aurelius had trouble with that troublesome spider, but it seems you did a good job.

  — Not surprising. Rubras are Rubras, after all.

  — Will you walk with me through the village?

  — Hm… I…

  — Of course. Is there another orange-mana Sarya around here?

  — Alright…

  Sarya walked beside Alara through the village.

  Many looks.

  Many whispers.

  — Look, it is the elf wife of the Patriarch of the South…

  — Alara of Spring…

  — Was she not supposed to become the next Matriarch of Spring?

  — They say she was banished by her own mother…

  — Her tribe did not accept her marriage with a human.

  — Even if he is the Patriarch.

  — Hey! Do you have nothing better to do? — Sarya snapped. — Mind your own lives!

  — Is that how you treat the wife of the Patriarch of the South? A guest?

  The people scattered quickly.

  — Hahaha… you are quite intimidating when you want to be.

  — I can understand why Kyros saw potential in you.

  — Protecting me for the second time.

  — But you know, Sarya… I did not call you just to walk around the capital of Autumn.

  — I wanted to ask you something.

  — What do you think of humans?

  — I saw your face earlier.

  — You have disgust toward humans, don't you?

  — I went through many things because of them.

  — I do not have a good opinion.

  — To me, humans are cunning.

  — Always with hidden intentions.

  — They kill, enslave, and control others.

  — Because they became powerful throughout history.

  — Indeed, Sarya… they became powerful.

  — Because of human adaptability.

  — They adapted.

  — Learned from mistakes and losses.

  — And created great warriors.

  — Humans call them heroes.

  Sarya looked a little embarrassed.

  — I like reading… that is all.

  — It is nothing special.

  — Just a pastime.

  Alara smiled.

  — Even though humans created heroes, they are not absolute, Sarya.

  — And they are not all the same.

  — There are bad humans.

  — Like the ones who hurt you.

  — But there are also good humans.

  — Just as there are good and bad people in every race.

  — Do not condemn an entire people because of the misfortune of meeting only bad individuals.

  — The South is proof that humans and other races can coexist in harmony.

  — That is Kyros's dream.

  — Even if not everyone in the empire shares that vision.

  — They call him a fool.

  — But they are frightened little rabbits.

  — One day you will understand.

  — Even if not today.

  — I am happy to have married Kyros.

  — And happy to carry a mixed child.

  — It is proof of unity between peoples.

  — Even though my tribe condemned me, I do not regret it.

  — I would make the same choice again.

  — I fell in love with Kyros because he was different.

  — Just like you… I once hated humans.

  — But when I met him, that wall collapsed.

  — For the first time I met a human who was gentle.

  — Strong.

  — Honorable.

  — Without prejudice.

  — Without hidden intentions.

  — No matter how much I searched for corruption disguised as kindness…

  — I found nothing.

  — Before I realized…

  — I was confronting my mother.

  — And my entire tribe.

  — For a human.

  — And I was exiled.

  — Hahaha.

  — You laugh at your own misfortune.

  — Spring elves truly are optimistic.

  — Hahaha… I have to laugh so I do not cry.

  — Crying solves nothing.

  — But I am telling you this so you do not follow the same path I once followed.

  — You should visit Sorriso someday.

  — You would like the capital of the South.

  — The city of dreams.

  — There is a boy…

  — Kyros's tenth son.

  — He looks almost exactly like his father.

  — But he cannot use mana.

  — Nor human aura.

  — What impresses me most about him is his heart.

  — He inherited Kyros's kindness.

  — Even though many reject him.

  — Calling him a failure.

  — He never gives up.

  — Always smiling.

  — Just like Kyros.

  — I believe he will go far.

  — If you meet him someday…

  — I hope you will see a different side of humans.

  Alara gently took Sarya's hand.

  And placed it on her belly.

  — It is not a monster.

  — It is a baby.

  — A special baby.

  — One that carries the bond of two peoples.

  Sarya stayed silent.

  She felt movement.

  The baby kicked.

  — He is quite lively…

  — Hahaha.

  — I cannot disagree with that.

  End of Chapter 9.