Chapter 273 (2/2)

The Ash of Aemont, the Spear Phantom 0/???

As he focused on it, he felt the heat of that strange, other world where he was tested under the watch of the Patron of Ash. Then a voice rumbled in his ear.

All that dies returns to Ash… just as all that is living will become Ash. We move in a cycle, where meaning is fleeting, and lives are worth nothing.

But… the Ash will remain. You have eaten a portion of his remains in that spear… there is a path there… if you wish to take it.

Be warned. At the end of this path… you will be tested. Not by me… but by Aemont himself, and his Ash.

Also, although Ash is the basis of us all… individual instances are fleeting. If you do not choose this now, while the remnants are fresh… this path will no longer be yours to walk.

Randidly pursed his lips. Really, Patron of Ash? Buy now before we sell out, and you lose your chance entirely to purchase this wonderful item…?

Shaking his head, Randidly couldn’t deny, however, that he was powerfully tempted. It seemed like a good path. And if it ended up giving him some of Aemont’s strength…. That would be invaluable, both in the long and short term. He was given some pause by the question marks that prevented him from being able to see the total length, but still. If he had to…

Looking at the other options, there was nothing he could really finish quickly, so why not take a gamble? The Path wouldn’t likely become relevant until later anyway, it would be a good idea to take back one last gift from Shal’s world to Earth, on the 7th Cohort.

So Randidly selected it. Then his expression turned ugly for two reasons.

First, it was a 500 PP path. This… would take a while. And second, he had put his remaining 24 PP into the path… and received nothing.

This…

….

Fucking Patron of Ash.

Randidly swore to himself that he would never trust that molten piece of shit ever again.

****

Azriel was surprised by how pleasant the dinner was. Simple, polite, almost to the point where she was annoyed that Drak had nothing to press, no issues to force. They knew what was at stake. They would fight in the finals, and if she lost, she would become his wife. Not only due to the agreement of their respective Styles, but because of a bet she had made for another man.

‘Ah, That’s it,’ Azriel thought to herself, watching him closely. ‘He’s struggling to understand it. Now that it has made his life more convenient… he fears it, for it was not something he expected.’

This realization made the dinner all the more enjoyable, as Drak’s discomfort became obvious.

Finally, after they had eaten their meals and the table was cleared did Drak make his move, giving her a deep look. “Azriel… I hope you realize how much this means for the both of us. Even if you win, we can still unite our families, with the North behind us.”

She said nothing, just looking at him.