Ch. 7: Identity Of The Cloaked Figure And A New member On Board
--<3rd PoV>--
A few moments ago...
The figure blurred past him, a streak of shadow and speed that barely missed his throat. Ray twisted his body just in time—Super Intuition was working overtime, flooding his mind with split-second predictions and optimal responses.
It had saved his life more than once already in the last thirty seconds.
His breath hitched as another swipe came. Duck. Step back. Pivot. Roll.
The attacker wasn't slowing down. But neither was Ray.
"Fortunately, I have Super Recovery, phew~" he muttered under his breath, a smirk tugging at his lips as his body mended minor scrapes from the frantic dodges.
And yet, a shift came. As though growing weary of the game, the figure finally stood still, coming to a halt—then drew their sword.
It gleamed cold under the dim streetlight. A flawless, narrow blade with a silver hue so pure it almost appeared blue. Its edge was honed like it could cut sound itself, and the air around it trembled faintly with pressure.
The moment it left its sheath, the attacker's presence changed—growing heavier, sharper, like a blade being unsheathed not from a scabbard but from a storm. The shop's trinkets flickered, their mana recoiling from the sudden intensity.
Ray's senses flared.
They were no longer testing him.
They were done playing.
But the instant they reappeared—no longer vanishing like before—Ray finally caught a full view of their frame. He acted without hesitation, pupils narrowing.
"Now... let me see who you are," he muttered, his voice low and calculating.
"Super Appraisal."
A glowing window bloomed before his eyes.
{STATUS}
Name: Seraphina Ashworth
Race: 3/4 Human, 1/4 Kijin
Trait: Kijin Transformation
Skill(s): None
Level: —
Magic: None
Aura: Peak Expert
Affinity:
• Darkness: A
• Lightning: A
Special Talent(s):
• Dark Thunder – SS
• Kijin's Physiology – S
Description:
Born to an aristocratic lineage, her innate talents promised fame across the continent. A series of tragic events left her an orphan and stripped of her noble status. Now, she lives for two things: revenge against the one who ruined her life—and reuniting with the one who shares her bloodline. She will not stop, even if she knows her path will lead to her ruin for she is an Revenger.
________________________________________
(A/N: I know thunder is sound before lightning, but it sounds cool, so I wrote it. So don't talk about logic cause dark lightning also does not exist.)
Ray's gaze flicked from line to line.
Peak Expert Aura... expected.
Dual elemental affinity—A rank in both? Damn!
Dark Thunder? SS?
But then—his eyes widened.
Race: Kijin hybrid.
Name: Seraphina... Ashworth.
'Wait... isn't that...'
"…Sera?" he whispered aloud, blinking in disbelief, his mind racing with fragmented memories.
The figure paused. Then, without a word, she reached up and tugged her hood down.
As if crimson flames were spilling out—long, wild hair that danced with a life of its own, as though kindled by her emotions. Her eyes—red and gold, smoldering with haughtiness and arrogance—met his, and her lips curled into a smirk.
Her face was youthful, refined, though her eyes still contained a hint of innocence, adding to her charm.
She was stunning, almost ethereal. Her red armor clung to a body crafted for ruin—long legs that could outrun a gale, a narrow waist flowing into smooth, lethal curves, and large, bouncy breasts straining against their confines, their fullness a defiant taunt. Her presence was a siren's call, hot and dangerous, the kind that could make the mightiest falter. Hell, she's trouble incarnate, Ray thought, his pulse quickening.
She let her hood fall to the ground and sheathed her sword in one motion.
In one step—faster than her blurs, a lightning strike Ray couldn't counter—she closed the distance.
Too fast. Faster than before. Ray didn't even register her movement until she was already hugging him, tight and triumphant.
"Caught you~" she purred, wrapping her arms around his back like a viper coiling her prize.
Her body pressed fully against his—soft curves yielding into him, the sharp edges of her armored form cold, yet her skin impossibly hot. Her ample breasts squished tightly against his chest, warping with the pressure, reshaping with each tightening squeeze.
Her face drew close, lips curled in gleeful madness. Her scent—a mix of fire, ash, and something faintly sweet—was dizzying.
Ray stiffened, jade-green eyes wide. What the—? "Dear husband-kun," she cooed, lips brushing his ear, "no escaping now." Before he could react, she kissed him, fierce and obsessive, her lips a burning claim as if to suck out his soul.
A faint mana surge teased his broken circuits, sparking like a taunt.
'Husband? She's lost it!'
His mind reeled, hands twitching toward his dagger, then ultimately stopping in their path. He didn't believe she, as a Peak Expert, couldn't neutralize an attack from a normal human.
Worse, he might even lose the one chance he had to get out of this situation.
So without waiting any longer.
He made decision.
This is the time!
He decided to use his most dangerous attack.
One he knew was sure to work on her, no matter how strong she was.
He moved his hands right to her waist and did something that forced her to stop her actions completely.
"Tickling!"
"Hahaha... ha... no... hahaha..."
But his hands never stopped!
TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE!
"Ha... stop it! Haha... ha... it's too much!... Stop, I said!!" she gasped, jumping away, distancing herself from him, her fiery hair flailing as she clutched her sides.
Finally getting some space, he got up, straightening his wrinkled clothes, a wry grin tugging at his lips.
His gaze finally landed on Lilia, who was standing in the corner with six spirits of different elements surrounding her, looking utterly confused.
There was also Sera, who looked at him with a pouty expression, her face a mix of anger and displeasure, giving him a sense of déjà vu.
'Oh god! This will take a bit of time explaining. But first, let's get out of here.'
...
--
We were back at my place. My so-called mansion, though I still think it's too big for one person. The place was quiet—on the surface.
But the tension at the table? It was anything but quiet.
Lilia sat on the left, still dazed. She kept glancing between me and Seraphina, as if trying to decode something from our faces. Her crimson eyes flickered with unease, searching for answers I didn't have.
Sera sat on the right, back straight, gaze sharp. She looked curious, even excited, like a child poking around a new toy store—but with eyes that screamed danger if touched. She hadn't stopped scanning the room since we entered.
As for me? I just had a headache.
Of all the ways this week could've gone, this wasn't even in the top hundred. I mean, come on—how do you start a conversation like this?
"So, long time no see. You nearly slit my throat, called me your husband, and kissed me like we were in a tragic war drama. Want some tea?"
Nope. Normal people aside, even I'm not that frank.
"So," I said finally, leaning back and letting the chair creak. "Are we going to talk, or do you plan to kill each other with stares first?"
That earned me twin glares. Great.
Lilia crossed her arms, clearly annoyed. "You said you knew her. But you never mentioned that kind of relationship."
"I didn't know it was that kind of relationship," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Last we saw each other, we were nine."
"Ten," Sera corrected softly, smiling. "I was ten. You were nine."
Of course she remembered the exact year. Of course she did.
Lilia interjected. "I still don't trust her! What if she is an enemy?"
"Come on, I know she's not," I said, looking at Seraphina's nonchalant attitude when called a possible enemy. "And it's not like she would've remained passive till now if she were one."
Even after that, Lilia didn't relax her vigilance. For the record, I knew she still had all her six contracted spirits summoned outside, just hiding in different places.
With her level, I'm sure Seraphina has noticed as well.
Just hope she doesn't get displeased by this. After all, at her level, if she were to go against Lilia, I'd be completely helpless to stop her.
As if sensing my thoughts, she suddenly stopped. Her crimson eyes softened, a rare shift from her usual fire.
"What to say, I'm somewhat happy that you managed to get such a talented and loyal follower," she said, her smile taking a gentler turn than usual.
"Though I don't know much about mages, I do know it's no small feat to create a contract with six spirits even at the fourth circle. To think she managed to do so at just her second circle—you are one hell of a lucky guy!" she added with mock jealousy.
"Tell me something I don't know," I said, rolling my eyes. "Such as why you're here after nearly five years."
Sera just kept smiling. "I just never forgot our promise, Ray."
I choked. "Promise?!"
What the hell kind of promise is she talking about? I don't remember playing house and promising to marry her after we grow up. I'm a hundred percent sure I didn't promise anything! So, what is she cooking? I thought, narrowing my eyes at her.
She tilted her head. "You said, 'If no one else wants you, I'll marry you.' That counts, doesn't it?"
The fuck! I'm sure I didn't say anything of the sort. Why the hell is she lying?
Even knowing what she was playing, I still went along with it.
"I was nine!"
"And I was serious," she said. "Still am."
Lilia made a noise that was half laugh, half scoff. "You're joking, right?"
Sera didn't even blink. "Why would I joke about my husband?"
I buried my face in my hands. This was a disaster. For once, I knew that she must have made up that excuse. And if I said I never said that, she'd have even more cards to play.
Sigh... This is troublesome.
"Okay, okay," I said, lifting a hand. "Let's... let's take a step back. Sera, where have you been all these years?"
Her smile faded a little. "Searching. Training. Surviving."
That didn't sound ominous at all.
"And now you're back… to what? Fulfill a childhood promise? That's not how things work, Sera."
She looked me dead in the eyes. "You don't get to decide what works for me. You don't know what I've been through."
"And you don't know what I've become," I said quietly, knowing that once she learns about my crippled magic circuits, she'll leave. A broken mage—what's left for her?
After all, such is the path of an revenger—they don't need strong emotions. They need strong people to be their companions. Even if they don't share the same fire of revenge, all they need are people who can keep up.
Especially for Sera—one who was said to be talented enough to be comparable to the children of the Six Kings in talent alone.
Suddenly, she got up from her seat and moved closer to me. Lilia, caught off guard, was about to act when I signaled her to stop.
Sera cupped my face, her touch warm, like embers. "I know, Ray," she said, her voice soft, trembling. "And frankly, I don't mind. Even if you can't become a mage, or your magic circuits are broken."
Her arms coiled around me, her hug light but searing. Her fresh, fire-like scent—ash and sweetness—filled my nose. My hands slid around her curvy body, tracing her narrow waist. Despite her fierce aura, she was soft all over, her curves yielding, warm, alive. My chest tightened, heat surging. This is her. Sera.
Her voice, a lullaby, poured emotion. "I'm happy with just you, Ray. You're the only one who matters to me. Afterall at the end you're the one and only person important to me alive."
The words flowed out of her like ripples on a calm lake, her emotions pouring into every syllable.
"Sera…" Even I, for a moment, felt moved. After all, living in constant hate and a world of objectification is sure to affect even a stone. I'm still human at heart.
I reciprocated her hug, arms tightening. The air grew dense, her aura crackling, her eyes misty. Our faces drew closer, her breath warm, her scent overwhelming. My heart pounded, longing and fear colliding, the moment electric, fragile, like a spark about to ignite—just as our lips nearly met—
BAM!
Lilia slammed the table.
"Oh, for spirits' sake, you two!" she snapped, her face turning a deeper shade of red. "This isn't a romance novel! You can't just do something like that when other people are looking—"
She said it, but internally she was getting more and more angry.
'How dare she! Not only did she steal Ray-sama's first kiss, now she's trying to steal the second one! Childhood friends are too cunning, too dangerous!' she thought, glaring at Seraphina even more fiercely.
At Lilia's reminder, we both realized what kind of state we had elevated ourselves to, unknowingly.
Even the ever-steady Sera had turned her head away, her ears red.
To avoid the awkwardness, I just changed the topic.
"Ahem, r-right, where were we? Yes, I was about to introduce you two."
"Lilia, this is Sera—or more precisely, Seraphina Ashworth. My childhood friend. You could say both our grandfathers were best friends, so that's how we met," I explained, then pointed at Lilia.
Sera blinked slowly. "She's Lilia."
"She's my partner. Research, alchemy, fieldwork. You can count her as my assistant—though she also insists on being my maid," I said, but then Sera asked a really odd question.
"And you sleep in separate rooms?" she asked innocently.
My face twitched. "Yes. Obviously."
"Pity."
Lilia groaned. "Can I punch her?"
"No," I said immediately. "We don't punch guests."
Not like you could cause her any damage even if you did, I mentally added, remembering Sera's status as a Peak Aura Expert.
"She kissed you without permission!"
I turned to Sera. "Yeah, about that. Don't do that again."
She pouted. "Even if I ask nicely?"
"No."
Her pout deepened. "Whatever, who's dying to kiss you anyway."
I rubbed my eyes. "Fine. So what now? You plan to just… move in?"
"Gladly," she said.
"No."
She leaned in. "You afraid I'll steal your heart?"
"I'm afraid you'll get bored. After all, I'm about to depart from here."
Sera blinked. "Really?" Her gaze morphed into surprise. "Wait, don't tell me you're planning to go to Valderia Grand Academy?"
I nodded.
"Doesn't matter! I will still move in!"
"Suit yourself."
And just like that, we got a new member on board.
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To Be Continued:
[Word Count: 2475]
A/N: So far so good?