Time passed relatively peacefully within Parachenko Village. The reconstruction work was going smoothly as more and more effort was placed into rebuild public infrastructure, such as roads, fields and training grounds.
Houses and buildings related to work and jobs, such as tailors, blacksmiths, mortal medicines and other important job related constructions were being progressed smoothly.
Arthur's knew river-top dwelling had become the focus on many Fae Master families, and rich mortal families as well. Even if it took slightly longer, considering the foundations had to be well set, having such an abode amidst the huge number of land-locked houses proved to be quite the nice difference between those of lesser status and those of higher status.
The fields and pastures were now filled with mortal Ranked animals such as cows, sheep, chickens and even a tamed pack of wolves that one of the mortal families had tamed.
Their child was a Fae Master who managed to tame the leader of the pack and brought them all back with them to their home on the outskirts of the Village.
However, despite all the recent hustle and bustle, reconstruction and rebuilding in Parachenko Village, today, almost none of the worksites were filled with as many workers and builders as yesterday, or the day before.
Why you ask?
"..... Andrei Kovacs. Fourth-tier talent. Origin Fae..... Fire Bird Fae!".
A relatively skinny young man, whose slightly shorter physique made everyone present certain that he didn't possess a single drop of Kovacs blood within went wide eyed and started crying, cradling the small flame coloured bird in his hands.
Arthur gestured for the young man to move along to side, while patting him on the back slightly.
"Good job. I hope you can make the Clan proud Andrei".
The skinny young man's mouth dropped slightly, and he was slightly speechless hearing the talented third young master of the Clan speak such encouraging words to him!
He smiled, the corners of his mouth practically reaching his ears as he gave Arthur a deep bow.
"I won't let you down!".
Arthur nodded, and felt the gazes of countless envious young men and women on Andrei.
He asked Elder Vova and his Father if he could be present during the talent awakening ceremony, and promised to keep everyone on his good side so long as he could remain.
Since there weren't as many Elders this year to perform the talent awakening ceremony, Elder Vova and Niklos agreed before sharing a glance seeing Arthur send word after word of encouraging messages towards every new Fae Master.
Neither of them realised..... just how much these young men and women, who were only just over a year younger than Arthur, adored him.
Arthur had protected quite a number of their relatives and family members during the beast tides, and even saved quite a number of people present. Even if they didn't like his face, or felt that he was too handsome in comparison to themselves, they all respected Arthur's power and righteousness.
In the back of their minds, tiny seeds had been planted, and only now had started to be watered.
'If I could be just like Arthur, then couldn't I be respected and loved by everyone?', they thought.
The vast majority of them were all born from mortal families, and didn't think they would ever have the chance to become Fae Masters in their lifetimes.
But due to the beast tides, the number of Fae Masters in the Village had been decreased significantly, and the Kovacs Clan needed to increase their numbers regardless of whether they came from mortal families or not.
Arthur sent Elder Vova a glance, and mouthed the words, "70%".
Elder Vova rolled his eyes at Arthur's silly antics, although couldn't help but feel surprised about the number of awakened talents during this years ceremony.
Excluding those who had come from Fae Master families, there had already been 30 mortals who had awakened Fae Master talents. 2 of which were second-tier talents.
Even though he gave Arthur's words the benefits of the doubt, he couldn't help but trust him even more as a result of the number of talents in front of him.
Eventually-.
Arthur's gaze turned towards the relatively pretty young girl up next. A few of the young men in the crowd, even some of Fae Master descent turned towards her, an unconcealed lust could be seen within their eyes.
Arthur pretended to do a double take as he looked at her, frowning for a moment before opening his mouth to speak.
"It's.... Nyssa, right?".
The girl seemed slightly surprised that Arthur called out her name before turning red in the face and nodding vigorously.
"Uh- Um, yes! Yes! Sorry, I didn't think that you would remember me after-".
Arthur shook his head and showed a saddened expression.
"I can only apologize that I didn't get there sooner. If I did, then I would've been able to save your family....".
The girl's expression fell and she nodded before shaking her head.
"It's fine. That's all in the past. No matter how much we try, we can't turn back time. There is no medicine for regret in this world after all".
Arthur and Nyssa shared a smile before the young girl walked before the massive sealed gates, consolidating her resolve as she nodded letting one of the other Rank 2 Fae Masters present open the gates slightly.
Once more, a tiny, miniscule black coloured firefly, leaked out from behind the massive gates. Floating and flickering its large tail, as it slowly landed on Nyssa's hand.
In an instant, a torrential downpour worth of negative thoughts and emotions washed over Nyssa.
Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate.
An seemingly infinite amount of hatred, rage, anger, wrath, and desire burst forth the moment the Hatred Fae came into contact with Nyssa's hand.
Hatred Fae granted anything, human or otherwise, an immense amount of strength at the cost of sanity and rational thought. Some rogue or demonic Fae Masters would refine Hatred Fae and keep it on them, using the boost that came with it to augment their strengths.
Currently, for a mortal like Nyssa, someone who was filled with immense emotion and regret, the Hatred Fae had an extreme effect on her psyche.
The images of that day played out over and over again, repeating themselves constantly within her mind.
The damn screams from that annoying little shit.... if only that little brat wasn't there, then her family might still be-.
"No!".
The girl cradled her head, ignored the elongated fingernails and the slightly messy hair that she had obviously tried to straighten. Her sclera grew slightly black as she slowly tried to adjust her breathing back to its normal pace....
Nyssa fell to her knees, panting heavily, her back and clothes covered in sweat as she struggled to stand up.
Luckily, or perhaps, unluckily for her, a gentle hand lifted her up and helped her walk back towards the waiting area.
The girl turned bright red at the sudden closeness between her and Arthur, the one who saved her life. Leaning on his tall, thin, yet somehow muscular physique, the girl felt completely safe for a moment, before feeling him leave her side and head back towards the Clan Leader.
Nyssa was so entranced with his figure, his presence that she almost didn't hear the Clan Leader speak.
"Nyssa Kovacs! First-tier talent! Origin Fae..... White Devil Fae!".