Time grew slower as the world seemed to be in synchrony with something, listening carefully, one could heart the pulsating heart of a living creature. Soon, a dazzling light came from the center of the frozen world, as an adorable green-haired child had her small palms placed above her chest, gazing at the scary giant before her as she spoke in a brave, innocent tone, "All fwears will go away..."
The moment she said, an invisible ripple spread out far and wide, shattering the illusion of the man holding the ax over the child's mother, filling them both with shock as time once more flowed like normal.
Little Rose was happy; she looked at the Mountain Ax Senior, who was now staring in the wooden house with shock on his face, she spoke in a slightly hard to understand but cheerful tone, "Mama! I don't feel scwared anymuuore!"
Ria, who only now recovered from her shock, looked down at her daughter in her arms. Her eyes narrowed as she thought to herself, 'It's not yet awakened, but the power within her Hellian Heart is not to take for granted... much like little Grev-Grev's arms...'
When Ria thought to here, she recalled when Grevlin was born, and a strange phenomenon that startled both her and her husband. While Marius didn't fully understand its details, and only scratch the surface with his [System], Ria knew full well what Grevlin's arms were.
She knew just what kind of astonishing mutation had taken place now that it's even fused with an unknown inborn ability, a portion of the very same inborn skill that Marius had been blessed with since birth.
'This won't be an easy life... but I'll have to do my part to keep them safe...' Ria thought with firm eyes, no longer paying attention to the Mountain Ax Senior who had risen from his woodcutting posture and entered his house.
As the Mountain Ax Senior entered, his shocked look turned stern, but he took a deep breath and calmed himself, he stared at Little Rose with a warm look as he spoke, "Little one, would you like something to eat?"
Little Rose was raised well; she suspiciously looked at him before she nestled her head into Ria's chest and spoke while holding her mother, "I… Mama said no food from stwrangers!"
The Mountain Ax Senior made an awkward smile as he shook his head, she wouldn't accept him out of the blue, he shifted his attention onto Ria, taking on a stern look as he spoke, "I suppose you have yet to explain to him about your identity?"
Ria stared at the man solemnly as she felt a dominating power from his stare, although she didn't fully know who it was yet, she had a slight hutch about his identity.
Ria lowered her head and replied, "Yes, you are correct."
The Mountain Ax Senior stared at her again before he shook his head and sighed as he spoke, "I'm old... I've grown too weary during these years, and I'm now a retired soul. I have no interest in the world outside of these mountains or the affairs between the Artimans, Spiritans, and Hellians. Go speak with your husband, once you've all made a clear choice on what you'll like to do, I will be waiting here..."
After saying his piece, the Mountain Ax Senior went towards a different room; he seemed to be ready to call it a day as he wasn't feeling the mood to cut any more wood.
Ria stared at the direction he went and made a slight bow as she spoke, "I thank you..."
The Mountain Ax Senior knew what she was thanking him for; he knew just how many of her kind his race killed over the years, each side was like fire and water, and simply speaking to each other in such terms was an unthinkable act.
'A Hellion and a being that bears similarities to our race, I wonder, what kind of future can they have on this continent? I suppose I'll merely have to watch and see from this old mountain...' He thought to himself, as he vanished into the room to call an end to a long day's work.
Ria soon after left the house, the moment she arrived outside, the air seemed to have changed slightly. Soon, a dark aura emitted from her body, turning the grasses around her a shade darker as even the spirits seemed to have grown weary and rapidly flew off.
Ria's eyes showed hate as she saw this; she didn't experience this for a long time, which caused her to forget about her innate effects on the world.
'I'll have to practice that technique again... how troubling it is to be born of this kind...' Ria thought as she looked at the dead plants and leaves around her.
Little Rose didn't seem to notice her mood; she seemed to find joy in the grassy ground, as her eyes beamed when she saw the small and cute little tiger cubs playfully fighting each other.
"Mama! Cwats! I want to play with Cwats!" Little Rose said, struggling as she wanted to be put down.
Ria sighed as she saw this, she stooped down and placed her on the ground but didn't let her go just yet, she spoke while pointing at the tiger cubs, "My Little Rosey, these aren't cats, they are tiger cubs."
Little Rose made a confused look; she placed one of her small fingers on her cheeks and looked at Ria with large eyes as she spoke cutely, "Twiger Cwubs?"
Ria smiled as she rubbed her head and praised, "That's right, tiger cubs, you can play with them, but do you remember what to do whenever you sneeze?"
When Little Rose heard this, she nodded her head and spoke, "Yes Mama, I must always lwook away."
After saying this, she ran off towards the cubs, wobbling slightly, the tiny little tod seeming to be ready for an adventure despite being late in the day.
Ria couldn't help but stare at her feeling a bit dazed, but her eyes fixed onto the tigers, she tilted her head noticing their oddness as she spoke her thoughts in a soft voice, "Odd? These cubs look different, I feel the Mystic Power of the Blazing Ice Black Tiger and a Heavenly Light White Tiger, but there's a slight difference on their bodies and innate power. I wonder, what could have caused this, are they rare pets found by that man?"
As Ria was thinking to herself, the laughter of Little Rose playing with the tiger cubs sounded, causing her to feel a tinge of warmth. Her smile made her no different from a radiant rose, giving her a stark contrast to her surroundings filled with dead plants.
Currently, a distance away from them, Marius and Grevlin were currently at the edge of the verdant field. The warm wind brushed across their bodies as it rustled their hair and clothing, even sending strands of grass across the field.
After a moment of silence, Marius, who stared out into the distance, glanced at his son and spoke, "Grevlin, how old are you now?"
Grevlin looked at Marius and replied, "Father, I am now ten years old, and only a few months from reaching eleven."
Marius saw his son's innocent look when staring up at him, and couldn't help but feel a case of weakness, but he sucked it up and kept a firm face when he spoke again, "Good, then do you remember what I told you the day you turned eight."
Grevlin hesitated for a bit, he soon after recalled then recounted Marius's words, "Father told me that someday soon I will be taught about the ways of the world..."
Marius nodded as his eyes shone sharply, he stared at him and spoke again, "I'm glad that you remember, my son, it was supposed to be a little longer before I officially began to teach you. However, now that we are in this world, everything has changed... now, more than ever, you will need to accept your duties as the oldest child, do you remember what happened today? What do you think would have happened if I couldn't beat the tiger?"
When Grevlin heard this, his eyes shone with fear, as he recalled the giant tiger, being the smart child that he was, he was able to easily picture the scene of carnage that would have followed causing him to tremble slightly.
Marius seeing this knew that he should stop here, he spoke and got to his point, "You seem to understand already, that's good, Grevlin... I have to tell you right here, and now, this world is far too dangerous, it is not a world where we can expect to be on good terms with either the animals or the people. As such, you will need to be stronger; if one day, there comes an enemy that I cannot face, you will be the one to beat him, you must be strong enough to protect your sister and your mother on your own."
Grevlin remained silent for a while; his trembling stopped as he clearly understood his father's words. Even now, he recalled the boulder that was about to crush both him and his sister to meat pace; he knew what would have happened if he didn't act.
Grevlin stared at his arms, the very things he hated the most in the world, his cursed arms that couldn't allow him to touch and feel things like usual.
He gritted his teeth as a firm look appeared in his eyes when he spoke, "Father, I... I will do my best; I won't let father down."
Marius seeing this smirked, his eyes flashed as he thought to himself, 'He truly is my son, so firm even at that age... that's good enough for now; I don't need to teach him anything yet, as his LVL is locked at 10; so apparently, he will need to age a bit more before he can experience proper growth. For now, I merely need to instill this consciousness within him. Hmm, I'll increase my strength while teaching him how to fight and to know when to kill...'
A slightly colder wind blew, as Grevlin stared at his father with unyielding spirit, Marius patted his head and then spoke, "Come, that's it for now, go on, you can play with your sister for the rest of the day."
Grevlin, who had a severe look now shifted to that of an innocent childish look; he shouted with beaming eyes, "Yay!"
Marius watched as Grevlin ran towards Little Rose and the two tigers, his eyes showing a gentle look before they shifted towards Ria. He knew that her story would likely be a long one, and even if she didn't tell him everything, he would need to prepare himself to accept her story.