With Prodige dead, Ace turned around and glanced at Valent who was still the same, without any reaction whatsoever. Ace turned his body with his leg and seeing that emotion-deprived face, he sighed.
"Oh well, might as well show you a little pity and end you right now"
*Spurt*
With that, another and the last of the Maveric Clan member's head rolled on the ground.
"Haaa~ It will be too bothersome to take out all of their cores, let's just enter the treasury and take a look."
With a tired sigh, Ace leisurely walked into the Core Area of the Maveric Clan, not at all bothered about all the blood and gore he was stepping upon. He then entered the clan treasury and emptied it.
*Flap*
2 Pairs of giant golden wings appeared behind his back as he flew into the sky, leaving behind a scary sight for everyone else to see. little did he knew that his little play here would haunt the Azure kingdom's king for a long period of time.
…
The next day, the sun was shining high in the clear, blue sky. A little girl with a wooden stick in her hands was walking around with her eyes covered with a cloth. The girl had a cheerful smile on her delicate face, with her little swimsuit on and her hair tied into twin tails, she just looked adorable. Adorably adorable.
Few people surrounded the girl as they continued shouting.
"To your left!"
"Move left"
"No no no! Not so much, turn a little right!"
"Not too right!"
"No, turn just a little left"
"Yes, and now walk 5 steps ahead"
"Ahh! Look how small her steps are, she's so lovable~"
"Move 5 more steps!"
"Yes now strike!"
*Bam*
With that, the little girl swung her stick and struck the watermelon placed on the ground. With a quick movement, the girl then removed the cloth, revealing her beautiful Golden eyes filled with joy and excitement. She looked down and her face flushed with even more excitement.
"I did it! Papa! I did it!" With a joyful exclaim, Gracie rushed towards Ace.
On the other hand, Elizabeth and her friends, who joined Ace and Maeve today had a surprised expression planted on their faces. Of course, it wasn't because Gracie managed to hit the watermelon. It was because the watermelon had cracks on it!
Cracks!? How is that possible!? She is only an 8-year-old girl! What's with that monstrous strength!?
Contrary to their surprised looks, Maeve had a frown on her beautiful face.
"She's too weak…" She muttered.
"Hmm? What are you talking about? She hasn't even received any training, how do you expect her to be strong? Just let my lovely little girl enjoy~"
"Nope, nope, that won't do." Maeve shook her head in denial. "That won't do at all. It seems that I have to start her training…"
Ace shuddered in fright when he heard Maeve talking about Gracie's training.
Training...
That was the only time when Ace doesn't like Maeve's company… at all.
Since young, it was Maeve who taught him swordsmanship and the training was anything but a good time. Ace could be considered a hard worker, but even he wasn't able to accompany Maeve when she was training her sword.
Maeve is the most diligent person Ace knows, she won't stop until you perfect the move she taught. Her training was hell, a hell Ace doesn't want to go ever again.
Just the thought of demonic instructor Maeve teaching his adorable little girl was enough for Ace to shiver in fear.
She's a little girl, a very precious little girl, how will her fragile body handle that hell?
By that time, Gracie had already rushed into Ace's arms and Ace hugged her dearly as if it was his last time seeing her delicate little body frame.
Gracie, oblivious to what her papa was thinking was blooming in joy since she hit the target on the first try.
The game continued and after a while, another game started. Every day was a lovely day for the family of three. For Gracie, it was because of all the fun she was having as she played countless games and for Ace and Maeve, it was seeing little Gracie jumping around with that bright smile on her face.
…
"What!? We would be leaving tomorrow!?" Seven days later, in the room of the Silver Moon Inn, Gracie questioned in an unwilling tone, her eyes were moist and tears threatened to roll out of them. With her little *Sniff* *Sniff*, she looked extremely pitiful right now.
Facing against such a mortal attack, Ace couldn't help but give up without even trying, "Alright, we can sta-"
"No. We are leaving tomorrow." Maeve spoke with an indifferent face as if those sparkly eyes Gracie was using didn't affect her at all. Maeve knew her daughter to the core, if she didn't build resistance to all this, then with how Ace is, everything they will do will be according to Gracie's will.
"Momma~ Please~ Just a few days more~" Gracie questioned. The little girl is too cunning, she knows that even though her mother acts like it doesn't affect her, in the end, she couldn't resist her irresistible charm either!
"Gracie, if you agree to return tomorrow, I'll make your favorite cookies as soon as we get back" Maeve offered, knowing that she won't be able to stand that gaze for long. Her trick worked as little Gracie's eyes wavered.
Cookies~ Yum~
No! no no no no no! I want to stay here…
Noticing that her determination was returning, Maeve continued, "Alright, I will make whatever you say for the next week!"
Wooaahhh~
Cookies for a whole week!? But… but…
"Alright, this is the last one, I will teach you swordsmanship just like your father if you agree to return tomorrow" after a thought, Maeve offered again.
"Ha!? Really!? Okay! We will return tomorrow! I agree!" little Gracie agreed quickly and Maeve smiled.
Ace, on the other hand, looked at his daughter with pity.
'This is the worst possible deal you could have ever hoped for… I sorry, my precious little nightingale, but I won't be able to save you this time. But you have to stay strong, your mother is doing this all for your own sake. Don't worry, I'll make sure you have a very good rest every time your training is over…'