The evening sun dipped below the horizon as we reached the Wykes mansion. Bags under my eyes, I felt like a corporate worker turned zombie.
I dragged myself into my father's office to report. He stood up from his seat and engulfed me in a tight hug, which I was too exhausted to resist.
"That's my boy, you did a pure massacre there," he said, patting my back continuously. I managed a weak smile, too drained to speak.
"Now the whole nobility is scared of us, even the royal family," he continued, grinning like a madman as he sipped something akin to wine from his glass.
"Aren't you going to say something?" he prompted."I just want to rest," I replied in a weak voice.
He laughed heartily. "You know, I thought you were just a spoiled kid talking rudely to your dad, but you're a killing machine. I always knew my genes were top-notch." He took another sip of his drink.
I pushed my hair back and asked, "Don't you think this will create more enemies?"He smiled, his eyes gleaming.
"I hope it does. It's better to have enemies than backstabbers." He paused and added with a sly grin, "And remember, I'm one of those backstabbers."
I gave my regards to my father and weakly crept to my room. Ebon was in his usual position, silently staring at a book. I collapsed beside him.
He closed the book and his voice entered my mind."You used the Beast Will."I nodded.
"How did it feel using the complete one?" he asked.
"The best," I replied, then caught a mistake in his words. "Wait, why did you say complete? Wasn't the Beast Will always complete?"
Ebon shook his head. "Of course not. I don't exactly know the full extent, but the completion of the bond formation process must have finalized or awakened it," he explained.I just nodded.
Ebon then asked, "Where does it hurt?"
"All over," I murmured in a weak voice. As soon as the words left my lips, my body succumbed to a deep sleep.
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I woke up to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. My body ached, but the rest had done some good.
Ebon was already up, perched on the windowsill, looking out over the estate."Morning, Father " he said, turning his head to me his scales shining in the light. "Feeling any better?"
"A bit," I replied, stretching carefully. "What's on the agenda today?"
"Nothing," Ebon said. He looked at me, narrowing his eyes slightly before speaking in my mind, "Why are you asking me like I'm your butler?"
Stretching my body, I replied, "Because you are."
I went through my usual routine—taking a bath, looking at myself in the mirror, and changing clothes. I opted for something more comfortable today: a light blue shirt with brown pants. As I dressed, Ebon crawled onto my shoulder.
"You know you are getting heavier," I said jokingly.
"Knowledge is responsibility, and responsibility is heavy," he replied poetically.
"You know that's wrong in a sense," I remarked, looking at him with a bemused expression.
"Of course not, it's correct," he insisted.
Accepting my defeat, I stopped nagging. "Fine, fine. Let's get on with the day."
"Why do you eat so early?" Ebon asked, perched on my shoulder as we descended the stairs.
"It's because the others aren't up yet, and it helps me. I eat and then go back to my room," I replied as we walked through the corridor.
"Why did you ask?" I added, lost in my thoughts as we reached the dining room door, which was already open.
"It's because you aren't early today," Ebon pointed out.
"What?" I said, startled, entering the dining room, still focused on our conversation. I looked up and facepalmed as I realized he was right.
I looked up to see the whole family gathered at the table. "Oh ho, is the sun rising from the west?" my father mused, smirking at me."Yeah, good morning," I said, keeping my head down.
My father nodded. My hunger was insatiable right now, so I decided to eat with them today. I sat beside Elara, who I didn't know why she was here. I quietly sat down, my head still lowered.
Looking up, I saw everyone around the table. My father sat at the center on the left side, with Elara and Erwin beside each other.
My father's wife, Serena, was looking at me smiling with her usual mix of curiosity and something else. Beside her, near my father, was a three-year-old child with red hair and emerald eyes.
I glanced between him and my father, wondering if he was trying to incite an inheritance war.
Lost in my observations, Elara placed a sandwich on the plate in front of me, smiling. "Thanks, Sis," I said, deciding to accept that this was my family, something I once yearned for.
She smiled glowingly and gave me a tight hug. I couldn't resist it; she had grown a foot taller than me in just two years. Meanwhile, I was still a twerp, though managing better considering my elven genes that made my physique weaker but still I had a better body than intended.
I looked at the sandwich, noting the butter still in its solid form. Summoning mana into my finger, I quickly baked the sandwich, a process that took less than five seconds thanks to my mastery over the element.
As I was about to eat, I noticed everyone's gaze on me.
My father, locking eyes with me, spoke. "What?" I asked. Shaking his head, he said, "Nothing." His gaze shifted away, and the others' soon followed. I noticed he had performed the same trick with his own food.
"Well, whatever," I muttered, focusing back on my breakfast.
"When did you guys get here?" I whispered in Elara's ear beside me.
"We're always here in the morning," she said knowingly. I gave her a weird smile, unsure of what to say."And what about him?" I asked, gesturing to the red-haired boy.
"He's also always here," she said. I looked back straight, deciding not to talk anymore.
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