SYSTEM ASCENSION

Rowen released Elias and took a step back.

”You are a Black-eyed?”

Elias tilted his head again. Instead of replying, he just chose to return his attention to the mirror and stare at it like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

Rowen stepped back. A smile rented his lip, but vanished as soon as it came. Now, he was really confused.

’He’s a Black-eyed. A Black-eyed is finally in Salvador! But...a child? Why is it a child?’

He glanced around himself, suddenly raising his guard that he had dropped in the heat of the conversation.

”Where are your people?”

”What people?” Elias continue to admire himself with a detached curiosity.

”You didn’t come here with people?”

”I did.”

Rowen raised a brow, expecting him to say something, but when Elias said nothing, he probe further.

”So...? Where are those people?”

Elias shrugged. ”Dead.”

”Heavens!”

Rowen turned around and began to stride away. Elias stared at the mirror for a moment and suddenly glanced side at the lack of questions. As he saw Rowen feets away, he immediately ran after the older man, the thought of homemade buns fresh in his mind.

As soon as he left the mirror, his reflection lingered in it. Mona, staring ominously at them departing. The mirror shattered into tiny bits afterwards.

___

Rowen took note of the boy following behind him like a lost puppy. No doubt, he had invited a Black-eyed for homemade buns.

His mind was in total chaos.

’His people are dead. Salvador is doomed! If the Black-eyed declare war against us, we’ll be outmatched. Their territory is wider than every empire in Aoi continent.’

He glanced back and met the eyes of a boy who wasn’t thinking about anything except buns.

’Hold on. His trouser is worn out, so he must have been here for a while. He didn’t just loss his companions. It must be...months ago? Did he take refuge here?’

Rowan began to pace around in circles. Elias stopped to watch him.

’If he had been here for months, then there were probably attacked and he escaped. That means if I return him back home, we’ll earn the Black-eyed favour. But...’

He paced faster, now mumbling to himself.

”But, if they were attacked by the Salvador empire people, then, we’ll only be courting death if we return him,”

He paced even faster now.

”Black-eyed is a shut in empire. They never let anyone out or in, especially their children. Seeing that they didn’t come for him, they must not have known that he’s here. Does that mean that their destination was not Salvador empire to begin with? That’s why they didn’t turn his place upside down...”

Elias only heard ”ramble ramble and more rambling.”

He frowned.

His inner voice rose.

”Kill that human. He has a rare vitality. Devour him.”

Elias stared at Rowen. Just stared without saying a word for a moment.

”He promised me buns. I want buns.” He finally spoke.

His stomach growled in response to his hunger. Rowan paused and turned. He chuckled softly.

”You’re hungry.”

”I am.”

”Come, come.”

As they walk, Rowen leaned closer.

”The people who attacked you...”

”Salvador empire.” His answer was immediate.

Rowen began to sweat.

’We’re doomed.’

They said nothing else till they arrived at the street starting point. Truly, Rowen had left his bag tucked in a wheelbarrow.

As soon as the scent of buns waffle pass Elias’s nose, he dashed past Rowen, snatching the bag like a starved child he is. He sat down inside the barrow.

Rowen, despite the circumstances, chuckled.

’He’s so carefree...’

He watched Elias sniff out the buns and took a bit out of one, before he began to pace again.

’Let’s go over this again. We have been requesting an alliance with the Black-eyed for almost two centuries now, but they kept rejecting. Ten years ago, they sent a final warning for us not to push it. That message was hostile. Although, Salvador and Black-eyed has a terrific history, the hostility should have faded over thousand of years...’

”Water.”

Elias voice broke him out of thoughts. He moved closer and snatched the bag, pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to him.

’Why did they send people here after warning us not to push an alliance. Did they sneak out?’

”Elias...” He began.

”I am not giving you the bun.” Elias cut him off.

He blinked once. Twice.

”Those buns are for me... You know what? Forget it.”

He bend down beside the wheelbarrow and watch as Elias emptied the water, before asking.

”Did you sneak out? From your empire I mean?”

”Sneak...” Elias seem to understand that much. ”No. Father said... alliance.”

Rowen flinched.

”Alliance?!”

He sprang up.

”How long have you been in Salvador?!”

Elias tilted his head.

”I was six.”

Rowen face paled.

”How old are you?”

”Sixteen.”

The answer brought totally silence. Then Rowen chuckled nervously.

”We have been riding on the edge of annihilation for ten years.”

He turned around and walk further away from Elias.

’He’s the last survivor of the Black-eyed resident sent for an alliance ten years ago!’ He palmed his face.

”Or top of that, Salvador people attacked them. What sort of bad luck is this?!”

He glanced back at Elias who wasn’t fazed by his yelling.

’Wait... If he had been living in Salvador empire for the past ten years, there is no way nobody noticed his eyes. Expect if nobody saw him...’

He returned to Elias.

”When did you come to Mispi?”

”What is Mispi?”

”Here! When did you come here?”

Elias counted his fingers.

”Two...three...four... five. Five days.”

’It matches the report given to the palace.’

”Where were you before you came here?”

The question tore a reaction from Elias. He paused, bun falling from his grip and rolling off.

Killing intent burst out in wave, it pressure making Rowen shield his face. Wind blew, clearing everything in their part.

”What?!”

For a moment, his brain clicked. ”I was hunting those bastard that broke my Yvonne!”

The pressure sent Rowen stumbling back.

’No way. He pushed me back. This lad is an S rank raider.’

The pressure vanished as quickly as it came. Elias leaned back against the wheelbarrow.

”I hunt all of them, and make sure to deliver every pain in ten fold.”

’Broke his Yvonne? Is it a toy or something?’

”Where...did you hunt them?” Rowen approached with caution.

”Scorched trial?” Elias mumbled. ”Hot...desert.”

”Desert?”

Rowen eye narrowed. ”There are no desert in Salvador empire.”

Elias shrugged. ”A blinding light took me there.”

Rowen froze.

”When...was that?”

Elias blinked once. And again, before he answered.

”Three years.”