Chapter 81: Amber’s Awakening [I]
Elsewhere at the depths of the city, two figures walked side by side, one a young man, the other a girl, in silence until the girl broke it.
"Uh, where are we going?" Amber cleared her throat, her eyes blinking rapidly, a faint blush coloring her face as she eyed Aurelian’s hand still clutching hers.
"Remember what I promised you after you decided to follow me?" Aurelian paused, turning to look at her, his swirling vortex locking with her dark eyes.
"Hmm." Amber hummed before she nodded, a faint smile hanging across her lips. "You said we’d leave together and you’d never leave me alone."
"Huh?" Aurelian’s brows arched, his lips twitching. When did he say that? But then he noticed the cheeky smile stretching across her face.
Before he could even process what he was doing, his hands shot toward Amber’s face, pinching her cheeks. "You cheeky little girl," he murmured before pausing, his hands caressing her cheeks. A whisper escaped his lips. "So soft." Then he pinched some more, unable to get enough of it.
"Uh?" Amber’s eyes fluttered, feeling his hands across her cheeks. A crimson flush spread across her face as she heard his words. Pulling away, an aggrieved look etched on her face. "Quit pinching my cheeks, you’re being mean to me."
"Huh? Yeah, right." Aurelian muttered sheepishly, sinking back into reality as he watched her face flush with embarrassment. But he couldn’t help it... they were too soft.
Regaining his composure, he let go reluctantly before continuing. "I promised you power... power beyond your imagination." He whispered, watching amusedly as she nodded, her eyes widening as she repeated the word before him. "Power." Confusion clouded her face.
At first, she had assumed the power he’d spoken of was his protection, just being by his side as he rose in strength, giving her some sort of shield if he chose to acquire subjects in the future.
But the concept he was speaking of now... it was almost as if he was suggesting she too could wield power just as he did. Strong enough to crush her enemies easily. But that was... impossible. With awakening an F-rank talent, her fate was already sealed. No matter the effort, she would be stuck at E-rank for the rest of her mortal life.
Still, for as long as she had known Aurelian, he had never lied to her. Did he have a way to allow her to walk the path of ascension to power?
Even though she seemed content with living the rest of her days as a mortal, a flare still burned deep inside her. Tales her parents had seared into her heart about the realm of Arcadia—the beauties, the privilege of strength.
She still wanted it all. To travel the realm and unfold its mysteries, battle monsters, and beat up bad guys. All of her lifetime desires came streaming back into her heart, a flicker of hope igniting them once again.
"Really?" Amber whispered, her hand pressing firmly, the weight of her expectations heavy on his.
"Do you trust me?" Aurelian breathed, watching her eyes flood with emotion. She nodded repeatedly, her eyes growing moist, tears threatening to burst out.
"Good! ’Cause we’ve arrived!" Aurelian muttered excitedly, pointing to the building right in front of them.
"Huh? R-Red Lantern Brothel?" Amber stuttered, warmth surging deep inside her as she blushed furiously at the plaque before them. "What are we doing here?" She blinked, her mind running wild with imagination.
"Tweaking out a cool talent for you," Aurelian murmured casually, feeding the wild thoughts running through her mind as she struggled to come up with an answer.
Tweak a talent? What did that mean? Was he going to teach her something? Teach her the arts of pleasure? Consummate their status?
The deeper she spiraled into her imagination, the redder her face grew.
Unaware of the effect of his words on her, Aurelian whispered, "Follow me," before walking in, spiraling deep into his own thoughts.
Since he had acquired the Supreme Rebate Record, he had made a few decisions. One being that he couldn’t use it on anybody not close to him—for in using it, he would be revealing a part of his secret. But someone like Amber was perfect.
He could have already utilized it long ago by trying out the C-rank Iron Skin talent, but that would be a fucking waste. He only had one monthly slot, and he’d be damned if he wasted it. If he could replicate another talent, merge it with Iron Skin, and then imbue her with it, that would be far better.
And he knew just the person.
As for the chance of trying it with his Peak S-rank talent? That was too risky. As with everything, he suspected it wasn’t perfect, and had flaws of its own.
And to wield the talent he had would require a stronger body, one she currently didn’t possess. Given he was still messing around with elements he didn’t fully comprehend, it was best to play it safe.
"Well, well, well, if it isn’t you, Aurelian..." A voice suddenly drifted into his ears, yanking back his focus as he approached the reception.
A familiar face came into view. Amelia Rosehart. Her mouth froze wide open as his full frame came into view, pausing her in action before she continued, her brows arching. "...And you’ve grown much more handsome too."
She licked her lips, her eyes hovering over the youth, before smiling as she noticed a girl hiding behind his back. "You’ve brought a friend with you this time. Wonder what you want today."
Hmm, I don’t reckon leaving my name behind. Aurelian mused, his eyes scanning the lady before him, draped in an intricately woven blue robe that struggled to contain her curves. Then again, a woman such as her would have her means. He nodded, a smile stretching across his face as he stepped aside, revealing Amber huddled behind him like a scared little kitten.
"Amber, this is Amelia. And Amelia, this is Amber." Aurelian nodded, making quick work of his introductions before leaning forward, a dark smile stretching across his lips.
"I came to ask you for a favor."
"A favor? What favor do you need?" Amelia whispered, her eyes widening as she leaned forward to meet his gaze, stealing glances now and then at his eyes—lit faintly in a crimson and dark hue, spinning in a vortex that sucked in all her attention.
"Don’t play coy. You already know what I want... is you," Aurelian said evenly, his words making her stiffen, surprise flickering across her features as she stared at him.
Not at his request, but at the whiff of aura she could feel hovering around the young man before her. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact level, but she was sure he was an E-rank being.
"T-this..." The words stuck in her throat as she tried to process it all. It had barely been a few days since his last visit, and he had advanced a whole rank?
The thought caused her eyes to widen in shock, reevaluating the figure before her again.
This was no prodigy... he was a monstrous figure. One even she had failed to see the full scope of.
"Agreed!" Amelia muttered, jumping at the offer, her cleavage bouncing with her excitement.
"Should I call in another girl? Or... will your little friend be joining us?" she teased, voice dripping into his ears.
"No, Amber will be coming with me. No need, you are enough," Aurelian breathed, his eyes set on the objective at hand.