Chapter 196 (1/2)

Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Questioning

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Letting out a sigh, I sank down on deep ainst a tree I pulled out a water skin and took a long sip, letting the cold water sit in ulped it down

There was a faint glo as the sun ca at the sky covered in trees, I took in the view of lush green with specks of orange peeking through to provide a little wartask that I would have to undergo, I thought back to a few days ago Despite the weighty conversation that I had with Agrona, things see better

My core had advanced to white, and every er The scars around on my neck and wrist hadn’t disappeared but had becos that had endured several substantial injuries felt lighter than before

I knew that ed This e Walk, including Burst Step, without accruing daic that was didn’t have a set purpose predisposed by gestures or chants, had beco even stronger

Sylvie, on the other hand, didn’t have it as easy While she looked younger than my sister in her new form, she had the coordination of a toddler

Her frustration was visible as she frequently tripped over her own foot or lost balance for no apparent reason while standing still Perhaps evenher newly-acquired thumbs More than once did a maid have to clean broken plates and shelf decors in the room

I let out a chuckle, still clearly able to picture the faces of everyone when they saw Sylvie in her human form for the first time Everyone had taken it a different way

Kathyln’s eyes had widened as she bolted away fro for the intrusion, leaving Hester with an arin as I tried to explain

My sister had pointed atwhen Tessia and I had a child together While I didn’t blame her since Sylvie did have this sheen wheat-colored quality to her hair that unmetal silver, but I responded as any older brother would I smacked the back of Ellie’s head and asked her how Sylvie could’ve been er than her At the mention of Sylvie’s na more time with each other ever since

Virion’s reaction had been relatively muted; he seemed to have sensed it was Sylvie theto pass up the opportunity for a witty re that he no h, Emily’s reaction had disturbed me the most The way she turned beet red and covered her h, but she just stood there in the doorway, her curved lips peeking out from behind her hands

It was a duly noted reminder to me to introduce a boy to the poor lonely artificer

Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a deep breath I had left Sylvie behind since she was still getting used to the changes to her body in her new form now that the seal her mother had placed on her was broken, and while I felt isolated here despite the activity going around froht decision

I didn’t want her—I didn’t want anyone I knew—to see what I would have to do to the boy I had kept alive

I just hope that things are better on General Aya’s side, I thought

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The two of us were ordered to confirainst the attacks of the Alacryans assuer’s neas correct

With my eyes still closed, I took in the sy notes while insects harmonized with their chirps and drones, all acco leaves

“Maybe it’s actually more peaceful here than in the castle,” Irooht for the proper distribution of soldiers andon Sapin’s doorsteps

“General Arthur!” a fa my eyes open

It was the elf that I had ordered to carry the Alacryan He ran towarddespite the unevenness of the ground “The Alacryan has awoken!”

I rose tothe dirt off ofout for the eate the ene to bury the memory of my past when the situation was reversed “Strip the prisoner and remove everyone else from the room”

The encamp that seemed unnatural just a few hundred yards north of the battle Or so I thought My senses even at white-core weren’t fully accusto effects of the Elshi+re Forest

By the holes in the ground that had been packed with fresh dirt and the trees that seemed to be unusually dense just outside the ca wood affinity to manipulate the trees like this Tents of thick fabric filled the clearing while elven soldiers moved about in activity

A fehen our eyes lanced wearily at the human kid that was perhaps several times more powerful than the entire camp combined

The elf pointed ahead “This way, General The Alacryan is in the tent at the rear Our head is waiting just outside”

I saw the large canopy made up of twisted roots and branches and a thick cloth draping over it A swirling do with her attention to the entrance of the tent, ar inside her, was the saed to save fro our arrival, she visibly relaxed and held out a hand “I forgot to introduce myself earlier My name is Lenna Aemaris, head of the southeastern unit in Elenoir”

“Arthur Leywin” I shook her hand before turning to the tent “He’s able to talk?”

A look of disgust traced Lenna’s face “He’s been screa up, which is why I had to put up a wind barrier It’ll also give you some privacy”

“Thank you” I took a cal h the sound protecting barrier without disrupting the spell—a feat that was much harder than it appeared I wouldn’t think of ator from this moment

Inside,idle threats

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“My arood for you, you’ll untie uished family of the—”

My hand cracked across his face, snapping it back with the force of the blow

The boy looked at me, stunned “Y-You… You slapped me! What’s your na him once more to lock eyes with the boy “I don’t think you truly understand the gravity of the situation you are in, so allow hten you”