The Kingmaker System-Chapter 70 - 69. Anchor Of Hopes (2)

It was easy to distinguish between the energy of Aura and the Mana. The fundamental difference being their nature.

While Mana was the energy that was of soul that used the influence of the nature outside the body as well as inside, Aura only relied on the inner strength.

Aura was the energy of the body, the soul that couldn’t produce mana sometimes with the intensive training of the person ended up using Aura, which was the secondary life force of the person as the driving force.

If a mana user’s Magic was a mental or innate ability then, the aura was an acquired physical ability through training.

The shapeshifters were the ones who used Aura since their bodies were born with the congenial trait of shifting from human into an animal. Their Auras developed as they grew and that was why they were physically so strong.

The only thing that messed with the Aura users was the Mana users since they had contrasting attributes.

The Dragons were the existence who were the particular source of mana.

That was why the rogues were wary of me whenever I was with the expedition team, they would either try to avoid me or attack me head-on. I was their natural enemy.

The time was passing by pretty quickly after I had last visited Izkar, it had been a week already and I was waiting for the signal from the scouts that I had planted. I knew all well that it would take time for the preparations to done and in the meanwhile, I would be able to finish my work in Frosthail.

The Seraph Knights who were a part of the investigation team kept asking me why Davian suddenly called it off and I couldn’t tell them. But it was irking me as well.

Davian wasn’t willing to see me after the time when he had his outburst, he was avoiding me and even when I went to his study he wouldn’t allow me in.

He was sulking like a kid.

[Goddess of Wisdom finds the nature of kids to be complex.]

"My thoughts exactly," I replied to her.

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you and Goddess of Wisdom to not pass any judgements based on one-sided conjectures.]

"What else can you say? I know I gave him hope but couldn’t exactly be honest with him, still, I saved the Second Wall, isn’t that enough to be pardoned?"

[Goddess of Wisdom agrees with your words.]

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to not judge a child from the perspective of an adult.]

"So, what do you want me to do? Go tell him the truth and let him charge in and get himself killed while the situation can be handled without any sacrifices?"

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to be empathic towards the wounded child.]

I sighed as I shot another water slicer and chopped the wolf that was pouncing on me in half.

I was midway in the expedition, on a solo path, charging into the secret hide-outs of the rogues and taking them out to quicken my work.

The knights were dealing with another shifters while I was moving forth leaving behind the trail of blood and carcasses in my wake.

I wasn’t exactly calm at this point, I was angry and the best way to vent was fighting still the shifters weren’t as strong to distract me since I was able to talk and argue with my Patrons even while being surrounded by a pack.

[Defender of Divine Glory calls you arrogant.]

"Dragons are the majestic species far above everyone else. Let me act my role." I retorted.

After the whole day was passed, we made our way back to the Frosthail castle. I ate my dinner in my room and kept working on the letters that I had received from back home, from the Marquis, a few other people and also one from the Mage’s Tower.

Silas had delivered the devices that I had asked for on urgent basis and I was all but ready for the go.

Still, there was a sense of something being amiss though my plan was working pretty smoothly.

I stayed up late without being able to sleep and kept tossing and turning in my bed before giving up altogether.

My stomach grumbled and I got out of my bed and left the room.

I was used to roaming around at night in this lone and dark castle because for one, it allowed me to feel the serenity of the night and second, because the silence allowed me to listen to my thoughts.

I walked up to the kitchen and stopped short as I heard the sound of utensils clanging. The maids and the other servants weren’t supposed to be at this place so late so, who else?

Did someone in the black market tried to go behind my back?

I pulled out the dagger from my waistband and walked inside quietly, I saw the silhouette of someone at the counter and the sound of something squelching reached my ears.

I walked ahead and stopped short as I recognised the figure that was struggling in the dim light of the burning torch. I put the dagger back and crossed my arms at my chest as I observed him.

The knife was barely able to cut the pieces of bacon and the slices that were already chopped were quite thick. I saw the bread and the vegetables that were also on the counter.

"Those slices are too thick for a sandwich." I commented and the figure flinched and turned pointing the knife at me. It was Davian.

I stood in my place with my arms crossed at my chest and he relaxed a little.

"Why are you here?" Davian asked and I walked up to him.

"I’m here for the same reason that you are here, Your Grace." I answered and presented my hand to him.

He hesitantly placed the knife in my hand and stepped aside. I took over and made us two sandwiches before taking a seat at the table.

Both of us were quiet as we munched down the sandwich, he might still be mad at me and I couldn’t evoke another argument.

I was done with my sandwich first so, I wiped my hands and cleaned up the mess that was created.

Davian was quiet for the entire time till I was working and when I was done he stepped down from the stool and we walked out together.

I walked a step behind Davian but for some reason he seemed to be walking slower and slower until he finally came to a stop. I stopped behind him and he turned to me.

"Why are you walking behind me?" He asked and I blinked.

"I’m not of the same standing as Your Grace."

Davian looked up at me with a scowl, "Not of the same standing."

I tilted my head and Davian sighed massaging his temples.

"Are you still not going to come clean, Sir Ocean?" He asked and I frowned.

"Pardon, what are you trying to say, Your Grace?"

Davian pursed his lips, "Even after destroying everything you are still pretending to be oblivious?"

"Pardon, what?" I gasped and Davian’s aura whipped around sparking against my mana.

"You... are not a human, are you?"

I frowned a little as he asked that and I couldn’t help but be a little cautious.

"What are you talking about, Your Grace?"

"I trusted you when you told me to have hope but I couldn’t help but feel as if I might find them again... But... all this time, I guess it was only a child’s play for you."

"Your Grace, I-"

"I thought you would find something but I couldn’t realise your real intentions."

What the hell was he talking about?

"I thought I was being cold when Ethan said that I wasn’t showing my gratitude properly for everytime you were going out of your way for helping us. But now I guess, my guilt was for nothing. You didn’t even deserve to stay in this place."

I was confused, "You’re not making any sense."

"Is it so hard for a Dragon to make sense of what a human says?"

My heart nearly came to a stop and I stared at Davian without another word.

"I heard what your partner said that day, Sir Ocean."

"My partner?"

I recalled the day of when Drac and Clyde attacked the Second Wall and Clyde left after calling me a Dragon. Davian was close by but I assumed that he didn’t hear that.

"What was your motive in doing that? If you had to kill me then you had chances, you can still go ahead and do what you did to my parents? Why are you delaying? Or is it not what your Queen wants?"

He was assuming that I was the Queen’s minion who came here to kill him. I guess, my plan of secrecy came to bite me back in my butt.

"I... thought of you to be as a reliable person after my parents, but, you stabbed me in the back."

I listened quietly as the tears were starting to flow down his cheeks.

He had taken his suspicions and let his thoughts run away with them. He wasn’t going to listen to me even if I tried to talk some sense into him.

Still, it was better this way. The Winter was about to end in a month and a half and my work here was almost done.

"Don’t you have anything to say?" He shouted.

I didn’t know what to say to be honest, his misunderstanding had nothing to do with me, it wouldn’t mess with my plan and eventually, I would deliver him what he desired so much.

"Since you know what I am, I will tell you about three things." I spoke up feeling his aura and my mana clashing in the air.

"First, it’s true that I am a Dragon but everyone in the kingdom knows what reputation Dragons have that’s why I never told anyone of it. Second, I don’t take orders from anyone because I don’t need to. And third, I genuinely wanted to help you because I had my own reasons."

"Do you think I’ll trust you now?"

His aura was growing hostile and it was starting to provoke my mana.

"It’s your choice. If you think I don’t deserve to live here then, I couldn’t force you to let me stay."

Davian clenched his jaw as he glared up at me.

"Very well then, Sir Ocean, I’ll have Ethan settle your pay and you can leave whenever you want."

With that said, he turned and walked away.

[Defender of Divine Glory laments the way your bond broke.]

"It’s fine, I had to leave this place soon anyways."

[Goddess of Wisdom anticipates your next step.]