The atmosphere was really getting awkward. I wanted to leave but for some reason Ruma was grabbing the scruff of my neck, refusing to let me go and Aurora, obviously, wasn't doing anything to help me. Rather she wss relieved that I was still in front of her to hide her from Elona.
"Um…" Elona looked at us curiously. "Are you perhaps a couple? Then this adorable child would be yours." Elona asked with a melted expression as she looked at Ruma.
Aurora was making sure to hide her face from Elona's eyes.
Anyway, we ain't a couple!
I don't have a child either!
[<Don't you want?>]
No.
In the first place, if Aurora discovered that I was Edward disguised, I don't even want to imagine her reaction. Secondly, I'd surely be the last man she would want to marry in this world.
I couldn't deny that I had been attracted to Aurora before as she was a 'safe' heroine for me. What I mean is that in all those nightmares I had, Aurora nearly never appeared and hadn't taken part in my death—just like Kleah and Layla. The others more or less were responsible for my death directly or indirectly but could I blame them? I killed countless innocent people and even like that some showed emotions in my death. Elona being one of them…
While I tried to find a way to escape this situation, I noticed Elona's familiar, the little grey falcon staring at Ruma.
Don't tell me it noticed that Ruma was a familiar?
"Hmm? I feel like I have seen that face somewhere?" Elona muttered as she scanned Ruma's face.
Indeed Elona. You are right. Ruma had slightly similar features to Aurora after all.
"My lady, we shouldn't waste our time. Lord Falkrona asked us to bring you back safely," Manu whispered but I and Aurora were strong and had sharp senses to hear him."
"I know, Sir Manu." Elona nodded and smiled at us before walking past us.
Finally she left us alone.
I was afraid she was going to check me or something like that.
Hiding my desire to punch Manu, I smiled at him before walking past him. Aurora, like a lovely wife, followed closely after me. With Ruma, still grabbing the scruff of my neck, we looked like a loving family.
Fuck!
Why do these kinds of weird situations only happen to me?!
[<It's like your whole existence is a troubles magnet...>]
'Don't need to say it like that!'
"I'm sincerely sorry…" When we left the shop, Aurora apologized to me with an embarrassed expression. "I'm afraid of nobles and…I didn't want to attract unnecessary attention…"
"..." I was speechless at Aurora's smooth lie.
"No worries." I reassured Aurora as we left the shop. She had apologized for being afraid of nobles and not wanting to draw attention to us. But I knew she was lying—she was smooth as butter at it. I mean, I guess it's a skill one must learn to survive in this harsh world.
"I'm afraid of nobles too," I continued, trying to make her feel better. "They put me through a lot of hardships in the past."
Aurora's expression twitched slightly. She probably noticed my lie, but didn't call me out on it.
"I will leave then," she said abruptly, forcefully taking Ruma's grip off me and walking away.
"Elona!" A new voice called out and it was also a familiar face - my step-brother, with brown hair and red eyes.
Oh god, who else is going to join us?
"Ah, excuse me," he apologized quickly as he nearly bumped into Aurora, who looked even more panicked.
"Hm?" Simon, my step-brother, looked at Ruma with suspicion. He was probably as strong as Elona and felt like Ruma was a peculiarity.
Aurora turned around with Ruma in her arms.
"Ah, I'm sorry..." Simon muttered.
"What are you doing here, Simon?" Elona spoke up, breaking the awkward silence.
"I told you to wait for me, Elona. Father is worried about the recent intrusions," Simon scolded Elona.
Wait.
What intrusions?
There shouldn't be any intrusions in this part of the game…
"I know…but I feel suffocated with all the guards," Elona complained. "Even now…" She looked at Manu and the others who averted their faces.
"Elona…you are a noble. Try to bear it for a few weeks until we find the culprits," Simon said with a smile.
Now, I was even more confused.
Who would dare to try anything to my family?
I could only see Ante-Eden or Caishen but why now?
Could it be because of me?
I could also see from the corner of my eye, Aurora's curious expression.
"I just wanted to treat Ember…" Elona replied as she caressed the little falcon in her arms. She was petting it with lovely eyes.
Now that I remember, I was the one who chose her egg…
"Don't worry about it. I already called an expert in our mansion. Come, I don't feel at ease outside like that."
"Fine," Elona nodded and walked toward us.
Elona, Simon and their guards left the shop but I did not.
Intruders?
Who?
Why?
Aurora glanced at me before leaving the shop.
[<Amael?>]
'Nothing…'
I didn't like this at all.
The Dungeon Event was next week and Ante-Eden should act at that time but if they were on me so soon then…
"Simon!"
Just when I was thinking about that, Elona's voice rang loudly from the outside.
I rushed outside and saw smoke rising from a mana train. The mana train which was running above us on the floating rails was stopped.
Something was up.
Simon was using his sand attribute to get the people inside the train in safety. Elona helping the people on the ground.
What the hell is happening?
People wearing masks and robes were appearing one after another from the train. They all had swords in their hands and were rushing toward Elona and Simon.
"Sand wave!" Simon shouted and a giant wave of sand shot out toward the men. One of them took out a glowing staff and stabbed it in the ground.
It was a one-time use artifact.
A blue barrier appeared in front of him and his mates repelling the wave of sand.
"Elona! Don't leave Manu's side! They are dangerous!" Simon warned and he was right. Artifacts were expensive objects and those guys didn't seem to be bothered by the amount.
"We have to help them, Simon!" Elona shouted as she fought them back to protect the people caught in the fray.
"Watch out!"
Aurora's shout woke me up and I jumped away, barely avoiding a sword's slash.
I was about to take out my staff but…
I can't here.
They will find out who I am.
Should I put on my mask and call Mary?
No.
I can't in public like that and…not in front of these guys.
They are not from Ante-Eden nor from Caishen.
Then from what organization?
A guy rushed toward me with his sword and I deftly avoided it before punching his nose. Grabbing his arm, I lifted him before slamming his body to the ground. Before he could raise again, I punched his nose again and squeezed his neck with my hand. He tried to struggle but I hardened my grip.
"Who are you?" I asked.
The guy didn't answer even after I hardened my grip.
"Tch." Clicking my tongue, I knocked him out.
"Hey!"
Aurora appeared in front of me with a sword parrying another man's swing.
"Be careful, it's dangerous! You shouldn't stay still on the battlefield."
"Thanks but do you have any idea about who they are?" I asked, hoping Aurora would know something.
"No…they don't seem to be heretics so maybe they are from another kingdom?"
"Another kingdom…" I muttered with a frown.
Another kingdom who would want to attack my family?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't find any clues about their identity.
"Falkrona Bloodline, First and Second Wings!" Elona shouted and moved smoothly, knocking out fast one after another the enemies.
"She progressed a lot…" Aurora muttered with a smile.
Yeah, she progressed but she is still so reckless.
Be it Miranda or her, there were no differences. Well, they grew up together.
"Do you know how to fight?" Aurora asked me in a serious tone.
I thought for a minute before answering. "I can use a sword."
If they were against my family, I had no reason to reveal myself by using my power as it would put me in danger. I could call Mary but I didn't want to put her in danger against unknown opponents like them. For now, I will stick to swords. For them, I was currently a mob so I shouldn't be their main priorities thankfully.
Yeah, their main targets from what I had seen, were Elona and Simon.
That idiot.
She should have listened to that shitty father and Simon. Now they followed her.
"Then take that." Aurora took out a simple sword from her space ring and threw it to me.
I caught it and smiled, "Thanks a lot, Lady?"
"Avia." Aurora replied with a smile.
Isn't that your second name, Aurora? She didn't look very far. What a lazy girl.
Aurora looked at me as if waiting for my reply so I spoke. "Amael."
[<Who is the lazy one?>]
'Shaddap.'