The gift Elysia gave him was quite a surprise, something he had never expected. It was a painting of him and her, yet not of their current lives..... It was a painting drawn from their previous life.
Both of their faces were different from the ones they carried now, and even their hair and eyes had changed. The background too belonged to another time, a memory far removed from the present.
As Ash looked at the painting and then at Elysia, he was left speechless. He could imagine how difficult it must have been for her to recall fragments of the past in such detail, how much effort it must have taken to put them together into something whole. After all, not everyone had the Rune of Knowledge like he did, and to reconstruct such a memory without it was something he could not help but admire.
The painting itself told a quiet story. The strokes were uneven in some corners, messy in places, and Ash could almost see how often she must have grown frustrated while working on it. Yet in those imperfections, he felt her sincerity. And now, watching her stand in front of him, smiling shyly with a nervous glimmer in her eyes, Ash felt his heart thump louder and louder, refusing to calm down.
"Thank you... this is something..... that truly means a lot to me."
Elysia only shook her head, her lips curving into a brighter smile.
"I am glad you like it, Ash. At first, I wanted to give you something else, something better, but then I thought... maybe this would mean more. Anyway, let’s play some games..."
The celebration continued after that. The instructors left once they had given their gifts, each of them excusing themselves with claims of urgent work waiting elsewhere. Melissia too left not long after, saying she had tasks to finish at home following the festival.
But it was not true. There was no such work waiting for her. She had simply chosen not to stay because her mind and heart could no longer bear the sight of Ash and Elysia together. The feelings inside her threatened to burst through her control, her emotions already at their peak, so she left in search of some peace.
The rest remained behind, and they played a few simple games. Ash joined them, though in truth, he barely spoke. Whenever he did, it was usually one or two short lines, sometimes only a few words. It was Elysia who helped him, acting as a bridge between him and the others, easing the silence so that he would not feel completely out of place.
Time passed, the hours slipping away, until the celebration finally came to an end. Everyone slowly departed, leaving Ash and Elysia alone in the hall.
Ash sat back on one of the chairs, letting out a quiet sigh as he ruffled his hair.
"You know right... I would have preferred spending time alone with you, rather than doing a birthday party like this."
Elysia walked toward him, her steps light but steady, and sat on his lap. She leaned her body fully against his, her warmth pressing into him as she murmured softly.
"I know, dummy. But this world is different, and you don’t have any real friends here. You hardly ever talk with anyone else, so I thought... maybe your birthday could be a chance for you to open up, to make a few genuine connections."
Ash’s hand gently brushed over her head, his sigh carrying both affection and resignation.
"Did you like it or not?" she asked quietly, her eyes searching for his.
Ash thought for a moment before replying with simple honesty. "I loved everything you do for me... It’s just that it felt unnecessary."
[Truth]
Knowing his words carried nothing but sincerity, Elysia’s smile grew warmer, her eyes softening even more. She pressed herself closer, and together they simply enjoyed the closeness, holding on to the quiet peace between them, letting the intimacy of the moment stretch on without end.
****
Next Day, 18th October
"Hey, I wanna talk about something."
Ash said while sitting at the dining table, his hands resting on the wood as he leaned slightly forward. Elysia was beside him, calmly chopping vegetables, her silver hair falling across her shoulders. The rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the chopping board echoed through the quiet room, sharp and steady, like a clock keeping time.
Hearing Ash’s words, Elysia replied without looking up. Her hands did not pause, the knife continuing its precise movement.
"What is it?"
Ash hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingering on the knife in her grip. It was not directed at him, yet the words he wanted to speak carried a weight that could easily cause complications, and the presence of that sharp blade somehow made it feel even heavier.
Maybe I should talk about this sometime later..... let’s change the subject for now...
"Nothing. Its just that the academy is starting soon. What do you think about the new ways they have implemented?"
Elysia stopped for just a second, her knife hovering above the board. She gave him a brief glance, then sighed softly before resuming her work.
"The new methods the academy is introducing might feel harsh. I would not be surprised if many parents retaliate against it, since it concerns their children’s safety."
Hearing that, Ash shook his head and replied, "Yeah, but if you think about it, with so many dungeons appearing these days, I believe parents might actually prefer this. They would rather have their children face risks under the supervision of people from the association than be caught completely unprepared later. Even if they get injured while training, at least it will happen in a controlled environment, instead of during some real crisis."
"Well, that is true as well. It would give the younger generation more experience, which is something they desperately need. But Ash..."
Her knife slowed to a stop as she turned her head toward him. A faint, knowing smile appeared on her lips. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly, catching the light in a way that made them look sharper than usual.
"Now will you tell me what you actually wanted to talk about? I know you changed the subject at the last moment. You lied."
Her silver hair framed her face as she looked at him steadily, and with the knife still in her hand, she appeared less like the girl he had gotten used to and more like someone who carried quiet authority.
Damn the person who gave her that cheat skill...
Ash cursed internally, but soon sighed.
He straightened in his seat and met her gaze. "I will be leaving on a journey as soon as the academy starts. There is no fixed date for when I will return. Though I might be able to contact you if I find a signal along the way. So, don’t worry about..."
But before he could finish, his words were cut short.
Because...
A knife was suddenly pressed against his neck, the cold steel grazing his skin. Elysia was standing right next to him now, having moved faster than most people could blink.
She has become quite fast, and her control over her body has improved a lot..... good, she is growing very well.
Ash remained seated, calm and steady, even though the blade touched him. His eyes had easily followed her movement, and he had already expected something like this the moment he began speaking.
"I am coming too..."
Elysia’s voice was firm, filled with finality. It was not a question or a request. It was a decision, and the way she looked at him made it clear she would not accept refusal.
The blade pressed faintly into his neck, cold against his skin, but Ash simply looked into her crimson eyes and replied with equal firmness.
"No."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier, the air thick with tension. It felt as though a volcano had begun to rumble beneath the surface, ready to erupt at the slightest spark.
But then...
"Sigh..."
With a single exhale, the tension shattered. Elysia lowered her hand, the knife slipping from her fingers and falling against the table with a soft clatter. She pulled out a chair and sat across from him, her crimson eyes never leaving his face.
"Where are you going?" Elysia asked, her voice soft, carrying a quiet concern that reached Ash in a way words alone could not.
"I can’t tell you..." Ash replied, keeping his tone calm, though a hint of hesitation lingered in his voice.
"When will you return?" she continued, her hands moving absentmindedly, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear.
"I... don’t know..." he said, letting the words hang in the air, heavier than intended.
"Will you be safe?" she asked again, her crimson eyes searching his with quiet intensity, as if trying to anchor him with her presence.
"Certainly," Ash replied, his voice steady.
Silence settled between them, thick and gentle, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the room around them. Elysia let out a long sigh, soft but laden with unspoken patience and understanding.
"I hope... You will someday make up your mind and tell me the truth you are hiding. I won’t pester you, but I will be waiting for you to talk about it," she said, her words deliberate, carrying the weight of her care.
Ash only nodded, a faint, quiet smile touching his lips. He knew how deeply she understood him, how even in silence she could sense what he could not say.
"But... why did you change the subject at the last moment?" she asked, a gentle teasing lilt to her tone, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Ash’s smile froze. He looked sideways, avoiding her gaze for a moment, unsure how to begin.
"Well... I was just afraid..." he murmured, barely above a whisper.
"Afraid of what—" she began, eyes narrowing slightly as the realization slowly dawned. She glanced at the knife she had placed on the table and then back at him, the pieces falling into place.
She smiled, rising to her feet, and moved quietly behind him. Her arms wrapped around him, warmth pressing gently against his back. Her voice was low and teasing as she whispered into his ear, "Am I that scary?"
Ash’s body stiffened slightly. It was not about strength, or control, or how he should act. It was a deeper instinct, a quiet, unspoken truth of the heart. Love had a way of weakening even the strongest, and his heart had long since recognized hers.
"N-No, certainly not," he stammered, feeling his cheeks warm under the closeness.
"Tell me the truth..." Another soft whisper grazed his ear, stirring a faint bead of sweat along his temple.
"It’s just... You know. In our previous world, you used to... beat me when you were angry..." Ash admitted, his voice faltering slightly.
Her arms tightened, holding him closer, and he felt her soft weight pressing gently against his head and cheeks. Heat rose to his face as a blush spread.
Oh... not that right now... he thought, heart hammering.
"You know, those were only because you were heading down a bad path. You started smoking and even drinking, so I had to set you straight. Didn’t you leave all those habits behind afterward? I’d say I did a wonderful job," she murmured, her words deliberate, almost satisfied.
"It wasn’t beating," she added, leaning closer. "It was just me making you better. Are you forgetting all that?"
Ash swallowed hard, nodding in silence.
"Right," she said, a playful warning threading her tone. "So, Mr. Ash Burn, don’t pick up any bad habits in this life, because here... I’ve learned many new ways to discipline someone."
Ash shivered slightly, imagining the consequences, and silently made a vow.
I will not take any bad habits...
*****
A/N:
How are you doing, readers? Feeling like some action has been missing lately? Don’t worry—the next volume, and the ones after that, are going to be packed with plenty of battles.
Anyway, today marks the 300th Chapter, which I think is quite a milestone. To celebrate, I’m bringing back the Extra Chapter event. And this time, I’ll definitely keep my word—no empty promises.
Here’s how it works:
Minimum Rewards:
200 Power Stones = 1 extra Chapter
100 Golden Tickets = 1 extra Chapter
Maximum Rewards (weekly):
1000 Power Stones = 10 extra Chapters
500 Golden Tickets = 10 extra Chapters
How it works in practice:
--If you reach the minimum rewards, I’ll upload all the extra Chapters by Sunday of that week.
--If you reach the maximum milestone, then the minimum rewards for that week won’t apply. Instead, you’ll get a mass release of 10 Chapters the following week.
Example:
~If you reach 1000 Power Stones in the first week of October, then before the end of the second week of October, I will release 10 Chapters at once.
Important Notes:
~The maximum milestone system will only last until I finish making up for the Chapters I missed in September. So try to reach it quickly.
~If the maximum milestone is reached in a week, the minimum rewards for that week are skipped, and you’ll only get the 10-Chapter mass release the next week.
~Once I’ve cleared the backlog, the minimum rewards system will continue as usual. While the maximum one will vanish
Thank you for reading and supporting the story—I hope you enjoy what’s coming next!