At the same time that Kain was examining the Yara, the surrounding members of the Ashenclaw family were also examining him.
‘This young man is so devoted to his work, the raise in reward is well deserved,’ Darius thought while looking at Kain.
‘I was doubtful when my husband revealed that the solution to Yara’s problem was such a young person. However, it looks like age is not as much an accurate predictor of success as hard work. He’s so diligent.’ Thought Seraphina.
‘Maybe this guy isn’t so bad. At least he’d better than the other guys in the city who only try to appeal with the money earned by their parents and their looks but have no real skills of their own.’ Thought Alaina with a slight blush creeping across her face.
However, unbeknownst to them who all were admiring the seemingly hard-working Kain… frёeωebɳovel.com
‘It’d be hard for her to torch me if I use her daughter as a shield. He he he’ Kain was thinking deviously while planning to hold a juvenile spiritual creature captive while interrogating her mother.
“Ahem! Since it’ll still be at least another couple of hours before Yara’s trainer arrived, I was wondering if I could take her around the grounds. Particularly where her mother may usually roam. Occasionally, spiritual creatures may have a reaction to the spiritual materials they need for evolution. Perhaps, if there is something on the grounds that triggered this mutation, she will react to it.
It’d be even better if Yanna could escort me. It is a long shot though, but I figured we should explore every possibility.” Kain said while facing 3 gentle gazes.
Kain couldn’t help but have goosebumps appear across his arms at the looks so different from yesterday.
“You truly do not stop thinking about work, do you young man?” Said Darius. “Do not mind, I will make sure that you are granted all of the necessary provisions and have Yanna escort you around the areas she most frequents.”
“Excellent! You all can continue with your meal. Thank you so much for inviting me, but I would love to get straight to work.”
Kain then quickly stood up, picked up Yara from where she was lounging with a full stomach and left the room. He followed his memory to once again reach the lush gardens outside.
The moment he stepped into the garden he spotted Yanna alone. Likely she had already been debriefed on the situation through her bond with Darius.
The towering figure of Yanna, the Blazing Ember Wyrm, cast a shadow over him. Her scales shimmered with a fierce orange glow, and her eyes, sharp and piercing, seemed to analyze his every movement.
“Hello, I am Kain. We met briefly yesterday…” Kain decided to break the silence.
Yanna’s her expression was unreadable. However, unlike the other 3 in the house, there was absolutely no warmth in her cold gaze.
Without a word, she turned and started down the path into the forest, her massive body swaying with each step. The air seemed to hum from the intense heat waves her body gave off.
The path twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the garden and further from the Ashenclaw manor. Now he could now longer see the house…meaning that they could no longer see him.
Kain clutched his little meat shield, Yara, closer to his chest. He wasn’t sure if it was just him but the whole atmosphere of their silent walk felt unsettling.
The only sound was Yanna’s heavy body crushing the plants as she moved with purpose. Kain’s mind raced as he tried to formulate his approach. He needed to be careful— a wrong move could lead to disaster.
He wasn’t sure if it was all in his head, but he felt as though there was an underlying hostility coming off of her, and he couldn’t afford to provoke her. He kept a close watch on Yanna’s form, trying to discern any sign of her mood or if she’d make any sudden actions.
Eventually, Yanna stopped in a small clearing surrounded by ancient trees. The area was tranquil, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the breeze. She turned to face Kain, her eyes narrowing slightly. The silence was heavy, and Kain could feel the weight of the Wyrm’s gaze.
“Alright,” Kain began, using all of his self-control to keep his voice from quivering under the gaze of a creature far more powerful than him. “The gift I had previously mentioned that allowed me to determine that Yara was a mutant with unique conditions for evolution, also provides me with some additional information that I chose not to disclose.
For example, that Yara’s mutation is from her bloodline rather than a random mutation or due to you ingesting a unique spiritual plant.”
Yanna didn’t reply. Instead her gaze got narrower and narrower while the surrounding air got hotter and hotter. Kain couldn’t help but to raise Yara up higher in his arms, hoping to silently remind her that he was currently holding her only child.
‘Please don’t kill me. Please don’t kill me.’
Kain took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “I do not care how this bloodline was acquired. It isABSOLUTELY none of my business.”
‘And I don’t want to risk you killing me to keep your secret.’
“However, I need some kind of information about the identity of the recessive bloodline to help Yara evolve. She is your only child, and I’m sure you can sense that her life-force is weak. She will die young if she cannot successfully evolve.”
Yanna’s gaze softened ever so slightly and her expression became extremely complicated at the reminder of her daughter’s predicament.
However, the temperature around them still continued to steadily rise. He felt the greatest pressure of his life, he seemed to be pressed by a heavy mountain, and he did not dare to act rashly or even move a finger suddenly.
‘Don’t tell me she’d even risk killing her own daughter to keep this a secret?!’
“Truly! I have no intention of prying! Even if you could not provide me with the specific identity of the bloodline, would you at least have any clues about the important evolutionary materials for that bloodline? An object similar in its importance to the Infernal Stone that Glimmering Salamanders usually need to evolve.
Even if you’re not sure, a list of possible objects to narrow it down to could save Yara!”
Kain had probably never spoken so quickly in his life. However, even faster than his speech was his racing heart. At any moment she may decide that it was worth it to just blow the two of them up.
‘Please…’ Kain prayed.