CHAPTER 34

HERA CLANDOR (1)

“She is here,” Hans whispered to himself as he noticed her outstretched hand, glowing with a soft, radiant mana. The wisps of bright hues, a clear sign of her ‘light’ mana. But that wasn’t what occupied his mind. Like swatting a fly, she had just dispelled his best spell, SunField sanctuary. “As I thought, I don’t like her.” He was pouting inside.

Taking a closer look at her, a middle-aged appearance, typical of elves who always seemed perfect in every way, especially in their enchanting beauty. Her long, untied blond hair fluttered in the aftermath of her effortless dispel, while her face, though pretty, held the depth of a lifetime's wisdom. Dressed in pure white, that accentuated her ageless beauty, she appeared both graceful and formidable.

As for her expression which Hans could decipher, calm and mature, he can only put it into two words. She was neither angry nor confused of what happened. Then he heard her melodious voice.

“What is happening here?”

Zephyr quickly came kneeling, “It was all my fault. I couldn’t hold myself when he attacked me out of nowhere.”

“The fuck… oh so we are going with framing scheme. I’ll dance at your tune, you pointy bastard.” Hans thought and before he could refute, people started whispering themselves.

“That boy came to sir Zephyr’s room, I saw it.”

“Yes, we all know captain zephyr won’t react this way.”

“He even ignored Yamir several times.”

“The boy must’ve really provoked him”

Hera heard them and then turning to Hans she gave him fare chance to explain which startled him. “Isn’t this the setting for me to get misunderstood and get kicked out. Will she believe me if I say this is all nonsense. NO, that won’t happen, I’m new here while this bastard had his sweet time to bury his roots here—“

“I’m asking you volunteer, is what these people are saying true.”

“Yeah,” Hans clenched his fist showing others, “I put a pretty mean hook right at his face. He was bleeding through his nostrils, nasty stuff”

“Why?” Hera asked, still nonchalant.

Hans grinned at Zephyr, his lips moved with silence making the motion of saying thank you. Hans pointed out towards Hera, “Its all so I could summon the nodemaster here. You are quite the busy person to meet Miss Hera Clandor.”

Hans turned his crisis to an opportunity, meanwhile spraying the nonsense among the entire Node that he got the best out of Zephyr while in truth he couldn’t touch that powerhouse of a knight. Even his half baked Sunfield Sanctuary was of no use against him. That only meant one thing, the Node captains were formidable existence who he can’t match yet. But that doesn’t stop him from using one.

“Oh, I’m here then, what do you want from me?”

“I was asked to meet Red monks, but you sure live up to your reputation.” Hans laced his words with sarcasm as he glanced at Zephyr, who was biting his lips in fury.

“Hmm… getting cocky after getting an upper hand against our youngest does not make us the object of your remarks.” Hera finally frowned a little.

“So, I was right, this pointy bastard is one of them.” Hans thought inside quickly and framed his words carefully, “Is that so? Hmm… I can be wrong then, so how can I join your ranks?”

“Pft…” she chuckled a little, startling a lot of people. Hera was an existence that had forgotten to smile. “Who says I’ll let you join—”

“Your loss, not mine, Ma’am. I’ve said my piece, did the damage that I wanted. I’ve pretty much achieved what I came here for. Now the die is in your hand and your chance to roll. Whether you get me in your team or not, it’s up to you.”

“You’ve quite the arrogance. Even your father knew decency.”

“The next generation is always better, ma’am.”

“Hmpf…”her lips curved up slightly, “so now what?”

“I wait for you to kick me out.”

“Kicked out? Do you think you’d survive after attacking a Red Monk?”

“Survive…pft…” Hans chuckled, “I’m Hans Parv, the last of Imperial blood. Do any of you dare to touch me?”

“Poof!” She appeared right before Hans’s face, it was similar to what Dijkstra uses. Her hand raised, her index finger pointing at his forehead.

“What are you doing?” Hans asked, resolute.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Touching you.” She said nonchalantly and then Hans was sent flying through several walls inside the castle. “Summon the dwarves for repairs,” she commanded, “ and get that brat healed. He’ll pay by becoming my personal punching bag from tomorrow on.”

She left while her aide followed from behind. “Lady Hera, will he be okay? You don’t know how to hold back.”

“Pft… hahaha…” Hera laughed to her content, but only her aide witnessed this rare scene. “That stoic Samson fathered quite the cute brat.” She said to her aide, “Don’t worry, he won’t die that easily.”

When Hans came to his senses, he found himself bandaged head to toe. “Just what these maniacs had done to me” he mumbled.

“If I were you, I won’t move.” The healer, an elven woman, probably in her forties warned, “Your body is used to get healed with purer mana. Normal healing does not work well on you. Total of nine bones broke, including several ribs. When you are able, Nodemaster wishes to see you”

“Do I have a choice?” Hans asked the healer, a flick of hers sent him flying through several walls, he couldn’t even sense her presence when she appeared before him. “That bastard Zephyr is strong too. Just what the heck is this place, everyone is a monster here.” Hans sighed his eyes asking the answers from healer.

“I don’t think so…but boy, how did you used Sanctuary. You don’t even have a single circle inside you?”

“Thats private, Miss Healer.”

“Okay,” she nodded, when Hans was unconscious, the more she tried healing his body the more bizarre she found the situation. For starters her mana transfer wasn’t healing him. Dwelling deep she found out Hans’s body was filled with divine mana and it was rejecting hers since hers was inferior.

Second the boy was thought of a mage but had not even speck of pure mana of any kind, not even the wood type he was famous for. However, she only kept the details to herself and only relayed them to Hera when she left Hans to rest.

“Then, how is he using magic, master.” The aide, a young man with blue distinctive hair and a sharp face, asked after the healer left.

“Cause he ain’t human. He is an entirely new thing. You won’t understand. That cruel bastard of Parvian has used a classless beast’s heart in his creation. You know they are still mystery to us, don’t you?”

The aide nodded, he was a war orphan whom Hera rescued in one of her missions. So the trust between them was like of family. “Is there anything more to him?” He asked curious, he was assessing wether Hans will become threat to them or not.

Hera answered his question,“ Of course there is more to him, Sierra, as usual went beyond and filled him with divine mana. Or god knows what potions. He is ridiculously robust. He only broke nine bones against a warlock like me. You know, I don’t know to hold back, right?”

“Mhm..” The aide nodded again.

“Back when his father was alive, he told me, I’ll never be able to beat his child when he reaches his full potential—”

“That’s ridiculous. You are the strongest warlock. You can’t be defeated by a mere brat. I asked around. He wasn’t even able to land a single hit on Zephyr but used the fact that Zephyr couldn’t admit it and hatched the ridiculous story of him beating him up.”

“So this was it. I too thought something was wrong in the story. Zephyr is the youngest dominion knight in the history, he broke Rudolf’s record and is pride of what Concordia can make of from an orphaned elf.”

“Yes, he is good natured, kind and helpful person. Just what did that boy said to make him loose his cool.?”

“Hmm..” Hera tapped her lips, a habit of hers when she thinks, “Guess there is only one way to find out. From involved party.”

As night descended, Hans was served food by his fellow volunteers. They had been giving him cold shoulder for a while, but when they heard about his encounter with Zephyr, their enthusiasm soared. Hans was someone his peers both feared and admired. He never allowed anyone to push him around, and it seemed Node people weren’t the exception.

Hans didn't really care about having company, and after a hectic night, he somehow made it to Hera's office next day.

"Hmm..." She peered over her glasses with a tilted face. "We have a visitor, Kai.”

"Yes, master," Kai, the aide, nodded and motioned for Hans to enter.

Hans on the other hand, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, grumbled, “Is all this fuss really needed? Just throw me out; I don't wanna join you weirdos.”

“So how long you plan to wear those bandages.” Hera ignored his whining.

“Hmm…” Hans glanced at himself, "I must have proof that Nodemaster Hera sent me to infirmary.”

“Its not my fault that you can’t be healed with normal magic.” Hera complained, “So, you’ll be spending your time here, in this very room, right before my eyes until you can heal naturally—”

“Thats easy then.” Hans interrupted, moving to a nearby window. It was late morning, and sunlight streamed through the glass. Hans focused, marking a small area in the office as his own and called out.

ParadiseGarden

Golden seeds sprouted around the window sills near his resting hand. Quickly it turned to delicate yellow flowers with thread-like tentacles and attached to Hans. They absorbed sunlight, transferring vitality to him. In moments, his bones began to mend, concussions faded, and dried blood vanished from scratches.

"I'm all patched up now, so can I leave?" Hans asked, eyeing Hera's changed expression, reminiscent of how he looked at the dessert. “I was supposed to leave a good impression, so she can teach me a thing or two, that’s what great-grandfather wanted and I think I've done that.”

“Indeed, quite impressive. You're healed already,” Hera mused, “That's quite a development. Stay in the couch, I’ll be there in a moment. Try the juice or anything you want.” She signalled Kai to bring him some beverage.

“Then please heat up some cocoa for me.” Hans requested Kal.

“Do you think this is a restaurant.” Hera paused her document reviewing.

“It sure is not take-your-kid-to-work day, ma’am, why am I here.” Hans quipped.

“Didn’t anyone tell you, your mouth will get you in some real trouble.”

“Hmm…” Hans thought deep and answered, “Yeah, Deli says all the time, Norwin said once. Grandpa, nah, he usually is the one to get in trouble because of my mouth.. ah there are many other too.”

“I didn’t ask for the list.” Hera sighed, she wasn’t the one who was blessed with scissory tongue like her queen sister or this brat in front of her.

“Come here,” She called Hans close, stretching her hand she pulled his cheek so hard that his tears welled up.

“What’s wrong with you?” Hans complained when she let go of her grip.

“Every time you act cheeky, your cheeks will get hurt.” She said smiling, “So stay there in silence that is your punishment for now.”

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