Alaster sat down on the edge of the bed, contemplating everything that had happened in just a few short hours. He allowed his Pact armor to dissolve and finally relax.

Not only had he come to a strange city, but he had finally begun the final step of his revenge. Azemar had taught his first lesson, which was practically more detailed information about how Nobility kept power in a world where anyone could grow stronger.

The man had explained that he wanted to keep the first lesson easy and simple, both to ease Alaster into the nature of them and because Azemar had a few things to do after returning to the city.

Alaster had fought countless horrendous Monsters that would make the common man shiver and quake. He had battled against countless waves for hours without rest. He had outsmarted even the smartest and devious of creatures.

Yet that all paled in comparison to her. He had certainly been tired after each of those encounters, but none of them even came close to the exhaustion he felt after just a single hour in the presence of that woman.

Much to Alaster’s surprise and torment, Azemar had a daughter. A daughter that seemed to perfectly counter Necrotic Mana and had energy seemingly just bubbling out of her.

During the Siege of Onigas, Alaster had seen a few who had been capable of wielding Holy Magic. They had put up a stronger fight against his Undead, even occasionally resulting in one of his hand-crafted Minions having to defeat them as the raised Undead proved incapable.

For Alaster, whose body was practically infused with Necrotic Mana, he naturally detested the stench of Holy Magic, almost instinctually causing him to lash out at a mere whiff.

Yet that hadn’t happened with the girl. Not to say that the aura her Magic gave off did not have similar effects on his own Magic, just that it did not cause such a violent reaction from him, or the Shadow Assassins hidden around her.

Whatever her Magic was, while it still weakened Necrotic Magic, was very different from Holy Magic. That alone caused Alaster’s curiosity to spike. He was interested in what sort of Magic could do that. He wanted to know its strengths, its weaknesses. And how best to exploit them.

But it was not her Magic that resulted in the young man being so tired. It was her personality. Though Alaster admitted that her Magic might have simply exacerbated it. After all, his body heavily saturated with Necrotic Mana, so being around a person whose Mana naturally repelled his own surely had some kind of result.

Alaster was naturally a broody man. It was to be expected. His parents were murdered, his sister kidnapped. He was cast out to brave the horrors of the world by himself before he was even fifteen. He had nearly been killed countless times. And had talked with beings of immeasurable power who had all expressed their sympathy for his plight but refused to help.

He had spent many years without anyone to talk to and had grown comfortable being alone with his own thoughts. Even after gaining Belgroth and Sedall as travel companions, he still found himself sheltering away from their voices.

Most people he had engaged in conversation with either understood his quiet nature or had a reason to speak with him. Azemar’s daughter either did not understand his nature or did not care. And she seemed perfectly capable of talking about anything and everything.

His Shadows had noticed her far off and he had noticed her as she came into his [Seeker Sight] radius, and yet she had simply moved too quickly, and he was too distracted to avoid her. Had she held killing intent towards either of them, Alaster was positive he would have been able to react in time.

He had not even been her target; he was simply in between her and her father.

After crashing, the two had slid for a few feet along the polished marble, his armor screeching horribly, but unable to leave a mark on the soft stone. As heavily enchanted as it was.

It had not been the first time something had crashed into him, and he immediately held his forearm to her in order to shove her away. Yet he didn’t.

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Her soft white hair cascaded around them, seemingly hiding them away from the world. She was objectively gorgeous, but it was her eyes that momentarily stunned him.

They held more emotion in them than Alaster had seen in any other person. That much was obvious, but there was more. Deep within, hidden behind everything, Alaster could detect an unfathomable sorrow. A sorrow that Alaster knew all too well.

A sorrow that he saw in every reflection.

Her white eyes stared back at him with both confusion and interest.

“So sorry about that!” She had cried out, barely suppressing her giggling.

With Azemar’s assistance, she quickly got off the newcomer, allowing him to stand up.

Before Alaster even came to his feet, she had already embraced Azemar in a tight hug, and for the first time since meeting him, Alaster spotted his newest teacher express emotion. Happiness.

After a moment, she released him and immediately barraged him with a series of questions. Alaster had never heard someone speak so fast. Even with his enhanced hearing, he only caught the occasional word.

However, the one-sided conversation allowed him to observe his apparent attacker.

The woman’s long white hair fell to the middle of her back. She wore a green dress that displayed her athletic body without forsaking grace and modesty. It fell to just above her feet without getting in the way. The sleeves ended just above the elbow, exposing the smooth lightly tanned skin that contrasted beautifully with her white hair.

In all, the Elder’s daughter was gorgeous and despite the apparent opposition their two Magics had to each other, Alaster could not help but be attracted to her.

Just a few moments after Alaster stood, Azemar had managed to deflect his daughter’s rabid curiosity to his young student. The moment she had learned that he was not from Galmore, she had flipped her attention to him like a dog begging for scraps at the table.

“What Nation are you from? What was life there like? How often are the cities attacked? What sort of books are available? What’s the most fascinating Magic you’ve ever seen?”

One after another, her questions flew from her mouth. Alaster remained quiet, unsure how to respond.

“Are you mute, or perhaps deaf?”

It was not an insult, just simple curiosity.

“Leave the boy be, Lunaria. He might be tired from the trip. However, I do have some good news for you.”

‘And possibly bad news for Alaster.’ Azemar thought to himself.

“Good news? Oooh! What? What?” Lunaria bounced on her feet in excitement.

This time Alaster truly struggled to not see her as an excited puppy.

“You have been pestering me about teaching you for many years now. I have always had an excuse, one way or another. But this time, I don’t. I have agreed to take on this boy as an apprentice so I thought that I would teach you at the same time, get you off my back.”

Lunaria happily squealed. A noise that even the Shadows flinched back from.

“Quiet down girl. We are still in the hallways. Come, I don’t have much time today, but we will begin with the first lesson.”

The trio traveled through the hallways of the City Lord’s estate until they came to the front gate, which they had previously bypassed with the carriages. Much to Alaster’s growing annoyance, Lunaria did not let up the barrage of questions. It soon grew to the point where even Catherine felt it from within the Soul Domain and mentally checked in with him.

Luckily, the Elder’s home was not far from the Lord’s castle. The residence was rich, but not gaudy. Its land was compact and used well, fenced in with a tall stone wall topped with a spiked iron railing. A carefully cultivated garden welcomed them onto the estate. Alaster spotted both flowers for decoration and plants for meals.

The building itself was just as simple. Just two stories with merely six rooms. It was all well crafted and equally well maintained, but simple.

Alaster would have expected servants, and in a way, there were. But what greeted the trio upon entry were not living people, but instead Azemar’s suits of armor. They saluted their Master momentarily before returning to their duties of maintaining the building.

“Today’s lesson will be in the library.” Azemar stated before leading them there.

The Library was only the second door on the right, directly off of the open kitchen and dining room. The Library itself was the largest room in the entire building, a three meter high ceiling with filled bookshelves filling every wall, floor to ceiling.

There were four lounge chairs in the center of the room, surrounding a small and low table.

Without any ceremony or hesitation, Azemar began the lesson by explaining in greater detail how the Noble Family first came into existence, at least to his knowledge. Surprising Alaster, Lunaria turned out to be an avid listener and attentive student.

Alaster found himself similarly focused and soon their teacher declared that it was over and that he had something to do. Though he neglected to state what he needed to do. Lunaria did not seem at all surprised, so Alaster guessed that Azemar very rarely told her of his actual duties.

“Alaster, follow this suit. It will take you to your room. It will be your room for the duration of your stay here.” Azemar stated, releasing an ordinary suit of armor from his Ring of Holding with a wave of his hand before vanishing from the room.

“It was great meeting you! I’ll come and get you when dinner is ready!” Lunaria said with a wide smile.

Alaster simply nodded to her as he followed the suit.

Despite the hour he had spent with her, he still had no idea how to handle her, or if he even could.

‘She is like a puppy.’