Two weeks, it had been two weeks since anyone had seen or heard from Ira. In those two weeks, Raveria had defied logic and grown enough to actually walk and speak gibberish.
“Daauh.” A toddler wearing a grey shirt that was too big for her with silky black hair and yellow eyes steadily walked toward Ira.
“She almost said it!” Ira laughed as he picked his daughter up.
“Bring her over here, it’s time for her to eat.” Avery smiled as she looked at the two.
The three of them were outside in the garden which was in full bloom. It appeared that its growth cycle that was affected by Raveria was now permanent. The energy that was constantly sent out from Raveria before she was born had seeped into the environment similar to how the Void rendered a forest permanently uninhabitable. The difference was Raveria’s ability wasn’t as harmful to the environment and instead made a self-contained area of immortal plants.
“She’s so big,” Ira commented as he handed Raveria over to Avery.
“It may be her appetite and her abilities, it’s hard to say.” Avery raised her hand toward Raveria’s mouth and a small fireball appeared.
Raveria opened her mouth at gulped it down before tugging at Avery’s arm indicating she wanted her more. It was clear that Avery skipped the traditional route of breastfeeding a child and opted for something unique. Since Avery could control her flames she could also alter the temperature and even adjust its properties due to her divinity. So each fireball Raveria ate was laced with a small amount of divine power which provided an incredible amount of nourishment. Still, it wasn’t like it would give Raveria divinity of her own but it was tempering her abilities.
“I’ve noticed that she’s doing something with time which honestly makes me a little jealous, but you think she can speed up her own growth rate?” Ira asked as he watched his daughter greedily gulp down fire from Avery’s palm.
“It appears to be so.” Avery generously supplied the flame and since she was in the sunlight her mana recovered at a rate which was far faster than its consumption.
Raveria seemed to have had enough as she pushed Avery’s hand out of the way and climbed down from her lap. Avery smiled and summoned a few small phoenixes that began to fly around Raveria.
Ira followed his daughter around as she chased the birds while smiling, “Can you say bird, Ria?”
“Borh.” Raveria tried to speak but instead produced a barely understandable word and spit.
“Almost.” Ira didn’t seem disappointed and cheered her on.
After chasing the birds Raveria grew frustrated she couldn’t catch them and began to focus. The birds began to fly in reverse to their original position and she snatched one out of the air.
“Borh!” Raveria giggled as she began to chew on the small phoenix with her two bottom teeth. It appeared that using her ability made her peckish as she ate the Phoenix completely.
Ira smiled as he picked her up again and lifted her into the air, “I love you, Raveria.”
Raveria’s pure laughter resounded as she grabbed at Ira’s face, “Daah.”
“Ah, even closer.” Ira’s smile grew as hugged his daughter.
…
Meanwhile, during Ira’s two-week absence. The interview he did in Rhys’ hometown had spread all over the country and beyond. There were a few who called Ira’s words into doubt, but the Mercenaries Union, more specifically his handler Samantha, produced records to confirm his account.
What did it mean? Ira who was already hailed as one of the strongest people on the continent became an unbelievable existence in the eyes of others and his presence was a natural deterrent. The news he was planning to move to the Dark Elf Empire caused dissatisfaction with the Kingdom. Since no one was able to tell Ira to stay, many commoners began to blame the Kingdom for failing to treat him properly.
Speaking of the Dark Elves, they used Ira’s interview with Jonah as further evidence of him being a sacred figure. In addition, Charles, the eccentric alchemist with a penchant for immersing himself into experiments until his health was risk, became an important figure as Sylun poured immense funds into helping him.
As for those close to Ira? Harper was a bit grumpy, while Rhys maintained her patience since she assumed Ira’s daughter was born and didn’t want to form any selfish expectations that would drive him away.
Amy and Aldis had grown closer, but since he had yet to receive a reply from his mother they hadn’t been able to take another step in their relationship.
The four of them bided their time by sparring with Rhys which was a good distraction for her and an even better way to grow accustomed to her enhanced abilities.
Just outside the Capital, near the entrance of the Great Forest.
“Aldis!” Amy shouted as she watched lightning emerge from Rhys’ skin.
Aldis nodded and stabbed his sword into the ground and a cone of frost spread out in front of him.
Harper had hidden behind an illusion and was waiting for the perfect moment to strike Rhys.
Rhys waited for them to finish their preparations before nodding, she raised her foot and took a step before appearing in front of them with the sound of thunder behind her. After Ira’s ritual, she could use lightning more effectively and her speed was something impossible for normal people to contend with.
Aldis had the ability to create a cold environment which slowed Rhys down enough for him to react to. He blocked her first Rapier strike, but twelve more followed in less than five seconds. Although Rhys wasn’t aiming to hurt him and was using a practice weapon, it still hurt. Aldis retreated backward with a shout while phantom hands tore through the ground below and tried to grab Rhys.
Electricity appeared on her heels as she zig-zagged around the spectral hands and avoided them. Amy wasn’t just watching and raised her metal arm before shooting a cloud of demon fire. Rhys crouched before disappearing in a flash of lightning and appearing on a tree branch. She had a new method of travel and that was through infusing lightning into her limbs. As soon as she landed, Harper appeared above her and swung her staff only to hit the branch.
Since Harper had her own speed related ability which was her phase shift, used it to its fullest though it was no match for Rhys. The two exchanged quick strikes, but speed wasn’t Harper’s strong suit. With one hand, Rhys redirected the staff and the other she struck Harper in the abdomen repeatedly. Harper grit her teeth and controlled her bone scythe with her spectral energy while moving it toward Rhys.
Rhys punched Harper again but infused electricity into it causing her to be stunned, but Aldis quickly helped. Rhys felt her surroundings going cold but Harper was unaffected due to her innate cold resistance. The scythe wrapped around Rhys’ legs and her Phantom crawled out of the branch and wrapped its arms around Rhys. Seeing that she was constrained, Amy sent several bolts of demon flame toward her but lightning surrounded Rhys and protected her. The demons flames were destroyed and Harper’s phantom even faded away while the spectral energy inside the bone scythe was disrupted, causing it to loosen.
Rhys covered herself with lightning and made a move to finish the fight. She placed two palms on Harper and sent a burst of non-lethal electricity through her before jumping from the tree and running to Aldis and Amy and doing the same before they could react.
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With the three subdued Rhys released a breath while looking at her condition. The hardest part of high-speed travel was the air resistance. Unlike the Valkyries who had magic or Ira who could overcome it with his physique and more recently, his spatial manipulation, Rhys had the body of a human with above average strength. It was incomparable to the former and the latter. In fact, even Harper was technically physically stronger than Rhys due to lycanthropic properties. Underneath the heat-resistant leather armor she purchased, her skin was full of bruises that had occurred from traveling at speeds she wasn’t used to just yet.
Rhys grabbed the canteen from her hip and pulled off her mask before pouring it over her face and putting the mask back on. Her scars didn’t bother her anymore, but the mask helped protect her face from damage so she still used it.
Harper groaned as she dropped from the tree, “You’re not fast enough to beat Ira.”
Harper was right, with Ira’s control over space, he could easily slow Rhys down. He probably wouldn’t even need to do that as he could just increase gravity in a radius around him which would stop her.
Rhys didn’t deny it and nodded in agreement, but inwardly she was eager to fight with him.
“You’re too fast,” Amy sighed, just as she thought she could spar with someone who wasn’t as monstrous as Ira, Rhys proved her wrong. Still, she literally was able to practice with two of the strongest people in the Kingdom, though Ira was now way too far ahead for her to even land a hit on.
Rhys grabbed her notepad and began writing very quickly, [You all have a good combination of abilities when used together. Once Aldis’ frost ability develops you should be able to hold someone like me at bay.]
“But you were still holding back weren’t you?” Aldis asked as he rubbed his sore spots.
Rhys nodded to confirm his guess, but he didn’t seem distraught. Ira encouraged them to come at him with the intent to kill because he never even thought they could threaten him.
“...You’ve said that you intend to be with Ira, correct?” Aldis stood up as the air around him literally grew colder.
Rhys silently nodded as she watched his eyes flash with determination.
“Then you should know the ones who decide how things go are the Valkyries. They’ll want to test you like I have to be tested in order to marry Amy. If I can’t hold my ground against you then I can’t even think about winning against my cousins. So can you do me a favor and come at me like you’re trying to kill me for once?” A thin layer of frost gathered over Aldis’ swords and skin. Within ten feet of him, the temperature reached a point where standing in it for a few moments would lead to frostbite for a normal person.
Rhys picked up her notepad and began writing, [I can’t be sure I won’t injure you.]
“It’s fine...This power Ira gave to me is extremely good for defense, I just need to draw more out.” Aldis reassured her and the air grew even colder and the grass under him froze completely to where it would shatter if even the slightest weight was put upon it.
Harper and Amy had long since stepped away to watch from the side and see if they could gain a better understanding of themselves. Though Amy was noticeably more touched and concerned for Aldis than Harper was.
[I’ll take distance and then you’ll have ten seconds before I attack.] Rhys wrote one last message before she ran in the opposite direction.
She appeared a few hundred feet away and made a motion which signified she was drawing her rapier. Sparks of electricity silently gathered around gathered around her and the air began to vibrate.
Even from far away, Aldis’ hair stood up on end. He adjusted the area of frost around him and instead of overreaching, he shortened it. From seven feet away it was cold. From five feet away it was the frost felt as if it could seep into bones and freeze blood. From three feet even the oxygen in the air began to slow. Aldis reached his limit but pushed himself even harder attempting to draw out more. The layer of Ice on his skin looked glossy as it reflected light, but he didn’t appear to be cold.
Rhys raised her foot incredibly slowly while the lightning around her crackled loudly. She suddenly slammed her foot down and closed the distance almost instantaneously, once she was within the radius of Aldis’ frost circle she slowed but not enough to affect the outcome. She reached five feet within and the thrust of her rapier slowed even more. After three feet a loud screeching could be heard as the rapier struggled to pierce through the cold air.
It looked as if it would hit Aldis but stopped half-inch away as he overdrew his power and created a thin layer of absolute zero. Rhys’ weapon could go no further and thus the attack was successfully blocked. Rhys pulled back the Rapier, but the tip of the blade had broken off and was suspended mid-air due to the fact that even the air was frozen.
Aldis smiled before his power ended and he collapsed onto the ground while the temperature returned to normal.
“Aldis!” Amy rushed up to support him while he was on the ground but all signs of consciousness had left.
Rhys nodded approvingly as she sheathed the broken rapier while Harper was attempting to digest everything and think of how she would’ve defended against the strike.
Each one of them gained some comprehension and insight into their own abilities and showed that their two weeks spent weren’t for naught.
…
Back in the Immortal Garden, Ira had brought trees. As for how? Well, it was said people can improve their skills through sudden enlightenment, but what Ira had wasn’t that. On a whim, he wanted to bring trees to his daughter so instead of physically pulling out a tree and bringing it, he swapped two different areas by manipulating space. It was reality bending, to say the least, and it defied all known logic, but it was apart of his ability.
Raveria was amazed to see his ability more than she was to see a tree, but he took it a step further. Since he could make semi-permanent alterations to space, he did so. The laws of gravity no longer applied and the two were floating through the air like they were in orbit much like they did when they connected with Raveria before she was born.
Avery took this opportunity to train since she hadn’t been able while pregnant. Ira created a section where gravity was incredibly heavy and Avery was floating while two flaming wings were burning behind her like a stream. Her flame wings worked differently than the previous ones as they could create propulsion without any movement. So it quite literally looked as if she was floating in place when in reality she was fighting a massive force attempting to push her down.
Ira and Raveria were orbiting around without any movement since the contained space was under Ira’s to control.
“So this is how it feels to fly.” Ira hummed as he moved his body around.
It was only possible inside the area he sectioned off since it would take immense control to create a domain that allowed him as far as he wanted vertically.
“Fry.” Raveria clapped her hands as she laughed.
“Close enough.” Ira looked as if he was laying on the air before he rolled over and reached for Raveria.
“Aah!” Raveria cried out joyfully as she tried to escape.
“I’m going to get you, Ria.” Ira slowly drifted toward which increased her excitement. Just as Ira was about to grab her, Raveria accelerated leaving behind grey particle trails that faded behind her.
“Waaah!” Raveria gasped in awe of herself and began to zip around so fast Ira needed to pay close attention to keep track of her.
“Careful, Raveria.” Ira called out.
Avery was in an immersed state so she didn’t really notice, with her eyes closed and beads of sweat emerging from her forehead before being pressed against her skin.
Ira made a troubled expression as his daughter continued to increase her speed. He could forcefully stop her without energy since the space was his own design, but she was having fun and there was no real danger or so he thought.
“Ah!” Raveria scraped the bark of the tree while flying by it and a small scratch emerged on her soft skin.
“Raveria.” Ira appeared next to her before watching as she became teary-eyed.
She was taking big breaths while trying not to cry as bloodline memories of Ira being injured without reacting appeared in her head. She sniffled as the wound began to reverse itself as if stepping back in time.
Raveria was still pouting since the sensation of pain was still fresh in her mind, but she didn’t cry at all.
Ira hugged her closely while speaking softly, “You’re a brave girl.”
“Braahve.” Raveria chirped while nodding.
With her lesson learned, Raveria stayed close to Ira as they played but it eventually came to an end as he reached his limit of control and exhaustion creeped up on him. Avery came to as she felt the gravity lessening and retracted her fiery wings.
Ira picked up a towel that was placed onto the back of a chair and tossed it up before it vanished and reappeared above Avery. She caught it wordlessly and wiped the sweat from her head while going to pick up Raveria.
“Did she hurt herself?” Although Avery’s focus was on her training as soon as she heard Raveria’s exclamation of surprise and pain she diverted half of her awareness to it.
“A little bit, but she undid it.” Ira kissed Raveria on the forehead as she blinked tiredly.
“She’s also fast. Really fast.” He added.
“It’s a wonderful ability.” Avery kissed Raveria’s cheek while stroking her soft black hair, “Are you hungry Raveria?”
Raveria shook her head and rested on Avery’s chest while ignoring the sweat. Ira sniffed the air and realized something, it may have been because of the Divine Power inside of her, but Avery smelled incredibly good.
“Since it's time for her to have a nap, why don’t we put her to bed and try for a second child.” Ira smiled.
Avery laughed before kissing him and shaking her head, “It’s still too early for a second child, but let’s wait until tonight. I have to speak to my mother and grandmother about a few things.” She handed Raveria over to Ira before moving to leave.
Ira grinned and cradled his sleeping daughter before sitting down under the single tree in the garden and resting with her.