Chapter 86: Chapter 86

Until the next mission, from the first hour of the day to the last, Sokram's life became a relentless whirlwind.

The scent of alchemical reagents often mingled with the faint musk of sweat from the backyard.

His days blurred into a mosaic of whispered explanations to Sayuri, the focused attention on the girls and his team's cultivation, and the rhythmic clash of steel as he also trained their techniques.

And when the moonlight surged and his team returned home, he guided the eager Androny guards multitasking by skimming over the countless pages of his vast new library or the hushed clinking of beakers as he learned Arcane Alchemy from Hannah, all woven around his relentless personal cultivation.

His rare moments of stillness were filled with the soft rustle of more ancient texts.

Sokram’s schedule left no room for sleep; this made his family very worried not only for his physical health but also for his psychological health.

Yet, Sokram never seemed overwhelmed, his progress both astounding and steadily relentless. By the time their next mission was assigned, Sokram had reached Tier 5.

Sokram's third mission with the team turned out to be quite an easy hunt. They camped outdoors for an entire week, tracking and hunting Elknirs, demi-humanoid creatures that appeared to be a cross between a moose and an elk that often lurked beyond their nests when they reached Tier 5 or 7 of the Uncommon Level.

Their thick hides, matted with snow and earth, concealed incredibly flavorful meat, prized cuts like tenderloin, ribeye, short ribs, and venison, renowned for their rich, gamey taste.

But it was their formidable, antler-like horns, sharp and dense, that were most sought after.

When painstakingly ground into fine, pale dust, these horns became a powerful alchemical reagent, pulsating with Vitha, essential for crafting potent regenerative potions.

The hunt proved highly advantageous, as Elknirs rarely traveled in groups except during their mating season, making them easier to track and isolate.

As for the profits, each member of the team managed to gain 9 gold coins and 20 silver.

20 silvers from the Hall’s commission, 8 gold coins from the meat sold to Mr. Figos, and 1 gold coin that Sokram paid them from his own pocket, as he would keep the Elknirs’ horns to make potions.

What surprised Sokram was that this time there was no attempt to take his life, and Timothy and Kazzah seemed to be lying low for some reason.

But he knew that before the next mission was concluded, they would try something because that would be the last mission before Sokram was officially team captain.

He knew someone as prideful as Kazzah wouldn’t let that happen.

Just two days after Sokram's return, Sayuri's Core conversion surged forward, finally reaching three-quarters completion with immense progress.

Her eyes opened brightly, mirroring the smile on her face, as she felt the ambient mana swirl around her.

For those on the Path of Evolution, stagnation spelled death; thus, taking such a significant step forward made her palpable relief entirely understandable. For origınal chapters go to noⅴelfire.net

Once she sensed the changes in her energy Core, she turned to face the boy, who tried to recompose himself between ragged breaths as sweat trickled down his forehead.

Seeing his state, hesitation gripped her heart, but unable to contain it, her mouth opened, and her voice came forth hopeful like a child wishing for a fantasy to be reality. “Can I use Magi at this stage?”

Sokram drew in a deep breath, restabilizing himself, and swiped the sweat from his forehead and brows.

Only then did he nod, “Casting spells using Spirit Magic is very similar to scribing intent into runes, but the main difference is that the caster needs to manifest a more synesthetic imagination...”

Seeing the confusion in her gaze, he simplified, “Like fire, for example, instead of understanding the principle of combustion, try to feel it happening. Feel the burn, feel the fire consuming the air, call this sensation through Aura, using the spirit essence and mana now connected and coursing through your veins. This will trigger Magi to respond, and the spell will be cast through an emotional response.”

Sayuri nodded and raised her hand, following his words step by step. Sokram felt the spirit essence coursing through her, stirring her mana, and as she raised her hand, she called it, “Fire! Burn, flames of hope that warm the heart of those in the path.”

A small, vibrant flame blossomed in her palm, shimmering with an inner light.

It pulsed with a warmth that was both comforting and intensely focused, instantly melting the pristine snow in a rapidly expanding circle around them, releasing a faint hiss as it evaporated.

Yet as it swelled, it refused to burn Sokram, its warmth wrapped around him like a protective cloak of soothing warmth that truly protected him from the biting northern cold.

Looking at her, Sokram’s eyes shone with praise as he thought, ‘The first time she’s using fire and she already has full control over it. Choosing what it burns and what it doesn’t. Amazing.’

When she withdrew the flame, she didn’t let it extinguish completely, keeping it in the palm of her hands as she played with it, with a child-like smile on her lips.

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Her gaze moved to Sokram, full of sincerity, and before she could control it…

Ba-dum! Ba-dum! Ba-dum!

A subconscious choice, but still a choice, maybe coming from her inner child, who always dreamed of being a mage, maybe from the teenager she once was, a maiden who dreamed of finding a dragon who would take her under his wings and unveil the secrets of Magi to her.

A familiar ancient and primal feeling surged from her soul, her spirit essence, and mana stretched out, shooting to him in a flash.

It seeped into Sokram’s heart, making its pulse quicken, weaving itself around him as if her tails had wrapped around his body to never let him go.

Sokram froze in shock, looking at her, feeling his very existence connected to her, as her life became his.

Ba-dum! Ba-dum! Ba-dum!

His Chaos Core throbbed violently, even more than with Lucy.

It was another instinctive response as his draconic instincts forced open the doors of his heart to accept her.

He felt her embarrassment and complete submission. He felt her loyalty and her concealed desire despite his age.

As well as the will to follow him, recognizing that her eyes couldn’t see a tenth of how far he could reach.

His blood stirred, and his draconic nature rejoiced as a sense of euphoria overwhelmed his being.

She had surrendered more than magic, her essence, her will, her future.

A bond sealed in spirit and soul, breakable only by death.

The shift in the energy surrounding them had drawn attention from all around.

Thankfully, Kan, Kiana, Nora, and Lara had already left.

But Lucy looked at her grandmother, shocked.

Savannah looked curiously, not knowing what had happened.

Amber shared some of that same curiosity, especially looking at Hannah, who appeared in a flash, staring at Sayuri with a gaze full of disbelief.

The other women of Sokram’s family looked at them, also very lost about what had happened.

Miralyn’s expression of indignation showed she understood what had just transpired between Sayuri and Sokram, and this was proven once she whispered something to Hilda, who looked at Sayuri with the same shock Lucy showed.

Sayuri, still sitting in the new circle of vibrant green grass where her flame had melted the snow into steam, felt a horrifying realization dawn; her hands trembled slightly where they rested on her knees.

She was frozen, her breath hitched, eyes wide with shock, fixed on the thawing earth. “What have I done? Why did I let this happen?”

Then her gaze, tremulous with fear, lifted to Sokram’s face, bracing for rejection or even repulsion.

Instead, she found his warm gaze and subtle smile.

The silence stretched between them, broken only by the cold northern wind blowing in the backyard.

Sayuri opened her mouth to speak, but Sokram cut in gently.

His tone was calm, almost amused, yet serene and understanding, “I guess using Magi was a long-cherished wish of yours, hm? I read this can happen with nymphs when someone helps them reach the unattended desires they locked in their subconscious mind. And seeing how you almost risked your life to rush toward it, I should have expected it. But what’s done is done.”

A mischievous glint danced in his eyes. “And now…” His grin widened, his voice thick with intent so clear that it made her blush, “…You’re mine, little fox.”

Ignoring everyone around, led by an uncontrollable impulse, Sayuri lunged at him like a fox pouncing at her prey, locking her soft pink lips on his.

The kiss deepened, and her lips tasted of iced purple berry and pepper, spicy, desperate, and sweet.

When Sokram’s fingers tangled in her hair, the last of her resistance melted like the frost under the warmth with which he accepted her as him.

The fear of rejection was washed away as desire and passion took their place.

Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled away from him with a force that, even being a Semi-perfect Existence, she was unable to resist.

Sayuri skidded a few meters, leaving marks in the snowy grass, looking at Hannah with wide eyes.

“Enough! It’s sealed, but until he comes of age, you'd better hold back, or I’ll kill you.” Hannah’s voice cracked like a whip, but there was no killing intent in her eyes.

Still, Sokram looked up at her with a serious gaze, “Nana, I told you once already…” His tone was calm but with an authority that was unbecoming of someone his age, “…family doesn’t kill family. And now, that fox belongs to me!”

Hannah looked at him, shocked for a moment, before looking away with a hurt expression.

But then a grin as mischievous as Sokram's tone appeared on his face, “But since you did it out of jealousy, I’ll forgive you this time.”

And he poked his tongue at her playfully, catching her completely off guard.

“Hmph, you’re growing up to become just like your father and grandfather, those lustful dragons. Womanizers, you lot!” Hannah blurted out, flustered by his shameless teasing, and turned around, stomping as she went back into the house.

“Heh, it seems like you girls never stop being the young princesses of your youth.” Sokram looked at Sayuri knowingly.

Her flushed cheeks as their eyes met, her heart racing, completely flustered.

That was a very pleasing vision for Sokram; it made the dragon inside him want to spread its wings sooner than it was able.

Until they heard Lucy’s voice, “Should I start calling you big sis now, granny?”

Savannah and Amber couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

Hilda sighed, looking at Sokram, knowing that if Hannah hadn’t stepped forward, she would.

Miralyn, too, was thoughtful but more optimistic about it, because now she was sure Sayuri would prioritize Sokram’s safety.

Brunhild and Astrid were too overwhelmed and still confused about what had happened.

Margiory looked at her grandson, trying to conceal the greedy smile that insisted on taking shape.

That night, Hannah, a lot calmer, explained to them what had happened, mainly to Brunhild and Astrid.

Brunhild looked at her grandson proudly, even more assured that his future would be one of greatness.

But Astrid looked conflicted at Sokram as she thought to herself, ‘More competition… Why are you such a womanizing dragon?’

It took them a while to grow accustomed to Sayuri, who, despite her usual imposing and somewhat domineering demeanor, became submissive and sheepish around Sokram.

She also became a lot more respectful when dealing with them.

The change in her behavior was so blatant that even Hilda joked about making Sayuri feel more at ease, “Just don’t go calling me mom like your granddaughter does, I’m already feeling old enough as it is.”

Hilda stared at Sayuri with a mock stern gaze, with a hand on each side of her waist, like a mother scolding a child.

“Yes, mommy.” Sayuri winked at her as she followed Sokram into the backyard.

Hearing Sayuri's sharp comeback, Astrid spilled the milk she had just sipped on, Brunhild choked on the piece of bread she was chewing, and even Margiory, always so composed, almost fell from her chair as they all burst into laughter.

After that, the mood improved exponentially as they all understood their family had just become a lot more powerful.

Their routines returned to normalcy until a couple of days later, when the girls, along with Sayuri, decided not to return to their home and stayed to cultivate until sunrise.

Sayuri couldn’t cultivate, but she dedicated her time to reading books Sokram borrowed for her to increase her comprehension of casting spells using Spirit Magic.

Sokram spent the first part of the night guiding the cultivation of the guards of the Androny family.

But, from time to time, Sayuri’s gaze would meet his.

And every time, like a shy little girl, her ears would twitch.

Her gaze darted, then fell to her book, fingers tightening on the page as a blush crept up her neck. ‘You’re six thousand years old, Sayuri! For Nhiria’s sake, get a grip!’

But this was the first time she felt the effects of Devotion; she had seen it happen with many foxes in her life, but even if she knew what it was making her feel like that, she could not fight it or control it.

A simple glance was all it took for her to lose control of her heart rate and for her heart to become full of longing.