As the sun began its descent towards the horizon, Rowena, Moraxor, and Asher still sat in deep discussion.
The hall echoed with the whispers of diplomacy and negotiations, the delicate dance of words flowing between them.
Despite being a discrowned king, Moraxor held himself with regal authority, his every request woven with tactful diplomacy, each catering to the welfare of his people while making sure it wouldn't seem like he was stretching his hand too far.
Rowena, on the other hand, was resolute with her terms. Her words and stipulations echoed the well-considered advice of her council, each aiming at fortifying their kingdom's position in the most beneficial way.
Asher remained mostly a silent observer in this intricate exchange since he didn't have the knowledge or experience to advise Rowena on things that could affect the entire kingdom.
However, he keenly listened, absorbing the intricacies of negotiation and gaining insights into the robust system that kept the kingdom functioning.
As the hours slipped away, the sun relinquished its reign to the creeping twilight, its fading light casting long, ominous shadows across the hall.
Just as Rowena was about to finalize the meeting, a sudden pallor washed over Asher's face just as the shadows fell on his face.
His previously stable aura wavered, a grimace etched onto his features.
Rowena noticed the stark change in Asher's aura, the sudden instability in his life force piercing her senses.
Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes widened in concern. "Asher..." she called out gently, rising from her seat, making Moraxor, who also noticed this at the same time, look at Asher with furrowed brows.
Rowena already sensed Asher's condition, which had been stable until now, had suddenly dipped into a chaotic storm of discomfort, seemingly hurting him from within.
Without a second thought, Rowena declared, "Let's go home immediately. Igrid will be able to help you," Her tone was firm, worry lacing her voice.
She hadn't anticipated his condition relapsing, especially after Igrid had declared his miraculous recovery from the Kraken siphoning his bloodforce.
She knew usually people would die having their bloodforce siphoned or end up in a state worse than death. But since Asher seemed alright and he had Immortal Class Bloodline, she didn't think it would affect him like others.
With a weak smile gracing his lips, Asher pushed himself off his chair, doing his best to reassure Rowena, "Don't worry too much..." he tried to sound confident, yet his voice wavered, hinting at the discomfort that was rapidly surging within him.
"Let's go…" Still, he agreed to go back, hastily walking past Rowena since he didn't want to die obviously and wasn't in the mood to figure out this by himself.
Rowena followed him promptly, her steps mirroring his haste. Casting a brief, telling glance at Moraxor, she wordlessly communicated that they were done here.
Moraxor, however, remained seated for a moment, lost in contemplation. A few seconds passed before he stood up, his decision made, and followed them.
Stepping outside the hall, they were greeted by the cool evening breeze and the languid figure of Flaralis, who had been resting nearby.
Upon sensing its master's approach, it roused from its slumber and spread its wings in anticipation.
The sky was now adorned with a blanket of shattered planets and twinkling stars, as the last of the sunlight faded.
"Urgh!" But before Asher could reach Flaralis, a sharp pang of pain seized him, bringing him to his knees.
It felt like his body was set ablaze from within, the searing heat relentlessly radiating to every corner of his body.
"Fuck…" Gritting his teeth, he attempted to resist the pain while confusion swirled within his mind, questioning the sudden turmoil in his body.
"Ash!" Rowena called out, her voice laced with anxiety as she hurried towards him. The sight of him crumpling to his knees had sent a jolt of fear coursing through her.
Their distress caught the attention of the Naiadon Tribe, worry gripping their hearts upon seeing their royal consort in such agony.
The Umbralfiends, however, bore a complicated mix of emotions. While some derived a sense of satisfaction from witnessing their enemy's suffering, the others were plagued with uncertainty.
They had already heard from their Midnight Maiden that the royal consort planned to build an alliance with them rather than treat them as prisoners.
So, they couldn't help but wonder what would become of their fate if this man met an untimely end?
Rowena's hand darted out to support Asher, but as her fingers brushed his skin, her eyes shook with shock.
His body was searing, akin to a furnace, as if an inferno raged within him.
Just as she steeled herself, ready to carry him towards Flaralis, an unusual commotion at the shoreline drew her attention.
*WHOOSH!*
Waves crashed violently against one another, their thunderous roars resonating throughout the shore.
From the churning sea, the big Baby Kraken surfaced, a relatively small figure perched atop it.
Isola, with a puzzled expression on her face, was clearly caught off guard by the baby Kraken's abrupt departure from their playful escapade.
After Asher had left earlier this morning, she went into the seas, coaxing the baby Kraken to come to her which it did shortly after.
And even though she was unable to find anything wrong with it, she played and cuddled with it for the next few hours.
Since neither Asher nor anyone showed up, she wanted to spend time with the baby Kraken as much as possible, not knowing when she might get to spend so much time with it again.
However, just a few seconds ago, right as the sun disappeared from the skies, it began to swim upwards as if its life depended on it, leaving her quite confused despite calling out to it many times.
And now, her puzzled gaze darted from the baby Kraken to the scene unfolding on the shore.
Spotting Asher, her eyes widened in surprise. Before she could even fully grasp the situation, the Baby Kraken propelled forward, towards Asher, causing her to clutch onto its slippery carapace to maintain her balance.
Rowena's eyes hardened, tracking the Baby Kraken's rapid movement towards Asher.
In her mind, the baby Kraken was still the offspring of the beast that put Asher in this situation. Even though she knows a beast cannot harm its master, she couldn't afford to let it get close to Asher, not knowing if it harbors anger inside for its mother's death.
Her protective instincts flared, her body tensing, ready to intercept the creature before it could reach Asher.
In the midst of a distressing scenario, Asher weakly clasped Rowena's hand, shaking his head slightly.
The gesture was simple, but it carried an unspoken plea – 'trust me'.
Her instincts were telling her to get him back to the castle but in this moment, despite her confusion and worry, she chose to trust her heart and her faith in him. And so she took a step back, her gaze never leaving Asher.
Isola, leaping off the Baby Kraken's back, watched in equal confusion as the big baby beast neared Asher.
Though writhing in pain, a fascinating sensation swept over Asher, like an odd gravitational pull toward the creature.
It was as if the distance between him and the creature directly correlated to his agony. As it moved closer, the agony continued to diminish, replaced by an inexplicable warmth that ebbed the pain away.
A strange resonance seemed to vibrate between them, growing stronger with every passing second. With considerable effort, Asher lifted his head to look at the newborn creature.
In the beady eyes of the big baby beast, Asher saw something familiar yet alien.
His pain began to dull and, in its place, a connection blossomed, a link more profound than words could express.
It was a peculiar feeling, foreign yet intimate, one that swept him into a realm beyond mortal comprehension.
In that moment, surrounded by the silent murmurs of the crowd, under the dimming twilight, Asher felt his surroundings fading as all his senses focused onto the baby Kraken rushing towards him.
As the hushed crowd watched, Asher, against all odds, reached out his trembling hand towards the baby Kraken.
The big baby responded by extending one of its giant pincers, as if understanding his unspoken command. The anticipation grew thick in the air, a palpable pressure as man and beast made contact.
*Swwooosh!*
But what happened next left everyone aghast. In a swift moment, as the physical connection was established, Asher and the baby Kraken were enveloped in a burst of eerie emerald green flames.
The brilliant eruption illuminated the setting twilight, casting long shadows on the shocked faces of the onlookers. Rowena's breath froze, her heart pounding against her chest.
Isola, with a horrified expression, froze as she witnessed the spectacle unfold.
However, both their instincts kicked in as they swiftly waved their hands at the same time, casting a wave of mana to extinguish the flames.
The flames were easily overwhelmed by their power, dissipating into thin air in a second.
"Ash…"
"This can't be..."
But their relief of quelling the fire was short-lived, replaced by a rising sense of dread.
The sandy spot where Asher and the baby Kraken stood a moment ago was empty. Not even a trace of the man and the baby beast remained.
The space was bare, save for the imprints they left behind. The crowd stared in disbelief at the empty spot. A heavy silence fell upon them, their hearts pounding in their chests.
The words seemed to stick in their throats as they faced the stunning reality of the situation – Asher and the baby Kraken were gone. All that remained were the scorch marks, the remnants of the dark green flames, and the chilling silence of loss.
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