n

n

nSh*t.

nI didn't even think things through. Where would I stay? The past 2 days I used portals to get home but now they ran out of charge, I had nowhere to go.

nThe first day of work had finally ended and our business was doing well. Our suppliers were happy and customers were overjoyed; our brand awareness spread like fire along with rumours of my fight.

n

"Sir. If you don't have any place to stay, you can stay with us.

" Ben Dover offered but I refused, shaking my head.

n

"I'll find somewhere else. You guys go rest. There's a big day ahead tomorrow.

" I said, smiling before waving them goodbye.

n'Do you remember where Alfreda's house was by any chance?' I asked Voadhailis through our mind link. He had access to my memories so he probably knew roughly where their house was.

n'Yeah it's near the Elven Forest so you have to travel west. Now don't bother me, I'm busy with building the secondary mana pool.' He replied, blocking off our mental connection.

nGreat.

nI put my hands in my trench coat pockets and walked through the cold street. Lamps powered with light mana lit up the dark and there were no signs of life. Odd.

n

"You! What are you still doing out? Don't you know the law?

"

nI turned around to face the officer. What did he mean?

n

"Sorry, I'm from the Human Kingdom. I don't know what you mean.

" I spoke politely.

n

"Oh ok. People are not allowed outside past 9pm in this part of the Kingdom.

" He replied.

n

"Why is that?

"

n

"Shut up and move on before I arrest you.

" He snapped.

nI took that as my queue to leave and sped down the street and took a left turn. I ran on for a couple hundred meters before taking a right then another left.

nI kept travelling towards the west until I could finally faintly feel Alfreda's mana signature.

nKnock. Knock.

n

"I'm coming!

" A girl's voice faintly passed through the door. It must have been Michelle.

n

"Oh it's you.

" Michelle opened the door and rolled her eyes in annoyance at seeing me.

n

"What, are you gonna stand there and stare at me like a buffoon? Come in then.

" She gestured for me to come in and I did.

nI removed my shoes and placed them on a rack.

n

"Oh Zeref! You're here, how come?

" Alfreda asked.

n

"Sorry for the rude intrusion. I didn't have anywhere else to go and there weren't any inns near the shop. This was the only place I could go to.

" I smiled.

n

"That's perfect. I was going to invite you for lunch tomorrow but dinner is fine too. We have a spare room downstairs for guests. You can sleep there tonight.

n

"We were just about to have dinner, please take a seat.

" Alfreda welcomed me. She seemed to be busy placing the plates on the table. I did as she said and sat on one of the empty seats.

nThe other 3 siblings sat on the opposite side.

n

"So who came?

" I heard another womanly voice, coming from the stairs, accompanied with the sound of footsteps. It was probably their mother.

nShe descended down the stairs, rubbing her wet hair with a towel. I tried my best not to gawk at her beauty.

nShe was about 5 ft 6 and had a beautiful figure; it was my first time seeing such a beautiful woman. She had hazelnut hair and glowing green eyes like her daughters and she hid her curves under a loose yellow coloured dress.

n'I take what I said before back, this woman is even better.' Voad commented, before going mute again. I shook my head in disbelief, my memories really changed him.

n

"OOoo. It's a boy. Alfreda, you didn't tell us you were bringing a boy over.

" The mother teased Alfreda making the 18 year old girl blush.

nI think they were getting the wrong idea here.

n

"Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm their mother Elena Morwen.

" She greeted me.

n

"Nice to meet you, I'm Zeref Amara.

" I gave her a smile and nodded.

nKnock! Knock!

n

"He's here. Zeref dear, could you get the door please.

" Elena spoke softly, turning to help Alfreda with preparing the food.

n

"Sure.

" I got up and swiveled round and headed for the door.

nI turned the handle of the door.

nSwish!

nA straight punch whistled through the air at an eye watering speed. I put up my hand immediately and caught the fist with my hand. This person was powerful for sure, what strength.

n

"I knew I smelt a boy. What are you doing here, you pest? Get out of here before I skin you.

" A man maybe in his 30's glared at me with eyes filled with hatred. He had Black hair and a well built body. There was a magic bow and a bag of arrows on his back, showing that he was an archer.

nHe raised his mana pressure, making the house shake. The kids screamed at the sudden ruckus but I was unfazed.

n

"Sir, I don't know who you are but your attitude and demeanor is very inappropriate. There are kids here.

" I said in a cold tone, threatening the man even without raising my own mana pressure.

n

"I like this one.

" He smiled, getting rid of his mana pressure.

nHe brushed past me and went inside. Kissing the children and hugging the mother he sat down at the dinner table, this young guy must have been the father.

nI closed the door and went back to sit down at the dinner table.

n

"What do you think you're doing?

" The father glared at me.

n

"Dad!

" Alfreda slapped his shoulder, making him sigh.

nI sat down reluctantly; the food was passed around like parcels and soon the only sound that could be heard was the clanking of cutlery with the plates and an awkward silence in the background.

n

"So what's your name and how old are you?

" Alfreda's father asked, looking up at me.

nI paused before answering,

"My name is Zeref Amara and I'm 13.

"

nClank!

nBoth the father and the mother froze at hearing my name. They even dropped their cutlery.

n

"Y-You mean that crazy kid, who single handedly took care of a battalion of demons.

" he replied.

n

"I guess, yeah. You could say that.

"

nThere was a moment of silence once I answered but it was broken immediately.

n

"Do you have any plans for marriage?

" the mother looked at me with gleaming eyes.

n

"Mum! He's only 13.

" Alfreda argued but she quieted down when she received 2 threatening glares from her parents. For some reason she knew what her parents were hinting at.

n

"No, not really. As Alfreda said I'm still too young and I still have a lot to do before I even plan on getting married.

" I gave them an awkward smile before stabbing my fries in boredom.

nIt was normal for kids to get married at young ages like 16 and onwards but that just didn't seem right to me.

n

"What's the eye patch for?

" The father looked at it suspiciously.

n

"I damaged it during one of my battles, so I wear an eyepatch to cover up the scar.

" I lied like a pro.

n

"So what do your parents do?

" Michelle spoke up for the first time, looking at my direction.

n

"My father died when I was young so I only have my mother and grandfather. My mother is an Expert healer and my grandfather is retired.

" I replied, taking another bite from the drum stick in my hand.

n

"I'm sorry to hear that.

" Alfreda's Father replied with a sympathetic voice like he had experienced pain like mine first hand.

n

"Well, if there's anything you need we're here for you. How long are you in the Elven Kingdom for?

" The mother asked.

n'So many bloody questions. Is this an interview?' Voad scoffed, clearly annoyed.

n'They're just trying to get to know me. Chill out.'

n'Just kill them. That's what I would have done.' He laughed. I blocked our mental link pushing his laughter to the back of my head. He was too annoying at times.

n

"I'm here for business purposes, so I'm only here for a couple days at most. Well thank you for the dinner, I'll head to bed now. I'm really tired.

" I got up and placed my plate in the sink.

n

"Okay dear, everything is already ready for you, the bed etc. just get a good night's sleep.

" the mother smiled at me as I left to go to the room Alfreda told me was mine.

n

"Thank you Auntie.

" I smiled back, leaving the room.

n'Well that was awkward.' Voad commented in my head. I still didn't understand how he managed to still talk even after I had blocked him.

n'Thanks for telling me something I already knew. How's the progress going with the secondary mana pool?' I asked, laying down on the bed.

n'It's extremely hard and requires intricate control of mana. You're lucky I'm an almighty dragon, I've been making good progress.

n'I need to make the initial Mana pool first, so we can store MP in it. I'll focus on enhancing its stages later. So far, I'm 30% done with the first mana pool stage. I should be done in a couple week's time.' He explained.

nI sighed, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply.

n'Voad, remember that topic you were going to tell me about, something about the heritage wars. It's what Beelzebub told me to prepare for. What even is it?' I asked.

n'Good question. The heritage wars are a demonic festival held when one or more of the demon kings ruling the demon kingdom dies or is banished.

n'The heritage wars is a war between the 3 factions. Each faction has their own representative. Whoever wins the fight out of the three will take the vacant demon king position.' he explained.

n'Great another tournament.' I rolled my eyes.

n'Yes it's similar to that.'

n'So why did I get dragged into this?' I asked.

n'Well, everyone believes you to be the descendant of Lucifer - one of the previous demon kings. Therefore, everyone clearly thinks you will fight in the heritage wars as a representative of his faction.' he replied, happy to be sharing the vast knowledge he held.

n'Tell me more about these factions, you still haven't explained what they are.'

n'Oh yes. The demon kingdom is split into 3 areas, that's why there are 3 demon kings so the rest is self explanatory, with the 3 factions and all.' he replied.

n'Do we have to join or should we ignore it?' I asked.

n'We can definitely not ignore it. That would cause an imbalance and all hell would break loose. All we can do is get stronger and participate; You should've thought things through before taking that offer from Kayden and becoming a half demon.

n'Now You have a lot in your hands and have gotten yourself dragged into sh*t you could've avoided.

n'We don't know yet when the heritage wars are, so we have to diligently prepare ourselves.'

nI nodded mentally at his reply before turning to the side. I still had a couple years before the growth period would end; I had to get as strong as possible in that time period.

n