XElenea
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MT - 88 Future
🕑 Added 2025-01-28 16:00:22 +0000 UTCIn life, everything boils down to strength and power. If she took that hand, she could gain the kind of power others spend a lifetime chasing. If she took that hand, she could protect her family. If she took that hand, she could have everything she ever desired.
All she had to do was take it.
Elena's mind echoed with that singular thought. Her gaze lingered on her father's hunched back, remembering the hope that once gleamed in his eyes as he first taught her to wield a sword.
The past felt like an illusion, fleeting and insubstantial. Finally, she slowly extended her right hand toward Roy's outstretched left hand.
"I... I don't know," Elena murmured hesitantly.
But her hand had already clasped his, the cold blackness of his palm enveloping hers.
At that moment, Elena seized her future.
Roy laughed, a deep chuckle that quickly grew louder, echoing through the empty street until it filled the entire space.
He placed his right hand atop Elena's head.
"Gods brushes my head, and I shall be bound to eternal life."
Though Roy was far from gods, his strength and potential marked him as one of the strongest in this world. Moreover, he possessed the means to bestow his knowledge directly, an unparalleled advantage.
"Well done. You've made a wise decision," Roy said, his voice steady and approving. "Now, little one, what is your name?"
The hood of his cloak fluttered in the wind, and behind him, the towering shadow of the demon god began to fade, its black flames dissipating into nothingness.
"I... I'm Elena!" she replied, her ruby eyes sparkling with newfound determination, her tuft of white hair swaying gently.
"Elena, then," Roy nodded. "I will determine your place based on your performance."
With a commanding gesture, he turned. "Follow me."
He began to walk, leading Elena away from the street.
Her father, who had been standing silently nearby, finally snapped out of his daze. He stepped forward, blocking their path, his expression stern but hesitant. "Wait—uh, sir..."
"If she's joined me, then she must not be burdened by unnecessary worries," Roy interrupted. "But hear this, weakling: the truth is often harsh, and the less you know with your meager strength, the safer you'll be."
Elena's father froze, caught off guard by Roy's blunt words. He opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss. In the end, all he could do was sigh deeply, watching with a mixture of sadness and resignation as his daughter disappeared into the night alongside Roy.
It feels like I've raised a cabbage only for a pig to take it away, he thought bitterly.
Roy scooped Elena up, stepping forward. In the next instant, they vanished.
Roy's underground lair
Dim candlelight flickered in the oppressive darkness, barely illuminating the ominous underground chamber.
The sudden change in scenery left Elena bewildered. She instinctively pushed against Roy, trying to wriggle free, her mind racing to find an escape route.
It was the surroundings—the foreboding atmosphere and eerie stillness—they unsettled her deeply.
Roy, unfazed by her struggles, waited patiently until she tired herself out before setting her down.
The dim light didn't reach his face, shrouded beneath the shadow of his hood.
"Take off your clothes," Roy said calmly.
Elena's face turned pale. She glanced at herself, her expression shifting to one of terror.
Is this it? Did I stumble into the clutches of a pervert?
Her lips quivered as she stammered, her voice tinged with both fear and tears, "I-I'm still just a kid. Maybe... maybe you could raise me for a few years and wait until I've grown up before... before you eat me?"
Roy blinked, momentarily stunned. His face contorted into an expression of pure confusion as he stood in awkward silence.
Oh, right. I almost forgot—there are those creepy lolicon types in this world.
Roy rolled his eyes and said flatly, "I'm checking your bones."
The art of bone reading involved examining someone's skull, hand bones, or skeletal structure to discern their personality, preferences, talents, abilities, and potential for future success. It was a rare practice, little known and seldom passed down. Unlike facial features, which could be altered through surgery, bone structure was nearly immutable.
Bone reading, also known as mo shou guang, categorized bones into types such as qilin bone, lion bone, leopard bone, deer bone, bear bone, cat bone, roc bone, eagle bone, sparrow bone, whale bone, fish bone, and turtle bone. Each bone type carried its own fate and destiny. Typically, the head was examined first, followed by the hands.
Roy, of course, was no master of this esoteric art. However, he possessed a unique ability to sense someone's potential and measure their magical aptitude through direct contact with their skin.
Elena, unaware of these details, remained visibly uneasy.
Sighing, Roy dispelled his dark robes, revealing a face that was youthful, bright, and undeniably handsome. Naturally, it wasn't his true face—it was one of his many disguises.
With his golden eyes glinting like molten sunlight, Roy regarded the nervous girl before him and smiled wryly. "You're so eager for power, yet you're unwilling to make even this small sacrifice? I'm only evaluating your potential, nothing more."
Elena's tearful expression froze as she looked up at the sunny, approachable young man before her. Her wide, crimson eyes filled with confusion. This cheerful, good-looking guy... can he really be as dangerous as I thought?
Roy didn't give her time to process. Without hesitation, he reached over and removed her outer coat.
Elena stood there, speechless.
Well... he doesn't seem like a bad person, she thought, her apprehension giving way to resignation.
And at this point, she realized, resistance was futile. Her small body trembled slightly as she resigned herself to the situation, cheeks flushing bright red. With trembling hands, she removed her clothes one by one.
Elena's frame was slender, not from malnourishment but from a life of hard training. Her hands were calloused from endless sword practice, and her skin bore several scars—not signs of mistreatment, but rather the results of battles she had lost.
As her last garment fell to the ground, leaving a small pile of worn, unremarkable clothing, Roy began his task.
He placed his hand gently on the top of her head, then moved to her cheeks, and down the line of her neck, continuing his meticulous examination.
The sheer intimacy of the process was almost too much for Elena.
Girls from her harsh upbringing tended to mature early, and Elena was no exception. She was tough enough to hurl crude jokes at grown men without batting an eye, but this was something else entirely. Her sense of embarrassment surged to an unbearable level.
Surprisingly, her skin was smooth to the touch—something Roy hadn't expected. Still, underneath the surface, it was nothing more than a wiry frame lacking substance.
As Roy continued his work, Elena stole a glance at his face. His expression was focused and serious, with no trace of inappropriate intent. He treated the process with the detached air of a professional completing a routine task.
His demeanor gradually put Elena at ease, and she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
After completing his examination, Roy fell into a contemplative silence.
Elena's aptitude aligned with his initial impression. Her talent for swordsmanship was decent but not exceptional. Compared to someone like Eris, she fell short—not terrible, but far from top-tier. At best, she might one day reach the rank of Sword King, though even that would be a stretch. If she ever faced someone like Ghislaine, an established Sword King, she wouldn't stand a chance.
