Chapter 2915 Price of Success (Part 1).

Chapter 2915 Price of Success (Part 1).

"No, you can't." Vastor's voice was flat but the hybrids could sense a tinge of sadness. "Even after evolving into whatever I am now, I'm sterile. My Abomination side may have no longer consciousness but it still drains the life out of me.

"Maybe I need to further merge my life forces and cores. Maybe I need to fuse them to perfection. We might never know."

"Not to pry in your private life, but have you tried doing it while you are in the partially merged state?" Bytra asked. "It should reduce the toxicity of your Abomination side."

"Zinya said the same thing so I'll give you the same answer." The Master raised his eyes from the papers, the ink he was maneuvering with water magic whipped the documents rather than writing on them.

"No, I have not and I have no intention to try. While in the merged state, everything of me is infused with Abomination tissues but I can control them because they are part of my body. The problem starts when they get outside.

"We all know how even a minuscule fragment of an Abomination can thrive as long as it has enough life force to prey upon. It's how I turned whole tribes of monsters into Abominations. It's how you guys became hybrids. I'm not going to put Zinya's life at risk on a whim. End of discussion."

Zoreth wanted to keep arguing, but she knew he was right.

Vastor had sacrificed many things to get where he was now.

He had betted his own life and those of countless others to give humanity a better future. The Master could shoulder the burden of that choice solely because he knew that it was for the greater good.

If something were to happen to Zinya or her children just to satisfy his ego, Vastor would never be able to forgive himself. He would become the villain of his own story and lose the last tether of morality he desperately clung to.

***

City of Lutia, a few hours later.

Aran and Leria had come home straight after waking up in the Desert.

Only after they were done complaining about missing so many hours of sunlight that they could have spent playing and practicing magic with their friends did Rena finally get the opportunity to inform them about Selia's Awakening.

"Damn, when it rains it pours." Aran grumbled. "Now even Aunt Selia is Awakened. This is not fair!"

A few seconds later, when Lilia and Leran were still cheering and Aran and Leria gritting their teeth, the flames disappeared and Selia panted heavily.

"Gods, I think you were right, Lith. Red-cored Awakened must have become a myth because they probably hide out of shame until they get at least the orange. I suck so bad." She winked at him, chuckling.

At her level, the best she could do was manipulate already existing elements, like stirring the water in the pots with water magic or adjusting the heat from the stove with fire magic.

And even that had to be done sparingly and with moderation. Things like Life Vision, Fire Vision, or conjuring a small amount of elemental energy drained her in less than a minute.

"Why don't you want to be Awakened, Dad?" Aran asked. "You would become strong like Lith and we could fly together in the sky."

The last part was the only thing Raaz missed, feeling the distance from his youngest son increasing as Aran's powers grew.

'It's not as bad as it was with Lith, but the two situations don't even compare.' He inwardly sighed. 'Still, compared to Trion, Aran is not going to appreciate much what I can share with him.

'Carving wood and farm works must be dull, boring things compared to magic.'

"Because magic it's not a miracle, son. It requires time and study. I don't want to become a mage. I already have a job I love. I prefer spending my days with you, your little sister, and your mother rather than reading and training."

"Same." Elina, Rena, and Senton said.

Even though the relationship between the blacksmith and Lith was lukewarm, Senton was certain that Lith would Awaken him, if Rena asked him to.

"But, Aunt Selia..." Leria tried to rebuke but Selia herself shut Leria down.

"I'm not going to become a mage either. A magica at best. My first goal is to learn chore magic and reach your mother's level. Then, as my core grows in power, I'll practice just enough to make sure I don't hurt anyone by mistake.

"Once I learn how to fly, my magical education will be complete. No spells above tier three, no fancy dimensional magic, nothing. I'm a huntress and that's what I'm going to keep doing."

Since there seemed to be no chance of victory there, Aran decided to try a different angle.