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CHAPTER 7

The sound of two voices arguing about my training echoed and reverberated in the four corners of our mansion. All I could do was to watch them as they exchange words one after another.

"I will not allow it! I will not allow my daughter to face a lot of danger. Training swordsmanship is enough, and going outside the capital is too much!" My mother's was firm and authoritative.

Her eyes were unyielding and she stood powerfully in front of us. Mother was giving off a stern and unmovable decision as if her words were a law. I never expected mother to see this side of her. She was a person who was not easy to influence and persuade by other's opinion and suggestion, she was the personification of conviction and firmness.

"Anastasia, your daughter wants to be strong; she wants power so that she can protect you! The demons are not resting, who knows when they will strike again. Remember you lost your brother because you are not strong enough to protect him." Ezekiel-sensei told her with conviction.

Ezekiel-sensei told my mother that I need field experience to widened my scope and improve my survival skills. I need to face reality to polish my fighting prowess and information gathering.

What sensei said told to my mother earlier, made her flinched in shock. His words hit something in her heart that made her speechless. It struck something sensitive in her. Because mother was still loss of words, Ezekiel-sensei continued to state his opinion.

I want to voice out my opinion and my side, but there was a sudden imaginary lump building in my throat that's making me speechless. I can even muster a strength to speak up because of a mysterious force that was shutting my mouth.

"If you don't want to lose another person who you hold dear, specially your daughter. You should let her be the greatest swordswoman in this kingdom. She has a lot of potential and she already has mastered all the techniques I taught her, and if I continue to hone this talent of her, she will definitely gain power to protect her love ones." Sensei said with finality in his voice as if he has the right to decide for what's good and what's bad for me.

Sensei's words left a big impact in my mother's mind. I know that it was very hard for her to accept what sensei's request for me to experience the outside world. About How to live as a normal citizen of Greffania. To live not as the daughter of the duchess, but to live and fight as Zariyah. To live as an adventurer.

*

I am now in the mansion's garden together with my brother, Arwin. He was a few inches taller than me and girls always approached him, according to Dianne, his personal maid. He matured and I can see that his features were becoming manlier every year.

He was now one of the high magus in their association. He was now a force to be reckoned with.

"You really grow up and become a very powerful mage, onii-chan." I told him as I leaned on him and rested my head in his shoulder.

I love my brother because he was a protective twin to me and to our mother. He needed to be stronger to protect us from anyone than can hurt us. He achieved a lot of accomplishment as well as he was now one of the high rank mages in our country for a short span of time.

"I'm not the only one who gain power. You, yourself have become stronger, faster and powerful. Your way of the sword was un-parried. " He complimented the fruit of my five years of training under the tutelage of Ezekiel-sensei.

"Hm? Really?" I asked him.

"Of course, I've been watching your training for five years. You are a force to be reckoned with. With your skills and talent, you can even beat groups of mages and knights, if you wanted too. Your reaction speed is so fast that you can even protect yourself from a barrage of arrows raining down on you." He gently told me and he hug me.

Having him around make everything safe and well protected. Arwin has this ability in him that can boost my moral. I really love the feeling of having an elder brother.

"Not only that, you also have more knowledge about everything in this world than me. In twelve years you have already read millions of books. Anyone would pale in comparison if we compare their intelligence and knowledge to you." He continued as he looked up and stared at the blue crystal clear sky.

I straightened my sitting position, and stared at the flowers. Looking at it brings tranquility in my mind. The blow of the wind was gentle as if it was cradling me. The sways of the leaves of the trees, was elegant and graceful. This day was surely beautiful.

"I want to gain more experience outside from the protection of this city. I want to travel around the world." I honestly told my brother.

I wanted to hear his opinion about this. I wanted to spread my wings and aim for the sky.

"If that what you want, I will support you. And I will come along with you as well." he cheekily smiled at me as well.

I puffed my cheeks, while my brows furrowed. "Then who will protect mommy if you'll come along with me?" i retorted.

"Yeah, good point! Maybe I'll just make a very intelligent sentient artificial golem to support you. I am an expert in magic and magic circuits. I can make the greatest sentient golem!" he announced to me.

Of course he will. He invented a lot of useful gadgets from his knowledge of magic.

"I think mom will allow me, but maybe couple of years later." I voiced my wishful thinking.

Later that night, mother and I spent our time together. She was in my room and I know she was still thinking about what sensei told her. I want to know what happened to her late brother, but I don't have the courage to ask her. Now that she was contemplating about sensei's appeal earlier.

"Do you really want to go outside this city? To live as an adventurer and not as Lady Zariyah of Silverglaze family?" mother asked me in a soft motherly voice as she was combing my hair with her fingers.

She was sitting down in my king size bed while I laid my head in her lap. I looked at mommy and her eyes were sad but gentle. She's being considerate and she was showing her weak side to me. The moment I saw sadness in her eyes, I want to back out from my word, about going outside the city.

Outside my comfort zone.

My heart was breaking, but I know this was for the best. I needed strength and power. And no matter how much I train here, I will never achieve it, unless I experience what it like to desperately fight and survive.

I got up and sat on the bed, while not breaking our eye contact. I deeply inhale and hug her as tight as I can. Mother instantly hugged me back and I can feel her tears in my back. She was crying.

"Mommy, I want to become the strongest, so that no one could ever hurt you. Not even that father of mine. I will strive hard to be the most powerful person in our kingdom, so that I can protect you." I console her and my voice betrayed me.

I wanted to be strong and firm, but my voice broke and the tears I was holding back earlier was now flowing out from my eyes.

She was just crying and I know my words made an impact in her heart and mind. Mother was the kindest and gentlest person I've ever met. She was simply the best.

"Mommy, an eaglet needs to go out from its nest, in order to learn to soar high." I told her with conviction.

She gently pushed me just enough to see my face. Her tears were still falling but she smiled at me. She then, caressed my face and kissed my forehead. Her touches and kisses held magical effects that healed my pain in the heart.

"Mommy loves you so much. I will let you go, for you to spread those wings of yours and aim for the sky. But promise me that you'll take care of yourself. But first, you need to enroll in the kingdom's magic academy. I will only allow you to travel when you reach seventeen years old." she told me and she hugged me again.

And there goes again my mother's compromises and bargains. I don't need to go to school because I am very confident in the knowledge stuck in my mind thanks to Great Sage.

"But mom, I am confident of the knowledge I'm holding." I pouted at her.

"So you really wanted to leave this soon. I know you're smart, I guess even smarter than those teachers in the magic academy, but this is for formalities sake, my princess." She explained to me.

So at the end, I just accepted it, as if I have another choice. So traveling the different kingdoms would have to wait for another four years. Me and Arwin were going to be turning thirteen two months from now.

Mother's hugged me, and it has the mysterious effect on me, it can heal all of my emotional pain. The way she touched me, I can feel her unconditional love and I was very lucky to have her as my mother.

"Don't let other people hurt you. You are a Silverglaze, and we Silverglaze are strong individuals. Reach your dreams my dear child and mommy will continue to support you."

My mother's voice made me cry again. She was an understanding mother. She was a singlehandedly raised me and Arwin, even though we don't have a father, mother did her best to fill out the gap of not having a father.

She was the best.

"Yes, mommy." I told her with a big sunflower smile, showing my white pearly teeth.

Both me and my mother took refuge in each other's arms and went to sleep. The rays of the sunlight that passed through the window and touched my face woke me up. When I look at the other side of the bed, mother was not there anymore. I looked at the window and it was eleven in the morning.

Oh my gosh! I'm late for my morning training!

I instantly took a bath and dried myself up. I wore my tight trouser, black combat boots and a white chemise, because my silver hair was too long and it well definitely gets in my way in my training; I just decided to tie it in a bun. Before leaving the room, I took my sword that was just leaning in my bedside table.

As I was descending in the grand stairs, some of the maids were telling me to eat my breakfast but I just shook my head as if telling them that I don't need to. As I was heading to the living room of the mansion, I heard two familiar voices.

"I will only allow my daughter to travel the world and let her go, after her seventeenth birthday and that is four years from now." mother told my master as they were discussing about my training.

"I have no objection to that, Anastasia." He said and I know he already knew I was coming down from the stairs. He too has magic perception, a skill to feel and scope the surrounding area for life force.

"Anyway, Zariyah, my guild master of the Twilight Dragon wanted an audience with me and ordered me to takes an S class quests and subjugation missions. So I'll be away for a couple of years." Ezekiel sensei turned to me and told me.

A part of me wanted to disagree to that. I want sensei to continue living here with us. I come to love him as my FATHER. I want him to continue protecting us. And my small infatuation to him years ago was already cured. Thanks heaven for that.

Seeing his abs and hot handsome face everyday was really a torture to me, it was the real hell. I prayed that my determination and resolve will never be shattered, because of the temptations.

I continued to stride and grace down the few steps of the grand stairs. When I was in front of them, I made a curtsy as a sign of respect to them. Both my master and my mother gave me a respectful bow in return. I smiled at them and greeted them good morning.

"Good morning my daughter. Me and your Ezekiel-sensei are discussing about your training." Mother started.

"Yeah, so as I heard. Master is going to take an S class quests and you'll allow me to travel after I reach seventeen years old." I told her of what I heard earlier.

"Yeah that is right, Zariyah. This time, the S class quest is about subjugation a group of an A rank monsters and demons that take nestled in the Hyllium City as their lair. After that I have a lot of summons from my kingdom as well." Master Ezekiel told me.

"At last I can rest for those nerve wrecking trainings and battles!" I triumphantly said because I will not experience master's hellish training for that span of time.

An irk vein popped in my master's head and one of his perfect arch brows rose up. "Hey, it doesn't mean that I will not be around, you will not continue to train. I'll summon one of my familiars to watch over you. He will report to me everyday about your training. And if I learned that you're just taking leisure and relaxing, you know already the consequences." Ezekiel-sensei told me with a sadistic smile on his lips. His eyes were gleaming as well.

Gosh! I know what he's planning if I will not train! He'll definitely multiply the difficulty of my training a hundred folds!

"Okay, okay! I'm just kidding!" I told him and he gave me the 'I am watching you' gesture.

We then went outside as per instructed by Ezekiel-sensei; my sword master's going to summon one of his familiar. And almost everyone was outside and in the courtyard they were really intrigue and interested to see master's familiar, the maids, the butler, and my mother were looking at master without batting an eyelash. Everyone was excited just like me to witness master Ezekiel summoning one of his three familiars.

I want to have a familiar of my own and from the books I've read in our library, it stated there that to obtain a familiar, one must build a connection to the creature. The creature will test if a person is worthy of the creature's loyalty. A familiar is a loyal companion and will protect the contractor with all of its strength. To form a contract magic circle one must kiss the creature's forehead and write the contractor's name in the contract magic circle.

And Arwin was bragging his familiar to me, as he was so fired up to witness the great familiar of master Ezekiel. Arwin was bugging me to get one too and he even told me that it must be a legendary type familiar just like his.

The little fowling was now twice the height of sensei. It grew into a beautiful and majestic creature as well. A sight to behold and worthy of being called as the divine creature of flames. My train of thoughts burst like a bubble, when I suddenly felt a familiar surge of power coming from my master. I looked at his location and I saw the air around him was circulating and I also saw a dense magic essence coming out from his body. The color of master's magic aura was beautiful.

The pressure coming from him was powerful as well. It made the earth tremor, the trees was swaying because of the power blows of the wind. Fear crept in my system, about what kind of familiar is master summoning? Why does it need a lot of magic essence?

"I call upon the king of the mountains. <<Summon: Ashgrif>>!" master's voice was domineering and it held power.

Everyone in the courtyard felt the strong power coming from master. We are scared yet we are stunned in awe because of such feat.

A big magic circle appeared beneath the ground, and it was very complex. The glowing violet and gold linings of the magic circle were beautiful. The wind started to pick up in the center of the magic circle, and a silhouette of a creature was visible behind the surge of wind.

A loud howl was overheard, that made the earth tremor and the birds flied and scurried away for safety. Smoke and dust hindered our sight, but when the wind and smoke cleared out. A huge white wolf standing two and half meters was proudly looking at us.

The wolf was very beautiful and elegant looking; its fur was even shinier than my hair! And it's have strong powerful sharp claws. What made this creature fearsome were its sharp white fangs and a horn protruding in its forehead. Its red eyes were as beautiful as a ruby. And bluish white flames were coming out from its paws and hind. When it saw the group of maids, the fierce majestic wolf instantly made a warning growl, its eyes were glowing and an intimidating atmosphere surrounded us.

It's fearsome yet beautiful. I was loss in my thoughts as I was captivated by this beast's beauty.

Its gaze held dominance and power. The maids and my mother felt intimidated because of the wolf's presence. I immediately appraised the beautiful and elegant beast.

[Name:] Ashgrif

[Age:] 130

[Race:] Fenrir

[Gender:] Male

[Skill:] Wind Magic, Enhance sight, Enhance hearing, enhance strength, magic perception, Lightning Magic, enhance endurance, Ailment Immunity

[Contractor:] Ezekiel

[Title:] King of the Mountain, Blessed by the Wind Goddess, Demon Slayer, Exterminator, Protector of the Forest

My eyes widened when I saw the stats of Ezekiel-sensei's familiar. It was definitely one of the most powerful and rarest creatures in Greffania. I instantly asked Great Sage about what kind of creature was a fenrir.

Fenrir – it is a wolf with a very majestic presence and domineering figure. It was an apostle of the wind God, a fenrir is a rare race of wolf and yields unparalleled strength and magic. It has strong senses as well as a body that is immune to illness, poison and other ailment. A mystical beast that rules over the mountains. Seeing a fenrir is a privilege, for they are mystical creatures that deem humans as not worthy to see them. They are holy mystical beast that guarded the mountains.

Can I have this fenrir's autograph?!

I looked at my mother and I glint of recognition reflected in her eyes.

"Ashgrif!" she happily called the big wolf.

When the majestic white wolf heard my mother, his gaze instantly turned to my mother. When the wolf recognized who was calling him. The majestic creature yelped happily as my mother hugged his big furry leg. Its tail was wagging endlessly and Ezekiel-sensei that was standing beside me was chuckling in amusement. The humongous wolf licked mother but she didn't mind it, instead she laughed and patted the wolf's head when it lay down.

"Why is mother over rejoicing? I know the wolf is beautiful and mesmerizing, but isn't she over reacting?" I told master not looking at him, because I am too focus on my mother who is acting like a little girl who just saw her first crush.

Ezekiel-sensei laughed at what I told him, and then I felt him warm big hand of my head and patted me. "Ashgrif was there, when I saved your mom. So she grew up liking my familiar."

"Oh so that's why. And just by looking at your familiar master, I can feel strong power dwelling with in him. I bet he could destroy this capital if he wanted. With the blessing of the Wind God I'm sure, it holds great power." I commented as I glanced at the majestic beast.

"Wow, being a Great Sage is really an advantage. You really have a vast collection of knowledge stored in your mind, Zariyah-chan. because you know a Fenrir is a race of legendary wolves that are blessed by the Wind God" he said and he started to walk towards the wolf.

"Ashgrif." By just calling the wolf's name, Ashgrif instantly sat up with chin up.

Wow! Did this wolf learned etiquette?

"I've summoned you because I'll give you a task. I'll be away for who knows how many years, and your tasks is that, you will be guarding this little girl and you will report to me everyday by means of telepathy