Before coming here, Hal and Melinda had weighed things and had decided that killing Cirk right now was short-sighted. Because just as Cirk himself had said, his father was bound not to just simply take his son's death in stride.

And that was with the strong brotherly bond Melinda had admitted to noting between the the Devon and Damien brotherly pair.

Also, Melinda had not been very sure as to how open her grandmother would be about the whole thing. True, she disliked Cirk and she was on Melinda's side. That did not change the fact that Cirk was still family.

In fact, while Hal could not really pinpoint where the feeling was coming from, he could sense that there was someone close to intervening and said person was surely strong enough to take their time and cut in at the last minute.

He did not need to go over to stop Melinda, but he preferred it this way.

It gave him the opportunity to look Cirk in the eyes...

"That's enough for now." Hal cooed and slowly lowered her hand and Melinda did not resist because first, despite her words to Cirk, she actually cared about the outcome of her actions.

At least for now.

Second, well... It was Hal. Enough said.

Cirk looked at Hal's hand on Melinda and his eyes narrowed just as she released his shirt and he fell to the ground.

*Whump*

Cirk made to stand up when Hal looked him in the eyes and Cirk witnessed the Devilish Darkness flash in his eyes and was so transfixed he could not look away.

The fear paralyzed him completely.

Hal cast a Rune that cut out all noise in their immediate surroundings while also dialing his voice down to the lowest of whispers.

"Cirk, is it? You touched my woman. Granted I had not met her then but that hardly matters. In fact, it does not matter one bit.

Don't worry too much though, we won't kill you yet. Now scream"

It was not a command, it was more like Hal reminding Cirk of what his body wanted to do naturally from the fear he felt from Hal's presence.

With that, Hal canceled out the noise canceling rune and let Cirk's yell resound in the courtyard...

"Arrrgggghhhhhhh"

...before he fell unconscious.

This would be his reprieve for now. Neither Hal nor Melinda were done with him.

Melinda looked away from him and walked from where he was now lying spread eagled with Hal's hand on her back.

A guard went over to where Cirk was and directed for him to be taken away as it was now clear that Melinda was no longer interested in attacking him.

Soon Devon was right in front of the two with his eyes narrowed at Hal who looked back with a controlled and cautious smile.

Devon glanced at Marla and Rita who were behind the two before he looked finally to his daughter who met his gaze with defiance while still gripping her Armament tight.

He sighed,

"Are you satisfied now? Can you finally let it go?" He asked.

Melinda shrugged,

"It has sated me for now but I am still not ready to let it go."

Devon sighed again and looked to where Cirk was being lifted into the residence while he noted that there was nothing Melinda had done that should have warranted him screaming that loud.

He had detected the faint use of a Rune and believed it must have been used to mask what had really caused the scream.

More that that, he suspected that this young man had something to do with it.

Speaking of him,

"Who are your friends?" Devon asked with a slight smile that Melinda did not buy but Hal introduced himself,

"My name is Hal, I'm from Sapphire city" He said with his same cautious smile and a short bow.

Once he was erect again, Devon looked into his eyes and found that he did not like him.

There was nothing he could point to that could have caused the dislike, he just... did not like him.

What was with that perfect face even he could find no flaw in?

Even if good looks were quite common among cultivators, did he have to stand out so much?

Also what was with those sapphire blue eyes that he could have sworn made the boy a Doxon?

And last but certainly not least (since it was what was truly bothering him),

Why was he touching his daughter?

As much as he did not like Hal, Devon felt it would be far wiser not to say anything regarding it yet.

"Hal from sapphire city huh? Okay" Devon said before Marla and Rita introduced themselves and Devon wondered why their body posture was so close to the boy.

They seemed to be here with him and not Melinda.

By then, Damien walked over as well and then sighed deeply,

"I am glad family ties still mean something to you, my dear niece. I appreciate you for sparing your cousin's life. What a tragedy that has befallen this family." He said with a shake of his head.

Hal looked back and forth between both brothers and his eyes narrowed because he could not really tell if the patriarch was being sincere or was holding a grudge against Melinda for her treatment of Cirk.

The Space a few meters away from them shimmered, almost as though it folded upon itself.

When it unfolded barely a second later, it produced a beautiful lady with waist-length brown hair in voluminous robes that tried but failed to hide her curves completely. Her light gold eyes were joyous and there was a smile on her mature face as she spread her arms.

"Grandmother" Melinda said and was dashing into the woman's embrace immediately.

Isabella held her tight and only separated to put Melinda at arm's length and survey her from head to toe.

Hal's eyes widened as he reviewed Melinda's overprotective grandmother as though he had been struck dumb which he blamed on Melinda for never telling him her grandmother was a knockout.

All that aside, the manner in which she had bent space was impressive and he took to asking Grimoire if that was a mark of her superior cultivation base,

'No, it's not. She is able to manipulate space because she has gained insight into the ordinance of space.'

'The what?'

'The Ordinance of space. She is well underway to gaining the ability to command space itself.'

Needless to say, Hal was intrigued but he decided to table it for now and he was cutting off his conversation with Grimoire just as Isabella led Melinda into the residence while ignoring completely every Dane kinsman and woman bowing in respect to her.

She only turned back once,

"You can join in the celebrations if you wish" she said and continued on her way.

Hal did not need to be told twice and he was not shy at all as he followed after them with Marla and Rita, into the residence.

...

It would seem Melinda's duel with Cirk had been a mere hiccup in their welcoming preparation for her.

The dining hall which was quite large and only held the most important members of the Dane family was flowing with foods rich in cultivation resources.

Such that the wine Hal had drunk at the Baron's residence would be seen as trash in comparison and Hal was not complaining as he served as Melinda's guest.

He knew there was only a matter of time before the arrow of questions was pointed at him and with it would come the animosity of probably everyone in the scene so he might as well not be shy.

Besides, how could he who preached shamelessness act reserved?

"I feel uncomfortable" Rita told him in a quiet voice and he smiled,

"How so?" He asked.

"They keep looking at me. Lewdly might I add" she told him and Hal chuckled.

Meanwhile, Marla offered advice,

"When they stare, just stare back Rita. Most of them are clearly virgins. They can't handle a hot babe staring at them for long.

Look at the fellow over there..." She said and pointed at one of the golden eyes Dane men looking at her and she started back.

The poor guy seemed to hold his breath and forget to release it before falling unconscious.

He fell from his chair to the ground with a dull thud and she shook her head,

"See? Bloody pathetic" she said and did not lower her voice but said it clearly enough for at least half of the dining hall to hear.

The half that contained the Patriarch, his wife, Melinda's father, and the Dane Patroness who looked at Marla with a weird expression while Hal shook his head and Melinda and Rita chuckled.

Devon frowned,

"So, Melinda, who exactly is this... Hal from Sapphire city to you?" He asked in a disparaging voice that did not hide his dislike.

Melinda smiled, and grabbed Hal's arm,

"We're engaged. He's my fiance."

... Silence...