Heyoo, I am back in Estonia and will continued writing in a more fixed schedule rather than a over the place one. Also, feels good to be back home, where I can understand what people are saying :D

Enjoy.

Chapter 29: Explanations

Nalser just collected his thoughts for a second and started, “Well, what I am about to tell you is pretty unbelievable. Even I have not come to terms with this yet.” When he let out a sigh towards the end, he glanced at Lauren's mother for a second and saw the confusion on her face.

However, she was in no rush and was quietly waiting for Nalser to continue his story. Nalser pondered for a second and asked, “Hey, do you know about the “Hero Summoning” that Nadin did?” Lauren's mother raised her eyebrows for a second and calmly answered, “Well, there probably isn't anyone in this world, who doesn't. There are also rumors that one of the 5 summoned Heroes died shortly after the summoning due to a training accident.”

Hearing the answer Nalser just started laughing loudly, startling Lauren's mother quite a bit. She was looking at Nalser like he was some incomprehensible thing. Nalser laughed for a good 20-30 seconds before he slowly started quieting down. He just casually said, “Well, since they couldn't tame me, to save their own petty pride, they said I died. How laughable.”

Hearing this, Lauren's mother's eyes went as wide as carriage wheels as she muttered, “You are one of the summoned heroes?” Nalser just smiled to her and answered, “Yes, I am the Hero who “died” in a training accident. I surely didn't tell the King to take a hike about me going to the front lines to fight. Ohh no, I was very eager to go there but alas, since I am dead, I have no way of going there.” As he said in a disappointed voice, Lauren's mother couldn't help but chuckle hearing him. For some mysterious reason, she could tell that he wasn't lying to her.

She straightened her back again and said with a warmer smile, “Well, I have been rude as well, ohh “Great Hero”. My name is Laura Darm. I am the no good third daughter of the current Mayor of the town. Might I ask what our benefactors name is and finally the reason for helping us?” Nalser just smiled lightly and started, “Well, I have no name but people call me Nalser vi Dragoncross or Phantom. Whichever works for you, is fine to me.” Nalser understood that she had no ill will.

It was obvious to him that the most important thing in her life was, that her daughter could life a good life. Nalser put on a bit more of a serious expression and said, “Well, jokes and laughs aside. It is time I tell you the reason I am here.” As Nalser said that, Laura's smile and mischievous appearance also disappeared as she somberly listened. “Well, what I am about to tell you might seems like it is very unreal but it is the truth.” Nalser said as he inhaled deeply and opened his palm.

As he did, a black flame started dancing on top of his palm. Seeing this Laura's expression revealed shock, she had never seen a flame of this color. She had heard from her adventurer husband, that in this world there are people with different colored flames but those people had a special bodily constitution. She opened her mouth to say something but she swallowed the words back down.

When Nalser saw that, he sighed lightly and continued, “This is “Yang Flame” also called as the “Asura Flame”. It is extremely tyrannical and the chance of a person being born with this flame is the same as a carp turning into a dragon. However, there is a catch...” As he said the final part, Laura instinctively knew that this “catch” was also the reason why he was here and why he was looking after them.

However, she didn't know whether this was good or bad. For the moment, she decided not to say anything and listen to him first. Seeing that she was listening and was holding her questions until the end, showed that she was seriously listening and understood what he had said.

Nalser just took a sip of coffee before continuing, “In this Realm, everything has an opposite. This “Asura Flame” is extremely tyrannical and when the user is proficient in using it, he could burn everything and everyone, no matter who stands in his way. The opposite of that is the “Yin Flame” also known as the “Nuwa Flame”. The “Nuwa Flame” is extremely gentle and has healing properties, it can even bring a person, who is half a breath away from death back to his or her peak condition in a matter of hours.”

Talking this far, Nalser made a slight pause to let it all sink in to Laura. He thought that Laura has probably guessed that Lauren was the Holder of a Nuwa Flame. And Laura was also no fool, she understood perfectly that an ability to bring a person back to his or her peak from the brink of death was very precious.

Seeing that Nalser had no intention of continuing unless she asked something she timidly asked, “Are you saying that Laulau is a “Nuwa Flame Holder”? And if she is, how do you know about it?” When Nalser heard the question, he revealed a self pitying smile and said in a helpless tone, “Yes, Lauren is a “Nuwa Flame Holder”, and the awakening of the Flame will happen in approximately 5 weeks. As for how I know it, it is kind of a difficult story. You see, as and “Asura Flame Holder” awakens, they will also have to pay a price for the power that they gain.”

When Laura heard this, she understood one old saying that had been passed down for a long time in this world, she quietly muttered, “Equivalent exchange, huh...” Hearing this, Nalser nodded and continued, “Exactly, in exchange for this world shaking power, an “Asura Flame Holder” has to protect a “Nuwa Flame Holder” for as long as he lives. That is what was imprinted in the Flame when a person awakens and it also affects the persons mentality a bit to accommodate to it.” He sighed as he thought back to the sentence.

He had felt that his mentality had been influenced a lot by the Flame. He was the kind of a person who told a King to go take a hike as they face a calamity, why in the Seven Hells would he protect a random person out of the blue? Laura had a face of realization, when he put the pieces together.

It wasn't that he wanted to harm her daughter but due to a twist of fate, their destinies were intertwined. She also understood, that here wasn't much she could do either. Even if Lauren lived with her for the rest of their lives, Nalser would also be bound to this place. It wasn't bad to have a Black Star Adventurer as a guard for them but she knew, that after the awakening, Lauren would also want to look around the world.

She wasn't bound to grow old and wither in a place like this. She slowly opened her mouth and said, “So the reason you are here, is to protect her and after her awakening take her away to tour the world. However, even though I know you are a Black Star Adventurer, can you protect her? In this world, there a lot of strong people, who usually stay under the radar but if they learned about Laulau's ability, even they would come out of hiding to obtain her.” Nalser just looked at her with a little respect in his eyes.

He could understand that she didn't think this was some kind of a hoax or a joke. She was also concerned about her daughter's safety before anything else. Nalser just put a little smile on his face as he said, “Well, of the experts of THIS world, there are a few that are on par with me. However, currently I am traveling with another pair of “Flame Holders” who I can't hold a candle light to in a fight. If that old ghost gets involved, I dare say, he could destroy a country of this world in a day. Even the hidden experts and powerhouses of this world can't hold a candle light to him. So I am confident in being able to protect her for now.”

When Laura heard that, she revealed a relieved expression. What she feared the most was, that Nalser didn't have enough strength to protect her daughter. When she heard the final sentence, she realized something, he had said “For now”. This had left her a little confused and just as she was about to ask about that, she noticed Nalser's face turning cold and serious.

Although she had seen his serious face, she hadn't seen such a cold look, that sent chills down her spine, before. Just as she was about to ask what happened an extremely tyrannical roar came from the outside.

As she was wondering what had happened, Nalser stood up and started walking towards the door and said in a cold tone, “Seems like the people from the Mayor's residence think that they are stronger than the soldiers of a Kingdom Border Fortress .”

As he said that, he walked out of the door with a cold smile on his face.