BOYS I AM BAAAAAACK ^^ i apologize to all my readers! Two weeks of an intense influenza and almost another two weeks of catching up with Uni stuff lead to me being unable to write anything!! I am so so sorry guys. Anyway I have a new schedule that I am going to follow from now on which will be; 2 chapters during the weekend, 2 during the week and i will starting from next week update one old chapter per week. Then slowly but surely I will get to a point where I like even the first arc (Looking back it really is subpar compared to the later arcs.) Anyway enjoy 37 and look forward to 38 which will be released in a couple of hours as well.

Regards

Max

Chapter 37: Leaving

Titus PoV (3rd):

„And like this, if we remove all the heat from the water magic using fire magic we can combine both to create ice!“

Aria explained proudly while sticking out her still very small chest. Sitting opposite of her on a comfortable couch within this small study room that belong to him was her beloved brother Titus von Dunkelstein. His study was a cozy small room with a couple of bookshelves, two couches and a desk for his intense studies. Of course he would make it as comfortable as possible seeing that he spent most of his time in this room studying magic.

Yes ever since he had saved his sister from the Demon's territory he had immersed himself in the studies of magic. It surprised him greatly when only two years old Aria one day suddenly came into his study and started talking to him about magic theory. What shocked him even more was that her understanding was even more profound than his own!

No matter what kind of concept he confronted her with she was sucking it all in like a sponge. But the surprises didn't end there. Not just her understanding of theory her cultivation speed as well was beyond anything he had ever heard of.

When she was four years old she had already overtaken him in terms of cultivation reaching a monstrous seventh rank in all her elements. Fire, Water, darkness and this was what he couldn't understand: light.

Never before in the history of Vamon had anyone both affinity for light and darkness. Little did he know that just like Asura, Aria's soul had undergone a fundamental change when she reincarnated. The power of perception, cultivation and the affinity to the elements all depended on the strength of ones soul and both Aria's and Asura's souls were special.

They have been refined while they were reincarnated giving them a potential far beyond ordinary mortals. Combine that with Olyria's blessing and her father's hereditary magic she was nothing short of a monster. In fact the theory Aria had explained earlier to her brother was the first time a mage had attempted to fuse two different types of elemental magic and succeeded.

The result was: ice magic.

A magic completely unique to Aria and if his guess was correct she would in the future be able to fuse more. He couldn't even imagine what kind of power she could achieve with that. His own understanding of magic made leaps and bounds since then which would later on lead to his reputation as a genius that only appeared once every thousand years.

But his power was nothing compared to his six year old sister. When she was five he already wasn't her match anymore and after she turned six it was actually her teaching him. There was a slight problem though. Soon he would be leaving for the royal magic academy and he couldn't figure out what to do with his sister.

Taking her was impossible because no one knew about her but leaving her here was not good as well. Without him what kind of life would she lead here? Not a happy one that was for sure. He dearly loved his sister. Even no other family member held the same place in his heart. He would go through hell if he had to if it was for her.

The only thing he could come up with was not going to the academy but he doubted that Aria would agree to this and he was really looking forward to the academy as well. In addition it was widely known that he had a shocking talent for magic so it would arouse quiet a lot of suspicion if he didn't go.

He didn't like having to hide Aria but he knew as well if people found out that she was half demon they would come after her. No that was not an option. While he was thinking about those things he suddenly heard a sweet voice:

„Brother did you listen to me.“

His train of thought interrupted he looked up towards his pouting sister. She looked really cute like that with her red lips squeezed together and her eyes narrowed to slits while her crimson hair fell in twin tails to her sides. A block of ice was hovering above her hand reflecting the light from the candles lit. He smiled at her answering:

„Yes I did, that is indeed amazing Aria but you know i can't copy that. Even though you have figured out the theory, I have made my own experiments and even though i can create ice using the method you have described, it is ordinary ice that is produced. Your ice is on a completely different scale! I can't melt it with fire magic and you can freely manipulate it creating more ice of making it vanish. No matter what I do I cannot compare.“

His expression was a little pained. Even though he loved his sister unconditionally he still felt the shame of being outshone by his six year old sister. But he shrugged it off with a self mocking smile. It was his little Aria after all so no matter what he couldn't stay displeased. She meant too much to him. Her expression immediately softened as she walked forward put a hand on his cheek and said with a bright smile:

„Don't worry brother. You are not weak. It's just that this little empress here is too outstanding!“

As if reading his thoughts she started to tease him. But all it did was bring a smile to his face.

„Alright you little rascal. Off you go to bed, it's late. Even an empress has to have her beauty sleep!“

Ever since he had called her the empress of his life as a joke she started referring to herself as such. It was a private laugh between the two of them. Lifting her head putting on a dignified face she answered with a snob like attitude:

„Hmpf, who are you to order me around peasant? I will freeze you right here!“

She couldn't keep it up though after only a few seconds she started laughing and Titus could only smile. He was glad from the bottom of his heart that his sister was now able to laugh and joke around. When she had started living here she would never cry never laugh only always making the same expression of coldness. It took him two years until the day she came to his study to be exact to change her a little bit.

Since then she had gradually opened up to him until they finally reached the point they are at now. Mutual love and trust between siblings. He had always looked out for her and cared for her. She didn't have a nanny it was him that had taken care of her. Changing her diapers well that he had to do only at the very beginning. Later he would just help her climb the toilet. It was him that fed her and educated her. You could say that it was Titus that had raised Aria.

So in Aria's mind there were only four people worthy of her love: Her brother, her two dead mothers and a young man who would often be part of her dreams. Even in another world she couldn't shake the image of the young man dying to safe her. As for her stepfather or other humans she held no love or kind feelings. It was only her brother that kept her in check.

Happily humming she left the study towards her bedroom which was a small room that was connected to her brothers room. Steven had redesigned one of the storage rooms next to Titus's room so that he and the rest of the household had as little to do with her as possible. But Aria didn't mind that in the least. After all she as well wanted to have as little contact as possible with other people besides her brother.

A short while after his sister had left there was a knock on his study's door. Titus opened with a curious expression only to find his father Steven von Dunkelstein. Surprised he said:

„Father, how can I help you?“

With a solemn expression the latter answered:

„May i come in?“

Titus stepped aside saying:

„By all means of course.“

Quickly sweeping the books from the second couch that Aria left there he offered his father a seat. When seated Steven let out a long sigh saying:

„Titus, we need to talk. You will leave for the academy soon and we have to figure out what to do with.... your sister.“

The last words sounded forced and Titus mood immediately went dark. Not noticing his father continued:

„I have thought about it. Near the border is a lovely orphanage run by the church. I have investigated and they really care about the children and take good care of them. I think she would be quiet happy there and you could concentrate on your studies, what do you think?“

Titus calmed himself taking a deep breath before he answered his father:

„Father, as I have said before, if Aria doesn't want to leave my side i won't send her away.“

Now Steven started to grow angry:

„Son reconsider. You have the brightest future ahead of you. Do you want to sacrifice all that. What about the family?“

Now it was Titus turn to become angry:

„If it means her happiness? Yes I would gladly sacrifice my future prospects. And the family? Screw the family, what has the family ever done for us? Nothing!“

The last word he actually shouted but Steven wouldn't back down so easily:

„Rubbish! You say you would abandon your people for this.... thing? With your strength you have an obligation to help humanity! Your talent could be the deciding factor against the demons!“

That was too much:

„SHUT UP!“

That startled the von Dunkelstein family head.

„THAT THING HAS A NAME AND THAT NAME IS ARIA. SHE IS MY LITTLE SISTER AND I PROMISED HER I WOULD PROTECT HER SO DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK ILL OF HER IN MY PRESENCE ANYMORE.“

That being said he stood up and left leaving behind a trembling Steven.

Soon after Titus left, his father actually got up and headed towards his study as well not realizing that a shadow followed behind him.

Steven's PoV (3rd):

When he arrived at his own study the first thing Steven did was head towards the huge glass case at the back of the room. Inside were several very expensive and strong types of liquor. He poured himself some whiskey that had a golden color and sat down in his chair pondering how he could get rid of that little monster.

He had only sipped on his glass when suddenly the liquid inside started to become colder and colder. At the same time the temperature within the room started to fall quiet quickly and within moments the alcohol in his glass actually started to freeze. Alarmed Steven dropped his ice cold drink and the glass shattered but no liquid could be found it had all turned into ice.

Suddenly an ice cold presence filled with killing intent could be felt from the door. Shivering his gaze fixed on the door that slowly started to open. In came not Titus adorable little sister but the person that would later be known as the ice empress.

Her entire demeanor had changed and at the moment she radiated power, self confidence and ruthlessness. Titus didn't know that but Aria had been roaming the nights finding magical beasts or bandits all around slaughtering them.

She didn't know any other way to quench the rage and sadness she felt inside all the time. She didn't sleep very well because every time she did she would have to live through her first death or her birth again both were traumas she had yet to come to terms with.

So instead she stilled her blood lust during the night hunting anything that looked like it could be a challenge for her. But nothing was. This was one of the reasons that her magic had progressed so quickly. Actual combat was always better than training or learning. Hence she had already killed quiet a bit throughout her life refining her killing intent.

Cold sweat started to flow down his neck as he was staring at the small but intimidating figure of his wife's daughter. Then she spoke with an ice cold voice:

„So I am a thing now?“

He couldn't answer he was too scared.

„Fine, I will leave but don't get me wrong. I am doing this for my brother. I don't want him to have problems in the future because of me. I love him too much for that.“

Hearing that Steven felt quiet a bit of relief inside. But she wasn't finished:

„But I am warning you. If anything ever happens to him, I will come back and then nothing not even your goddess will be able to safe your puny life. Steven von Dunkelstein you are a narrow minded coward and i despise you but you are still his father. Take good care of him because that is the only thing that's keeping you alive at the moment.“

Suddenly ice crystals started to whirl around the room and the next instant she had vanished. It was the first and last time that Aria von Dunkelstein left what had been her home for six years.