101: Nathan and Ayaka

Nathan and Ayaka

The party was big and luxurious. Michelle, Tasha, and Ayaka were dressed up beautifully, wearing a dress that each suited their characters. Kai complimented each of them and sat on the side. Bing parties weren't really his thing, after all.1

A few tried to have a conversation with him, only to be disappointed by the result. They couldn't approach him as Michelle and Tasha stood on his side. He didn't mind since the star of this party was Michelle.

No one would have a party this big except Michelle Graham and Nathan Graham. As the former family head, Nathan deserved a party like this. Meanwhile, Michelle was the current S-rank magician in the family.

...

In the middle of the party.

Nathan observed Ayaka carefully. He was aware of Tasha and Sakura and thought that it would be no problem to pair them up with Kai. However, it was different for Ayaka, who only knew Kai for two months. He only recognized the Kudo Group in United Asia, not her. He wanted to see if Ayaka was a person that would lead the family to ruin or not.

When their eyes met, Nathan closed his eyes for a few seconds before calling her to him, "Come here."

Ayaka was a bit unsure and thought of calling Kai, but she buried that thought as she walked toward him with a serious expression. "Greetings, Elder."

"Umu." He nodded while sending a fierce glare at her.

"May I know if there's anything I can do to help Elder?" Ayaka asked politely.

"There is certainly something I want to ask you." Nathan paused a little, creating tension between them. Luckily, no one realized this other than Kai, thinking it was just a small chat. Surprisingly, his next statement shocked Ayaka. "My request is simply for you to stay away from Kai."

"What-" She wanted to rebuke him, but Nathan put his index finger in front of his mouth, telling her to shut up for a bit.

"Tasha has also been with him for a few years. I can say that both have overcome strive and carnage together with him… which I can understand. And that mysterious Sakura, I don't really care about her, but it's true that she managed to change him.

"As for my own granddaughter… Michelle has been with him longer than Tasha has. In her heart, there is only him. Even the family is number two in her eyes. I won't say anything about their experiences, but I can say that Kai will always be the number one for her.

"She trained, trained, and trained…Even in extreme weathers, when her body was tattered, her hands were bleeding, and it was too hard for her to even stand, she still stood tall and trained.

"At that time, I asked why because I couldn't understand, but do you know what she said? She told me, 'Even facing a million beasts is easier than seeing him hurt.' She trained for him, and he trained to protect her. Ultimately, I accepted their relationship.

"However… Now, we have you, who suddenly intruded on their relationship. A pest who can't do anything without support.

"I have investigated you, Kudo Group's princess. You're just the same as those other youngsters. Ignorant. Spoiled by your family, unable to do anything without them." Nathan narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not!" She was amazed by the story, but when he said that about her, she took offense.

"Ho? You could only achieve everything because of him. To tell you the truth, you're only a source of trouble for him. Because of you, his family is in danger, and if it weren't your family, I doubt he would have taken you to this base. Of course, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong." He released a kind of pressure.

"I…" She wanted to say something, but none of the things he said was wrong.

"Each girl on his side has something special. However, I don't find that in you. If I'm not mistaken, you want to get stronger to help your family before you help him… Then, doesn't it mean that if your family wants you to kill him, you will kill him?"

"I…" Ayaka paused a bit. She closed her eyes, seeking the answer. "You're half right… I do think of my family as number one and him second. However, if my family wants me to kill him, I won't kill him."

"Empty words. What? Then are you going to watch from the sideline and not help any side? Or will you help him and fight your family? Can you even do that?" He snorted.

"No. My family and I were just strangers to him a few months ago. Even with his sister's reputation, our paths weren't crossed. I'll admit it, I got close to him because I idolized his sister, but I realized what pulled me in was him, not her." Ayaka's expression turned serious. She continued, "If the friction between them happened because of me, then I will gladly lay my life down. With that, I will sever the relationship and the friction between us… because I know he deserves more."

"..." Nathan looked at her for a while before saying, "I will accept that answer for now. Unfortunately, that still doesn't change the fact you're only a burden to him."

"I… I wish to get stronger… I'm sick of being nothing but a burden to him. If I know how to get stronger, I'll take that path no matter how dangerous it is!" Ayaka clenched her fists.

"Hoh… no matter how dangerous it is? This is certainly not light." Nathan paused for a few seconds. "There is one method that can get you stronger…"

"One method. What is it? Please tell me."

"It's simple. Go to the front lines without a person beside you. You'll be able to think for yourself, utilize your magic efficiently, and so on." He smirked. "The problem is… whether you dare to take it or not."

Ayaka was taken aback, not expecting such an answer. It was like he said, if she went alone to the front lines and fought magical beasts alone, she would need to use her brain to make strategies. Because she would die at any moment, she would try to make the best decision for survival. She would also have to use her magic efficiently so that she wouldn't use it up.

She suddenly remembered the words her grandfather once said.

'There is nothing better for training than a real battle.'

Thinking of this, she realized what he meant by that. She clenched her fists, thinking of leaving Lion Group for a while and head to the front lines alone.

If she manages to survive, then she'll be able to proudly stand by his side. If she dies, then Kai certainly deserves a better girl than her.

Looking at her expression, Nathan knew that this girl would certainly do it. He shook his head helplessly and said, "All right. I should stop teasing you…"

"Tea… sing?" Ayaka opened her mouth, confused.

"Yep. Teasing. Did you really believe that going to the front lines is the best way? If you want to commit suicide, then it's true that that place is the best. If you're going to get stronger, there are many more places other than there. You can get a powerful soldier just by creating them. Still, if you want an elite soldier, then you need to throw them to gather as much experience as they can.

"Strength, brain, and experience. Only if these three are fulfilled can you be an elite. Kai, Tasha, and Michelle have been equipped with these three things. As for you, you clearly lack experience. If I really decide to throw you out there, I should worry about my intelligence. Besides, there's no way that the army would let you do so." Nathan shrugged his shoulder while looking at her dumbfounded face.

"Although this doesn't mean I approve of you, I will tell you one thing. This is related to your fire magic. You must have felt that winter restricts your fire magic, right?"

Ayaka nodded.

"It's because of the cold, or it can be said the power of nature. Your fire might not be as powerful as usual, take more magic power to maintain it, or even be extinguished by the cold. Actually, there's another powerful strength that lies inside your body."

"Another strength?"

"Do you know what Michelle's element is?"

"Darkness or shadow."

"Nah. In the past, her element was darkness. She couldn't even use a shadow, which became her main power now." He shrugged. "He managed to awaken her power, thus the shadow power was born. It's a power inside all of us, but only certain people can awaken them. Even I can't awaken them."

"What is this power?"

"You do realize that we can imbue science things into our magic, right?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Just like a sci-fi book, there's always fiction behind the science. If you say that your current power is science, then this other strength is your fictional strength.

"A few people have managed to awaken them in the past, but there isn't really any research about it. We don't even know the condition to awaken it. However… I do believe that if you can awaken that power, you'll be able to contend with Tasha or Michelle. Anyway, don't say anything about this to anyone. Including you, sh*tty brat."

"I..." She had never heard of anything like this back in United Asia. Little did she know, what Nathan Graham told her was a state secret. Kai rolled his eyes when he heard this from afar.

"All right. This old man should shut up and let the young do their own things now." Nathan sighed before recalling something. "Actually, there is one more thing… and close your ears, sh*tty brat. You shouldn't hear this."

Hearing that, Kai sighed and used his Sound Insulation Magic on his ears, confusing the people around him.

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