Chapter 23: After Party
After endless unnecessary inquires about Edric's minor injury from his bodyguards, Edric finally frees himself from unwanted attention. He then quickly proceed to search for his opponent and notice that she isn't among the crowd. He frowns. He asks the guards where is his opponent. The guards could only apologize and ask for forgiveness for they too don't know where she is.
"Perhaps her skill is flawless to actually evade and slip through your vigilant guard," Edric admiringly comments about Lyra, but then he chillingly added, "or perhaps your vigilance is lacking for that an unsuspected person could slip through your guard easily."
The guards that Edric is reprimanding were silently shivering from the fear and could only straighten their back and ask for Edric's forgiveness once again. Seeing their obvious dread towards the punishment for letting Lyra slip away, Edric could only sigh and let them go with a glare. The guards as though they are being chased by demons quickly went away to start searching for Lyra again and secure their perimeter so no one can escape their vigilance.
Finally seeing Edric by himself, Melika elegantly yet stealthy makes her way towards Edric with her fan covering her seductive smile. Edric in deep thought recalling the fight didn't notice Melika's silent approach. Lost in the memory of the fight, Edric thinks about how beautiful every counter his opponent makes and how the fierce hazelnut eyes of his opponent shine as she fiercely fights. Edric then unconsciously smiles. He couldn't help but think that his opponent clearly needs to be part of his elite team. And so, he now needs to seek any info about his opponent. It's just that he isn't sure how to start.
Melika seeing Edric lost in thought closes her fan and gently uses it to tap Edric's shoulder. Before the fan could touch Edric's shoulder, Edric evades it and quickly searches his memories as to who is this lady in front of him. Melika notice Edric's action and only smiles.
"Good evening, Madam Melika." Edric greets and gives Melika a slight bow.
"Good evening to you too, Young Master Edric." Melika then opens her fan to hide her smile behind it and gives Edric an elegant full curtsy.
"How can I be of help to you Madam?" Edric nonchalantly asks. He is also thinking about what are the possible agenda behind Melika's approach.
"Why Young Master I'm here to sincerely apologize for my disciple's rude action towards you," Melika announces.
"Is that so?" Edric outwardly looks calm but actually, he is surprised by Melika's statement and happy to know that he'll get to know about his opponent sooner than he believes. He also feels foolish not realizing it sooner that of course, his opponent would be one of the elites' disciples. And all he has to do was ask around. But he also finds it strange why his opponent would flee. So Edric asks "So where could your disciple be then?"
Melika looks at Edric and sincerely replies, "To be honest, my disciple might have been too scared that she accidentally hurt you, Young Master Edric. So her first response is to flee, which I assure you is her best trait. I mean, she has been through countless dangerous missions. Dangerous missions that she believes to be too dangerous for my senior disciple. She really looks up to my senior disciple you see, so Lyra to-"
Edric cut off Melika and asks "So your disciple's name is Lyra, the one I fought earlier?"
"Yes, her name is Lyra. Lyra is a disciple I took in after Aurora who is my first disciple. Both of them are extraordinary, that I assure you. But as you can see Lyra tends to flee when she deems the situation against her. I don't mean to say that trait of hers is wrong for it has saved her more than once. It's just that Lyra's tendency to flee when confronted with a situation with a lot of pressure actually worries me for I haven't had that problem before. I mean Aurora didn't have that problem." Melika states as she watches Edric's reaction.
"Is that so." Edric only comments. His calmness reveals nothing.
"It is so, Young Master Edric. I'm proud to say that both Lyra and Aurora are my outstanding disciples. That is why I hope Young Master Edric could forgive Lyra for accidentally leaving a cut on your handsome face."
"Worry not Madam Melika, I actually hold no grudges about this mere scratch. Besides, it's only to be expected to have minor injuries when you fight an opponent that's as strong or stronger than oneself. So please be at ease, Lyra has done nothing wrong. I actually admire her fighting prowess in battle." Edric paused for a bit when the passing thought of Lyra's fierce enchanting hazelnut eyes caught him off guard. It is only a passing thought but Edric finds it difficult to concentrate for some reason. He then thinks back how Lyra's sharp ruthless unpredictable movements and techniques really are marvelous to behold.
"Lyra is admirably in her prowess in battle but sometimes her actions can be, let's just say a bit savage at times. I can only blame myself for not warning her enough to not copy such actions from those uncouth mercenaries she hangs out with. It really is my fault for not realizing that she copied such savage action sooner. It really is terrible for me to think that she'll be like Aurora who socializes with the other elite disciples and have the good judgment to copy techniques of combat that doesn't go against one's morals."
Edric politely listened for a while but quickly notices Melika's intention of introducing her senior disciple. From all the hints about how her senior disciple is better than Lyra, Edric can see how Melika is hoping that Edric would take Aurora as a part of his elite team instead of Lyra.
"Madam Melika, it seems that you somehow favor your senior disciple more than Lyra."
"Oh my! So Young Master Edric sees it like that, but then I wouldn't deny that I have put more effort into molding Aurora than Lyra as my disciple. And you see, Young Master, I only want to present the best candidate for your elite team. It's an elite team of a Solaire after all. Besides with Aurora in your elite team, I'm sure your prestige would only increase."
"Your offer is tempting Madam Melika, but the one I fought and personally assess to be fit to be part of my team is Lyra. However, I could give Aurora a chance to also prove herself when I find Lyra. So let's not waste any more time shall we, Madam? I'm sure with your help we'll find Lyra faster and resolve the matters we are concerned about sooner as well."
Melika seeing Edric's calm and calculative eyes staring at her, couldn't help but admire his skillful manipulation of the conversation and laughs out loud. "Indeed, Young Master. The sooner we find Lyra the sooner we can settle things." Melika then excuses herself after she gives some potential whereabouts of Lyra. Soon after, the party ends without trouble and all prestigious guests are given high-quality weaponry of their choosing as a gratitude gift for attending the party.
Due to the fact that it's already deep into the night when the party ended, the search for Lyra has stopped and will resume in the morning. Edric himself wants to personally search for her. Edric's father could only shake his head and resignedly let his son be. It is his birthday after all. As Edric lays on his bed, he couldn't really help but recall the fight in his mind, he then finds himself replaying the moments where their eyes meet. Now that he recalls the times where they had physical contact he unconsciously blushes and smiles. The more he thinks about Lyra, the more he finds her interesting and amazing.
The next day as soon as Edric wakes up, the first thought in his mind is to look for Lyra. For some reason, he really looks forward to their official meeting. He goes where Melika said Lyra might be, first he goes and check on Melika's house only to be greeted by Aurora and Melika and finds out Lyra didn't come back to their mansion. Melika then suggests for Edric to search for Lyra in a well-known Arena near a junkyard. And if she still isn't there then Meilka tells Edric to ask Lyra whereabouts from the vermilion witch, Cherry.
Edric goes to the well-known Arena within the junkyard. He is intrigued as to why Lyra might be in the Arena. As he enters loud cheering could be heard from numerous screens. Herold who is just about to take a break sees Edric's and greets him.
"Edric! Lookie, lookie~ What do I see~ The legendary 'prince of Combat'" Herold yells.
"Hi, Uncle Herold." Edric gives Herold a weak smile. Herold chuckles as he teasingly pinches Edric's cheeks.
"So what can I do for yah? It's rare for your Father to give you permission to enter the Arena. and it's even rare for you to come to visit me~ So what's up?"
"I'm actually here to look for a person, Uncle." as soon as Herold hears what Edric says, he frowns.
Seeing Herold frowns Edric quickly explains he isn't there to find a person for 'that' purpose.
Herold then smiles.
"Here to find a girl then?" Herold jokingly asks.
"Yes." Edric sincerely and honestly answers. Herold was caught off guard and almost choke on his own spit from surprise.
"For real?" Herold asks in disbelief.
"For real." Edric stares at Herold and honestly answers once again.
"..." Herold is silent for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. "Does your Dad know about this? pfft, ~ Hahahah~" Herold was laughing so hard he has tears in his eyes.
"Yes, My Dad knows I'm here to look for a girl that I want to be part of my team." as soon as Herold hears what Edric said he stops laughing and hits Edric in the shoulder hard.
"You! You made me think that you're here to look for a girl that would take your V-card! Oh well~"
"Uncle, It's not my fault your thoughts tend to be dirty since you yourself still have your V-card and you're way older than me." Edric nonchalantly states as he shrugs
Herold smacks Edric's head and bellows "You Brat!!!"
Edric smirks, "You old man." Herold glares at him.
"Alright, enough with the jokes, who are you looking for?"
"Uncle, I'm looking for Melika's disciple named Lyra. Melika said she might be here."
"Oh, ho! Lyra eh~ You sure have good eyes Edric me boy~"
"You know Lyra?"
"Why of course that charming little lady is quite famous here in the Arena."
"Really?"
"Yup~ She's quite a fighter you know."
"Yeah, I believe so."
"Oh no~ I see that dear Edric has fallen for her charms too~"
"if you mean, her charms from prowess in battle then yes."
"Sure sure Edric. Anyway, to answer your inquiry Lyra isn't here right now. Hmm, although I recommend looking for her in Cherry's house. I'm sure you'll either find her there or be given a more specific place to look for Lyra by the people there."
"I see. I'll drop by Aunt Cherry's house then" Edric then leaves the arena and heads off to Madam Cherry's house. Madam Cherry, Edric has never visited her aunt even though she's the only sister of his father. His father always said that his aunt cut her ties with them long ago even before Edric was born.
He then reaches Madam Cherry's house and he finds out that Madam Cherry, Lyra, and the twins went somewhere far and it's confidential Nina stated. Edric feels a familiar pang of regret in his heart, once again for some reason he feels like he has failed to retrieve something precious
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone