Chapter 32: The Blackhearts

*****

"Release me."

His cold and apathetic tone echoed throughout the forest making every presence except the heads freeze as if an order had been given.

They almost felt a shudder pass through their spines at the fearlessness and coldness of such a young boy.

Even the figures and the girl who were coming from behind suddenly froze as they heard Arthur's command.

His tone implied as if he was not a young boy but a general in the war and would not bow down to such weak people.

The head mage quickly recovered and quickly spoke out.

"YOU SHALL NOT SP-"

Arthur's cold voice again rang out -completely ignoring the head mage- making the eyes of everyone wide even more all except the girl and the heads of the family.

"Release me. I will not repeat myself."

Several gasps escaped out of the people in the area as they recovered again but Arthur completely ignored them and kept his gaze locked with the head.

The palpable silence carried out for a few seconds before finally a recognizing smile etched itself upon the Patriarch and he shook his head with closed eyes while a chuckle escaped from the Matriarch.

"You're just like him aren't you completely fearless and commanding. Release him, Albus." The voice of the Patriarch echoed with an ironic tone.

The head mage's eyes widened and he was about to open his mouth before he chose the best and spoke out to the mages.

"Release the boy!"

The mages nodded and the chains broke off his limbs and went back to them.

Arthur stood up and rubbed his limbs and clothes, before locking his eyes with the head again and bowing deeply this time.

"I greet the Patriarch and Matriarch of the Blackheart Family."

Confused faces etched themselves upon the mages faces, it was understandable if the boy did not know about the family and that was why he was so fearless.

But he knew the identity and was still so fearless!

A chuckle escaped the male head's lips and he spoke out again with a jolly tone,

"You know about us and still you were so fearless huh but I can't say I'm surprised Arthur, you do have many things similar to your grandfather.

Tell me why you ordered the mages to release you when if I'm right, you just got saved from death by my daughter."

The girl from before came forwards now standing next to the female head or more accurately her mother.

She was going to take off her hood but Arthur gave his answer before that,

"I am eternally grateful to your daughter, she saved me from the brink of death, and I owe her a Sacra for that.

But I owe nothing to your mages and I, as the heir of a Dukedom have a respect to maintain and I will not bow to these mages let alone kneel to them."

Then Arthur's gaze moved towards the girl but this time it was a grateful one rather than being hostile, and he bowed a little to her as well.

"I will always be in your debt for you saved my life from death and I thank you for that."

The girl nodded and finally took off her hood to reveal her face.

The girl was cute if Arthur had to describe her.

[Narrator POV]

She had silky long black hair that cascaded down just a little below her shoulders.

Crimson red eyes that sparkled like polished rubies with a touch of aloofness and coldness to them.

Her flawless pale skin was without any blemish as well.

[Arthur POV]

"Hello, I'm Lilith Blackheart. There's no need for it please, it was also my fault for not properly explaining the situation to you and fighting back."

Arthur nodded and then moved his gaze back to the couple who were looking at Arthur and Lilith with amusement.

Upon seeing Arthur's gaze upon them, they coughed before continuing to speak.

"I'm Hilston Blackheart and this is my wife, Maria Blackheart. Though we still have to know why you were on the brink of death and suddenly appeared in our territory, we can discuss this back at the manor. Shall we go?"

Even though Arthur had been healed, he was still in a torn and bloodied bodysuit. His body was also covered in grime and dirt.

Arthur nodded and they signaled the head mages who then signaled the mages and the portals opened again.

Hilston entered first along with Maria and then Arthur and Lilith with the mages in tow.

*****

Right now Arthur was sitting on a bed in the guest room in the Blackheart manor. He had just had a shower before changing into comfortable clothes with blue jeans and black sweatshirt.

Right now he was talking with Hades.

[By the way, you got a new skill and it merged with your [Assassin's Apathy]. Check it out.]

Arthur's eyes widened a little upon this new information.

He knew he had got a new skill and was about to check it out but it merged with his [Assassin's Apathy] skill?

He was excited to check his new skill previously, but now he was even more after he learned that it had merged with his [Grandmaster+] rank skill!

'[Status]'

Immediately like always, the blue translucent screen displaying his status appeared before his eyes.

_____________________

Name: Arthur Blade

Class: [Swordsman] [Daggerist]

Title: -

Age: 10 years

Mark: [Soulscar of Cerberus] (unmanifested)

Stigmata: Darkness, Death (unmanifested)

Stigmata Affinities: Darkness(Deity) Death(Deity)

Stigmata Talent: Empyreal

Stigmata Rank: Novice++ (N++)

Guardianus: Hades

Weapon Art: [Blade Sword Art: Proficiency 17.4%]

Stigmatical Skills: [Abyssal Shroud] [Umbral Veil] [Spectral Steps] [Obsidian Screen] [Nightfall Blind]

Skills: [Shadow Blend]

Passive Skills: [Apathetic Sovereign]

Pandemonium of the Olympians: [2 Years]

_____________________

Arthur's face contorted with surprise at the new change of his status.

His skill section had been divided into two sections now: Active and Passive.

Active skills as implied by their name were skills that could only be activated by willing them to activate.

Passive skills were also like their name implied, skills that didn't require any intent to active as they remained active throughout a person's daily life.

It appeared to be that Arthur's active skill [Assassin's Apathy] had merged with his new skill [Monarch's Dominance] to create a passive skill [Apathetic Sovereign].

Arthur focused on his new skill to see its new description.

'[Apathetic Sovereign]'

Immediately, a screen displaying the skill information opened up to him.

__________________________

Skill Name: [Apathetic Sovereign]

Skill Rank: [Grandmaster++]

Skill Type: Passive (Alterable)

Skill Description:

A merged skill born from the fusion of "Assassin's Apathy" and "Monarch's Dominance" exudes a regal aura, diminishing the user's emotions permanently. By infusing mana, diminishes more emotions. Additionally, all skills are enhanced 10% permanently while mana capacity and power are slightly boosted, fostering improved rationality and decision-making. As more emotions are purged through mana, the user's authority and dominance intensify, stifling the foe's will to fight.

_________________________