King Of Limbo

"What!?"

Aron's words caused all three of the Koliean heads to stand from their seats in unison and exclaim in surprise.

Aron was never taught how he aged nor could he tell in Limbo, at a point Argos was curious and wanted to study him but he refused only to later regret that foolish choice he made as a child.

Without that information he had no way of knowing how much time had passed for the Kolieans, to find out how much he revealed his origins.

"You dare to tarnish Elder Elia's name by associating it with a pitiful existence like yourself!?" Selha spoke with outrage on her face and didn't care for whatever title he held, looking ready to attack at any point.

In truth his words had even struck a nerve for the Komi but they didn't dare say a thing after remembering the scene of him single handedly taking out the Komi serpent.

'He tamed us without us even realizing it.' Yugar came to this realization upon seeing even the stubborn Goovin remaining in his seat.

Why fight an opponent you know can kill you with ease?

"Calm down Selha!" Elder Helar proposed and received agreement from Elder Elise who turned her gaze towards Aron.

"But how dare he claim to be her son?! That's an insult!? Elder Elia had no child and only ever adopted me!" Selha seemed more angry about than Aron even predicted, to think he had an adoptive sister with such a short temper.

"So I have a little sister, I suppose that makes sense. No child of mother could be so easily provoked." Aron mocked with a smile and in that moment Selha erupted from seat and charged towards him.

Aron's gaze changed to that of a beast and he went as far as augmenting his already tough body be preparing to meet the attack.

However…

"Stop!" Lady Elise spoke while looking at Selha who froze in place at her words.

'What a terrifying art!' Many thought as they saw the ease with which she subdued one of her own.

"Why? Grandmother please let me teach this defiler a lesson." She begged with a look of absolute anger on her face while Elder Elise just sighed and descended from her seat and approached Aron alongside Helar.

They passed Selha who remained frozen in place and began looking at Aron's features from up close before Elise placed her large hand on his shoulder.

A moment later she took her hand away and gave a nod towards Helar who stepped forward next and repeated what Elise had done.

"…You really are Harald and Elia's child…"

Helar muttered in surprise before a smile eventually creeped up on her face and she tried lunging towards him. However Aron dodged her easily with his speed.

"Do you think I'm that easy to kill?" Aron looked at her with fierce eyes but she looked perplexed and almost saddened by his words.

"No you misunderstand child, I simply want to hold my grandson… I thought my foolish son had gotten both of you killed when he chose to remain." Helar revealed while looking at Aron who didn't seem convinced.

When he made contact with both Helar and Elise, he confirmed that they were indeed his blood relatives not because of an art or technique but simply due to a Koliean feature of identification.

However this didn't mean they weren't hostile and thus his caution towards them. Familial affection was something he never experienced and wasn't the goal of him revealing his identity.

From the words exchanged who could tell either not much time had passed or a Koliean's lifespan was simply vast since even his mother's of his parents were alive and well.

"But… Lady Elia never had any children, she told me herself and you even supported her."

A confused Selha looked towards Elise with whom she seemed to have a deeper relationship with and asked this. At that moment Elise simply shook her head.

"We'll talk about this later." She responded seriously and reminded Selha that they were in an open place with countless people present.

She could only grit her teeth as the art set on her got released and she could once again.

A cold glare was given to Aron before she eventually returned to her seat. Aron said nothing more as well and looked ready to go to his but was stopped by Helar. "Wait, come sit with me child."

"We may be related by I have no reason to associate myself with you, I've made it this far alone just fine." Aron responded coldly while observing the reaction Helar would give.

On her face some regret could be seen but she still smiled and walked away leaving Aron a bit perplexed. According to his father Kolieans should be as restrictive of emotions as he was, that was what was taught after all.

He chose to put them at the back of his mind but he still considered them very important. For now however he needed to convince address the issue of returning to Limbo.

"This past month you've all done your best to gather mana crystals and beasts while I and a few runic masters set up the second stage. However according to the numbers we are still a bit short on the power required and we'll need more mana crystals or beasts-"

Before Aron could speak more, Elise interrupted.

"We'll donate our crystals and help search for beasts. Provided that is you agree to speak with me and Helar in private." She offered in what was a surprise for Selha.

She wanted to protest but could clearly see that even Helar was in support of this, she could only glare at Aron again but say nothing.

'It seems I also hold some importance to them, even better.' Aron was a bit surprised by the offer she gave but he had no reason to refuse since he too had words to exchange with them.

"I agree to that." He replied without hesitation and almost immediately Helar and Elise stood up and gestured him to follow.

Aron began to do so but not before giving Belle a knowing nod. In the next moment she stood up as well and spoke.

"We'll hold another meeting once enough crystals and beasts have been collected. For now this gathering is adjourned…"

She spoke in a slightly shaky tone due to the surprise of learning Aron's origins.

From what was said his standing or importance shouldn't be low. 'If that's the case then doesn't that mean he basically holds some degree of power over every force in Pesia…'

This thought made her and many tremble but that was simply the truth, in less than a year Aron had become a peak existence in the world all for the sake of completing a simple goal.

….

While everyone was gossiping about what occurred within the conference and Aron's origins, Aron himself was lead to the Kolien main ship and brought into a lavish looking lounge by Helar and Elise.

"I'm sure you have many questions but so do we, firstly is Harald still alive?" Both Helar and Elise looked at Aron hopefully.

"I got separated from him before my second evolution due to a beast migration. I do not know wether he lived or died." Aron replied honestly to the matter without giving his opinions or explaining the circumstances.

Both women released heavy sighs and shook their heads. "What shall we do then Helar?" Elise showed a weak smile and looked dejected at the news which left Aron puzzled.

"Is there a problem?" Aron asked with a brow raised and received a response from Helar who first took a seat and crossed her legs.

"We left Limbo expecting to find a better environment for our people to grow. But ever since we arrived we've been declining, the men especially lack strong beasts to hunt and thus the women can't produce a stronger next generation."

"In the many years since we came back, Selha has been the only one who showed a good potential and was thus adopted and taught by Elia personally who felt letting Harald go was her fault and in turn our decline."

Aron slowly began to understand the situation but he still needed to wait for his moment to make use of it.

Elise also took a seat and let her brown hair cascade down her back while using one hand to rest her chin on.

"In such a situation Elia pushed herself to her sixth evolution and was able to return to Limbo so as to find us a suitable environment or at the very least strong males to ensure how standard doesn't decline."

"How did she return to Limbo?" Aron asked with some caution.

If they knew what a Tor looked like then his entire lie would fall apart and they would realize that rather than save Pesia he was planning on leaving it.

"We're not sure either, her body underwent a great change during that evolution. She had managed to tear open a limbo crack and squeezed through it, I know not of what art she used or wether it was an ability of our people."

Aron felt some relief hearing this as well as great interest in their evolution.

"However that was quite long ago and we still haven't received word. In another few years our decline will grow even greater. A shame you're not on your father's level despite so many evolutions, however with some guidance you could grow a bit better."

Elise added without masking her dissatisfaction in Aron's current state but he smiled inwardly and saw the key that would grant him some control in this large force.

"You seem to misunderstand, I've only evolved twice in my entire life. The first to become a beast monger and the second after I consumed the mana of thousands of mana beasts." He revealed but received a look of disbelief from both women.

"Don't toy with us. What Koliean looks this grown at only the second stage? What's more if you consumed that much mana you would have long since descended into madness, the limit for even those past the 4th stage of evolution is two hundred."

Helar broke apart Aron's claim using known facts of their people but he simply asked them this.

"Then why don't you check to see if I'm lying?"