Ellara (2)
It had been a few months since Alden inherited the Codex.
His days passed peacefully.
No major incidents. No sudden breakthroughs.
Just calm.
Alden didn't mind it.
He liked this rhythm.
His schedule was simple—lectures in the morning, combat lessons after.
But the rest of his time?
For Ellara's lessons.
She taught him nothing fancy. Just basic swordsmanship.
And when she didn't teach anything, she told me different ways she bullied past patriarchs.
Even the current patriarch—Alaric was also one of them.
Ellara had once punished that guy – his father – to run naked around the estate when he wasn't a patriarch.
Alden didn't consider Alaric's father.
He was just a stranger to him. So he didn't care, but he did find it funny.
Her stories were quite entertaining.
So he visited the library without a break.
It had become routine. Almost like a habit.
Or maybe... a comfort.
Ellara was always there, sitting at her usual spot, reading quietly.
Sometimes she mocked him, sometimes ignored him. But her presence never left.
And without realising it, Alden had started to enjoy her presence.
There was something peaceful about her.
She reminded him of his mother in his previous life as Damien.
Her stern but gentle voice when she corrected his posture during sword training.
When she pointed out flaws in his logic.
Even when she insulted his intelligence with that same dry smirk—
It all made him feel a sense of belonging in this cold estate.
The thought made him smile unconsciously.
"Got time to smile, huh?" A cold voice cut in.
Alden didn't even need to look. "Malrick…"
The family-assigned instructor.
A proud little minion of Cedric's little faction.
He was like a dog. Always wagging his tail in front of Cedric.
"For the past two hours", Malrick said mockingly, "you've been swinging that sword like it's a mop."
Alden remained polite. "I'm trying my best."
"Trying isn't enough." Malrick scoffed. "You need more strength. Swordsmanship is about power, not posture."
Alden didn't respond. He simply lowered his sword and began again.
He didn't care what Malrick thought anymore.
Ever since Ellara taught him the basics, he had started to see through people like Malrick.
The ones who talk big but teach nothing.
He didn't need praise. He didn't need recognition.
He just wanted to improve.
After all, who cares what some little fucker says as long as he could wipe the floor with them in the future?
"Still wrong," Malrick muttered again. "You'll never get it at this pace."
Alden ignored him and focused on his breathing.
But right then—
The door to the training ground opened.
A figure stepped in, dressed in refined clothes, his golden hair shining under the torchlight.
Cedric.
Alden's eyes narrowed.
Malrick immediately straightened up. "Young Master Cedric."
Cedric scanned the room lazily until his eyes landed on Alden.
"Well, well," he smirked. "The bug is still trying to crawl."
Alden said nothing.
Blah…blah bullshit.
"Malrick", Cedric continued, "how's your little student doing?"
Malrick shook his head. "Still pathetic. I've been trying, but he doesn't learn."
Alden could vividly imagine an imaginary tail wagging behind Malrick.
Cedric walked closer. "You seem relaxed today. Should I fix that?"
Alden met his gaze calmly.
"Nah, I'm all good..." His tone was sarcastic.
Cedric's smile disappeared. "What did you just say?"
"I said", Alden replied without blinking, "Nah, I'm all go—."
Before Alden could complete his sentence, Cedric moved.
A blur.
A fist.
A crack.
Alden's body hit the ground hard.
His jaw ached, and the taste of iron filled his mouth.
But a smile was present on his face.
He didn't even feel any pain from the punch.
His pain endurance had increased quite a lot after that little stunt Codex pulled when he inherited it.
He was just getting up when Cedric grabbed his collar.
"You really don't learn, do you?" He hissed.
Malrick said nothing.
He just stood there watching—silent, obedient and cowardly.
Cedric raised his fist again.
But before it could fall—
Snap.
A hand caught his wrist.
The room went cold.
"That's enough."
Everyone froze.
A woman stood between Alden and Cedric, her eyes icy blue and her presence overwhelming.
Ellara.
Cedric tried to shake off her grip. "Who the fuck are you?"
"Let go of Alden."
Her voice held no emotion, but the room itself seemed to shrink under it.
For a moment Alden was surprised to see her like this.
Cedric looked confused, even angry. "Do you know who I am—?"
"Do you think I care?" Ellara replied instantly.
Malrick stepped forward. He was visibly panicked. "Young Master, please… she's…"
"Shut up," Cedric snapped.
But even he wasn't reckless enough to push her further.
The way Malrick trembled was enough to tell him what he needed to know.
Ellara stared at Cedric one last time, then let go of his wrist.
"You can go," she said.
Cedric turned toward Alden. "You're lucky. But this isn't over."
Yeah, go cry back to your mommy.
Alden giggled in his mind.
Cedric stormed out.
Malrick followed, not daring to look back.
The door closed.
The room went silent.
Alden sat on the floor. "Wow, that was scary."
Ellara knelt beside him.
Her hand brushed over his cheek—his bruise vanished in seconds.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" she asked softly.
Alden shook his head.
She looked relieved. "That was reckless, you know."
"Thanks." Alden said.
It was the only thing he could say.
Ellara helped him up. "Let's go."
"Back to the library?"
"No." She looked at him. "Back to training."
Her expression softened slightly.
"You need to get stronger, Alden. So next time, you won't need me to protect you."
Alden smiled faintly. "You sound like you're planning to leave."
She didn't answer. But something in her eyes felt… distant