The Extra's Rise
Chapter 807: Western Continent (3)

Chapter 807: Western Continent (3)

I looked at Kali and Jin, a soft smile staying on my lips as I looked at my old friends who had helped me for years with my ambitions, bound together by the mana oath we had made so long ago.

"I got stronger," I responded simply, feeling Luna’s amusement ripple through our bond.

’Understatement of the millennium,’ she snorted in my mind. ’You could probably level this entire continent if you put your mind to it.’

"Of course I can fucking see that," Kali said with characteristic directness, "but just how is that even possible?" Her dark eyes shifted down to Stella with obvious recognition. "And look who got taller while I wasn’t paying attention."

"Hello, Miss Kali," Stella said with polite precision, though her mathematical mind was clearly cataloging the changes in our surroundings. "You look different too. Stronger."

Kali’s expression softened slightly—one of the few people who could manage that feat was standing right in front of her. "Yeah, well, your dad left us with a lot of work to do. Had to get stronger or get crushed under all the political bullshit he dumped on us."

"Language," Jin said mildly, though there was affection in his stoic reprimand.

"She’s eleven, not five," Kali retorted. "Besides, if she’s Arthur’s daughter, she’s probably heard worse."

"Actually, I keep my language quite clean around Stella," I said with amusement, settling into one of the manor’s comfortable chairs while Stella claimed the spot beside me with practiced ease. "Though I suspect she’s learned some colorful vocabulary from her aunts."

"Aunt Rachel never curses," Stella said with mathematical precision. "Aunt Cecilia only curses in three languages when she’s really angry. Aunt Rose uses business terminology that sounds polite but is actually very insulting. Aunt Seraphina curses in Eastern dialects that most people don’t understand. And Aunt Reika doesn’t curse at all, but she makes disappointed faces that are worse than any words."

Kali’s laugh was genuinely delighted. "Damn, kid, you’ve got them all figured out."

As we settled into more comfortable conversation, I let my enhanced senses examine Jin and Kali properly for the first time since arriving. What I found was impressive enough to raise my eyebrows with genuine surprise.

"High Immortal-rank," I said with appreciation that made both of them straighten slightly. "Both of you. That’s remarkable progress for two years."

"We had motivation," Jin replied with characteristic understatement, though I caught the pride beneath his stoic demeanor.

"And excellent reasons to get stronger fast," Kali added with darker undertones. "Turns out that managing continental operations while preparing for war requires a certain level of personal power. Who knew?"

"The Savage Communion?" I asked, though I could already sense the tension that mention of the cult brought to both of them.

"Among other threats," Jin confirmed with diplomatic caution. "The Western Continent has become... complicated during your absence."

I nodded, having expected as much.

"Before we get into current politics," I said, meeting both their eyes with the kind of serious attention that made the air around us grow still, "I need to address something more important. The mana oath we made years ago."

The change in atmosphere was immediate and profound. Both Jin and Kali went completely alert, their enhanced senses focusing on me with the kind of intensity that spoke to years of wondering whether this moment would ever actually arrive.

"You remember the terms," I continued, letting my voice carry the weight of absolute commitment. "Jin, I promised to cure your sister Rin of her innate miasmic corruption—something that should have been impossible with the power I possessed when we made that oath. And Kali, I swore to recover your family’s stolen Grade 6 art from the Savage Communion."

Kali’s expression shifted from hope to something approaching awe mixed with disbelief. "You really think you can pull this off? Both promises?"

"I don’t think," I replied with absolute conviction. "I know."

"Which brings us to more immediate concerns," I said, shifting the conversation toward current events. "But first—congratulations on the engagement. I’m genuinely happy for both of you."

"About fucking time someone mentioned it," Kali replied with affection that couldn’t hide her pleasure at the recognition. "Though I’m surprised you heard about it, considering you were busy killing things on another planet."

"It was announced publicly over a year ago," Jin said with mild amusement at my apparent surprise. "Every major news network on every continent covered the story. The engagement between the Ashbluff heir and the daughter of the Maelkiths was considered significant enough to warrant international attention."

"Reika mentioned it in her reports," I admitted with embarrassment at having missed such obvious information. "Though she was more focused on the political implications than the romantic aspects."

"The political implications were considerable," Jin confirmed with diplomatic understatement. "Uniting two of the Western Continent’s most powerful magical lineages created alliance structures that several other noble houses found... concerning."

"Good," I said with satisfaction that made both of them smile. "Strong alliances make it easier to handle the kinds of problems that are coming."

Stella, who had been listening to our conversation with obvious fascination, looked up at me with curious precision. "Daddy, what’s a mana oath?"

"A magical contract that can’t be broken," I explained, noting how both Jin and Kali tensed slightly at having to discuss such serious topics in front of her. "When mages make promises using their mana as collateral, those promises become binding on a fundamental level. Breaking them would have severe consequences."

"Like what?" she asked with scientific interest.

"Like losing the ability to use magic entirely," Kali said with characteristic directness. "Or dying, depending on how the oath was structured."

"Oh." Stella processed this information with typical mathematical precision. "So when you made promises to help Jin and Kali, you were really serious about keeping them."

"The most serious I’ve ever been about anything," I confirmed, pulling her closer while noting how the conversation had affected our hosts. _{fre eweb\(n)ovel(.)co(m)}

Jin’s expression had grown increasingly troubled as we discussed the feasibility of fulfilling our old agreements. Where Kali showed anticipation and savage satisfaction at the prospect of revenge, Jin’s diplomatic training was clearly working through the broader implications of my enhanced capabilities.

"Arthur," he said with careful neutrality that couldn’t hide underlying concern, "when you say you can cure Rin and recover the Maelkith art... you’re talking about challenging institutions that have remained untouchable for decades. The kind of demonstration of power that reshapes how entire continents view authority and capability."

"Yes," I replied simply, understanding his concern but feeling no hesitation about the path ahead.

"That’s..." Jin paused, searching for diplomatic language to express thoughts that were clearly troubling him. "That level of individual power historically creates instabilities that affect millions of people. Kings and emperors don’t appreciate being overshadowed by subjects who can accomplish impossible things through personal strength alone."

Before I could respond to his valid but ultimately irrelevant concerns, the manor’s communication systems activated with urgent tones that made everyone immediately alert. Jin’s expression shifted from philosophical worry to immediate practical concern as he accessed the incoming message.

"What is it?" Kali asked with the kind of tense readiness that suggested she was prepared for anything from assassination attempts to declarations of war.

Jin’s face went pale as he processed the information, his stoic composure cracking under whatever news he had just received. "My parents," he said with careful neutrality that couldn’t hide significant apprehension. "Queen Camila and King Valen are returning to the palace. They’ll be here within the hour."

The silence that followed was profound as everyone processed the implications of that announcement.

"Shit," Kali said with feeling that perfectly captured the mood.

Looking at my old friends’ faces, I realized that my visit to the Western Continent was about to become much more complicated than anyone had anticipated.