Nobilis of War novel Chapter 61

Elsa was startled by Darren's strength. It was completely beyond what she could have imagined.

"Darren, how could you..." she stammered, still grasping with the reality of the situation. "How could you become so powerful?" Elsa's eyes were wide open with astonishment and perhaps even admiration.

"Elsa, let's find a place to have a conversation," Darren said calmly. "I also have some questions for you." He was not surprised at Elsa's shocked expression as she watched him.

"Sure." Elsa responded. She kept her eyes at Darren as if she was looking at a god that had just flown down from heaven.

They walked slowly and sat down in a relatively quiet place where no one would bother them.

"Darren, you surprise me. Normally, you would have been seriously injured by now with your training. You were supposed to discontinue cultivating once you ate those seeds. However, you have grown stronger. Have you found some kind of counterbalancing method?"

Elsa continued without waiting for an answer, "Not to mention, those disciples rescued by a master of Wonder Realm in the Barren Wasteland said that you were killed by a fiend. How did you manage to escape safely?"

Elsa looked at Darren eye-to-eye. Somehow Darren was mysterious to her. Where did his power come from?

"Those two seeds injured my meridians. But as for the reasons why my strength improved..." Darren paused. He was unwilling to say more, for he could not afford to disclose his secret to anyone.

"I understand," Elsa said and did not push him for the answer. "You must have travelled your own journey. But the blade intent seed and the sword intent seed are still threatening your life, aren't they?"

"Maybe." It was challenging to explain everything explicitly. There were many reasons for this, not least of which was the need to keep his secret safe. So Darren chose to give an answer that would sound believable.

"They like to talk irresponsibly when it comes to fiend killings," Darren said. "I also managed to escape from the fiend's cave with the help of a master of Wonder Realm. Then I returned home to heal myself. That's why I returned to Ilmen Sect late." He watched her, checking to see if she would accept his lie. He would not tell the truth about his fiend feature, his transformation and the bronze coffin.

Elsa nodded at Darren's seemingly reasonable explanation. It was pure curiosity that drove her to ask him her questions. She did not intend to interrogate him.

Darren went on to describe the details about the dangerous moments when the fiend chased after him. Elsa was frightened upon hearing these.

"It must have been terrifying." Else could imagine how horrible it would be to undergo a fiend attack.

"It does not matter now that I have survived it. No reason to dwell on the past," Darren said with a calm smile. "Elsa, now let me ask you. How could those idiots harass you like that? The School of Blade Skill will bear heavy consequences if you tell Elder Thomas about it."

Elsa smiled bitterly, and her expression froze upon hearing this.

"Would he lift a finger to help me? I will not tell him. He only cares about talent and capability. He is indifferent to someone like me, who is a good-for-nothing. Ha-ha."

"Is there a misunderstanding between you and Elder Thomas, Elsa? Could you tell me about it?" Darren was curious.

Elsa's eyes grew sad as she looked away. She shook her head and sighed faintly. "It's not worth talking about. Darren, you should know what he is like. He examined your talent before you joined us. That day he was very delighted and wanted to teach you in person. But how did he treat you when he found that you lost your talent?"

"Elsa, do you mean that your talent was in a higher rank than the ninth level of Yellow Degree?"

Elsa held her breath and looked up at Darren with a nod. It seemed she had not intended to reveal this to him.