Cherreads

Chapter 18 - Progress

The sun had barely begun to set when the four of them arrived back at Veldroth. Aurevia, Cellione, and Serineth were flushed with excitement, their faces bright and full of energy.

The latest hunt had gone well, and they had completed another monster hunting mission, collecting proof of their kills and making their way to the Adventurer's Association to submit their findings.

Alaric, still small and youthful in appearance, walked behind them, his golden hair catching the last rays of sunlight as he moved. Though a child in body, his sharp eyes and presence spoke volumes of his quiet authority, his every movement seemingly calculated, purposeful.

The three girls, despite their rank and growing power, couldn't help but follow his lead. There was an unspoken understanding between them: Alaric was their master, and they, his loyal slaves.

Though the connection between them was mutual, it was also complex. They had seen Alaric's ability to feed them with Mana, but they didn't know the full extent of his power.

Every day, they relied on his mana to replenish their auras, and though it was a strange and unexplainable process, they trusted him completely.

***

Aurevia walked ahead, her regal bearing evident even after a long day of hunting. The [Peak-Rank-3] warrior had become stronger with each passing mission.

She was a woman of sharp features and gentle smiles, but Alaric saw beyond her beauty. He could sense the depths of her strength and the growing bond of trust between them.

Her crimson eyes flicked back to him as she continued her way toward the Association, and despite not knowing how he provided his support, she felt reassured by the constant thread of connection that was always there, unseen, but unbreakable.

It was during these quiet moments, when he watched her go about her tasks, that Alaric had discovered something remarkable. He had tested the limits of the thread—something that had grown stronger with each passing day.

He could see what Aurevia saw through the thread, could hear her thoughts if he willed it, and could even send his voice to her from miles away.

***

Aurevia reached the Association to submit her completed mission when a soft, yet clear voice echoed in her mind.

"Aurevia, can you hear me?"

She froze, looking around in confusion. There was no one nearby. The streets of Veldroth were bustling, and the guards manning the gates were busy, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was speaking to her. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be…?

"You aren't hallucinating,"

The voice continued, and she could feel the warm amusement in Alaric's tone.

"Try to focus your thoughts, as though you are talking to me."

Aurevia's eyes widened in astonishment. She concentrated, forming her thoughts carefully.

"Master, can you hear me?"

She asked, her voice barely above a whisper, not sure if she was truly reaching him.

"Yes, I can hear you,"

Came Alaric's soft reply, carrying a weight of calm reassurance.

Her face flushed, and she almost let out a laugh, but instead, she smiled softly, nodding. From that moment, Alaric had bridged the distance, and Aurevia understood that she could now speak to him anytime.

She could feel the warmth of his presence across the distance, even when he wasn't physically there.

She continued her task, but her mind lingered on that new discovery.

*****

✢═─༻༺═✢═─༻༺═✢

✶ I Reincarnated as an Extra ✶

✧ in a Reverse Harem World ✧

⊱ Eternal_Void_ ⊰

✢═─༻༺═✢═─༻༺═✢

*****

Meanwhile, Cellione and Serineth had finished their training with Alaric for the day, and they were celebrating their recent breakthrough in casting. The two girls, though still young, were becoming more confident with their magic.

He also told them about his recent discovery. But without telling them about the threads or his Divine Heart Core. And also taught them how to talk with him like Aurevia.

They were shocked and amazed again by Alaric's capabilities. But that didn't last long because they had seen him do even more amazing things. And so they returned to their training.

The three of them had spent the last few days focusing on silent casting—the ability to cast spells with intent alone, without incantations. It had been a grueling process, especially for Cellione and Serineth, but their success was undeniable.

On the third day, after two days of failed attempts and mental exhaustion, the two girls had finally succeeded. The happiness that followed was contagious.

Cellione jumped into the air, her blonde hair sparkling in the last light of day as she let out a laugh of pure joy.

Serineth followed, her green hair fluttering in the breeze as she twirled around, her gentle smile lighting up her entire face. The two girls, so different in personality, found something in common in that moment.

They had succeeded where many others, even those far older than them, would have failed. Silent casting—something most considered impossible at their rank—was now part of their skillset. It was only possible because of Alaric's support.

He had given them the mana to fuel their magic, but it was their own mental fortitude that allowed them to push through the exhaustion and find success.

"We did it! We really did it!"

Cellione exclaimed, her voice full of energy as she ran to Serineth and lifted her off the ground in an exuberant hug.

Serineth laughed, her shyness melting away for a brief moment as she wrapped her arms around Cellione.

"I never thought we could do it, but we did!"

The joy between the two girls was palpable. Alaric watched them with a soft smile, his golden eyes reflecting pride in his students.

They had come so far in such a short time. They were growing, becoming stronger, and their bond was only deepening with every training session.

But there was still so much to do. Alaric knew that.

***

Later, as the group returned to their home in Veldroth, they sat together to rest. Alaric had taken the opportunity to test more with his threads, silently observing Aurevia's progress as she ventured deeper into the forest to hunt for [Rank-2] monsters.

His connection to her was stronger than ever, and the distance between them didn't seem to matter anymore.

He could see what she saw, feel what she felt, and provide the energy she needed in moments of need.

His ability to supply mana and sustain their auras and Manas was becoming a reliable source of power, but his true limits were still unknown. It fascinated him.

Could he sustain someone from even farther away? How far could this connection extend? And could he use it with the other two girls in the same way? These questions circled in his mind as he continued his observations, intrigued by the potential of his powers.

***

Later that night, after they had their dinner and was about to go to sleep, Alaric handed Aurevia a spatial ring, a gift from their recent profits.

The ring was a symbol of their progress—a reward for her consistent efforts in hunting and completing missions.

"You've earned this,"

Alaric said, his voice soft but steady.

"It will help with storing your supplies and the spoils of your hunts."

Aurevia took the ring, a slight smile on her lips.

"Thank you, Master,"

She said, her voice quiet yet sincere. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, filled with trust and gratitude. Though her words may have been simple, they carried the weight of everything they had built together in the past days.

The ring alaric gave her maybe a [Low-Grade-Rank-1] Artifact. It's price was immense. 10,000 gold coins. It has a space of 10 cubic metres.

The highest in rank 1 spatial Artifact storage is 100 metres. It price is 1 Million gold coins in the current market. That is too far from the current budget of Alaric but he will get there sooner or later.

Aurevia receiving Artifact of that price genuinely felt happy because of Alaric's trust. Though its not like she can do any thing that harms Alaric any ways. Even so, she knows that Alarics trust in her was genuine.

It didn't matter whether it was because of Alaric's trust in the Slave seal or not. All that matters to her is that he trusted her. And it was enough to make her happy.

***

After that the rooms lights were turned of as they all settle in for the night, the stars overhead, the soft rustling of the trees in the wind, and the quiet sense of purpose that hung in the air.

Though they had made significant progress, they all knew that this was just the beginning. The road ahead would be filled with challenges, but together, they would face it.

And as the night settled over them, the connection between them remained unbroken—a bond forged through trust, power, and the shared journey of growth.

***

THUMP! THUMP!

The trees trembled as thunderous footsteps pounded through the forest floor, shaking loose leaves from high branches.

The dense canopy above Verdant Veils outer perimeter thinned just enough for the mid-morning light to pierce through in fractured rays, casting slivers of gold on the battlefield.

A deafening snarl tore through the clearing. A hulking [Rank-2] monster—its body armored with bark-like chitin, eyes glowing red—reared its head. Around it, more than a dozen subordinate beasts stalked forward, their growls overlapping in a low, unsettling chorus.

High above, nestled in the crook of a broad-branched tree, Alaric lay with one arm folded behind his head. His golden eyes gleamed with quiet clarity.

Thin strands—threads of divine energy only he could see—extended from his chest to the three girls below. They pulsed softly. He exhaled, and the threads shimmered faintly.

"Don't hold back,"

He murmured.

Below, Aurevia stepped forward first, her silver-white hair catching the light like moonlit silk. Frost coiled around her blade as she gripped it tight, eyes narrowing.

She charged, the ground beneath her heels cracking slightly from the force. A flash of blue traced her path.

Her sword arced upward in a trail of cold light —

Shhhk!

—cleaving through the first beast with a freezing slash. Ice webbed across its torso before it shattered into brittle shards.

The other monsters snarled in unison and charged.

"Cellione!"

Serineth cried, voice tight with urgency.

"I've got them!"

Cellione grinned, fire flaring behind her amethyst eyes. She raised both hands—

"Gleaming arrows of light, pierce—"

Vmmm.

A glowing bolt shot forward, striking one beast in the throat. It fell, twitching.

"Shorter!"

Alaric's voice echoed in her mind.

"Use only the core intent."

Cellione's lips curled.

"Alright!"

Her next spell formed with just a breath and a thought—

Fzzt!

—three bolts at once, slamming into their targets with satisfying thunks.

Beside her, Serineth stood still. Her chest rose and fell quickly, sapphire eyes locked on the approaching enemies. Her fingers trembled—but only for a moment. The connection pulsed. Calm.

She whispered.

"Light... come forth."

A soft glow bloomed between her palms. Then—

Crack!

—a burst of force erupted outward, knocking back three beasts at once. She stumbled slightly but stood firm.

"Good,"

Alaric's voice echoed in her, quiet and warm.

"Keep going."

More enemies surged. Aurevia spun mid-strike, frost exploding at her heels. She swept her blade low—

Shhhkk!

—slicing through legs, then drove her pommel into another monster's skull—

Crack!

Ice crept along the beast's spine before it fell limp.

"Left!"

Cellione shouted.

Aurevia turned just in time to parry. Sparks flew—

Clang!

—as her blade met claws. She shoved back, eyes flickering to Serineth, who stood with her arms outstretched, breath shallow.

"I'm fine,"

Serineth said softly, pressing her palms together. A barrier shimmered into life just as another beast lunged—

Thump.

—its weight crashing against her shield.

Alaric watched from above. His threads thrummed like heartbeats—supplying, strengthening, guiding. His expression didn't change, but inside, pride welled.

Frost curled into the grass. Water swirled midair. Light danced like fireflies around the mages. The girls, once uncertain, now moved like flowing river and storm.

One by one, the monsters fell.

The last one reared, roaring defiantly. Aurevia stepped forward without hesitation. Her blade gleamed pale blue.

"Silent ice."

One step. One swing.

Shhhhkk —CRACK!

The beast froze in place. Then shattered.

Silence fell. Only the rustle of wind through the trees remained.

From above, Alaric stretched slightly and sat up, golden hair tousled by the breeze.

"Well done,"

He said, a small smile on his lips. The threads pulsed once more, glowing gently—like warmth passed from one soul to another.

***

The air hung heavy with the scent of scorched earth and frozen blood. Shattered ice glinted beneath the mottled sunlight, and broken bodies of the slain monsters lay scattered across the clearing like fallen statues of primal rage.

Aurevia exhaled, blade lowering, her breath forming faint mist. Her clothes were lightly scuffed, not a single wound visible.

Serineth leaned against a tree, catching her breath, while Cellione wiped a trickle of sweat from her temple with the back of her sleeve.

From the treetop above, leaves rustled lightly as Alaric leapt down, landing without a sound. His robes fluttered around his small frame, golden eyes cool and unreadable.

He walked past the twitching remains of the last beast, threads of golden light retracting gently into his chest, vanishing like mist in sunlight. But the threads remained. He diceded to keep it all the time in case of emergency.

He didn't speak at first. The girls straightened instinctively, Aurevia placing her sword back in its sheath, Cellione and Serineth brushing dust from their skirts.

Alaric stopped before them, head slightly tilted.

"You did well,"

He said softly.

"But only in part."

Serineth flinched.

Cellione blinked, then crossed her arms.

"We won, didn't we?"

"You did,"

Alaric agreed, his tone calm.

"But winning is not the same as fighting correctly."

Aurevia said nothing, watching quietly with a faint nod. She already knew who he meant.

Alaric turned his gaze to Cellione and Serineth.

"Incantations,"

He said plainly.

"Why?"

Cellione opened her mouth.

"I—I thought it would help anchor the spell better. Just this once."

Alaric understood that it was their first time facing so many monsters at once. And that's why they panicked. But mistake was mistake.

"Do you think that your enemies will wait for your voice to finish catching up to your mana?"

Silence.

Serineth lowered her eyes.

"Silent casting isn't a trick,"

He continued.

"It's the difference between life and death when the enemy is faster than you. Which they often are."

He stepped closer, barely coming up to their waists, but his presence wrapped around them with gravity far beyond his size.

"You've done it before. I've seen it."

He looked to Cellione first.

"Why regress now?"

Cellione grit her teeth, glancing aside.

"I—I panicked. The mana rush—"

"And you, Serineth?"

Serineth's voice was barely a whisper.

"I was afraid I'd lose control. The spell was too heavy."

Alaric's expression softened only slightly.

"I don't expect you to be perfect,"

He said, hands folding behind his back.

"But if you fear the power I give you, then you'll never wield it properly. You'll become dependent. Weak."

Serineth looked up, eyes shimmering.

"I don't want to be weak."

"I know,"

He said gently.

"Then learn to trust it. Trust me."

He turned then, looking at the corpses around them.

"From now on, no incantations during group combat. Not unless it's a chant spell and absolutely necessary."

"Yes, Master,"

Both girls said at once.

Aurevia stepped forward, voice quiet but firm.

"I'll make sure they drill it properly during training."

Alaric gave her a small nod.

"Good."

He glanced back at Cellione and Serineth, and this time, there was a flicker of warmth in his gaze.

"You both improved,"

He said.

"Just don't slip. We're past that point."

A faint breeze stirred the trees again. The battle was over, but the lesson lingered in the air, weighty and sharp.

Alaric looked skyward, golden eyes thoughtful.

"Come. It's time we return to Veldroth."

The girls bowed their heads briefly, then moved to gather the monster cores and proof of subjugation. Aurevia retrieved all the corpses in her Spatial Ring.

And above them, in that clearing of frost and blood, the wind carried away the last echoes of the fight.

***

The sun was just beginning to dip behind the canopy as they walked the cobbled path back toward Veldroth, shadows stretching long across the road like weary sentinels.

Aurevia led the group with her usual steady pace, sword at her side, her other hand occasionally brushing against the hilt out of habit. Her expression remained composed, but there was a hint of quiet satisfaction in her stride.

Beside her, Serineth and Cellione chatted in low tones, tired but light-hearted, their robes marked by dust and mana scorch, the afterglow of battle still clinging faintly to their skin.

Alaric walked at the center of the group, silent, his robe catching the faint wind as it fluttered around his ankles. Despite his size and youthful frame, the girls instinctively shaped the formation around him — protective, reverent, unspoken.

They reached the Association before the sky fully darkened. The grand stone building bustled with life as adventurers came and went, some laughing, others limping or grumbling. The air smelled of blood, steel, parchment, and ink.

At the front desk, Aurevia calmly presented the proof and identification tokens, while Serineth and

The receptionist gave a quick appraisal, nodding said

"Efficient work,"

He muttered, stamping their mission reports and crediting their accounts.

"Still working the outer forest,

Aurevia smiled lightly but said nothing.

They left soon after, walking the familiar lantern-lit path toward the outskirts where their modest estate stood — a simple, well-kept home nestled against the rising hills.

By the time they reached the gate, the sky had turned a deep indigo, dotted with the early bloom of stars.

Before they returned they sold all the corpses to the merchant.

Alaric stepped ahead of them, pushing open the front gate. The creak of wood was followed by the soft pad of feet on stone as they entered the quiet courtyard.

"This marks the last time you'll take missions in the outer forest,"

Alaric said softly, eyes still forward.

"You've outgrown it."

The girls stilled behind him.

"After a few days' rest, we'll begin training for the inner forest,"

He continued.

"You'll encounter [Rank-2] beasts regularly. You must be prepared."

Aurevia's eyes glinted with quiet resolve.

"We'll be ready, Master."

Serineth and Cellione shared a glance, then both nodded firmly.

He turned then, golden eyes faintly glowing beneath the starlight.

"No hesitation. No incantations."

"Yes, Master,"

They answered in unison.

The door closed behind them with a soft click. Warm lamplight flickered through the windows as the night settled over Veldroth — peaceful for now, but with the promise of storms stirring just beyond the trees.

It has already been few months. Many things happened in between. He got (Bought) three beautiful companions.

Although he hadn't made many connections but their party's fame slowly spreading in Veldroth was undeniable.

He thought of the pull he felt when he first arrived. He still feels it time to time. But as he gets closer to the core forest it only becomes stronger.

After few days when he will venture into the Inner Forest , he will be one steep closer to uncovering the secrets of the pull he feels from the depth of the forest.

-To Be Continued

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