Chapter 12: The Horsts

Melinda had always been familiar with her body so it was impossible to miss the foreign essence, a quick scan of her body revealed the foreign essence in her body. She looked up at the blue eyed culprit who smiled sheepishly at her

"It's not much" Hal said, able to understand her unspoken thoughts but Melinda was already refining the essence and Hal could freely enjoy the sight of her naked body

Boom!!

Melinda opened her eyes smiling wildly "I've been stuck at a bottleneck for months"

'Your little drop capped her months of effort and you get the credit? You are incredibly lucky' grimoire told Hal

'No, my luck is getting better, let's hope it stays that way'

"What realm are you now?"

"Cosmic pearl realm late stage" Melinda said grinning ear to ear

Hal was surprised, in salmon city, cosmic pearl realm which came after the energy sensing realm marked the city's true elites.

"Wow, what happened to you?" Melinda asked tracing Hal's muscled chest

"Do you like it?"

Melinda nodded "How did it happen so fast?"

"Same way I was able to take your essence and give you mine. Through a unique bloodline"

"You have a unique bloodline and you just readily share it with me?"

Known bloodline status are; ordinary, unique, special and royal bloodlines. Ordinary bloodlines are incredibly rare while unique bloodlines probably can't be found on this part of the continent, if it was known hal could be hunted and killed before he was strong enough.

Hal of course did not know what status his bloodline was, but he did not expect it to be lower than unique status.

"We already have a strong bond and besides I wish to be able to trust someone, who better than a psychopath like you"

"Oh Hal, you always know what to say" she kissed him and eventually things began to heat up, hal would have loved to go on, however, he couldn't be late to meet master Master Swanson.

...

HORST MANOR

At the Horst dining table, a brown haired middle aged man who sat at the head of the table was trying to talk some sense into his mule of a son.

"Frank, you have to stop harassing master Swanson" Ford Horst told his son

"Father, I have to do it. My life depends on it" Frank had no intention of giving in

"No, you don't. That woman lied to you and soothsaying does not exist" Amelia chimed in while her mother looked bored

The Horst patriarch did not like how breakfast was going so far, his son was not letting up on an idea put in his brain by a con artist, and his daughter who was only home for a few months did not seem to be enjoying her stay, his wife was 'stressed' as well.

"And besides master Swanson is only the best in salmon city, outside of this city there are much better rune-masters and even they won't claim to be the best" Amelia reasoned

"But she specialized, she said and I quote 'You will die in a month unless you enter the service of the strongest rune-master IN salmon city' who could possibly be stronger than master Swanson" Frank looked at the three expectantly knowing he could not return to master Swanson and hoping they had another suggestion.

Amelia inwardly shook her head at her brother's ignorance, they had ties to the Flaming lotus sect, one of the top ten sects on the Haron continent, Their geniuses also gained the opportunity to join the royal academy. Even her master with all her extensive knowledge believes soothsaying to be more fable than real.

Amelia cast a furtive glance towards her mother wishing she would step in. Emily caught her eye and sighed.

Amelia looked like her mother while frank looked like Ford. However, while Amelia still had the vibrance of youth and soft curves, Emily was mature with womanly curves that had stood the test of time.

"Mom, say something"

"Frank, you are not going to die, now stop making a fuss and let us eat in silence" Frank did not have the guts to talk anymore.

To the outside world, Ford Horst was a powerful man, however those in the Horst family inner circle knew who really held the power in the family and it was Emily, she had a powerful background and even Ford did not know why she decided to settle in salmon city with him. As for their 'marriage'? It was okay and he could not, he literally could not ask for more.

Amelia stood up and made to leave

"Where are you off to, young lady?" her mother asked in a falsely offhand tone

"Sightseeing" Amelia waved her hand. She was only home from the sect for 3 months, she planned to spend that time wisely.