Evolution of the Ruined Heir

Chapter 356: Greetings

That night, Malakai discovered something thrilling and also frightening.

He had swallowed a grade three vita core and had felt the vita almost rip his body apart. Luckily, like earlier, the life essence acted just in time and sucked away the raging vita.

As this occurred, Malakai felt a shift. It was subtle, but he had felt it either way. Somehow, he knew the life essence had just gotten stronger.

Its emotions had gotten more… defined. Now Malakai could feel its hunger. It wanted more vita.

’Relax.’ He thought, trying to calm it down. He was glad to see it worked. The raging emotions simmered down until it fell completely still.

’I hope this won’t become a problem in the future.’

The life essence’s emotion had almost overwhelmed him just now. If he kept on feeding it vita, wouldn’t it grow to overpower him?

’I have to observe it carefully.’

Malakai had only just discovered this part of the life essence. Though he knew it could practically read his mind, what other place did he have asides his mind?

He ended his experiment there. After all, he’d run out of vita stones. Without anything else to do, he slept.

…

Morning came quickly. Like clockwork, Malakai was up before dawn, training.

Right now, his vita absorption rate was off the charts. But the amount of vita he needed to absorb to reach the bloom rank was just that insane. It was many times what others would normally need.

A knock broke him out of his trance.

“Breakfast, Malakai.” Renlo announced and walked away. To inform the others, Malakai assumed.

The call made him realize just how out of it he’d been. Though he was training, Malakai’s mind couldn’t stop thinking about the growing life essence.

On an optimistic level, it could be good. But Malakai had never been one to rely on optimism before. Always expect the worst to happen, and you won’t be surprised.

Still, he got off the bed and freshened up before moving toward the dining room. Somehow, today, Malakai couldn’t help but feel a bit… tense. He had no idea why.

“Finally!” Renlo bellowed as he entered, gesturing for him to quickly take his seat. “I made something extra special today. We can’t let it get cold!”

“Special?” Malakai raised an eyebrow as he took his seat. He glanced at the others, whose eyes seemed to bore into the food. A trail of drools streamed down their mouths.

They sat down the moment he gave the word, all eyes fixed on him, as though begging him to open the food already.

Malakai also couldn’t calm his beating heart. The fact that Renlo had said something special meant that this should be better than all he’d made so far, right?

Malakai shuddered at the thought. He fixed his eyes on the covered food sprawled across the table.

With a deep breath, Malakai reached forward and opened the largest dish.

A hot wave surged upward, fogging the air with steam. The aroma struck him like a punch. His mouth watered.

He blinked, almost dazed, before his eyes fell on the food itself.

It was a colossal rack of ribs, glazed in a dark crimson sauce. Beneath it was a bed of roasted vegetables, golden potatoes, charred peppers, and onions that had caramelized.

His stomach growled loud enough for the others to hear.

But Renlo wasn’t done. Malakai moved to the next dish, pulling back the cover, and the room was instantly drowned in another wave of scent.

The third dish nearly undid him. He lifted the cover to reveal a thick stew, bubbling even now, with chunks of tender meat swimming in a deep red broth.

“Renlo…” His voice was low. “How did you make all this…”

Renlo shrugged with a grin. “I read a book.”

The eyes on the table almost popped wide. Even the best of the best, people who called themselves culinary experts, couldn’t make a dish like this.

This was talent.

Malakai dug in, and as expected, the food seemed to explode in his mouth. The room was soon filled with the satisfied hum of Malakai and the others.

As they ate, Malakai was once again glad to be able to enjoy such moments.

…

The meal ended, and as they began clearing the table, Malakai felt a presence approaching the manor.

’Two.’

He turned and saw that Nyx was already staring at him. He nodded, and they both vanished from the kitchen without another word.

Malakai appeared outside the manor, with Nyx standing beside him. Their eyes narrowed on the two figures approaching them.

The instant Malakai saw who they were, he visibly relaxed.

“They’re instructors at the training camp. I know them.” He whispered to Nyx, who quickly nodded.

’Grinner and Youn.’ Malakai thought to himself. He couldn’t have forgotten them so quickly, especially when only a small time had gone since he saw them.

’What do they want?’

They had been nice and somewhat supportive to him during his training period. But he wasn’t as naïve to believe that intentions couldn’t change at a moment’s notice.

Grinner was the head instructor of the training camp. And Youn had been the instructor of the darkness creature discipline.

“Ninth vein.”

“Ninth vein.”

They greeted with deep bows the moment they reached him. Malakai studied them.

“It’s been a while.” He said evenly, “To what do I owe this visit?”

No answer came for a moment. Grinner and Youn stood, both staring at Malakai with wide eyes.

’He grew this powerful?’ Grinner shuddered at the thought. Youn was no different.

Weeks, only mere weeks had passed! And yet, they felt a threat like no other emanating from Malakai.

Grinner snapped out of his thoughts at Malakai’s piercing stare. “W-we’ve only come to pay our respects, ninth vein.”

“Y-yes.” Youn agreed. They both tried to calm their beating hearts.

Malakai raised an eyebrow. Just for that?

He nodded after a second. Afterwards, the meeting was brief. They asked a few casual questions to which Malakai responded succinctly before excusing themselves.

Malakai was a bit baffled at the visit. He really didn’t see any point to it.

’No.’ He shook his head. That was a layman’s thought.

To someone more perceptive, the meeting signified something else.

’Loyalty.’ Malakai’s eyes flashed.