Chapter 336: Half-Spirit (P-2)

Even more intense were the exchanged glances among everyone present in the wide room. All the women in the group waited in silence, awaiting the Dryad’s answers.

The atmosphere in the throne room became very tense and cold.

Helen’s hostility was still present. But now it was mixed with a lot of curiosity about the magical revelations. From the expression of confusion on the faces of each of the outsiders, an important detail was evident.

Not even the group of human heroes was aware of what she would say next.

Alina clenched her fists on her clothes with evident frustration at being ignored.

William remained silent, glancing sideways at his mercenary companion with many doubts.

Iris looked very nervous to learn the details about her own magical nature.

This led Ryan to think quickly from the height of his stone seat.

’Everything related to the truth of the spirits must be very well-guarded information within the Church. It surely was not allowed to be told to humans at all. Hiding vital information is typical of religious organizations in this world,’ reasoned the king of Kowarre.

Suddenly, the crunch of heavy boots stepping on the snow caught the attention of some.

The sound of footsteps on the remnants of broken wood broke the accumulated tension in the room.

Finally, Delia re-entered the throne room.

She walked with slow steps through the same door she had been violently thrown through a few minutes ago.

"Wait, I also want to know," Delia said in a tired tone of voice.

The heroine approached her group of companions, walking toward the center of the thick carpet.

On her way, she walked very close to Lise’s side.

The dragoness barely gave her a cold sideways glance, as if the human were just a minor annoyance in her field of vision.

But Lise did not move from her defensive position at the entrance, letting the guest return to the meeting on her own.

The rest of the people in the hall ignored her completely.

No one gave any importance to the arrival of the injured woman.

There was no mocking from Mirian nor complaints from Helen regarding the interruption.

Everyone stood there static, just to pay full attention to the words of the luminous Dryad.

The Dryad glanced sideways at Delia as the heroine stood beside William.

Then, after seeing that the human guests were finally gathered, Nadira spoke again.

She focused her bright gaze directly on the king of the Kowarre nation.

"Well, those conditions I am talking about are very rare," the Dryad began to explain.

"The first condition is that a child, from birth up to five years of age, is recognized by a spirit. And then that spirit fuses with the infant’s essence."

Karol leaned slightly forward. The mage was listening to every detail with great attention, analyzing the entity’s words.

"That causes a hybridization in the body and soul of the child. But the deity of this world made sure that never happened. In this world, all humans compatible with a spirit acquire a system," the green-haired woman clarified.

Ryan’s girls exchanged doubtful looks at the sudden mention of the deity.

’So the famous system replaces that spiritual fusion. I suppose the deity prefers to control people with levels instead of letting them fuse freely,’ Ryan concluded in his mind.

"Then, there is the other way," the Dryad said, raising her hand of light.

"And it is the one I am sure happened with Iris, and with that woman," she said.

The entity pointed to the human mercenary and then to the elite archer with her gaze.

"I suppose that a couple of ancient spirits fell in love with certain humans," Nadira explained calmly.

"And as a result of that relationship, these two half-spirits were born."

A murmur of surprise was heard among the outsiders in the center of the hall.

Alina covered her mouth with one hand, looking truly thoughtful about the hidden origin of the two women.

William frowned; he seemed not to understand how something like that could be kept hidden for so long.

"But how is it possible for a spirit to reproduce that way?" Karol questioned aloud.

The mage broke the silence of her group, unable to understand the biology behind that magical union.

"That is easy to explain," Nadira answered, turning her illuminated face toward Karol.

"We spirits could live eternally. And sometimes we get curious to know what other races are doing around us," the Dryad explained.

"We want to know how they live, how they behave. That interest can create a certain attachment in you, something very similar to what humans call love."

Delia snorted at the simple idea of love between species, looking a bit bored by the romantic side of the story.

"Nothing prevents us from taking the form we want. And as a consequence, the father of these two women must be a spirit," the Dryad stated with total certainty in her words.

Although it was a highly repeated and surprising topic, Mirian, after processing it, took it very naturally. The archer remained standing near the throne, assimilating the strange truth about her own father.

She did not get upset or panic in front of the guests from Varvylon.

She did not react coldly, but not because she didn’t care about her blood or family origin.

It was just that she had already decided her priorities in life a long time ago. For Mirian, the most important thing was Ryan and her duty as one of his most lethal warriors. And with that firmly in mind, she looked at the Dryad with indifference and then turned her head toward her lord.

"I don’t care if I am a human, a spirit, or a demon," Mirian said in a very firm voice.

"My decisions and my actions will not change because of something like this," the archer declared.

Beatrice nodded slightly in complete silence.

The user of darkness manifestation approved of her companion’s unwavering resolution.

Alicia, from her corner, maintained her professional posture, but felt a deep respect for the archer’s words.

Ryan looked at her from his stone throne.

He didn’t show any smile on his inscrutable face, but he greatly appreciated that blind loyalty.

Karol, setting aside old family matters, resumed the conversation in the room.

"Many spirits are not that strong," Karol recalled, gently tapping the tip of her staff against the floor.

"But their power swiftly attacks the soul. They are not like the physical blows we deliver," the mage explained, analyzing the real magical capabilities.

"Could Iris and Mirian do the same?" Karol asked.

"Naturally, they can," the Dryad answered without hesitating.

"And that woman is already an SS-rank on her own," Nadira pointed toward Mirian.

"So, imagine the danger she will represent if she manages to also master her spirit power." The Dryad gave a clear warning about the girl’s destructive potential.

That comment made Helen cross her arms with some envy. The swordswoman didn’t like the idea of her friend becoming even more powerful than her.

Chloe felt a slight shiver down her back.

She realized that the demon king was gathering a group of warriors with a very terrifying potential.

The Dryad took a short pause in her explanation.

Her bright green aura fluctuated unsteadily in the cold air of the hall.

"I cannot stay here any longer," Nadira warned, looking at William.

"So now tell them the reason for our visit," the spirit concluded, changing the central topic of the meeting.