Dual Awakening: Elemental and Beast Transformation Paths

The expression of deep shock blossomed on her face after hearing his question.

’Follow him to Delvia Town and join an organization together?’

At this moment, she was both happy and sad.

She was delighted because he treated their promise as something precious, and she was feeling sad because she would be separated from her mother if she followed him.

Sure, her future was important because it would decide whether she would become someone respected or despised.

But at the same time, her mother was no less important because she was her only family in this world. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

And between her future and her mother, she couldn’t bring herself to choose one of them because they both meant everything to her.

’What should I do?’

She needed her mother’s help to make a decision, but she was not there with them.

When he saw her troubled expression, Ren immediately said, "Forget it. Just pretend I never said anything."

Elara glanced at him before finally lowering her gaze.

Once they returned to their room, she could not sleep immediately because his words kept ringing in her head.

She thought about the advantages and disadvantages carefully, but the results were still the same because it was not something she could decide on her own.

’I will ask mother about this tomorrow.’

With that thought, she lay on the bed and slept.

----

The following morning, Ren and Elara went to the training ground to master their innate abilities.

Since they had grasped the essence of their skills, they made significant progress in their practice.

At 04:30 pm, Elera went home.

She saw her mother sitting on the swing when she arrived.

She sat on the other one and turned to her mother. "Mother..."

She opened her mouth, but closed it in the next second.

For some reason, the words were stuck in her throat.

"Hmm? What’s wrong? Did you have trouble mastering your innate abilities?" Aveline asked softly.

"No," Elara replied. "It’s...about Ren."

"Ren?" Aveline was a little surprised. "Did you two quarrel earlier?"

Elara shook her head once more. "Last night... he... he asked me to come to Delvia Town with him and join an organization together."

"I see." Aveline finally understood everything. "So, what was your reply?"

"Before I could respond, he suddenly told me to forget it and pretend he never said anything." Elara also had no idea as to why he suddenly changed his mind.

Aveline touched her chin. "Did you not answer immediately?"

Elara nodded.

Aveline finally knew the reason behind his behavior. Of course, she didn’t blame her daughter because it was not something that could be decided quickly.

"Elara, do you want to follow him?" Aveline asked.

Elara didn’t answer and only lowered her gaze.

"Let me guess. You want to go with him, but you don’t want to be separated from me. Am I right?" Aveline could tell what her daughter was feeling from her expression alone.

"Yes," Elara replied in a low voice.

Aveline’s lips curled up into a smile. "Then, just follow him."

Elara turned her attention back to her mother and put on a hesitant expression. "But..."

"Elara, you will have a better future in Delvia Town," Aveline said. "I’m not going anywhere. I will be here. If you miss me, you can always return home and see me. Don’t you want to be a powerful awakener?"

Actually, she didn’t want to be apart from her daughter either, but she couldn’t be selfish because forbidding her would be the same as stopping her from chasing her dream.

Elara’s desire to follow Ren grew stronger, but a part of her still couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her mother because she had never been away from her before.

Just as Aveline was about to say something, five people stepped into the front yard. They were Ren, Alaric, Sofia, Darian, and Hayden.

"Hmm?" Aveline shifted her gaze when she noticed them.

When they were in front of her, Sofia said politely, "Village Head, we have come to report on the village’s current status."

Aveline nodded slightly. "Alright. Let me hear it."

Sofia started with the progress of their younger mages, followed by Alaric, who spoke about the shifters.

Darian then reported on those who had yet to undergo awakening, and Hayden ended it with an update on the village’s security.

Aveline was thrilled with the reports because everything was progressing well. "That’s good. You’ve all done well."

"Thank you, Village Head. We will continue to do our best," Sofia and the others said in unison.

Aveline shifted her attention to Ren and spoke, "Ren, Elara said you invited her to come to Delvia Town with you and join an organization together last night. Have you still not changed your mind?"

Sofia and the others turned to Ren in shock.

’What?!’

They knew he had a good relationship with Elara, but they had never expected him to ask her to live with him.

"Mo...mother..." Elara’s expression instantly changed because she didn’t expect her mother to mention it when Sofia and the others were still around.

"Yes," Ren answered calmly. "We’ve promised to make our dreams come true, so I want us to become stronger together. But I won’t force her if she refuses."

Darian wrapped his arm around Ren’s neck and grinned widely. "What is this? Are you indirectly proposing to her? Haha."

"You are so bold, Ren! But a man must never lie with his feelings!" Alaric gave a thumbs up.

"What a brave young man!" Sofia giggled softly.

They were teasing Ren, yet it was Elara who felt shy, as if their words were directed at her instead.

Aveline returned her attention to her daughter and said, "Elara, you didn’t give him an answer last night. Now that he is in front of you, tell him your decision."

"Ren, I..." Elara stopped her words halfway and glanced at her mother.

’Mother supports me to follow him, so I must not hesitate anymore.’

She finally made up her mind.

Elara rose to her feet and looked into his eyes. "I will come with you."

Ren’s lips curled up into a smile. "Great!"

"Congratulations, Ren. She finally accepts your proposal!" Darian slapped him on the back as he laughed loudly. "So, should we hold a wedding before we send you to Delvia Town? Haha."

The corner of Ren’s lips twitched while Elara’s face turned red like a tomato.

"Village head, are you really going to leave your daughter in his hands?" Hayden asked.

"I believe Ren won’t harm my daughter," Aveline replied calmly.

"But..." Hayden didn’t understand her train of thought.

Sure, he had been behaving well since he came to their village, but people could change at any moment.

A good man today could become a devil tomorrow.

He didn’t want something bad to happen to Elara, so he tried to make Aveline reconsider her decision because this was related to the future of her daughter.

No!

This was related to the future of their village because Elara was their future pillar.

Ren slowly turned his gaze to Hayden.

He was neither angry nor annoyed by Hayden’s behavior because it was normal to have that kind of reaction.

After all, they had only known each other for less than a month, so suddenly entrusting Elara’s life to him seemed absurd to any normal person.

"I know I’m not perfect or strong, but I promise to protect her with my life on the line." Ren tried to convince Hayden that he would never harm her or let anyone hurt her.

"That’s not enough, Ren." Hayden shook his head. "Let’s say you can convince us, but what about the other villagers? You should know by now that Elara is important to us. She is our future."

At this moment, Darian suddenly had an idea. "How about he makes a blood oath?"

"A blood oath?" Several memories flashed through his mind the moment Ren heard it.

A Blood Oath was a vow bound by magic.

If the one who made the oath broke their word, their blood would dry up, and lightning would strike them to death.

Normally, it was only used for extremely important things, and all awakeners avoided it at all costs if they could because once they broke their promise, they were guaranteed to die.

Aveline was startled by Darian’s idea, but she said nothing and only turned to Ren.

"Good idea!" Hayden agreed instantly because this way, Ren could not harm Elara forever.

Elara silently looked at Ren.

She didn’t want him to make a blood oath, but she didn’t say a single word because a part of her wanted to know what his answer would be.

Darian turned to Ren and asked, "How is it, Ren? Are you willing to make a blood oath?"