novelzi Chapter 69 – Contracts Signed – Part 1
Chapter 69 – Contracts Signed – Part 1
A few minutes later, Sokram and his family, alongside his Master, arrived back at his estate.Sokram glanced at his Master, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
He understood her intentions clearly: if she hadn’t intervened, the Armfrosts would have continued their probing until they inevitably unearthed the secrets Sokram and his family held.
Such a situation could easily escalate into a larger confrontation, one that would undeniably weaken Eversnow.
And with the Armfrosts being followers of Mentyr, the Lady of unspoken secrets, Knower of the Unknown, it would only have been a matter of time before the knowledge of Chaos Energy cultivation fell into their hands as well.
Sokram sank into the comfort of the living room couch.
His mothers, sister, and grandmothers settled around him, discussing the recent events.
The warmth of his home and their lively chat was a balm to his soul. Despite the worries that plagued them, Leona's gift meant his plans would move forward sooner rather than later.
“You could’ve given me a heads-up, Master. That was quite the fright,” Sokram remarked, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. His voice silenced the others.
Leona grinned back, a playful glint in her eye.
“Well, I was curious to see how you would act caught off-guard. Color me impressed, kiddo.” She punctuated her words with a wink.
Margiory, however, frowned slightly. “You were supposed to keep his secrets.”
Leona nodded, acknowledging her worries. “True, and neither I nor my wife broke any Oaths.
But once they saw my cultivation spiking, and then Cecille’s and our girls' cultivations growing exponentially, it became inevitable.
Then came your cultivations resetting repeatedly over a span shorter than ten years… They started connecting the dots.”
Leona's gaze met Margiory’s, unapologetic. “You should protect his secrets better, too.”
“Sigh…” Sokram scratched the back of his head.
He had already anticipated that their rapid growth in power would attract unwelcome attention from those around them.
This was another reason Sokram had developed the cultivation methods for the other fused energies; even though he didn't teach Leona, they would serve as a temporary decoy, a less sensitive explanation for the surge in power.
“Well, it will be better for Eversnow if at least the founding families can benefit from this knowledge. Should we hold an auction? Nah, it’s better to wait for the bears to seek the honey.” Sokram mused aloud, his gaze settling on his family members.
Hannah nodded in agreement. “Wise. There’s no need to seek them out. Because they will definitely connect this discovery to me rather than you.”
Sokram knew this to be true, and a wave of guilt washed over him. “Sorry, Nana, for making you bear so many of our burdens. I promise, one day, I’ll find a safe way for you to cultivate Chaos Energy too.”
Hannah’s expression softened, seeing the genuine worry in his eyes.
She approached him and gently ran her hand through his hair, meeting his gaze with warmth.
“I’m happy to be the one you count on, darling. Just focus on getting strong first, alright? Besides, I still have at least another five thousand years of youth, even if I stagnate, we have time.”
Sokram nodded, but Hannah could see clearly that he wasn’t entirely satisfied with that answer.
Not just her, but all of them knew that once Sokram set his mind to something, he would inevitably find a way to achieve it.
Besides, this understanding was also a driving force behind Margiory and Brunhild’s avid cultivation; they didn’t want to continue relying solely on Hannah, Miralyn, and Alain for the family’s protection.
The week passed in a blur of strategy.
Sokram’s deal with Figos and Oliver began to bear fruit, and its success was significantly amplified after his public announcement as Lady Androny’s successor.
Sokram was still adjusting to the level of attention he now received in Eversnow.
In his previous timeline, the fame he had acquired only came after he was well over a hundred years old, and it was a reputation born of fear rather than admiration.
Now, wherever he went, he could feel the weight of people’s gazes upon him, carrying a mix of curiosity, awe, and unspoken expectations.
His deal with the Goldenmane and Greyfur clans also progressed smoothly.
Each of their family heads formally requested that Sokram provide them with a demonstration of the guided cultivation techniques tailored for tamed beasts.
They agreed to hold the demonstration at the South Gates Stable.
Sokram, however, was caught completely by surprise when they arrived, not just with their elders and retinue, but with their personal mounts.
The crisp morning air at the South Gate was thick with the scent of straw, beast sweat, and distant forge smoke.
Even the wind carried the charged tension of powerhouses gathered to judge a teenager’s promise.
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Lazar, the Goldenmane family’s leader and a Tier 10 Exalted powerhouse, stood apart even among Lion-kin.he same, perhaps even worse, in their position.
Regaining his collected demeanor, Sokram asked, “So, who wants to go first?”
The two family heads exchanged glances.
Lazar nodded towards Kanami. “Well, ladies first.”
Kanami’s eyes immediately narrowed, staring daggers at Lazar.
Kanami’s tail bristled, her gray fur standing on end like a storm cloud. "Chivalry, really?" she scoffed.
Her lip curled, revealing a flash of fang. "I am no damsel to be coddled," she snapped.
Sokram watched the scene with a raised brow.
“Calm down, Kanami,” Lazar said, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness, though a spark of amusement danced in his eyes.
“I was just trying to be polite, but since you don’t know how to take courtesy, my Mare will go first.”
But as Lazar finished speaking, he failed to completely conceal a brief, knowing grin.
Because, contrary to Sokram’s initial thought, Lazar had brought his personal Mare not solely as a test, but as a genuine sign of trust, mainly due to Leona’s strong personal vouching for Sokram.
Lazar stepped forward, his expression shifting to one of deep affection as he looked at the Mare.
“Young dragon, little Leona vouched for you and your techniques, and since Kanami allowed me to go first, please treat that Mare with care. She was born to my previous Mare, which was also born to the one before her. I’m tired of saying goodbye to such loyal steeds.”
Lazar’s tone was trusty and undisguised. Open even.
It was easy to see, simply from the gentle way he caressed the Mare’s neck as he walked towards the paddock, how much he cared for her.
“What is her name?” Sokram asked, his voice soft.
“Fira, in homage to the Mystic of the First Fire,” Lazar replied with pride, continuing to stroke Fira’s neck.
“The first nymph, hm?” Sokram nodded, recalling the ancient tales of creation, "Fira, Natura's firstborn, with Magnus, the Original Dragon, firstborn of Nhiria."
With each step, the tension in his shoulders eased by increments.
The Mare’s fiery aura licked at his skin, yet he moved deliberately, letting instinct guide him until his breath matched hers.
Fira’s hooves struck the packed earth like hammer blows, her breath a rhythmic hiss of steam.
Lazar began to issue a warning, “Be careful, she is quite wary of...”
But before he could finish, Sokram had already reached the Mare.
Gently, he extended a hand and placed his forehead against Fira’s; his palm met her neck.
The heat of her fire-imbued blood seeped into his skin through the soft texture of her hide.
For a moment, the paddock fell silent, just the crackle from the intense heat radiating from Fira's hooves impacting the straw, and the hiss of her breath fogging the crisp morning air.
“Good girl,” Sokram murmured softly.
As he made contact, he subtly used his Elemental Control ability, emitting a level of heat precisely matching the Mare’s body temperature.
He knew his touch, naturally cooler than her fire-aligned form, would feel cold and jarring.
This discomfort could easily make Fira wary, even hostile, of his presence. Lazar, witnessing this seemingly effortless connection, was visibly impressed and slightly taken aback.