Ashen Ascension: The Divided Flame-Chapter 67: Nara’s Offering

Ivor continued guiding the mana through his channels according to the diagram for a while longer, not to activate the skill, but to understand its structure. The flow pattern was unfamiliar, branching through six specific nodes that he had not yet fully attuned. Without those nodes stabilized, attempting to execute it would be reckless. He let the circulation slow and then return to its natural rhythm, committing the pathway to memory rather than forcing it.

He still intended to wait for the skills Nara had promised to bring. When those arrived, he would compare them carefully before committing his nodes. Attunement was permanent. There would be no undoing that decision.

Reaching into his bag, he pulled out another mana crystal. The faint glow reflected in his eyes as he settled into a steady posture. Tonight, he would complete the attunement of one more mana node.

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Ivor woke up after a short sleep. He wasn’t rested, but his body was used to discomfort. The branch was hard, and he was cold. Instead of moving, he closed his eyes and focused inward.

The mana circuit quickly responded. Out of all the 108 nodes, one node glowed faintly, a subtle but real change that eased the tension he hadn’t realized he held. He had successfully attuned one mana node.

He had wasted six more raw crystals to finish that one node. He stopped early and discarded the worst of the low-grade, dirty crystals to protect his core. It was annoying to lose resources, but keeping his foundation sound was more important than using damaged materials.

He woke up and looked at the sky through the trees. The sun was up, and the light was no longer dim. Morning was now warm but still chilly in the Scar. Ivor calmly climbed down, hid his presence as usual, and headed toward the clearing where he was meeting Nara.

He avoided the main roads. He went around places where kids and skeletons gathered, using short bursts of his Soul Sense so he wouldn’t get tired and make mistakes. As he got closer, he focused more on noise and movement. He was prepared for trouble, even though he didn’t want it.

When he reached the clearing, he found Nara already there.

Nara sat by a tree with a huge, bulging bag. When he saw Ivor, he stood up quickly, like he was expecting him.

Ivor stopped at the edge of the clearing, ready to retreat to the trees. He gripped his sword, sensing a change in Nara. It wasn’t physical; it was in the eyes. Nara’s look was now more controlled and showed a new respect, unlike their earlier talks.

Nara gave a short smile that didn’t quite reach his face.

"I thought you would not be coming," he said. "I have bought things as per our deal."

Ivor didn’t answer. He didn’t step closer either. He watched Nara’s hands.

Nara didn’t mind the attitude that Ivor was giving. He bent down, opened the bag, and took out folded black clothes. The fabric seemed thicker than what most trainees wore, with neat stitching and strong seams. A small, dark, official-looking emblem was on the chest.

"This is the official clothing for us, the Vladiric awakened kids, " Nara said. "It might not be exactly your fit but I think it is better than walking in torn pants."

Finally, Ivor closed the distance between them and took the clothes, felt its weight, and put it down without saying anything.

Nara then pulled out a large box from the bag. When he opened it, Ivor instantly smelled real food: meat, portioned rice, and wrapped fruit. Some of the fruit had a soft, visible glow.

"All of this is mana infused food," Nara said. "Especially the fruits. This whole box of food will sustain you for the entire week ," Nara said. "If you keep eating it for two weeks, your thin body will become muscular, like ours."

Ivor felt a sharp increase in hunger. Since his "beast awakening," his body constantly demanded food and made him suffer when it didn’t get it. He controlled his breathing and didn’t reach for the box, not wanting Nara to see his impulse.

Nara set the fruit back into the box and closed the lid. He pulled out a water container next, simple and durable, and handed it over.

"Should work for 3 days," he said.

Ivor accepted it and set it with the clothes, still watching Nara’s hands. Nara spread out a detailed map on the ground.

"This is the map of this scar," Nara said. Ivor leaned closer to look.

Nara explained, "This Scar has three layers. We are on the first part of the first layer."

He pointed to two circles. "These are freshwater lakes where you can get water."

He then traced a route toward a darker area with symbols showing caves.

"In the second layer, there are caves," Nara said. "Mana fruits are present there. More pure than the mana crystal."

Ivor’s gaze sharpened.

Nara continued without slowing. "Overall there are three unique locations in the second layer, two in the final layer and two in the first layer where unique treasure of this scar exists."

He tapped the deepest part of the map, where the lines tightened and the markings became sparse and severe.

"The final layer has the boss," Nara said. "Strength close to someone with twenty-four attuned nodes, right before the next stage after awakening."

Ivor studied the markings. He didn’t ask what the boss was. He was not strong enough for that yet.

Nara rolled the map back up and set it aside before reaching into his bag again. This time, when he withdrew his hand, he brought out a carefully wrapped bundle of scrolls tied with dark cord. He untied them slowly and laid them out between them on the ground, arranging them in a neat row.

"There are seven," he said, his tone measured. "All of them are intermediate-tier skill scrolls, and not the diluted versions that circulate in the inner district. These are Core District standard."

Ivor’s eyes moved over the parchment.

Nara rested his hand lightly on the scrolls. "Among these are offensive, defensive, movement, sensory refinement method, and miscellaneous skills. Each serves a different purpose, and none of them are meant to be chosen lightly. You don’t have enough attuned nodes to afford a careless decision. Once you lock your nodes into a skill, there is no reversing it. So read them properly. Think about what you actually lack, not what appears impressive at first glance."

He nudged the scrolls closer.

Ivor nodded and Nara then pulled out two books: one plain, one thick and reinforced.

"This one is economics of Phelios," Nara said, holding up the first. "Currency, tokens, how things are valued, how exchanges work."

Then he lifted the second.

"This is a side profession," he said. "Forging, refining, alchemy basics, how people make money besides fighting. How families use these professions for power."

He placed both books down, then straightened and looked at Ivor directly.

"All this is much more expensive than the amount of mana token I am asking from you for Lily," Nara said. "This is a beneficial deal for you."

Ivor was silent for a while, suspicious of the good offer. He finally asked, "Why not sell it to someone else?"

Nara hesitated slightly, then repeated his limited answer: "I can’t, for personal reasons. This is my own collection, and I’m offering it as part of our deal."

Ivor didn’t push. He cared more about whether Nara’s situation hid a trap than why he couldn’t sell.

Nara, sensing Ivor’s doubt, continued, "Don’t worry. These skills are top-notch, even for the Core layer, and the book’s knowledge is excellent."

Ivor studied him coldly. He felt a shift, Nara was trying to impress. Nara drew a breath, then shifted his posture, shoulders squaring as if he had decided to stop circling and speak plainly.

"I want to form a partnership with you," Nara said. "A proper one. Where we help each other out in the scar."

He lifted his hand, palm open, offering a handshake.

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Alright, after this I’ll be dropping 25 Chapters unedited and in random order just to fill the count for now. If the title says [Unedited Chapter – Do Not Open], please don’t open it.

I should be done editing them in about 10 hours or so. You can read them after that. Thanks for your understanding.