The Bookkeeper-Chapter 147: Devil of the Moment

[The marks on your body aren't random, Papa,] Ash's voice drifted through Raiden's consciousness as she demonstrated how to bend darkness into weaponized forms.

Raiden glanced at her with a puzzled expression as this felt more complex than the usual rituals he knew. He stood in the darkness on the green grass, adjusting his stance as he visualized an odachi sword.

"The lines are there to fill your entire body with darkness, Papa." Ash transformed as she spoke. Dark lines spread across his hands, neck and forehead, while her white hair became smoking white and fluffy.

"This is the first moon dragon form," she shrugged her shoulders as her pale skin began to glow more like the moon while she gestured her hand and a cup entirely made of darkness appeared.

"The darkness becomes yours once you're in it, and with enough mana you can shape it into whatever you want."

Raiden glanced at her, his cloudy white hair drifting in the darkness, wondering how she made it appear so effortless.

He closed his eyes and began to visualize it again.

[Don't just visualize it, Papa.] Ash's voice echoed in his mind. [Make it appear… command it.]

Raiden nodded firmly and eased his mind, then chose to use words, commanding the darkness to recreate his previous odachi sword.

At that very moment, Ash's voice brightened. "You did it, Papa!"

Relief surged through Raiden's heart as he felt the familiar weight of the hilt in his hand. Smiling, he opened his eyes to find an exact replica of his previous sword, smoking with darkness as it rested in his palm.

Raiden raised his hand and began swinging the sword around, his curious mind wondering what properties this weapon might have.

To his left was the renovated massive fountain, standing in its exact position. Raiden charged toward it instinctively, a smile on his face. Once within reach, he leaped into the air and struck at it with his sword.

And that was all it took. The fountain split into two pieces, water rushing everywhere. Raiden stared at the clean cut, then back at the sword in his hand. Amazed, he reached out to touch the blade.

His smile deepened when it dawned on him that the whole sword was wrought of pure darkness, beyond his direct touch.

He turned to Ash, who lingered at a distance with a proud smile painted on her lips. "The cut was effortless and clean, but I can feel a solid blade. How?"

Ash began to approach him, tugging at her oversized shirt. She'd chosen to wear Raiden's shirt today, though she couldn't say why.

"I don't know… maybe I've never questioned it because it all came naturally to me."

"But I think it solidifies in the moments just before striking the target," she added.

"It comes naturally to you, huh?" he muttered as it dawned on him why conjuring was so effortless for her, yet so difficult for him.

As they lingered there, however, a voice drifted from behind them. "Come and eat, Ash."

They both turned in that direction and found Noelle. As soon as Ash caught sight of her, she dragged her feet hurriedly in her oversized shirt and slipped behind Raiden.

Raiden's expression fell, confused. He hadn't seen Ash hide from Noelle like this before. Not once. So what made eating so terrifying?

[She'll force me to eat until I'm sick, Papa,] her telepathic voice quavered with anxiety.

Raiden found their dynamic oddly endearing. Maybe it wasn't his own amusement but Ash's bleeding through, but at that moment he simply chuckled with quiet joy.

The grim expression etched across Noelle's face showed she wasn't joking—she really would stuff Ash until she couldn't take another bite. She flicked her fingers, and shards of golden aura shot toward them.

The attack came too fast and without warning, leaving Raiden and Ash stunned as they were locked into perfect stillness. Neither could budge even slightly.

"Quit being so difficult and eat," Noelle said, stepping forward while Ash strained to break free. Yet Raiden found the entire ordeal strangely delightful.

Please don't let her drag me away, Papa. I'll explode from eating too much… I'm never even hungry,] she begged telepathically, yet this only intensified Raiden's amusement.

You're by yourself on this one, Ash—he responded, watching as Noelle seized Ash by the collar and started pulling her toward the house.

Ash's expression crumpled with hurt as she gazed at Raiden, her moon dragon form fading back to her human appearance.

[What kind of Papa are you?]

DRAGON MANA POOL: 1150/ 5000

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: 430

STAMINA: 420

DRAGON AURA: 210

SKILL PROFICIENCY: ACTIVE 2

—Swordsmanship: 100%

—Euphoria: 100%

FAMILIAR TRUST: 120%

—Linked Familiar: WHITE DRAGON

CONTRACTS: ACTIVE 5.

—Name: [ASH]

—Bond Type: Sealed Pact.

—Name: [LEVI]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [FREYA]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [SPEED]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [SOUL]

—Bond Type: Devotion Pact.

NEW ABILITIES:

—Soul of Dragon: 75%

—Heart of Dragon: 75%

—Moon Dragon's Veins: 70%

—Invisibility

—Gaze Beyond

—Soul Condemn 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

—Others Locked.]