Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

She knew Garret would not complain if it were Asura's choice. She remembered the many drunk nights listening to him speak to Ophelia about how much he wanted to give his core to Asura to stop his suffering.

"My mom will protect me, and you will too."

Mu Xue blushed and gave a small nod. "Stop relying on women to protect you, stupid... Your dad will protect you from anything."

"Let's go then." Asura opened the door before exiting with Mu Xue, holding her hand with a charming smile; Mu Xue's face turned bright red as they walked through the long corridor leading to the central hall.

The old men were waiting for him, discussing the next steps for improving the roads, farming lands, and fishing territories.

Today, Asura lacked the time to help them, so he just greeted them as he passed through and entered the main greeting room, only to find only his mother, Ophelia, waiting.

"Mother!"

"Eh..!?" It was the first time in her life, that Asura called her mother with his own words, and so enthusiastically, the heart of Ophelia began pounding, causing her to jump up and embrace her son with tears in her eyes.

She tried hard to hold them back, but her lips trembled; his handsome face, those red eyes looking at her with a gentle gaze, broke all her defences.

"Asura... My lovely son! You have grown so much! Ah... if it isn't my little Mu Xue, my cute daughter-in-law." Ophelia smiled, moving over to hug Mu Xue, kissing her cheek softly.

"I have missed you! My lady!" Mu Xue replied as she kissed Ophela back, gently hugging her smaller frame.

Asura couldn't help but be jealous of how well his mother treated Mu Xue; he noticed them whispering, then looking at him several times before giggling... 'Damn, what are they saying?' He wanted to know...

Ophelia looked at Asura as if noticing his curiosity before blushing and covering her mouth; Mu Xue burst into laughter as she grabbed Asura's hand and brought him to the dining room, where lunch was being served.

"Ahem... where's Da---"

"ASURA!"

Suddenly, the huge body of his father leapt through the air and hugged him, nearly throwing him to the ground as Garret crushed him in a massive bear hug. "Oh.... Father!"

"My boy! You look so cool in those clothes! Are you a real lord now? Shall I step down? Ah... your first battle and you won so easily?

Those cannons look so cool! My son, I am so happy!"

Like Ophelia, this feeling inside Garret's chest, nearly twenty years of emotions and expectations building up and finally exceeding, caused his heart to enter overdrive.

Garret's eyes became tearful as he grabbed Asura's cheeks and shook him in happiness. His deep voice finally turned emotional, much to the shock of Mu Xue and Ophelia.

Seeing this, Ophelia made the servants and maids leave while taking Mu Xue out. Her eyes looked at Garret, filled with happiness, knowing his frustrations and regrets over the years.

Asura was shocked... He never saw his father like this, it stunned him as he watched his father stare him in the eyes.

"Asura, my only son. You make your father so proud, whether it is your achievements outside of magic or your newly found powers. The joy I feel... Cannot be described."

Garret's large body trembled as he could not describe his feelings. Asura saw this and patted his father on the back with a smile.

"Dad... sorry for making you worry. I..."

"Don't worry, Asura, I know, I know... forgive me for making you feel pressured and alone. I felt so helpless that I couldn't fix everything for you, my boy."

"It's not your fault..."

"No, it is... But now you can recover." Garret patted Asura on the shoulder; the two laughed before they sat silently at the table. With a serious face, Garret tapped the table before looking into Asura's eyes.

Then he asked something his son never expected.

"I want you to succeed me and take over the family title."

"N-Now!?"

"Yes, while you study, I will remain a steward to guide you. I will leave everything to you and help protect the land with my old brothers in arms."

Garret had an expressionless face, but Asura could tell his father was serious... To think it would be so sudden, he wanted to say yes immediately...

But he also knew it was a trap, a way of accepting him as a noble, but once his fame grew and his status wouldn't, his path to the future became harder... filled with more he didn't know.

"Asura, do not fear the unknown. Stand tall, like a man, and face it head-on. Endure it and surpass all those struggles!" Garret's words felt like a message from the past. He was not joking about succeeding him.

Garret had been ready for many years. The only problem was Asura was a no-mag before and lacked confidence and power.

"Father..."

"Asura, I was originally a no-mag myself."

'Wha....?'

Garret smiled faintly as he saw Asura's shocked expression.

"Yes, you heard me correctly. My core didn't form properly because of a defect at birth. To awaken it, I had to train in the most deadly places until my body became filled with wounds and scars. That's why I never judged you, my son. I believe you will surpass me one day."

"T-Then why... Why did you say I would have nothing in this life?"

"I never said that, and I wasn't lying either. I want you to see your capabilities without others' interference. Forgive this awkward father and his bad way with words, and I intended to support you, make you determined to surpass me..."

Asura had never felt such emotions fill his chest like this before; Garret wanted him to succeed him now, to live his life as a noble; he realised, after understanding how Verana viewed him as trash for being a No-mag and how Helia tested him.

His father was the one, all along, who believed him most. Despite being so strict? No... that training was his father's way of helping, showing his love... the same training he had to endure, but alone!

Asura clenched his fists tightly as Garret gently patted his shoulders. "Son, do not worry. No matter what you choose, your father will be behind you. Although I wanted to see you succeed me sooner, I would like to support you until you are ready."

"No, father... I was too immature and never saw your actions and feelings, even your mother and her gentle love. I was too stupid... So!"

He stood from the stool before saluting and kneeling before his father, his fist bleeding as it hit the floor, cracking the reinforced magic stone slightly as he gave the most serious gaze to his father in both his lives.

"Please, father! Allow me to succeed in our Fenix name to protect and bring prosperity to our people! To make you proud!"

Asura looked at Garret's face; he noticed tears in his father's eyes before his strong arms grasped him, helping him to stand.

"Asura... never kneel again. From now on, you are to kneel to no one even myself. My dear son, the path ahead will be harsh, the east seeks to crush us, the north joining them..."

"I will defeat them all and show them that the flames of the Phoenix Glade will never be extinguished again!"

"Haha! Asura, you have grown so much... never lose that confidence. The woman you are engaged to, I will talk to her mother about dissolving it because... I know you have women you love now."

"Thanks... Father... But I wish to deal with this on my own! Please, allow me to deal with this on my own!"

Garret patted Asura on the back before embracing him in a manly hug. "Then, if all else fails, your dad will help in secret, haha."

The two laughed together; they spent a moment in silence before Asura spoke.

"Father... Do you know what happened in the east?"

"What do you mean?" Garret raised an eyebrow as he looked at Asura's serious expression.