Rivers of the Night

Theron pulled Malaya along to the Nightingale Pagoda, and soon they had entered the fourth floor and began to work their way up to the sixth. Normally, Malaya wouldn't be allowed up here, but there were obviously some exceptions for plus ones.

At first, Malaya was a bit confused about why Theron was doing this. But then it settled in.

If Theron married her, and then just ignored her, it probably wouldn't work well for his plans… whatever those were.

Honestly, she still wasn't sure about what Theron was doing, but she had her own guesses. Maybe it was because she was so ignorant of it all that Theron had told her as much as he did.

Malaya was overthinking it, though.

To Theron, it didn't matter whether she told others of what happened that night or not. In fact, if she told people that they hadn't consummated their marriage, Dean Thistle would only be more convinced that he was in love with her.

Whether he cared for Malaya or not, what 14-year-old boy wouldn't lay with a woman if he had the chance to?

Theron had already steeled himself to use Malaya. He wouldn't leave such an obvious flaw in his plans just because of a moment of weakness.

At first, the realization made Malaya a bit stiff and sad, but as Theron began to joke with her and laugh, she found herself being almost gently massaged into a more relaxed state.

Part of her didn't understand if this was the real Theron or not, but the other part almost… didn't care.

As much as she had fantasized about the perfect wedding and husband, she had thought even more about how it all could go horribly wrong.

All things considered, being married to a man who was using her wasn't the worst-case scenario… at the very least, he wasn't cruel to her and didn't force her to do things she was uncomfortable with.

And if he matured a little more…

Malaya found herself blushing and turning away again. What was she thinking? He was way too young for that.

There was something particularly… clean about the current Theron. They were practically the same height. And if Theron was taller, it was by barely a half-inch, if that.

But he felt so… comfortable to be around.

Malaya's thoughts were in a tailspin. She truly didn't know what she should be thinking or feeling.

…

Malaya's eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Theron, you…"

Theron had a gentle smile on his face but didn't say too much.

"You need it soon, right? It'll be good for you. Your family specializes in strength and power, but I've noticed that you haven't really taken that route. Your Flux Mana is far gentler and tends toward a more Flexible Flux Mancer Path. Ｒãℕo͍𐌱˧

"It's very difficult to find Echoes for Flux Mancers because much of the path of humans is so externalized. If you awaken the Vermouth Bloodline, it'll be even more difficult.

"I was thinking about it, and I felt that the best way forward for you is actually something that increases your analytical ability, to read and react. That way, you have ultimate flexibility in the future.

"The Twisted-Eye Crow is the best for you."

The Twisted-Eye Crow was an Imbued Beast of the Flux Path as well, but it was special because it focused so heavily on the senses—namely its eyes.

While the Echo System was most externalized, Flux Mancers had a certain advantage that other Mancers did not. It wouldn't be perfect, but it was the best path.

Malaya was floored.

She had spent so many months—no, years—thinking about this exact same problem. Yet Theron seemed to have thought it through for her in an afternoon.

"… Theron… but," she hesitated, "it's… I… so… expensive…"

The Twisted-Eye Crow wasn't very popular, and this one was only the Beast Core of a Third Silver Resonance one, and yet it was still over 800,000 silvers.

This just went to show how inferior the Blue Pufferfish was considered.

"That's okay. I have mine here."

"But Theron… are you sure… this Echo…"

Theron smiled. "I'm sure."

"But my family can—."

"The situation of noble Clans isn't so simple, I know that. They're not just supporting you and your brother, but the hundreds of other descendants as well. Spending 800,000 silvers on a non-combatant like you, who is going to become an Academic Scholar anyway…"

Theron's voice trailed off and Malaya lowered her head.

She knew that her Vermouth Clan wasn't in the best of situations financially, but she didn't expect Theron to see through it so easily.

"We'll take both." Theron made the decision for Malaya, and the steward didn't refute. What a joke, how could they give up such a large commission? Who cared if Theron ruined his future or not?

But… news of this would certainly spread.

What did this have to do with Theron, though?

**

While the world was almost certainly boiling over with Theron's choice in Echo, Theron himself was seated in front of the Bronze Core, wondering if he was about to make a mistake or not.

He had spent 100,000 on the Blue Pufferfish, 800,000 on Malaya's Beast Core, and then another 100,000 just buying large concentrations of Water Mana.

Everyone would be so focused on the Twisted-Eye Crow that they wouldn't even notice where the rest of the money went, and that was Theron's real goal.

If he bought a large amount of Silver Resonance Water Mana that he could use, that would certainly raise eyebrows. But he bet that part of the story wouldn't even make it into circulation.

He much preferred sacrificing more in exchange for caution than not.

If this succeeded, he knew that he would need the Silver Resonance Water Mana, so there was no choice in this matter.

'I guess it's time…'

Theron began the process once again, prepared to absorb the Blue Pufferfish Echo.

But once again…

It was almost too seamless.

This time, however, the Echo fused into his Bronze Core, settling down and growing comfortable as it should.

Then Theron began to down bottles of Silver Resonance Water Mana, his body practically begging for it.

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