Alpha Reborn!

"Hmm, let's test it out on Seraphine," Evan thought, a sharp glint in his eyes.

He closed his eyes and visualized himself merging with the shadows. His ice-type soul energy decreased rapidly, and he vanished from view.

Seraphine was dumbfounded. Where could he have possibly gone? As a sensory-type cultivator, she possessed the ability to perceive even the most obscure movements within her range, yet she couldn't pinpoint his location.

The signal of his life force has disappeared all too suddenly. It was almost as if he had vanished into thin air, completely erasing himself from the face of the world.

"What kind of sorcery is this?" Seraphine muttered to herself, looking left and right once more for any traces of the elusive figure. However, to her dismay, her senses failed to detect anything out of the ordinary.

Meanwhile, Evan found himself in the Shadow Realm, a strange sensation washing over him as he melded with the shadows of his surroundings. He could instinctively tell what he needed to do to move. All it required was a thought.

In the blink of an eye, he flashed up to Seraphine's shadow and emerged from it.

Standing behind her, he couldn't help but notice the bewildered expression on her face at his sudden disappearance. His lips curled up mischievously as he leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Looking for me?"

Seraphine's eyes widened in surprise as she whipped her head around, trying to locate the source of the voice.

To her astonishment, she found herself looking up at the haughty gaze of his Highness Evan, and her breath caught in her throat.

"Y-Your Highness Evan?" she stammered as her mouth hung open in shock. It was as if she was unable to believe that he had managed to sneak up on her so easily.

Seeing how shocked she was, Evan couldn't resist taking revenge for when she laughed at him,

"Close your mouth, Havelock, or else bugs might fly in."

He chuckled at the playful jab, enjoying the way she blushed and scowled at the same time.

Seraphine quickly closed her mouth, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed at his teasing. She tried to compose herself and regain her composure, but it was hard when his Highness was standing so close to her. He looked so much like her lover that her heart fluttered every time he stood close to her and was authoritative.

"How... how did you manage to appear behind me like that?" Seraphine asked in shock.

Evan smirked in response to Seraphine's question.

"Let's just say I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he said in a voice laced with a hint of mystery before turning on his heels and disappearing into the shadows once more.

'Do you think I am a fool? Which kind of trick can let you pull off a stunt like that?!' Seraphine thought as she inwardly rolled her eyes.

"Go about your day as you like. Consider it a reward for your effort." His Highness Evan had said before vanishing from Seraphine's sight.

She heard his words echo in her mind as she stood there, contemplating her next move, wondering what action to take in light of his unexpected changes.

Reporting his behavior to the head of the minor families was certainly an option, but she knew it was too risky. She could feel the hawk-like gaze of someone watching her, monitoring her every move. Going against Evan's expectations could easily spell disaster, and signing her own death warrant was the last thing she wanted.

In the end, Seraphine decided to leave the forest and take a stroll through the empire's bustling capital, seeking solace in the sights and sounds of the city around her.

As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being spied upon, but she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on enjoying the moment.

Meanwhile, Evan stepped foot into his home, and before he knew it, Eric Frostweaver was brought before him.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Eric greeted with a respectful tone.

Evan wasted no time before asking, "Eric, I need to know if you're aware of the situation you're in."

"Yes, Your Highness. I'm aware." Eric replied with a solemn nod, acknowledging his predicament.

Evan held a significant amount of power over Eric now that he was his slave.

"Good. Going ahead, there are only two paths for you. I can use you as a pawn to fight against the Frostweavers, or I can train you to become a skilled cultivator so that you can assist me in my future endeavors. The choice... is yours."

Evan watched Eric closely, studying the younger man's reaction as he spoke. It was clear that Eric was struggling with his emotions, his face betraying his inner turmoil. Evan knew that the situation was a difficult one for Eric to come to terms with.

"I-I don't want to be used against them. And I can't work for you either. I don't want to disappoint them." Eric said as his hands balled up into tight fists, the knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. Ignoring Evan's orders would get him expelled from the clan. It was clear it was a hard decision to make.

"Eric, you are making a mistake," Evan said as he leaned forward.

"How is this a mistake?" Eric asked.

"Despite what has happened to you, your parents did not lift a finger to help or check up on you. They just don't care about you," Evan replied as he looked at Eric with pity. "If you get expelled from the clan, you will have nothing to depend on. In the truest of sense, you will be all alone."

Eric's face fell at Evan's words, his eyes filling with unshed tears. "So they chose to sacrifice me, huh? What good parents they are." Eric said self-mockingly. Everything he had done so far was to gain his parents' attention, but they treated him like thin air. Why did they even give birth to him if they hated him so much?!

"I understand how you feel, Eric." Evan sighed, his expression sympathetic. "It's natural to want your parents to care about you and... to want their approval. But sometimes, we have to accept that those we love may not love us at all. It's painful, but it's something that we have to come to terms with."

Eric wiped away his tears, his shoulders slumping.

"I just can't believe they wouldn't even check up on me," he murmured under his breath, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions.

Evan put a comforting hand on Eric's shoulder and said, "It's understandable to feel heartbroken, Eric. But I want you to see this as an opportunity to grow and become stronger. You have the chance to build a new life for yourself, one where you don't have to seek your parents' approval. You can become your own person, and that... can be a powerful thing."

Eric looked up at Evan, his eyes shining with a newfound determination.

"You're right, Your Highness. I can't change what's happened, but I can choose how I respond to it. I want to become stronger, both as a cultivator and as a person. I... I am willing to serve you!" Eric said sincerely.

"Excellent. Since you have decided to work for me, we need to do something about your character. It's very lacking." Evan said before extending a hand toward Eric. "I'm not saying you're a shitty person, but your personality sucks. You seriously need to work on it. I'm willing to help you overcome your shortcomings, but you need to be willing to learn and work hard. So, what do you think?"

Eric hesitated for a moment before taking Evan's hand and rising to his feet.

"I'm all ears. Your Highness, Please advise me," Eric said, determined to improve himself.

"I'll be enrolling you in the Phantom Regiment. Here's a letter with my original seal. Seek out Lirian Shadowfire when you arrive there. He'll be your instructor." Evan revealed.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I won't disappoint you."

Eric nodded, and with heavy but determined steps, he left to embark on this new chapter of his life.