Born In Ashes: The Enigma

"I heard you fainted when the Galactic Eclipse occurred."

Azrael wasn't surprised by Ashara's words and replied calmly.

"Yes. I had taken off the prop you gave me and forgot to put it back on before going to bed."

Ashara remained silent for a moment after hearing his response, then finally spoke.

"It seems something changed within you after you experienced that phenomenon."

Though her voice sounded composed, it couldn't completely hide the trace of worry in it.

Azrael looked at the woman's back silently and nodded. "Indeed, something did change."

Ashara turned to look at Azrael, and when she saw his eyes— calm on the surface, but emotionless in their depths—her heart grew heavy.

To Ashara, that look in his eyes felt disturbingly familiar. It was as if she had seen those same eyes before... but couldn't—or rather, didn't want to remember where.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile and said.

"Let's talk about it once your father comes back after settling the people on the spaceship."

Azrael nodded and glanced at Kael, who had finally come back to his senses but was still frozen in place.

Ashara snorted at the sight. "Forget about this stinking brat. He didn't even wear the clothes I bought for him. I won't talk to him for two hours."

She sat down on the grass and patted the spot beside her.

"Come here. Tell me what you habe been doing this past month while I was away."

Azrael thought for a moment before walking forward and sitting beside her.

"The amount of cosmic energy you have now is nearly double what you had before."

'So the Azrael of this world had around 50 points of Cosmic Energy,' Azrael thought, then responded aloud.

"I used up all of my cosmic energy while resisting the pressure of the Galactic Eclipse. But after the phenomenon ended and my energy began to recover, it actually doubled."

Ashara was surprised by his answer and smiled faintly. "So forgetting to wear the prop that night wasn't all bad, after all."

"Your body also seems to have been affected by the Galactic Eclipse. You look thinner than before, but the strength of your muscles and bones hasn't diminished much. You used to have around 6.5 points in agility, stamina, and strength. But now you are probably around 5.5, right?"

Azrael was slightly surprised that Ashara had so accurately estimated his current stat points, but remembering her level, he realized it wasn't all that shocking.

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— Strength: 5.6

— Agility: 5.4

— Stamina: 5.8

— Cosmic Energy: 100

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After completely absorbing the energy from the Cosmic Energy Affinity Pill, Azrael's stats had increased significantly compared to when he first arrived in this world.

However, his body was still adapting to the sudden changes in physical strength, and it would take time for his thin frame to match his current stat levels.

Azrael told Ashara his stats honestly and also mentioned his desire to learn the breathing method.

"You found two primary energy veins on your first day..." Ashara looked genuinely surprised by his words, then nodded happily. "Speaking of primary energy veins, I actually brought something good for you from this trip..."

Azrael turned toward her, his expression showing clear curiosity.

Seeing his interested look, Ashara instinctively pinched his cheek and draped her arm over his shoulders again.

"If you want it, you will have to go shopping with me tomorrow."

Azrael was speechless at her demand and suddenly recalled the gloating expression Kael had given him earlier.

'So that's why he was gloating. He knew she would drag me into going shopping with her just because I wore the clothes she bought.'

Azrael didn't agree immediately and instead asked, "What is the thing you brought for me?"

"Believe me, buddy, it is something really helpful for someone who has just started learning the breathing method. Just go shopping with me tomorrow and it's yours."

She spoke like a scammy salesperson trying to lure an innocent kid into a pyramid scheme.

"...Alright, I will go with you."

And like the kid in every scam story, he accepted her offer.

"I knew you would agree. Azu is the only one who cares about this poor woman in this house."

Azrael's mouth twitched slightly at her words, and he thought to himself.

'She really is different from the one in my memories.'

Ashara looked at Azrael, who appeared lost in thought, and sighed in quiet relief.

'Even though his behavior and demeanor are different from before, it doesn't seem like anything is wrong with him,' She thought. 'Even the soul mark I placed on him and Kael in case something happened while I was away is still intact. It doesn't seem to have been affected at all.'

The weight in her heart lightened significantly, but when she recalled the emotionless look in Azrael's eyes earlier, her expression dimmed again.

'What could have caused such a disturbing look in his eyes?'

Another thing that made her uneasy was that, ever since they met again, Azrael hadn't called her "Mom" even once.

'He has always been a reserved child, but this is too different from the Azrael I know.'

She thought back to what Azrael had said earlier— that something had changed after the Galactic Eclipse— and turned her eyes impatiently toward the spaceship hovering above them.

'When is that idiot going to leave that ship and crash down here already?'

She could have spoken more with Azrael without waiting for him, but after seeing that unnatural expression on her son's face, she wanted her husband to be present as well.

Looking down at the bracelet on her wrist, she tapped on it and sent a message.

"If you do not crash down here in the next ten seconds, I am going to elope with Azu."

Just five seconds after the message was sent, a sonic boom echoed across the sky, followed by a figure crashing down in front of Azrael and Ashara.