Chapter 144: Akar's Gift 1

When Aches slowly regained consciousness, the moment he opened his eyes, he immediately rolled over and leapt up.

His movements were as agile as a leopard's, and with the fierce gleam in his eyes and the ferocity etched on his face, the already tall and muscular Aches appeared all the more formidable.

But when Aches recognized his surroundings, he realized that he had already returned home.

“Aches.”

His mother’s voice came from the side, causing the hostility and ferocity on Aches’ face to gradually fade. The wariness he had bristled with, like a hedgehog’s spines, finally began to relax.

However, as soon as Aches turned to look at his mother, the expression on his face grew tense and wary once more.

A sturdy man with bronze-colored skin was sitting on the only chair in the room.

His mother was seated at the edge of the bed, talking with the man about something.

From his mother’s face, Aches could see a look of joy, but the dried tear streaks stood out starkly, which made him feel a surge of anger. “Bastard! Who are you!? What did you do to my mother!”

“Aches!” Seeing Aches about to lunge forward, Jinna rushed up to block him. “What nonsense are you saying! This is your uncle! Akar Soderbell.”

“My uncle?” Aches froze for a moment.

He halted his aggressive movement toward Akar. “Mother, didn’t you say… we have no relatives?”

Jinna’s face showed a trace of awkwardness.

“Your mother used to think your father had abandoned you, which is why she said you had no relatives.”

Akar had already spoken with Jinna, so he naturally knew about her previous stance and actions.

Jinna’s father, mother, and two older brothers all died during the three-year war waged by Gem Territory against Red River Territory. Her sister, who had married far away, also went missing because of the war. On top of that, since Jinna believed Arsen had abandoned her and their son, she told Aches they had no remaining family. In truth, from the time she gave birth to Aches and Arsen failed to keep his promise to come for her, she had endured years of scorn and shame from others.

It could even be said that her life somewhat improved due to the war—because her village had been destroyed, not many people recognized her now. As such, when she claimed her husband had died in the war, it was easier to gain sympathy and understanding from others.

After speaking with Jinna, Akar also learned that Aches was already thirteen years old.

When his eldest brother Arsen died, Aches was already over a year old. By the time of the three-year war, Aches was nearly six and could already help Jinna with some chores. Due to the disdain and rejection from their own kin, Aches had a difficult childhood. But it also forged his resilient character early on, which enabled him to grow rapidly during the war.

Resilient, ruthless, and combative—these were Aches’ defining traits, and the reason he never bowed, no matter how Yabos humiliated him.

“Your father died so suddenly that he never had the chance to tell us about you and your mother. That’s why we never came to find you before.” Akar looked at Aches, and a trace of appraisal flickered in his eyes. He seemed pleased by Aches’ cautious nature. “But now, child, we are here. You no longer need to live in fear.”

Aches said nothing, but the wariness in his eyes did not fade.

“Aches!” Jinna called again, her tone now laced with some reprimand.

“It’s alright.” Akar shook his head slightly.

He understood Jinna’s current feelings and intentions very well.

Perhaps when she gave birth to Aches, she had her own reasons—maybe she was encouraged by his elder brother—but one thing was certain: Jinna was a woman with strong convictions. Otherwise, she would not have had the courage to give birth to Aches.

After Arsen’s sudden death, Jinna believed she had been abandoned. Out of a sense of defiance, she decided to raise Aches herself. Yet, after enduring disdain from the villagers and her own family, along with the hardships of the war, and later the many difficulties she faced in Kalel Village, her mindset had undergone many changes. That’s why she now longed for Aches to accept his identity.

But regardless of the reasons, the fact that she never abandoned Aches even in the hardest times proved that Jinna was indeed an outstanding mother.

“I am your third uncle.” Akar stepped forward to stand before Aches, then slowly said, “Akar Soderbell. Our Soderbell family still has your grandfather, Ion Soderbell, and your second uncle, Yam Soderbell. In addition, you have a younger sister and a younger brother. Cindy Yam Soderbell is your second uncle’s daughter; Liam Akar Soderbell is my son.”

Aches’ gaze shifted past Akar’s shoulder and looked at his mother, Jinna.

Only after seeing the encouragement in her eyes did he finally speak. “So now I should be called Aches Soderbell?”

“It’s Aches Arsen Soderbell.” Akar nodded slightly. “Of course, calling yourself Aches Soderbell is fine too, but you must never forget your father’s name. That is a rule set by your grandfather for the third generation of our Soderbell family.”

“Besides that, you must remember two things.”

“What are the two?” Aches asked.

“Our family’s motto is ‘Sharp blade drawn, never retreat’,” Akar said in a deep voice. “And the first family rule your grandfather established for our family is ‘Family must unite as one.’ …In other words, once you bear the surname ‘Soderbell,’ you must never betray your kin. No matter the time, situation, or difficulty, you must never retreat, but always face forward with resolve.”

“I’ve always done that well.” Aches lifted his head, speaking with firmness and stubbornness.

“I know.” Akar revealed a rare smile. “While you were unconscious, I heard quite a bit about you. That’s why I’m very certain you are a child of the Soderbell family—my eldest brother’s son.”

Aches clenched his fists, remaining silent.

But he did see the tears of joy brimming in his mother Jinna’s eyes.

Akar patted Aches on the shoulder. “Can you walk?”

“Of course.” Aches raised his head.

“Then come with me. I have a gift for you.” Akar nodded slightly, then turned to Jinna. “Jinna, I’ll take Aches out for a bit. You should rest well. From now on, a physician will come daily to treat you. Once you’ve fully recovered, we’ll leave Kalel Village.”

“Alright.” Jinna nodded.

Over the years, no one knew better than she did the immense pressure of raising Aches alone.

Especially as Aches grew, his combative and proud nature made things even more exhausting for her. That time when Aches was beaten unconscious by the Village Chief’s family had plunged her into despair, gripped by a fear so intense it nearly suffocated her.

So now that Arsen’s brother had come, acknowledged both her and Aches’ identities, and intended to take them back to White Mountain Territory, Jinna naturally felt overjoyed. She knew well that with Aches’ personality, if no one guided him correctly, he would either die at the hands of the Village Chief of Kalel Village—or someone else entirely.

…

“Where are you taking me?” Following behind Akar, Aches looked at the road ahead, both familiar and strange, and couldn’t help asking.

“I told you, I’m giving you a gift,” Akar replied once more.

This time, Aches remained silent and followed quietly.

Soon, the two arrived at a cemetery in Kalel Village.

“You’re giving me a gift here?” Aches asked, confused.

“It wasn’t supposed to be here, but someone suggested it would be better placed here. It would be easier to deal with afterward and wouldn’t offend too many people.” Akar shrugged. “I thought it made sense, so I followed their suggestion.”

Akar pushed open the cemetery’s iron gate and walked in.

Behind him, Aches furrowed his brows but chose to follow obediently.

He had sensed a terrifying aura from Akar—one that not even mercenaries he’d encountered before had exuded. Once he realized he couldn’t possibly defeat Akar or escape from him, he knew better than to entertain any reckless ideas.

But when he followed Akar to the edge of a large, freshly dug grave, his expression changed drastically.

Because inside that grave pit, there lay dozens of corpses—more than half of them headless!

“This…”

“The entire family of the Village Chief of Kalel Village, along with all his kin, everyone who laid hands on you and your mother a month ago, they’re all here.” Akar pointed at the pile of bodies and said calmly, “Also, the boys who attacked you yesterday—I cut off one of their hands and one of their legs each and threw them in here as well.”

Aches lifted his head, staring at Akar in shock.

At that moment, he felt like the man before him was a madman!

“This is the gift you said you’re giving me!?”

Akar stared solemnly at Aches, until the intensity made Aches’ skin crawl. Just as he began to wonder if he might be thrown into the grave too, Akar finally spoke again. “Yes, this is the first gift I’m giving you. It’s called ‘Conviction.’ You could also call it ‘A Change in Mindset.’ Because once you bear the name ‘Soderbell,’ you may face far more despicable and vile situations than what you’ve endured this past month.”

“Because by then, your enemies won’t just be a mere village chief.”

“They could be viscounts, barons, even marquises.”

As Akar spoke, Aches’ expression first turned to fear, then gradually grew somber.

“You said this is the first gift?”

“Yes.”

“And the second?” Aches asked in a low voice.

“I call it ‘Choice,’” Akar replied again. “Either bear the name ‘Soderbell’ and become part of the Soderbell family—or you and your mother take on new names and identities, sever all ties with us, and go live a new life somewhere no one knows you.”

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