Harem King's Collection: Turning Beastkins Into Desperate Wives!-Chapter 82: Erden Aschefell

The old wolf steadied his mind in the darkness of his quarters. Byron had many years of experience using his family bloodskill, but even still, if there was some hope his daughter really was still out there, the wolf would require a bit of help from someone far more proficient in its use.

He raised his right hand to his right eye and sent forth his call for aid.

`Bearer of my blood, lend me your knowledge. Daughter, are you there?’

The beast received no answer for quite some time. Eventually, he felt her presence open up just a bit. And for the first time in over two years, Byron Aschefell felt his eldest daughter allow his consciousness to enter her mind as she spoke to him.

`Father... I... I don’t know what to say. We received your letter... Mother isn’t taking it well, as expected... And even young Rust... Loch hasn’t said a word about it, but I know it truly bothers him... He tries to act tough, like he doesn’t care anymore... Maybe he really doesn’t... I... It’s good to hear from you, Father... Are you alright?’

The old wolf was simply grateful she had heeded his call as he gave his answer.

`I am surviving, my daughter... I am truly sorry to make such a request after such a long silence between us... Especially since you already answered my call from such a distance... But I need your assistance with something... Something only you could pull off... I need you to use a stacked Shared Sense with me... Please, Erden... I know just as well as you do why you don’t use it anymore, but please, I think... I think Stahl may be alive... Do you remember when Silbern visited your mother’s estate? How, without the moon, we couldn’t feel him from here? Well, at least, I couldn’t... When we tried alone, we just got that pain behind our eye... But when we stacked together... I think Stahl is just even further away... And you’re the prime user in our family. If anyone could forge and hold that connection, it’s you...’

Byron held his breath as his daughter weighed her decision. Erden gave her reply a short moment later.

`If my little sister may live, then of course I can put aside my personal feelings. Do you want me to reach for her? Are you prepared? You know how much it can strain at a distance, even with the moon. I can handle it, but I don’t want to push your mind any further... I can do this alone if you need?’

Byron quickly dismissed the need.

`My mind has been plenty strained enough these past few days. I assure you, it could stand to strain a bit more for the sake of such hope. Forge the connection. I will lend you what I have freely to boost your range.’

It was Erden’s time to respond.

`Fine, but I’m pulling Amboss in too then... Might as well get everyone here to help.’

Before Byron could object over his son’s current inebriated mind, his daughter’s sharp presence pierced through Amboss’s defenses as if they weren’t even there and drew her brother into her mind as well.

Amboss was fighting vainly the entire time. When he finally submitted to her power, he spat his words with drunken poison.

`OH! LOOK WHO FINALLY GRACES US WITH HER PRESENCE! THE PRIME BLOODSKILL USER HERSELF! I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MUST BE NICE TO JUST CUT EVERYTHING YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR AWAY. SURE WOULD BE GREAT TO CHOOSE WHEN I WANT TO WEIGH IN ON FAMILY EMERGENCIES!’

Byron simply sighed.

He was afraid of that. Amboss became quite the asshole when he drank, and him and his sister were notorious for going at each other. His daughter was a far more fearsome opponent, however, especially when she was linked to another user.

`Oh, great to see some things never change... And you wonder why I don’t reach out. But if you don’t want to hear from Stahl, I can just cut you back off. Maybe permanently sever your connection while I’m at it. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Better yet, strip that yapping voice of yours away since, as you said, I DON’T want to hear it. I’m sure Rouge would LOVE a break from such a whiny little, drunken mutt mouthing off after all. It’s truly ASTOUNDING how I can still somehow sense the liquor on your mind from even this distance away.’

Amboss grew silent, knowing very well his sister didn’t make idle threats but more intrigued by what she had said.

’Stahl is alive? Then... RUST! IS HE-’

Erden cut him off before his spill ever started.

`We don’t know yet... It’s why we are here, though... Look, we are burning energy here... Are you both ready? I’ll be drawing off you two first. If we can even make the connection, that is...

"Amboss, you’ll be the first knocked off, so be quick to ask what you need. Father, I’ll be turning over most control to you after. I’ll focus on holding as long as I can, but I promise nothing... I am a bit out of practice.’

As Amboss grumbled something along the lines of, "And whose fault is that?" Which Erden ignored, the sister began focusing her skill.

She reached far on her own and felt nothing, so she steeled her resolve, drew upon her father and brother to strengthen the connection, and pushed outwards once again.

’Bearer of my blood, lend me your knowledge... Stahl, little sis, are you there?’

Stahl was idly walking the streets, still thinking deeply about what Mollis could need to discuss with Aster with such a serious tone.

Then the she-wolf hit a knee as she strained from the sudden pain behind her right eye, drawing a few questioning glances from the nearby orcs.

Stahl swore she felt her heart skip a beat as the familiar feeling of her bloodskill being activated surged within her. The connection was a bit weak, but the power behind it certainly wasn’t.

Before the connection ever fully formed, Stahl knew there could only be one person behind it. She spoke her elated thought before her sister ever had a chance to.

’ERDEN! BY THE GODS! I... I’ve never been so happy to hear fro-’

Amboss barged in, interrupting the younger sister before she ever finished her sentence.

’STAHL! IS RUST WITH YOU? IS MY SON SAFE? PLEASE! BY THE GODS, TELL ME HE IS ALRIGHT?’

Stahl winced at the booming voice. Her sister had stacked connections to reach her. Stahl noted her father’s presence as well, marking the first time in over two years, where all users were linked at once.

She quickly answered her brother, standing to rush to the blacksmith where the young fox was working away.

’Rust is with me and Aster! He is safe, brother! We are all safe. I know he wants to hear from you! Give me just a moment! Erden, can you link our vision, too?’

***