Chapter 393: Returning to Esta [4] "Also, have you used the wind orbs that I gave you?" Noah asked curiously. He had given the young catboy a few to ensure he had enough to train with. Kipp nodded his head shyly, having used the orbs completely, depleting them of essence within them. He knew just how valuable these items were; within the kingdom, only a few existed after all. Suddenly, another orb appeared in Noah’s hands before he gave it to Kipp. "Here, take this one. Use it well," Kipp took it with a huge smile on his face. "Thank you, master Noah." He said excitedly, before storing it in his own storage ring. Everyone looked at the scene with a wry smile. Indeed, only Noah was able to give these items like they were candy. "What about you, Alissa? Can you show me a demonstration of your swordsmanship?" Noah asked, curious about her development. Alissa had been quietly observing, but now she drew her sword with fluid grace and moved through a brief demonstration kata. The movements were graceful, precise, and devastatingly efficient—each strike flowing naturally into defensive transitions that showcased low master-rank fundamentals in swordsmanship. When she finished and sheathed her blade, Noah nodded appreciatively. "Your technique has improved remarkably, Alissa. Those are genuine master-level fundamentals. Once your physical strength catches up from peak elite to master tier, you’ll be formidable." Alissa’s normally reserved expression softened into a small smile, her cheeks colouring slightly at the compliment. "Thank you. Your guidance and the training items made the difference." Then came Valeria’s turn. She stretched slightly, her aura unconsciously manifesting for a moment to demonstrate her stabilisation at master rank. "I’ve finally consolidated my foundation completely. No fluctuations or instability—I’m solidly established now." King Aldric observed Noah during these demonstrations, his experienced eye noting subtle changes in the young man’s bearing and presence. "Noah, you’ve gotten significantly stronger yourself. Your aura feels... like a master’s." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "Reaching master rank isn’t easy—it typically takes practitioners decades of dedicated effort. But last time I saw you, you were just an apprentice rank, weren’t you? That was only days ago." Noah laughed, rubbing the back of his head with modesty. "Haha, just a little progress. I’ve had some fortunate opportunities for advancement." Hearing that casual confirmation, Kipp’s eyes went wide with shock, and his ears flattened slightly with dismay. "Master Noah already reached master rank?!" His voice carried complicated emotions—pride in his mentor’s achievement mixed with disappointment in himself. He could still vividly remember when he had been at an adept rank while Noah was just an apprentice. He remembered being slightly stronger than Noah in terms of combat power, but now Noah had completely surpassed him, reaching heights that Kipp had been striving towards. The young catboy’s tail drooped slightly as inadequacy settled over him. He wanted to be useful to Noah, to stand beside him as a capable ally rather than just a student who kept falling further behind. Alissa’s ears also drooped in a similar reaction, her normally composed expression showing rare vulnerability. She too felt the weight of being left behind by someone she cared about and wanted to support. Noah immediately noticed their reactions and reached out to ruffle Kipp’s hair affectionately, then placed a reassuring hand on Alissa’s shoulder. "Hey, none of that. You’re both doing incredibly well—better than most practitioners your age could ever hope to achieve." He met their eyes seriously. "I’ve had advantages and opportunities that aren’t available to normal people. But that doesn’t diminish what you’ve accomplished through your own effort and talent. And besides..." Noah smiled warmly. "That’s actually part of why I wanted to talk to all of you today. I have ways to help you advance even faster, if you’re willing." That got everyone’s immediate attention, curiosity replacing the momentary melancholy that had settled over the cat siblings. They all looked at Noah with varying degrees of confusion, trying to understand what he meant by his statement about helping them advance faster. "What do you mean, exactly?" Valeria asked, her mind already working through possibilities. "You’ve already provided us with incredible resources and items. What more could you offer that would accelerate our growth beyond what we’re already experiencing?" Noah took a deep breath, organising his thoughts before speaking. This conversation required careful handling—he needed to be honest about the danger while also inspiring confidence in their collective ability to face it. "Let me explain the full situation," Noah began, his tone becoming more serious. "I recently travelled to the elven kingdoms for business purposes. My shop relocated there, and I began selling my items to both light and dark elves." King Aldric leaned forward with immediate interest. The elven territories were distant and mysterious to most humans, representing power and sophistication that the human kingdoms struggled to match. "The business went well initially," Noah continued. "I made connections, sold premium items, and established relationships with both factions. But then..." His expression darkened. "They betrayed me. Both kingdoms ultimately tried to kill me and seize my shop’s resources for themselves." He deliberately omitted certain details—the fact that he had actually died, the resurrection mechanic, the World Tree expedition that had triggered everything. Those revelations would raise too many questions and potentially undermine confidence. Better to keep the narrative focused and straightforward. "I managed to escape and return here," Noah concluded. "But the situation remains unresolved." King Aldric’s expression showed both concern and thoughtfulness. "The elven kingdoms are notoriously treacherous in their politics. I’ve heard tales from travellers and merchants who visited there, particularly those from other city-states who maintained trade connections." He stroked his beard contemplatively. "The light elves present themselves as civilized and noble, but underneath that veneer, they’re ruthlessly pragmatic. And the dark elves make no pretense about their willingness to use violence and intimidation to achieve their goals. Both factions possess a large number of grandmaster-rank practitioners and military forces that far exceed what most human kingdoms can field." Elara nodded in agreement with her father’s assessment. "They always made it clear they viewed humans as... lesser. Useful for certain purposes but ultimately not worthy of genuine respect or equal treatment."