Ashten is proficient in four forms of combat.

Long-range combat with a Gun.

Mid-range combat with a Spear.

Close-mid range combat with dagger and sword.

Close-range combat with his hands. 

Being an overachiever that he is, Ashten has superb mastery of these weapons. It took him years to master these weapons. 

The girl with the red hair was also filled with vitality. Her ability to move as fast as the rushing wind and punch like a raging bull was proof of her absurd physicality.

But even she had a limit.

“Time… out… I… I can’t run anymore.” the little girl’s tongue was practically rolled down.

In the depths of the forest, the little girl with the vibrant red hair lies on the fallen leaves. She defended her eyes against the assault of the piercing light and 

“Tired already? Heh, it seems that I have better stamina than you.” the man talked with his nose pointed up.

eThe little girl did not appreciate the smug look on his face. 

“Why… are you… so happy!? I am just a kid!” 

She grumbled and complained, to which Ashten just smirked.

“A win is a win.” he spoke with grace and dignity. 

He was seen as petty and childish.

Looking from the outside, Ashten did not appear to be a person who would celebrate a win against a child. 

But he is. 

He likes winning, respects challenges, and does not back down against anyone.

That’s how he’d lived his life. That’s how he’ll continue living.

“Do not hate me just because I am better. But do not worry, when you become my daughter, I will mold you into a better version of yourself.” 

“HAH!”

Ashten’s announcement was met with a single burst of mocking laughter. 

“What’s so funny? Do you find being my daughter laughable when you do not even know who I am or what I can give you? If you know who I am, you’ll be begging me to adopt you right now.” 

His prideful declaration was met with an even bigger smirk.

“Heh, you are foolish. I laugh at you for thinking that I will let you sell me!”

“...”

Her prideful smile screaming “Try and take me” was met with a deadpan gaze.

Ashten decided to ask her a simple question.

“...do you know what adoption or being a daughter is?”

“Of course! What do you take me for!!”

“...seriously?”

“The children who were ‘adopted’ in the Orphanage were said to have been sold by the adults! So that must be it! Heh, I may not know what adoption or daughter is, but I learned from the children. Ys’Tach taught me how to read. the lines! I call this skill, "INFERENCE!” 

“No, that's wrong.”

GASP!

The biggest audible gasp escaped the little girl!

“You’re lying.”

“Nope, what you’re talking about is Human Trafficking. That’s a crime.”

“I see…what’s a crime?”

“...seriously?”

“Bad things.”

“I see, I see. Got it. Damn shiny shoes, you’re pretty smart, might be as smart as Ys’Tach So what’s a daughter and adoption?”

Having lived as a merchant for more than half his life, Ashten has encountered hundreds if not thousands of idiots. They come from all walks of life, rich or poor, strong or weak. There are many idiots in the world. 

Ashten does not discriminate against them. After all, a paying customer is a customer no matter the intelligence. 

Over the years, he learned how to feel out the idiots. Categorized them, and realized there were two major kinds. 

A true and genuine idiot that knows nothing about a topic at hand and still acts like they are a master of the issue. They have no intention of actually becoming informed or increasing their well of knowledge. Even when they do, they spend little to no effort in properly understanding what they are being told. These people often argue with the most intellectual scholars. In other words, they are people who choose to be an idiot.

A circumstantial idiot would be the second kind. They are people who appear to be an idiot due to their circumstances in life. They are like a scholar knowing nothing about taking care of a farm boy's cattle; or they could be a pauper’s inability to read or understand high society’s power play. They are not fools, nor are they idiots, they simply lack the information and do not have the resources to change. But when you give them the chance, they will learn, they will change, they will grow.

The little girl is a circumstantial fool. She made a mistake due to the lack of knowledge she possessed, but to make such an inference was impressive in its own way.

She also wanted to correct herself whilst acknowledging her mistake without faltering.

Ashten explained to her the concept of “daughter” and “adoption” and she listened with great intensity.  He inwardly nodded in satisfaction.

“Oh, so that’s how it works. Got it, got it.” she repeatedly nodded her head as if to shake off her previous mistake. 

“So, you want to be my daughter?”

The little girl sprung up to her feet and stood ‘tall’ and proud against Ashten. 

“I get it, but I think I have to pass, but I’m interested.”

She pointed to herself with the biggest and cockiest of smiles.

“You have nothing to offer me, human. I! The great Dragon Areya does not need guidance from a feeble human!” 

Her sudden announcement was full of ridiculous claims. It made Ashten laugh at her ignorant declaration.

‘Nothing to offer?’ 

Though that was not the only thing that caught his attention.

“Dragon? You’re a little delusional but we can fix that.”

“I’m not delusional! I’m really a Dragon!” 

The little girl named Areya puffed her cheeks in indignation.

“Really? Prove it, show me a breath attack or maybe your horns?”

“That—I can’t do it…right now.” she looked away as if Ashten was not seen, he would disappear. 

That could never be the case. 

“It’s fine, if you’re not a real dragon, you know? I’ll still accept you as my daughter.” 

“I am not! I am a real Dragon! ”

“Really? Lying is a bad thing, you know?” 

“Are you calling Areya a liar? AREYA IS NOT A LIAR!”

She was so frustrated that her cheeks puffed up and her lips pouted, Areya even started referring to herself in third person perspective. 

All the while she grew incense, Ashten opened his uncouth adult mouth.

“Perhaps? Having no proof of claim, even a pig is a dragon. There, you are a little chubby lia—OOF!”

Ashten was made to shut his mouth as air was forced out his lungs as the girl sent herself flying to his stomach headfirst. 

He was just about to let out a pained groan, but his body that obsessed in its grace and noble appearance would not allow it.

Ashten was far too entertained to think she would have the strength to sneak attack him.

Sweat did not appear on his forehead, but his back was drenched. He did not crumble, instead he caught the little girl by the armpits before she got back to the ground. 

“You litt—”

“I’M A DRAGON!” The little girl cut him off with a powerful shout. Water formed around her cute round crimson eyes, “I,I AM… DRAGON…!”

She was in tears trying as she tried to keep herself together. Holding it in herself to be as tough as she could. 

Ashten stood there listless on what he should do.

‘This doesn’t happen…when I’m alone.’

Children had always cried around him due to —as he claimed it to be—- their ‘childishness’ and ‘weakness’ to stand before the ‘grace’ he carried himself with. During these times, there will be nobles or maids scurrying over to take them away.

Quigo’s quips will annoy him; Noel will mess with him and they’ll fight; Astoria shakes his head judgingly and lectures him; and Mia just looks at him with scorn in her eyes.

There would always be someone present to buffer the situation. 

Not this time. 

Without any experience with children the Great Ashten was at a loss. 

He wanted to turn away and leave but that would be proving Noel’s point. 

“Oh! I—um—aaah—-I can feel it! M—my blood that has been blessed by the Phoenix… Yes, that’s it! It is reacting to your…um…talent!”

Ashten announced in a barely convincing tone. 

His face reddened slightly. It was unsure if it was from running around or shame.

‘What am I doing?’

He inwardly sighed, but he did not let it show.

“Really?” 

Before she could wipe her tears and snot with her arm, Ashten brought out a handkerchief and carefully cleaned her face. He brought out another handkerchief and wiped away the sweat off her forehead and neck.

“I may not be sure of your true race, but I can feel it at the core of your great potential. So even if I am unsure, I can at least say that I was wrong for making assumptions due to my limited information. So, stop crying now.”

With a snap of his fingers a tri-colored ball of fire appeared and turned the dirty handkerchief to ashes.

“Woah.” The little girl’s eyes widened at the sight of the flames. “Are you also a dragon?”

“Not exactly, I am contracted with the Sovereign of the Skies known as the Phoenix.”

Her eyes shone like polished ruby.

“Phoenix!? You mean the Immortal Fires!? That’s amazing!”

“Yes, look at this.” he snapped his fingers and summoned a three colored flame, “This is the Prismatic Fire, it is one of the three proofs of my contract with the Phoenix. So, I can tell if a person has a regal lineage and I can tell that you are someone extraordinary!”

“Really!? I mean! Of course you would sense that from me! I am a Dragon after all, hehehe.” the little girl announced with a prideful smile. 

“That’s right, and having deemed you of high class, I want to adopt you and become my daughter.” added Ashten, “As the contractor of the Phoenix, aren’t I good enough to be the Great Dragon’s Guardian?”

The little girl cutely tilted her head, mulling over what he offered. She closed her eyes shut and her eyebrows furrowed as if thinking was giving her physical pain. 

‘She’s considering it.’ 

Then she opened her eyes. 

She finally made her decision.

“I don’t know…I don’t think I can hunt for two people right now. I’m not as strong as my brother..”

“...if you agree to becoming adopted I’ll feed you anything you want.”

“REALLY!? Dea—Wait, no, I can’t, I ‘m looking for my brother, he disappeared and—” 

“I’ll help look for your older brother as well. I’ll adopt him too if you want.”

“Really!? You’ll help me look for him!?”

Ashten nodded, “I have a few people in my employ who are good at finding missing people.” 

“Dragon, he’s a Dragon.”

“Yeah, that’s doable as long as you offer us enough information. So, what do you say, do you want to be my daughter?”

To answer his question, the little girl threw her hands up in the air with a loud shout!

“Woo! Food supply secured! DEAL!”

With the widest of smiles, the little girl dances awkwardly shaking her little butt side to side and up and down.

“...what’s with the dance?”

“The hunting dance! It is a dance you do after securing your food!”

“...I see.” 

Said Ashten with an approving nod. 

‘She’s a little lacking in intelligence and feral, but she’ll do.’

Ashten acquired a daughter.