Eternal Thief

"The truth is I was exiled from the Blood Continent when I was only two months old." Alina revealed in a sad tone, "Grandpa Herman took me to the Azure Wind Continent and hid in the lower lands, the humans had sealed for some reason.

"But humans were once the hunter-race subordinate race, and we know some hidden passages in the Azure Wind Continent that are either long forgotten or only known by bigwigs.

"The ancient passage that led to the lower lands from the royal lands is of the former category, and that's why Grandpa Herman took me here so no one could find us and raised me in a forest close to the River Flower City but never let me interact with any human.

"At that time, I didn't know my background. I just knew that my parents were dead and Grandpa was my only family. He taught me cultivation so I can protect myself.

"Until one day, Grandpa Herman took me to the city with him that day because I wanted to see what a city looks like, and he probably thought that it would be safe.

"But in truth, he was meeting with another hunter sent here by our clan and secretly made contact with him through our clan's unique bloodline ability. However, who could've thought that a human expert would somehow discover that messenger and follow him to us?

"That's why Grandpa Herman and that messenger had no choice but to lure him as far away from me as possible, and I left alone in that city without even knowing what happened.

She then looked at Ace, who was attentively listening to her story with a gentle expression, and said tenderly, "Until I met you that fateful night. I was afraid that he abandoned me and was afraid to be alone. Yet, you took me in and treated me to the best of your abilities, just like your own sister. Despite your own living conditions, you gave me the best.

"That time spent with you was probably the happiest time of my life until I suddenly fell into my bloodline awakening, which I had no idea would occur when I reached ten years of age like any other hunter.

"But knowing nothing about my condition, you sold your parents' house for cheap so you could buy me some alchemy pills. Yet, I left with Grandpa once he helped me with the pill he was saving up for me, and then he told me about my parents were alive, and I could finally be united with them. But I left without even giving you a proper explanation…"

Her eyes turned teary again as those memories surfaced again. But she didn't cry and continued.

"Afterward, I've finally learned the truth behind my exile. It was because of a grave sin my Grandparents had committed against our entire race by trying to perform some kind of ritual with our race's sacred treasure.

"Thereby, the Blood Ancestor personally acted and executed them on the spot, and in her wrath, she nearly annihilated our Silver Ice Clan. However, she stopped because of one reason… me!"

Ace was surprised by this revelation and remained silent to let Alina continue because he suddenly felt hatred from her, and her eyes went deadly cold.

"Although I don't know the exact details since my Father and Mother won't talk about it much. But the information they had revealed to appease me was that the Blood Ancestor discovered a massive potential in me.

"So, in return for me being her disciple, she was willing to spare my parents and remaining of Silver Ice Clan. However, she had a twisted condition which was for me to raise away from my parents and races for a decade.

"Before this exile period ended, I couldn't know if I had a family, my background, or even my race. Furthermore, if I don't retune or am found dead after ten years, my clan will suffer complete annihilation.

"That's why they both were forced to sign this soul contract and made Grandpa Herman to raised me far away from the continent and them. Until the exile period was over, and I was finally able to retune.

"However, soon everyone realized my potential as once I started cultivating in my clan's cultivation technique after my bloodline awakening, I made progress at a terrifying rate.

"Furthermore, I had a strange affinity with swords as I seemed to learn sword techniques far quicker than anyone else, even geniuses, and awaken my element sword intent.

"Once my potential was revealed, the Silver Ice Clan's prestige also started to rise, and I've become famous very soon. However, this joy didn't last for long, as when I turned 18, the Blood Ancestor finally reached out and summoned me.

"Then she told me about the agreement she had made with my parents and why my thoroughly weakened clan wasn't fully annihilated despite the other four clans having such intention.

"She seemed to be manipulating the entire race from the shadows and watching my every move. I felt extremely unconformable when she revealed it and asked me to be her disciple.

"I might've agreed, but she told me that I had to sign a soul contract with her and then remained in close door seclusion with her for 500 years; once I accepted her as my master, I instantly rejected her.

"But for some reason, she didn't seem angry; instead, she laughed and said, "One day, I will agree to it, and she won't force me to do anything." Thereby, I became vigilant of Blood Ancestor, and even my parents didn't comment on this when I told them.

"They seemed to be neither happy nor angry and just acted as if they didn't know anything and told me never to reveal this to anyone. But as I become stronger and stronger, I start to feel a foreboding feeling, so much so that I suppress my own cultivation speed."

Alina's eyes brightened all of a sudden as she happily said, "Until one day, I was finally able to sneak out of the Blood Continent, and what happened afterward, you should already know. I came to find you but was detained by Dream Shatter Ancestor, and then they used me as bait to lure you out!"