“Do you know how long it took him to reach this level? And your assumption of him being a B-Rank might be wrong. He’s likely far more powerful.”
“How long?” General Felix asked, his curiosity deepening.
Leon smiled faintly. “Two months at most.”
“What? Two months?” Felix muttered, clearly astonished. Even as a Transcendental, this revelation shocked him greatly.
“Just what is that boy’s identity?”
“I don’t know,” Leon replied. “He’s an enigma, even to me.”
Seeing Leon’s smile, Felix grinned. “Well, it seems we may have a new Transcendental among us soon enough. Or perhaps he could set us free from these shackles.”
—-
The sun was almost set, and Aengus and group slowly strolled through the streets to reach General Leon’s house, which was near the vicinity of King’s Castle.
Aengus and Aria held hand, their figure vanishing from the sight.
—
A few minutes later, they stepped inside a beautiful mansion made of beautiful stone curving, surrounded by strong guards.
Aengus and Aria were now inside a luxurious estate.
They stood before General Leon’s wife, Claire Solaris, a stunning mature woman with golden hair cascading down to her waist. Her eyes sparkled with kindness, tinged with mischief.
Aria quickly introduced Ethan, while telling the tale of their encounters in Dwarvania.
She listened intently, sitting beside a bonfire in chair, just like how a mother listens to their child after their daily adventures.
She was also a S-Rank, making Aengus surprised upon seeing her stats.
“So, Ethan, you’re the one who broke Elyon’s heir…. I’m impressed. It’s not every day we see such talent in our kingdom. You and Aria make a perfect match,” she said with a smile, casting a glance at Aria.
“Aria, you’ve certainly found a good man. Just make sure he doesn’t slip from your grasp,” Claire added playfully, causing Aria’s face to flush red.
“Aunty, I’m sure our story doesn’t even come close to yours and General Leon’s,” Aria replied, breaking her gaze away from Ethan.
Claire sighed, “That’s not true. Leon can be so clueless sometimes that I had to propose to him out of sheer desperation. And look, we still don’t have a child. It’s very frustrating!” She clenched her hand, making the air around her tremble slightly.
“And I’m sure you two will have your own stories to share when you’re our age. Just don’t tie him down too much. Men don’t like that. It’s important for a long, healthy relationship,” Claire whispered into Aria’s ear.
Aria listened intently and nodded in agreement.
Aengus overheard their conversation but respectfully gave them their space, feeling slightly embarrassed by the direction of their talks. He gazed up at the shiny chandeliers, deep in thought about his next steps. He knew he needed to grow stronger and increase his legions to the millions, perhaps even billions, if possible.
“Now, now, Ethan, think of this as your own home,” Claire said with a playful wink. “Aria, why don’t you take him to your room? You did say he’s your fiancé, right? Go ahead and have some private time. I’m sure you two have plenty to catch up on after so long. I’ll prepare a good meal for you lovebirds.”
Aria’s cheeks turned crimson, but before she could respond, Drake chimed in with a grin, “Aunty, what about us? Don’t forget us! I love your cooking so much.”
Claire chuckled, looking at Drake and Yona. “Oh my, I almost forgot you two,” she teased. “Don’t worry, you’ll get your share as well. Just don’t go disturbing Aria and Ethan, alright?” She smiled, giving Aria a knowing glance.
Drake scratched his head, realizing what she meant, but played along. “Sure, Aunty. We’ll wait.”
“I want to help you cook, Aunty!” Yona added suddenly, earning a soft nod of appreciation from Claire.
“Very well, Yona. You can help in the kitchen, while Drake… you can take a shower,” she advised, sending Aria another wink as a sign for their departure.
With her face still flushed, Aria gently tugged Aengus toward her room. Her heart raced with the realization that they would be alone together, but she understood that this was a natural step in nurturing their new relationship, so she didn’t mind sharing her space with him.
Aengus followed Aria in silence, his heart conflicted with the weight of his lies. He knew he couldn’t keep hiding it forever. It was better to be honest now than to build their relationship on lies. He stopped walking, gently pulling her to a halt.
Aria turned to him, her face reflecting confusion.
“Aria,” he spoke, his voice low, “we can check your room later. Can you find a quiet place where we can talk? There’s something important I need to share. I want to tell you about my goals, my aspirations… and I’ve made mistakes that I feel guilty about. I need to let go of these burdens.”
Aria’s eyes softened, and though the matter seemed serious, her expression was still breathtaking. Her long silver hair danced in the night breeze, framing her delicate face in a mesmerizing way. She gently touched his face, her gaze unwavering.
“Sure, Ethan,” she said softly. “But you don’t need to feel burdened. Whatever it is, I will never leave your side.”
Her voice was filled with warmth. “I’m happy you’re opening up to me. Back then You’ve always been distant, hiding behind a wall of mystery that I could never break through. But I want to know all of you.”
She smiled, a tender and reassuring smile. “Come with me, Ethan. I know a beautiful place where you can speak your heart.” With a graceful step, she began to lead the way.
The sun had long set, and the moon bathed the world in its silvery glow. Aria’s figure, with her flowing white dress and the moonlight shining on her, made her look like a goddess descended from the heavens.
Aengus couldn’t help but admire her beauty as he followed, but his mind remained alert, the burden of his upcoming confession still weighing heavily on him.
