Aengus appeared in Aria’s room, and saw her completely fine.
He sighed in relief as he approached Aria from behind as she gazed at the moon through the window.
Sensing his presence, Aria turned around, a huge smile spreading across her face.
Hugging her lightly, Aengus asked, “Were you worried?”
Aria answered meekly, “Yes, a little. Did you win? And at what cost?”
“Yes, of course. But it cost one-third of the forest,” Aengus answered slowly.
Aria’s eyes were kind. “Are you feeling guilty, Aengus?”
Aengus pulled back and shook his head. “No, because I know these sacrifices were necessary for the greater good and for the peace of this world.”
“Yes, Ethan. You’ve done only what was necessary. There’s no need to think of right or wrong,” Aria said, her warm hand reassuring him.
Aengus nodded, but his expression grew serious.
“Aria, I’ve recovered all my memories…” he paused.
Aria smiled at the news. “That’s good, Ethan. But… why do you look worried?”
Aengus looked straight into her eyes. “Aria, I might disappear from this world at any moment, and I still don’t know how to bring you with me. You might need to wait here until I can come back for you.”
Aria’s face drained of color. “Is there no other way? And… do you know how long I might have to wait?”
“No, I don’t know yet,” Aengus replied, leaning against the window wall. “But don’t worry about the time. I’ll return as soon as possible. Nevertheless, I won’t leave until I complete my goal and try my hardest to find way out for you all.”
Aria wasn’t completely reassured, but she forced a smile for his sake, knowing he had just endured a difficult battle. He rarely took any time to rest, so she refrained from asking for anything more.
“I know you can do it, Ethan. Why don’t you take a break? You must be exhausted from all that fighting. I can only imagine how tough it must have been. Why not tell me the story of your battle while you relax?” she suggested with a gentle smile.
Aengus nodded. “Ah, yes, but don’t you want to visit your father’s house?”
“No, not today. It’s already dark. Let’s go tomorrow,” Aria replied, settling on one side of the bed and leaving the other side open for him.
“Okay,” Aengus agreed, quickly changing into comfortable sleepwear to rest and recover from his mental fatigue.
He was careful not to release his suppressed aura carelessly; otherwise, it could have already harmed Aria.
He lay down, resting his head on the pillow, and recounted the events in a calm tone, as if everything had been easy. He knew that if Aria understood the extent of his suffering, she would feel guilty. But Aengus brushed off the pain—because the gains were worth it.
He was now a Transcendental, and only a few could now stand against him.
Aria sensed he was downplaying the risks involved in attaining Transcendental Rank, but she didn’t press him further. Instead, she silently clenched her fist in frustration, yet she was also happy about his promotion to the Transcendental Rank.
—
The next day, they had planned to visit Aria’s father and relatives, but that changed with unexpected news.
The guards at the General’s residence informed them that the Araknis Kingdom was now engaged in a civil war against Emperor Kairos.
This development completely altered their plans.
“What should we do?” Aria asked Aengus as they walked out of the General’s residence.
Aengus thought for a moment before responding, “Let’s head to the battlefield. It’s time to repay what General Leon has done for us.”
“And what exactly are you planning to do?” Aria asked, wanting to know his intentions.
“To make you an Empress,” Aengus replied slyly.
“What! Me? An Empress?” Aria was stunned, finding it both exciting and unrealistic.
“You plan to overthrow Emperor Kairos with just yourself? I heard he has multiple Transcendentals on his side, including himself,” she added seriously.
“Not alone, of course. We’ll need General Leon’s help, as well as others. I just need to prove that I’m strong enough to rally the necessary allies—and those who don’t agree will be removed from this world,” he said, his tone almost indifferent.
Aria observed his confident demeanor, which eased her nerves. She was determined to contribute to this endeavor—a new order was essential to restore peace and prosperity.
Aengus quickly summoned a wyvern from his legions, ordering it to fly them both to the battlefield.
As they traveled, Aria’s curiosity grew about his origins in the Primal Realm.
“Ethan, if you remember all your memories, could you tell me your father’s and mother’s names? It’s just curiosity, but I’d love to know more about your family,” she asked.
Aengus’s face twitched, recalling old, painful memories. But he answered calmly, “Our family name is Degaro. Everyone born into it carries the Law of Darkness—everyone except me. They have countless descendants due to their long lifespans, and I was one of the main family descendants without the Darkness Law. That’s why I was despised and chastised by everyone, including my grandfather and father.”
“My father is Augustus Degaro, a very proud and self-centered man. He deemed me useless after discovering I had no talent, despite being his first child out of three. He gave all of his love to my younger brother and sister. I can’t completely blame him, knowing the truth of the world, but that doesn’t mean I’m not upset. Only my mother, Eleanora, was always on my side. She’s a kind and warm lady who shielded me from storms, treating all her children equally.”
Aria listened intently, feeling a pang of sympathy in her heart. She couldn’t imagine the weight of such isolation and rejection.
“Well, at least you have a younger brother and sister. They do treat you kindly, right?”
Aengus nodded, the bitterness in his eyes softening slightly.
“My relationship with them is pretty normal. Even if they sometimes act offensively, I forgive them, because they’re still young and easily influenced by others.”
