Looking at Freya's smiling expression, Various thoughts ran past William's brain trying to figure out the meaning behind her actions.
But even after thinking for a while William couldn't come up with any logical answer.
"Let me apologize as I might have been a little bit forceful before", Freya said with her usual smile as she looked at William, not at all minding the fact that he was about to turn her from a goddess to a dullahan.
'Little bit?', The corner of William's mouth twitch as he look at the shameless goddess, But decided to not say anything.
"Although our first encounter didn't go as planned...", said Freya as she paused and extend her hand towards William and said.
"I would still invite you to join my familia", Freya said with her usual charming smile.
"I decline", William gave a short reply as he got ready to run as soon as Freya's face distort in anger.
But his prediction didn't come true.
"Fine then", Beyond all of his expectations Freya, instead of getting angry.... actually agreed with a face that showed she knew William's reply in the first place.
William silently stared at Freya trying to understand what she was getting at.
"But....", Freya suddenly said.
'As expected', William thought,' There's no way that she would let me go that easily...'.
"1 year", Freya said with an ambiguous smile on her face as she raised one of her fingers.
Even Ottar looked confused, not understanding what his goddess is trying to do.
"If you can become powerful enough to beat Ottar in 1 year then I will give up on you, If not then you will have to willingly join my familia", Freya said as she looked at William like a predator.
"What if I refuse--", William couldn't finish his sentence as a Bastard sword flew pass his head.
"Sorry my hand slipped", Said Ottar in a not at all apologetic tone.
With an indifferent look in his eyes, William stared straight at Ottar, who in turn stared back at him.
Their gazes clashed mid-air, producing invisible sparks, with none of them having the intention of backing off.
"2 Years", Freya said as she got in between William and Ottar.
"Fine", William said, but his hand never left the hilt of his sword.
"Fufufufu~", Freya just laughed as she saw William's expression.
"I'll take my leave then", William said in a small voice as he turned around and left the street.
Freya didn't stop William and just kept looking at his receding figure.
When William was passing by Ottar, a small but firm voice reached Ottar's ears.
"Don't leave crowded places."
For an instant a pair of calm and fiery eyes stared at each other before parting away like nothing happened.
Then William left the alleyway.
Standing beside her Ottar turned to face Freya and said,"Goddess why did you--".
"Why did I go to such length just to recruit him?', Freya said.
Ottar just obediently noded his head toward Freya.
Instead of answering him, Freya touched the wound on her neck as she remembered the scene when William grabbed her.
Ottar quickly took out the highest grade healing potion as he saw the wound, But Freya stopped him.
"He's similiar....", Freya said as she turned towards Ottar.
Ottar didn't understand Freya's meaning.
"He's like how you were before Ottar", Freya said with a caring smile on her face as she touched Ottar's cheek.
"Lonely, untrusting and perhaps even afraid of the world just like you were before you met me", Freya said as she remembered how she had misunderstood the wall which represented William's soul.
It wasn't an unbreakable wall.
But a lonely one, Which didn't trusted anyone.
Ottar's eyes enlarged as he heard Freya.
"Let us leave as well then", Freya said as she turned around, she also remembered how William tried his best to resist her divine power with his will alone, which was a first for her and made her want him even more.
Unknowingly a smile formed on her face.
Ottar silently looked at Freya's back as he remembered her words.
'He's just like you....', Ottar got on his knees and touched the blood which dropped from his beloved goddesses body.
"He is nothing like me", Ottar said with gritted teeths as madness burned in his eyes while he collected all of Freya's blood from the ground.
William who didn't know what just happened, was now making his way towards Hephaestus familia.
'2 years ....', William thought in his mind.
A sharp glint appeared in William's eyes as he thought.
'More than enough'.