"I feel a little embarrassed addressing you by name, now that you are my master." Aroon replied a little smiley, he was genuinely happy about being assigned to work under The Lord of Time, a familiar and kind face that Aroon recognized after Jihi made Aroon do all sorts of jobs since his arrival years ago, just to keep him around and busy until Ned's return.
One specific perk that came with being Ned's assistant, was gaining a similar immortality as him, in order to be able to serve the lord of time, endlessly.
It was a better way and a safer one to becoming an immortal, than using dark magic as Aroon first intended.
Plus, that way Ned could keep even a closer eye on Aroon, monitoring him without having much issues, it was a good plan especially with Yurei out of his way for the time being.
"Don't be embarrassed Aroon, I'd rather have you call me by My name or you can add 'sir' to it at most if that makes you feel better.
But Calling me Master?... sounds a little bit too much for me, I never liked being called such a title in the past.
I always have preferred my name."
"Past? Were you a nobleman by any chance, before all of this, Sir?"
"More like the noblemen's kid, my parents may have been High profile, but I never saw myself as one of them.
That's why when I left my family home, I kept my identity hidden most of the time even in medical school...one of the reasons why I didn't want to remain in my original world and agreed to Let Jihi send me to your world the normal world, was to avoid being thrown back into that rich people's charade."
"I still don't understand, Why would such a thing happen?" Aroon asked, Ned has already told him a version of what happened to him and how he ended up being the lord of time, a version that didn't mention Aroon being the reason why all of This happened in the first place.
"If my calculations are right, there should be currently a battle between Derora's nobles over who gets the throne, and my father is most likely to be amongst those said nobles trying to claim the crown of Derora for himself...
Yurei is uninterested in going back to Derora even if he could, and with the former king Muriel and the rest of his children all deceased, those mentioned above are the only known Spencer royal family to exist and what I believe to be the rightful owners of the crown especially Yurei, but now all of them are unable or don't want to take position on the throne."
"So the nobles can just go and claim the throne for themselves? just like that?"
"No of course not, there's rules to that but yes they can try and claim it! if there is no family members alive, able or willing to rule, the nobles can fight over the throne like cats and dogs.
I have to admit I'm worried about the future of Derora, Something like this has never happened before in my country, and Junglaya kingdom might get affected as well with such problem, I don't think that they too have anyone else to take care of the throne, other than Tacito who's Yurei's partner, and we all know Tacito is not going back just like Yurei isn't either...
Ugh! now that I think about it, I have a bad feeling the people are gonna die in between the lines, those nobles have no care in mind for the peasants! they just might do about anything to become royals."
"That sounds awful! Maybe it would have been better to allow people to choose their own monarch?"
"Like an election? Yeah." Ned nodded at him, trying to break the ice even further, "Democracy is better, but what happens to that world, to Derora, is no longer my concern...So, let's change the subject then!
Do you know why most witch contracts accept payments using weird things like your memories of your past lover?" Ned said before he lifted his head up to face his new assistant.
Aroon shook his head a little, "I may not be so sure sir...but I have had my thoughts about it, judging from everything I learned working in this place, it could have something to do with creating new abilities or perfecting them? I think master Jihi said something along those lines before." Aroon spoke giving his opinion.
"Pretty Sharp! it does actually most of the time, that mentally ill Jihi needs things like that to experiment and create new abilities, Yurei's ability was something crafted using such things...that would explain why his ability heavily relies on his familiarity and memories with the place he would want to teleport to." Ned explained but his stomach suddenly growled.
"Oh you still have not eaten yet! i suppose I can take care of that sir!" Aroon replied beaming, he slightly bowed before leaving Ned's study room.
Ned's head dropped again, he was trying to focus on the papers in front of him, "I can't even bring myself to be harsh on you ...I always knew you were a good person, *sight* I felt like you were honestly my friend back then and I believed in you until the very last minute..." he whispered to himself.
For some reason no matter how hard he tried to hate on Aroon, Ned couldn't do it, just a simple smile from the other omega easily warmed his heart, besides he couldn't believe he's a monster, at least Aroon wasn't born that way.
...( Time skip: after the month period ends)...
"My babiiiiies!" Ned admired the adorableness of his little infants.
To the baby twins, Ned was gone for a month, But for him, he hasn't seen them in hundred if not thousands of years.
"Tacito and Yurei already started traveling around the world...what kinda idiot who just spent years and years exploring the worlds go back to traveling again right away?!
Doesn't settling down exist in Yurei's dictionary?!" Shadow was already complaining, she always did that the moment she saw the doctor.
"I couldn't care less what those lovebirds do, those two ungrateful little shits left without a proper goodbye, but right now I'm thankful to you Shadow... for looking after my kids." Ned spoke smiling,
"Yeah, yeah...it was my pleasure taking care of the twins...despite Jade and Jasper being a pain in My ass most of the time." she replied hesitantly, trying to hide the smile forcing its way onto her face.
"Is it true?"
"What's true four eyes?"
"That you're retiring Shadow, you're no longer going to be a witch for Jihi?"
Shadow sighted "Shit yeah, the News got around already?...
I'm going to live again as a human, and since I signed my contract when I was 20 or something, I kinda lost track of time after so many years working and working endlessly towards my freedom, I don't even remember much of my life before this.
Now I got My freedom I'm not sticking around anymore, no matter how much I loved being a witch.
I'll probably have some good 40 to 60 years left to live as a normal human after I resign, as long as I don't get killed during that time I guess haha...so yeah! I'm ready to finally live normally and die like everybody else." she said, something in her voice sounded off, she was worried.
"Do you have any plans, where to go or how you're going to live from now on? I can tell you haven't thought of it yet, Shadow."
"Not really, everyone I knew before becoming a witch is long gone dead, and I chose to live in this normal world for a change, cuz I don't want to deal with any bullshit that's going on right now in Derora...
Anyways, the only skills I have besides being a witch, are martial arts and baby related skills, so I'll probably figure something out with that."
"Then how about working for me?" Ned asked her, she blinked at him twice " You wanna hire me?" she asked.
"I need a nanny anyway! a strong and reliable one too.
You know how busy I am now that Jihi doesn't wanna get off my back, I just signed a new contract."
"I love Your little troublemakers so Don't get me wrong, but when your kids grow up, what I'm going to do then?!"
"You're going to grow up too now Shadow... since you are no longer a witch, and your immortality is gone so You can easily stay as their aunt or grandma, I'll take care of you and you get to enjoy doing anything you desire! You are in the end like a mother and sister to me...
Shadow, do you realize how much i cherish you? let me return the favors you keep doing for me." Ned replied while nuzzling baby Jade, Shadow Swiftly picked the remaining twin to carry.
"You know four-eyes... if I had someone like you with me before becoming a witch, I probably wouldn't have signed my contract." Shadow spoke gently patting baby Jasper in her arms.
....( Meanwhile).....
"Umm Yurei...was it a...good idea to...leave Ned behind?" Tacito asked, "We didn't even...say goodbye to...him."
"It's Probably for the best, Ned isn't interested in coming with us anyway since he obviously didn't like the idea of constant traveling when he and I worked together, and he has his kids...
Most likely, he'll try to settle down somewhere, maybe a place that resembles Derora." Yurei replied as he sat down.
The two were already chilling in a hotel room in Italy, Tacito himself wasn't interested to go anywhere but since a witch doesn't have to stay in one place, Yurei managed to convince Tacito to travel around the world with him.
Tacito sat by the balcony as he always does and away from Yurei, it bothered Yurei that Tacito wasn't sitting next to him inside, but he didn't mention anything.
Although Tacito can easily feel something bothering Yurei, since they're mates.
" Yurei."
"Yes sugar."
"The thing is...umm...nevermind... it's nothing."
"Don't stop, what did you want to say Taci?"
Tacito bit his lips, he turned to face Yurei "Queen Mallory was...your father but...what do you know... about your mother...Yurei?"
Yurei's eyebrow rose up at the question, "That whomever my mother is, was suddenly a no show right after giving birth to me? both of my poor excuse of parents choose to abandon me the same day I was born...and frankly speaking I don't give a damn, I lived happily without them."
"I suppose... that's why Ned...says you wouldn't...celebrate your birthday."
"What do you mean?" Yurei asked blinking twice.
Sighing, Tacito missed when he could just sign instead of talk, he never liked to talk, "June 9th has... already passed.
But I wish...i forgave you...way earlier before...that... before the mission... started.
I wanted us...to celebrate your...birthday.
Can we still do...that?"
"I don't want to celebrate my birthday! like you said it already passed anyways." Yurei spoke standing up.
"Not even for...me? I want to...I...umm nevermind." Tacito responded as he noticed his bracelet glow, when a witch's bracelet starts glowing it meant he had a job to do,
When Tacito got up, Yurei freaked out "Where are you going Taci? I'm sorry I was harsh on you!" Yurei quickly said while holding Tacito's hand.
Pushing the place Jumper's hand away "You always do...things your way...when did you... ever consider my...opinion?
Even as your... mate...I can't handle...you being a...hypocrite." Tacito said before opening his portal.
"Taci!"
"I have work..to do now...see you later...when you're not...sulking about everything."