Collection 1 Chapter 45 509-517

Chapter 509: Making A Mark In The Pages Of History [Part 3]

Prince Jason, who had just returned from the Army, to check Empress Sidonie's condition, immediately became pale when he saw the collar on her neck.

"Y-You! What have you done?!" Prince Jason charged forward with the intention of breaking the collar on his bride candidate's neck.

How could he possibly accept such an outcome? For the girl he was planning to marry to be enslaved to someone besides him had made him extremely jealous and angry.

Nero immediately blocked the Young Prince's path. The protector had his arms crossed over his chest. It was obvious that he didn't have any intention of allowing Prince Jason to vent out his anger on the two people who had done this of their own free will.

"Give it up, Prince Jason," Nero said firmly. "The Empress had already made her decision. This is not something that you can interfere with."

"How could this be?! Clearly, he used something to befuddle her!" Prince Jason protested. "How can she possibly ask someone to enslave her? This is impossible!"

"Impossible?" the person wearing a black robe said with amusement. "I personally inspected her state of mind. She wasn't under the influence of anything. This was done out of her own free will and choice. Even if you cannot accept it, you have no choice but to accept it."

Prince Jason gritted his teeth in anger. The Protectors had already made their stance and even if he threw a tantrum, it would not do anything. It would only make him look like a child that had lost his favorite toy, which would make the others look down on him.

"This is not over!" Prince Jason swore. "His Majesty will still have the final say in this matter."

The robed man nodded. "This is indeed the case. If you have a complaint, you will have to wait until we return to the Kraetor Empire to voice them out."

Prince Jason snorted and hatefully stormed off. He couldn't bear to see the girl of his dreams being embraced by another man. It was something he couldn't accept, and he would do everything in his power to gain his father's approval when they returned to the Kraetor Empire.

Evexius watched the Prince go and sighed internally. He had already known about Prince Jason's strong attraction to the Empress, but he thought that it was only due to the power of her Charm. He then shifted his attention back to William as he rubbed his chin in contemplation.

'This Half-Elf seemed immune to it.' Evexius mused. 'Perhaps, this is also why the Empress favors him.'

While the Grand Archmage of the Kraetor Empire was deep in his thoughts, an internal struggle had been happening inside Sidonie's mindscape.

< Switch with me! I want to hug darling as well! >

'You can do it later. Let me stay like this for a little while longer.'

< This is unfair! How can you hog Darling all to yourself? I want some of the action, too! >

'Why are you so persistent? It's already a done deal. He can't back away even if he removed the collar on our neck. It's our win.'

< …. Well, you do have a point. But,

still! >

The Young Empress currently had her eyes closed as she leaned on William's body. The Half-Elf only thought that she was still feeling weak since she had just been revived not long ago, so he allowed her to cling to him for the time being.

It was at that moment when Evexius approached him with a smile.

"Congratulations to you, William, and to you, too, Empress Sidonie," Evexius said with a smile. "I'm sure that the grand wedding that will take place a few years from now would be talked about, not only in the Kraetor Empire, but through the entire Central Continent as well."

William, who heard Evexius' words, tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"What wedding?" William asked.

"Your wedding of course," Evexious' smile widened.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Don't you know? Placing a slave collar on a member of the Royal Family of the Kraetor Empire is akin to putting a wedding ring on their finger?"

William's body shuddered. He was about to grab the collar from Empress Sidonie's neck, when the lethargic Empress sprang to life and backed away hurriedly. She then hid behind the back of the purple-haired protector, to prevent William from taking the collar off her neck.

The corner of William's lips twitched when he saw how agile the Once-Dead-Empress was. He then shifted his attention to the smiling Archmage by his side and was very tempted to slap Evexius' face.

"What do you mean wedding? I'm not aware of this custom," William protested.

"Well, you're not the first, nor will you be the last person to say that," Evexius replied.

"Um? What do you mean, I'm not the first nor the last person?" William inquired.

Evexius moved close to William and whispered something in his ears. The Half-Elf's expression immediately changed as he realized that he had been set-up by the Succubus Empress.

"Well, don't worry," Evexius patted William's shoulder. "You're still young and the wedding has to wait for a few more years. Besides, the Emperor of the Kraetor will have the final say in the marriage. You just need to visit him in the Kraetore Empire and convince him that you have been duped."

William was about to protest again when he remembered that he still had matters to settle in the Kraetor Empire. Est's, Ashe's, and Isaac's curses could only be lifted after he had a meeting with Lady Astrid's brother, Aamon.

His base of operation was in the Kraetor Empire, so burning his bridges here would only make things difficult for him in the future.

The Half-Elf just stared at the dark clouds that hung in the sky in resignation. He knew that he still had to explain himself to his lovers about his shotgun wedding with Empress Sidonie who had successfully hoodwinked William by using his conscience against him.

Evexius chuckled internally as he looked at the Half-Elf's resigned expression. Having a son-in-law like William would be a huge boon to the Kraetor Empire's prestige. Not only was he the son of the Saintess of the Elves, he was also the son of the Human Hero that had fought off the Demon Invasion.

His lineage was solid, and the merits that he had performed during this war were also noteworthy. With such an imposing resume, it was practically a done deal that William would become a son-in-law of the Kraetor Royal Family.

The only thing that would seal it completely was Emperor Leonidas' Imperial Decree. As long as that was issued, William wouldn't be able to escape, even if he grew wings and flew away.

After lamenting his current situation, William sighed and looked at the Empress who was peeking out from behind the purple-haired woman.

Empress Sidonie looked back at William with a teasing smile on her face. However, her eyes were filled with love. This made the Half-Elf sigh once again before walking towards the Bone Dragon that would take him back to the Hellan Kingdom's camp.

The undead that had escorted William in this endeavor glanced at the Young Empress before following their Vampire Prince back to the City of Gladiolus.

Although they had been dead for thousands of years, they still appreciated the Young Empress' boldness in ensnaring the only person that managed to win against Malacai's bet.

Although there were a lot of twists and turns, the war had finally come to an end.

A few years in the future, the battles between the Elves and the Hellan Kingdom would be compiled and sent out to the various Factions, Kingdoms, Empires, and Academies across the entire world of Hestia.

Although many things would be omitted like Malacai's Scepter, and the Undying Lands, the story would remain true to how the events had transpired. William, along with his lovers, and Empress Sidonie had taken the center stage in this tale.

Many commoners, nobles, and members of the Royal Families wouldn't be able to keep themselves from praising it and calling it a masterpiece.

It was a classic that would still be talked about thousands of years in the future. A tale that would serve as the first among several sagas of the Legendary Shepherd who had made his mark in the pages of history in a world of Swords and Magic.

Chapter 510: On Behalf Of Humanity, Please, Accept My Sincerest Gratitude

"This is mine!" Kasogonaga declared as he held Erchitu's Beast Core in a vice grip. "You already got that Dragon's head. This is mine!"

Psoglav chuckled as he moved closer to the Anteater who was looking at him with a determined expression.

"What are you talking about? I caught that Dragon's head fair and square," Psoglav said in a calm manner. "Also, I was the one that secured the storage ring from Elandorr."

"Not only did you have that Dragon's head and its Beast Core, you also ate that bastard Elf as well! You've already profited, so this is mine!"

The Anteater was adamant on keeping Erchitu's Beast Core for himself. He planned to eat it in order to raise his ranks, and reach the peak of the Millennial Rank as soon as possible.

"How about we talk about this? Let's negotiate like civil beasts."

"Scram!"

The corner of Erchitu's lips twitched as he watched his two friends started to wrestle in order to gain possession of his Beast Core.

The leader of William's Revenants was very tempted to slap the two annoying creatures and say…

"Am I a joke to the two of you?"

A few minutes later, Kasogonaga happily gnawed on Erchitu's Beast Core. Psoglav laid on the ground unconscious, because the Demigod resorted to violence and rolled all over the Demonic Dog until his eye rolled up in its socket.

This was the scene that William saw when he arrived to check on Erchitu's condition.

Kasogonaga waved at him as crisp sounds came out of its mouth. It was eating Erchitu's Beast Core as if it was eating a bag of potato chips.

"Erchitu, are you sure you don't want to crossover?" William asked. "I will be performing the Ceremony of Purification in an hour. You can still change your mind."

Erchitu shook his head. "No. I will continue to serve until you have crossed to the afterlife. This is what I, and the rest of the other Revenants, decided during our meeting."

"Understood. However, if you ever change your mind, just tell me, okay?"

"Okay."

William gave Kasogonaga a side-long glance before heading outside of the city. The rainbow-colored Anteater had a blissful expression on its face as it continued to eat Erchitu's Beastcore.

The Half-Elf found this sight comedic, but since Erchitu had no qualms with it. He didn't say anything as well.

An hour later…

William stood outside the city where the Super Soldiers, and the Ash Golems gathered. The millions of Skeleton Soldiers that had been in the Undying Lands for thousands of years, were also there.

Even though they were only bones right now, the blue blaze within their hollow eye sockets burned with anticipation.

William looked at this impressive army and sighed. The Undead Legion had protected the last bastion of Humanity for thousands of years. It was now time for them to rest.

Malacai had also given his silent approval of William's actions. Although no words were shared between the two of them, the Dracolich kept mum on what William was about to do.

Instead of Humans, the Undead Elves now resided inside Avalon. They were the replacement army that would serve as the Fortress' protectors for many years to come.

"On behalf of humanity, please, accept my sincerest gratitude for your bravery. Without you, we would not be enjoying the things that we now have today." William bowed respectfully. "May all of you pass safely through the Cycle of Reincarnation and be blessed with new lives that are worthy of your sacrifices."

The Skeletons raised their weapons in salute to William's words.

The Three Goliaths, and the Three Sovereigns who were now mounted on Undead Qilins looked at their comrades. They had refused to cross over to the afterlife, and wished to remain in the World of Hestia.

William respected their decision, and was even glad that they planned to stay. As long as they were around, the Guardians of the Silvermoon Continent wouldn't dare to renege on their promise of surrender.

Then the Half-Elf looked at the Ash Golems and the Super Soldiers that stood beside the Undead Legion.

"I also wish for all of you to find happiness in your new lives," William said softly. "Rest assured, this land is now at peace. Your sacrifices will not be forgotten. I will see to it that none of you will be forgotten."

The Ash Golems and the Super Soldiers made subtle movements. It was their way of thanking William for giving them a chance to cross over.

William raised his right hand, and it was soon covered with a white blaze.

The Flames of Purification burned brightly as its blaze rose over a hundred meters into the air.

"If Fate permits it, let us meet again," William declared. "Goodbye, everyone."

William waved his hand and the white flames fell over the Undead

Legion, Ash Golems, and the Super Soldiers.

The flames spread quite fast, enveloping all of them as if they were dried leaves. The Elves, the Kraetor Army, the Minotaur Race, and the survivors of the Hellan Kingdom witnessed this amazing scene with solemn expressions.

Soon, a joyous laughter rang out from the flames. As if a spark was ignited, more laughter followed until it became the sound of cheering.

Thousands…

Tens of thousands…

Hundreds of thousands…

Millions…

Millions of souls rose up and circled around the skies of the capital. Some approached William and thanked him. Others wished him well, and some told him that they would return the favor if ever they crossed paths again in the future.

It was a joyous scene, and yet, William wasn't able to stop his tears from falling. He had locked the emotions inside his heart after witnessing the darkness of humanity.

The darkness inside his heart hadn't disappeared. It was still there, and yet, after hearing the champions of humanity, who stood against the armies of the Gods, thank him for letting them find true rest, he wasn't able to stop the tears from falling like rain.

They were heroes in an era that had been long forgotten, and now, they would embark on a new journey, somewhere out there.

Not even the dark clouds that hung over the Southern Continent could block their path. The surroundings had already turned dark, but the millions of souls shone like countless stars in the sky.

William waved his hand to see them all off, and they waved back at him before ascending towards the heavens.

"Beautiful," Wendy said softly.

Celine, Ashe, Est, and Isaac, who were standing beside her nodded their heads in agreement. It was indeed a beautiful sight.

A sight that they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

—–

A few hours after William finished his Purification Ceremony…

Empress Sidonie looked at her reflection in the mirror and giggled. Her hand caressed the slave collar on her neck that marked her as someone who belonged to William.

According to the customs of the Kraetor Empire, members of the Royal Family that had been given a slave collar, out of their own free will, would become the lifelong partners of the one that placed the collars on their necks.

Although this may sound like a weird tradition, it was actually a rule that was passed down by the First Emperor of the Empire when it was first founded.

It was more like a game.

Every member of the Royal Family in the world of Hestia was protected from the effects of a slave collar. Meaning, even if they were forced to wear collars on their necks, they could disobey the orders of their so-called masters.

This also held true for the members of the Kraetor Royal Family. However, Aamon's condition, before he became their Protector God, was that this game must be added to their tradition. Naturally, he also imposed a requirement for it.

The slave collar must be worn on their own free will. If anyone dared to place a slave collar on the Royal Bloodline of the Kraetor Empire, they would be cursed by Aamon himself and their souls would be dragged down to Hell, to suffer eternal torture, when they died.

As long as this rule was honored, one of the Gods from Hell–who wouldn't lose to Cernunnos when it came to mood swings–would remain the Kraetor Empire's Protector Deity.

Since then, members of the Royal Family had followed this rule. Even the reigning Emperor of the Kraetor Empire proudly wore a slave collar on his neck. This proved how inviolable this custom was.

"Although there were a lot of mishaps, we still did it in the end, Morgana," Empress Sidonie said as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

< Yes. >

The reflection on the mirror smirked. Morgana then caressed the collar on her neck and sighed.

< The moment the Elves decided to come here to negotiate, their fates had already been sealed. >

Morgana smiled sweetly at her other half, who was looking back at her with a devilish smirk.

Contrary to what the Elven Delegation thought, Empress Sidonie had successfully planted her Charm Spell inside their consciousness, the moment they laid their eyes on her.

From the beginning, Elandorr, and Alessio had already fallen into her hands. However, she didn't exert her control over them until the last minute.

The only one that managed to resist her Charm Spell was Eneru.

A Myriad Beast was not very easy to subjugate, however, when he was injured during his solo attack on the Hellan Kingdom, Prince Ernest was forced to use Heaven's Fury. This attack had not only cut off Eneru's Arm, but also cut dimensional space.

This allowed Lady Eros to send a strand of her Divine Charm to penetrate Eneru's body, while he was fleeing. This was done in utmost secrecy, because Lady Eros needed to follow certain rules imposed upon them by the Temple of the Ten Thousand Gods.

If Prince Ernest hadn't used that attack, Lady Eros wouldn't have been able to place a Charm Spell on Eneru's body, that she could use to manipulate him anytime.

Everything that the Elves planned was known to Sidonie, because she could see, and hear, what her Charmed Ones could. This allowed her to gain full access to confidential information that was known only to the Elves.

Empress Sidonie also gave subtle commands to Elandorr, which had prevented the Elven Commander from issuing critical commands at the right moment.

< Still… Lady Eros should have told us her plan. Eneru suddenly attacking Darling was not something we knew beforehand. If we've only known what our Goddess was planning, we might have made our own preparations. >

'True. But, if we knew about her plan, I'm afraid that the outcome would not be the same. Perhaps Lady Eros knew that we would overthink things and decided to keep us in the dark."

Eneru's attempt to kill William was orchestrated by the Goddess of Lust. It was her way of helping her girls form a deeper connection with the red-headed boy whom her daughters loved.

Empress Sidonie and Morgana knew that William was someone who cared about people important to him. They were quite touched when the latter used his life saving artifact in order to bring them back to life.

The armor they were wearing was called Immortal Empress Armor. It was Lady Eros' gift to them to ensure their safety. Anyone who wore the armor would be revived from death after an hour passed.

This ability could be activated once every three days.

The Young Empress took a calculated risk, and it paid off.

If William hadn't revived them then their feelings towards William might have changed. Princess Sidonie was looking for someone that would be willing to love her with all of their heart. William's selfless act had made her love for the Half-Elf burn even brighter inside her heart.

'With this, Sir William will be our fiance.'

< Yes! Now, we just need to have a good relationship with his other lovers and it will be perfect. Also, he mentioned that he is planning to visit the Kraetor Empire in the Central Continent. Once he's there… we can immediately make the wedding preparations! We'll be on our home turf! >

Empress Sidonie smiled and nodded her head. She was sure that William would resist with all of his might, but if he really needed to do something inside the Kraetor Empire, he would have to gain the permission of the Royal Family first.

The beautiful lady blushed as she heard Morgana's devious plan to milk William dry and get his babies. Although she had gotten used to her other half's lustful nature, she didn't mind having William's children.

She had long decided that she would only give birth to the children of the man that would capture her heart.

Chapter 511: When The Past No Longer illuminates The Future, The Spirit Walks In Darkness [Part 1]

"Twenty thousand God Points!"

"Twenty five!"

"Thirty!"

William looked at the noisy surroundings as he sat in his VIP box inside the Auction House of the Gods.

This was a place where the followers of the Gods, as well as the Gods, bid for items that caught their fancy. Naturally, there were restrictions placed on the Gods that forbade them from bidding on any item that they saw.

Since the currency used were God Points, the Gods were clearly at an advantage. In order to balance things out, a clear-cut rule was made, so that certain items could only be bought by their followers.

The Auction of the Gods was separated by two schedules. The morning auction, and the evening auction. The morning auction as an exclusive auction for their followers. The evening auction, on the other hand, allowed both the Gods and their followers to bid for the items that they wanted.

Right now, William was seated on an expensive couch, with Lily's head resting on his lap, as he waited for his auctioned entry to make an appearance.

Yes. This was also a place where the Gods, and their chosen candidates, could mingle and see each other freely.

Issei and David were also in the VIP room with William, and seated on special seats beside his couch.

William lightly patted Lily's hair as he listened to the bidding war that was happening right now. If the disciples of the Loli Goddess could see the adorable loli right now, they would, without a doubt, raise a ruckus and conspire for William to get stabbed to death by kitchen knives.

"Sixty thousand God points! Going once! Going twice! Sold to bidder Number 69!"

The beautiful auctioneer smiled as she lifted her small wooden mallet and hammered it on her desk, which signaled the end of the deal.

Right now, William was a beggar. He had used up all of his God Points in order to seal Sepheron for a few seconds. This had given the System ample time to send it to the Auction House to be auctioned.

After receiving the confirmation of his entry, the Auction House gave him his own VIP room because the item that he had sent them for auction was a very hot commodity. Naturally, the Gods who favored William wouldn't miss out on the fun and would participate in the war to buy the Demigod of the Silvermoon Continent, Sepheron, the Fire Phoenix.

The atmosphere inside the auction house was very lively. There were times when William was tempted to bid for an item, however, he didn't have any God Points with him right now. Although Issei, Lily, and David were with him, his skin wasn't thick enough to ask them for another loan.

William still owed them two hundred thousand God Points each, and he didn't want to abuse their kindness.

The hours passed by as the bidding war heated up. William gulped because the highest amount of God Points that he had managed to acquire was one million God Points. But, he had used them all to merge the Undying Lands to his own domain.

Right now, a dozen Pills of Awakening, that were personally made by the Alchemist God, were being auctioned and the price had already reached two million.

Pill of Awakening was a special pill that allowed mortals to unlock their latent potential that couldn't be brought out using normal means. This was a pill that the Gods favored to possess in order to distribute to their loyal followers, to help them succeed in the words where they currently resided.

"Pills of Awakening sold to esteemed bidder Number 007 for five million God Points!"

It didn't take long for William to realize that when the auctioneer said the words "esteemed bidder", it meant that the winner of the bid was a God. Several items had been bought by these esteemed bidders, and sometimes, their bidding wars would reach in the tens of millions.

"And now, we come to the highlight of tonight's event!" the beautiful auctioneer announced. She then waved her hand and an image of a Phoenix appeared in a projection.

"This Mythical Beast is of the Demigod Rank," the lady said with a smile. "Bidding starts at five million God Points with a minimum

increment of one million."

Lily, who was resting her head on William's lap, raised her head with a mischievous glint on her eyes. She had come to the auction because she wanted to buy the Phoenix, Sepheron, in order to teach it a lesson that it would never forget.

As soon as the host announced that the bidding was now open, Lily immediately raised her hand and made her bid known.

"Six Million God Points!" Lily shouted.

"Seven Million!"

"Eight Million!"

"Nine Million!"

William wasn't able to stop himself from grinning ear to ear because he had never expected that a Demigod could be sold for a high price.

'I should have also captured Drauum,' William thought.

The Half-Elf had no love for the Ancient Golem. However, for the sake of the Silvermoon Continent, he didn't follow through with his plan.

Now that Sepheron was out of the picture, and Eneru had been turned into a Dark Qilin using his powers, the Guardians of the Silvermoon Continent had lost a big chunk of their powers.

If not for the fact that his mother and father were still in the Elven Continent, William wouldn't have shown the Guardians any mercy and captured all of them.

Also, Skyla had told him that the Demons were still eyeing the Silvermoon Continent. The Elves still needed the remaining guardians to safeguard their lands. Right now, only the The Ent King, Myrendor, was left to safeguard the Silvermoon Continent, while they were away.

Fortunately for the Elves, the Demons didn't know that Sepheron had been captured and that the other Guardians were trapped in the Southern Continent. Of course, they knew about the movement of the Elves, but no one knew that the portal that the Elves had made was a one way portal.

It meant that although Elven reinforcements could come to the Southern Continent, they couldn't go back even if they wanted to.

"Ten Million!" Lily bid valiantly in order to deter the other Gods from fighting against her.

However, her adorable voice was silenced when a crisp and clear voice spread across the auction house.

"Thirty Million."

Lily, and the other Gods turned their heads to the direction of the voice. Their eyes landed on an unassuming VIP Room that floated in the distance. The blinds of the room blocked anyone from identifying who the bidder was.

There were Gods who liked to keep their identity anonymous when they came to the Auction House. This allowed them to freely bid without being singled out by the other Gods who wanted the same item.

"Thirty Million!" the auctioneer repeated with a smile. "Anyone else?"

A few sighs of frustration echoed inside the Auction House, and Lily's sigh was one of them.

"We got a big spender," Lily bit her nails as she looked at the VIP room in the distance. "I have a feeling that even if I bid higher, that person will still outbid me."

William who was seated beside the Loli Goddess patted her head. "It's fine. You don't need to bid higher. The current price has already exceeded my expectations. This is already enough."

Lily nodded her head as she leaned back on the couch and allowed William to spoil her.

"Going once!"

"Going twice!"

"Sold!"

The resounding clap of the gavel signaled the end of the auction.

William glanced at the VIP room that had made a bid of thirty million for Sepheron, and bowed his head in gratitude.

The Auction House took a cut of 5% for every item that they had auctioned, leaving William with 28,500,000 God Points.

"Big Brother, you are now rich!" Lily said with a smile as she hugged William.

Issei and David also nodded their heads in agreement. They admired William for having the guts to send a Demigod to the Auction House of the Gods.

Ever since William succeeded in his first attempt to send Elandorr's Beast Companion, the Silver Dragon, Deoldreoss, to the Auction House, the Half-Elf had considered using it as a means to deal with his opponents.

The only downside was that William also lost the pocket cubes that he had used to capture them.

Right now, he only had four remaining pocket cubes with him. Out of those four, one was already in use and held Xerxes, the Hobgoblin Arcane Doctor.

(A/N: Previously, Xerxes was only a Hobgoblin With Doctor. However, after receiving William's blessing, its rank rose and it successfully evolved to a Hobgoblin Arcane Doctor.)

He had already asked Sancus, the God of Contracts, if he could get replacements, but the latter denied his request.

The God of Contract told William that he had already given him the maximum amount that was allowed by the rules that bound them. Adding more would put him in a difficult spot and he didn't want to risk it.

William felt that it was a shame because he wouldn't be able to use this tactic repeatedly. Although it was regrettable, William didn't regret auctioning Sepheron to the Auction House of the Gods.

The Elves had grown very arrogant as of late, and it was good to bring them down a peg. Without the protection of their Demigod, and the loss of one of their Guardians, they would need to think thrice before planning to wage war on anyone again.

William knew that the Elves would no longer act as wantonly as they had in the past. A Demigod's deterrent was the real deal. Without it, the Elves would have no choice but to strengthen their defenses in fear of another invasion from the Demon Race.

"Lily, is it possible for me to have a transaction with a God?" William inquired. "I plan to use my God Points to free some people."

"Free some people? Lily tilted her head in confusion.

A smile appeared on David's face because he had a hunch on what William was planning to do. Because of this, he placed his hand on the Half-Elf's shoulder as he confirmed his guess.

"Is it about Zhu and Sha?" David asked.

William nodded his head in confirmation. Issei who was standing by the side crossed his arms over his chest as he thought of a plan inside his head.

"How about you let me handle this," Issei proposed. "I'm good friends with the Jade Emperor. I'll put in a good word for you and try to secure a meeting today."

"Thank you, Brother Issei."

"This is but a small matter. Leave it to me."

William thought of the two demons that had helped him during his fight against the Celestial Army. He was indebted to the both of them, and the red-headed wanted to repay them in full for the debt he owed them.

'This is the only thing I can do for the two of you,' William thought. 'May both of you find happiness in your next life.'

William's wish was for Zhu and Sha to enter the Cycle of Reincarnation. He knew that this was the only way for the two of them to have a fresh start, and William was more than willing to pay the price for their freedom.

He just hoped that the Jade Emperor would listen to his request.

He hoped that he would show mercy and compassion to the two retainers that were forever loyal to his cause.

Chapter 512: When The Past No Longer illuminates The Future, The Spirit Walks In Darkness [Part 2]

In the depths of Hell, several warriors ran in an orderly fashion. These were the members of the Celestial Army that had failed to prevent William from entering the Heavenly Gate.

The Jade Emperor was lenient with his punishment and only asked them to train in hell for two years before returning to their duties.

Zhu, and Sha, who had helped in William's endeavor had also been thrown into hell as well as punishment for their actions.

The Pig Demon and Sand Demon were enjoying a rare opportunity to drink wine together when one of the personal aids of the Jade Emperor appeared beside them.

"Zhu and Sha, the Jade Emperor has issued a decree," the aid said crispily.

Zhu and Sha immediately knelt on the ground to listen to the decree that was given by the Lord that they had served for thousands of years.

"Starting today, the two of you are hereby given an official pardon," the aid announced. "You are also given the chance to enter the Cycle of Reincarnation to start your new lives. The Jade Emperor also promised that after a thousand years, he will once again give both of you a chance to serve under him after you have lived your lives to the fullest."

Zhu and Sha glanced at each other in disbelief. They had already resigned themselves to stay in hell for eternity, and yet, a miracle had happened out of the blue.

"Sha, am I dreaming?" Zhu asked.

Instead of answering, Sha slapped Zhu hard on the face.

The Pig Demon howled in pain as he caressed the side of its swollen face. "Oink! I just asked you if I was dreaming. Why did you slap me?"

"Did it hurt?"

"Duh! Of course it hurt! Oink!"

"Then it's not a dream." Sha chuckled. "It's not a dream! We're free! The Jade Emperor has forgiven us!"

The Sand Demon laughed wholeheartedly as tears streamed down the side of his face. A moment later, Zhu joined his friend as they both laughed and cried at the same time.

The aid looked at the two with a smile. Secretly, he was there when the two demonic beasts helped William fight against the Celestial Army, and even envied them a bit because they had fought for what they believed in even though the odds were stacked against them.

A few minutes later, the two had calmed down and shifted their attention to the aid that was waiting patiently at the side.

"So, are the two of you ready to reincarnate?" the aid asked.

Zhu and Sha glanced at each other before giving their answer.

"Is it possible to see the Jade Emperor once?" Sha asked.

Zhu stared at the aid in bated breath as he waited for the man's answer.

"The Jade Emperor had given me two orders," the aid answered. "The first one is to accompany the two of you to the Cycle of Reincarnation. The second one is to accompany both of you to meet with him in the Jade Palace if you wish to seek an audience."

The aid then waved his hand and a Majestic Chariot descended from the sky.

"Come," the aid made a gesture. "The Jade Emperor is waiting for both of you at the Jade Palace."

—–

William walked with steady steps as he left the Jade Palace. The first thing he did after getting his God Points was to negotiate with the Jade Emperor for Zhu's and Sha's freedom.

At first the Jade Emperor played hard to get, but in the end, he relented.

However, the price for Zhu's and Sha's freedom was steep.

Twenty four million God Points.

That was the price that the Jade Emperor had given William. He thought that the amount would make the boy back down, but to the Jade Emperor's surprise, the latter agreed and didn't even bother to bargain with him.

The Jade Emperor watched the red-headed boy from afar until William disappeared from sight. He recalled the conversation that the two of them had half an hour ago, and sighed.

"Perhaps this is Fate," the Jade Emperor muttered. "This is their Karma."

After William paid the Jade Emperor the amount for Zhu's and Sha's freedom, the ruler of the Jade Palace asked the Half-Elf why he was going this far for two criminals.

William's answer made the Jade Emperor realize that the boy was someone who knew how to repay the debt he owed to other people.

"True friends will always find a way to help you,' William answered. "Fake friends will always find an excuse. Zhu and Sha had done me a favor that no amount of God Points could ever repay. I have always wanted to set the two of them free, because I know that both of them were good people."

William placed his closed fist over his chest and bowed at the Jade Emperor.

"Please, Your Majesty, give them their freedom. Allow them to reincarnate and shower them with your blessings. They have already atoned for their sins. It is time for them to return to the Cycle of Reincarnation."

After hearing William's reply, the Jade Emperor immediately wrote a decree and gave it to his Personal Aid. He also ordered him to carry out his order at once.

As soon as the Emperor's Personal Aid left, the red-headed boy also left the palace.

There were still things that he needed to do in Hestia, and the aftermath of the war was still being dealt with.

The Elves that had surrendered were now stationed inside the City of Gladiolus. William had tasked them to help with the repairs of the City Walls, as well as the buildings and houses that they had destroyed during the war.

The majority of the Kraetor Army had returned to the Anaesha Dynasty, with the exception of Empress Sidonie, Evexius, Prince Jason, the Protectors of the Kraetor Empire, and a hundred thousand elite soldiers.

The reason for their stay was to help William draft certain rules that would be implemented for the entire continent as they waited for the effects of the Continental Spell to end.

Takam had told William that it could end anywhere between one to two years, so it would still take some time before things returned to normal.

For someone as lazy as William, dealing with this was a pain. However, he didn't have a choice because he was the nominated leader of the Hellan Kingdom. He wasn't allowed to shirk his responsibilities this time.

——

Somewhere in the Temple of the Ten Thousand Gods…

Sepheron, the Demigod of the Silvermoon Continent, shrieked in fear, and desperation, as an otherworldly beauty approached it with a smile.

"Worry not, I will not hurt you," the celestial beauty said in a teasing tone. "How can I possibly hurt you? You still have a role to play."

The lady reached out her hand to touch the struggling phoenix in the special cage that had sealed its fate.

The moment the slender, and delicate hand touched the Phoenix's body, something incredible happened.

The blazing red flames that covered its entire body had a sudden change. Beginning on the spot where the lady had touched it, black flames started to surge forth. Soon, this black flame spread across its body as Sepheron shrieked and struggled with all its might.

"Struggling is, also, good." the lady chuckled. "I enjoy watching the last struggle of living things. Seeing the last embers of their life being dyed in black is a truly fascinating thing to see."

Sepheron emitted one last desperate cry, before the black flames enveloped its entire body. Two minutes later, the Black Phoenix spread its wings wide, and eyed the lady before it.

It had been reborn, and its power had also increased after its transformation. It then bowed obediently to its new Master and uttered a cry of servitude.

"Do not worry," the lady stated while patting its head. "The time is not yet ripe. However, rest assured. You will be able to return to your world, and spread your wings far and wide."

Yes, the time was not yet ripe.

The Goddess stared in the distance and the corner of her lips curled up into a smirk. She watched as a certain Half-Elf left the God Domain to return to his world.

The Primordial Goddess focused her attention on the Temple and locked her sights on the Goddess of Lust. She stared at Lady Eros for a few seconds before shifting her attention to the Goddess of Female Knights, Astrid.

"Foolish girl," The Primordial Goddess said softly. "Play with fire and you will get burned. But, this is also good. You and your brother should make things difficult for him."

The Primordial Goddess unconsciously licked her lips in anticipation. Just like a dish that was slowly being cooked and mixed with spices, she looked forward to the feast that she would partake in, when everything fell in place.

"When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness." The Primordial Goddess giggled. "Pendragon, I don't need you to light up my world. All I ask is for you to just sit with me, in the darkness…"

——

End of Volume 3: The Wrath of the Righteous.

Chapter 513: The Beginning After The End

More than two years had passed since the battle against the Elves in the Southern Continent.

William thought that they had to wait two full years before the spell wore off, but it only took fifteen months before the continental spell lost its power.

On that day, many tears were shed. Not only in the Hellan Kingdom, but in the three other kingdoms as well.

For those that had turned into a statue, only a second had passed. To those that had survived, it was more than a year of suffering.

Many children had died during that time. Their parents became heartbroken after finding out what happened, and wailed towards the heavens.

If not for the Guardians of the Silvermoon Continent, the tens of thousands of Elves that had survived the war might have lost their lives due to the anger of the citizens of the Zelan Dynasty.

Fortunately, the Minotaur Race had intervened and allowed the Elves to return to their ships and sail back to the Silvermoon Continent. They didn't intervene because they wanted to protect the Elves, they intervened because Drauum was on the verge of starting a massacre.

The Ancient Golem was still a Pseudo-Demigod, and was more than capable to conduct a genocide.

A month after the spell was lifted, monuments to honor the dead were installed in the Anaesha and Zelan Dynasties. The Kingdom of Freesia had also done the same.

Empress Sidonie had effectively dealt with the Royal Family and nobles of the Anaesha Dynasty by using her Charm. After that, she stepped down from her position as Empress, and delegated the throne to her little brother, Prince Carl, and made him the new Emperor of the Anaesha Dynasty.

Naturally, the transition wasn't smooth, because there were still people who opposed the new Emperor.

But, who was Empress Sidonie? She was the Companion of the Guardian Beast of the Anaesha Dynasty. Not only that, the Protectors of the Kraetor Empire ensured that there would be no further problems. They secretly disposed of those who dared to instigate a rebellion behind the scenes to reinforce Emperor Carl's rule.

After losing the ring leaders, the opposition finally submitted and peace once again reigned in the kingdom.

—–

Meanwhile, somewhere in Midgard…

Sounds of kissing could be heard on a small island in the middle of the lake. A beautiful lady with light-blue hair, and a handsome teenager with Silver Hair were currently in the middle of their love making.

Their clothes had long been abandoned at their sides, and a voice tinged with pleasure would escape the lips of the Lady of the Lake every now and then.

"I love you, Ashe," William said as he held his lover in a tight embrace. "I love you."

Ashe's body shuddered because at the same time the silver-haired young man had declared his love for her, the two of them became one.

William's strong and lithe body pinned her down, but instead of rejecting him, she accepted him fully.

The Half-Elf didn't rush things, and made sure to satisfy his lover by attacking her weak spots. This wasn't the first time that they had made love inside a dream, but everytime they did, both of them enjoyed it to the fullest.

William brought her to the peak countless times until Ashe begged him to stop.

"What kind of body do you have? You're so peerless," Ashe said as she panted for breath.

William chuckled as he planted a kiss on her cheek. "Don't worry. I am also peerless in the real world. Would you like to try me?"

The mermaid snorted and rested her head on William's chest. They were still two months away from William's birthday, when he would finally come of age. Ashe didn't want to admit it, but she was looking forward to having a union with William in the real world as well.

"I feel a little guilty." Ashe gently rubbed the gem embedded on William's chest. "I feel like I'm cheating."

"Don't be," William replied as he held her tighter. "I'm sure that Wendy and Est will understand."

William understood why Ashe was feeling guilty. Wendy and Est had stayed behind

in the Southern Continent because there were important things that they had to do. Also, their parents felt that going to the Central Continent was still too soon for them.

Because of this, only Ashe accompanied William to the Kraetor Empire. They traveled alongside the Kraetor Warships thanks to the invitation of Princess Sidonie.

The sensuous beauty knew that William needed to go to the Kraetor Empire, so she decided to use this to her advantage and invited him to travel with her to see her Grandfather.

On paper, he was Princess Sidonie's fiance. The plan that the scheming beauty had made was foolproof, and William couldn't take the collar off her neck even if he wanted to.

Why? It is because the Princess threatened that if the Half-Elf took her collar off, the Royal Family of the Kraetor Empire would think badly of him. She also added that the possibility of William being banned from entering their territory was guaranteed if that were to happen.

Princess Sidonie's other half, Morgana, also did her best to close the gap in William's heart. The Half-Elf had not resisted their advances, because he knew how serious Princess Sidonie and Morgana were.

In the end, even Wendy, Ashe, and Est relented. They accepted Princess Sidonie as one of William's lovers, which made the latter and her other half, Morgana, very happy.

William also came clean and told Princess Sidonie that he would have nine wives in the future. To his surprise, the Princess only smiled and kissed him passionately.

The scene where the Princess and him had a heart to heart talk flashed inside his mind.

—–

"I don't care how many wives you have," Princess Sidonie had said as she looked at William's eyes. "The only thing that matters to me is your love. Do you promise to learn to love me?"

—–

He had answered yes back then, and promised that he would learn to love her back.

William had no plan to go back on his promise and spent a lot of time with Princess Sidonie in the Kraetor Empire. The only problem was Morgana.

Sidonie's lustful half had made a vow that on the day that William had come of age, she would eat him up, even if his other lovers were present. If not for the fact that he was always on guard against her night raids inside his room, Little William might have already been eaten whole.

"Will, these dreams… are they real?" Ashe asked. "Did they really happen?"

William pondered the answer to this question seriously before giving his reply. "I'm not sure. They are too much of a coincidence. I believe that this isn't just an ordinary dream. Ashe, do you believe in past lives?"

As someone that had kept his memories after entering the Cycle of Reincarnation, William understood that past lives existed. If his recurring dreams with Wendy and Ashe were true then it meant that he had shared a past lifetime with the two of them.

William was not the only one who thought this way. Wendy and Ashe shared the same thought, and both girls were secretly happy about this possibility.

Wendy even joked that they were still destined to become lovers even in their next lifetimes, and WIlliam shouldn't cheat on them, or else he would face divine retribution.

"We should probably go back soon," Ashe said softly. "Classes are about to start in a few hours."

"Okay," William replied as he naughtily groped Ashe's chests, who was currently possessing the body of the Lady of the Lake.

Ashe looked at him with a reddened face, but didn't pry off the naughty hands that were having their way with her body. "You still haven't had enough?"

"Let's go for one more round."

"… Fine."

—–

William and Ashe opened their eyes at the same time.

They were currently inside the Villa that William had built on the Beach Area, that was supposed to be the Boss Room on the Tenth Floor.

They always slept inside the dungeon because in this place, Ashe would be able to return to her true form without any time limit. This allowed the two of them to spend intimate moments together, within the appropriate boundaries.

The two of them showered and dressed together before leaving the Dungeon.

William's Herd and Legion were still busy clearing the floors of the dungeon. Right now, they were currently at the 50th Floor, and their advance had been slow as of late.

The 50th Floor only allowed six individuals to challenge it at a time, which greatly limited their exploration.

Even so, William wasn't in a hurry. He knew that challenging Atlantis was no easy feat. He was not delusional enough to think that he could capture the dungeon anytime soon.

What he was waiting for was the person that his father had chosen to contact him as soon as he arrived at the Central Continent. This would allow William to capture any other Dungeon, aside from Atlantis.

Just as the name suggested, the Dungeon Conqueror Prestige Job Class could conquer ANY Dungeon.

William was already looking forward to adding another Legion in his ranks. The Minotaur Race had already returned to their duty as the Guardians of the Zelan Dynasty. The Centaurs had also returned to their tribe.

Only the Revenants, led by Erchitu, and Bastian, remained. Of course, William still had the other monsters that he had tamed like the Malevolent Nightmare Kelpie and Elusive Mist Wildebeest.

The other residents like the Black-Winged Panthers had also given birth to a few individuals, and had already settled inside William's Thousand Beast Domain.

Due to the vast supply of food and resources from both the Undying Lands, and Atlantis, the creatures that had submitted to William wouldn't leave even if the Half-Elf asked them to leave. Although they needed to fight for the red-headed teenager during his time of need, they were completely fine with it.

William held Ashe's hand as he guided her out of the Villa.

"Let's go," William said with a smile. "I just hope that the Fifth Master hasn't destroyed anything in the Alchemist Pavillion. Last time, the Treasurer almost cried a river of blood because the damages reached half a million gold coins."

Ashe giggled and nodded her head.

Both of them were enrolled in the Silverlight Academy of the Kraetor Empire. This was one of Emperor Leonidas' conditions for allowing William to stay inside the Kraetor Empire.

The Emperor didn't say anything about Wililam's engagement to his granddaughter, which made the Half-Elf wonder if Leonidas favored him or not.

However, the red-headed teenager wasn't too worried.

'What will come will come,' William thought as he opened the portal that would take him and Ashe back to the real world. Although there would be obstacles that might block his way, he was confident that he would be able to break all the walls that stood before him.

After all, he was never alone.

Chapter 514: William's First Day At Silverwind Academy

"Good morning everyone, my name is William Von Ainsworth," William introduced himself to his new classmates. "I hope to get along with everyone till this year is over."

The girls in the class looked at William with curious gazes, while the guys looked at him as if he was their rival in love.

"Greetings, my name is Ian Dy Moxie," Ian said with a smile. "I am Sir William's retainer. I hope to get along with everyone as well."

"Tsk, two good looking transfer students. How are we supposed to get ourselves some beautiful girls if they are around?"

"I know, right. They should have gone to the other classes, but why were they placed in Class A? Are they that good?"

"Hmp! I know the names of all the nobles in our Empire, and I don't remember any noble household with the surname Ainsworth. He must be an upstart."

"Maybe he used some connections to get in?"

"That's possible. Just look at his face. Maybe he is one of the female professors' pets."

The murmur grew louder and the Homeroom Professor of Class A cleared her throat, which made all the students shut their mouth and focus their attention on her.

"Sir William, please take that seat at the far right on the back row," Rita Geiss, the homeroom professor of Class A said with a smile. "Since it's a three seater, Sir Moxie can also share the seat with you."

William nodded and thanked Professor Rita. He then walked towards the back of the Class and sat in the seat that was assigned to them.

Ian sat beside him and acted as a proper retainer to a noble heir. She had been trained since young to become Est's retainer, so it wasn't hard for her to play her part perfectly.

Just like William, several of the nobles also had their retainers inside the classroom. Some of them stood outside the room, while those of similar age to their masters stood in the back corners of the room as they watched over their masters.

"Will you look at that," a teenage boy wearing glasses smirked. "An upstart and his retainer are seated side by side. Don't they even know the etiquette of nobles?"

"That is why he is an upstart," a Chubby boy chuckled. "Seriously, he doesn't even understand the hierarchy of subordinates and their master."

Ian frowned. She didn't want to stand out, so she decided to go with the flow and stand in the corner of the room, where the other retainers were staying.

(A/N: From this moment onwards, I will refer to Ian as she. Don't get confused by the pronouns. Only I am allowed to get confused by it xD!)

However, before she could even stand from her seat, a hand held her waist, preventing her from standing up. Ian looked at William in askance, and the latter just shook his head.

"You don't need to listen to these little pricks," William said. "Since I am your employer, you will only follow my orders. I order you to sit and attend class with me. Do you understand?"

Ian smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, Young Master."

Ian had forgotten that William could be adamant when it came to things that were important to him. This made her feel warm inside her chest, because her lover didn't want to treat her like a retainer, like the rest of the nobles in the Kraetor Empire did.

Of course, although she thought this way, she also knew that the Kraetor Empire was different from the Hellan Kingdom. There were certain rules that they needed to follow in order to prevent themselves from getting ostracized by the nobles of the empire.

The guys who heard William's words raised their eyebrows, while the girls looked at him with weird expressions on their faces.

Although what William was doing wasn't uncommon, very few had the guts to call the noble heirs of the Kraetor Empire little pricks.

"Wow, this plebeian is a feisty one," the chubby boy remarked as he looked at William with a mischievous smile.

"This just proves that he's an

upstart." the teenage boy shook his head in disdain. "Don't worry. He will soon understand the error of his ways."

The boys inside the classroom exchanged glances and nodded their heads in agreement. They had singled William out and decided to teach the transfer student a lesson when the professors were not around.

Professor Rita turned a blindeye on what was happening inside their classroom, because she was also looking forward to seeing how William would deal with his classmates.

The Kraetor Empire encouraged rivalry and competition because they were a nation of warriors. The Emperor would watch over these promising students and pick the best among them to be trained and to serve in important posts when they graduated from Silverwind Academy.

Just as Professor Rita was about to start class, the door of the classroom opened.

"Sorry, I'm late, Professor," a beautiful lady, with long reddish brown hair and hazel eyes, said with a smile.

The newcomer then scanned the room until her eyes landed on the red-headed teenager that was looking outside the window. She was very tempted to go to his seat, but as a member of the Royal Family, she needed to show restraint.

Everyone in the room sucked in deep breaths as they laid their eyes on the sensuous beauty in front of them. Men and women couldn't help themselves from staring at her face, which made them unable to take their eyes off of her.

"My name is Sidonie Val Freesia," Princess Sidonie introduced herself. "Starting today, I will be your classmate. I pray that all of you will take good care of me for the rest of the year. Thank you."

"… I think I'm in love."

"I call dibs on her."

"In your dreams. Do you think you stand a chance with your pig face?"

"Hah… this is the first time I've seen such beauty. Just where did this lady hide all these years? I need to ask my father to arrange a meeting with her family."

It was not only the men that had been charmed by Sidonie's presence, even the girls were looking at her as if they had seen their idol.

Princess Sidonie's smile made their faces redden, and some of the girls even wanted to stand up and call her My Lady, even though they were nobles of the Empire.

"Princess Sidonie, it is an honor to finally meet you," Professor Rita bowed respectfully. "You may sit anywhere that you please. I'm sure that your classmates will do their best to help you in any way that they can."

"P-Princess?!"

"I knew it! Such a beauty couldn't be someone ordinary."

"The moment she stepped in, I already felt her royal bearing. This must be fate. The two of us were fated to be together."

"… Didn't I tell you to stop daydreaming? Next time, please, buy a mirror. Perhaps that will wake you up from your delusion."

The class became rowdy due to Princess Sidonie's appearance. William kept looking outside the window and didn't dare to look in her direction.

Seeing that the Half-Elf was purposely ignoring her, the corner of Princess Sidonie's lips curled up into a smirk as she walked towards the back of the classroom. Ashe was seated on William's left, so the Princess mischievously sat on his right.

However, it didn't end there.

Princess Sidonie moved closer to William and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which made everyone freeze in place, including the Half-Elf that had just received Princess Sidonie's kiss.

Moments later, chaos erupted inside the classroom. Professor Rita had no choice but to step in and stop the ruckus because the noise might disturb the other classes. If that were to happen, it would reflect badly on her as a professor and she didn't want that to happen.

"Morgana, you are really making things difficult for me from the get go," William whispered as he held the naughty girl's hand from under the desk. "Can you behave and not stir up trouble? Switch with Sidonie for now."

William had grown used to Princess Sidonie's other half, who would always pounce on him whenever she managed to take control of the princess' body.

"I'll think about it if you kiss me," Morgana replied with a mischievous smile.

"Later."

"No. I want it now."

William sighed as he gave the naughty girl a quick peck on the cheek before telling her to behave.

Morgana knew that William had already compromised, so she decided to just rest her head on his shoulder before closing her eyes. If one were to look at her, they would only see happiness and contentment on her face.

Ian, who was seated beside the two, rubbed her temple. She had already accepted Princess Sidonie and Morgana as William's lover. However, she was still not used to Morgana's antics whenever she was around.

Sometimes, even she was embarrassed by how bold, and open, Princess Sidonie's other half acted. Part of her also admired Morgana because she didn't have the guts to do half of what she was capable of doing.

'I guess Sidonie will bury herself in a hole later,' Ian sighed internally. 'I almost feel sorry for her.'

Princess Sidonie was currently sleeping inside her and Morgana's mindscape. She had been up all night dealing with important matters with the Anaesha Dynasty. A letter had arrived from her little brother, Carl, asking for advice on what to do with certain issues that had sprung up under his rule.

The doting princess stayed up all night as she wrote proposals and solutions to the problems that her little brother was facing. These letters would be sent via courier to the Southern Continent, in order to help her brother solidify his rule as Emperor.

Before she slept, she repeatedly told Morgana to conduct herself properly as a Princess of the Royal Family. Morgana promised that she would do her best, so the tired Princess reluctantly relinquished control over her body and went to sleep.

If only she knew that Morgana would create a scandal on the very first day of class, she would have attended even though she was dead tired.

This was how William's first day started inside the most prestigious academy in the Kraetor Empire.

Because of Morgana's little fiasco, William had not only become Class A's Public Enemy Number One, but the public enemy of the entire Third Year Division inside Silverwind Academy.

This brought him unwarranted attention and scorn from all the influential nobles of the Empire.

A place where all the influential heirs gathered, and competed with each other in order to make their mark in the annals of history, and to gain the favor of Emperor Leonidas.

An Emperor who was given the title, The Emperor Who Stands Above The Clouds.

Chapter 515: When In Rome, Do As Romans Do

"I want to bury myself in a hole," Princess Sidonie muttered as she buried her head into William's chest.

Ian sighed as she patted the depressed princess' shoulder. She felt sorry for the princess because her other half, Morgana, could sometimes do embarrassing things without thinking of the consequences.

The three of them were currently inside a private room in the Academy's dining area that was reserved for the members of the Royal Family of the Kraetor Empire. The morning classes had just ended, and Princess Sidonie had woken up from her slumber.

When she asked William if Morgana behaved while she was sleeping, the Half-Elf lightly coughed before telling the princess what her naugthy other half did. After hearing William's narrative, the Princess' expression immediately became stiff.

Princess Sidonie then stood up, and walked away without a word.

William and Ian became worried, so they followed her and ended up inside one of the private rooms where the members of the Royal Family dined during their stay at the academy.

"Morgana, you should hold yourself back during the day," William admonished the naughty girl who was busy coaxing Princess Sidonie inside their shared mindscape. "Sidonie has an image to maintain because she is a member of the Royal Family."

"Okay," Morgana replied as she temporarily took over Princess Sidonie's body. "I won't do it again. I will only attack you when we are alone."

Ian, who was listening from the side, shook her head helplessly. "I guess this is also fine. Sooner or later, the Emperor will announce Sidonie's engagement to you. I mean, that collar on her neck is very striking, no?"

William glanced at the Collar of Wisteria that had accompanied him during his childhood. It was currently placed on Princess Sidonie's neck because the latter had succeeded in convincing him to place the collar on her.

The Half-Elf knew that even if he went back in time, the result would still be the same. The Princess was one of the Seven Deadly Sins. If she wasn't kept in check, there's a high possibility that Princess Sidonie could bring ruin to the world.

In order to prevent that from happening, William agreed to her request to become her master. This way, William could stop her when she got carried away with using her Charm on other people.

William didn't want to admit it, but he had a feeling that if he had rejected her request that day, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Because of this, he had also opened up his heart to the Princess, and her other half, Morgana.

Their relationship had advanced steadily during the months that they worked together in order to prevent chaos from erupting in the Southern Continent. Since William had already come clean to his lovers that he intended to have nine wives, they also accepted Princess Sidonie and Morgana as his lovers.

To his surprise, it didn't take a long time before the four ladies got along really well. They even asked Princess Sidonie, and Morgana, to keep an eye on William, so that he wouldn't start flirting with the noble ladies in the Kraetor Empire.

"Has the Emperor said anything?" William asked.

Princess Sidonie, who had her head buried in WIlliam's chest, raised her head and shook her head.

"No," Princess Sidonie replied. "He hasn't said anything, but I'm sure that he's currently pondering what his next move will be. Will, be careful. I feel that Grandfather is scheming something behind our backs."

William nodded as he patted the Princess's head. "Did he give me the permission to enter Aamon's Temple?"

Ian, who was seated beside Princess Sidonie, looked at William in surprise.

"What's to be surprised about?" William asked with a smile. "My main reason for coming here was to find a way to lift the curse on your bodies. The sooner I meet Aamon, the sooner that You, Est, and Isaac, can return to your true bodies.

Princess Sidonie had already been told about Ashe's, Est's, and Isaac's circumstances. This

was why she also did her best to negotiate with the Emperor to allow William to visit Aamon's Temple.

The Temple of the Grand Marquis of Hell was not open to the public. Only members of the Royal Family, and important leaders of the Kraetor Empire could enter its sacred grounds. Anyone who dared to go there without permission of the Emperor would face the wrath of the Kraetor Empire.

If possible, William didn't want to form hostilities with Emperor Leonidas because they would be in-laws in the future, after he and Sidonie got married.

Starting off on the wrong foot would just make the relationship strained in the long run.

"Grandfather said that he would consider it if you performed well after three months of being enrolled in the Academy," Princess Sidonie replied.

"Also, he was very interested in your promised battle with Rebecca in the Misty Sect that will be happening seven months from now. He told me that if you lose, he will personally kick you out of the Empire," Princess Sidonie added.

William sighed as he scratched his head.

His battle with Rebecca had been pushed back due to the mess that happened in the Southern Continent. Upon careful consideration, the Misty Sect decided to have their battle during the Founding Ceremony of their Sect.

This was a grand ceremony that happened every three years. The Misty Sect would send invitations to the important people in the Central Continent.

Twelve Kingdoms, Six Sects, Eight Empires, Four Institutions, and One Church.

This was the distribution of power within the Central Continent.

On the Southern Continent, there were only four powers that ruled the land. These were the Hellan Kingdom, the Anaesha Dynasty, the Zelan Dynasty, and the Kingdom of Freesia.

These four held absolute power in the Southern Lands, but they were nothing compared to the forces in the Central Continent, which were rich in resources and manpower.

'They really made it a big deal,' William thought as he remembered his Ex-Fiance whom he hadn't seen for a long time. He wondered how strong Rebecca had become. Although he wasn't worried about the outcome of the match, he was very curious about if he could win against her if he didn't use his trump cards.

'I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there,' William mused as closed his eyes. 'I wonder if Gramps and Sir Lawrence will be there as well. Knowing Gramps, he would not miss such an opportunity…'

Princess Sidonie and Ian exchanged a glance because William's mind had wandered away from them. They had a hunch about what he was thinking, so they didn't disturb him.

From the get go, Ian didn't like Rebecca. For her, Rebecca was too full of herself, and only used William as a shield to prevent other people from courting her.

This was something that she couldn't accept. How could the man she loved be used as a tool for the so-called genius of the Hellan Kingdom, in order to ward off her suitors?

Wendy had mixed feelings about William's battle with Rebecca because she considered the brown-haired lady a very close friend, akin to a sister.

Est, on the other hand, didn't like or dislike Rebecca. For her, Rebecca was also a victim of an arranged marriage that had been planned by her Elders when she was a baby. It was very common for the members of the Royal Family to have arranged marriages, so Est didn't think of this as a big issue.

Her only concern was that William might try to lose on purpose in order to give face to his Grandfather and Sir Lawrence. This was something that she didn't want to see because she believed that William shouldn't hold back, and put an end to their engagement properly.

"You said that Emperor Leonidas will consider my request depending on my performance over the next three months," William said as he looked at Princes Sidonie. "What is going to happen in three months?"

"A tournament for all the students of Silverwind Academy," Princess Sidonie replied. "The Winner will be personally awarded by the Emperor. According to tradition, the winner of the tournament may ask the Emperor to grant one wish. As long as this wish was within his capacity, the Emperor would grant it without fail."

William had noticed the slight anxiousness in Princess Sidonie's expression as she explained the grand prize of the competition. It was then when a thought formed inside his mind.

"Don't worry," William said as she firmly held her hand. "You are already my lover. I won't hand you to anyone."

"Un…" Princess Sidonie nodded her head and kissed William's cheek.

She didn't mind being intimate with William as long as it was done in private. Princess Sidonie wasn't like Morgana who acted without thinking of the consequences of her actions.

With William's help, she was able to reign in the Power of Lust that was slowly awakening in her body. She would turn eighteen a month from now, and the Emperor had already prepared a grand ball for her debut.

This ball would be attended by all the elite heirs of the Empire, and a perfect opportunity to mingle with their peers, and of course, members of the Royal Family.

William didn't have a good memory when it came to tournaments.

When the Inter-Division battles were about to begin in the Hellan Royal Academy, the demons had attacked, quickly followed by the start of the war, which was followed by another war.

If not for the fact that he needed permission from the Emperor to enter Aamon's Temple, he would have already snuck past its guards in order to have an audience with Lady Astrid's twin brother.

'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' William thought. 'I guess I have no choice but to participate in this tournament. This will also put Sidonie's mind at ease, just in case there is a fool who has decided to choose her as the reward for the tournament.'

"Will." Princess Sidonie said as she cupped William's face.

"Yes?" William replied with a smile.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

The two kissed passionately. After their kiss ended, William pulled Ashe, who had already transformed into her mermaid form, closer.

William kissed her as well.

"Me, too!" Morgana complained after switching with Princess Sidonie. "Don't show favoritism, Darling."

William chuckled as he softly pecked Morgana's lips three times, before giving her the kiss that she wanted. The two girls pressed their bodies on him as they savored this intimate moment.

Inside the Dining Hall, where the students ate their lunch. A certain Shepherd had his fill of hugs and kisses from three ladies, who loved him with all of their hearts.

Chapter 516: Rainbow-Colored Calamity

"Fifth Master…"

"Mmm…"

"Fifth Master…"

"Mmm…"

"A hot and sexy lady is currently waiting for you at Alchemy Hall. She said that she wants you to rock her world!"

"Mmm?!"

A man with disheveled platinum blonde hair rose from the couch. Although he looked like a mess right now, his mesmerizing gray eyes, and his angelic features were enough to make any lady swoon the moment he smiled at them.

This man's name was Albert Antstein, The Full Kettle Alchemist.

"William, cancel all my appointments" Albert ordered as he rushed to his closet to pick an attire that would make even an old grandma blush like a teenage girl.

"Fifth Master, you don't have any appointments scheduled today," William said with a sigh.

Albert started to apply some light powder on his face to give him that extra youthful glow. His original age was in the late forties, but due to him being a Half-Elf, he had retained his good looks and overflowing charisma.

After making the finishing touches, he turned to look at William.

"Tell me, apprentice, how do I look?" Albert inquired.

William crossed his arms over his chest as he appraised his new Master from head to foot.

"You look awesome, Fifth Master," William replied. "It's just a shame that I am still more handsome than you."

"Cheeky brat." Albert chuckled as he walked towards the door. "Don't worry, I'll bring you to the red light district in two months. I'll show you how to pick up girls in a dungeon."

William rolled his eyes as he shooed his Master away.

If he really went to the red-light district to have some fun, his lovers would certainly beat him up, or worse, castrate him for his stupidity.

Morgana even went out of her way to call dibs on him on the night of his birthday. Although he didn't promise her anything, he didn't reject her either.

William knew that his Master wouldn't be back until morning the next day, so he decided to clean up the room, so that it would look like it belonged to one of the most prestigious Alchemists in the Kraetor Empire.

Albert was the second Half-Elf that William had seen aside from Conner. Originally, William thought that Half-Elves were rare, because there were only two of them in the Southern Continent.

However, in the Central Continent, Half-Elves could be seen everywhere. Although they weren't as common as the other races, they could still be found in almost every major city in the Central Continent.

Today was Sunday, so there were no classes at the Silverwind Academy. Princess Sidonie had come to take Ian away after breakfast, and simply told William that both of them would go shopping.

William didn't mind because he had other matters to settle as well. It had only been four days since he had enrolled at the Silverwind Academy, and life had been a little bit difficult because of Morgana's bold action on the day that they had transferred.

All the boys in the classroom had filed a petition for William to be kicked out from the class because they believed that he didn't belong there. The Board Members of the Academy also didn't like the fact that the granddaughter of the Emperor was being intimate with a foreigner that came from distant lands.

In the end, the issue was brought to the Emperor.

The ruler of the Kraetor Empire, Emperor Leonidas, listened to the Headmaster of Silverwind Academy and left the final decision in his hands.

Due to pressure from the noble families, the Headmaster reluctantly agreed to transfer William to Class-F, where the most notorious students in the Third Grade were gathered.

This decision made the students, and the Board Members, very happy.

To their surprise, Princess Sidonie accepted this outcome and even smiled at the Headmaster, when he told her that the reason for William's transfer was due to the fact that he was a bad influence on the elite students in the Third Year Division.

However, it didn't end there. The pompous heirs also made sure that Ian stayed in Class A instead of following William in Class-F. They didn't want William to have an easy life in the academy.

William's Ex-Classmates thought that without his retainer to cater to his needs, William would become helpless and show his true colors.

Ian didn't care about their pettiness, and was determined to follow William to Class-F when the Half-Elf stopped him.

"Stay in Class A and watch over Sidonie for me."

This was what William had told Ian while they had dinner with the Princess. The Half-Elf didn't mind being transferred to another classroom. For him, this was even a blessing in disguise because he didn't want the noble families to always be at odds with him.

It would also allow him to move freely, without extra pairs of eyes to watch his every move.

Although Ian was reluctant to part with him, she still agreed to his request on the condition that William didn't cheat on them while he was in Class-F.

"Finally, this

looks like a dwelling fit for a Human," William said after looking at his handiwork.

Albert was someone that didn't like to clean. He would just do his everyday work, until the trash piled up in his room.

When there came a time, when even he couldn't stand the mess that he created, he would then seduce the Auntie, who was responsible for assigning maids to clean the dormitory rooms. He would whisper sweet words in her ears and take her in a night of passion, in order for her to send someone to clean his room once a month.

William's Fifth Master, Albert, had a wide strike range. However, even though he had the ability to seduce any lady under the heavens, he still had his principles. He never targeted people who had lovers or were married.

That was his bottom line, and even William felt that his Master was a Saint compared to those playboys that he had read about in web novels.

After finishing his job, William went to his Master's laboratory to practice his Alchemy.

Even though Albert was a skirt chaser, his skills were the real deal, and was still the most prestigious Alchemist of the Kraetor Empire.

It was William that had first approached him and asked if he was willing to teach him Alchemy. To his surprise, the Full Kettle Alchemist accepted him as his Disciple.

When William asked Albert why he agreed to his request, the latter only said that since William was a Half-Elf, and as good looking as him, it was only natural to extend a hand.

Also, he was planning to look for a Disciple as well, so the timing had been perfect. One could even say that the two shameless Half-Elves, who always called themselves handsome, were a match made in heaven.

After locking the room of the laboratory, William focused his attention on his Alchemy. He checked the notes that Albert had left him and followed the instructions that were written on him to the letter.

——

At the Bestiary of the Silverwind Academy…

A loud roar resounded in the shared Bestiary of all the Beasts that belonged to the Third Years.

A Golden Dragon towered above the other Beasts to show his dominance. This was what the Beast Handlers called the battle for the seat of Kings. Every year, only one beast would stand above the rest and reign over the other beasts that belonged to the other students.

The Golden Dragon was the Third Year's King and had been the leader of the other monsters ever since the classes started.

Of course, the Kings were not allowed to harm any monster in the Bestiary. In return, he would be given the best accommodations, the best food, and the best services that the Academy could provide.

Garganta, the Golden Dragon, had enjoyed all of these comforts and his reign was unchallenged… until today.

In front of him stood a rainbow-colored Anteater who was eyeing him with genuine curiosity.

Garganta roared as it stood on its hindlegs to show his dominance to the newcomer.

The Beast Handlers watched this scene with amusement. Deep inside they pitied the Anteater because of its ignorance. For them, the Anteater was like a newly born calf who was unafraid of the tiger that intended to eat it whole.

Garganta slightly opened its mouth and golden flames flickered inside his mouth. It was clearly telling the Anteater to scram before it was eaten for lunch.

The Anteater didn't budge and the Golden Dragon had finally reached the limits of its patience. It uttered a deafening roar, it was its way of issuing a challenge to the beast that dared to covet his throne.

Finally, the Anteater opened its mouth to reply to the Dragon's challenge.

"Motherf*cker, let's take this outside."

Kasogonaga raised its head arrogantly before it walked outside the Bestiary. It had accepted the challenge of the Golden Dragon, and the latter followed behind the small Anteater that it could easily crush like a pancake.

Battles between beasts were allowed because only the strong could become the Sovereign of the Bestiary. As long as there were Beast Handlers present, these battles would be declared as official.

Since every Beast was an important asset, special considerations were placed in the battling arena. Similar to the Grand Coliseum in the Hellan Kingdom, the fighters would turn into particles of light if they died in battle.

As soon as the two beasts faced each other, various roars, shrieks, and cheers erupted in the surroundings. The Beasts and the Handlers had been bored as of late, so seeing a stupid rainbow-colored Anteater die under the claws of a Golden Dragon was still entertainment for them.

"Roar! Roar!" (I haven't eaten your kind before, but you look delicious! You better surrender now, while I'm still being merciful! )

"… Motherf*cker, stop talking and start fighting!" Kasogonaga shouted with an adorable voice.

Kasogonaga spent most of its time with the Angray Birds, so it was very easy for it to pick up their habits. Its two companions, B1, and B2, taught the innocent Anteater how to curse at its enemy, and the latter quickly ingrained this knowledge in its vocabulary arsenal.

When William first heard Kasogonaga curse, the corner of the Half-Elf's lips twitched before hurling Stormcaller at the two dumb birds who had influenced the Deity of the Sky to hurl vulgarities when it fought.

"Roooooooar!" (Ignorant Plebeian. It seems that you still don't understand your place. Very well, I will end your pitiful life. Die!)

Garganta swung at the Anteater with its claws, but the Anteater nimbly stepped to the side, evading the Dragon's attack.

The Dragon sneered because it thought that it was just a fluke and used its other claw to rip the Anteater into shreds.

However, Kasogonaga moved effortlessly to the side to evade Garganta's attack.

The Handlers and the Beasts continued to cheer because they thought that the Golden Dragon was merely playing with its prey.

After evading his two attacks, Garganta finally realized that he was not fighting an ordinary Anteater.

It flapped its wings to fly as it opened its mouth to unleash a breath attack. The Golden Dragon decided to end the Anteater with its most powerful move because its opponent was making it uneasy.

"Garganta is going for an overkill." One of the Beast Handlers shook his head because he could already foresee the ending of the duel.

"Well, this is to be expected for the King of the Third Division," the other Beast Handler commented. "Very few Beasts can survive a Dragon's Breath head on."

Garganta was a Millennial Dragon at its middle stages. To make a comparison, it was weaker than Elandorr's Silver Dragon that he had fought during their duel at the Gate of Beginnings.

Even so, a Millennial Dragon was still a force to reckon with, and only powerful beasts and warriors could face it in a battle of life and death.

Kasogonaga raised its head arrogantly as he looked at the Dragon that was high up in the sky. It then rolled up its body and grew into a two-meter wrecking ball with spikes covering its entire body.

"I'M ROLLING!"

Kasogonaga shot up towards the Dragon Breath to meet it head-on. If the Golden Dragon only knew what this small, rainbow-colored, Anteater had fought during the Era of the Gods, as well as the war in the Southern Continent, it would immediately throw in the towel to surrender.

Unfortunately, it didn't know.

The Dragon's Breath dispersed, and the rainbow-colored, spiked, wrecking ball continued its trajectory, until it smashed into the Golden Dragon's open mouth.

Garganta uttered a roar of pain as the spikes pierced the soft tissue inside its mouth. However, Kasogonaga was not done yet.

"Super, Last, Final, Finishing, Ending Finale! I'm Rolling!"

The Deity of the Sky's spinning force increased as it descended into the Golden Dragon's throat, shredding everything in its path.

Garganta wasn't able to cry out in pain because the Anteater had turned its insides into ground-dragon-meat. The King of the Bestiary turned into particles of light as its life ended.

That was the day when a new King reigned over the Beasts of the Third Year division, and he was given the nickname.

Rainbow-Colored, Rolling Calamity.

Chapter 517: You Are Now In My Home Turf

"Okay, introduce yourself," an old man with glasses made a gesture for William to step into the podium.

"Good morning everyone," William said with a smile. "My name is William Vo–"

"We already know who you are." a boy with freckles on his face cut William off before he could even finish his introduction. "You are Princess Sidonie's lover, right? Man, I'm so jealous of you."

"How far have you gone with the Princess? Have you already done this and that?"

"Can you teach us the way on how to be popular with the girls?"

"Hey, is it true that the Princess has a weird hobby?"

"What food does she like to eat?"

William was immediately bombarded from all sides. The teacher who had asked him to introduce himself to his classmates was already dozing off in his chair. Clearly, the professor had no intention of teaching and planned on sleeping from the start.

The corner of William's lips twitched as the questions rained on him non-stop. He had already expected that he would be thrown to the worst class, but from the looks of the facilities inside the room, it was not as bad as he thought it would be.

To his surprise, Class A, and Class F, didn't have any differences when it came to the quality of the room. It seemed that the SIlverwind Academy was an academy that didn't look down on its students. They just divide them based on their performance, which made William's impression of the academy rise by a good margin.

A mischievous idea came to the Half-Elf's mind as he raised his hand to silence his classmates who seemed hell-bent to know some juicy gossip.

"I have heard all of your questions, and I'll answer them to the best of my abilities," William said with a smile that wouldn't lose to his Grandpa, James, when the old coot was about to scam people.

"First you asked what my relationship is with Princess Sidonie? The answer to this is that she is my lover."

A low murmur erupted in the classroom as the Third Year Students talked to each other. William smiled as he continued with his plan to stir some trouble for the nobles that had sent him to the worst class among the Third Year Division.

"You ask me what the Princess' favorite food is? The answer to this is simple," William flipped his hair and raised his chin arrogantly. "What she likes to eat the most is me. Just make sure not to tell anyone, okay?"

William winked at his classmates as if they were trustworthy people that could keep a secret. The boys turned green with envy, while the girls blushed in embarrassment because they somewhat understood what William was hinting at.

"As for the secret on how to be popular with the ladies, the answer to this is very simple as well."

The boys perked up their ears as they focused their attention on William. If he could tell them how to have a beautiful girlfriend they would worship him to the high heavens.

The girls, on the other hand, were also very curious on what William was going to say next. They wanted to know if the Half-Elf really knew what attracted the ladies to men.

"The secret on how to be popular is not really a secret," William said as he placed both of his hands to his hips. His chin was raised in arrogance like a Young Master looking down on his servants.

"What you need is confidence. Girls like confident men. Even if you are not born as handsome as me, if you know how to carry yourself, the girls will be attracted to you."

The teenage boys glanced at the ladies in their class and saw them nodding to William's words. This made them realize that what the Half-Elf

was saying is true.

The atmosphere inside the room became more lively as William interacted with his new classmates. He learned their names one by one, and even joked with the ladies in the class that they shouldn't fall in love with him because he already had four lovers.

Although polygamy was allowed in their world, the women of course preferred men who didn't have many lovers.

This move made those who were interested in William back off regretfully.

"Why are all the good looking men taken?" a pretty girl sighed. "They should leave some of the good men for me."

"I know, right?"

"Half-Elves are so dreamy. I want to have one as a lover, too!"

The girls started to whisper at each other. Soon, giggles resounded inside the room and the boys looked at the pretty ladies with disguised infatuation.

A few hours later, William and the boys of his class went to the dining room together. The Half-Elf had already sent a message to Ashe that he would be dining with his new classmates. The latter replied right away, and said that she would just have lunch with Princess Sidonie.

While William and his new classmates were talking, a group of teenage boys approached their table.

The moment William's crew saw who was leading the group, they all stood up and bowed their heads in greeting.

""Good afternoon, Your Highness.""

"Be at ease," Prince Jason replied. "We are all students here, so there's no need for formality."

The Fifth Prince of the Kraetor Empire smiled as he made a gesture for the boys to return to their chairs. He then shifted his attention to William. A tinge of killing intent flashed in his eyes for a brief moment before it disappeared without a trace.

"I'm sorry to hear that you've been ostracized by the students in Class A," Prince Jason said. "As the President of the Student Council, I regret not being able to do anything to help you."

William nodded his head in understanding. 'Do you really think of me as a fool? I bet you were the one who pulled the strings from behind.'

The Half-Elf didn't say this out loud because doing so would just complicate things. For him, as long as he was able to meet Aamon and lift the curse from his lovers, he didn't mind getting ostracized or insulted by anyone in the Kraetor Empire.

From the start, he didn't intend to stay for a long time. He only promised that he would finish a school year to make the Emperor look at him favorably.

"Is there something you need from me, Your Highness?" William asked.

William knew that Prince Jason was infatuated with Princess Sidonie. If he hadn't accepted the beautiful lady as his lover then he wouldn't mind if the two of them became a couple. However, times had changed. He had no intention of giving away the Princess whom he had already considered as one of his future wives.

"Yes, there is something I need to tell you," Prince Jason replied. "I will be joining the Tournament of Heroes in three months' time. Not only that, I intend to be the champion."

"Oh, so you wanted the Emperor to grant you one of your daydreams."

"Daydreams?"

William nodded his head. "Yes. Because whatever you planned to wish for, you will not have it."

"Oh? Just where is that confidence of yours coming from?" Prince Jason smiled evilly. "We are no longer in the Southern Continent. You are now in my home turf."

William chuckled as he eyed the Prince who was planning to ask the Emperor to engage him with Princess Sidonie.

"It doesn't matter where I am," William declared with confidence. "What mine is mine, and it will never be yours."

"We'll see about that."

"Look but don't touch, or else you might become a blind person."

Prince Jason smirked before taking his subordinates to the VIP rooms that were reserved for the Royal Family.

William watched him go with a neutral expression on his face. The moment he made Princess Sidonie his lover, he knew that there would be plenty of opposition. Unlike Wendy, Ashe, and Est, Princess Sidonie was the princess of the Kingdom of Freesia and the granddaughter of the Emperor of the Kraetor Empire.

Her status was quite high, so it was only natural for people to covet her beauty and the status that was attached to it.

"Wow," one of William's classmates muttered after the Prince had left. "You know Prince Jason? That's amazing."

"Yes," William replied. "The two of us had met in the Southern Continent."

To his surprise, it seemed that none of his classmates were aware about the war that had transpired in the Southern Continent. The major powers in the Central Continent had put a tight lid on the news about the Kraetor Empire's, and the Elves', conquest of the Southern Lands.

However, that didn't change the fact that William's name had been known to a lot of people from high places. Some of them even sent spies to watch his movements and see if they could bring him to their fold.

Someone who was capable of standing up against the Elves and their Guardians was someone that any Faction wanted to obtain. They would gladly give William riches, resources, and women, just to ensure that the Half-Elf would swear his loyalty to them.

Emperor Leonidas knew this, and ignored several requests from the neighboring Kingdoms and Empires that wanted to see and meet with William.

While he hadn't made his stance known to Princess Sidonie and her chosen lover, he didn't intend to allow others to have the Half-Elf either.

The High Priestess of Aamon's Temple had already given him an instruction on how to deal with the teenage troublemaker. He was also told of William's main reason for coming to the Kraetor Empire.

Evexius had given him the recordings of the battle that had happened between William and the Elves, and he had watched all of them in one sitting. This gave him a better understanding of William's character and already thought of a way on how to use it to his advantage.

Although the skies above the Kraetor Empire were clear and very blue. A storm was brewing on the horizon.

It was a storm that would test not only how strong William's resolve was, but also how strong his emotions were when it came to the people that mattered in his life.

Chapter 45 - 509-517

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