William Verhein, a boy who had been living rent-free in Ciara's mind since two years ago,
She last saw the boy when she went to her father's friend's house.
Back then, she didn't think much of it; however, in that house, she found a boy with the most pure aura she had ever seen.
Even after two years, she had yet to see any aura like the one that boy possessed.
She still remembered the overwhelming strength he displayed in his fight against her brother.
No, it was too one-sided to be called a fight; however, Ciara couldn't blame the boy; after all, it was her own brother who was at fault for provoking and challenging him.
At first, she hated the boy, especially when she heard her father talking about engaging her with him, which he refused by calling her weak and boring.
Sure, she might be weak at that time because she hadn't awakened, but surely she wasn't boring, right? The boy didn't even know her, so how could he call her boring?
She wanted to hate him, but for some reason she couldn't get the boy's pure crimson aura and gem-like red eyes out of her mind.
Now that she had awakened, people were calling her a genius in her kingdom; after all, she had awakened a Tier IV aspect, one that increased her affinity for mana and let her summon mana constructs.
It was a very powerful and versatile aspect, which caused many people to start comparing her with William, and while Ciara hated to admit it in her heart, she knew that she was no match for the boy.
The overwhelming magic talent the boy had displayed two years ago was scary to her, especially when you consider the boy was supposed to be the same age as her.
Just how much stronger will he become when he grows up? She didn't know, but she was sure it would be scary. Another thing she knew was that she wanted the boy to regret calling her weak and boring.
For the first time in her life, she had a goal that she was working hard towards achieving, and yet today, when she saw the boy, her mind basically blanked out.
The boy had grown even more handsome; his facial features were even sharper; however, the thing that concerned her was his aura.
Her ability to sense mana before her awakening had grown into a passive skill called [Genius of Mana], which let her see mana and a few other things. Overall, it was a very powerful skill.
But right now what it was showing her was shocking to say the least. After all, the boy's mana, while lower than what it was before, was even more pure. If before his mana 'almost' looked similar to nature, now it was indistinguishable aside from the crimson colour.
She couldn't keep her eyes away from the boy and his aura, which were both the prettiest things to her.
'No, wait, why am I thinking like that about that jerk?'she questioned her own thoughts.
However, just as she was about to leave the boy alone and look for her brother, she heard a voice.
"What are you doing?" William asked as he moved a bit closer to Ciara.
Blank
Ciara blanked out; this was the first time the boy had talked to her.
She wasn't sure how to respond; was she just supposed to say that she was interested in him?
Nah, that would be too weird. While her mind raced through different possibilities, trying to find an explanation, she was brought out of her thoughts by Williams voice.
"Hey, I asked you a question," he said as he placed his hand around her shoulders, shaking her a bit.
"The walls behind you are very well painted." Ciara finally responded with the best possible excuse she could think of.
"Ah, right," William replied, not buying her lie.
To William, the girl was very weird; he had brutally beat up her brother, with whom she seemed to have a very good relationship, and even insulted her.
And yet here she was, showing interest in him instead of avoiding him like he expected.
Now that he took a good look at her, he could see that she was definitely very talented, probably the person with the highest affinity for Mana he had ever seen aside from himself and Zephyr, of course.
"Ho, regret rejecting the engagement offer, already?" Ciara asked in a smug tone as she saw William staring at her, completely ignoring how she was practically ogling him before.
"Nah, I'm just thanking the past me for not settling for mediocrity," William retorted, unfazed by her question.
"Wtf? " Ciara exclaimed.
Truthfully, she wanted to leave the rude boy alone, but she couldn't contain her curiosity as she asked.
"Why are you so talented in magic?" She asked, hoping to strike up a conversation.
"Why were you born with such average looks?"
"Exactly. God just gave it to us, so don't ask me stupid things like that," he said as he walked back to Zack.
[I didn't gave you shit boy] Zephyr replied in his mind, which William completely ignored.
Honestly, Ciara was very cute, and William was pretty sure she'd grow up to be a beauty like her mother.
But he could also tell that her interest in him would slowly become a one-sided crush, and she'd eventually end up with a broken heart.
If he wanted, he could've reciprocated her efforts to make conversation, but he didn't want to get her hopes up.
Honestly, William really wanted to try dating someone in this life, as he wasn't able to do it in his past life.
However, right now he didn't have time for this as he was too focused on his pursuit of strength.
Another reason was that Ciara was too weak for him. William already expected to live a very very long life, and he didn't want to experience the death of his partner.
Which is why he had the perfect plan for his future partner.
For a future god like him, only a future goddess would suffice.
In this world, there were three main gods: Zephyr, the god of mana; Selena, the goddess of night, and Elona, the goddess of light.
Zephyr was a boy, so he was automatically out of the equation.
That left him with Elona and Selena, and while he had never met any of them before, he had very high expectations of them; after all, they were God's, and no mortal like Ciara could ever compare to them.
This was a perfect plan once all his conquest for power was over and he had humbled Zephyr and became the strongest in the world.
He could ascend to godhood and court a goddess to enjoy immortality with him.
Meanwhile, Zephyr was just observing the whole ordeal with a calm gaze through William.
He was pleased by William's intention to stay away from worldly desires like women.
Thankfully for William, Zephyr was incapable of reading his mind.
Otherwise, after hearing the nefarious intentions his protege had towards his sisters in divine blood,
William would've had both the world and a god trying to kill him.
While William was enjoying the party and planning his plans for hundreds of years later,
A plot to end his journey to godhood and, more importantly, a divine wife were in danger.
***
Authors note:-
I'm sorry if the romance ever feels wonky in this novel; that's because I have no experience.
However, let's hope that by the time William ascends and tries to chase some divine skirts, this author has also experienced his youth.