The grand doors of the manor’s main hall opened with ceremonial precision, and Valen and Camila Ashbluff, the King and Queen of the Western Continent, entered the room together. Their presence imdiately transford the atmosphere, filling the space with the kind of authority that could only co from decades of ruling one of the world’s most powerful nations.
Camila moved with the fluid grace of soone who had mastered both political diplomacy and personal combat. Her auburn hair was arranged in the intricate braids befitting a queen, while her green eyes missed nothing as they swept across the room. I could sense her power imdiately—high Immortal-rank, just slightly below Jin and Kali’s current level. Impressive for soone who had never been primarily focused on martial advancent, choosing instead to balance royal duties with personal strength.
But it was Valen who truly commanded attention.
The King of the Western Continent had always been formidable, but the man who stood before now had clearly grown even stronger in the years since our last eting. Mid Radiant-rank power radiated from him like controlled sunlight, making the very air around him shimr with barely contained energy. He had broken through from his previous level, ascending to beco not just the strongest ruler in the Western Continent, but the most powerful king in the entire world.
The current Rank 1.
Looking at him now, mories flooded back to that winter break during my second year at Mythos Academy. I had been struggling against the Aspect Wall, frustrated by my inability to progress beyond the limitations that seed to define my magical developnt. Valen had tested then, pushing to my absolute limits with trials that had seed impossibly difficult for soone of my capabilities.
Back then, he had represented the absolute pinnacle of what magical achievent could look like. The thought of reaching his level, let alone surpassing it, had seed like an impossible dream—sothing so far beyond my potential that even considering it felt like delusion.
He had also been the one to later award my guild that generous contract, opening the doors for our operations in the Western Continent when other rulers might have been more cautious about allowing foreign magical organizations to establish footholds in their territory.
The absolute, perfect necromancer talent.
Standing here now, I could feel how dramatically the balance of strength had shifted. Where once Valen’s presence had been overwhelming, now I could sense his power clearly without feeling dwarfed by it. The impossible had beco reality—I had not only reached his level but transcended it entirely.
"Arthur Nightingale," Valen said with genuine warmth that couldn’t hide his careful assessnt of the changes in my capabilities. "Welco back to the Western Continent."
"Your Majesties," I replied with respectful acknowledgnt, noting how both rulers were working to process the reality of my enhanced power. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"The pleasure is entirely ours," Camila said with diplomatic grace that carried undertones of genuine curiosity. "Jin and Kali have spoken of you often during your absence. We’ve been eager to see how you’ve... developed."
Her careful choice of words spoke to the political sensitivity of my return. Having soone of my apparent strength appear in their kingdom without warning represented both opportunity and potential threat, depending on my intentions and loyalties.
"Perhaps we might continue this conversation over dinner?" Valen suggested with the kind of casual authority that made his words sound like invitations while functioning as commands. "I’m sure you have stories to share about your travels."
The dining hall of the Ashbluff manor was a masterpiece of understated elegance, with enchanted chandeliers casting warm light over a table that could easily accommodate a dozen guests. Tonight, however, it was set for a more intimate gathering—myself, Stella, Jin, Kali, and the royal couple, creating an atmosphere that balanced formality with family warmth.
Stella sat beside with the kind of perfect posture that spoke to years of careful instruction, her black eyes taking in every detail of the royal dining experience with obvious fascination. She had t nobility before, of course, but never rulers of this magnitude, and her mathematical mind was clearly cataloging the subtle protocols and ceremonial elents that defined royal hospitality.
"So," Valen said as the first course was served by silent, efficiently moving servants, "tell us about your disappearance after the Order’s attack on Avalon City."
The ntion of that catastrophic event brought a montary silence to the table. The assault on the Slatemark Empire’s capital had been one of the most devastating magical attacks in recent history, leaving thousands dead and fundantally altering the political landscape of the world.
"The attack itself was more severe than most people realize," I began carefully, aware that my answer would be analyzed for both factual content and political implications. "The only reason the damage was limited was because of Lady Elara Astoria and Archduke Leopold Astoria’s sacrifice."
"The reports suggested significant demonic involvent," Camila said with the kind of precise diplomatic language that invited elaboration without demanding it.
"A Demon Duke," I confird, noting how Jin and Kali leaned forward slightly at this revelation. "The Order had sohow managed to summon a Demon Duke to Earth. Archduke sacrificed himself to kill the Duke, and so did Elara, but to save millions of lives. After which, I made a decision."
"To get stronger," Valen asked.
"Exactly. Which is why I made the decision to investigate the other end of that connection." I paused, allowing the weight of that statent to settle before continuing. "I reversed the summoning process and used their own dinsional bridge to travel to a planet ruled by demons."
The silence that followed was profound. Even in a world where impossible magical feats occurred regularly, the idea of deliberately traveling to one of the demon realms represented a level of risk that bordered on suicidal insanity.
"Training against demons," Valen said with growing understanding of how I had achieved such dramatic advancent in seemingly impossible tifras.
"Seventeen Demon Marquises," I replied, noting how even Valen’s impressive composure showed cracks at that number. "Each battle pushed closer to the edge of survival, forcing adaptations and breakthroughs that normal magical developnt could never achieve."
"And now you’ve returned," Camila said with careful neutrality that invited explanation of my future intentions.
"I have debts to honor," I replied simply. "Promises made years ago that I finally have the power to fulfill."
Valen’s expression grew thoughtful, his senses no doubt picking up on the subtle but unmistakable determination in my voice. As soone who understood the weight of absolute commitnt, he would recognize the kind of resolve that brooked no compromise or delay.
"The guild operations you established before your departure have continued to flourish," he said, shifting the conversation toward more imdiately practical matters. "Your organization’s reputation for handling problems that conventional approaches cannot solve has made them quite valuable to various continental governnts."
"I’m pleased to hear that," I replied genuinely. "Though I suspect the real challenges are just beginning."
"The war preparations, you an?" Camila asked with the kind of carefully controlled tension that spoke to months of strategic planning and resource allocation.
"Among other things," I said, eting both rulers’ eyes with the kind of serious attention that made the air around us grow still. "The cults represent a significant threat, certainly. But sotis the most dangerous problems are the ones that never make it into public knowledge."
The change in atmosphere was imdiate and profound. Both Valen and Camila went completely alert, their diplomatic training clearly recognizing that our conversation had just shifted into territory that required extre caution.
"Public knowledge can be... limiting when it cos to certain sensitive matters," Valen said with neutral diplomatic language that neither confird nor denied anything specific.
"Indeed," I agreed, noting how Jin and Kali had also tensed slightly, their enhanced senses picking up on the undercurrents of a conversation that was rapidly approaching topics of critical importance.
I took a asured sip of wine, allowing the mont to build before delivering the words that would change everything about this reunion.
"I know about Rin," I said quietly, eting Valen’s suddenly sharp gaze with absolute certainty. "I can save her."
Reviews
All reviews (0)