Ethan and Nicole sat on the couch together, with the young lady resting her head on his shoulder.
The two of them were just holding hands, and yet, he felt as if he was holding a block of ice in his hands.
Even so, he didn't feel uncomfortable or bothered by its coldness.
Ethan also found this quite baffling. But if he was able to help ease Nicole's suffering, then he would not hesitate to do it.
"I guess you're pushing yourself during your training," Ethan said. "I have also been trained by Professor Barret, and I can tell you that he sotis doesn't hold back his punches. I can't count the number of tis I passed out during our training."
Nicole smiled faintly after hearing Ethan's training story.
Currently, she and Alice were being trained by the Ex-Magistratus who had been hailed as the strongest Wizard to take the position.
And just as Ethan ntioned, Professor Barret sotis didn't hold back his punches.
"Both you and Alice are Ice Users," Ethan comnted. "Did you co up with a strategy to fight as a team?"
"Yes, I transform my Ice Magic into a weapon, and that's what she uses," Nicole replied. "She inherited Eileifr Eques' Weapon Master Legacy."
"Then she must be really strong right now," Ethan said.
"Very."
"Can you win against her?"
Nicole smirked. "If we are talking about pure physical combat, then I won't win against her. But when it cos to magic... I will win hands down."
"The young lady's voice was firm, and the confidence in her voice couldn't be denied.
The two then chatted about their training, not noticing the ti.
Only when Ethan heard soone knocking on his door did he rember his agreent with his sister to talk about their Grandfather.
"Co in, Joanne," Ethan said. "It's not locked."
The door of the room opened, and two beautiful ladies entered the room, making the surroundings look brighter.
"Are you feeling cold again, Nicole?" Joanne asked as she casually sat on Ethan's bed.
She looked at her brother's best friend, who was seated beside him and holding his hand.
"Yeah, the usual," Nicole replied. "Do you guys have sothing planned?"
"No." Joanne shook her head. "Brother just asked what our grandfather is like."
Nicole, who only saw Ethan's mother during the wedding ceremony, wondered why Ethan suddenly wanted to know more about his grandfather.
Out of curiosity, she decided to ask Joanne a question. "What is your Grandfather's na?" Nicole inquired.
"Balthazar Azael Valentin," Joanne replied proudly.
'Why does the na sound familiar?' Nicole pondered. 'For so reason, I think I know who that na belongs to.'
Half a minute later, Nicole's eyes widened in shock before looking at Joanne in disbelief.
"Are you talking about Demon Lord Balthazar?" Nicole asked. "THAT Balthazar?"
"Yes." Joanne nodded. "THAT Balthazar."
The smile on her face widened because this was the reaction she was looking for.
The only reason why she answered Nicole's question was because she was soone her brother trusted.
But Joanne could never say this to any of the other students of the academy because it might cause panic and chaos.
This was why she also asked for Agnes' permission to use Gremory as her surna when she enrolled in Brynhildr Academy using the backdoor.
Ethan's Father, Wallace, the current head of the Magistratus, also pulled so strings to ensure that Joanne could enroll safely in the academy.
"Ethan, I didn't know that you ca from such a notorious family," Nicole said.
"I also didn't know until a few months ago," Ethan replied. "In fact, I still haven't t him. The only ones I saw were my mother and father. My grandfather and grandmother weren't there when I visited the Valentin Family's castle."
"Castle? Well, in a way, he is indeed a King." Nicole nodded in understanding. "So, does that make you and Joanne nobles?"
"Well, I don't know about , but Joanne is a princess," Ethan replied before glancing at his sister, who looked very smug right now.
"If she is a princess, then you are definitely a prince," Nicole comnted. "Maybe I should consider moving to your lands. I'm not a very picky person. Just grant the title of Viscount, and give a few hectares of lands to lord over. I'll be fine with that arrangent."
Joanne nodded. "Sure, I'll ask my grandfather to do that."
"Promise?"
"Yes. Promise!"
Joanne then shifted her attention to her brother, who wanted to know what their grandfather was like.
"Grandpa is still very healthy," Joanne stated. "But there are tis when the color of his hair changes. Sotis it's black, other tis it's gray, and it even turns white on certain occasions. Because of that, it's hard to tell how old he really is.
"There are even rare monts when he would look just as old as father. When I asked him about it, he said that it was just the magic that was left over after going to battle. Like getting an adrenaline rush, and your body becos stronger all of a sudden."
Joanne paused to close his eyes.
"He likes to drink bitter coffee, and he is not a fan of sweet things. He only eats cookies or sweets baked by grandmother, and she only does that once a year when they're not too busy in
the Lands of Saraqael."
Nicole's gaze beca sharp after hearing about the Lands of Saraqael.
The Asta Family had records about it, and they were told that only the most powerful of
warriors could go to those lands.
As to what was happening in the Lands of Saraqael, they weren't told much about it.
The only thing they do know was that it was a place where wars with higher stakes were fought, and winners took everything.
According to legends, the Founders of Brynhildr Academy also went to the Lands of Saraqael after making sure that the Academy would stand strong against the tests of ti.
"Grandpa also likes it when I massage his shoulders," Joanne said with a smile as if rembering sothing funny. "But his shoulders are hard as rocks, and the only thing I can do is pound them with my fists like this."
Joanne showed a pounding action with her fists, making her look so cute and adorable.
"Grandpa likes it when I do that, and he often praises and says that I give good massages," Joanne stated with pride. "How about it, brother? Want to try my massage?"
"Maybe so other ti." Ethan did his best to not chuckle after his sister demonstrated her massaging techniques.
"It's your loss," Joanne replied. "Grandpa said that I'm very good at it."
"I'm sure you are," Hecate comnted.
Nicole and Ethan glanced at her because although she sounded sincere, they could tell that
she was being sarcastic about it.
If pounding soone's shoulder with their fists could be considered a massage, then many people would probably be sore all day after getting a massage from Joanne.
"Ah, Grandpa also likes music," Joanne said. "He plays the Lyre and sings well. He even said that he was able to win Grandma's heart by serenading her."
"That sounds romantic." Nicole smiled. "I just can't see myself seeing the Demon Lord serenade anyone, especially since he is described as a very evil and rciless person." Joanne scoffed. "That is how the ignorant think. But since that is the established norm, there is nothing I can do about it. People are able to sleep soundly at night knowing that the great Demon Lord Balthazar is dead."
Ethan's sister knew that she wouldn't be able to change how people perceived her
grandfather.
She wanted to tell everyone how kind, caring, and loving he was. But even if she did, no one
would believe her.
Perhaps out of anger due to the unfairness of it all, Joanne told her brother about her Grandpa's adventures, which he would often tell her as a bedti story.
Through Joanne's stories, Ethan had a clearer picture of what kind of person Balthazar was.
It was truly very different from the horrifying visage that was being spread in the history
books.
Joanne told them that in the imminent battle between the Allied Forces and his Grandfather, the Protector Clans wanted to fight alongside their Master.
However, Balthazar forbade them and asked them to seek shelter in Caer Wydion so that they
wouldn't get involved in the battle.
Because of that, the Protector Clans preserved their strength and served as Balthazar's eyes, ears, and nose as they wandered across Midgard and other distant lands.
Ethan found his sister's story quite fun to listen to because Joanne was animatedly telling the
story about her amazing grandpa.
In her eyes, Balthazar wasn't the Great Demon Lord, but the Greatest Hero who protected the
world, even to this day.
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