The Evernon Saga - The Journey Of Ascension, A Struggle For Godhood.

(Day 2 - afternoon)

On a street where solely the wealthy walked, two young men strutted through the colourful crowd with their c.h.e.s.ts puffed out and mouths curled upwards.

In the middle of their youth, with impeccable fashion and their chins tilted to the sky, they waltzed down the street, attracting admiring gazes and hushed, bashful whispers. Heady exhilaration and haughty pride accompanied William's heart in its pounding jubilation.

Lips of light kissed the back of William and Aiden's necks, as they loosened their collars.

The two young men stood out from the crowd, an air around each of them, that screamed their uniqueness out to all who could see them.

"Look, darling, it's Young Master Ironfist!" chirped a young noblewoman to her partner, a dashing young man in gilded armour.

"My love, surely you mean Young Mistress Ironfist?" asked he, "With her appearance, she can only be a young lady!"

"You-, how could you be so blind?!"

"Me? Blind? You are obviously the one in the wrong!"

"I thought you were different, Daniel. However, it seems that my impression of you was mistaken, just like your views."

"Listen to her voice, and lay your blind eyes upon her face! She can only be a woman!"

"I have heard enough, Daniel," said she with an air of finality, "I see now, that I can only admit to my blindness, after having chosen a fool like you for a fiancé..."

"M-Maria! If you truly intend to break off our engagement...you won't hear the end of this matter so soon!"

"Hah! Have you neither grace nor shame, threatening me in broad daylight?"

"Even if I have neither, my Father will see to your family's suffering!"

"You plan to rely on your Father because you're too weak to contend with me on your own?" she laughed, "How pathetic you are, Daniel!"

Daniel's brows furrowed, his face contorting with rage, as he drew a short-sword that hung at his waist, though he knew not what exactly he had drawn it for.

To attempt murder in broad daylight?

He did not want to become a wanted man in a matter of minutes!

Maria frowned, having not considered the possibility of him shamelessly drawing a blade in public.

Scanning her surroundings in the span of a second, she determined no patrolling guards were present.

***

Aiden halted, all of a sudden. Upon witnessing the conflict between the couple, as well as the identity of the woman, he could not help but giggle.

"Is something the matter?" asked William.

"It's nothing serious," replied Aiden with a grin, gesturing with his head, "Let us behold the spectacle that is those two over there,"

***

"If a weakling such as yourself wishes to fight, I can only oblige!" growled Maria maliciously, adopting a stance and stepping forward.

The rapidly approaching footfalls of Maria hastened Daniel's deranged heartbeat, warm fingertips of sweat tracing ticklishly down his face.

Slashing the air with his panicked blade, Daniel knew that he had f.u.c.k.e.d up. He had never been Maria's match even when sparring, let alone in true combat!

Maria approached Daniel's swings fearlessly, focusing Mana, unseen to spectators below Tier 1, in her hands. Almost immediately, the skin on her hands and forearms began to darken, and change tones, transforming.

Becoming shiny, and metallic.

Maria's left hand grabbed a hold of Daniel's short-sword, birthing a small shower of sparks, and halting its movements entirely.

With a chop from her similarly metallic right hand, Daniel's sword broke in half, his meagre resolve shattering along with it.

"M-M-Maria! Wait, we can talk-" stammered Daniel, as Maria, in her fine dress and expensive accessories, appeared like a goddess of destruction in front of him.

Taking a wide, low stance that her dress barely allowed, all her muscles were tensed as one, brimming with power, more than eager to be unleashed.

Iron Fist Style - Battering Ram!

A swift, explosive punch from an unassuming, dainty hand landed on Daniel's b.r.e.a.s.tplate...

...utterly demolishing it as the armour g.r.o.a.n.e.d, caving in like it was nothing more than a flimsy piece of cloth. The force from the punch was spread out in an area much wider than the size of the fist, about the circ.u.mference of a watermelon. Maria twisted her fist outwards the moment it made contact, dispersing the concentrated force over an even wider area.

Daniel's body flew backwards like a kite whose string had been severed, his sternum and numerous ribs receiving hairline fractures. The force travelled through his torso, his lungs suffering multiple minor ruptures, and his heart, superficial tears. Had that punch truly connected with him, without the interference of his armour, his life might have ended with that blow, or not long after.

A wheezing body with a caved-in b.r.e.a.s.tplate and a gasping throat crashed into the wooden stand of an unfortunate merchant, causing its hastily constructed frame to collapse entirely.

"By the Sovereign! My stand, my wares!" lamented the merchant, falling to his knees as he counted every shade of colour that formed the rainbow that dyed the floor.

Each colour was a potion that he had either painstakingly brewed himself, or promised favours so that he could purchase them at a lower price.

Daniel, who had been launched into the stand, however, was writhing in pain, clutching at his heaving c.h.e.s.t, weeping. Tears streaked down his wretched face, with the only ones there to welcome his sorrow being the cold, stone floor and the harsh nature of the world.

Not one person stepped forward to save him from a plight born from his own misconduct.

Snickers of contempt, and giggles of mockery crawled into his ears and tunnelled into his brain, born from the crowd that had formed around them.

The hellish pain he felt, and the injuries that made breathing more agonizing than usual, were born from Maria's mighty punch.

And he...he was born into wealth, status, and awoke for his first time in this world, to find a golden spoon in his mouth. He had above-average talent, but he was no prodigy. He possessed a fiery temper, yet lacked the affinity for violence and combat to complete his tendencies. Whenever he fought, his mind would freeze, and his limbs, soften.

Although he was prone to attracting problems to himself, he had never expected that even his fiancée would be too much for him to handle. Not only in a fight, but also as a person.

Daniel closed his eyes, not caring for the consequences that would come for him, after he awoke.

One last solitary tear abandoned him as well, throwing itself onto the ground, ending its short, fleeting life that was spent suffering needlessly alongside its creator.

He had one last regretful thought, befitting of a young man.

It seems as though I was destined to never lay with Maria...

As he laid on the cold, cruel street that cared for neither his health nor his heart, and pressed into his body as much as he pressed himself into it, Daniel felt his consciousness, body, and soul falling into torturous darkness.

***

Maria tossed her hair back, slapping her hands against each other in an up-and-down motion.

The sign of a job well done.

She scoffed at the wriggling, forsaken figure of Daniel.

What a wretch, he's my equal in Level, yet he dares to provoke me when he isn't even able to exert half of his actual strength.

Maria turned to be on her way, before a voice called out to her.

"Big Sis!"

Maria turned around, facing the origin of that all too familiar voice, breaking into a gleeful grin.

She ran towards the one who called out to her, catching them in a running embrace and lifting them off the ground.

The figure she embraced was formed of soft fabrics and leathers, covering even softer flesh. The gentle, small frame that pressed against her arms in feeble resistance felt all too delightful to hold. A neutral, unidentifiable scent filled her nostrils, as she wrinkled them in dissatisfaction.

Kissing a smooth, tender cheek and tousling silver hair that matched hers in colour but not in length, Maria placed her target back onto the ground.

Gazing adoringly into eyes that were a head below hers, Maria asked, "How are you, Aiden?"

Aiden rubbed his upper arms and shoulders, grimacing slightly, "I'm fine, Big Sis."

"I heard you ran off today."

"I might have..."

Maria crouched down till she was eye-to-eye with Aiden, moving closer as if they were about to share a secret.

"So, where did you go this time?" asked Maria excitedly.

"A little inn with wonderful sweetroot pi-" began Aiden, before swiftly clamping both hands over his mouth, his eyes wide with panic.

"Sweetroot pies? I've never heard of them, but my maiden's senses are telling me that they're exquisite!"

Aiden smiled awkwardly.

"Big Sis, you're many things, but a maiden..."

The rest of his sentence was interrupted, as Maria punched him lightly on the head.

"You don't need to tell the whole street about unnecessary details."

Turning to face William for the first time since her arrival in front of them, she looked him over, as he did her.

The most prominent feature that struck William was her long, silver hair that reached as low as her distracting, sizeable bust. It was different from the silver thread that was woven into his coat, more dazzling than it could ever hope to be.

The lady before him had bold, firmly set features. Prominent cheekbones, and a pointy nose that could be considered somewhat larger than average for a woman, yet it did not attract one's eyes in a negative fashion. Full, rosy lips combined with a defined, yet not overly imposing jaw, formed a near-perfect harmony.

If Aiden's features were beautiful, gentle, and soft, Maria's were bold, majestic, and hard.

When not talking, the indifferent expression on her face would give off the impression of an ice-cold beauty.

William stared into her grey eyes, which lacked the swirling and shifting that Aiden's eyes possess due to his Natural Passive.

William studied what he saw, analyzing Maria's appearance and comparing it with Aiden, who was supposedly her little brother.

Indeed, there was some resemblance.

Maria, on the other hand, liked what she was seeing. L.i.c.k.i.n.g her lips, she yearned to kidnap him to her room.

Although he was not quite her height, his looks more than made up for it. Furthermore, those clothes he was wearing matched him so well, that they made her want to rip them off of him.

Grabbing Aiden and pulling him aside, a few meters away from William, Maria began her interrogation.

"So, what are your plans for him?" whispered Maria.

"P-plans? What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me, I'm sure you've spent the whole day with him so far. Your hair is messy as well, have you two already had some fun?"

Aiden's face bloomed in the shade of bright red.

"N-n-n-no! Not in that way, and you were the one who messed my hair up!"

"Oooh? So you have had fun in other ways, I assume..."

"Enough! State your purpose, immediately!"

"Woah, look at you, suddenly acting with authority you don't have."

"I'm serious, Maria. What are you scheming?"

"Oh, it's nothing much. Just wondering if I could snatch him up for myself."

"You can't! I won't let you!"

Maria chuckled.

"You won't let me? You're a man, remember?"

"I..."

Aiden's head sunk, as did his expression, upon hearing that.

"Now then," Maria purred, drawing out her words seductively, "Who might you be?"

Aiden's inability to truly interfere, made him pout.

"My name is William, Miss...?"

"Ironfist. My name is Maria Ironfist, but you may refer to me as Maria," she declared, throwing an arm around Aiden's shoulders, "The second eldest daughter of the Ironfist Family, and the Big Sis of this little guy right here, Aiden Ironfist."

"Ironfist Family?" asked William, puzzled.

Maria grinned, "The Ironfist Family is one of the 7 Great Noble Families of the Royal Capital. Each of the 7 Great Families' standing is second only to the King and the Royal Family. In other words, we're quite the big shots."

William's eyes widened, as his own breath choked him.

The King.

Even the citizens of a faraway place like Birkstead knew of him, and rightfully so, for he ruled their country. They had learned that the country was ruled by the King, and defended by the Square Table.

Aiden and his family's standing was just below that of the one who ruled their country?!

"With that being said," interjected Aiden, shrugging Maria's arm off, "That standing only applies to our Father, the Family Head. Maria and I, as well as all of our cousins and siblings from the same generation, are just normal nobles."

"Oh...I see..." mumbled William, relieved.

"In any case, do you currently have a lover, William?" inquired Maria, determination carved into her gaze.

William cringed, whilst Aiden giggled.

How was he supposed to answer?

"I...suppose you could say that..."

"Hmm?" hummed Maria, hooking a hand behind William's head and pulling his face into her b.r.e.a.s.ts, "I didn't quite hear your answer, it must've been the wind."

"Wha-!" Aiden cried indignantly, his mouth hanging wide open.

A vague, unintelligible muffle could be heard, originating from William's mouth.

Twin pillows of flesh, softer than silk and smoother than satin, enveloped William's face in their warm confines.

He had to admit within himself, that they felt amazing.

However, a pang of inexplicable guilt crept into his c.h.e.s.t, gnawing away at him, as the faces of the Hysteria sisters flashed in his mind.

Begrudgingly pushing his face away from its comfortable haven, William sighed in relief after regaining his ability to breathe.

"And, did you like them?" asked Maria slyly.

"Yes- wait, that's not the point here!"

Maria chuckled, looping an arm around William's shoulders.

She pulled him close, their faces only a few centimetres apart, "You know...you look young, but how young could you really be?"

Aiden ceased to pout, a gloating smirk flourishing on his face.

"I'm 15, Maria."

Panicked, Maria yelped, as she swiftly and violently jerked her arm and body away from William, "Too young!"

Doubling over, Aiden laughed unrestrainedly.

Wiping sweat that had formed on her brow, Maria sighed in relief.

"Though you are an 'a.d.u.l.t' by definition, 15 is a bit too young for my tastes, so I'll hunt you down in a few years."

Aiden snickered, "Perhaps you are just too old, sister dear, ah-!"

A ruthless fist ground its knuckles into the top of Aiden's head, seemingly with the intent to bury itself in it.

"And who might you be calling old, brat?"

Sparing Aiden from further pain, Maria sighed.

Twirling her hair in thought, "You were planning on heading back to the estate, correct?"

"Yes, I wanted to show William something," replied Aiden meekly.

"Something?" she asked, before grinning, "Ah, you want to show him 'that', I see."

Aiden nodded solemnly.

"Very well, I'll distract our guards, maybe bring them for a round or two."

"Bring them for a round? What do you mean?" asked William, a symbol of innocence.

Panicking, Aiden grabbed William by a shoulder.

"Maria's idea is good! Don't worry about the small details!"

L.i.c.k.i.n.g her lips, Maria chuckled mischievously, "Well...they're not 'small' details, but I agree, let's get going."

Just then, a merchant ran in front of them.

"Wait!" said he, "You cannot simply leave like this!"

A rotund man, as absurdly round in face as he was in body, resembling a walking barrel of beer, topped with a skin-coloured watermelon.

Thin, black cobwebs of hair peppered his cheeks, chin, and jaw. His short, oily, pudgy nose bore a shocking resemblance to the rest of him. Dressed in an ensemble of brown pants and a dark green merchant's garb, his face was as mismatched as his attire, eyes sitting asymmetrically in a deformed skull.

"You fought with that man, and destroyed my stand in the process!"

Maria g.r.o.a.n.e.d inwardly, lightly massaging her temples.

"I demand compensation! I had to go through every hell in existence to get those goods!"

Whilst he nagged and w.h.i.n.ed to Maria, the latter turned back to glance at the stand, before reaching towards a pouch that hung at the h.i.p.s of her dress, tapping it as she produced a clinking pouch in the palm of her hand. At this unmistakable, familiar sound, the merchant fell silent, all quarrel ceased.

A smile split his face as he rubbed his hands together gleefully, a sense of triumph washing over him, seeing as she had the tact to know what he d.e.s.i.r.ed.

Now he could possibly haggle for an amount higher than his original investment!

Maria fumbled within her coin pouch for a few seconds before fishing out a glint that captured the attention of every pair of eyes in their immediate vicinity.

The glint of gold.

Gasps sounded out as breaths were held hostage in the confines of cowardly throats, who dared not make a peep, let alone speak up.

"Here, is 2 gold enough to shut you up?" sighed Maria.

Merchants were a troublesome bunch, often working under someone with formidable strength and many connections, assuming they did not possess that themselves. She preferred to keep all merchants at a very polite distance away from her and her affairs.

Once she raised her Tier high enough, however, she would never have to be polite ever again.

The merchant considered haggling, but could not deny that 2 gold was already a sizeable profit. It was around 70% of what he calculated to be his maximum possible profit for that day, which he was not expecting to accomplish either way.

Rubbing his money-grubbing hands joyfully, "You seem to be very wise for your years, young lady, but I would need another-"

Maria raised a fist, turning it metallic once more as she glared at the merchant.

"-another moment to think about how to thank you, of course! I truly appreciate your honour and whatnot," stammered the merchant, nervously receiving the compensation with trembling hands and voice.

Pocketing it whilst scrutinizing the bystanders, he left the scene swiftly, with the hastened gait of a man that feared for his life.

"Now then, let's be on our way before any guards arrive. I won't be able to talk my way out of their clutches so easily," Maria warned, pushing William and Aiden by their backs to make them walk.

***

As they neared the Ironfist estate, the human traffic on the streets around it decreased considerably, leaving the three rather exposed.

"All right, I'll go first, and you two hide yourselves over there," instructed Maria as she gestured to a stack of empty crates that lay between two buildings.

On the opposite side of that street, lying diagonally around 100 metres away to the right of the crates, was a wall composed of black metal rods possessing sharpened tips. They stood around 5 metres tall with an air of danger about them, as they surrounded an estate that captured the undivided attention of any who lay eyes upon it, resembling fangs from a massive creature that lay beneath the land it stood on.

Behind a majestic, elegantly designed golden gate, was a walkway of inlaid stones that led to a massive mansion, with over 80 rooms visible from merely the front side of it. On the sides of that path and surrounding the mansion was a grassy field, immaculate with flowers in full bloom and gorgeous plants aplenty.

From red leaves to white stems, purple flowers to azure fruits, and grey roots to lavender branches, the grounds of the estate were a sight for sore eyes that had been tortured by the pale, plain ivory and blinding golden glow that suffused the wealthier sections of the Capital.

All who passed the estate would admire it more than once.

As William and Aiden crouched behind the crates, they peeked through the gaps between them, watching Maria as she strutted towards the gates, in front of which stood two mostly-armoured guards. Armed with a shield and neither weapons nor gauntlets, they were an odd sight for William, but upon remembering what Maria had done to a sword with her b.a.r.e hands, he nodded to himself in awed understanding.

Maria approached them, causing them to bow in greeting, before conversing with them. They looked around, at the mostly empty street, and nodded as if in response to Maria's words. She drew close to one of them, lifting the visor of his helmet, before waving the other one over with a finger.

After a few more minutes, the guards shrugged and opened the gates, letting Maria pass through before heading to a small, windowless stone building off to the side of the gardens. Maria waved them off, shouting something to them, as they left.

Pretending to close the gate, Maria left it slightly ajar, before gesturing with a hand for William and Aiden to come over, before rushing off to catch up with the guards, who had already begun to remove their armour.

Aiden sighed with disappointment. His dear sister was truly something else, with the worst part being that he was unable to deny her usefulness.

"I assume that it's time for us to enter," commented William as he moved to get up.

Aiden grabbed him by his shoulder, "Wait!"

"What's wrong?"

"You should wait here. It's not the safest idea for an outsider like you to enter my family's estate, and I won't be long, I promise."

"I...all right, sure," agreed William as he sat back down, puzzled.

"Good, I'll be back soon!"

Running towards and through the gates, Aiden closed them behind him before running towards the massive front doors and slipping inside.

***

Half an hour later...

William had passed his time watching the citizens of the Capital walk by, observing and comparing their outfits to one another. He knew not why he did so, but the most obvious answer was sheer boredom. He pondered the Runes that he had seen earlier, and the Rune he conjured, Fa'ru. He could not draw them, for he did not want to risk revealing himself in public, through his use of Personal Mana.

He stood up, looking down the alleyway he was in, watching a cat that had been watching him for some time now. They stared at each other with mutual disinterest, yet a peculiar inability to look away. It meowed at him, stalking ever closer, and began to walk in between his legs, rubbing its head on his shins. Looking up at him expectantly, he scratched its soft, furry head briefly, as it hissed at something behind him and retreated to a safe distance.

As William moved to begin turning around, he found his vision robbed from him.

His eyes were enveloped by soft warmth, as a pleasant scent ever so slightly tinged with flowers, filled the air around him. The rustle of clothing, accompanied by a body pressing itself onto him from behind, startled him.

William's mind began to race, as he considered multiple modes of retaliation, before a familiar voice sounded in his ears.

"Guess who?"

A relaxed, gentle voice c.a.r.e.s.sed his ears, belonging to a young girl, perhaps around his age.

Pillowy palms covered his eyes, placed tenderly, carefully.

"I have no clue, to be honest," he admitted.

The hands left his eyes, as the world returned to him.

Turning around, he came to face a girl he did not know.

Medium-length hair, reaching slightly below her jaw.

A frilly, long-sleeved white dress that fell to her shins, whilst exposing her narrow shoulders and delicate collarbones to the world.

Although she lacked any c.h.e.s.t to speak of, their absence, strangely enough, added an air of youth and innocence to her.

Hands with slender fingers and flawless skin. Carefully maintained nails and soft palms to match.

An alluring, plump lower lip and a narrow, elegant upper lip, both coloured naturally by their inborn tone, yet possessed an additional shininess that William could not identify the source of.

A button nose, cute and dainty.

Round cheeks, but not in a way that implied obesity, but the kind that made one instinctively want to stroke them, touch them.

Kiss them.

It would be impossible for him to deny that he found this girl attractive, and that his teenage mind was starting to go wild with the pondering of possibilities.

William looked higher, past that, as he saw two very familiar traits.

Her hair, which he had not paid close attention to at first, was in a shade of silver that very strongly resembled someone he knew.

A pit began to form in his guts, as a sense of foreboding weighed upon him.

He gulped.

Her grey eyes, guarded by long lashes, pierced right through his own, with shifting, ever-changing pools writhing within them, which confirmed the identity of the 'girl' in front of him.

William opened his mouth, speaking silence for no one to hear.

The 'girl' smiled, two familiar dimples gracing her cheeks.

"Have you figured it out?" 'she' asked.

"A-Aiden?" asked William tentatively.

Aiden giggled.

"You've guessed correctly yet again, here's your prize!" laughed Aiden as he jumped forward, embracing William.

Soft fabric, worn over even softer skin, wrapped around and pressed themselves against his body, eliciting delight as he trembled in comfortable satisfaction. Small hands ran up his back, pulling him into Aiden, as Aiden pulled himself into William.

A sweet, enticing scent, one that William had only smelt on attractive young women like the Hysteria sisters, and other girls his age, plagued his nostrils.

Plagued, for it originated from Aiden.

Why does he smell like a girl?!

What happened to his neutral smell from before?!

There was no wonderful squishy sensation that protruded from Aiden's c.h.e.s.t. It felt as if he was c.h.e.s.t-to-c.h.e.s.t with another guy, which relieved him.

As for further down Aiden's body...William did not dare to think, nor ask anymore, let alone check.

"So," asked Aiden as he removed his head from William's c.h.e.s.t, stepping backwards to do a twirl, "How do I look?"

William covered his face, it and his neck burning in embarrassment, "Very convincing..."

Aiden frowned, dissatisfied.

"Is that all you have to say?" he asked, before whispering, "Compliment me!"

William looked at him incredulously, before turning his head away.

He could not bear to look at this enigma of a person, his sanity on the verge of momentary collapse!

With almost all the resolve he could muster, he decided within himself, that he would be honest.

"You're beautiful."

Aiden's eyes widened in surprise, as he felt his face almost bursting into flames.

Crimson-cheeked and fl.u.s.tered, he looked down, unable to make, not to mention hold eye contact with William, who wanted to hit something right there and then.

Could you not look so adorable while fl.u.s.tered?!

Why am I reacting like this?!

It's Aiden, for crying out loud!

Groaning, William broke the heated silence between them.

"Shall we...head for lunch as planned?" he asked with uncertainty.

"Y-yes, let's be on our way."

William walked past Aiden, before having his arm grabbed by the latter.

In silent astonishment, he gazed at Aiden with questions scribbled messily all across his face.

"After all, I'm still a noble, and posing as a lady, at that," explained Aiden shyly, "It's only right of you, as a gentleman, to escort me, which will also lessen my chances of being discovered, as I only have freedom when I'm disguised, after all."

Arms linked, they proceeded down the wealthy street, as Aiden soon calmed himself and adopted the air of an elegant, young noblewoman. William, on the other hand, had not yet recovered from the bizarreness of this situation, his faked smile twitching occasionally.

Aiden hailed a carriage with a demure hand, as they boarded it.

***

20 minutes later...

"Based on your description, this should be the tavern that you were at," theorized Aiden, as the carriage came to a halt.

Alighting, William scrutinized the building in front of him, before nodding.

"This is it."

"I knew it, so it was The Sleeping Bear! This place is known for its affordable meat and huge portions, I can see why Sir Reginald brought your entire group here to feast!"

Aiden treated William to the carriage fee, as they entered the tavern.

Shortly after passing the threshold, William saw familiar faces.

Three, to be precise.

***

In The Sleeping Bear, minutes before...

"I say, we're pretty fortunate to have all already found somewhere to work!" exclaimed Clayton, sipping ale afterwards.

"Hehe, I'm especially happy that we get to work and live together, love," giggled Alison, as she leaned her cheek on his shoulder.

"Ugh, could the both of you not be so close to each other?" grumbled Magnar, "You're making me miss my girlfriend."

"Hahaha! Sorry Magnar, but love halts for no man!" declared Clayton with comical regality.

Magnar g.r.o.a.n.e.d once more, "I bet you feel so smart for saying that..."

They laughed and chatted whilst waiting for their lunch, out of their village linens and in proper, casual clothing that suited the young people of the Capital.

A blacksmith's hammer hung from the belt of the black apron that Magnar wore, hanging heavy, yet appearing diminutive in comparison to his large frame.

Magnar looked towards the doors.

"I wonder, where could William have gone?" asked Alison out loud, as Clayton and Magnar nodded.

They had been wondering the same thing, as they mutually gazed at the door for a reason unknown to them. They found themselves falling silent, as they worried about William's well-being.

What if they found him lost, robbed, or worse, as a body in a random alleyway?

They had been told by their bosses, that there are just as many strong and evil people in the Capital as there are good. Alleyways are to never be entered, and they should stick to wide, well-populated streets instead.

Just then, a carriage could be heard pulling off, as the doors to the tavern opened.

A young man, of dressed wealth and emitting an air of status, entered the tavern accompanied by a similarly young, silver-haired beauty. They looked to be no older than them, yet the air about them, and where they stood in life, seemed to be worlds apart.

The silver-haired girl's beauty made Alison feel embarrassed about her own looks, especially when she noticed Clayton scrutinizing that girl a little too closely for her liking. Grinding her heel into his foot, he winced in pain, smiling apologetically.

Even still, he could not completely refrain from staring, as the silver-haired girl was too eye-catching. He had noticed her lack of c.h.e.s.t, yet it bothered him none, for the sacred air that surrounded her was stifling, and her overall beauty stunned him.

Alison noticed the young man, who could possibly be one of the Young Masters that her and Clayton's boss warned them about. She shifted her chair closer to Clayton, unwilling to risk being taken by force by a pompous, arrogant teenager with too much power and money handed to him.

His clothing, however, did genuinely catch her eye. He was dressed sleekly, not overwhelmingly shiny and opulent, with clothes that complemented his build, and vice versa. The most striking aspects of his appearance were the silver dragons that had been embroidered into his coat, and the way they reflected light.

Dazzling, fragmented light in numerous rays that illuminated her vision.

The attires of the two and their possible standing aside, Magnar froze, subconsciously rising from his chair, one hand placed on the table, and the other on his chair, to support himself.

The face of the well-dressed young man shocked him to his core.

Clayton noticed it almost simultaneously, Alison shortly after.

"Speak of the devil..." breathed Clayton.

Magnar gulped, amazed beyond words and belief, that that was his brother who stood there, arm-in-arm with a girl that he had to admit, surpassed Aria in her appearance.

Anger boiled up within Magnar, directed at himself.

She is only SLIGHTLY prettier, not more!

Magnar's expression softened once again, as that young man looked over at their table, making eye contact with him.

"William..."

***

William saw three familiar faces, one of which he had seen for far too long to mistake for anyone else.

Aiden leaned his head against William's shoulder, looking up at him questioningly, "William? What's the matter?"

Aiden was ignorant of the trio's, and everyone else's thoughts on his appearance and identity. He had long learned to tune out that part of his senses whilst in disguise, otherwise he would worry too much. The key to an effective disguise is to act the part as well!

On the other hand, William was ignorant of Aiden's question and gaze.

It had been less than a day, but it felt like weeks had passed, as his lips twitched with nostalgic uncertainty.

"Magnar..."