After the beast taming class, Calculus had promptly discarded the Frost Kirin. He was enrolled in the course because the emperor wanted him to learn tamer combat techniques, and there was no need to have a non-contractual beast hang around him.

With a royal pardon from forming a link with any other beast, the Kirin was now all but useless. He could’ve found it a new home, but it wasn’t in his character to share what he had with others, even if he no longer has a use for it.

Of course, according to his usual modus operandi, he would’ve destroyed things he no longer needed, but he did not want to risk angering the mother, Kirin. It wasn’t because of the creature itself, but the Steel Rose family that ridiculously treat it like some sort of a sacred beast. Of course, Calculus wasn’t afraid of offending one of the Three Great Nobles, but he knows now wasn’t the time yet.

Unfortunately, after the baby, Kirin has been ‘defiled’ by human scent, and its mother will not accept it back. After all, it is an ancient beast with great wisdom and knows how devious mankind is. It wouldn’t be surprising that her entire brood would be enslaved if she was careless.

When the baby Frost Kirin found itself homeless, it wandered back down the Beast Taming Mountain in despair. The other monsters were unkindly to it. Whenever it came close, they would roar threateningly, sending it scurrying away. Of course, seeing that it is a young of their queen, they dared not attack.

After a few days of wandering about, the academy’s staff quickly spotted this little oddity, and they handed it to Lalhal. The instructor recognised it immediately and understood what had transpired, but this is now Calculus’ problem. The boy was the one that had brought it down the mountain.

Lalhal brought it back to Saint Cadets Academy and returned it to Calculus – who promptly discarded it for the second time. He did not have a habit of taking back things he dumped.

The heartless master left it in the street like worthless trash, but which practitioner wouldn’t know this is a near-mythical creature?

The Kirin is a powerful beast of Immortal descend and will one day return to its rightful place when matured.

Its mother had to suppress her cultivation to stay in the Mortal Realm and raise her kids.

If she wanted, even the recent curse that makes it hard to enter the Immortal Realms would be unable to block her.

The first cultivator that placed his eyes on the Kirin rushed forward and snatched it up. Grabbing the squeaking little beast by its neck, he turned and flew off with a great leap.

But, before he disappeared, another appeared and struck him down with a fearsome palm to his chest.

The Kirin left his hands as he pummelled to the ground.

The new guy gave a loud rumbling laugh and dashed away the moment he landed, but he too met with opponents he could not resist.

The baby Kirin was dropped and picked up, its great eyes wide with tears as one after another manhandled it.

The commotion became so large until even the Three Great Nobles had been alerted of this disturbance in the capital.

A frightful force immediately assimilated to quell the riot, and more importantly, retrieve the first Kirin infant beast found over a millennium.

The battle for it turned from cultivators against cultivators into factions against factions; many hidden forces quickly took action.

If one of their youngsters could tame it, it would be an absolute blessing for those small families.

But, their beautiful dreams were shattered when Lord Yue heard of the news. Like an eagle swooping down on its prey, the Kirin disappeared before anyone could find out what happened to it. Of course, it had already landed in his clutches.

The other great nobles didn’t dare to do a thing, lest others say that they are bullying smaller factions, but the Dark Gods family never had such qualms over their reputation.

Instead, they were widely known for their ruthlessness.

If they wanted something, they would go for it without regards. Of course, because they did it legally, and without stealing or coercing, all the others could do is mutter some grumbling.

After all, Lord Yue is seen as ruthless, and not as an outlaw. As a Grand Duke, even he could not openly break the law.

But, who knows what he does secretly, thus, his rumours were always aplenty.

After receiving the little beast, he thought of the little girl that suffered because of his subordinate, and quietly sent the Kirin to Kairos with a long letter of apology.

Kairos, knowing that even Lord Yue does not have full control over the Devilheart’s actions, did not blame him, but he immediately accepted the gift.

After all, it is indirectly through Calculus that Ling’er could have a Kirin pet.

“At least, it will be some form of repayment.”

When Ling’er and Relestia heard of the story, the princess fumed for her friend’s sake, and immediately asked, “But, taking something that the Devilheart family discarded doesn’t mean anything, isn’t it? Aren’t we letting them go too easily?”

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Ling’er shook her head with some difficulty. She did not want her friends to take revenge for her. She knew how frightening those big men were.

“Just a small interest for now,” Kairos smiled, then he added, “When Calculus realise that his Contract Beast is actually loyal to me, and he also gave away the strongest Mortal Realm beast, that’d be his next little payment.”

Relestia looked at Kairos speechlessly. He had an expression of a fisherman that is slowly pulling back his net.

The princess was filled with honest admiration. The ones she should be worried for are those who dared to cross her hero’s friends.

What happened to Ling’er had really stepped on Kairos’ bottom line. There wasn’t a need to question the thorough devastation he had prepared and laid before the perpetrators. He might only be a B ranker, but his strengths are too diverse and hard to estimate.

But what is power, without purpose?

The True Lord had rightly asked Kairos, what is his true purpose for seeking power?

He found his answer lies in the people and things that he found precious. He selfishly wanted everyone to be safe and sound, not losing a single thing.

At least in this way, Kairos has proven incorruptible, as long as he strove to protect the Snowdrifts. For the princess who had always lived with a status above others, he had made the most alleviating decision in using his strength.

Kairos himself felt it is only natural and he looked at the two and smiled.

They say that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but few understands that when one’s heart is immensely strong, there exists no fear.

To be corrupted: to lash out with one’s power, to covert, to abuse one’s strength, all those actions are doubtlessly cracks and flaws found in those who are not truly strong within; merely their insecurity displayed.

What is power?

Now he has the answer.

He is power itself.

This thought that bubbled from the deepest recesses of his soul struck him like a thunderbolt on a clear sky. There was no reason for it, just a feeling of how things naturally are.

Just like how Aisa is an incarnation of the Holy transcendent element, he felt a similarity with the primordial dragon.

Though, exactly who or what he is, the person himself doesn’t have the slightest inkling.

Relestia and Ling’er quickly tried forming their new contracts.

The baby Kirin was overjoyed at the touch of Ling’er’s soul, although it was curious about why its new owner seemed so… fragmented.

But when Relestia wanted to form a spirit contract with the Greater Water Element, it refused.

“I am Triteia. Daughter of the Sea. I demand a duel to see if you are fit as my master.”

An Elemental Spirit is vastly different from a Contract Beast. The prior is a being birthed from nature with unlimited potential as long as it could continuously absorb pure elemental energy, while the latter is highly dependent on the bloodline, no matter talent-wise or ability.

Even the type of contract is completely different.

No matter if the taming creature was enlightened, a beast contract could create a soul bond with the tamer so that the two can understand each other and grow together. It is even possible, as long as the target accepts, to tame a human.

Whereas a spirit contract is far more irregular, as most spirits are too proud and free-loving to form a contract, and any cultivator that managed to gain one would be called a Spirit Contractor. Instead of establishing a covenant, it would be more accurate to say that the Elemental is making the Spirit Contractor its physical ‘shell’.

The contractor would gain access to the Elemental’s abilities, their knowledge, and also skills that no human could acquire by themselves.

For the little princess whose combat abilities are limited by her age, fighting Triteia is surely difficult. But, when Kairos wanted to step in, Relestia stopped him.

Born in a royal family, the princess knew that winning hearts and gaining loyalty needs to be done personally, and there are more ways than brute force.

The girl stepped in front of the water spirit, taking a moment to appreciate how beautiful it looked. Though it was shaped like a woman, it had an inhuman loveliness, filled with splendour and magnificence of a cascading waterfall yet enveloping and mysterious that draws one in like the ocean.

Kairos and Relestia could not tell, but Triteia was made of the stunning turquoise seas where she was born.

The princess bowed to the Elemental, signalling that she is ready for the duel, but the room they are in isn’t much, and certainly too small for a fight.

“Relestia, this place…”

“It’s okay Kai. We can’t have others see, and I promise I won’t destroy anything.”

This way, the fight started in this strange place.

The water spirit turned into a dangerous red like blood being poured into a lake. It grew larger and larger until it nearly reaches the ceiling, then like a whiplash, it flung out its hand.

At this moment, the princess was standing on the other side without any indication of movement. Even when the attack was about to hit, she did not attempt to dodge, and it caused Ling’er and Kairos to sweat nervously.

If Ling’er could cry out, she would’ve screamed. This scene made even the battle-hardened Kairos to clench his fists.

But, when the water spirit’s hand was just an inch away from Relestia’s face, a low rumbling growl caused everyone to tremble.

It drove an incredible fear into their hearts, as though a great beast has placed their heads between its maws.

Even the water spirit trembled.

But that doesn’t mean that her attack had stopped. Even if Triteia wants to hold back, the momentum has already become too much to reverse.

The one-inch distance seemed to shorten exceptionally slow before everyone’s eyes. It was until only a hair’s breadth is left that a shadow covered Relestia as something flew over her head and smashed into the water spirit’s arm.

It took them a moment to reconfigure their surroundings before they realised that the princess’ Contract Beast had appeared.

The great Nemean Lion bit into the Elemental’s arm, and with a great heave, it slammed Triteia into the ground. There was a great shock in the room, but somehow the tiles held fast.

The beast had controlled its strength then it dashed towards the Elemental and pinned it down with its great body.

Seeing this, Kairos wanted to laugh. The little princess is very serious in keeping her word and not destroying anything in the shop.

The water spirit did not lie there in wait either, it immediately entangled lion and tried to permeate into its body. Unfortunately, the beast had a famous coat of adamantine, a perfect defence against most Mortal Realm attacks. Impervious to both water and fire, and most physical attacks.

As the two struggled, a new sound interrupted them.

A beautiful voice, raised in song, clear as the cloudless sky, and light as the morning breeze.

The beast and the Elemental stopped. Even Kairos and Ling’er froze from the first note. It was a sound that caused their skin to tingle and their blood rush in trepidation for the next note.

It was an amazing piece of song with an equally enchanting voice, and it drew in all who heard it.

The sound of the fighting previously had caught the attention of many staff and caused quite an alarm, but when the princess sang, everyone stilled.

She sang with more than voice alone.

As if the colours of her soul had painted over this ugly world with a sweet promise of peace, of love, and of a bright future.

It was a sparkling glimmer of the young princess’ innocent hope, like raising dawn that had chased the darkness away, and it caused everyone to weep.

A 10 years old child with far less life experience than anyone gave them the only thing she could - the brightness within her pure soul.

When her song ended, silence reigned in the place as everyone stayed in a trance of reminiscing.

Enough time passed for a joss stick to burn before someone reacted.

“Young mistress,” the Greater Water Spirit declared, her voice carried her unconcealed admiration.