2 Years Later . . .

Spring.

Another 2 years had passed. It was a sunny day out in the territory near the Human Kingdom of Evelia. Not a single raincloud in sight — in fact, there was absolutely nothing blocking the view of the skies today. It was all completely clear - which by my old standards, would have counted as a good luck sign. However, here in this world... A clear day like this usually means that it is the calm before the storm, so I wasn't as excited or interested in staying in this territory as I would have been usually.

Currently, I was at the usual meeting spot where I would meet up with Alis and hang out with the youngling. It had only been around 2 years since she decided to become my so called 'friend' and hang out with me, which also meant it had been around 2 years since that Behemoth incident. Evelia most definitely was shaken up by that event, as ever since that they, they have increased their patrols and guard power around the kingdom territory, while also sending out informants and requesting audiences with leaders of the other kingdoms like crazy.

It was like the whole place was preparing for war. However, that didn't exactly stop Alis - if anything, that just kept sort of 'challenging' her to find new ways to get out of the Kingdoms walls just to meet up and hang out with me.

Speaking of Alis...

There was something new that had come up with her recently. Just the other week, she had come to me all upset and down looking.

When I had asked what had happened, it turned out that her parents were thinking of setting her up with a tutor, that would teach her the ways of swordsmanship and other things, all in preparation of her slowly entering her so called 'Real Life', whatever that meant.

However, I knew the real reason as to why her parents were thinking of getting her a tutor. And put it simply, it was because she was turning 13 in just 5 Years. Now why was the 13th birthday of the protagonist so important?

Because that would be the age at which she enters the Evelias Magical Academy to begin her studies.

Basically, her parents had received a letter from the King personally just a year ago. Well, more specifically, her father had received a letter from the King of Evelia, since he was a veteran Imperial Sorcerer. In this letter, the King had expressed the worry surrounding the Behemoth event and how he wishes for the Veteran to enroll his daughter into the Evelias Magical Academy, in order to hone her skills and hopefully turn her into a powerful sorcerer who would help up.

This came from the fact that the King was beginning to worry about a potential attack from the Demon King of Sins army - aka, my army - so he wanted to prepare as much forces as he could, while also ensuring the protection of children with lots of potential for the future.

This was more of a demand than a request though, so the Father sort of had no choice but to comply with the Kings request.

Which is why he was trying to hire a tutor for his daughter now that she was 8, in order to prepare her for the academy life as well as begin training her at as much of an early age as possible.

......Any of that make sense to you?

No? — well, me neither. That all I just relayed was what I remembered from the games story, when I played through it and I have to say, this whole explanation was the most.... Strange and worst written lore in the game.

I mean — the King decides to demand that a veteran sends his daughter to study in order to hone her skills in hopes of her becoming a powerful sorcerer? Where would the King even know that Alis would have any kind of strength in magic?

What if Alis turned out to be a normal girl with no impressive feats to her name noir any magical abilities under her belt?

It would be pretty awkward if you asked me.

Well... Anyways - all of that didn't matter right now, as it would come with time and wasn't important right now. Right now — I should probably just focus on what actually is happening in the present moment. As I waited around at the usual meeting spot, time began to seemingly stretch on for a while, as the sun eventually reached the sky directly above me. It was already the middle of the day and yet, she was still nowhere to be seen.

Did she forget about the meeting she requested today? Surely not — she almost never misses out on these meetups and always shows up on time or around the agreed time. So... Why was today different?

...Maybe she got sick? Maybe she's busy..? As I began to brainstorm potential scenarios, some busses not that far rustled, before a Wolf made from crystal leapt out and rushed towards me at high speed, before leaping in towards me. I simply sighed, before snapping my right hands fingers, constraining the Wolf instantly before completely shattering it with just a single move, clenching my hand into a fist.

The Wolf shattered into pieces in an instant, before I quickly used a small 'Dark Fire' spell to incinerate the remains it left behind. Even though Crystal Wolf remains and what not were quite valuable as they were treated as jewels, I had no reason noir interest in gathering them.

They weren't exactly the easiest to work with and required some ridiculous levels of processing before any kind of material or jewel could be made using the remains. So — No thank you, I'll avoid a headache this time.

Time continued to move and move, and move... With the sun eventually beginning to set. I had waited practically the whole day and yet, there was no sign of Alis anywhere. Guess she wasn't feeling up to the mood of coming today. I sighed, a bit disappointed that I had spent the whole day doing nothing but laying around on a boulder and waiting, however did not complain a single bit. While I would have preferred to be doing something more productive, I couldn't exactly say it wasn't nice to just do absolutely nothing today.

It had been a while since I had a proper rest from any kind of work. I've been quite busy around the Dark Lands lately — mainly testing new spells I craft or handling paperwork from all around the army and castle. Basically, boring political stuff.

....I am lucky that I was actually studying politics to hopefully increase my luck of becoming a lawyer in my life.

I got up from the boulder I was ontop of, before standing up and stretching out — gotta say, this skeleton body does not do wonders when it comes to becoming stiff or so after just laying for a long time. It's strange to say this, but it feels like all my bones were tingling and what not.... It was a strange feeling. Kind of similar to when your leg or arm falls asleep or when you hit your nerve on something and then there's this fuzz feeling in your arm or leg.

I exhaled again, before turning to leave, only to hear footsteps from behind me, before stopping and turning my gaze to the area behind me. Someone was here — and they were not here with friendly intentions. No, they were releasing a hostile aura.

"Good evening dear sir, How may I help you?"

I asked, before quickly using a light amount of magic to sort of 'mask' my Skeletal appearence, in order to ensure that the individual behind me wouldn't recognise me as a monster.

Merlin: "Ah — My apologies if I am disturbing you my friend. I simply came out here because I had felt a pretty strong presence while coming to check up on the Behemoth corpse nearby. I wasn't expecting to meet someone here."

The individual stated, keeping his tone light hearted and calm - while also sliding in a hint of kindness in it. That being said — his tone was one thing, but his words were a bold faced lie. He wasn't here to check up on the Behemoth corpse....

He was here because he had managed to feel my magic presence in this area and came to investigate and potentially look for trouble in the form of a fight. I let out a small laugh, before turning to face the man.

"I see, well I wasn't aware of a Behemoth corpse nearby. But it must be a pretty big deal for it to be so close to the Kingdom of Evelia."

Merlin: "Indeed it is — we are currently still trying to figure out who had killed it in the first place."

Merlin replied.

I didn't say anything after that and simply kept a small smile on my face, before exhaling and placing my arms on my hips, before turning around and waving Merlin a goodbye.

"Well, I suppose I wish you luck in your investigation! I need to be going now."

Merlin: "Oh please do stay for a bit longer - I mean no harm."

Merlin replied before teleporting infront of me, causing me to take a few steps back while maintaining a calm composure and small smile on my face. Merlin was also managing to appear perfectly calm and friendly, despite his hostile aura.

Mean no harm my ass — your aura is being your worst enemy right now buddy. I know what the fuck you're here for and I am NOT about to have any of that shit.

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to slow down the investigation of Evelias most powerful Sorcerer Merlin. Please, do excuse me."

I replied, before walking past Merlin and towards the deeper parts of the woods, before Merlin exhaled and turned to look at me with a more serious expression and glare now.

Merlin: "Busted~ ....I didn't introduce myself and also wore a completely different outfit today. So how could you possibly know who I am?"

....Shit— I am stupid huh.

Such an easy to avoid mistake made by me... Great Job Kizuna - keep up the good work. I stopped before exhaling and looking at Merlin, who prepared a spell already.

Merlin: "Now then, you're going to come with me without any resistance and answer questions that we have for you. Capiché?"

Merlin stated, before sliding the Magic Circle in his arm behind him, causing it to duplicate many, many times and then spears to slide out of them, all aimed at me. I stood in place, before turning around to face him again and exhaled.

"Well, you caught me. I am not exactly a normal every day guy..... But I am not coming back with you I'm afraid."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

I replied, before opening my eyes as they ignited red and a black void like scape was cast around Merlin in an instant, engulfing him and isolating him from the world around. Now, there was just a pitch black abyss around him, as the sorcerer looked around nervously, scuffing.

Merlin: 'A Demonic spell... This guy is either a Demon or a Damned...'

Merlin thought, before attempting to break through the spell by unleashing all of the spears he had summoned at the abyss around him, which simply flew out towards it and crashed into it, getting stuck before being deconstructed into magic and absorbed. Merlin scuffed again.

Afterwards, the Sorcerer made all the magic circles with the spears disappear, before kneeling down and creating a massive magic circle below him, which almost immediately lit up with a bright white light. Then, he quickly did a few hand gestures, before placing his hands together in the shape of a symbol.

Merlin: "Holy Trinity."

He stated, casting the spell. The Magic circles below him increased in its illumination more and more, and more before eventually shattering through the abyss around Merlin and bringing him back to the real world. However, once he was back in the real world, the individual he had wanted to confront was nowhere to be found. Merlin scuffed, before exhaling and brushing off his clothes, standing up.

Merlin: 'Got away.... I am getting sloppy if I can't even break out of a basic Void spell from a Demon or a Damned...'

He thought, before sighing and quickly using Teleportation magic to move back to the kingdoms walls. Meanwhile I was up high in the air, floating with the help with flying magic. That was a close call. To be clear — I could easily beat Merlin, however I didn't want my identity exposed potentially nor stir up any panic in the Kingdom of Evelia by killing the Kingdoms most powerful sorcerer.

So, I simply used a basic Demonic Spell called 'Void' which would simply trap your target in a pitch black abyss/void where they couldn't do anything to you. The spell wasn't all that useful in combat, only really being used as a way to fuel an escape from a situation, however it was a cheap one that could be done fairly quickly. Merlin.... I know what I had said earlier about him probably picking up on my magic presence in the area, but it still didn't answer a single question....

Why was he out here anyway? My magic was basically completely suppressed and realistically you would only be able to feel it if you were close by. So.... What was Merlin doing in the forest where an abundance of monsters lives all by himself? The Behemoth corpse wasn't the reason, that was clear by his lack of company, so there had to be another reason...

Well, whatever it was, I should be more careful when coming to Evelias territory from now on.

I exhaled, before once again activating the 'Ring of Teleportation' and moving back to the Dark Lands to rest for the day. I'll come back tomorrow to see whether Alis will show up, only, I'll be a lot more careful that time. I don't want any trouble.

• • • • • •

- - - -

Summoned to Another World, but as the Final Boss

- - - -

• • • • • •

1 Week later...

It has been around a week since my encounter with Merlin in the forest. I had been going to my usual meetup spot with Alis everyday these last seven days, however Alis... Did not show up a single time during this time. This — now this, had me worried. It's one thing to not meet her once, maybe twice — but for her to not show up 7 days in a row, there had to be something up, no way there wasn't.

I had considered going into the Kingdom of Evelia to check on her at her house, however ever since that Merlin encounter, I hadn't risked going through with the plan. Just floating above the kingdom alone allowed me to see that Merlin and a many, many other experienced Sorcerers which were part of his personal faction were spread all across the kingdoms inner walls, which was most likely to increase security.

And it had a bonus effect of making it impossible for me to enter the kingdom without the risk of being found out or detected. All those sorcerers, while not as powerful as Merlin, had insane sensitivity to magic presence — so if I was to just waltz around the streets, even with my aura basically completely gone, they would most likely be able to pick up on my aura and bust my cover.

This was a long way of saying — I have no clue what had happened to Alis nor where she was. It was the middle of the day on the 8th day now that I was here waiting for Alis to appear. I was seriously beginning to worry about her and what could have potentially happened, but at the same time, I was thinking of possible scenarios that could be keeping her inside the kingdom.

One of them, would be her training.

There is a high likelihood that she was currently locked in a potentially strict training/tutoring which was eating up her time and thus cutting short our time to hang out. This was the most realistic and plausible theory I had in my head — the rest of the possible scenarios I had thought of... They were quite... Grim.

I was resting on the boulder that me and Alis would usually meet up at once again, simply staring up at the sun which beamed down from above in the sky.

Gotta say, even though these past 7... Well now 8 days, me going out like this has made Emily panic like crazy about where I am going and what not, it was so nice to just kick back and rest, and just not do anything at all. It felt refreshing after already 8 years of almost nonstop productive work and business doing.

As I rested all alone, time ran by once more, with the sun eventually beginning to slowly set. Another day, another time she didn't show up... Genuinely worried for what had happened to her. Hopefully she's completely fine and nothing bads happened.

I got up from the boulder once again, exhaling before getting off it and standing up, brushing off my clothes, before turning around and beginning to walk off. Maybe I'll return tomorrow to see if she shows up... No, Emily won't let me probably leave the building or the Dark Lands in worries that I was doing some dangerous shit...

Sure nothing could technically harm me, but that didn't change the fact that my subordinates felt worried for my safety in any scenario.

As I slowly walked away, a branch breaking before the sound of footsteps behind me caught my attention again, causing me to stop. Surely it wasn't Merlin again... I didn't feel any magic presence behind me, so maybe it wasn't. But if it was, god damnit — what's he doing here again.

I exhaled heavily.

"I said already seven days ago, I don't—"

I turned around speaking, before cutting myself short as I saw who had actually come to meet me this time. It was none other than Alis, who was dressed a lot differently to the last time I had seen her. She was dressed in more tactile and solid outfit, which looked a lot like the training uniform at the Magic Academy here in Evelia.

Her hair was also caught into a ponytail which hung on the back of her head, while Alis looked at me with admiration and almost... Tearful eyes.

"...Alis? Is everything—"

Before I could finish, the little girl ran up to me and hugged me suddenly, catching me slightly off guard, as I saw her shed tears. Something was up, and I had a feeling I was about to find out what.

I exhaled, before patting her lightly on her head, before pushing her off me and kneeling down, wiping off her tears.

"....You want to talk?"

I asked. Alis didn't respond in words and simply nodded, firmly holding her right arm with her left one as she stared at the ground. I nodded in response as well, before inviting her to sit down on the boulder where we would usually sit, just so we could get in comfortable before talking.

Once Alis had somewhat calmed down and stopped shedding tears, she had explained everything to me.

Apparently, her parents managed to find her a tutor to train her — which is why she hasn't been coming to meet me for the last 7 days. This was a somewhat expected answer for me, as I had already somewhat guessed that this was probably the case.

However, what I wouldn't have guessed even in a million years, was who was appointed as her tutor/trainer for the next 5 years. Turns out, the King was worried that no one would be skilled enough to train her, so he personally enlisted none other than fucking Merlin to train her.

Yes. Merlin, was Alis's trainer and tutor right now.

It made so much more sense now why she was so busy these last 7 days. As I understood from the game lore, Merlin was an absolutely strict teacher, so strict in fact, that most of his students that trained and learned under him, ended up becoming kind of... Well... Depressed internally.

Well, sort of. It was pseudo depression or something like that.

A I had understood from Alis, Merlin had been relentlessly keeping her in training all this time during the 7 days, to make sure she gets into a sort of a routine or something in order to get used to training and sharpen her body or something as fast as possible. And of course, she was completely in the dark about being sent to the Magic Academy in Evelia when she turns 13.

The only reason she actually came here to meet me today, was apparently because Merlin has to put her training on a 2 day break, in order to take care of some other business he has as the main sorcerer in the kingdom. This has given her time now to come and talk to me.

Gotta say, hearing all this made me sort of despise Merlin. In the game, he was already sort of an asshole in the way of teaching others, always doing it in an unnecessarily strict and genuinely rude way, but hearing how he has been basically working Alis, an 8 year old, to the bone with training for 7 days now... Well, I was tempted to head into the kingdom and incinerate him.

Alis: "I wish my parents didn't get me a tutor... Mister Merlin may be strict and all, but I don't feel like I am learning all that well. Most of the time, he is simply tasking me to do something and then doesn't allow me to take any breaks at all until I do it."

...Hm — that sounds like both, a shitty way to train someone and a decent way to train someone. There was no in-between — it was both at once.

"....I see... Well, it sounds like you've had it tough kid. But even then, look at the bright side — despite how intense and hard it has been, even if it was just a week, you are here right now."

I replied looking at her. Alis sighed, before grabbing a hold of her legs and burying her face in her knees.

Alis: "I suppose... But my training hasn't progressed much this week.... I've barely learned the basics of using a sword."

That bad huh... But to be fair, that felt like a predictable scenario. I mean, they seriously placed a Sorcerer in charge of teaching Alis swordsmanship? Surely someone like Gilgamesh would have been a much better choice than Merlin to train someone in the ways of a sword.

We both went silent after this, before Alis sighed heavily and looked up towards the sky with a slightly sad gaze - clearly not very happy.

Alis: "Maybe I am just not fit to use a sword..."

She stated.

Then — I had a brain wave. Training with Merlin in using a sword, she will never get anywhere close to even learning how to use one. So, instead.... I have an idea that may be a way to solve her current problem. Although, this idea was a bit risky.

I hopped off the boulder, before turning to face her and then manifesting a sword out of thin air, using magic to forge it into a fine blade, which was some what equivalent in quality to the best sword a blacksmith would be able to forge. Alis looked at me with curiousity and slight amazement about me creating a sword out of nowhere.

I then spun the blade, before flipping it in the air and grabbing it by the blade, before lowering the swords handle to Alis.

She looked at the handle in confusion, before shedding a slight sweat and looking back at me.

Alis: "Uhm... Mister Valor? What are you...?"

"Do you want to learn how to use a sword?"

I asked her seriously, cutting her off. Alis shed another sweat, a bit taken back by my sudden question. She was seemingly about to answer, however went silent again. I could see the slight hesitation in her eyes — she wasn't sure what to answer my question.

After a bit of silence, I exhaled lightly and asked my question again, only a bit more seriously this time.

"Do you want to learn how to use a sword?"

I asked again. Alis remained silent, before hesitantly looking up to me, shaking her head and then nodding with a determined expression across her face.

Alis: "I-I do..."

"Louder, I cannot hear you."

I stated coldly.

Alis gulped, before standing up on the boulder.

Alis: "I do..!"

She stated again, more loudly this time and with way more confidence this time around. I couldn't help but put on a small smirk, before extending the handle towards Alis, close enough for her to he able to grab a hold of it.

"Then, from this day on — You may call me your Master in the ways of a blade and magic."

I stated, before looking at her with an even more serious gaze. Alis looked at me with admiration and amazement, before shedding a small amount of tears, before taking a light hold of the swords hilt and smiling widely.

Alis: "R-Right!"

She replied with tearful eyes.

On this day, I had probably strayed as far away from the original history before the games main story as possible — I, the Demon King of Sins, Avis Virtiosa.... Had become the sworn mentor of the protagonist.

• Next Time •

[ (10.) Protagonist & the Mysterious Prodigy. ]