Chapter 122 - A Worthy Opponent

*Flashback*

Aleister extended his hand towards the floor, a golden ray of light shot out of his finger and the floor split open, revealing the underground library in the church/ 

Leo, who was now a small furry white cat jumped at Aleister. 

Aleister grabbed the cat in his arms, ''Let's go inside.'' 

He descended the stairs and made his way towards the smallest shelf in the library. He picked up the book which was titled 'The Sea Creatures'. 

'Meow' 

Although Leo roared, his voice came out like a cat. 

Aleister raised an eyebrow, ''How suitable! Why don't you stay like this forever?" 

Leo choked on his saliva. What do you mean by staying like this forever? I am a majestic beast, how can I live like a cat? 

Aleister glanced at the cover of the book, his fingers stroked the letters carved on it. The corner of his lips tugged up, ''Princess, shouldn't you be touched by my efforts?" 

Leo rolled his eyes. Touched? That human girl barely pays you any attention. Master, are you deluding yourself? 

''Leave this place. Go back to where you came from,'' came a soft voice from behind. 

Aleister paused for a moment, ''Oh, it looks like we have a guest, Leo,'' he turned around while holding the cat and the book in his hand. 

Leo jumped from his arms and landed on the floor as he swiftly transformed into his huge form. 

''It's you,'' Aleister frowned the moment he recognized the woman standing in front of him. 

The copper-skinned woman slowly stepped towards him, her silver dress swaying with her every step that looked seductive. 

'ROAR' 

Leo stood in front of Aleister, taking a defensive stance as he roared, a few bookshelves crashed on the side by the impact of his majestic aura. 

Aleister raised an eyebrow. Usually, this white thing was unruffled by everything. What got onto his nerves today? 

''Who could have known I will see you here?" Ruby smiled at Leo, ''Back then, I did not sense it wrong.'' 

If Esme was here, she would have recognized this woman whom she met 7 years ago. The woman who claimed to be her protector. 

Aleister also recognized her. That day when he was cornered by the assassins, he intended to deal with them all together but before he could do that, a little Esme came rushing to him. She shielded him with his own body, apparently finding it unfair that a weak boy like him was being bullied by all those assassins. The thought of that moment still brought a smile to his face. 

But it was pretty obvious that Esme would not have been able to deal with all those men. And just when he thought that it was time for him to take action, she called out to someone called 'Sister Ruby'. 

Aleister did not think much of it until he saw the woman appearing in front of his eyes, out of thin air. What more, she finished those assassins within a snap of her fingers. 

''Were you out on some trip? Looking around the world?'' Aleister leaned back on the shelf as he glanced at Ruby.

Ruby averted her gaze from Leo as she focused on Aleister. 

He tilted his head and glanced at the unusually quiet beast, ''You didn't tell me that this pretty lady was an acquaintance of yours?" he narrowed his eyes. 

Leo shifted in his spot uncomfortably. 

Ruby glanced back at the man, ''You should stay away from the things that don't involve you,'' she glanced at the book in his hand. 

''What if I don't?" Aleister fiddled with the edge of the book. 

Ruby disappeared from the place where she was standing. In the next moment, she appeared right in front of Aleister. A sword appeared in her hand and she pressed it against Aleister's neck, ''Do as you are told.'' 

'ROAR' 

Leo turned around and glanced at the woman with burning eyes. 

''I thought you were bewitched by the beauty. Seems like you didn't forget who your Master is. Good for you,'' Aleister pressed his finger on the sword and a golden thread seeped out of his finger. In the next moment, the sword turned into dust. 

''You…'' Ruby was stunned. She stepped back from the man as she glanced at him in shock. 

''Am I way too handsome?'' Aleister sighed, ''No wonder Esme can't take her eyes off me,'' he mumbled under his breath. 

The corner of her lips twitched when she heard that. Ruby ignored his narcissistic statement, ''I knew it.'' 

''That I am handsome?" 

Ruby frowned. It was the first time in her life that she came across a man who gave her the urge to either strangle herself or strangle him. ''The first time I saw you, I knew you were different but I could not put a finger on what was different about you,'' she glanced at him in contemplation. She tilted her head to look at Leo, ''You knew it, didn't you?" 

Leo roared. 

Ruby laughed in understanding, ''There is no other explanation to why you would stick to a human being. He is different. I can feel the divine power in him.''

''Seems like you know something about me,'' Aleister stood up straight. 

''So what if I do?" Ruby glanced at him, the man she would tag as a 'trouble' just after a few minutes of meeting him. As if Esme was not enough of trouble to her, she even had to bump into him. 

Aleister did not say anything.

Ruby smiled meaningfully, ''It looks like Prince Aleister is unaware of the truth behind his powers, or maybe partially aware of it. Do you want to know more about why you have them? Are you curious about my identity or maybe you are curious about yours? Do you want to know it?" 

''What if I want to know everything?" Aleister asked her. 

''Then, I will tell you everything.'' 

''Oh?'' Aleister glanced at the woman with a scrutinizing gaze before he clicked his tongue, ''You are not a straight one.'' 

''What?" Ruby restrained herself from letting her temper flare-up. This annoying man. 

The pair of blue eyes locked into her eyes as the man spoke, ''There must be something that you want in return. So what is it that you want to trade it with?" 

''You are not stupid. I want to trade the truth with Esme,'' Ruby said as she tilted her chin, ''Stay away from her and the matters that involve her,'' she said the latter part while pointing her chin towards the book in his hand. 

Aleister sighed, ''The greatest love stories are often filled with tragedies. Our love for each other must be deeper than the sea and higher than the mountains that whole world is trying to keep us apart,'' he shook his head, ''What a pity that she doesn't realize it.'' 

Leo held back the urge to roll his eyes. Love? Deeper than the sea? Higher than mountains? Are you sure Esme knows this? Is it not just your narcissism screaming on top of your lungs?

Ruby frowned, ''You both are in love?" 

''Shouldn't you know that well since you claimed to be her protector who stays around her all the time?" 

Her frown got deeper. It was true that she was tied to Esme for a certain promise that she once made but it lasted till Esme turned 16 years old. 

After that, Ruby returned to the place where she came from. So, she had no idea about what happened in recent years. 

Even though she knew that Esme was in the Daven's Castle, she was unaware of the fact that the Prince of Visteria was her lover. But then again, Ruby knew that she could not trust Aleister's words completely. The man was shrewd and crafty. So, it remained hidden how much truth his words held. 

But since he was aware of her relationship with Esme, then the two of them must be really close.

Because of the matter of her being Esme's protector, Ruby had never shared it with anyone other than Esme. 

And Esme being the guarded person that she has never shared it with anyone else, not even her Aunt or brother. 

For Aleister to know about it, there had to be something between the two. 

''As the things are right now, it is only right for you to leave her side. Even if you are lovers like you claim, the ending between you both will only be tragic. You both belong to two different worlds,'' Ruby said to Aleister, her tone was solemn, ''I will tell you everything you want to know. I will give you the truth that you want but in return, you need to leave Esme.'' 

''A truth?" Aleister chuckled, the sound of his deep laughter reverberating inside the huge library, ''What's that? Who told you I'd go looking for it? How boring! I am more interested in my Princess.''

''You…'' Ruby's eyes turned to slits, ''How impudent!" she raised her hand, ''Don't blame me. You asked for it,'' A golden glow appeared on her palm. 

Aleister's eyes narrowed. All these years, he had never seen any other person possessing golden magic other than himself. 

Ruby extended her finger towards Aleister and a golden ray shot right at his chest. 

Aleister raised his hand and an invisible barrier formed in front of him, shielding him from the attack. 

Ruby staggered back from the impact of her attack going in vein. She spat out a mouthful of blood, ''Cough… You…'' her eyes burned in fury but there was a hint of excitement in them. It had been a long time since she battled with a worthy opponent.. Maybe, this man was qualified to be one, ''Take this,'' the golden glow in her hand formed a huge spear as it shot at Aleister.