Rasian truly needed the money that Roy had given him. It wasn't just to escape his father's daily abuse but also to cover his mother's medical bills. Their current home belonged to his father, and thus they couldn't go against him if they didn't want to end up homeless. However, with this money, he would be able to get a lease on a home himself. Thus, Rasian accepted it with trembling hands.
"Thank you... thank you," Rasian managed to say, his voice trembling with gratitude. Overwhelmed by emotion, he dropped to his knees and bowed deeply, tears welling up in his eyes. "I promise I will find a way to repay you in the future."
With a mysterious air, Roy replied, "We'll meet again very soon."
At that time, he will show Rasian the way to repay himself.
He patted Rasian reassuringly on the shoulder before turning away to rejoin the others. His silhouette, alongside his companions, gradually faded into the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.
'What did he mean by that?'
Rasian couldn't help but wonder about the hidden meaning behind Roy's enigmatic words.
.....
A dramatic whirl of air swept across the forest, stirring a symphony of gasps among the spectators as a storm of dust and fragments flew into the air. The spectators instinctively raised their hands, shielding their eyes from the miniature maelstrom.
"What on earth...?" Roy muttered, scanning the area for the source of the disturbance.
A silhouette seemed to emerge from the heavens, descending as gently as a single feather adrift on a calm breeze. As it neared, the figure took the form of a woman - but not just any woman. It was the woman famous throughout the Far West Major Realm, not only for her beauty but also for her strength and status.
Seraphina Starcrown was the most famous Princess of the empire, and she was honestly a breathtaking spectacle, a living embodiment of celestial grace and divine prowess!
Her hair, a mesmerizing crown of sapphire, flowed like a waterfall, casting glimmers of blue light as it moved. Her eyes, a perfect mirror of her azure locks, were a dazzling proof of her beauty. The contours of her face shaped a perfect heart, its symmetry enhancing her already hypnotic allure. The sun hit her brown skin, casting a radiant glow that made her seem as if she were crafted from gold.
The crown jewel of her attire was a regal gown adorned with sequins that mirrored the firmament, perfectly embracing her hourglass figure. Its low neckline accentuated her ample bosom while the gown flowed down, caressing her curvaceous body as if it were liquid night, glinting with stardust.
All in all, she was so sexy that it was impossible for anyone to avert their eyes.
Suddenly, a bystander couldn't contain their amazement at the woman's beauty, letting out a heartfelt, "She's breathtaking!"
"I can now die in peace now that I've seen her!"
Roy, clear and confident, responded, "Why are you being so dramatic? There's nothing special about her, though. My missus outshines her by a mile!" His voice echoed around, ensuring everyone could hear. He was like a man that couldn't wait to show his treasure to everyone. As he had the strength Lyra, there was nothing wrong with that. Roy was so strong that if unless a Realm Lord made a move, nothing could harm her in his presence. And in this place, the most powerful expert was an aura grandmaster! Not special!
"No way, he's full of it!" retorted another.
"I bet when we see his wife, she'll look like a barn animal next to Princess Seraphina," someone scoffed.
The crowd's attention swiveled to Roy's wife. What they saw left them speechless and shocked, so shocked that their eyes were bulging to the point of almost popping right out of their sockets.
"It's true, though," one gasped after a moment.
"His wife is even more radiant than Princess Seraphina," agreed another.
"So what if she is beautiful? Princess Seraphina can fly!" Someone in the crowd spoke out of jealousy. "She must be an aura grandmaster! His wife still hasn't awakened! She can't fly! How can she even be compared to Princess Seraphina?"
But Roy just chuckled, nonplussed. "What's so great about floating around? Even my lifeless blades can do that."
Princess Seraphina bristled at his dismissive words. She had painstakingly presented herself as a dazzling vision, intending to dazzle and awe the crowd. She loved the spotlight and craved the adoration. Yet, time after time, this man, Roy, seemed to be taking her down a peg. Did he have some kind of grudge against her? Why was he so adamant about undercutting her?
Of course, her true face, which was different than the saintly temper she was known for, went unnoticed by the crowd.
"You are full of hot air," the crowd chimed together.
"Seeing is believing!" replied Roy. "So I will show you that my swords can really fly!"
With that, he summoned several aura-reinforced swords from his subspace and launched them skywards with a mere thought.
Whoosh!
The swords hurtled through the air at a ridiculous speed and shot through the clouds, zigzagging like lightning bolts in the heavens.
The crowd's mouths hung wide open in amazement.
"With my sword, I can take my wife anywhere!" Roy declared. "There's nothing special about flying!"
"It's not easy to fly! You are a rich prodigal young master. That's why you think like that!"
"Yeah, not everyone has rich parents that can give them powerful soul shards on their birthday."
The crowd did their best to undermine Roy. But even they felt like they were failing.
"Hey there, everybody! May I have your attention, please?" the alluring woman announced with a voice that was equal parts cute and calming. "I bet some of you already know me, but for those who don't, I'm Princess Seraphina Starcrown, the great princess of the Sun Empire and the only baby sister of the Sun. I'm your host for this year's awakening ceremony."