"Do you know how long it took him to reach this level? And your assumption of him being a B-Rank might be wrong. He's likely far more powerful."
"How long?" General Felix asked, his curiosity deepening.
Leon smiled faintly. "Two months at most."
"What? Two months?" Felix muttered, clearly astonished. Even as a Transcendental, this revelation shocked him greatly.
"Just what is that boy's identity?"
"I don't know," Leon replied. "He's an enigma, even to me."
Seeing Leon's smile, Felix grinned. "Well, it seems we may have a new Transcendental among us soon enough. Or perhaps he could set us free from these shackles."
----
The sun was almost set, and Aengus and group slowly strolled through the streets to reach General Leon's house, which was near the vicinity of King's Castle.
Aengus and Aria held hand, their figure vanishing from the sight.
---
A few minutes later, they stepped inside a beautiful mansion made of beautiful stone curving, surrounded by strong guards.
Aengus and Aria were now inside a luxurious estate.
Drake scratched his head, realizing what she meant, but played along. "Sure, Aunty. We'll wait."
"I want to help you cook, Aunty!" Yona added suddenly, earning a soft nod of appreciation from Claire.
"Very well, Yona. You can help in the kitchen, while Drake... you can take a shower," she advised, sending Aria another wink as a sign for their departure.
With her face still flushed, Aria gently tugged Aengus toward her room. Her heart raced with the realization that they would be alone together, but she understood that this was a natural step in nurturing their new relationship, so she didn't mind sharing her space with him.
Aengus followed Aria in silence, his heart conflicted with the weight of his lies. He knew he couldn't keep hiding it forever. It was better to be honest now than to build their relationship on lies. He stopped walking, gently pulling her to a halt.
Aria turned to him, her face reflecting confusion.
"Aria," he spoke, his voice low, "we can check your room later. Can you find a quiet place where we can talk? There's something important I need to share. I want to tell you about my goals, my aspirations... and I've made mistakes that I feel guilty about. I need to let go of these burdens."
Aria's eyes softened, and though the matter seemed serious, her expression was still breathtaking. Her long silver hair danced in the night breeze, framing her delicate face in a mesmerizing way. She gently touched his face, her gaze unwavering.
"Sure, Ethan," she said softly. "But you don't need to feel burdened. Whatever it is, I will never leave your side."
Her voice was filled with warmth. "I'm happy you're opening up to me. Back then You've always been distant, hiding behind a wall of mystery that I could never break through. But I want to know all of you."
She smiled, a tender and reassuring smile. "Come with me, Ethan. I know a beautiful place where you can speak your heart." With a graceful step, she began to lead the way.
The sun had long set, and the moon bathed the world in its silvery glow. Aria's figure, with her flowing white dress and the moonlight shining on her, made her look like a goddess descended from the heavens.
Aengus couldn't help but admire her beauty as he followed, but his mind remained alert, the burden of his upcoming confession still weighing heavily on him.