Chapter 777: Looks Like My Long Trip Here Wasn’t In Vain
Chapter 777: Looks Like My Long Trip Here Wasn’t In Vain
Chapter 777: Looks Like My Long Trip Here Wasn’t In Vain
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Although Hecate was expecting it, it happened sooner than she thought.
The day after Joanne woke up, she was no longer awkward in front of "Ethan", and treated him like how she treated her real brother.
Fortunately, the Ethan in the world of the painting, truly acted like the one in the real world. If not for the fact that Hecate had kept her memories, and knew that he wasn't real, she might have also acted like Joanne, and interacted with the Tidebringer more naturally.
"This trial is meant for Joanne,' Hecate thought as she watched the young lady play the harp for Princess Ramona and Ethan. 'I'll just prepare myself for any unexpected variables that might arise.'
When Ethan returned from the painting, Hecate sensed that he had changed.
His aura was stronger and he had learned many things.
However, he also changed a bit, especially when it came to his interactions with his best friend, Nicole
As someone who was paying attention to him, Hecate had noticed that the young man would consciously do his best to not get close to Nicole physically, unless he was helping her with her condition.
The rare blush on his face was a sight to see, because very few instances could still elicit such a reaction from the young man, and Hecate treasured such memories.
"Brother, let's go on a picnic like we always did!" Joanne proposed after she finished playing the harp. "Last time, we went together with Illumina. But, this time, we have Hecate with us, so it will be fun."
"Sounds like a plan," Ethan replied before glancing at Princess Ramona. "Are you free today?"
"I listen to the Tidebringer's will," Princess Ramona said in a teasing tone before bowing her head playfully.
Ethan lightly flicked her forehead, making Joanne giggle.
'Such a sinful man,' Hecate thought. 'If you were only that proactive in the past then...'
As she was thinking these thoughts, Ethan suddenly looked towards the sea with a frown on his face.
It took a while but Hecate felt it too.
Something sinister and powerful was approaching them from the sea.
"Stay here," Ethan said as he walked towards the balcony to take a better look.
Hecate ignored his words and followed behind him.
Since she went, Joanne and Princess Ramona also went to see what was happening.
Then they saw it.
A dark cloud, that looked like it was made up of a swarm of black flying creatures, was headed in their direction.
Hecate could feel a threat coming from that swarm, causing her to pull on her Mithril Gauntlets in preparation for battle.
Seeing her reaction, Joanne summoned her wand, while Princess Ramona summoned her staff.
Ethan's trident was already in his hand, which was a sign that he was ready for battle.
"Good tidings, everyone," a cheerful voice, devoid of malice, reached everyone's ears. "I didn't come here to fight."
When the swarm came closer, they noticed that it was a swarm of bats, and they gathered dozens of meters away from the balcony facing the sea.
When all the bats merged together, a devilishly handsome young man with short blonde hair, and blue eyes, bowed in greeting.
"You are the Tidebringer, I presume?" the handsome young man asked.
"Who's asking?" Ethan asked back.
"Ah, my apologies," the handsome young man replied. "My name is Godfrey. I hail from the Lands of the Milesians, in the beautiful city of Cashel. I have heard that a beautiful Saintess lived here in the Lands of Alastor, and I was hoping to have a chat with her..."
Godfrey glanced at the three ladies and smiled faintly.
"Well, it seems that the Temple of the Tidebringer isn't short on beautiful ladies," Godfrey commented. "And their bloodlines are all exceptional as well, especially you, young miss with the blue hair. Are you perhaps the Tidebringer's sister?"
Joanne didn't answer, and simply stared at the young man, who was looking at her with great curiosity.
The young man chuckled before shifting his gaze to Hecate. A few seconds later, he arched an eyebrow in surprise.
"Interesting... a Half-Elf with a few blood droplets of a Divine," Godfrey commented. "Another exceptional lady. Looks like my long trip here wasn't in vain."
Ethan moved to block Godfreys' gaze, shielding his sister and Hecate behind him.
"State your business," Ethan said.
"I'm sorry, sometimes I get carried away and forget the important things," Godfrey replied. "I come here to form an alliance with the Lands of Alastor, but that is only my secondary objective. The truth is, I came here looking for a wife, so that our two kingdoms will form a powerful connection.
"And it seems that there are two candidates right here. How about it, girls? Do you want to become my wives? I promise to treat both of you with love and respect until the end of time." Before Joanne and Hecate could even reply to Godfrey's question, Ethan answered for them.
"They're not interested," Ethan replied.
Suddenly, dark clouds formed in the sky, covering the sun.
Thunder and lightning roared in the heavens, matching Ethan's current mood.
"Oh dear, I see that you are an overprotective big brother." Godfrey nodded in understanding. "Seeing you protect your sister this much just shows how much you love and care for her.
"I can understand your feelings because I, too, have a sister. If someone were to just come and declare that they wanted to marry her, I would definitely start throwing hands to clobber them."
Godfrey's voice was very pleasant to the ears, and carried a charm of its own. However, Hecate was certain that the young man wasn't using a charm spell on them.
Still, she believed that those with lesser willpower would be easily influenced by his words, leaving them smitten with him.
Tension hung in the air, and just a spark would start things in motion.
However, Godfrey had raised his hands in a form of surrender, and he didn't look armed in the
slightest.
This was also why Ethan was hesitating to attack him because, from all angles, the devilishly handsome young man had no intention of fighting.
"Can't we talk like civilized people?" Godfrey inquired. "I am willing to listen to demands and conditions. As long as I am able to do them, I will do them without fail so that this Alliance will become a reality."
"I said we're not interested," Ethan declared.
"Hah~." Godfrey sighed before nodding his head in understanding. "I suppose you need time
to digest my proposal. Very well, I will leave peacefully today and return tomorrow before sunset. By then, I hope that you are more open to a discussion."
Without even waiting for Ethan's reply, Godfrey's body transformed into countless bats and flew towards the city of the Magdar Kingdom.
Ethan's eyes glowed faintly with power, as if hesitating if he should obliterate the swarm of
bats, or let them go peacefully.
In the end, he chose not to attack because he understood that Godfrey wasn't a pushover.
Hecate knew this too, which was that she had a serious expression on her face.
'A Demigod,' Hecate thought. 'It seems that this Trial of Enlightenment will not end without
a fight.'
Hecate was prepared for anything, but she wasn't expecting a Demigod to appear.
What was worse was that she knew that this Demigod was a Vampire Lord.
A Vampire Lord, who would only appear two hundred years after the Temple of the
Tidebringer was founded in the Lands of Alastor.
At least that was what was written in the records in the Temple, during a time before she had
been born.