Resolve

Valencia clenched her fists, pushing them down as they trembled.

“How shitty… could the Cardiellas be… for you, even the Supreme Goddess, cannot judge?” Valencia mumbled. Athesia and Vrastos stood in silence, staring at her. “Even though Kael had lied to me… kept secrets from me… he is unlike the Cardiellas who harmed my family.”

“Child, I am merely trying—”

“You’re not! From what I saw, the current king’s late father is crueler… more dangerous than all of them!” she interrupted. She locked eyes with Athesia. “Yet, you didn’t try to warn my father… you didn’t help him escape.”

Athesia raised her head and looked down at Valencia. She crossed her arms, pondering. Even his child dares to speak so informally.

Vrastos glared at Athesia before looking at Valencia.

“Little one, if you want to take the day off—”

“No!” Valencia shouted. Vrastos and Athesia widened their eyes, closing their mouths. “If there are more… general, noir, whatever… I must get stronger to kill them! I must kill them so that I can finish what my father started!”

Vrastos sighed heavily.

“But…” he paused. Valencia looked at him, seriously concerned. “You haven’t pierced through my shield yet.”

Her eyes squinted, glaring at him.

“Bastard!” she yelled, raising her hand. A Void ball quickly stretched into a spear, lunging toward Vrastos.

Vrastos smirked, tilting his head as his Void shield walled between them. Her spear was pierced through by an inch. He cackled.

“I see… you found the resolve that helps you make stronger weapons,” he said.

Valencia gritted her teeth, pulling her spear back. Then she swung her arm diagonally, slashing along with the spear. Vrastos hopped away as his shield was hit. Valencia hurried forward, stabbing. As soon as she lunged forward with her spear, Vrastos quickly leaped to the side. Her eyes widened as she couldn’t change her direction soon enough. He smiled and smacked her head with the shield. Valencia’s spear dispersed as she held her head, groaning.

“What the hell?!” she questioned.

Vrastos looked at her.

“You still have a long way to go… but for now, your build is firm…” he answered. She clenched her fists. “Your evasion is still too slow.”

“So?!”

“If you were to fight the Demon King, you would get stabbed immediately…” Vrastos explained. Then he leaned back, sitting on a Void chair. “Your father trained his evasion… because he believed that dodging and stuff mattered more than killing.”

Valencia’s jaw tightened.

“They will come back… even if they are sealed. It’s best to kill them…” she muttered.

Vrastos pointed at her.

“Yes, you’re right. Killing is much easier, too,” he replied.

She shot her glare at him.

“I’m not disagreeing with my father—”

“But you are…”

“NO!” she argued, pouting and crossing her arms. “It’s just… I would rather live freely from this in the future. I don’t want the future to have to deal with this stupid Demon King…”

“Hm mm…” he nodded.

“I’m serious!”

“Yeah…” he mocked, his hand curving like a duck's lip. “I don’t disagree with Eureon… I just agree to disagree that the Demon King was supposed to die, that’s all.”

Valencia’s face darkened as she lowered her eyelids.

“Whatever!” Valencia replied. She stood and walked toward the other side. Vrastos watched her. She clenched her fists and turned to him. “Take me back!”

“Bye, have a good rest!” he exclaimed. Then he opened the portal.

Valencia stepped out and hurried to the forest.

“Grumpy grandpa!”

Valencia returned to the residence, watching Kael from afar. He quickly turned at the sight of her. He hurried to her side, grabbing her shoulders.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Her eyes widened, her brows furrowing.

“Yes… why?”

“I sensed a demon monster nearby… but we couldn’t find any. I was glad to see that the cabin disappear, but… I don’t know where the demon had left,” Kael answered.

Valencia gulped, holding her breath. Oh… the monster that spoke to me? The grish?

“I see… I’m fine,” she replied.

Kael smiled and sighed in relief. He patted her head gently.

“This monster felt tremendously different from the ones the day after our wedding. So, I want you to be more careful from now on when you head out to the cabin,” he warned.

Valencia nodded, blushing.

“Yes… you too,” she whispered.

He froze, his hand pausing on the top of her head. Me too? He let out a small laugh. Before Valencia could process his laughter, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

She gasped, hiding her cheek with her hands as she flushed. He pulled away and smiled.

“I’m glad to hear my wife worries about me,” he chimed.