CHAPTER 147: FIRST FIGHT?

A heavy silence engulfed the group after they heard the oldest man explain the cause behind the wound William had suffered on his way to the Tower.

"Marked? What do you mean?" Emma broke the silence, her brows knitting together as she looked at her father.

Vitori clasped his hands behind his back and answered calmly, as though recounting an old lesson rather than something that could shake the very foundation of the two people before him.

"During the era of the Great War, when both sides were consumed by endless violence, there were moments when the balance tipped too far. Whenever the Dark side began overwhelming the good, the Divine Ones intervened through their Apostles."

He paused briefly, letting his words sink in.

"At times like that, the Divine Ones left marks. Some were placed upon Apostles as blessings, while others were carved onto Devil Generals as signs. A declaration that this particular existence held great importance and must be eradicated before anything else."

Emma’s fingers tightened around the hem of her skirt. She exchanged a glance with William before he spoke.

"How did they differentiate?" he asked quietly.

Vitori shrugged, as if the answer were obvious.

"If one is an aether user, then naturally, it is considered a blessing."

Both Emma and William stiffened.

Right. He didn’t know.

Vitori had no idea that William could wield Nyx. And neither of them intended to let him find out, not now, and perhaps not ever.

There was still a thin, fragile thread of hope that Vitori might eventually overlook William’s abnormalities and accept their relationship. But the moment he learned about Nyx, about what William truly was, that thread would snap completely. And when that happened, there was a real chance Vitori might personally restrain William, whether out of fear or duty.

That was why Emma spoke before the silence could grow heavier.

"Well," she said lightly, forcing a calm smile onto her lips, "aren’t you quite loved by the Gods?"

Her tone was casual, but her thoughts were anything but.

William followed her lead, mustering a faint smile of his own.

"It appears so," he muttered.

Vitori hummed thoughtfully before shifting his gaze toward the Tower.

"It’s already quite late. You two should return and get some rest," he said, then added in a quieter but unmistakable tone, "in your separate rooms."

Both of them heard it clearly.

Emma shook her head helplessly, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. She reached for William’s hand and held it firmly before the two of them turned and began walking back toward the Tower.

The path was dimmer here, illuminated only by scattered lanterns and moonlight filtering through the tall walls. After they had walked some distance, Emma spoke through their mental connection.

[Hey... are you nervous?]

William glanced at her. She was looking down, her expression carefully controlled, yet the unreadable look in her eyes told him she was far more anxious than she let on.

He exhaled softly.

[Would you panic if I said yes?]

Saying no would have been a lie. The idea that he had been marked by a God, not as a blessing but possibly as a target, weighed heavily on his mind.

Emma met his gaze, her expression steady.

[You can be honest with me. Don’t worry. I have somehow accepted the fact that you are not exactly well liked by the Gods.]

Her calmness surprised him.

William reached the entrance first and pushed the door open for her. As they stepped inside, he asked through their connection,

[Why... are you so trusting toward me, Emma? Sometimes it truly baffles me.]

For her to oppose her own father, to never once doubt him, even after witnessing what kind of being he could be. Anyone else would have grown wary, at least a little.

Island Beta flashed through his mind.

The same man who had been helpless before a General-ranked Devil had suddenly grown powerful enough to crush that very existence. It was unnatural. Suspicious. Impossible to ignore.

And yet, Emma had never questioned him. Never pressed him. Never doubted him.

That wasn’t just trust.

That was something deeper.

The realization struck him abruptly.

[Emma...] He stopped midway up the stairs and turned toward her, his brows furrowing. [Do you know something about me that I don’t?]

Emma halted as well. She met his gaze without flinching.

"Yes," she admitted calmly.

William blinked.

There was no teasing in her eyes. No hesitation. She was serious.

After a brief pause, he asked, his voice low, "What is it? Why didn’t you tell me?"

Emma responded through their mental connection. She couldn’t risk anyone overhearing this.

[The Shaman I summoned to liberate you... she told me something about you. Something even I didn’t know before. She warned me. She explained what kind of risk I would be taking by lifting your curse.]

William felt his thoughts go blank.

He knew Emma had used a forbidden spell. He knew a Shaman had been involved. But he had never known about a warning.

[That’s why the abnormalities you showed afterward didn’t surprise me,] Emma continued. [I was already prepared for them.]

William stood there silently, his mind racing.

So she knew.

She knew something fundamental about him. Something he himself had been searching for his entire life.

And yet... she had never told him.

"Why, Emma?" he asked aloud, his shoulders slumping slightly. "You know how important this is to me. It’s about my identity. And yet... you kept it a secret?"

Emma inhaled deeply before answering.

"I’m sorry, William," she said softly. "But I need to keep this a secret."

His eyes darkened.

"Why?" His voice sharpened despite his efforts. "Because you don’t trust me?"

A bitter feeling rose in his chest.

All his life, he had searched for answers. He had hidden his core, studied forbidden texts, wasted countless hours chasing fragments of information that led nowhere.

And now, when the answer was finally within reach, it was being withheld.

"It’s not that," Emma replied quickly. "I was told not to tell you. For your sake. So please... don’t ask me about it anymore."

William stared at her in disbelief.

The same girl who had promised never to hide anything from him. The same girl who always worried about him more than herself.

"So... that promise is more important to you than me?" he asked quietly.

Without waiting for a response, he turned and started walking back down the stairs.

"William?" Emma called out, panic creeping into her voice as she grabbed his hand.

He stopped and sighed.

"Don’t worry. I’m not leaving," he said, gently pulling his hand free. "I just need some time."

Without another word, he stepped down the stairs and headed toward the door.

Emma stood there, watching his retreating figure. Her heart beat slowly, each thump heavy and painful.

She didn’t want to hide anything from him. Never had.

But she was bound by a promise. And if she broke it, the price would not be hers alone to pay.

Exhaling shakily, she whispered to herself,

"I hope you can forgive me this one time, William."

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Drop a comment if you have been enjoying the story so far.