CHAPTER 59: FINAL RITUAL(1)

Loid always thought William was different. He didn’t hang out with any group—maybe because of his personality—and stayed away from rumors.

Though he had a bit of a past that earned him a bad name, apart from his sharp tongue, he was just a normal guy who liked to be on his own.

So when William looked shocked after learning Loid’s identity, the pink-haired boy wasn’t surprised.

"Yes, I belong to the royal family," Loid said simply pulling out his book, he exhaled a sigh.

William blinked. "I’ve seen the First and Second Princes before and even visited the royal castle a few times... so how come I’ve never heard about you?"

It couldn’t be that William was that unconcerned about his surroundings...or was he?

Crossing his arms, he added, "No one talks about you in the academy either. I mean, being a Count’s son made me popular for a while... but it doesn’t look like you have any followers or friends."

Loid gave a small, wry smile. "There’s a reason for that. I’m the son of one of the king’s concubines."

William’s eyes widened a little. "Oh... I see."

Loid nodded. "Yeah. That’s why people don’t mention me much—they know where I stand in the family."

William asked casually, "So, are you bullied by the rest of your family? What about your father? Does he not recognize you as his son?"

It wasn’t unusual for nobles to have several concubines, and children born from them were often ignored or treated as pawns—disposable ones.

But Loid’s story was different. "Father... actually adores me," he said softly. "He’s the reason I was even allowed to attend this academy. My mother and he were childhood friends, so he never treated me like a burden."

William nodded thoughtfully. "I’m guessing the two Queens don’t feel the same way?"

Loid chuckled lightly. "Yeah... can’t really blame them though. They’re just being protective of their children. And maybe a bit uneasy since their husband favors me."

William leaned back with a hum. "How bad is it? Can you still go home during breaks?"

"I can," Loid said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I usually don’t. I’d rather not ruin their mood just by showing up."

William let out a quiet sigh. He could understand that all too well.

He didn’t visit home much either—his presence wasn’t exactly welcome, except by his father.

The others didn’t treat him badly because of his father’s position, but he could always feel how uncomfortable they were whenever he was around.

"Well, you’ve got a tough life for sure," William said, leaning back in his chair. "Maybe during vacation we can go hunting somewhere up north?"

Loid’s eyes widened. "Are you... inviting me to hang out with you?"

William shrugged, playing it off. "I mean, there’s no pressure—"

"No, no! I’d love to come!" Loid quickly interrupted. "It’s just... I’ve never been invited by someone before, so I was a bit surprised."

William blinked, genuinely taken aback. "Even an asshole like me managed to make a friend, and you didn’t?"

Loid gave a sheepish smile. "I... actually have a friend, but she just pities my situation."

William snorted softly. "Well, pity or not, she’s still there. But yeah, the offer stands. Just make your choice wisely."

Loid grinned. "No, I’ll definitely come."

William didn’t respond to that. Before either could say more, the door opened and the class began.

A familiar raven-haired woman entered, wearing high-waisted pants and a crisp white shirt, holding a few books against her chest.

"I really hope none of you start a fight today," she said dryly. "But then again, I can’t stop you."

The class chuckled quietly. She set her books down on the desk and faced the students. "Glad to see full attendance. Now... can anyone remind me what we were discussing last time?"

The room fell silent. The past few days had been hectic—everyone’s attention was fixed on the "chosen ones" rather than the lessons.

Gizel finally raised her hand. "We were on the third Chapter of the fourth volume, Professor."

Morika hummed. "Correct. Alright then—settle down, open your books, and pay attention."

She opened her own book, the sound of the pages flipping filling the room. Then she looked up again.

"Now, can anyone name the four Generals introduced at the beginning of this volume?"

Several hands went up. Morika scanned the room before saying, "Loid, enlighten us."

The pink-haired boy stood up and, without even glancing at his book, recited, "Hell Gatekeeper—Hades. The Punisher—Gordock. The King of Giants—Dulvan. And the Queen of Night—Armaya."

Morika nodded approvingly. "Good. You may sit." She looked around again. "These four were the True Devils—beings who carried the purest form of Dark Blood. That means, Katie?"

The girl straightened up. "They possessed the Devil Progenitor’s blood."

"Exactly." Morika smiled slightly. "Now, aside from their incredible strength, what else made them a force to be feared? William?"

The blond sighed softly before answering, "Their ridiculously pure form of Nyx."

"Correct," Morika said, her tone calm but firm. "As you all know, the purer your magic, the stronger your spellwork becomes—your chants, your energy efficiency, and your control over the flow of power. That is what set these beings apart from ordinary sorcerers."

She folded her hands, her gaze sweeping across the room. "What governs us is the Divine Rule—a law the Higher Ones imposed on themselves, forbidding direct interference in the mortal realm. The Devils, however, mocked this restraint."

"These four Generals possessed strength that could rival even the Gods themselves. Yet, their purpose was not personal growth or mastery—they sought the annihilation of a species: ours. In a grim sense, their focus on us shaped the course of our history, forcing mortals to rise against impossible odds."

Silence befell the room.

William was quite interested in history, the great war that had shaped the world.

It was said that sorcery had reached its peak at that time.

The world balances itself every single time. That’s when the emergence of True Devils was a common occurrence, the apostle of the Gods received strong blessings as well, to counter them.

Leaning against the board, she asked, "Now, tell me, what is the Final Ritual? And when we are talking about that ritual, we should be hearing the answer from someone who had recently attempted it."

As those words left her lips, her eyes traveled towards a certain silver head.

Emma exhaled a sigh...as she thought, nothing goes unnoticed by the school.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you are enjoying the story so far, please drop a review.