Asmodeus prepared their departure sooner than first planned. Because of Sariel''s situation, and the voice constantly whispering to him when things became quiet. The empress desired for them to stay longer, but he couldn''t afford to.

    He believed the voice might enable the abomination to find his location, and he worried the newly repaired empire might face another attack if he remained there.

    "Haa~" Alice sighed while sitting atop a black warhorse.

    Most of the knights serving Qwass were still injured, so they would take the journey in a few months, ensuring that the empire remained safe.

    ''I can''t believe Simon and Paul also chose to stay...'' Asmodeus mulled over his thoughts, feeling a sense of loss, and a little upset they didn''t leave with him.

    He remembered Paul''s request, and couldn''t help but accept. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Can you please deliver this note, to Moonstone village, on the outskirts of the Eldorai plains?" Paul''s bitter smile made Asmodeus helpless.

    ''Well, seeing Paul''s kids will be fun, and I shouldn''t complain that he''s found a path he seeks to follow.''

    Asmodeus wondered about the village that Paul loved enough to retire. He looked at Velvet, who rode a black warhorse beside him, with a faint smile. When he gazed at her, she peeked at him from the corner of her eyes, deepening her smile.

    "Are you alright, husband?" A concerned voice, followed by Velvet pulling her horse closer.

    The whispered words carried two meanings out of all his women. It was only Velvet that learned about the voice which whispered when things became quiet. Therefore, he couldn''t sleep or relax. His face became pale and his lips dry and cracked.

    "I am thanks to you, wife."

    Velvet''s actions after she noticed something strange made Asmodeus feel lucky to have her. She would guide the women to always be around him. To keep speaking or try to soothe him with massages and physical contact.

    "Hmm~ I see, you should let me know if your headache gets bad again."

    "I promise." A smile, along with a soft whisper of gratitude, caused her eyes to tremble, turning away with red cheeks.

    Asmodeus noticed the cute sides of Velvet thanks to this situation, how she was stronger on the offence and her defence was weak. Especially to honest compliments. She became flustered and easily blushed when Asmodeus became a little flirtatious, causing their relationship to be enjoyable.

    It made him think about why she was so strong in the past.

    "That voice never comes when you are with me, so I''d prefer you to stay here." Asmodeus whispered, leaning over to her horse and yanking the reins gently, pulling her closer to her. While her cheeks reddened and the sound of her heartbeat became audible to his enhanced hearing, making her beauty shine even brighter in his eyes.

    ''To think this strong woman is so cute, but without her actions would I have already been driven mad?''

    Asmodeus worried most because when the voice spoke to him, Sariel also became strange, and thus he asked the other girls to keep her away from him and avoided being alone with her.

    ''I hope this stops her suffering.''

    Because after she became strange, she started crying and speaking about Riel suffering or being in danger.

    Although Duke Qwass couldn''t join them, he entrusted Asmodeus and the princesses with an official letter for Avandar with details about the alliance and terms agreed upon. Ciela carried the message from her mother and father, while escorted by twenty elven knights.

    Their current group passing through the southern plains of Eldorai was made of twenty elven knights, one hundred human knights and Asmodeus and his group.@@@@

    ''Baku remained in the forest because the guardian who protected the elven empire was apparently just reborn.'' Asmodeus mulled over his last discussion about leaving.

    .

    .

    .

    Asmodeus stretched his limbs, and a heavy feeling overcame him. The sun reached midday, so the rays scorched their skin, and the hot air caused sweat to drip. Despite this heat, and hours of travel ahead of them, his body refused to move.

    "Are you okay?"

    His first thought turned towards the voice inside his mind.

    However, it was different.

    A beautiful woman with pale blue skin and pink hair stroked through his golden hair, her pink eyes shimmering with concern. "I thought I would never see you again."

    A memory came to Asmodeus'' mind, and an image appeared of the last day they spoke. This beautiful creature, her body glowing in the rays of sunlight. As soon as she appeared, his surroundings changed.

    Asmodeus found himself lying on the stone under the sun, but the voices of girls enjoying themselves vanished, and he couldn''t see his warhorse either.

    "Riel, I thought you were—" Her delicate blue finger covered his lips, squishing them.

    "Shh, don''t speak, our time is limited. I will be alright, don''t rush to find me and focus on getting stronger, okay?" Riel kissed his forehead and caressed his cheeks. "I will always wait for you, no matter how long it takes." Her words, like a cool, refreshing wind, swept Asmodeus away.

    "Do you understand?"

    With no hesitation, he nodded.

    Riel smiled, "Good, I will keep you safe so you can sleep at night." Once again, her cold, soft lips kissed his forehead, making a slight blue mark from her lip gloss.

    "Take care, My Master."

    The next moment, icy cold water splashed Asmodeus, and he snapped out of his dream, and gazed around looking for the woman who suddenly appeared and eased his heart.

    "Riel?!"

    But she wasn''t there. It was likely a dream...

    "Ah~ who kissed you Master? Your forehead has blue lipstick!"

    Or maybe it wasn''t.

    ''Wait...''

    The memory was stuck in his mind, and he didn''t understand why Riel would appear, but he was certain it happened because the lipstick was proof enough.

    But it was strange.

    He couldn''t hear that strange voice any more, and a warm sensation came from within, a strange feeling. It was as if Riel were protecting him from the darkness, and the voice was banished by her protection.