Despite the size of the house, there were fortunately two rooms, so Vitori was able to accommodate for the night.

The village was so small that there wasn't even a single motel. Though he felt reluctant about imposing on them, he had no other option but to stay.

"She looks so peaceful," Emma murmured under her breath as Nana slept between them, hugging her arm lightly.

Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing soft and steady. She must have been exhausted after running around the house and chatting endlessly with them.

"Yes, she does," William replied in an equally quiet tone, his gaze lingering on the little girl.

After leaving in such a rush, their biggest worry had always been her. How would Nana live without them? Even a single day of delay made her teary and sulky. And when they left the academy, they had no idea when they would see her again.

"I think we should bring her some clothes, toys, and other things from the nearby town." There was a town not too far from the village, much larger, where they could find everything they needed.

Though calling it "nearby" was a stretch, considering they had to cross two mountains to get there.

"Won't she still get bored here?" Emma asked, concern evident in her voice. The village was remote, with very little to keep a child entertained. Still, since it suited their situation, leaving wasn't an option anytime soon.

"There are a few children around her age," William said softly. "I don't think she'll feel too bored. And..." He gently cupped Emma's cheeks. "Wherever we are, I believe she'll live happily without complaining."

His reassuring smile made her lips curve in return.

Placing her hand over his, she asked, "Have you thought about contacting your father?"

William let out a slow breath. "I've thought about it... but I haven't made up my mind yet."

"And why is that?" Emma asked, her silver brows lifting slightly.

"I don't know. He's always been a patriot, and—"

"Will... are you really suggesting your father would betray you?" Emma asked softly.

William fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I know he wouldn't. But there's still a small part of me that worries... that when I face him again, I might see hesitation in his eyes."

He paused, searching for the right words.

"I don't know why that thought bothers me so much."

Emma looked at him for a few quiet seconds, her gaze filled with concern and quiet understanding. She could see exactly what he was going through.

An identity crisis.

He had been the same with her in the early days, when he couldn't fully control his body and his devil traits would appear without warning.

Back then, he kept reassuring her again and again that he was still himself, that those changes didn't define him, that he would learn to control them.

Emma had never been afraid of him.

But she had grown anxious seeing how uncertain he had become about himself. The way he kept reassuring her, as if he feared she might one day look at him with caution... that had hurt her more than anything.

And now, he was facing that same fear again.

This time, with the second most important person in his life.

His father.

She gently squeezed his hand, her voice soft but certain as she spoke her heart, "William, I truly believe, from the bottom of my heart, that your father won't change the way he sees you because of all this. So don't worry... and reach out to him as soon as you can, okay? He must be worried too."

William's restless thoughts slowly settled.

He gave a quiet nod. "I understand."

....

After an hour, William's eyes were still open. He wasn't sleepy, in fact, he was never sleepy. That concerned him but he didn't tell Emma about it.

He has to use several calming spells to put himself to sleep every night...or unless they had sex. That also worked well to pull him to a good slumber.

He slowly rose from the bed and glanced to his side.

Emma and Nana were sleeping peacefully. Nana had her head resting on Emma's palm, while Emma's face was half-hidden beneath her soft, silvery hair.

He watched them for a few quiet seconds before carefully getting up. Taking a shroud from the side, he draped it over himself and stepped outside.

The wind howled through the night, forcing him to shut the door quickly. A thin layer of telekinetic force wrapped around his body, shielding him from the cold.

He looked over the fog-covered village and let out a slow breath.

At this hour, anything could emerge from the dense forest and prey on the people living here.

Yes, a few villagers were warriors, but many threats couldn't be handled with simple axes and knives. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Just like the bear currently making its way toward the village.

It had strayed from its usual path and was now heading straight toward a house, drawn by the lingering scent of cooked meat.

'Not the best time to cook.'

As the thought crossed his mind, his figure vanished.

In the next instant, he appeared at the edge of the forest.

Before him stood a massive bear, nearly ten feet tall, its heavy arms hanging low, froth gathering around its jaws, and its eyes burning with hunger.

The moment it noticed him, it grew wary.

But it had been raised in a brutal environment, where attacking first was survival.

With a low growl, it lunged forward, both front paws raised, aiming to crush him beneath its overwhelming weight.

William raised his hand and the monster's paws remained hanging in the air. Despite the struggling and all the growling it couldn't bring its arms down to strike him.

William raised his hand again and just for a brief moment, he stopped but then, the monster was most probably going to return to the village later.

So, with a soft slash, he saw the monster splitting in half.

The creature never got the chance to cry in agony as life faded from its eyes and its both halves fell to the sides.

William looked at his hands...why did he just hesitate now?

"Because your other side is trying to manifest."

After a very long time, he heard a familiar voice.

He turned and found Lamb levitating there.

The very being who could give him a few important answers.