[XP Balance: 200,250]

"Oh?" Ethan’s lips curved into a smile as he read the special reward message.

Without lifting his gaze to Ishtar above, he raised one finger. "Ishtar, hold that height for a second."

"Okay, Lord Ethan," she called back in a steady voice despite the effort of maintaining flight.

Ethan turned his attention fully to the notification hovering in his vision.

[Special Reward - 10x Multiplier Rune Stone] 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

[10x Multiplier Rune - Starting from the time you break this rune stone, you will gain ten times the experience points rewards for every self-objective completed]

[Rune Effect will also apply to any summon on active tasks]

[Rune effect is temporary and will only last 6 hours after breaking]

His eyes widened. A grin spread across his face as he read through the details.

Only six hours, which admittedly felt short considering the magnitude of what ten times experience could mean for his progression.

But if he planned this correctly, if he chose the right day when he could set multiple objectives lined up back to back, the payoff would be enormous.

"Here I come, second key fragment," he muttered, dismissing the notification with a mental command.

The rune stone vanished into his inventory, safely stored for when the moment was right.

Then he looked up at Ishtar, who was still floating obediently in place as she awaited his next instruction.

-

A few hours later in Ethan’s office...

The members of Clustervayne were scattered around the room in different corners, some seated, others standing.

Then there was the princess as well, and they had just finished discussing the summons from King Carson Tudor.

"I still don’t think it’s a good idea," Bella said. "Ethan, you don’t have to go. We could come up with something, an excuse, a delay, anything."

Ethan shook his head his head slightly, "Love, disobeying a direct summons from the King is treason. You know that."

"Then we make up an excuse," she pressed. "An injury maybe...I don’t know anything?."

"And then what?" Ethan’s tone was calm but resolute. "I’d only be delaying it. He would still want to see me eventually, and if he figures out I was dodging him on purpose, that’s even worse."

Bella looked like she wanted to argue further, but instead let it be.

Hayley, who had been sitting on Ethan’s desk tilted her head and spoke up. "I think you’re all overthinking this. Demon or not, he’s not going to do anything to harm you when he knows how much pull you have."

Wilson, leaning on the far wall with his arms folded, agreed with a nod. "She’s right."

The others reacted with different levels of agreement.

Although Ishtar remained quiet in one corner as she didn’t know how to contribute to this kind of discussion.

Bella still wasn’t content, but when she glanced around at the others, then back to Ethan she decided to let it be.

She didn’t want to come across as overbearing or unsupportive, especially when everyone else seemed to think the opposite.

Ethan noticed but said nothing for now.

Eventually, the informal meeting wound down, and as the guild members left, Ethan walked with Bella down the stairs and out into the courtyard where her car was parked.

They walked in silence until they reached the vintage sedan, stopping a few paces from the car before turning to face each other.

Ethan lifted his hand and placed it gently on her cheek. "It’s going to be fine."

He understood what she wasn’t saying. Her father disliked demons, and if Carson Tudor ever found out that his daughter was in love with one, it would put her in an impossible position.

Ethan knew she was caught between wanting to protect him and fearing what her father might do.

Bella stared at him for a moment. Then, slowly, she nodded.

"Now," Ethan said, "tell me what to expect when I go. Will he be holding a full court, or...?"

"No, no, not at all." Bella shook her head. "Meetings like this are usually a lot more private. The only ones he’ll have there are his first son, Alistair, and General Iroh."

She paused, then added, "As for the content of the meeting, hopefully it’s just the same old thing he does with everyone whose influence has grown to a point he can’t ignore."

"Oh?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Bella let out a breath. "He’s going to tell you not to ever get the idea of trying to be king. Make a few threats, maybe flex his authority a little."

She shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Ethan let out a short laugh. "That is..."

"Paranoid," Bella finished for him. "There’s no one in history more paranoid than dear old dad. Why do you think he married all those women from powerful families?"

Ethan shook his head. "I understand."

Another question came to mind. "Does he have a nose like Rayleigh’s? You know, just in case I’m not even being summoned for being a demon."

Everything seemed to point toward the King knowing about his hybrid nature, but until he actually stood before Carson Tudor, there was no way to be certain.

Maybe Kieran hadn’t even said anything.

Bella shook her head. "Nope. Ray’s nose is a him thing." She smiled.

Ethan smiled back, then he pulled her into a deep embrace, and kissed her forehead gently.

When they finally pulled apart, Bella’s cheeks were flushed. And with a smile, she went into the car.

—-

Two days later...

"Again!" Ethan’s voice rang out across the open space of his backyard.

High above, Ishtar was hovering in midair with her body covered in greenish glow. Her eyes shone with the same glowing light and in both hands, she was charging a concentrated blast of energy.

On the ground was Nina had her shield held high above her head in response to the incoming blast. Sweat rolled down Nina’s temple, but her expression was focused. She had done this a dozen times already today.

On the far side of the field, about twenty meters away from Ethan, a small audience watched.

Rue sat on a bench made entirely of solidified black ink, courtesy of Arael. Her three black cats were arranged around her, one perched on the backrest, one curled at her feet, and one rested on her lap.

She stared at the training session with her usual blank expression.

Beside her was the angel, and balanced perfectly on Arael’s lap was Albedo, who had somehow procured a pair of dark sunglasses and a bowl of strawberry ice cream.

She spooned another bite into her mouth, chewing slowly as she tilted her head to watch Ishtar.

"That is one strong demon," Albedo said casually, tapping her spoon on the side of the bowl.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Albedo took another scoop of ice cream, then turned slightly and leaned back toward Arael. "Say aaa," she cooed, parting her lips as she extended the spoon toward the angel’s mouth.

Arael shook her head gently.

"It’s sweet, though," Albedo said, wiggling the spoon enticingly. "Bet you’ve never had anything like this before. Come on, just one bite."

Arael shook her head again, this time with a faint smile at the corner of her lips.

Albedo shrugged and pulled the spoon back. "Well, that’s more for me." She popped the ice cream into her own mouth and let out a satisfied hum.

She then cupped one hand around her mouth and let out a loud, shrill whistle. "That’s our girl, Nina! Keep holding that shit down!"