“Master, this is Daniel Williams’ body. I brought it down from the mountain,” Lynx said, gesturing as several Death Guards carried the corpse forward.
Chris stepped closer, searching through Daniel Williams’ belongings. From his body, he retrieved the remaining fragments of the Dragon Emblem.
Giving Daniel Williams one final glance, Chris said, “Lynx, take his body back to Middleton and hand it over to Master William.”
“Understood!” Lynx nodded, immediately arranging for the body to be transported.
With the rebellion of Daniel Williams now resolved, Chris turned his attention to studying the Dragon Emblem fragments. Finally, after piecing together all nine fragments, the Dragon Emblem was restored to its complete form.
The restored emblem carried an extraordinary revelation: beyond Earth, there existed a parallel world known as Aethelgard. This realm, rich in spiritual energy, was a paradise for Aetherbinding practitioners. It was a world ruled by the strong, where the weak had no place to survive.
For the first time, Chris realized his master had traveled to this very world-Aethelgard.
The Dragon Emblem detailed that there were three gateways connecting Earth to Aethelgard. One was located within the Jefferson family, another with the Flower Clan, and the last at Mount Cinderfall in Amerosia.
For Chris, the Jefferson family and Flower Clan were impenetrable. This left only one option if he wanted to reach Aethelgard: Mount Cinderfall. Fortunately, the Dragon Emblem contained a map detailing the route to the gateway at Mount Cinderfall.
After uncovering this astounding information, Chris relayed the news to Lord Valerian.
Lord Valerian, visibly excited, exclaimed, “Unbelievable! Such a mystical place truly exists. Aetherbinding practitioners from ancient legends are real.”
As the former Primus of Amerosia, Lord Valerian had dedicated his life to pursuing greater power. The discovery of Aethelgard was an opportunity he couldn’t ignore.
Chris warned, “Reaching Aethelgard won’t be easy. The gateway at Mount Cinderfall is hidden, and locating it will be a formidable challenge.”
Clenching his fists, Lord Valerian declared, “We will find it, no matter the cost!”
The two agreed to split up in their search for the gateway. They exchanged contact information, promising to inform each other immediately if one of them succeeded.
Chris soon returned to East Coast Cloud Bay. After days of relaxation, his life took an unexpected turn.
One evening, while Esther and Juliette were working late at the office, Chris finished his bath and prepared for bed.
Swish!
Out of nowhere, a long sword pressed coldly against his neck.
Alarmed, Chris froze. He couldn’t believe it-an assassin had infiltrated his home, moving with such strength and stealth that it defied his expectations.
Turning his head cautiously, Chris was stunned.
Before him stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman, her flawless features as striking as a celestial being descended from the heavens.
“Are you Emily Silverstone’s sister?” Chris asked, his voice filled with astonishment.
The woman, emanating a frosty aura, scoffed. “Yes, I’m Oriana, Emily’s sister. Now tell me-where is my sister?”
Chris was taken aback, utterly baffled. To be honest, he hadn’t seen Emily in nearly a year. How could he possibly know her whereabouts? But Oriana’s words hinted at something alarming-Emily was missing.
“Emily? Missing?” Chris shook his head. “I don’t know where she is. It’s been a year since I last saw her.”
Oriana frowned, her gaze sharp. “A year? That’s strange. When my sister left, she left a note saying she was going to find you.”
A year ago, Emily had indeed written a note before heading to Middleton in search of Chris. Yet, they missed each other. Since then, Emily had vanished without a trace. Even her two companions, Rhys and Griffin, had disappeared.
Determined to uncover the truth, Oriana had come to East Coast Cloud Bay looking for Chris.
Chris’s expression darkened. “I’ll help you find her,” he said firmly.
Lowering her sword, Oriana’s tone turned menacing. “My sister’s disappearance is your fault. If you fail to find her, I’ll kill you.”
“Uh, what?” Chris was dumbfounded. What did Emily’s disappearance have to do with him? And why would failing to find her mean his death?
“I’ll find her,” he promised, gritting his teeth.
Oriana’s gaze didn’t soften. “Until you do, I’m not leaving your side. You have three months. If you can’t find Emily by then, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
Chris was left speechless. He couldn’t defeat Oriana, whose strength far surpassed his own. From her abilities, it was clear she was an Aetherbinding practitioner.
However, her domineering demeanor and air of superiority frustrated him. As a married man, having an alluring, overbearing woman around him spelled trouble. If Esther found out, he’d never hear the end of it.
When Esther and Juliette returned home later that night, they were shocked and furious to find Oriana there.
It wasn’t the first time beautiful women had appeared at Chris’s home, all somehow tied to him. This time, Esther’s jealousy boiled over.
Chris had no choice but to explain everything that had happened.
Esther, skeptical, asked, “If she’s Emily’s sister, why doesn’t she look for Emily herself? Why is she forcing you to do it?”
Chris shook his head. “I don’t know. She’s just set on making me find Emily.”
“Hmph!” Esther crossed her arms. “Fine, you can search for Emily. But you better not get involved with Oriana in any way!”
“I swear, Esther,” Chris said quickly. “I won’t have anything to do with her.”
Despite his reassurances, Oriana’s striking beauty left Esther feeling uneasy. Her jealousy lingered, and the tension in the house grew.
Chris, meanwhile, was beginning to realize just how powerless he truly was compared to Aetherbinding practitioners. For all his accomplishments, they made him feel insignificant.
With Oriana now shadowing his every move, Chris’s life had suddenly become much more complicated.