Skyler let out a quiet 'Oh'.
"But I don't know you."
He waited patiently for the older man to reply, but the man only let out a chuckle.
"You're looking for your little friend, aren't you? She's in the room down the left alley."
Skyler blinked in surprise.
It made sense for the man to know who he was—he was famous, after all. But how did he know he was looking for someone?
Who was this person?
He frowned, letting out a tentative.
"Riruru?"
The man's purple eyes crinkled with quiet amusement, a soft smile lighting his face. He looked at him with such warmth, it felt like he were gazing at someone dear.
"Yes, Riruru. She's been quite upset lately. Perhaps that little one missed you."
Skyler's eyes lit up. He quickly set aside all the questions he had for the man, muttering a swift thank you as he hurried toward the direction the man had pointed out earlier.
Damien smiled at his retreating figure.
"I see. One of the younger ones hasn't only inherited Elizabeth's power but mine as well, albeit only a fragment of it."
He glanced at the cracks marring his skin.
"It's good he inherited only a fraction of it. The full power could have harmed him. But why does he have seven elemental crystals pulsing in his heart? I barely detected them due to the artifact he was wearing. What a powerful child. He has great potential."
His eyes glowed as he gazed into the air.
"The sky will fall soon. A thousand years have already passed. The starter privilege granted to this universe will come to an end, and the barrier will soon disappear."
He let out a sigh.
"Perhaps I won't live long enough to take part in the true battle that's approaching."
***
Simultaneously, Skyler rushed in the direction he had been pointed toward.
He checked several rooms until he finally reached the one at the end of the corridor.
Before him stood the largest door he had seen in the area. Without any hesitation, he pushed it open, disregarding etiquette. Well, it's not like he had cared about it earlier.
Not to mention, the castle was mostly empty, with only the servants around.
And maybe a few of his cousins.
He stepped into the massive room, and instantly, two pairs of eyes turned to him.
The first pair belonged to an older woman dressed in a suit, holding a dress. And the second belonged to a young lady standing in front of her, struggling to tie her hair.
Yet, Skyler's eyes were fixed solely on the familiar red pair, a smile tugging at his lips.
The older woman in the room snapped at him, momentarily failing to recognize him.
"How can you enter so abruptly—"
Her words were drowned out by a joyful squeal that echoed beside her. Under her astonished gaze, her student—the one she had been teaching at the Queen's order for the past week—rushed toward the tall man who had suddenly barged into the room without permission or even a knock.
Riruru's long white hair flowed gracefully, fluttering behind her. Before Skyler could speak, she sprang into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her face into his shoulder with a soft giggle.
Caught off guard by the movement, Skyler lost his balance and fell onto his back with a soft thud, letting out a quiet groan. Yet all he could do was chuckle as the young woman in his arms lifted her face to look at him, her eyes crinkling beautifully with a smile.
"You're back!"
Amusement danced in his eyes.
"Not angry this time? Since you were the one who wanted to stay with the Queen? Did I keep you waiting long?"
Riruru blinked, then gave a nod.
"I missed you!"
Skyler raised a brow, quite surprised. She'd become this fluent in talking in just a week? Impressive. Not that he was complaining—she had been adorable when she couldn't speak properly, and even more so now.
"Me too, me too. But my dear Riruru, why are you in your human form right now?"
His voice was firm, though his eyes still shimmered with a hint of amusement.
He wasn't angry, of course.
He hadn't forgotten the Queen saying she would teach her how to live like a human in his absence—so it made sense that Riruru would assume her human form to learn.
His voice softened with mischief. After all, he was just trying to see her fluster. He had not witnessed that from her until now.
"Did you forget our agreement?"
Riruru tilted her head, as if she didn't quite understand what he was saying. He almost laughed and pressed further but froze when she leaned in and began peppering his face with soft, fleeting kisses, clearly attempting to distract him so he'd forget his question.
She even pressed her lips to his—only for him to push her back, his eyes dark.
"Who taught you this?"
His voice remained deadly calm, but his gaze was anything but. He was furious—more at himself than at Riruru.
"Riruru, answer me."
The thought that someone dared to touch his Riruru in his absence nearly made him lose control, as a dark aura leaked from his body unconsciously. Fortunately, before his gaze turned dark, Riruru answered him.
"I saw it online. A movie. You don't like it?"
Skyler blinked at her, his tense body finally relaxing as he took a slow, deep breath. He hadn't even realized he was holding it.
"Oh, I didn't think of that. But remember, you're only allowed to do it with me."
A smirk spread across his face.
"Well, it was too short for me to know if I liked it or not. How about you do it again?"
Just then, an awkward cough echoed in the air. Both of them turned to see the source.
The older woman, who had been there the entire time, looked thoroughly indignant.
She eyed the pair tangled on the floor, then, without a word, left the room, slamming the door shut with a loud thud behind her.