SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

Kent and Lily flying high above the Frost family's capital city, seated on the golden steps of Kent's majestic throne, the cold winds brushed softly against their faces. The towering skyline of the palace loomed in the distance, but Lily's thoughts were elsewhere, swirling with curiosity about the man next to her.

She tilted her head, peering at Kent. "Why did you accept that barren city?" she asked, her tone laced with genuine curiosity. "I mean, you could have claimed unimaginable wealth. But you chose… that?"

Kent's eyes remained steady as he turned to meet her gaze. "Choosing the land gave me an identity. Until now, everyone thought I was just a suitor to the Frost family princess, an attachment at best. But now, they'll call me City Lord. I've a claim of my own."

Lily blinked in surprise. She hadn't considered that angle. It dawned on her how strategic Kent's choice had been—this move elevated his standing beyond the Frost family, giving him direct influence in the realm. "God… How could I miss this. You're not just bound to the Frosts anymore… This means you can enter the Trident Summit on your own terms even without my family influence."

Kent nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Lily's amazement lingered for a moment before her attention shifted back to the man's face sitting beside her. "Speaking of which," she added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "aren't you going to show me your face? You keep hiding it, and honestly, I don't care if you're ugly."

Kent's lips curled into a cryptic smile, but he didn't turn to face her. "Once you see my face, everything will change," he replied, his voice tinged with a warning. "Trust me, things are better as they are."

Lily raised an eyebrow, a little taken aback. "Oh? Now you've only made me more curious…"

Kent simply chuckled, leaving her to stew in her curiosity as their throne continued its descent towards the royal palace.

---

The moment Kent's throne touched down inside the palace gates, it became evident that the atmosphere had shifted. A large crowd waited to welcome them.

Every noble, servant, and courtier who had witnessed Kent's prowess in the Honour Justice Fight now treated him with a kind of reverence. It was as though a new light had been cast on him, one that forced even his most indifferent relatives to acknowledge his presence.

They approached, one after the other, their words dripping with exaggerated praise. "Kent, your performance today was nothing short of legendary," said a distant cousin of Lily's, bowing low.

Another noble added, "The fortune you've brought to our family… truly a god sent opportunity!"

But Kent could sense the hollowness in their words. It wasn't respect—it was opportunism, plain and simple. These were the same people who barely acknowledged him before today. Now, they circled him like vultures, hoping to gain favor.

Lily, watching the scene unfold, muttered under her breath, "They're like moths to a flame…"

Kent smiled faintly but said nothing. His unease grew as more relatives pushed their way forward, offering forced smiles and flattery. One of them, bolder than the others, even reached out to touch the baby dragon standing beside Kent.

Before the man's hand could make contact, Jabil let out a sharp hiss and swiped his long hand, slapping the intruder's hand away.

"Ah!" The man recoiled, clutching his hand. "I-I didn't mean to offend the creature," he stammered, clearly embarrassed but also furious that he'd been embarrassed in front of the others.

Jabil snuggled closer to Kent, his golden eyes gleaming with quiet menace. The message was clear: no one would touch the baby dragon without Kent's permission. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

As the relatives awkwardly backed away, Lily leaned closer and whispered, "Seems like your little friend has a better sense of people than most of them."

Kent's gaze swept over the crowd, his smile fading. "They're not genuine. They're only interested in what they think I can do for them. It's all so… hollow."

Lily nodded, her expression sobering. "That's how it is when you win. People see you differently, but it's not always for the right reasons."

Kent's unease grew as more nobles approached, their greetings all sounding the same—empty and rehearsed. His mind, however, wandered back to the Dead Island City. There was something about that place, a sense that it held more significance than anyone else seemed to realize. And Kent was determined to find out what secrets it harbored.

---

Later that night, as the palace began to settle into the quiet of the evening, Kent made his way toward his personal chambers. But standing in front of the door, head bowed low, was Head Servant Ghule. The man's hands trembled, his face pale and streaked with tears.

The moment Ghule spotted Kent, he fell to his knees, groveling in a pitiful display. "Master, I—I'm so sorry!" Ghule's voice cracked as he sobbed. "I should never have assigned this room to you! I was blind, a fool! Please… please spare my life!"

Tears rolled down the servant's face as he continued to beg, his body shaking with fear. "I am a short-sighted idiot! I didn't realize your importance. Please, Master, forgive me…"

Kent looked down at him, his face devoid of emotion. Ghule's weeping continued, but Kent stepped forward without a word, passing the groveling man without even glancing back.

With a slow, deliberate motion, Kent pushed open the door to his room, and without acknowledging the servant's desperate pleas, he stepped inside and shut the door firmly behind him.

Ghule remained on his knees in the corridor, sobbing uncontrollably, but Kent's focus was already elsewhere. The hollow praises, the groveling servants—it was all noise. Noise that had no place in his thoughts, not when his sights were set on the far greater mysteries of the Dead Island City.

As the night deepened, the palace bustled with murmurs, but none of them reached Kent. He was already lost in the silence of his room, preparing for the plans.

-Your's PeterPan ;-)