As was following Estelle away from the camp to train as there wasn''t enough space, and the blonde said they needed peace. While walking, his eyes trailed down the young woman''s well-trained body crafted through years of knightly training.


    ''She''s drop-dead gorgeous,'' he mused while admiring the strong knight.


    Estelle was the definition of a beautiful woman with perfect facial features and enchanting blue eyes that glowed when the afternoon sun hit them. As thought while looking at her, ''''She had a face that couldunch a thousand ships.''''


    But As loved the two dimples on her cheeks that appeared whenever she was happy. As admired her athletic hourss figure, which any woman on Earth would be jealous of. Still, he had noticed her muscles were firm due to her life of rigorous training and hunting monsters throughout the Argonia Kingdom.


    Due to being around Grishna, Estelle, and Artemis, who were older than him, he had developed a preference for older girls. Even Amethyst was closer to his age and a few months his senior.


    As noticed her blonde hair was cascading down to the small of her back. This drew his eyes to her toned behind, forged over many years. Estelle suddenly stopped walking while he was watching, causing him to walk straight into her.


    He felt her firm behind hit his chest, and a flush of embarrassment washed over him. When she noticed what he was doing, a grin appeared on her pretty face, ''''What do you think you''re doing, Le Messie élu?''''


    "Admiring you, Estelle," As quipped with a smirk. "What did you want to teach me?"


    Estelle shot him a yful nce. "Admire all you want, but don''t overstep. Just because you''re the Le Messie élu doesn''t mean I''m yours for the taking. First off, you''re way too young for any romance. And second, you''ve got a long way to go to catch up to me if you want a chance, but I will wait until you be stronger,'''' she replied with a knowing smile before taking out her sword and shield.


    ''''I respect that, Estelle, and won''t overstep any boundaries until I''m older and you''re ready,'''' As stated before continuing. ''''But I must ask, how old should I be?''''


    ''''Seventeen,'''' she answered instantly. ''''Once you turn seventeen, we will fight to see whose stronger.''''


    As beamed before taking out his dagger, asking, ''''Can I use magic?''''


    Estelle nodded, ''''Yes, but don''tin if I use it.''''


    With no hesitation, As unleashed several Void Bullets toward the blonde knight. She expertly sliced through them, but their explosive impact created a split-second distraction that As used to dash forward, de poised for action.


    Closing the gap, Asunched a rapid barrage of a dozen Void Arrows, each striking Estelle''s shield with force as she raised it to defend herself. Sensing an opportunity, he executed a wless Void Step, disappearing from view only to appear behind her.


    As''s sh aimed at Estelle''s legs, hoping to catch her off guard, was met with unexpected resistance as he heard her voice ring out, "Sr Shield."


    His de struck her leg, only to be deflected, and in that moment, a retaliatory sh grazed his chest. Startled, As scrambled backward, eyeing Estelle, who wore a confident smile. She swiftly readied her sword and calmly dered, "My turn."


    With a burst of determination, Estelle charged forward, prompting a startled yelp from As as he hastily blocked her attack with his dagger. Simultaneously, he cast Void Guard and unleashed a Void Bullet.


    The azure projectile streaked toward Estelle, but she deftly dodged to the side, her de connecting solidly with his weapon in a sh of metal. He felt his arm vibrate due to her power in the strike.


    He quickly backed away to create distance from Estelle, who relentlessly pursued him, her sword thrusting toward his torso. Despite his Void Guard sessfully intercepting the attack, the impact force still jolted through his body, causing As to stagger backward.


    The blonde knight halted her assault, allowing As a moment to recover. She spoke calmly, her tone instructive yet firm, "You''re fast, Le Messie élu, but speed alone won''t win battles. You need to consider where and how you strike your enemy."


    Confusion flickered across As''s face, prompting Estelle to borate with a patient gesture, "Focus on vulnerable points, where the enemy is weakest. It''s not just about hitting hard, but hitting smart."


    As nodded as she continued, ''''You need a second de to follow up on your first strike, as people''s shields normallyst one strike at such a range. With an additional weapon, I think you would be even deadlier.''''


    "Okay. I''ll buy one along with some spells when we get to Vntic," he replied, earning a proud nod from the blonde knight.


    "Your Void Bullet spell is effective; it explodes on impact. Meanwhile, Void Arrow is an armor-piercing spell, ideal against heavy armor and knights like myself because it punches a hole through most metals," Estelle added, smiling at him as she spoke.


    Her beautiful smile caught him off guard, but As shook his head and spoke, ''''Do you want to continue? I want to see if I cannd a hit on you.''''


    Estelle giggled with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes, ''''If you manage to touch me, then I''ll give you a prize,'''' she challenged.


    As agreed, and the duo continued fighting, causing Lilith to wander over to see what he was doing. When the honey badger noticed he was training, sheid down to watch them with her curious yellow eyes.


    Lilith watched Estelle lead As around, encouraging him to think of new attacking methods. By the time he dropped to the ground and breathed heavily, he had never managed to touch her.


    The blonde knight stood above him with a smile, dering, "Maybe next time, Le Messie élu. The prize is still on offer, but let''s call it a day with the training." She began to walk away but nced back over her shoulder. "Come and get something to eat before you rest."


    As sprawled out on the hillside, panting heavily, when Lilith sauntered over andunched herself onto him. "Hey, Lily! Can''t you see I''m beat?" he groaned, trying to fend off the honey badger''s yful nips at his ears and neck. "Seriously, stop with the surprise attacks!"


    The two of them started wrestling, but Lilith overwhelmed him due to being tired and stood on his chest with a victorious glint in her eyes. As noticed she looked down at him before lovingly licking his cheek while chirping.


    This made him chuckle as he began to stroke her, but it only encouraged Lilith even more, and sheunched another yful attack. As surrendered and let her have her way, but then she started tickling him relentlessly.


    Soon, a voice cut through theughter, "Aetos! Stop making love with your furry girlfriend, and join usdies to eat! Grishna cooked a delicious soup," Artemis shouted at him.


    Lilith stopped ying games and let As pick her up as they returned to the camp that had already been set up. After that, everyone started eating, and as the sun set, they painted thendscape a beautiful pink color.


    While sitting in front of the fire, As shivered, causing him to wrap his enchanted cloak around his body. Amethyst looks at him with a smile, ''''Frostwinter is upon us. The nights will grow colder, and the snows wille soon.''''


    ''''Is it bad?'''' he questioned while drinking some tea Estelle made.


    "Depends on where in Astoria you are, my Amore," Amethyst exined, leaning against him. "North of the Sands of Sorrow, the snow can get pretty bad. Some years it blocks the trading roads for days. But south of the desert, it might only reach your ankles."


    As nodded. "Thank you," he said, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into his cloak. "I don''t intend to head south anytime soon. Looks like we''ll be tackling snow-capped mountains on our way to the Thssia Empire."


    Following that, the group nned out the next days while eating their dinners; the n was simple: find a boat at the docks and sail toward Vntic, where they would be weed, thanks to Estelle being the fifth princess.


    Before long, the two moons hung high in the sky, shining upon the hills, and Amethyst pulled As into the tent, eliciting giggles from the older girls. Once inside, the couple settled under the covers the phoenix had set up earlier.


    As they gotfortable, As turned toward Amethyst and noticed her soft, pink lips looked inviting. Unable to resist, he leaned forward to kiss her. She initially stiffened but quickly returned the kiss, pulling him closer in a warm embrace.


    The young couple continued kissing until they eventually separated and drifted asleep. Lilith watched with jealous eyes for a moment before crawling on top of As and snuggling in between them, joining them in dreand and ensuring a peaceful night passed by.


    As was awoken to explosions and screaming, causing him to rush out only to see Estelle blocking several spells as Grishna and Artemis fought mercenaries. They wore midnight ck armor with skull-shaped helmets that sent shivers through his spine.


    Most stood as tall as six feet and looked menacing as their armor reflected the morning light, but soon As got over it and rushed forward while readying his dagger when he closed in on the closet mercenary and cast a Void Arrow at the man.


    The enemy raised his shield, blocking the spell. In response, As swiftly cast Void Step, vanishing from sight and reappearing behind the soldier. With a decisive thrust, he drove his de through the man''s ribs.