Nayoung could not help but clenched her fist every time she remembers about Narleod. It is because of him, her sisters and her need to bow their heads to someone else.

Wang Jian is a silent tiger. He will not move unless provoked. And killing his brother, if that is not provoking him then what?

If not for the constraint of Lord Shadow, Nayoung is confident, with his temper, he would swing his Ruyi Jingu Bang and engage in life and death battle with all of her sisters.

Chungha pulled a thin blanket over Nayoung and said

‘But, unnie. What makes you think Lord Shadow will protect us?’

‘Because we are his subordinates. People like Lord Shadow like to accumulate talented people. Prideful. He is the kind of people that scheme. And those people would always think of situation in terms of profit and loss. And cares very much about their reputation. He would not sacrifice us unless we gave him a reason to.’

‘I’m not satisfied with an ending like this’ Somi said, her voice has calmed a lot a far cry from the beginning.

Somi has always been willful and forceful in her conduct. Maybe because she is young or maybe because she is strong.

Nayoung then reply to her looking tired.

‘Not many things in this world satisfied you, Somi. We just have to deal with the cards we have been given. Now, you’ll get ready for the ceremony.’

The other Seven Fairy nodded and starts preparing.

Only Nayoung still sits on the recliner, pulling the blanket closer to her, thinking deeply on how to survive in the Central Plains.

She has to be strong...for her sisters. For her family.

***

THAT NIGHT

AFTER THE CEREMONY

Loki opens his eyes. It was late at night but someone knock his door. Five knocks. Not three not two but five knocks.

Creating a very weird rhythm.

Loki senses did not detect anyone outside his door and his wariness increase.

Because if his senses did not sense the person outside his room, that means his guards also did not notice.

Loki takes a breath and smirk.

Loki get up from his bed and was about to prepare himself, as his aura intentionally leaked out to warn the person outside when the voice says

‘Lord Trickster, God of Deceit, did you forget the Ten Swords Gorge? Do you still remember the yellow wine gourd?’ The question makes Loki speechless and shocked beyond belief.

‘It couldn’t be’ he said it to himself.

He did remember and he remembers that man he saw in the ceremony and shakes his own head at his own thoughts.

Because it was too absurd.

Loki still could not believe what he is hearing and then slowly he come to his bedroom door and with a slight pull he opens the door and he saw a man wearing ragged clothes with a yellow wine gourd sling on his left hip.

First Loki was shocked and then came his suspicions. His mind is thinking about that woman.

If this is really him, then the only one possible doing this is that woman. He mused to himself.

Loki then pulled the person inside the room and pushes him to the other side of the room while he produces a dagger.

‘That’s not a way to greet old friend.’ Loki looks at him with a very puzzled expression.

And wariness. Sofia did not mention this kind of scenario when she, Jean and Hirate concocted that plan.

‘Wine Beggar Louise.’

Loki said, his hand still tightly gripping his dagger. He knows this person in the future but not in this timeline.

At least not yet.

Loki shakes his head. But if that is truly so, why did Louise called him by the moniker God of Deceit unless this man...

Loki then instantly knows who he is seeing in front of him right now. Not the Wine Beggar Louise of this timeline.

But the Louise of the future.

Loki has seen him during the ceremony. Loki noted that Louise is still young unlike his future self during the ceremony.

‘Who sent you?’ That was his first question

Louise smiles and smirks.

‘Come on. You know who.’ Loki then immediately thinks of someone. That woman. Always in the black robe.

Always challenging him.

‘Morgana!’ Loki said. Louise nodded

‘Hmph’ Loki snorted and then he looked at the ceiling. He then sighed.

‘This is why I fucking hate Time Magic.’

Louise chuckles.

‘Jean and Hirate is not the only one capable of doing that kind of magic.’

‘What price did she pay?’ Loki asks.

‘To conjure such magic, the price must be astronomical.’ he added

‘Love’ Louise said and his face was very solemn. And understanding dawned on Loki face.

If there is one thing that Morgana love, that could only be Mika.

Her son.

Loki once met the little toddler. A cute, young child. And as understanding dawned on him, anger filled his heart.

‘You mean she killed her own son? Using her son blood to create the Array Formation of Rebirth and Reincarnation? Did she use the Wheel?’ Loki said gritting his teeth in anger.

The blood as ink, the organs as the tether, the soul as the millstone of time. To do this kind of magic, one must truly be crazy

‘Dark magic. Dark emotions’ Louise said but he too seems disgusted by the notions. Not to mention he was the one who saw what Morgana did.

She choked her own son on his cradle. Even through the child screams and crying she did not stop choking the life out of that child.

She needs a pure soul, untainted by mortal sin. What is more pure than a baby?

There were no tears on her eyes.

Only determination to do what she thinks is right. The determination that Louise believes the Divine Archer, The Time God, Mind Master is not capable of.

‘And Loki..don’t forget that we did live in dark times.’ Loki just snorted but he could not help but agree with Louise.

‘Fine.’ He waved his hand upwards in a surrendering motion and then he said

‘You’re here. Is anyone else travels through time and space, broke every laws of rebirth and reincarnation is here? Let us set a meeting and meet with each other before the Laws of the Universe find a way to screw us all’ He said sarcastically.

Louise did not pay Loki annoyance any heed. Instead he asks Loki.

‘We need to talk.’

‘About what?’ Loki said dismissively and it is clear form his tone he did not like talking with Louise.

He already sheathes back his dagger and sits down on one of his chair in his room.

‘God of Death.’ Louise said.

‘What about him?’ Loki said as he produces a bottle of vodka and pours himself a drink

‘Did The Divine Archer sent you back here to prop him up? To make him stronger?’ Louise asked

‘And what if she did?’ Loki replies nonchalantly.

This time Louise face is flushed with anger.

‘Loki! You know what he is. What he will become! And still, you wish to strengthen him. Ends of Days! You know who is responsible for that!’

Loki just ignores what Louise said and takes another shot of the vodka.

‘And what did Morgana send you here for?’ Louise face turned serious and answered

‘To end the threat once and for all.’

‘You want to kill him?’ And Loki smiles. But this smile is terrifying. His eyes sharpened and his aura surged up.

He was like a waiting wolf. Waiting to devour. But before the time is up, he will wait. Patience.

But Louise is not one that is easily intimidated.

‘Yes, and we have been planning it since the day he revealed himself. We just did not thought that he would grow this fast. And as you and I know we couldn’t really hoard all the treasures lest risking that some destiny derailed.’

Loki then laughed. He knows the reason why Louise did not manage to kill Azief is because he didn’t know where Azief is.

If Loki is right, Louise could only be here for a few moments of time. Morgana is powerful...but she is not that powerful.

Loki is here permanently. His mind is tethered to this timeline unlike Louise. If not Azief would be long dead.

There is also the fact that in the future not many really know the story of the Prince. Where he originated, who is his friends and so on and so forth.

That is why Louise did not know the whereabouts of Azief until he revealed himself to the world.

The moment Azief becomes Sovereign he cut his Karma Thread except one.

Loki has always said to the Prince that if he has one weakness, it is the Divine Archer.

Who would have thought that weakness is what makes Loki able to find Azief when he was just a Pillar Forming Stage?

Loki then said to Louise

‘I disagree. The cause of that event is not him. You couldn’t really blame him for what happened at the end. He was conquered with fear. Fear of the future. For a God that could see the future, Azief was led by destiny instead of controlling it. And you and I we know that making a decision based on fear rarely bode well.’

‘Say what you want to defend him, Loki. He might not be the true problem but he is the executor. You know he is the v-‘

‘Don’t say it’ Loki said looking angry.

Loki doesn’t like to be reminded of what happens in the Final Battle.

Because he could still hear the screams. He still smells that smell of burning flesh.

Sometimes when he woke in the morning and wash his face, sometimes he sees the seas of blood in front of him again.

Feeling the wet blood on his face again. When he bathes it was like he was drenched with the rain of blood.

The death of good men and women. The death of his friends and brothers and sisters in arms.

The final battle was not really a battle. It was a one sided slaughter. Loki didn’t like to be reminded of that tragic day

‘Fine. I don’t like recalling that memory either. But you know, He will end us all if he is not stopped. If he reached Sovereign, then he could no longer be stopped. All of this has happens before, and if he reached Sovereign all of that will happen again. And looking at his current capabilities, he surely would reach Sovereign level sooner or later.’

Loki just sighed and said to Louise.

‘Louise, sit down first.’ Louise took a chair and sit down and then Loki began saying.

‘What is Morgana plans actually? Kill him? You think destiny and fate is that easy to change? Why did you think any magic involving time, reality and life and death are hard? Why do you think its price is steep? Because destiny doesn’t like being thwarted. It doesn’t like being changed. It is the accumulation of the will of the universe.’

Louise did not like hearing Loki still defending Azief so he said.

‘And what will you do with a more upgraded version of the God of Death? You think the final battle will be easier? When you know, that the very reason we have to have a final battle is because of him? Or are you just afraid that if you change his destiny, your destiny will also change? Loki, the Seventh Sovereign. The runt among the giants. A clown in front of Gods and Divine Warrior. Morgana is better than you. She knows to do what is necessary! Regardless of the price!’

Loki face flushed red. This is his complex. When he was Sovereign, even though he was Sovereign, he was the weakest.

He did not possess domineering powers like God of Death, does not possess the charisma of the Earthshaker, and does not possess the adoration of the people like the Twin God of Japan.

He was not as brave as the Ice Deity. He did not possess a strong will like Jean. He was the odd one among the Seven

He was a runt among giants, a kid among heroes. But it is ironic that in the final battle, Loki and Jean, they were the only surviving Sovereign.

God of Death is dead.

Not literally. But figuratively.

Because the man he saw in that final battle is not the Azief he knows.

To him, it was at that last moment; Loki accepts that Azief is dead. He had the same face, had the same temperament, but Loki will never acknowledge that man as Azief.

But hearing his wound being opened by Louise, he could not just stay silent. He snorted derisively and said

‘Is that why I didn’t see her in the final battle? Because she knows what is necessary? Morgana like always, runs when the problem gets tough. That is why she will always remain in half step Sovereign. What did she do when the world went to war? What did she do when all the great heroes battle the End of Days? What did she do when millions die? What did she do when millions screams, bleed and suffers? Hiding in her rooms concocting this idiotic plan?’

Louise just shakes his head and he said

‘We will install a new sovereign, Loki. The Seven Sovereign will still exist. The New World War, the Yrinia Events all will happen again. I know we are not able to change all the events. Only two events that needs to change. The War of the Sovereign and the Ends of Days. Remove Lord Azief from the equation and we don’t have such a tragic ending for this two events. You know I’m right!’ Louise said as he stood up and glares at Loki.

Louise did not want to make enemy with the God of Deceit.

He might not have his Sovereign Presence yet but his formidability and the aura of a great ruler still exudes out from Loki.

In his timeline, Louise knows while Loki is the weakest among the Seven Sovereigns that still makes him one of the strongest people in the world.

Only Sovereign can defeat a Sovereign. This saying is popular in his timeline because it is the truth.

When Loki heard Louise plans he could not help but chuckle.

‘Hah? Install a sovereign? How would you do that?’

‘We will pour our resources to one person so that he could break through sovereign level’ and hearing this Loki laughs.

‘You think reaching Sovereign is a matter of resources? HAHAHA. To reach Sovereign it could be simple or it could be hard. But one thing I know, it doesn’t involve resources. Morgana never step on that level itself how would she know?’

‘At least, it is better than the alternative. Reaching to Sovereign might not be achieved by pouring resources into one person. But to reach Half Step to Sovereign, with resources it is possible. We have to have faith that the person we install will find a way to pave the path to Sovereign’ Louise said.

Loki closes his eyes and sighs.

‘Saying all this to me, you must have other intentions. Since you could not remain here in this timeline for long, you will not waste your time just to tell me your story. Now, tell me the real reason why you want to meet me.’ Saying this Loki put down his vodka glass and looks straight at Louise eyes.

Louise then begins by saying

‘I know you accepting the mission of the Divine Archer is because you felt guilty of what happen in the Final Battle. I’m offering you an alternative. Lord Jean is the God of Time and his wisdom is unparalleled about the laws of time. But you know Morgana personally Loki. You know what she is capable of. Lord Jean is your colleague but....’and he look at Loki and he knows Loki dreaded what Louise about to say.

‘Morgana is your Teacher...and wife. And she has the Investiture of the First Race’ Hearing this Loki face fell. And then he smiles bitterly.

Louise smiles and with the highest hope, he ask

‘Join us, God of Deceit. Let us save the world together’ Loki looks at Louise and then looking at the ceiling of his manor he sighed and said.

‘This is why I fucking hate Time Magic’

***