"Uhh...."

Noel woke up on a white bed. He saw unfamiliar ceiling and Evan sit on a chair beside him.

"Good, you finally woke up." Evan said. He already bought new clothes and wearing them.

"Evan? What- where is Oreily?"

"Unfortunately she is escaped."

"Damn." Noel looks angry. This is makes him curious why Noel is angry because of Oreily.

"Care to explain about Oreily?"

"Oreily Novister the Wind pillar. She was the best mage in Noguard kingdom before became Wind Pillar of Carbiz kingdom. At a certain night, she was together with the crown prince and killed him. Then she infiltrated the king's tomb and stole the Sigil of Exodus. Sigil of Exodus was the symbol of this kingdom after founded. The sigil purpose is to open the gate of darkness but that's impossible and yet that sigil still holds amazing power."

Evan certainly know about Sigil of Exodus. Used to open the gate of darkness and created the rift between this land to Darkness land. Aside the sigil, a huge gate must be constructed to holds the gate.

"She fled to Carbiz kingdom along with the sigil and became the Wind pillar. Also, she is the second strongest in the five pillars."

"Who is the first?"

"Rido the Destructor pillar. He also called Hero of Carbiz where he eliminated the horde of monsters alone."

Evan nodded. He wanted to know just how strong Rido is. Is he really deserved to be a hero?

Ughh...." Noel tried to sit but the wound on his chest reacted.

"Take it slow. Even though the bleeding is stopped, it's still a quite large wound."

"So, why she is fled?"

"I don't know? Don't ask me."

Noel staring at Evan without moving. Yet Evan didn't move a bit or felt awkward.

"You're hiding something huh."

"Why would i?"

".........."

Evan sighed when Noel staring at him too much.

"Okay, she wanted to meet me again in the future if i go to Carbiz kingdom." Evan told the truth but he half-truth.

"No! You shouldn't!" Noel shouted with serious tone.

"She is dangerous and you might be in danger." Noel said with worries but Evan laughing.

"Alright alright Noel, there is nothing to be worry about."

"Damn Evan! I'm worried about you!" Noel shouted with his red face.

"Calm down okay. There is nothing to be worry about. I'm going to be fine."

"Hmph, act like you're very strong." Noel went back to sleep but the pain on his chest reacted once again and he jolted which makes Evan laughing.

"Hahaha.... alright, i'll be back to get you a dinner okay." Evan stood and left the room.

Outside the room, Evan sighed. Noel is really caring about people near him, he is good noble. It's good to have friend like him.

After Oreily fled, Noel didn't wake even when the sun is down. Evan doesn't have choice but to bring Noel to an inn and rent a room for him.

'I'm still weak.' Evan in his thought. He is weak, to be injured by Oreily and his mana almost run out just by casted 'Absolute freeze' within three meters. He could regain his old power by absorbing life force and he don't know if it's also works with death force. The other way around is start training again.

Getting life force is easy, you just need to kill people and done, but Evan didn't want to kill people mindlessly. While death force is only obtainable from the undead or those from underworld. Unfortunately, he can't absorb his undead death force since they are far away.

At the bar, Evan ordered a dinner food for Noel and after a while, he brought the food back to Noel and give it to him.

"Thanks.” Noel said as he took the food and eat it.

The next day. Evan and Noel get ready to leave the town.

On their way going home, Evan asks.

"Noel, will you tell your father about Oreily?"

"No need, i don't want to put more burden to him." He laughed. His father is having too much works right now and it would be bad if he collapsed.

They have some chats right before arriving at the mansion. Both of them quickly went back to their own rooms and get some rest. Unfortunately, Evan don't want take a rest the moment he remembered about his continuous nightmare so he decides to train.

'Expanding my mana capacity till the limit will help me. Proficiency with ice magic is good but not as good as before.' Evan re-examine his abilities.

'My strength is stronger than non-average people while my speed is behind Oreily a lot, she might be not using her full power yet. Should i train the so-called life force?'

Every living beings have life forces but each people is different. When the life force is trained, and used well. It can become a weapon to fight and strengthening the body. Evan didn't consider this since he isn't a martial arts person. But since he is weak, he need to take everything to grow stronger.

Evan sit down on the floor and start meditating. He gathering his mana and then force them out then gathering them again and recycle them and force them out again. There are some ways to expand mana capacity but what Evan using now is what he learned long ago. By gathering every last drop of mana and then force them out from his body till nothing left and then gathering them again and recycle them, this will expand the capacity once all mana came in and out again till nothing left to be gather and force out. However, the more many he has, the longer it will take to do this. He is determined to become stronger.

A week had passed. Evan doing his daily exercise in the morning and Ariana will greet him and gave him a towel. Their relationship is getting closer; however, they are just friends. Evan's body is becoming more sturdy and hardcore exercise and daily sparring with Noel. Noel used different ways to defeat Evan but he ends up lost. While Evan magic is progressing smoothly since he only focused in one magic not others.

Also, a news about war between Alainsten and Noguard has been spread out. Noguard pressured Alainstein really well but yesterday, Alainstein's army manage to made Noguard suffers loss of its soldiers.

The third princess ruled Alainstein and commanded the army. Even though some nobles protest against her, the strong nobles support her clearly to defend Alainstein. It's not a week since she became the queen so her progress isn't showing much. Adding that she is an unexpected successor and never had education about politics and military affairs, it's quite understandable and she is more preferred than the other princesses.

Count Rishawd wished for Noel and Evan to depart quickly before anything happens because of the war since the war took in his territory. However, Noel wished to stay a bit longer, at least two weeks.

The other news is about the more sights of undead and many lands became not fertile anymore. This is serious matters and many kingdoms are in crisis. Especially Noguard which is affected it, Noguard ready to make peace with Alainstein to stabilize their lands rather taking a war but Alainstein refused and stated that if Noguard wants war then we will go through it. Truly, the fire rising even more.

Present time, Evan and Noel have a sudden guest.

"Hello, it's been a while Noel."

"Yes, it is, Falecia."

A beauty slender girl greeted Noel. Her skin is white like never have touched by the sun, her blonde hair is made buns and her azure eyes staring at Noel endlessly. She is smile quite bright. Wearing blue simple but expensive dress, she walks towards Noel.

"Care to explain the man behind you?" She said while glancing at Evan for a second.

"He is Evan, my friend and bodyguard." Noel said with smile.

"Evan, is it? Hello, i'm Falecia Dalbaurt. Daughter of Duke Dalbaurt, i'm happy to meet one of Noel's friend."

"Hello, i'm Evan, like wise." Evan bowed and then straighten himself.

"Falecia, what's the matter for you to come here?" Noel asked.

"Am i not allowed?" She said with smile and Noel immediately shook his head.

"I'm here to see if my fiancé is fine or not. I'm glad you're fine and i heard that Count Rishawd urged you to leave immediately, why not?"

"I wish to stay longer here."

"Isn't better to leave soon? Alainstein looks aggressive."

"Hahaha, no worries. I have Evan protecting me."

Falecia glanced at Evan again and them smiled.

"What can one man do against an army? To be truth, i do not know his abilities, so i can't trust him about your safety."

Noel sighed and says.

"Do not worry about me. Instead, i'm worry about you. What will happen if something went bad?"

"Do you perhaps i came here unprepared? No, i came with several men to guards me. Besides that, i know magic too. Even though i'm fragile, i'm not weak." She said with calm yet sharp tone.

"I understand. Now, let's get inside. It'd better than be here."

"Okay then."

Falecia walking first ahead and Evan quickly come over Noel and says.

"A fiancée, you never told me about it."

"I'd never intend to." Noel said while wiping his forehead.

"Ms. Falecia, she looks cold."

"Not cold, but just high demeanor. She is daughter of duke after all. Even though she possessed such fragile body, she is quite skilled in magic and use two magics. She is also good in economic and politic. She already managing a fief."

"You sounded afraid towards her."

"Well yes.... she is possessive one you know." Noel laughed. Behind his laugh, there is some worry and happy about it.

"Well, let's not make her wait." Noel said.

Evan follows Noel from behind but then he stopped and looks behind. Two figures stood near the door and looking at Evan. However, they are not showing any hostilities.

"Who?" Evan asked.

"Bodyguards of Ms. Falecia." One of them answered with stern tone. Upon hearing that, Evan nodded and start following Noel again.

Noel and Falecia are sitting opposite each other in the backyard of the mansion in the pagoda. Evan stood not far from them to not disturb and act like a bodyguard.

Evan could hear what they are talking about but it's just small matters.

The day went to night so quickly. It was decided that Falecia will stay here for few days.

As usual before going to sleep. Evan is expanding his mana and train his magic before going to sleep.

"Fuuuh...." Evan exhaled and stop his meditating and walks to the bed and lying on it.

"Bad night." He muttered as he closes his eyes.