The way Grandpa Sam so casually suggested giving away a damn County made Aegon speechless. He couldn't help but give him another long, bewildered look.

"Old man, it isn't a cheesecake you'll give me so casually," Aegon sighed, utterly baffled.

"Leave that to me. You'll be the new Count..." He paused before smiling smugly. "If you win the Supremacy Games. I'll convince that dumb Emperor to give you that."

"I'll never understand your hatred for the Emperor," Aegon said, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Also, pushing me to participate in it? Why is this so suspicious?"

"Quite simple. We don't favour anyone," Amon said, smiling with irritating calmness. "Earn it."

Although he felt there was more to it, much more, he didn't dwell on it and instead asked, "So basically, everything that I need lies with the Supremacy Games?"

"Perform well and you'll be one step closer to your goals," Grandpa Sam said. "Or you could just ask that old bones. Your family has multiple times more than that small County."

"I'll keep that as a last resort," Aegon said, before standing up. "Alright, thanks for the patent in advance. Now, I have lots of things to do because of you two troublemakers."

"Have a great day," Amon smiled and said, shifting his monocle with amusement.

"I'm looking forward to the Supremacy Games. Don't disappoint me, brat," Grandpa Sam said.

Aegon waved his hand and left the room, leaving the two men alone. They continued to watch his retreating back and couldn't help but smile.

"He'll transform human society," Grandpa Sam commented quietly.

"He's a better version of his mother," Amon said from beside him. "She gave her all to keep humanity standing against the demons. Now her son will bring something new to all humans."

"Indeed. He doesn't even realise just what he is creating," Grandpa Sam chuckled weakly. "All because of some silly goals, he doesn't see the bigger picture."

"As long as he's happy, it's fine, isn't it?" Amon said, glancing at his oldest friend. "You still feel indebted, don't you?"

Grandpa Sam sighed sadly, "I'm conflicted, Amon. On one hand, I want to keep him away from all this mess, yet my other side wants him right here, at the centre of everything. It'll ruin him, just like it ruined everyone else."

His lips quivered as he clenched his trembling hand, "I can't take any more of this, Amon. I can't. I don't want more Augustus to die while I stay happy with my family."

Amon placed his hand on Sam's shoulder and said, losing his smile, "I've said it before and I'll say it again. Aegon is meant for great things. He is burdened with glorious purposes. It doesn't matter what we think or want, because he's the change this world desperately needs."

"The world, heh," Sam chuckled dryly. "Sometimes I really want to abandon it all and ask the world itself, why is it like this?"

"If you want the answers, survive the Retribution," Amon said.

Sam shuddered slightly before standing. "You're right. Let it all be damned if that's what it takes to get past the Retribution. I want answers, and I'll get them, no matter what."

Amon smiled back faintly and said, "Yes, so let Aegon grow while we do our work. That's the best you can do to reduce his burden."

"You made some plans again?" Sam asked, raising an eyebrow.

"How can Amon not have a plan, my dear friend?" Amon smiled mysteriously and said, "Come with me. Let me show you what I have been doing for decades."

...

Meanwhile, Aegon went toward the Second-Year students' dormitory. It was already evening, so he knew he would find his friend there.

They had rarely met over the last year because neither of them had much time. Seeing Aegon working so hard had also motivated Xavier, so he gave his everything too.

Aegon felt proud to have such good friends, so naturally, he was going to discuss everything with him first.

Index Finger of God's Hand housed all the dorms, separated by years and gender. He easily found his way toward the Second-Year section.

Although the exams were over, it would take some time before everyone shifted rooms.

The tall buildings painted in beautiful red and white stood out under the giant central pillar in the background. Students were coming and going, some smiling brightly and some saddened by their results.

When he walked past, he received many gazes as usual, but he was in a hurry, so he quickly ran over to Xavier's room, one he knew all too well.

As his friend, he had a key, so he opened the door and barged in with a playful shout, "Guess who's back? Back again?"

However, his smile vanished in seconds when he noticed Xavier sitting on the bed, his palm hovering over his swollen cheeks and blackened eyes. Bruises and wounds covered his whole body.

Aegon could see everything clearly because Xavier was in the middle of healing himself, so his upper half was naked. There were even signs of bleeding that he had already closed, but how could Aegon not notice all of it?

His blood ran cold at the sight, as the room's temperature dropped rapidly. His eyes darkened dangerously as he asked, voice low and threatening, "Who did this?"

"Calm down first, otherwise I'm not telling anything," Xavier said after a moment of hesitation.

Aegon clenched his fists, taking a long breath to cool himself down at least a little. It was impossible to fully calm his anger, but he still tried to suppress it for Xavier's sake. This stubborn guy wouldn't say anything otherwise.

He closed the door and sat beside him. Taking out a deep green solution, he pushed it toward him and said, "Drink it."

Xavier didn't refuse and swallowed it in one go. Then, he continued healing his wounds, only to feel a warmth coursing through his body. When he turned to his side, he froze.

What greeted him was an eight-layered bright yellow Rune that he recognised all too well.

"You damned monster! You even have Light Affinity?" Xavier cursed, struggling to laugh through the pain.

"Just shut your ass up and let me heal!" Aegon snorted, smacking his head lightly with his other hand. "Tell me when you're ninety percent healed?"

"Why ninety percent?"

"So you remember the pain, idiot. What even happened?"

Xavier licked his lips and sighed, "Let's just say… I probably let down my father again."

"You let your emotions control you?"

Xavier nodded with shame, "Yes, and now I'm suffering because of it."

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