Chapter 166: 166. Invitation

William entered his dorm with renewed focus, his mind was already set on slipping into the Domain of Infinite and beginning his training.

The recent events had left too many loose ends in his thoughts, and the only place where he could sort them out properly was inside his own controlled space.

He stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and proceeded to change into more comfortable clothes.

The familiar quiet of the room helped steady his breathing. After that, he moved to the small kitchen area and began gathering snacks and supplies, stacking them neatly.

He knew from experience that once he entered the domain, hours could pass without him realizing it, and craving good food was the last distraction he wanted.

Just as he finished packing the last item, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

William frowned. The timing alone irritated him. He set the snacks aside and strode toward the door. He was prepared to dismiss whoever it was without patience. He pulled it open in one swift motion.

There was no one there.

His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward slightly, scanning the hallway.

“Oi, here,” a gruff voice called out.

William looked down.

A dwarf stood there, barely reaching his waist, holding an ornate box in both hands. The metalwork on the box was intricate, and its weight was evident from the way the dwarf’s arms were slightly tense.

William recognized him immediately. He was the same delivery dwarf who had brought items from the academy shop before.

With a quiet sigh, William took the box from him without ceremony and closed the door. He carried the box to the table, set it down carefully, and opened it.

Inside lay a single metallic scroll, resting in the center as if it was an ancient treasure of sorts. The moment his eyes fell on the engraving, he recognized it immediately.

An eastern dragon coiled around a sword and clouds drifting around its body.

The symbol of the Storm Dragon.

William’s brows knitted together.

“Why did he send me this?” he muttered.

Until now, he could not recall doing anything significant enough to attract the attention of an elder Astral Warden, let alone one as influential as the Storm Dragon.

He reached out and opened the scroll.

Inside, there was only a single line.

———⁜⁜⁜———

Meet me for a cup of tea on my island. (Break the top dowel of the scroll to accept, break the bottom dowel to deny.)

– Yun Long

———⁜⁜⁜———

“Tsk, not even using his title,” William muttered under his breath.

The Storm Dragon had signed it with his real name, not his designation. Yun Long was the leader of the Long faction, one of the two dragon clans.

William leaned back slightly; his thoughts drifted as he remembered information about the Long clan he had read about in the novel.

The dragon race was unlike any other. Their society was not divided by political interests or beliefs in the usual sense, but by physique.

The Long clan consisted of serpentine dragons, closer to the eastern myths from earth, while the Drakemore clan was made up of drake-like dragons with massive wings and bodies, which were the western-style dragons in the stories he had read in his past life.

The Dragon Empire was currently ruled by the Drakemore clan, which was why it was known as the Drakemore Empire.

Both factions had a long-standing pact. Every five hundred years, control of the empire would pass from one clan to another. It was a balance maintained through history, and there was a whole folklore around this setting.

William had always found the author’s choice intriguing. Saga of the God Slayer was the only novel he had read where eastern and western dragons coexisted in the same world. Even breeding between the two clans was impossible, reinforcing their separation.

Yet both worshipped the same Dragon Progenitor, whose story in itself was layered and complex.

He pushed those thoughts aside and looked back at the scroll in his hand.

The Storm Dragon had invited him personally, and he had not even stated a reason.

“Should I go right now?” William asked quietly.

[Your choice.]

William’s fingers tightened around the top dowel of the scroll. He was seconds away from breaking it when another knock sounded at the door.

He paused, then exhaled slowly and stored the scroll in his inventory.

Walking in long strides, he reached the door and opened it.

Seraphine stood there.

Before he could say anything, she stepped forward and threw herself into his arms.

“Aishhh, I missed you so much,” William said with a soft smile as he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back.

“Scoundrel!” Sera shouted, breaking the hug abruptly. She stepped back and punched him in the gut.

“Ouch!” William gasped, acting like he was in pain. He knew she had not used mana, but he also knew exactly why she had done it.

“How dare you leave without telling me or even saying goodbye?” she said; her voice was sharp as she grabbed the skin of his arms and pinched him hard.

“Ouch, Sera, stop!!!” he protested, but she did not relent until his arms became visibly red.

A few minutes later, William stood there rubbing his arms while Sera finally stopped. He guided her into the living area and made her sit on the sofa.

“We have a lot of things to share since a lot happened,” he said, trying to lighten the mood, “but since this is the first time after our reunion that you have come to my dorm, let me cook something amazing for you, and then we will have a nice chat.”

He knelt in front of her and held her hands gently as he spoke.

As he began to stand and move toward the kitchen, Sera stopped him.

“No, it’s okay. I’m going to leave in a few minutes,” she said; her tone turned gloomy.

“Why?” William asked immediately; concern flickered in his expression.

“Mother said I am showing signs of awakening my ancestral physique,” Sera replied. “She already consulted with Principal Andrea, and she is taking me back to the empire to initiate the awakening.”

Her voice carried a dull heaviness that did not match the news.

“Why are you sad?” William asked, cupping her face and smiling gently. “This is good news, isn’t it?”

“But I will have to stay away from you for who knows how long,” Sera muttered. “Mother said the time is undefined. It could take a few weeks, or even a few months.”

“Sera, I can’t be the reason to hold you back now, can I?” William spoke seriously but maintained his gentleness as he matched her eye level.

“It’s not about that. You don’t understand how I feel,” she pouted.

“Don’t worry, darling,” William said, looking at her with warm eyes. “I will be with you every second.”

Her face flushed slightly. “Hmph, how bold of you to call me darling,” she said, her reaction reminding him that what had happened between them earlier was something Sera thought of as a dream.

William chuckled and patted her head. “Don’t worry about it too much. I’m not going anywhere. You will find me exactly as I am when you return.”

“You don’t understand a woman’s instincts, Willy,” Sera said, shaking her head with a tense expression.

William sat beside her and cupped her face with both hands, pressing his forehead gently against hers.

“Have you opened the ring?” he asked quietly.

“Not yet,” she whispered.

He did not reply. He stayed like that for a few moments, then pulled her into a quiet embrace and rubbed her back slowly until her breathing eased. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

As he held her, William thought of something and asked the system.

“System,” he asked silently, “is there anything in the shop that can help her awakening?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep