A Journey That Changed The World.

Following that, Archer sent Vivienne back to the colony after she peppered his face with love-filled kisses just as Aeris spoke while glancing around with a gleam in her eyes. ''Are you the god of this place?''

He started chuckling before shaking his head. ''No. Only beings like Tiamat and the other gods can create souls, which is the very fabric that makes a person who they are.''

To prove his point, he picked up a stick and sent his mana into it. Seconds later, leaves started growing. ''See? I can create stuff like this with just my power, but when I've tried to create life, it never works.''

Aeris's smile grew wider before she nodded with a curious expression that he found adorable. ''What about the trees and plants? They're life?'' she continued.

''Yes, you're right, but as I said, they don't have souls in the way we do,'' Archer explained as the two started walking through the forest.

''Interesting,'' she replied while rubbing her chin. ''Do you consider me a living being despite what I am? This body is my second form, just like yours.''

Archer sighed before bopping her on the head as he chuckled. ''Of course. It doesn't matter if you're a wraith. You're still a person with a soul, dreams, and feelings for me, which makes you one of the living.''

Just as he finished speaking, a horrifying howl echoed from around them, causing Aeris to let out a yelp as he scanned the surroundings, using his mana only to find the culprit and get pissed off with them.

His eyes widened in shock as a group of Wendigos were closing in. 'What the fuck are they doing in here!' he thought as his anger exploded.

Archer used his power to grab all the creatures by the throat and pulled them toward him as the shocked young woman held him close. When she saw the creatures, her red eyes flared with anger before transforming into her wraith form.

Aeris unleashed a piercing screech before tearing into the monsters with her razor-sharp claws, moving like a whirlwind of death. Enveloped by her relentless assault, the Wendigos stood no chance against the dark-haired beauty's fury.

A creature lunged at her from behind, but the shadows at her feet exploded outward, forming writhing tendrils that impaled the beast mid-air. It howled in agony before Aeris yanked her hand back, and the darkness shredded it apart like paper.

Archer smirked, arms crossed, as he observed the carnage. ''Damn,' he muttered under his breath. ''Remind me never to get on her bad side.''

The last Wendigo turned to flee, its instincts screaming at it to run from this nightmare-made flesh. But Aeris was faster. She surged forward, her body becoming a streak of darkness, and reappeared in front of it.

Glowing crimson eyes locked onto the creature's trembling form. ''You're already dead,'' she whispered in a menacing voice before driving her clawed hand straight through its skull.

Silence followed the chaotic fight, but Archer was impressed with her power as he gazed at the fallen Wendigos collapsed into heaps of lifeless husks. The battlefield was still, save for the slow, pulsing aura of darkness. Archer let out a low whistle.

''Well, that was terrifyingly impressive,'' he said with a grin.

The beautiful wraith turned to him, her form flickering back to normal, a smirk tugging at her lips. ''You expected anything less from a woman you like?''

He chuckled. ''Not at all.''

Following that, Archer threw the corpses to the Nightmare Cave Spiders, who went crazy for the new food and dragged them off to be consumed by the colony's young. While doing that, a buzzing noise reached his ears causing him to look up as a Blightbee Worker flew towards them.

When Aeris saw this, her eyebrow arched in curiosity as the fluffy bee stopped in front of them, delicately offering a chunk of Royal Honey while a sweet, childlike voice echoed in his mind. ''Here ya go, Master! Momma said you forgot to take some!''

Archer's smile softened as he gently stroked the fuzzy bee, his fingers sinking into its soft fluff. ''Thank you, little one,'' he said warmly. ''Now, let's get you back to the hive where you'll be safe.''

The bee let out a cheerful buzz, wiggling in delight before he teleported it away. After it was gone, he felt Aeris staring at him. He turned, only to see a beautiful smile on her face. ''How can anyone hate you? You're kind, even too monsters.''

He chuckled, scratching the back of his head with a relaxed grin. ''It never hurts to be kind. My job is to make sure everyone thrives. That's why I'm the White Dragon, and that's my goal in this war.''

Aeris was about to speak, but Brooke suddenly appeared with a smile as she informed him. ''Little Light. Mia and Albert want to see you right away. Sia asked me to come get you and bring you to their mansion on Draconia.''

''I'm busy right now. I can come later?'' he answered.

The older woman shook his head. ''That won't do. Your grandmother asked me to tell you: Get your ass here and explain why my daughter is being sick.''

''Don't they know she's pregnant?'' he questioned with narrowed eyes.

Brooke giggled while shaking her head. ''Sia wants to tell them when you're there. She's too nervous and thinks Albert will explode.''

Archer sighed before opening a Gate back to his grandparents' home on Draconia while turning to Aeris. ''Want to come with me?''

She nodded with a bright smile as the three stepped into the portal, reappearing in the garden of the Silverthorne mansion. Brooke giggled before offering a playful warning. ''Albert is in full panic mode, so don't take anything he does personally.''

The older woman became serious as she finished speaking. ''He thinks she's dying and, well... sorry to say this Little Light, but Larka's there too. I can get rid of her if you wish?'' Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

''Who's Larka?'' Aeris suddenly asked.

Brooke glanced at her with her narrowed green eyes, but Archer answered. ''My mother, but it's fine, as Sia is more important now.''

''That's good. Stay strong and I'm only a moment away, Little Light,'' the brunette said while kissing him before vanishing.

Following that, Aeris grabbed his hand as the duo approached the entrance and was met by a man he hadn't seen in a while who resembled Father Christmas but was muscular, which made him smile.

''Long time no see, Grandfather. How have you been?'' he asked.

The older man didn't respond as his blue eyes burned with rage before he lunged forward as quick as lightning, gripping Archer by the collar with both hands in a fit of desperation and anger.

''Why haven't you healed my daughter, you little shit? Too busy playing king or husband to your one hundred women to bother about her?'' he exclaimed as his face went red. ''Don't think I won't beat you if anything happens!''

'Huh?' the old man baffled Archer, causing him to grow angry. 'What is this stupid human on about?'

But he reined in his anger, refusing to harm the old man who had shown him kindness. Amusement flickered across his face as his dragon eyes glowed, a silent reminder of the power he held.

''Tell me, Albert… do you truly wish to attack me?'' His voice was calm, yet carried the weight of unshakable authority. ''I understand your emotions are running high, but Sia is fine. It would be wise not to let panic cloud your judgment.''

As he said this, a shadow descended onto the Silverthorne guards, who were slowly surrounding him as Aeris got to work and made sure they couldn't move. A chilling atmosphere descended upon them as Albert finally spoke in a low voice after letting go.

''What's happened to you, boy?'' he asked with a confused expression.

''Well, when you've been tortured and hated by the entire world, it changes you, old man,'' Archer replied, his voice steady but laced with anger.

He took a step back, his eyes narrowing. ''Now, show me to Sia or I'll butcher your guards for thinking about attacking me.''

Albert looked visibly shocked but nodded. ''Follow me.''

Afterward, the three of them walked through the mansion and Archer noticed the maids were staring at him with wide eyes as they stopped working to gossip. Aeris quickly covered his body with her wraith form as her voice sounded in his mind.

'I'm going to stay hidden, handsome,' she said in a suspicious tone. 'I'm sorry, but there was a gleam in your grandfather's eyes that I didn't like.'

'No problem,' he replied while strolling down a long corridor.

Albert turned to him after glancing around with a confused expression plastered on his face. ''Where did that young woman go? And was she one of your lovers?''

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