In the early morning, daylight unwraps the hues of the world.


    Alex woke up surrounded by two beauties in his arms, looking at their blissful expressions; he couldn''t stop a smile from forming on his face. No matter how many this happened, he couldn''t stop grinning as he loved waking up in the morning surrounded by his loved ones.


    ''''Sigh!"


    Although he wished to stay still and enjoy this moment, he had to leave and start preparing; the emperor would call for him after what he said to Leonst night.


    After gently pushing their arms to the side, Alex got up and headed toward the bathroom.


    The bathroom was a celebration of white and chrome; with thevender in the vase, it was most weing to the senses.


    Alex got ready to shower. The shower wateres as perfect rain, warm and steady, awakening his skin in all the right ways.


    He enjoyed his bathing time for twenty minutes before leaving and got dressed up.


    He went downstairs to take breakfast and meet the others.


    ''''Morning Alex. I hope you did have the time to sleep wellst night?" Maria sent a jab at him as soon as they met, and of course, Alex yed along.


    ''''Of course, I did sleep well. You know my stamina the best.''''


    Maria chuckled and admitted defeat; Gracier felt like this kind of conversation was too high level for her, and thus she didn''t dare to butt in.


    Saeko''s face turned red because, unlike Gracier, who hadn''t understood what the two were talking about, she was quick to catch on to what the two were talking about, after as a royal princess, she received lessons on stuff like these. So, obviously she would know what he meant when he talked about stamina.


    ''''Let''s eat; the others would eatter.'''' Alex dered as he sat on the most prominent chair; Maria sat on his right while Luna on his right, and Gracier sat right after Luna.


    Just as breakfast was about to arrive, one maid came running and stopped right before Alex; the maid kneeled.


    ''''Greetings master, there was someone outside with the name Incursio wishing to meet you.''''


    Before Alex could even ce on word, a ck-haired young girl walked in; she casually sat on one of the avable chairs.


    Alex felt a headacheing; he was drinking his tea, and just as he was about to ask this troublesome girl what she came to do here, Incursio, who was disguising, said something that made him spit his tea.


    ''''Morning, my sugar daddy.''''


    Puff !


    Maria stood up while Luna frowned; both girls wondered what the hell this girl was thinking. They couldn''t understand her; she seemed to be in another timeline than them.


    ''''What the hell are you spouting?" Alex asked after wiping away the tea around his mouth.


    Enjoying his reaction Incursio said, ''''It''s as it sounds, you''re quite smart, and we both know that you understand what I''m saying; let''s talkter.''''


    She disappeared like a puff of smoke after saying what she had to say.


    Alex could have given chase, but he didn''t do that because it would have been pointless to do that; they couldn''t catch her even if they went after her, and even himself wasn''t even sure if he could catch her if she were to decide to hide seriously.


    ''''Let''s eat.'''' He said, bringing everyone''s attention to the breakfast.


    A few minutester, they were done; Alex headed to the pce because Leo, the emperor requested his presence.


    A few minutester, Alex was alone with the emperor in a different throne hall.


    Bulky braziers attached to one side of each of the ten marble columns light up the entire throne hall and nket everything in a warm glow. The paintings of angels and cherubs on the oblique ceiling dance in the flickering light while statues and gargoyles look down upon the te floor of this grand hall.


    A golden rug runs from the throne to the doors and is matched by smaller ones on either side of the hall, while pointed banners with gilded corners on the walls. Between each banner hangs a torch; none but a few have been lit and, in turn, illuminate the statuettes of heroes and legends below them.


    Curtains border slim, colored ss windows colored the same gold as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with impressive needlework and emzoned edges.


    An imposing oak throne sits below a grand chandelier and was adjoined by five smaller and less borate seats for those closest to the royal highness.


    The throne was covered in symbolic illustrations, and fixed on each of the wide armrests was a crystal trident. The fluffy pillows are a dark golden, and these two have been adorned with embellished embroideries.


    ''''This is the second throne hall used for a special asion. Only does acknowledge by the emperor could step into this ce.'''' Leo, the emperor of the Lionheart Empire, Leon''s father said after meeting Alex.


    Alex nodded, feeling pleased; even without exchanging with Leo, he was sure his words would go through; the only thing left was to know how much he needed to concede.


    ''''Greeting emperor Leo.'''' Alex dered respectfully.


    Leo chuckled and stopped him from saying further.


    ''''Let''s talk in another location,'''' Leo said before turning his back on him; he performed a series of hand seals.


    A weak shimmering portal appeared, and Leo walked in. Alex knew to get what he desired, he would have to follow the emperor, and it was what he did.


    He stepped forward through the weak portal that looked like a small pond before. A wonderful world immediately met him. He gently floated above the surface; gravity was not strong here at all like on Mysthia. Thendscape, too, tries to reach for the sky. His immediate instinct was to seek shelter, to find some form of relief from this atmosphere.


    Because of these horrible conditions, he feels exposed and in jeopardy. This world was smooth sailing all across, but it''s a danger you could handle.


    Far behind him, he could smell the sweet scents of creatures of a literally and figuratively different world. There''s definitely some hostility going on; the cautious path would be the best one. He managed to spot thin creatures, flying creatures, and what he thought might be enormous creatures of some sort.


    ''''This is the second lock; let''s keep going,'''' Leo said as he kept going, and Alex followed behind, and soon they stopped, and the emperor performed another hand seals.


    Golden light surrounded them as they were teleported to another location.


    They reappeared in a deserted city, and there was a castle in the distance; this castle was their direction.


    Eight skinny, square towers guard the weakest points of this castle and are connected by enormous, firm walls made of blue stone.


    Simple windows are scattered generously around the walls in seemingly perfect symmetry, along with symmetric crentions for archers and artillery.


    A vast gate with enormous metal doors, a regr bridge, and a moat guards the only ce with water within these hot, drynds, and it''s the only way in, if you can make it, that is.


    Fields of nothingness stretch out outside the castle, allowing us to see peopleing far before they pose a threat. This castle has clearly stood the test of time, and its inhabitants intend to make sure it stays that way for ages toe.


    This castle would have been perfect if there were people inside, but there wasn''t anyone inside it except the two people who arrived.


    Leo and Alex appeared in the secret chamber; floating in the air above the air in the secret chamber was a ck key.


    As soon as Alex saw this key, he felt his blood boiling and his lips curled up to form a grin.


    Finally, he was about to get his second key.


    ''''So, this is what you want?" Leo asked while standing back against one of the seven keys used to seal Bahamut after that fight.


    Alex nodded with a smile.


    Leo sighed; although he heard what Alex told his son, he didn''t know everything; as such, he wished to know the real reason behind Alex asking them to hand over the key they had in their possession. They had been protecting this key for more than a hundred years already.


    Even before he became emperor, so Leo wanted to know what Alex was nning to do once he got the key; he hoped he would exin everything to him.


    ''''What do you want to do with this key? You should know how important this key is. I can''t give it without a satisfactory answer, so once again, I want to know what you n to do with this key.'''' Leo dered after a moment of silence.


    Alex didn''t reply right away; he yed with the coin inside his hand before finally saying.


    ''''I want to screw the Chaos organization up likest time.''''


    He knew with this little information, Leo would be able to connect the dots, and it was exactly what happened.


    After the initial surprise, Leo smiled while asking.


    ''''What do you want to give in exchange?"