Ancient Empire Calendar Year 1818
After leaving the fairies' village, Ricardo rode his horse for a few hours and arrived at Ashterah City.
The guards at the city entrance panicked when they saw Ricardo.
"Dynasty Heir of Kislavein, where have you been? The entire army was searching for you!"
Ricardo, on his horse, didn't pay much attention to the soldiers' curious looks and spoke in a stern, authoritative voice.
"Calm down and get out of my way."
As the guards stepped aside, Ricardo entered the city. The people were as usual.
"It seems they don't know about my disappearance. On the other hand, it was a great discovery; my mana has increased tremendously. To describe it, it has increased more than tenfold."
When Ricardo reached the Ashterah palace, the guards gathered around him in a panic.
"Dynasty Heir, where were you?"
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," said Ricardo.
As Ricardo walked through the palace corridors, he encountered Marco Ashterah, who looked worried.
"Dynasty Heir!"
Ricardo maintained his composure.
"Calm down, I am fine."
Marco cast a healing spell on Ricardo.
"You really are alright. Where were you? Many legions were searching for you."
Ricardo wouldn't tell what happened to him. He had promised Fairy Queen Yurille not to reveal information about the village.
"Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. Forget about this matter."
Marco was curious, but he wouldn't even entertain the absurd idea of interrogating Ricardo.
"Alright, never mind. We have good news for you, Dynasty Heir."
Ricardo was curious about the news.
"What is it?"
A big smile appeared on Marco's face.
"Your wife, Xiao Meiran Ashterah, is pregnant. You will have another child."
Ricardo was overjoyed but, due to noble protocols, kept his happiness contained.
"Thank you for this wonderful news, Dynasty Lord of Ashterah, Marco. Where is my wife now?"
"In your room, Dynasty Heir," said Marco.
Ricardo asked for permission and headed to his room. A few minutes later, he entered his room.
"Meiran!"
Meiran suddenly turned her head towards the door. When she saw Ricardo, she jumped to her feet.
"Where have you been?"
Ricardo gently held Meiran by the arms and laid her back on the bed.
"Calm down, you're pregnant. We don't want any harm to come to our child."
Meiran calmed down and repeated her question.
"Where have you been?"
Ricardo signaled the servants to leave.
The servants left the room, leaving him alone with Meiran.
"I don't see a problem telling you because I know you can keep a secret, but you must promise me you won't tell anyone."
Meiran nodded in agreement.
"I promise. Now, please tell me, where have you been?"
Ricardo told Meiran about what happened to him and about the Fairies.
"Hmmm, so your mana increased dozens of times? Is this true?"
"Yes," said Ricardo.
Meiran still couldn't believe it.
"Haaa, I don't know what to think."
Ricardo kissed Meiran on the lips and stood up.
"Don't think about anything. Just rest."
Meiran lay on her back and closed her eyes.
"Alright."
As she slowly fell asleep, thoughts troubled her mind.
"If what he said is true, then was I cheated on? Although he could take those girls as concubines into his harem, so it wouldn't really count as cheating. Oh, whatever."
As Meiran fell asleep, Ricardo went to the study.
Ricardo sat down and reviewed the files on the desk.
"The Eastern Lands are slowly recovering. Soon, everything will be very good."
Ricardo looked out the window.
"There's no work to do. Should I read a book?"
Ricardo went to the library and ran into Marco Ashterah again.
"Dynasty Lord."
Marco turned his head when he heard the voice.
"Dynasty Heir."
"What are you reading, Dynasty Lord?" asked Ricardo.
Marco handed the book to Ricardo.
"An old legend about the King of Spirits."
Ricardo asked curiously.
"The King of Spirits?"
Marco began to explain.
The King of Spirits, Runanhaimer, is the king of all Spirits.
He judges the souls of deceased people.
He takes the good spirits to his own Kingdom, Runanheim.
He chains the evil spirits to the darkest part of the depths of the sea and leaves them there until their punishment ends or for eternity.
Ricardo was impressed by the story.
"It's an impressive legend."
Marco continues.
"There's more to it. They say there is a place in this world that leads to Runanheim, and if you go to that place, you can go to Runanheim."
Ricardo thought.
"This Runanheim you mentioned, is it the Realm of Spirits?"
"Yes," Marco answers.
Ricardo pondered.
"Then, was the Realm of Spirits where I fought Ahamenna actually Runanheim?"
"What is the place like that leads to the Realm of Spirits, to Runanheim?" said Ricardo.
Marco began to explain.
"It's at the bottom of a cliff, but it's the longest cliff in the world. At the bottom of the cliff, a tremendously bloody aura spreads, and if you survive that aura without dying, you go to the Realm of Spirits and gain immense power."
Ricardo's interest was piqued when he heard the word 'power'.
"Could you tell me what you know, Dynasty Lord?"
Marco gave the book to Ricardo.
"This is a long story. You enjoy reading, take it."
Ricardo and Marco bid farewell and went their separate ways.
Ricardo pulled up a chair, sat down, and started reading the book. As he read, he lost track of time.
Hours later, when a woman touched his shoulder, Ricardo snapped back to reality. When he turned his head, he saw his concubine.
"Dilara!"
"Ricardo, it's late. Why are you still here?"
When Ricardo checked the time, he realized it was past twelve.
"You're right, it is late."
Ricardo stood up, took the book with him, and left the library.
Dilara spoke in a jealous and subdued voice.
"You've been neglecting me a lot lately."
When they entered the room, Ricardo picked Dilara up, kissed her lips.
"I'm sorry, I've had a lot of work lately."
As the two were kissing, Meiran stood beside them.
"Without me, I see?"
When the two saw Meiran, they smiled, opened their arms, and invited Meiran to join them.
Meiran laughed and stepped between them, and the three of them, as they did every evening, stayed up for hours without sleeping.
The next morning, after Ricardo, Meiran, and Dilara bathed together, Ricardo continued reading the book from where he left off and compared the information in the book with the geography of the Eastern Lands.
"Giskar, appear!"
The Shadow Spirit Giskar materialized.
"Command me, Master."
"Take all my Spirits with you and search for locations matching the information I will give you," ordered Ricardo.
Giskar obeyed the command and, along with the other spirits, began searching the Eastern Lands.
Ricardo, meanwhile, began preparing for the challenge he hoped would make him even stronger.