"I want to ask, are you interested in becoming my disciple?" Aleron asked directly, without any preamble. His demeanor was firm, with no sign of hesitation. He felt no need to hide his intentions in front of this girl.
Aleron glanced briefly at the sky. Far above the Sky Tower, he sensed two powerful presences watching him. Although he couldn't confirm their identities, he felt their auras were only slightly stronger than Lein's. One thing he was certain of—they were not Lein himself.
What Aleron didn't know was that the two powerful figures above the tower were merely two of Lein's clones playing chess.
Two simple chairs flanked a small table with a chessboard on top. The two clones sat leisurely, focused on their game. Beside the table was another filled with fresh drinks and snacks. Occasionally, one of them reached for a cracker or fruit without taking their eyes off the chessboard.
"Check," one clone said, tapping a piece lightly that now threatened the opponent's king.
"Don't get too cocky," replied the other clone. Calmly, he picked up a knight and moved it to block the attack. His movements were precise and calculated.
Amid their game, the atmosphere was peaceful. No one, apart from Lein himself, was aware of the clones' existence. Lein had deployed all his sword clones across various realms of the Divine Sky. These clones acted as his extensions, ready to be activated whenever needed. Even the divine swords Lein had gifted to his most trusted individuals—Nita, the alliance's core members, and Hanes—could transform into clones in dire situations.
Back below, Abigail fell silent for a few seconds after hearing Aleron's question. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes stared at him in confusion. "Disciple?" she repeated, as if to confirm what she had just heard.
"Yes," Aleron replied without hesitation. "You will become my direct disciple. If you agree, reaching the rank of Grandmaster will not be an issue." His voice brimmed with confidence, attempting to capture the girl's attention.
"Grandmaster?" Abigail repeated the term in a confused tone. Her face showed genuine unfamiliarity. She had never heard of such a term before. However, from the name alone, she could infer that it was something extraordinary. Her heart began to stir, though doubt still lingered.
Seeing Abigail's expression, Aleron gave a faint smile and added with a slightly arrogant tone, "You would even surpass the old men behind me." He glanced at one of the elders standing behind him, signaling his confidence that Abigail could outshine them.
Abigail glanced at the old men behind Aleron. Their status panels, which usually displayed someone's power level, only showed question marks. This symbol indicated that their levels were so high that the system couldn't provide detailed information. Abigail swallowed hard, her throat dry. How could someone like her, who hadn't even reached her full potential, have the opportunity to become a Grandmaster as Aleron described?
"But… I don't want to leave the Divine Sky Realm, nor Lord Lein," Abigail said softly, her voice almost trembling. She bowed her head slightly, afraid of offending Aleron, the young man whose powerful aura rivaled Lein's.
Aleron paused for a moment. His mind wandered. He had just realized that those who remained in the Divine Sky Realm were deeply loyal to Earth's people. Their beliefs and loyalty were so strong that leaving this place wasn't an easy decision for anyone. However, before he could respond, Abigail suddenly lifted her face.
"Alright, I accept!" she said with a bright smile, leaving Aleron momentarily stunned.
Aleron looked at her, puzzled. Thousands of ways to persuade Abigail had been carefully planned in his mind, but now none were needed. Just moments ago, this girl seemed hesitant, yet now she accepted his offer with enthusiasm.
"But I must bid farewell to my family first, sir," Abigail added politely.
"Go ahead," Aleron replied briefly, his tone flat. Though his face showed little expression, his mind was racing. He was still trying to understand Abigail's sudden change in attitude. "We'll meet at tomorrow's event."
Behind them, the elders also looked at Abigail with complex expressions. One of them, who had been holding a compass, checked its needle again. The needle trembled with the same intensity as before, confirming that Abigail was indeed the one they were seeking.
Aleron eventually brushed off the incident and continued his journey, leading his group to explore the Sky Tower. "Let's go, Miss Ike," he said curtly, snapping Ike out of her thoughts.
Ike, who had been silently observing from the sidelines, was startled and returned to her senses. She didn't fully understand what had just happened but was confident everything was going well. Quickly, she resumed her role as a guide and led the group toward the Sky Tower.
Meanwhile, Abigail walked to the parking area. She mounted her flying bike, her face lit up with a broad smile. The cool breeze brushing her face felt like the wind of victory. She felt as if she had just discovered an invaluable treasure.
"Lord Lein… Did Lord Lein speak directly to me through my mind?" she muttered joyfully, almost in disbelief. Abigail's cheeks turned slightly red, a reflection of her turbulent emotions. As an 18-year-old girl still in her teenage years, she was naturally one of Lein's admirers on social media.
Abigail paused briefly, her mind filled with questions. "Do I need to meet Miss Nita? At their residence?" she muttered softly, trying to recall the message she had received.
Today, Abigail felt like the happiest person in the world. All her doubts seemed to vanish, replaced by a newfound conviction that her future would be bright and full of promise.
When Aleron invited her to become his disciple, Abigail had initially wanted to refuse outright. The fear of leaving the Divine Sky Realm and abandoning everything she knew was too overwhelming to ignore. But at that moment, Lord Lein's voice suddenly resonated in her mind, calm yet authoritative.
"Accept his invitation. Come to my residence tonight," the voice echoed clearly. Abigail froze for a moment, unable to hide her surprise. Lein had spoken to her directly, something she had only ever imagined happening in her dreams.
Amid her shock, Abigail felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted. Whatever Lein commanded, she knew it was the best decision for her.