“Master?”

When Amelia heard the woman call herself James’s master, she was shocked.

‘She’s his master? This monster?’

She gulped.

Her instinct told her that the woman in front of her was someone who rivaled Rory, which she found scary since to her Rory was the pinnacle of power.

“What?”

The woman said to Amelia after noticing her staring at her.

“Ah, its nothing.”

Amelia said while slowly backing away.

“Hmph.”

The woman didn’t pay Amelia any attention for long and looked at the man shaped hole in the side of the mountain.

“Richard, if he doesn’t come out in three seconds go in and drag him out.”

“As you wish.”

The man called Richard stood beside the woman after hearing her order.

“1.”

*Bam!*

The hole suddenly exploded and James was seen flying out of the mountain.

“I’m out, I’m out!”

He landed in front of his master and said.

“Good. I thought that getting a woman had softened you up.”

Said the woman.

“Hehehe.”

James laughed nervously.

“How could I get soft? I’ll die in a week if I did.”

He said.

“At least you know.”

The woman said while nodding.

She then looked back at Amelia again.

“You, you’re that woman who entered that stupid tournament with Rory.”

She said.

“Her name is Amelia Rosa, Devil King Rory’s rumored lover.”

Said Richard.

“Oh? I’m surprised that Rory let you be alone with Jamie. He must be confident that you won’t leave him.”

The woman looked amused.

“Hmm…..you’re quite the beauty.”

She then started to examine Amelia.

“And you’re a Lodon too. I haven’t met one in this country since the Human Sovereign passed through around two decades back.”

She said.

“Human Sovereign?”

Amelia subconsciously asked.

“What, you don’t know who the Human Sovereign is? Are you from the country side or something?”

“Eh?”

Amelia immediately became irritated when she heard when the woman said. All of her fear towards her disappeared, as she confronted the woman.

“I am. Do you have a problem with that?”

This action slightly surprised the woman.

“Oh? You have guts. I like that.”

The woman backed away and smiled at her.

“James, is she really your master?”

Amelia asked while keeping her eye on the woman.

“Yeah, she taught me everything I know.”

James responded.

“Not only that, she’s the former leader of the military and the one who created the current military program that has produced countless stars.”

“?!”

Amelia was shocked to hear this.

“May I know your name?”

She asked the woman directly.

“My name? Sure, why not?”

The woman replied.

“My name is Serket, people call me the Scorpion Queen.”

“Scorpion Queen….”

Amelia repeated the name. For some reason she could sense that there was a lot of authority behind that name.

She looked at the woman from head to toe again. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t see herself beating the person in front of her.

“Master, I’m here to request something of you.”

“Richard.”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, the servant Richard appeared in front of James and kicked him in the stomach.

“Cough!”

James held his stomach and fell to his knees.

“First, you’re late to our meeting, and now you’re requesting something of me?”

The woman looked coldly at James who was groaning in pain.

“You’ve gotten quite full of yourself today.”

She said.

“……..”

Amelia was shocked by what she saw. This woman called Serket, clearly talked down to the prince and even ordered a servant to punish him. This was unbelievable. Not only that, the servant didn’t hesitate to punish James.

It was as if he respected Serket, more than the royal prince. Also, that kick he hit James with was no joke. Amelia believed that if she was on the receiving end, she would be worse off than James.

“Just who are these two?”

She mumbled.

“Well, I guess that’s enough punishment.”

Serket suddenly said.

“Go ahead. What do you want from me?”

She asked, while waiting for James to get up.

“C-Can you teach her how to create her own Animus?”

James asked.

“You still don’t have an animus?”

Amelia shook her head at Serket’s question.

“Now that’s a bit interesting.”

Serket said.

“Will you do it?”

Amelia asked. This woman was someone who seem to rival Rory, so she was the perfect one to help her.

“Sure, why not? I don’t have anything important to do anyway.”

She said.

Amelia was thrilled to hear her response.

“So do you wanna start now?”

Serket asked.

“Yes, the faster the better.”

Amelia responded.

“I see that you’re eager. Very well, then answer this question.”

Serket smiled and spoke-

“Who are you?”

“Huh? I’m Amelia Rosa. You should know that.”

Serket shook her head.

“No, that’s your name. I’m asking who are you, the physical person.”

Serket went on to say.

“What defines you? What do you live for? What is your ambitions? How do you see yourself?”

Amelia was confused by the bombardment of questions.

“You see, an animus is a projection of yourself. But before you can project yourself, you must first know yourself.”

Serket continued.

“Before creating your animus, you must first get to know yourself. Not only know yourself, but you must accept everything about yourself; both the good and the bad. Only then can you move on to the next step to creating your animus.”

“What’s the next step?”

Amelia asked.

“Visualization and Projection.”

Serket then went on to explain.

“After understanding and accepting yourself, you then focus on what aspect of yourself you want to project and turn it into an attack. After that, the final step is bring that attack to life.”

She said.

“I see…..So I need to start by getting to truly know myself.”

Amelia mumbled.

Serket nodded.

“You can start by asking yourself questions you wouldn’t normal ask yourself, and face the answers no matter how hard they are to face.”

She added.

“You can take your time and do that. This place normally goes undisturbed so you’ll have a peace of mind out here.”

After she said that, she turned her back to Amelia.

“Come, Jamie. Let’s leave her to face her thoughts alone.”

“But…”

“No, buts. You know that you need to isolate yourself when doing something as delicate as discovering your true self. Also, what right do you have to watch her create her animus?”

Serket said to James.

“That would be like staring into her deepest thoughts and watching her expose herself.”

She glared at him.

“Are you the type of pervert that gets a kick out of that?”

“No, ma’am!”

James then chased after Serket.

“Amelia take your time, rushing will only lessen your potential. Dig deep into yourself and leave no issue unresolved.”

Serket said, while walking away with James and Richard.

“There’s wildlife in the surroundings, and a river up ahead. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that no one disturbs you; especially this idiot.”

After saying that, the three disappeared leaving Amelia by herself with her thoughts.

“……….”

She looked around at her surroundings and sighed.

“Accept myself huh?”

She mumbled.

Meanwhile, James was walking with Serket and Richard, heading back to the city.

“Will she be find by herself?”

James asked.

“You really like that girl, huh?”

Serket looked at James and sighed.

“She’ll be fine. I can tell from how she fought in the tournament that she’s really gifted.”

She replied.

“But, Jamie. I advise you to leave that girl alone.”

“Is this about Rory? I’m not afraid of him.”

James said.

“Don’t get cocky, you fool.”

Serket snapped back at him.

“Do you really think that the person who’s always messing around is the real Devil King that became a legend a century ago?”

She spoke with a serious face.

“You don’t know his true face or form. That man is pure destructive evil. If he snaps the only ones that might survive in this kingdom is Richard and myself. Not even your father can stop him.”

Richard who was following behind them smiled for a bit as if agreeing with Serket.

“She’s right, prince.”

Richard spoke.

“If the Devil King really let loose, he can slaughter everyone in this country.”

He said.

“You guys speak like you know him.”

James said.

“Know him?”

Serket smiled.

“Yeah, we know him.”

She said.

“Speaking of which, I think it’s time I pay him a visit.”

“?!”

Rory who was passed out on the lawn of royal yard after a night of drinking, just sat up after feeling a cold chill.

“I have a feeling that a bad omen is heading my way.”

He said while holding his shoulders.