“Who exactly are you?” Evelyn, having received Hades’ power and reaching the peak of a mid-level Soulmancer, should have been extraordinary in strength, but her full-powered strike couldn’t even shake William.
What level had William’s power reached?
“I am William, but I am also Arthur,” William said frankly, not bothering to conceal it, “But you are not Guinevere.”
Evelyn withdrew her fist, her gaze on William shifting constantly, her mind in turmoil as complex memories intermingled.
“I… I am Morgana!” Evelyn furrowed her brow, deeply entrenched in her memories.
William, however, said, “You are Evelyn. Morgana died over a thousand years ago, and it’s now the twenty-first century.”
Evelyn’s mind reeled, staring fixedly at William, her expression immensely complicated.
“You’re Arthur?”
“Yes!”
“Do you also have memories of reincarnation?”
“No! I am Arthur; I never died,” William spoke calmly, “You should prepare a grand funeral for Nathaniel.”
Evelyn couldn’t wrap her head around it, saying incredulously, “Does that mean… you’ve lived for over 1500 years?”
From the medieval period to now, isn’t that over 1500 years?
William didn’t answer her, instead saying, “All that is not important anymore.” Matters from the medieval times had long passed, and William had had many identities. If he continued to dwell in the past, wouldn’t his thoughts become even more chaotic?
Periodically entering a state of dormancy, severing the ties with a past life, and then continuing anew under a different identity.
“Did Grandpa commit suicide?” Evelyn took a deep breath and asked, “Do you know why?”
“I don’t know,” said William. “If you need my help with arranging your grandfather’s funeral, just tell me.”
“There’s no need!” Evelyn paused before saying, “Thank you for your care for me and my grandfather before, from now on, we need not associate with each other!”
“Alright,” William asked, “You’re not thinking of harming Lucy, are you?”
Alice, who was beside them, was utterly dumbfounded by the conversation. Was her master Arthur?
Is it really the Arthur from medieval legends that we’re talking about here?
The one referred to as King Arthur?
And why does Evelyn want to kill William, and why does William ask her whether she intends to harm Lucy?
Alice came over early in the morning and was completely baffled.
Evelyn was silent for a moment and then said, “Don’t worry, Lucy will always be my best friend. I’m strong enough now, and it doesn’t matter whether I get stronger or not.” As she said this, her gaze towards William grew even more complex.
Getting stronger no longer mattered to her.
After all, even if she perfected the ability from the forgetting ritual to its utmost, she likely still wouldn’t be a match for William.
William was actually Arthur. With her memories of Morgana, she wanted to enhance her power by severing emotional ties, which meant she had to kill William to make perfect use of the forgetting ritual. Yet, she simply couldn’t kill William.
This is undoubtedly falling into a vicious cycle.
Just as William had said, if she couldn’t kill him, even killing Lucy would be meaningless.
After a while, a stretch Lincoln pulled up in front of Nathaniel’s house. Many neighbors came to gawk, not yet aware that Nathaniel had died.
Evelyn, carrying her grandfather’s body, got into the car, ignoring any questions the neighbors asked.
“William, what’s happened to Nathaniel?” Theo Hughes, sitting across from William, asked with some concern. He and Nathaniel had been neighbors for decades and he had watched Evelyn grow up. He was still getting used to the sudden move of Evelyn taking Nathaniel away.
Without hesitation, William said, “He passed away.”
When people get old, they will eventually die one day. I believe Theo is also mentally prepared for this. Among several old friends, there’s always someone who goes first.
“Just the day before yesterday Nathaniel was saying we’d go fishing together today. Now, there won’t be any fishing, and we’ll be one buddy short for our poker games.” Although Theo can accept the fact, he inevitably feels a sigh of regret.
William said, “Another day, I’ll join you for fishing.”
William said, “I’ll accompany you fishing another day.”
“Let’s make it another day then. Do you know where Nathaniel’s funeral will be held?”
“I’ll take you there tonight,” William knew that Theo didn’t have Evelyn’s contact information.
The news of Nathaniel’s passing spread quickly among the nearby neighbors, and the neighbors all thought about attending the funeral to send Nathaniel on his last journey.
In the evening, William got through to Evelyn on the phone.
“Where are you?”
“Hadn’t we agreed not to contact each other anymore?”
“The neighbors all wish to attend your grandfather’s funeral to bid him farewell on his last journey,” William said, directly addressing the matter.
Evelyn eventually didn’t refuse, realizing that her grandfather would probably want his old friends to be there to see him off one last time.
Nathaniel’s funeral was held in New York and was a remarkably grand affair, unprecedented in the past few decades. Evelyn hadn’t issued any formal invitations, yet luxury cars were lined up in a long queue outside her residence, indicating that virtually all of New York’s elite had come to pay their respects to Nathaniel.
Her residence was carpeted with wreaths of mourning, densely packed, filled with grief.
Theo Hughes looked at all this and couldn’t help but smile: “Nathaniel’s send-off is truly extraordinary, it seems that the granddaughter he worked so hard to raise is now deeply respected by all.” Indeed, the scene was so large it seemed as if thousands had come to Nathaniel’s funeral.
Little Amy, holding William’s hand, seemed contemplative upon hearing her grandfather’s words.
Evelyn’s mansion was quite spacious, and she chose not to hold the memorial service in an external hotel but directly at her home. She had invited some chefs to prepare simple snacks and beverages inside the mansion to serve the guests.
William offered a wreath for Nathaniel and paid his respects at the ceremony, after which he and his companions were led to the front row seats.
Although the guests at the surrounding tables were dressed to the nines, some even quietly discussing business deals, the food was not the focus—most were merely tasting a few bites, mainly to honor Nathaniel.
Meanwhile, William, compared to the people at the neighboring table, was dressed less formally.
After the meal, Amy and the other children ran off to play in the garden, with William following closely behind, ensuring that even in this somber setting, the children could find some joy.
Evelyn’s estate was truly fitting for habitation, with its lawns and recreational facilities everywhere, including swings, a swimming pool, and a barbecue area, which made guests feel warmly welcomed.
In the backyard, William took little Amy by the hand to the swings and began to gently push her.
A regally dressed middle-aged woman approached them, followed by a young boy who appeared to be about Amy’s age and a “demigod.”
“Are you William?” The middle-aged woman was Evelyn’s mother, Lauren. She looked at William and Amy and asked, “Is this your sister?”
William glanced at her and replied, “She’s the neighbor’s kid, but you might as well think of her as my sister.”
“How adorable!” Lauren said with a smile. “William, I’ve heard some things about you. Stay away from my daughter in the future, or I can’t guarantee the safety of you and your ‘sister.'”