Lucifer: Godless Reawakening-Chapter 261: A new face

"I am so fucking stupid," William muttered, staring at the ring resting on the table before him.

Loid hummed lightly. "What happened? Did you forget to give it to her?"

William nodded.

Then his face dropped flat onto the table with a dull thud, making Loid flinch.

"H-Hey, why are you reacting like that? You can give it to her anytime. I’m sure she’ll be delighted."

William groaned into the wood.

He had bought the ring a few days ago while they were at the Tower. Early the next morning after they arrived, he had gone out for a run and bought it.

And then... he forgot to give it to her.

Stupid. Absolutely stupid.

"Guh! I promised her there would be a ring on her finger by that day... and it’s already been three days!"

He knocked his forehead against the table again, nearly sending the ring sliding off the edge.

Loid chuckled and took the seat across from him. "I’m sure she’ll understand. You two are practically inseparable."

Loid knew William had been swamped lately. First the Great Hall incident, then the sudden summons from the Central Ministry. He did not know what they wanted, but it had to be serious for William to leave on such short notice.

William finally lifted his head, frustration still etched across his face.

"Doesn’t matter," he muttered. "No matter how messed up the world gets, I can’t forgive myself for forgetting something that concerns her."

His gaze softened as he looked at the ring again.

"She’s the only exception."

Loid fell silent after hearing those words. Forget a girl, even he felt his heart skip at the depth of William’s devotion.

Leaning back in his chair, the pink-haired boy tilted his head. "What... makes you so in love with her?"

William gave him a look. "What’s with the sudden curiosity?"

Loid chuckled softly. "I just want to know if what I feel toward Miss Natalie is actually love... or if I’m just attracted to her."

William folded his arms and thought for a moment.

"Love was new to me too," he admitted. "So I can’t say what everyone else feels. But for me... even being away from her for a few hours feels like days. Hearing her voice, even when she’s scolding me, makes me want to listen more. And when I touch her... it calms me. It reminds me that the person I cherish most is safe and standing right beside me."

Loid had rarely seen William speak so openly. It made him realize how much trust William placed in him.

Seeing Loid smile quietly, William raised a brow. "What about you? You said Natalie rejected your dinner invitation. Are you giving up already?"

Loid shrugged, though there was no bitterness in his expression. "I don’t know. After hearing you, I don’t want to force anything or push my will onto her. I’ll wait. If our paths cross again, then maybe. If not... then we’ll just keep walking our own ways."

William hummed softly.

He knew Natalie had feelings for Kevin. This road would not be easy for Loid. Still, he had said what he could. The rest depended on Loid’s resolve.

....

"Guilty," Emma whispered, pointing a finger at her lover. "Plea rejected. Guilty," she repeated with quiet authority.

William sniffled dramatically. "My memory is comparable to a squirrel. Please, love, forgive me just this once."

They were in the library, so he kept his voice low, leaning closer as if confessing a grave crime.

Emma gave a casual shrug. "I also forgot I ever asked for a ring."

She lowered her gaze to her book, pretending to read. In truth, she was only teasing him.

William, however, was sincerely remorseful. He shifted from his seat and sat beside her.

"Emma, please listen to me," he whispered. "I know I promised you a ring, but then those Ministry officials came out of nowhere and completely distracted me."

She slowly looked up at him, one brow raised.

"So I come second to your duties toward humanity?"

William’s lips parted, but no sound came out. He looked like a fish gasping for air.

Emma finally broke, turning fully toward him.

A faint smile curved her lips. "Are you truly regretful?"

William nodded immediately. "From the bottom of my heart. I rarely go back on my word, but this... it genuinely slipped my mind."

He picked up the ring, holding it carefully between his fingers.

"So please, forgive this idiot and accept my proposal."

Emma hummed thoughtfully. "I was expecting a better setup. But I suppose this will do."

She extended her hand toward him.

William smiled, tension finally easing from his shoulders. He took her hand gently and slid the ring onto her finger with deliberate care.

"Even if this ring carries no grand history," he whispered, "I still want to promise that I’ll stand by you. In every circumstance. Through every hardship."

Emma’s smile softened.

"I wouldn’t expect anything less from my husband," she replied quietly.

William leaned closer, unable to hide his happiness.

Emma glanced around the library. People were scattered nearby, but the thought of pulling away never crossed her mind. Instead, she lifted her book before her face.

Hidden behind its cover, their lips met in a brief kiss.

The book shielded them from wandering eyes, its pages trembling slightly in Emma’s hand.

William’s fingers tightened around hers, careful yet unwilling to let go. The kiss lingered longer than intended, soft at first, then deepening just enough to make her breath hitch.

He shifted closer, his free hand brushing lightly against her waist, as if letting her know how much he craves her. The world beyond the thin wall of paper faded into silence. No whispers, no turning pages, no footsteps across the wooden floor.

Just him and her.

Emma tilted her head slightly, allowing him closer. The kiss grew slower, heavier with emotion rather than hunger. It was not desperate. It was want.

William finally pulled back just enough for their foreheads to rest together, still hidden behind the book.

"I love you, Emma."

Her cheeks were flushed, a smile arching the corner of her lips as she muttered, "I love you too, Will."

She once cringed even imagining herself saying those words.

However, now that he was truly in love, speaking those words felt natural.

Just then, a sudden commotion echoed through the corridor outside.

Emma slowly lowered the book. Both of them turned toward the sound of hurried footsteps and rising voices. Students were rushing past the library doors, clearly heading somewhere with urgency.

William tilted his head. "What’s going on with them?"

He closed his eyes briefly and focused.

Panic and excitement made thoughts louder, easier to grasp. He listened.

[An instructor is getting thrashed?!]

[Damn, this is going to be fun!]

His brow lifted.

"What is it?" Emma asked, puzzled.

William opened his eyes and shrugged. "Seems like someone’s beating up an instructor. Want to go take a look?"

Emma considered for a second, then hummed. "We’ve been studying for quite a while. A short break won’t hurt."

William grinned.

And just like the others, they rose from their seats and stepped out of the library, curiosity guiding their pace.

They moved with the crowd. The closer they got to the gymnasium, the denser the flow of students became.

Whoever was inside had clearly done something extraordinary.

But who?

"I heard some students were starting their mid-term sparring sessions today," Emma muttered. "This can’t possibly be about that... right?"

William gave a small shrug. "Only one way to find out."

They entered the stands moments later.

Like everyone else, they immediately saw the source of the uproar.

Two figures stood inside the arena.

One was young, a wooden sword resting loosely at his side, eyes closed as if he were merely waiting.

The other was unmistakable.

Garis, the first-year combat instructor.

Yet unlike the student, Garis looked battered. Bruises darkened his skin. Cuts marked his arms. His wooden sword had been snapped cleanly in two.

He was barely upright, breathing heavily as he faced the boy before him.

William frowned.

His gaze shifted to the student.

A lanky young man, likely younger than William. Long ashy-grey hair flowed down to the middle of his back. His posture was relaxed, almost casual, but confidence radiated from him without effort.

Just then, Garis made his move.

With a strained shout, he lunged forward and swung the broken wooden blade at the young man.

But the counter came before the strike could even land.

"Ghuk!"

Garis cried out.

The student’s arm had barely shifted, just a subtle motion, almost as if he predicted it. Yet in the next instant, the instructor’s elbow jerked into a grotesque angle, as if struck by something heavy and precise.

A blunt impact.

Clean and just enough to end things.

The broken sword slipped from Garis’ grasp.

Gasps rippled through the stands.

"Woah... did you see that?"

"No. He was too fast."

"I’ve never seen an instructor get humiliated like this."

"So he’s the rumored transfer student from the North?"

"Damn... he’s strong."

The ashy-haired boy remained still after the strike, wooden sword hanging at his side, eyes still closed.

As if the fight had never demanded his attention in the first place.

The other instructors came and said something to the student before taking Garis away.

The grey-haired boy turned and finally opened his eyes.

Those eyes were locked on William.

There was no confusion in it.

William rolled his eyes, "I feel a headache heading my way..."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Every comment and review helps. I might not reply to them but I read each one of them. So, thank you.