It All Started With Lightning Bolt

Departure

William woke up with a huge headache. It was the first time he had been this drunk since he had been born into this world. He still underestimated the power of the wines of this world. They had excellent flavor and were definitely higher in alcohol. There were times when he even suspected that they were magical. Because with the strength of his body, a few bottles of wine shouldn't have had much of an effect.

After rubbing his head for a few seconds, he was able to look around. He wasn't at the inn. He was lying in a bed for at least five people. His head was covered with pillows, and the bed was surrounded by silk tulle. It looked like a noble maiden's room. Looking around, William finally realized that he was in the palace. It was probably the room of one of the previous princesses, and William was buried in prosperity like those princesses.

But when he turned his head and looked to his right, the sight he saw was not pleasant at all. At the right end of the bed and on the floor, all the food and wine he had eaten yesterday could be seen. As a side effect, he had removed whatever was inside. He was not a good drinker in his old life, but the fact that he was like this here made him unhappy. He felt that he had to give up his only pastime to pass the time.

He stood up and yawned for a long time. Then he saw a glass and a jug on his desk. When he approached and smelled what was inside, he saw that it was water. He poured a glass and drank it. Then the stench of his body bothered him. Since he had come all the way to the palace, he had better take a bath. Quickly checking that he was not missing anything, he headed for the door of the room. When he got out of the door, he saw two guards waiting carefully at his door.

William thought his father had tasked them. If he wasn't drunk, he wouldn't need such bodyguards at all, but because he was drunk, he was sure that if someone wanted to assassinate him, he would die quickly.

He asked the guards where the bathroom was.

One of the guards said, “Please follow, sir.” Said. William followed after him. The other bodyguard also left his post now that William has woken up. That was the order they received. 'Until William wakes up.'

The other bodyguard brought him to a place as big as the main hall. This place was like a bathhouse. There was no one inside. William didn't call anyone for hot water. After filling the small pool, he warmed it up enough with his execution sword. Then he took the relaxation bath he had longed for. Since his body was very tense, this bath helped him heal both mentally and physically.

William sprinkled into the small pool from his dimensional bag some aromatic herbs that might be valuable to others. After spending an hour or so in the bathroom, he got out and took new clothes from his dimensional bag and put them on. He felt satisfied when he smelled himself. After parting his hair on both sides, he felt satisfied.

When he came to the main hall of the palace, he saw his father, grandfather, and little Wilson having breakfast with his mother. Seeing his arrival, Wilson and Sophia immediately got up from the table and ran to William.

“Brotheeeeerrr!” “William!” They both hugged tightly. William's eyes watered. He loved his mother and brother more than anything in this world. There was nothing but pure worry in his mother's eyes. She kissed and smelled him many times. William also hugged her tightly. He reciprocated her love. He then picked up Wilson and took him in his arms.

That's when his father spoke. “Come sit down and have breakfast.”

William shook his head, smiling. He then had Wilson sit in the chair next to his mother, and he himself sat in the chair opposite him, next to his father.

After yesterday's meal, he looked at the plate in front of him, and he grimaced. It was not much different from the food at the inn. Meanwhile, Theo saw his face and spoke.

“Everything is not quite settled yet. We're going to have to be patient a little bit." Then he dipped his bread in ordinary chicken eggs.

William really felt remorse at his father's words. He thought he had to do something. He didn't want to give the money he earned by risking his own life, but there was nothing he could do. He didn't want to suffer from guilt. For a moment, he considered his father's words to be emotional exploitation, but he quickly rejected it. His father was an upright man. He wouldn't do that kind of word games.

He did a quick calculation in his head. Giving mid-level soul stones was out of the question. He calculated the low-level soul stones. After revealing what he had given to Master Mo and the Restaurant, he had 87,148 soul stones left. He decided to give half of it. He quickly transferred the soul stones from his dimensional bag into the dimensional bag of one of the princes and handed them to his father. “Father, this contains forty thousand low-level soul stones. This is what I killed and got from towers. Don't worry, I reserved some for myself." He said smiling.

His father's eyes watered. 'My son has grown up.' He thought. With trembling hands, he took the bag. Thedo smiled too. “We can do quite a few things with it.” Said.

Then William decided to go even further. He transferred all the items he deemed unnecessary, including the first prince of a different kingdom he had killed, to prince Jay's dimensional bag. It was almost half full. It also contained combat techniques from all elements, including light magic. He gave it to his family and their soldiers because he thought that he did not need any of these. He did not forget the contracts. For now, his family only had an army of soldiers with fire and metal element affinity. These troops needed to grow in the future, and soldiers using only these two elements were not enough. If they were going to fight creatures, the army had to be human using all kinds of elements.

When he handed the dimensional bag to his father, Theo asked with wide eyes. “How many people have you killed?”

William replied with a smile. “Princes only. Don't worry too much dad, your son is not a murderer. So…it doesn't count.” Said.

Then they continued to breakfast. His mother always cornered him. He asked thousands of questions about what he did in the academy, whether he had found a girlfriend, and so on. William looked like the best goalkeeper in the world as he tried to dodge this question. When Sophia finally realized that he wasn't going to tell anymore, she stopped asking questions.

This time, too, he was overwhelmed by Wilson's questions. But his was more childish. It was about how he beat the bad guys and saved the country. William explained it all with a smile, patiently, and even sometimes standing up and showing off his movements.

After a while, William asked. “Where is Valynn? Why did not she come."

Sophia answered this question. “She must be at my father's house right now. She will come in a few days.” Said.

"It's a shame, I thought I'd see her before I left." William sighed helplessly.

"What? Are you going? Where?" Sophia asked immediately with concern. She had just reunited with her son, and she didn't want to leave until her enthusiasm was satisfied.

William was drinking milk from a glass at the time. With the glass still in his mouth, he looked at his father and grandfather. Then he put down the glass and asked his father. "Didn't you tell?" From his father's quiet face and distressed expression, he knew the answer was negative.

He turned to his mother and spoke with a smile. “I'm going back to the academy, mom. Don't worry, all I want is to get stronger." Said.

Sophia immediately protested. “You've only just come. You can stay a few more weeks. You are already very strong. You should get some rest." It was like she couldn't hold back her tears. Even though she frowned, it didn't make her watery eye and worried face look ugly at all. On the opposite, it added pure beauty.

William felt he had to cut it with a knife. Otherwise, he would have succumbed to his conscience and therefore would have spent a few more weeks here in vain. “Unfortunately, mom, I've made my decision. I will go. But don't worry, I'll be back for sure." He smiled.

Sophia wanted to say something more and dissuade him, but Thedo interrupted her. "Okay, that's enough. If William has decided to go, we can no longer speak. Let him do what he wants. While he still can.” Said.

Sophia could only lower her head and reply in a low voice. "Ok, father." As much as she didn't want her son gone, she couldn't keep him with her forever. Like Theo and Thedo, she knew William's personality. He felt that his son should indeed be a free man. So she has nothing else to say.

After a happy breakfast, it's time to leave. William just wanted to spend some more time with Wilson and play games with him. An hour or so later, Wilson fell asleep and William said goodbye to his family again. This time he was really going. Sophia greeted him with tears in her eyes.

William learned that his horse was at the new campsite. Although he wanted to watch the coronation so much, he secretly gave up waiting for a few more days because he thought it would not be full of majesty. After all, it would be a coronation after a great war. Resources were extremely limited.

William wished that his father and grandfather could stand strong under such limited means, under the same roof, and with the same strength as other kingdoms. Most likely this wouldn't be a problem because the academy and the mage tower also supported this idea.

William retrieved his ruby horse from the newly established campsite behind the capital's palace district. He got on it and headed for the east gate of the city.

The eastern gate still had traces of the war. Especially the smell was not erased. The stench of s**t, blood, and rotting flesh after the deaths were still considered fresh. After William left the east door, he had to hold back his gag reflex. He was beginning to regret taking this bloodline. Wolves were accustomed to the smell, perhaps because it was a natural creature, but it was still a difficult process for William.

He came to the hill where he had previously seen the perfect night view of the capital. He turned his horse and took one last look. It wasn't as perfect sight as he'd expected in the sunlight. 'Now it's just an ordinary city.' he thought. Then he kicked the ruby horse, “Deh!” “ Nieegghh !!” The ruby horse felt his master's emotions. He neighed back at him and sprinted east toward the Academy at full speed.

William didn't want to take the ruby horse with him on his first thought, but since it had served him for many years, he decided to give it a chance. Actually, it would be more accurate to call it an experiment. Because of his success in breeding bloodlines, he wanted to infuse a creature's bloodline into it if he saw fit. He was also curious about the result. 'If I infuse in a horse the bloodline power of the dragon, will it become a dragon-horse?' His thoughts were in this direction. This could be an opportunity or a disaster for the horse, but also a disaster for the world. If he accidentally made a super-strong and bloodthirsty creature, how much sin would he be responsible for? These he would learn in future experiments.

It was almost impossible to read a book on a horse. So he could just pass the time by watching the view around him more carefully. From what he could see from afar, people in villages and towns were happier now. All of them were smiling while working. William was extremely surprised by this situation. Because he couldn't tell if it was because Thedo was so loved or because the old royal family was so hated. What he feared most was that the academy and the wizard tower wanted to use his family as a puppet. But for some reason, he was comfortable about it, meeting the academy director and Arthur. He had them both confirmed as good people.

After a tiring journey, he arrived at the inn near the academy, where he had previously stayed with Sora. This time, it was morning when he arrived, and he was only thinking of having a hot meal and leaving. The inn was very crowded. Before William entered the town, he wore a black robe and covered his head as he saw the academy students pass by. He didn't want his face to be recognized for now.

The innkeeper was happy with the crowd and had hired a new employee. He has now added a few more delicious meat dishes to his menu. William ordered a nice meal and sat down at a table he found empty. William smiled at what he heard as he sat and waited for his meal.

The old men from last time were drinking together again. This time, there were no young ones with them.

The young man's uncle was speaking when William entered. All he could hear was this. “I hope that boy arrives in the capital safe and sound.” Said. The one in front of him, missing two front teeth, answered. “Don't worry, there are no more bandits on the academy path. All warriors use this path. You should pray that he will be recruited into the army." Said.

“I hope it brings glory to our family. I regret not sending him voluntarily earlier. How would we know they would win?" The old man was close. He was thinking, 'I wish I believed those kids.'

William had a happy smile on his face at the time, and his meal had arrived. Even the service at the inn was speedy. Accompanied by various gossip, he ate his dinner and stood up.

Before he left, something occurred to him and he shook his head. He would die if he didn't do this. He came over to the old man and looked at him from the side, slightly opening his face. He put his hand on the old man's shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Old man, I told you." He said and quickly left. He had a satisfied expression on his face.

The old man froze even after William had left. He remembered that face! It was the young master who was said to have killed the princes last time. Rumors from the capital confirmed this. There was even a mention of that 'Young Master' as the new prince in the rumors they heard from the academy students!

He combined all the lines in his mind and came to a single conclusion. The boy just now was Prince William!

With some fear and some excitement, he wanted to turn his head to see him again, even apologize and thank him, but he was so lost in thought that at least ten minutes had passed. William had already mounted his horse and left town.

He had no choice but to sit back with his confused and frozen face. The man with the missing teeth in front of him poked him in the shoulder and said, “What happened? You froze.” He asked.

The old man spoke, still puzzled, pointing his finger at his shoulder. “Prince…William.”

William, on the other hand, was already out of town, on his way to the academy, with a sly grin on his face. He had no other thought but to think that the days would be better after that.