A Villainess Should Be Strong

Estelle had wished to visit the strongest dragon in the first place because she had a mission to fulfill. It seemed like it coincided with Theo's affairs, making her even more fired up to finish this case. Theo seemed to have a rather special relationship with the large dragon. Such a powerful entity was connected to this seemingly weak boy in front of her. She deduced that the boy had a special identity. If not, how would he be able to connect with the dragon?

"Well- anyway, it's better if we returned to Tertia's side. She must be super worried, you know? You ran away just like that... Even if you do that often, it is not an excuse. You shouldn't make others worry like that, Theo," Estelle lectured, sighing as she turned around towards the direction they both came from, which was where Tertia's shop was located.

"This is just a curious question.. But do those crooks not know where Tertia lives? How come they haven't knocked on Tertia's door and caused havoc there as well?"

"It's not that they don't know, it's that Tertia hides and protects herself well. When the goons want to try and do something to her, she would always certainly be invisible to their eyes, making them confused at what happened. One second, they could see the woman's figure. The other second, the figure would disappear, making them think that Tertia's real identity was actually a ghost, someone who wasn't from the mortal world. Naturally, they only dared to pick on me. On this specific matter... Actually, Tertia must've already known what I go through day by day, but she is just wanting me to fend for myself. Probably," Theo said, lowering his head.

"I.. see. Well, it's good that she knows how to protect herself. For you, when will you get stronger? If you don't start and polish your strengths, won't you keep falling and falling?" Estelle questioned.

"I.. genuinely want to get stronger. I just don't know how, and the fact that I am.. you know, I am weak not just in physical strength, but in mind too. I don't know where to start, and my mind makes me think that I shouldn't try.. It's fear. I am scared of those who are more powerful than me. I am... weak like that." Theo said, mumbling as he proclaimed his weaknesses.

Estelle sighed, not knowing how to break it down to the young child. From her perspective, she had secretly checked the child's status and found out that he actually had a high core purity. Enough to be a grand magician. Although he was physically lacking, since he was still a dragonkin, if only he came forward and trained his physique then he had a high chance of improving at a rapid state in that segment too. The only thing holding him back was his mentality.

"Theo, if I said that I am willing to teach you, to ask you to get stronger, then will you accept the offer?" Estelle questioned, tilting her head as she extended her hand with solemn eyes.

Theo stilled in his place, staring at Estelle's hand as he looked left and right, uncertainly clearly flashing inside his eyes.

Estelle had done this particular motion way too many times. Extending her hand to someone who was weak and needed pushing to grow stronger than they are right now. Wanting to make others stronger. Of course, they wouldn't be stronger than her. But she believed that collective strength was important, and that one should strive to better the lives of others as well when they stood in an all powerful position. It was up to each person's views, but Estelle wanted the world to progress as well.

One could argue that the world has wronged her many times, so she should just abandon it and leave it be. However, especially after knowing that she was a literal Goddess, how could she bear to do that? Cultivating talented people, who she saw potential in like Theo, Sierra, and the others were the way to achieve success within the whole world.

Thinking about Sierra, she knew that the girl must be full of hatred to her since she once told her that she would tutor the child until she got stronger. All that she left with Sierra were her research materials up until she disappeared. Since she did 'disappear' to Alynthi's people, instead of feeling hatred, Sierra should actually be feeling worried for her.

From Estelle's point of view, the child's hatred towards her should have considerably lessened after she pushed the girl to the right direction. The gifts that she gave before she disappeared completely was also a big part of it.

The research material that she gave to the girl were not simple, and it was a compilation of the greatest knowledges to ever exist in the world as of now. That was the file that was created after many hours of work with her and the talented entourage that she possessed, supporting her claims and beliefs while attaching their own proofs to it.

Sierra was a smart child, as she was a Witch as well. She had special powers. Although she hadn't explored it that far yet, she was sure to be able to find out more about Estelle when the time comes. Sierra's power concerned predictions and surveillance to a certain degree. When she begins to use that power in the right way, then she should be able to figure out Estelle's whereabouts and what she was trying to achieve.

When that time comes, Estelle was curious as to what the child would do. Would she seek for Estelle and chase her down? Or would she seethe in anger as she discovered that all her worries were for naught and that Estelle was actually voluntarily running from Alynthi to go to other places?

There would definitely be a day that Sierra was able to become a respectable researcher like herself and achieve great things. After having seen her potential, she was sure of it.

Besides, she wasn't the only one who had disappeared in the Clareste Dukedom. Alan Clareste, the Duke also went missing. For her. To search for a miracle cure for her disappeared state.

Her only hope was that when someone finally discovers that Estelle had been swapped out, they would ring the news after some time and make Alan hear those breaking statements. If he heard them, then he would definitely return to the Dukedom if he was still safe and sound.

She had actually employed those who she trusted to look for Alan, but there was no news. She knew that Heine was also one of those people, but she was uncertain whether or not he would actually report information back to her if he did find something out.

Although she did love her father, she chose to prioritize her own needs right now. Life. She needed life, and apaprently her life will be hard to sustain if she did not fulfill her missions and defeat her enemies straight away.

Estelle was a difficult person. She was kind, but heartless at the same. Weak, but strong. So many contradictions existed inside the child, making her a very complicated person to decipher.

Theo grumbled. This was a hard choice to him, and he couldn't help but want to run away when put in a position like this, which brought him pressure.

"I.. will have to consider this for some time. Will you be willing to make the same offer if I came to ask you another time?" Theo questioned.

"Well, of course. You are welcome to bring forth your answer for as long as I am in Vaitral. I will tutor and assist you as best as I can, formulate a method that would make you stronger, far stronger than you are right now. Don't you want to see an improved version of yourself? A Theo that stands over the influence of many others, being able to go head to head with other powerful figures?" Estelle enticed with persuasive words.

"That.. means.. if there comes a day when you have to leave Vaitral, you will stop teaching me?" Theo picked up Estelle's meaning and asked.

"We don't know yet. I do have to travel throughout the entire world, so I can't promise you that I will be teaching you for a long time. However, if you did go under my teaching, I will try my hardest to help you. It's a win win situation for you, nothing more," Estelle replied.

Theo nodded, feeling like the only one that was losing was Estelle, whereas he was completely in an advantageous position. There was no reason to refuse the offer that was thrown to him all of a sudden.

"Then.. I think my answer will be a positive one. I don't know yet, though! I will.. think a lot more," Theo said as he walked with Estelle back to Tertia's store.

However, when they arrived back at the store, something unexpected happened.