"This can be considered a lifelong debt," the leader said, slowly shaking his head as he stared at the map.
"We acknowledge that. Yet, gratitude alone cannot be the reason to give you the seat of Supreme Leader. Leadership requires more than being a saviour; it requires the weight of status and power that the Upper Realm respects."
"By me saving your lives, it doesn't just involve a lifelong debt," William said calmly, his voice cutting through the leader's logic. "If anything, it's considered me paying back a lifelong debt of mine. And don't bother to ask why, as I won't give any answer."
The leader and the entire group of masters in the tent fell into a stunned silence. A single, specific scene surfaced in the leader's mind, the memory of the news he heard about William swearing an oath to protect his daughter. He wondered if this debt William mentioned was tied to her, or something far more ancient.
