Now that the sleepers of the forgotten shore, who had all now become strong awakened, had joined Caster, he just needed to worry about the backlash.
He had been preparing for this for a while. Not that he could prepare much.
His preparations included getting close with Seishan to get a favourable impression with Ki Song, making his might public, and make it spread as soon as he leaves the forgotten shore so that no even the sovereigns would rush to kill him.
After all, they don't need to rush. Killing Caster would be just as easy a year later. What Caster planned to do was use Seishan to join Song. As in directly under her. This would make him safe from Anvil, who's likely the only one to try to kill Caster.
Caster just needed to wait and see what happens.
In the meanwhile, Caster said everyone to make to an online chat group on their communicators. It would make it easy to contact later.
Caster didn't need to make a separate one for the lieutenants, because he was connected to all of them.
However, he still made one. It's not like it would be harmful.
After a while, Caster's father, the patriarch of Han Li Clan, Saint Orlan, came to the academy to pick him up.
His father was a saint, who'd probably be put in the middle tier of saints after the chain of nightmares.
Caster looked at him and bowed slightly.
"I greet you, father."
Saint Orlan looked at Caster with a neutral expression before asking:
"Why have you failed the mission?"
The first question he asked his child after returning from the dream realm was about his failure.
He didn't ask about the incredible deeds he did.
He didn't ask about the crazed place he was sent to.
He didn't ask if he was alright.
Caster wasn't particularly surprised. That's how he was from the original Caster's memories. However, the original Caster respected his father to be one of the strongest people in existence, and assumed being strong came with a price... making him detached.
However, this new Caster knows that's not the case. It's just Orlan's nature.
After a slight pause Caster pulled the bow back and looked in Orlan's eyes before coldly replying.
"I simply judged that I needed Changing Star's help to get out of there alive. It's not like killing her as a sleeper is the only time."
After that Saint Orlan smiled at him slightly, before hiding it.
"Do better."
'What... another tsundere?'
"Yes..."
Afterwards, Orlan asked about Caster's deeds at the forgotten shore.
Caster replied honestly, he hid the book of books though, just said that the lightning was another effect of his dormant ability.
Saint Orlan was incredibly surprised to hear about his aspect being divine, because Caster said that it was ascended in the past.
And that was true.
"I simply judged that revealing the nature of my aspect, even to you, would be detrimental to my goal of killing changing star. As she'd become excessively wary of him that way."
That was the excuse Caster used.
And it worked.
After Orlan found out about everything he wished to know, he took Caster to the heart of the Song Domain, to meet Ki Song, who had asked for him.
Caster was terrified. Wondering what would happen.
It'd be great if it works out just as he assumed it would, but there's no telling with these sovereigns.
Caster was taken to the Han Li Clan's citadel, the place he went to a few times in the past when he was just a kid, to get a nightmare seed.
Now, he'd be able to come there anytime.
The first thing Orlan wanted Caster to do was get anchored at their citadel.
Caster wanted to go somewhere else, and he told Saint Orlan that. Orlan still mentioned, its best to anchor here, until you get to anchor where ever he wishes to.
Caster didn't have any grounds to refuse, so he did that.
After that, they travelled through the Song Domain and got to the heart of Ravenheart in about a day.
Soon, they were outside the magnificient Jade palace. It was an incredible sight.
And just like that, he was in front of Ki Song, sitting at her throne.
Upon reaching the massive throne room, Saint Orlan and Caster both knelt down on one knee, and put their a hand on their chests before saying in unison:
"We greet the Raven Queen."
Ki Song simply nodded.
Caster was in anticipation, wondering what her first words to him would be.
"Caster... am I right?"
"Yes."
"Are the talks about you having a divine aspect and multiple cores true?"
Caster and Saint Orlan both got up, and after that Caster replied in a respectful tone.
"That is correct my queen."
Ki Song seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, before she spoke up in a melodious tone.
"I wish to make you a part of Song directly, not as part of a vassal clan..."
'Here we go...'
After that Ki song pause for a moment before continuing.
''...and so I wish to wed a daughter of mine with you.''
Caster had been expecting this. This is the most common way to make someone a part of your clan after all.
This was also the reason why he knew that he couldn't respond to Effie's feelings. It's not like he was against dating her, it was just that his protection mattered a whole lot more.
Maybe after Anvil and Ki Song are dealt with, could he give Effie or anyone else a chance, however he couldn't make her wait either. Because this could take years, if not decades.
"I'm sure you realise how dangerous it is to have that information revealed. So, becoming one with the Song would be exceptionally good for you, because of the protection you'd have... and the fact that most of my daughters have achieved saint status."
Caster was pretending to be in deep thought. He had already decided who he'd marry. But the decision couldn't seem rushed.
When he was thinking about who'd be the best to marry when he was at the forgotten shore, he had decided that it was between Revel and Moonveil.
But, Revel had a flaw about not being able to step in Sunlight, as far as he remembered, so in the end he decided that it'd be best if the partner was Moonveil.
However, he... he didn't have the authority to pick.
"I accept the queen's grace. I would gladly wed into Song."
Ki Song quickly replied after hearing that.
"Then pick who you'd like to wed."
Caster was surprised.
"Pick? I'm allowed to choose between the seven? Shouldn't it be upto them?"
Ki Song gave a heartly laugh.
"Don't worry and just pick. None of them were against it. Not that any of them were proactive about it either."
Caster was pleasantly surprised.
"Then, may I get back to you in a few minutes or maybe more? I'd like to think it through..."
He didn't wish to look like he was hurrying with this decision. He wished to look cool headed and patient. The better his impression on Ki Song, the better his chances of survival would be.
Ki Song nodded.
"You may."
Saint Orlan was simply standing besides Caster, looking at the conversation. Everything was going exceptionally well for them, except the failure of Caster killing Changing Star.
But that seems forgiven, so it was good.
After that Caster and Saint Orlan left the throne room and rested in a guest room.
Orlan spoke up first.
"You've been given an amazing opportunity, Caster."
Caster, on the other hand, was thinking how much he'd just love to refuse the marriage. He didn't want to marry without love. But he had no choice.
Refusing this would just make him an enemy of both the domains.
He had been expecting this...
But he also hated this...
He was saddened at how he couldn't respond to Effie.
He was saddened at how he was forced by fate itself to wed someone he didn't even know.
It was weirder because the person he was going to wed would be a character that he's read about, albeit he didn't know much about moonveil because of her lack of appearances in the novel.
In the end, Caster had already accepted this. His survival takes priority over everything.
Afterwards, he replied to Orlan.
"Indeed, I've been given an amazing opportunity, father."
With a cough, Saint Orlan asked Caster curiously.
"Who are you thinking of choosing?"
Caster gave a nervous laughter.
"Uhh... I'm not that certain, I wouldn't want to hurry with this decision, but currently I'm thinking of Princess Moonveil."
Orlan nodded.
"Great choice, though all of the song sisters would be a great choices."
Caster shook his head.
"I haven't choosen yet, just the one I'm considering the most..."
Caster paused for a moment before continuing.
"...though this all feels weird. I'm certain each of them are at least six to nine years older than me, Seishan... Princess Seishan is nine years older than me."
His father interjected.
"Age doesn't matter a lot if the difference is only this much."
Caster was nearly boiling on the inside.
'Fuck you mean?!'
However, he didn't show it on his face and calmly replied affirmatively.
"Yeah, I suppose that's true."
The insides and outside were in stark contrast with one another.
"I wonder how they would feel marrying a kid nearly a decade younger than them, who's only an awakened for the time being..."
Saint Orlan patted Caster's back, awkwardly. He wasn't used to doing that, at all.
It seems he's proud in his son, and is bringing a change in his attitude.
"Have confidence in yourself. You're likely the strongest awakened in history. Despite being one for only a couple days and not having proper essence control..."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"...because of your seven cores. I bet you can even give some weaker masters a run for their money. Speaking of which, what's your awakened ability?"
Caster nodded simply before replying.
"I'll tell you about it later, father. Let's not keep Queen Song waiting... since I've decided now. I'll choose Princess Moonveil."