“I found it years ago, my dear,” Nagmora said.Nagmora's revelation left Lyra speechless for a moment, her eyes widening in surprise. "Is it true? Where is he now?" she asked eagerly, her curiosity piqued.Nagmora's smile softened, tinged with a hint of sadness. "He passed away from an illness," she replied quietly, her gaze drifting to a distant memory.Lyra's hand flew to her mouth in shock. "S-sorry, I didn't know," she stammered, feeling a pang of remorse for bringing up such a painful topic.Nagmora waved off Lyra's apology with a gentle smile. "That's okay. We shared extraordinary times filled with love. I regret nothing.” Then her smile widened. “He also gave me another love that I never imagined before. A love that still accompanies me to this day," she said.Lyra's eyes widened in realization. "You mean… a child?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.Nagmora nodded, a tender smile gracing her lips. "Yes. You've already met her at the front," she said.Confusion flickered
"I think you've got the wrong person," Sam attempted to reason, hoping to defuse the escalating tension."Don't try to deny it, you kidnapper!" Thymos retorted, his voice dripping with accusation.The tension crackled in the air as the knight's leader drew his sword, his companions followed suit. Sam's muscles tensed, his senses sharpening as he assessed the situation. It seemed they had been mistaken for kidnappers, a charge that Sam found perplexing.As the accusations flew, Lyra leaned in to whisper to Sam, her voice barely audible above the mounting commotion. "I think I know them. He might be Sir Thymos, Klothos's cousin."Sam's brows furrowed in concern. If they were indeed connected to Lyra's past, the situation was bound to escalate further. He felt a surge of protectiveness towards Lyra, knowing that he would do whatever it took to keep her safe from harm."Don't be afraid, Princess Lyra. We will rescue you from this warlock," Thymos declared, his tone resolute.Sam's jaw tig
The clash between Sam and Thymos was like a tempest unleashed upon the alleyway, a symphony of power and fury that reverberated through the air with each resounding blow. Thymos's sword sliced through the air with deadly precision, while Sam's aegis shimmered with an ethereal light, deflecting each strike with effortless grace. The energy and power clashed heavily, sending shockwaves rippling through the air and crackling lightning dancing amidst the chaos.Each of Thymos' attacks actually destroys the aegis Sam summoned. But Sam's strategy was simple yet effective. Every time Thymos's blade struck his aegis, he summoned another shield in its place, creating the illusion of a continuous barrier that seemed impenetrable to Thymos's relentless assault.Thymos, in turn, darted around the battlefield, his movements fueled by rage and desperation as he sought to find an opening in Sam's defenses. But Sam was always one step ahead, his quick reflexes allowing him to cover an
The group split up again, each man going his own way, including Dion. Sam and Lyra followed Dion, hoping for a chance to approach him discreetly.“How do we approach him?” Sam murmured, glancing nervously at Dion's retreating figure.Lyra shrugged, then suddenly quickened her pace and bumped into Dion from behind, feigning clumsiness. Dion instinctively reached out to steady her, his expression shifting from surprise to recognition as he realized who she was."Lyra!" Dion exclaimed, tightening his grip on her shoulder before pulling her into a warm embrace.Lyra winced, squirming slightly in discomfort. "Stop it, Dion! It's embarrassing!""Embarrassing? What are you talking about? We were worried sick about you!" Dion protested, his concern evident in his voice."Really? Then why didn't you guys send a search party to find me?" Lyra retorted, a hint of sarcasm lacing her words."We did. Father even asked Uncle Gregory. But Klothos
"Yeah, he's so stubborn," Dion agreed, a hint of amusement in his voice.Lyra nodded in agreement. "So... would you keep this a secret from him?"“Yes, I will,” Dion replied solemnly.Lyra smiled and wrapped her arms around her brother. “Thank you, Dion!”“Can I join the family hug?” Sam chimed in, a playful grin on his face.Dion sighed. “I really hate him, Lyra,” he muttered, though there was a hint of affection in his voice.Lyra chuckled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. It seemed that their conflict had been resolved with a newfound understanding from Dion.“So, what are you doing here? Did you and your men come searching for me?” Lyra asked, curiosity piqued.Dion's expression shifted suddenly, a hint of awkwardness creeping into his demeanor. “N-no, it was actually something else,” he said, avoiding her gaze.“What? I went missing, and you weren't looking for me?” Lyra exclaimed, disbelief evident in her voice.Dion cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Well, you
The ice warlock tried to save his friend, shooting ice lances at Sam, but Sam was too swift to hit. With each step, Sam's heart pounded with adrenaline, his senses heightened as he focused on the task at hand. He kept dashing forward, his determination unwavering, until he was within striking distance of the tentacle warlock.With a fierce battle cry, Sam unleashed a barrage of demonic punches, each blow fueled by his inner power. The tentacle warlock struggled to defend himself, his regrown tentacles thrashing wildly in a desperate attempt to fend off the relentless assault. But Sam's strikes were relentless, each one finding its mark with deadly force.Meanwhile, Lyra focused her attention on the two warlocks that Dion had crippled earlier. With a steady hand and unwavering aim, she let loose a volley of arrows, each one finding its mark with deadly precision. As her arrows struck true, the darkness spell surrounding the alley began to dissipate, allowing Sam and Dion to see their e
Dion's expression softened, his gaze meeting Sam's with a reassuring smile. "It's exactly to give Lyra a more free life outside of the noble business that I've worked my ass off following in my father's footsteps," he explained. "If only I had more power and influence, I might be able to cancel her arranged marriage too. But this will work too. Being kidnapped by a warlock is a nice excuse for her to be excluded from any royal politics."Lyra listened quietly, her heart swelling with gratitude for her brother's unwavering support. It was in moments like these that she truly realized how much Dion had done for her."Well, my sister has chosen you, and I think she has chosen the right man for herself, after all," Dion said, his voice filled with warmth and affection."I feel honored to be with her," Sam replied, his tone sincere."Still, you're on a dangerous quest, and I know I won't be able to stop her either," Dion continued, his expression serious. "So, I hope you can keep her safe
The cart rumbled along the winding road with Sam and Lyra settled into their seats, eagerly anticipating the adventures that lay ahead. The landscape shifted around them, morphing from the bustling cityscape of the Archmagia to the tranquil countryside that stretched out before them.With each passing mile, they were drawn deeper into the heart of the land, their anticipation mounting with every twist and turn of the road. The journey was not without its challenges, as they encountered rough terrain and inclement weather along the way. But Sam and Lyra faced each obstacle with determination, their spirits buoyed by the promise of what lay ahead.Finally, after days of travel, they arrived at their first destination—a quaint town nestled between the Archmagia and Aethereon. The town bore the name of Whitewood, its cobblestone streets lined with charming cottages and bustling market stalls.Then, they disembarked from the cart. Sam and Lyra were greeted by the friendly faces of the town