At Ayana’s house.It was night time, and though everyone was sleeping, Ayana was sitting outside the main door, waiting for Ulmer to return.Two squirrels were playing in the distance, scurrying up and down the trees, but Ayana couldn’t be bothered to even glance at them right now.With wet eyes and a sad, dull look on her face, Ayana waited. She hadn’t eaten anything, but her hunger pangs didn’t bother right now, either, because her worry dominated everything else right now.Every second felt like a long time for her, and it wasn’t easy to sit there alone, not knowing if Ulmer will return or not. She wanted to cry, but she tried not to. She clung onto the hope that Ulmer would surely return.As time kept passing, she saw someone walking down the road. It was a junior officer, who was making a public announcement in the middle of the night, saying, “The dragon of doom has returned. The emperor is fighting that great dragon, but everyone is advised to stay inside their homes and not co
Dustin and Robin also woke up because of the announcement the junior officer had made in the middle of the night.Ayana was yet to tell them that Ulmer’s clone had disappeared. They were under the impression that she sent him out on some small mission, and that he was being late.As it started to rain heavily, Robin saw that Ayana was now sitting outside under a tree. She quickly came to Ayana and said, “He’s going to come back, so you should come inside. Eat and get some sleep.”“I will be waiting here,” Ayana replied.“In the rain? For how long?” Robin asked, covering her eyes with her hand. “Do you think he’d want you to not eat and sleep? I’m happy that you love your husband and miss him so much, but it’s not like he’s gone on a long mission. He’s going to come back soon. He told us that himself. Don’t you trust his words? Don’t you believe in his strength?”Robin’s words made Ayana remember that Ulmer’s clone was able to fool Alveron, so how could anyone easily kill such a guy? E
A bolt of lightning fell and hit the big tree that Robin and Ayana were sitting under. It happened so suddenly, and the tree burned and split in two and fell on either side of the mother and daughter, leaving them speechless and out of breath.The bowl in Robin’s hand had long dropped, and she looked at her daughter in shock.The shock on both their faces soon turned to amazement, as the wooden tree that had fallen on the ground was still burning. Had that tree fell on top of them, they would have both died for sure.Both of them looked up at the sky, ignoring the rain crashing on their faces, and thanked God with tearful eyes for protecting them, and then Robin took her daughter and ran into the house just as Dustin came out to check on them.Somewhere else in Syslon.Ulmer was on his way returning to his home, but then heard a cry from below. He couldn’t ignore that cry and came down to that spot, where he saw an old lady had just fallen to the ground and bruised her knee.All the w
On his way, Ulmer thought about his grandmother. He wanted to meet her and see how she was doing.“They would have known by now that parents and sisters have died,” he thought, frowning. “I would be considered a runaway or something. Would my uncle stop caring for my grandmother now?”When Ulmer’s dad was still alive, Ulmer’s uncle kept his emotions in check and treated their mother with just enough care. Now that Ulmer’s dad was no more, who would question him if he were to treat their mother poorly?Ulmer still didn’t forget the big fight his dad and uncle had over splitting property and more. They even attacked each other physically.“Should I send a clone to check on my grandmother?” Ulmer wondered. “What do you think, Dove?”[If it’s going to help you be at peace, then you should do so.] Dove opined.“Mm…” Ulmer then made a clone of himself and made it go through a portal. “I hope Grandma is still safe. I will see what’s happening with her. If it’s necessary, I’ll bring her away
“My son died because of you and your family,” Francis growled with tearful eyes. “I will send you and your family off to where my son is resting!” He rushed toward the house along with seven more men.Dustin locked the door, but what could a door do against people who were in level tens and twenties?They managed to easily break through the door. Dustin tried to stop them by pushing a table against them, but they broke the table and then slashed their knives and swords t him with no mercy whatsoever, causing his blood to spray all around.Robin and Ayana rushed out of their room and screamed in horror to see Dustin getting ruthlessly attacked.Francis saw the two women and glared at them. His gaze especially fell on Ayana. “Ayana Revers… I’m going to cut you to a thousand pieces tonight!” He leaped toward her and viciously slashed his butcher knife.Robin jumped into his path, and she was struck down by his knife.“MOM!” Ayana howled in absolute horror because Robin’s gut was split op
Ulmer sent a clone to talk with the local officers, and they came to take Francis and the dead bodies of other men away.Because Francis and the other men were found inside Dustin’s property, with knives and other things, the officers told Ulmer that no case would be filed on them because Ulmer killed these people to save his own family. And that this would be considered an act of self defense.However, Ulmer was told that he’d still need to attend for interrogation by higher ups just to help with finishing the case report.The officers didn’t dare to disrespect Ulmer because the news of Ulmer reaching the final round and then defeating Vincent had already spread throughout most parts of the empire.As a result, Ulmer had already become a famous figure. On top of that, the fact that Ulmer made a deal with the emperor to give the rights to own pets to commoners was also greatly appreciated by the common people. His efforts moved their hearts, though not enough to come and directly meet
After Ulmer assured her that things would become clear after a few days, Ayana raised his hand and pressed it against her cheek.Her eyes turned wet. Ulmer saw that and pointed at the sky, where the moon was still visible because it was still three at night.“Can you hear me, Moon? Can you hear me, stars? Can you hear my heart?” Ulmer said. “If you can, then please shine a bit more and make my wife smile a little.”“She’s a little baby, so don’t leave her alone, or you’ll be scolded at by everyone,” Ayana replied as though speaking in the moon’s stead.“Next time, ask the moon, stars, and the wind where I am,” Ulmer said, “and they will tell you.”Cold wind blew past their faces and tickled them. The stars twinkled in the sky, and a faint smile bloomed on the moon’s lips.“If they won’t tell me, then what?” Ayana quickly asked.“If they won’t answer you, then that’s their loss,” Ulmer said. “After all, they’d be losing a soft-hearted friend whose smile can brighten anyone's mood.” He
Later that morning.The news spread all around the empire that the emperor had defeated the dragon. Though he couldn’t bring the head of the dragon back, he did bring one of its horns, and a few of its scales to display them to the public. Even if he hadn’t brought these items, no one would have doubted the emperor’s words.After all, the emperor had built himself such a reputation over the years, having put his life on the line for the sake of the empire many times.On top of that, the injuries that the emperor suffered during his fight were also proof enough as to how intense the battle could have been. No one doubted for a second that the emperor might be lying.Emperor Dylan never said he defeated the dragon. He only told them, “The dragon of doom is no more.”And people understood it however they wanted. They believed that the emperor managed to defeat it somehow. Though it was beyond what they were expecting, they didn’t doubt him.Drake, the former high knight, kneeled and bowe