Oravien entered the palace, walking alongside Verina.
"Come on, come on!" Verina urged. "Follow me, Sir Elikear. I'll introduce you to my father!"
Oravien (to himself): Who could her father be? I must know him... but who? This disguise needs to hold... or things could fall apart.
"Alright, alright, of course," Oravien replied.
Verina walked ahead, almost skipping, smiling brightly—she had brought the man who saved her back to her family. But she didn't know that this man… had a past in this place.
As they walked, Oravien looked around. Every glance triggered a memory.
Oravien (to himself, looking at a playroom to his right): This is where we spent most of our time as kids… me, Filmore, Rak, and the others. I still don't know whether to consider that a good memory... or a bad one.
Oravien (looking to his left): That… was my father's room. I never had good times in there… especially when he summoned me.
"We're close!" Verina said. "Just four rooms away from my father's chamber!"
Oravien (to himself): Four rooms… just four? Who is this man?
They kept walking until they reached the intended room.
Oravien (in shock): This… this is the room…
"Welcome back, Verina," a voice said.
Verina rushed forward to embrace her mother.
Her mother looked concerned. "Did something happen to you?"
"There were kidnappers! They tried to take me!" Verina said. "But this kind man saved me! Father has to reward him, Mom!"
"Kidnappers? Saved you?" Lovina asked, surprised.
She turned to Oravien. "Did you really save my daughter? Thank you so much… I don't even know how to express my feelings. My husband will be back shortly, and I'll make sure he rewards you with whatever you wish."
Oravien, a little uneasy, replied: "No… there's really no need for all that. I helped her because… it was simply the right thing to do."
"You think it's that simple?" Lovina said with a gentle smile. "That only proves what kind of man you are. Saving a child from kidnappers isn't something everyone would do. And even those who would... might lack the courage to act. Please, don't downplay what you did. It means everything to me. You're truly a good man… and you deserve a reward."
Oravien (to himself): I never thought of it like that… I know this woman. She's Filmore's wife. That means Verina is Filmore's daughter... unfortunately.
Oravien (to himself): But... she really has changed. The way she spoke just now... I never imagined someone would say something like that to me. She called me a good man… Am I really… a good man?
"Thank you, my lady. I'll wait then," Oravien said respectfully.
"Please, sit," Lovina said kindly. "Let's have some tea."
"Mom, he's really amazing!" Verina said excitedly.
Lovina smiled. "Yes, Verina. Always be grateful to him. Never forget what he did for you."
"I won't, Mom! Thank you, Sir Elikear!" Verina beamed.
"Don't worry," Oravien said. "I only did what was right."
Oravien (to himself, sipping tea): There's one good thing here—this woman knows me personally, yet she still hasn't recognized me. That's great… let's hope it stays that way.
"Verina mentioned your name," Lovina said. "Elikear, is that correct?"
"Yes, my lady."
"Pleasure to meet you, Elikear. I'm Lovina… Lovina Alethiar."
"An honor to meet you, Lady Lovina."
Time passed while Lovina and Verina waited for Filmore to return and reward the man who had saved Verina—Elikear.
About an hour later...
The door opened.
"I'm back, Lovina," Filmore called.
Verina ran to her father and hugged him tightly.
"You're late!" she scolded.
"I got a little busy. I'm sorry," he said, smiling.
"Don't be late again."
Filmore smiled and looked up—only to find a stranger sitting next to his wife.
"What is this man doing here?" he asked.
Then, suddenly, he remembered.
"You… you're the guy who bumped into me on the street and didn't even apologize!"
"Filmore!" Lovina snapped. "Don't speak to him like that! This man is the reason your daughter is still alive!"
"What?! What are you talking about? What does he have to do with us?"
"He saved Verina from a group of kidnappers. She brought him here to thank him… and to reward his brave act."
"This man… saved my daughter?"
Filmore turned toward Oravien.
"Did we cross paths in the last two days?"
"Yes… we ran into each other in the street," Oravien replied.
"I don't even know how to thank you. I never imagined you'd be the one who saved my daughter. Forgive me for being rude earlier."
"It's alright. It was nothing."
Oravien (to himself): Filmore is right in front of me and he still hasn't recognized me. If he finds out who I really am… I'll be in deep trouble. After all, I was exiled from this place.
"Come with me," Filmore said. "You'll receive your reward now. Follow me."
Everyone stood up and followed him.
"By the way… what's your name?" Filmore asked.
Oravien hesitated: "...I'm Elikear."
"Nice to meet you, Elikear. I'm Filmore."
They continued walking until they neared their destination.
"...Is this room…?" Oravien asked.
"We're here. Come in."
Oravien (to himself): This really is it… the room where everything ended.
---
Six Years Ago
"The Dervalin family is trying to cut off our resource flow from the southern and central lands," a man said. "This is a serious problem. We can't stay silent."
"Father, what are we going to do?" young Oravien asked. "Do you have a decision?"
"We'll send a team to investigate. If resources don't arrive within two weeks, the city will be ruined. Prices will rise, poverty will spread, and life will become much harder. If the Dervalin family is blocking the supplies, they've violated the First Law."
"When will you act?"
"Tomorrow. We'll send a three-person envoy to Levalim to check."
"If my suspicion is right, they'll enter negotiations. But if Dervalin insists on defiance..."
"What will you do?" Rak asked.
"We'll resort to force. This must be resolved within a week. These resources are essential."
"Rak, Filmore, Oravien… prepare yourselves. If negotiations fail, I'll need you three."
---
Two hours later
"Alietra... your due date is close, right?" Oravien asked.
"Yes, just about a month left. I hope everything goes well."
Oravien (tearfully): "I'm so scared… scared I'll die before I ever see my son. I'll probably have to go to the central lands... I'll fight there… I might die before I see my child."
"Don't be foolish. You're doing this for your family… no, for the whole city. Be proud of it. I believe in you, and in your strength. I know you'll survive. Don't worry."
"But… even if it's to save the world… I don't want to die before seeing my son."
"Oravien… I don't like seeing my husband act like a coward. Be strong. Be brave. You'll go, come back safely, and complete your mission successfully—because you're strong."
"I'm… strong. I really am strong. I'm a skilled swordsman. I can use techniques. Why am I afraid?"
"If you go… don't just do it for the city. Do it for your son's future."
Oravien (wiping his tears): "Yes… you're right."
---
The next morning
The three envoys left for Levalim to understand why the flow of resources to Moraief had stopped.
After a full day of travel, they reached the city and approached the palace of the Dervalin family.
A guard spotted them.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"We are envoys from House Alethiar. We bring a message for the head of your family."
"...Very well. Follow me."
They were led to Lord Zerval.
"Who are they? Why are they here?"
"We're envoys from Alethiar. We want to know why the resources from here and the southern lands have stopped reaching Moraief."
"The answer is simple. We're short on supplies. So we stopped sending them."
"But that's against the law, sir. You're required to cooperate. We believe your shortages are due to poor city management—not the land itself. So please… restore the flow."
"Watch your tone, boy. I'll send supplies when I want to."
"But that breaks the treaty of the Five Great Cities. If no resources reach Moraief in two days, Alethiar will resort to force. It's your choice."
"You speak boldly for a mere envoy."
"My name is Naveen. And my confidence comes from the full support of Moraief. I'm leaving now. Think carefully."
The envoys departed.
Zerval considered the warning… but dismissed it.
"They can't do anything. My powerful son will protect me."
---
Two days later
No resources arrived in Moraief.
"That bastard… he wants war," Oravien's father said. "Summon Rak, Filmore, and Oravien."
They were summoned.
"Prepare yourselves. Say goodbye to your families. You're leaving for Levalim."
Before departing, Oravien met with his wife.
"Alietra… I'm leaving. I don't know if I'll return."
"You'll come back. Just finish your duty quickly and return. There's not much time left."
"If something happens and I don't return… I want you to name our child something. Please."
"What name?"
"If it's a boy—Razin. If it's a girl—Razita."
"You'll call them by that name yourself… when you return. Just come back… and bring honor to your son and to me. Do it, Oravien."
Oravien smiled… and left.
After preparations, Rak, Filmore, and Oravien set out for Levalim.
They arrived and began their mission: to infiltrate the palace without bloodshed.
"We'll knock the guards unconscious. No killing unless necessary," Oravien ordered.
"Of course," Rak and Filmore agreed.
They sneaked in and reached the room near Zerval's chamber.
Suddenly, an overwhelming aura stopped them cold—frighteningly strong.
"Are you from Moraief?" a voice asked. "If so… then I am your enemy."
They were frozen in fear—especially Oravien.
In a flash, the man unleashed a terrifying wind technique.
Rak and Filmore stepped forward, trying to counter it with their own winds—but it was too strong.
"Oravien!" Filmore shouted. "Help us! What are you doing?!"
Oravien (to himself): That aura… it's terrifying. No… I don't want to die. Please…
"Get up, coward!" Filmore yelled. "Are you going to betray all of Moraief because you're scared?!"
"I don't want to die!" Oravien shouted.
He thought of Alietra—of his unborn son.
He stood.
Rak and Filmore smiled—they had regained their strong third brother.
But…
Oravien turned and fled the palace.
"You coward, Oravien!" Filmore yelled. "You're a disgrace to Alethiar!"
"Damn it," Rak muttered. "No time to be angry. We need to beat this monster."
After a fierce battle, they tricked and defeated the enemy.
They entered Zerval's chamber and, after threatening him and proving they had beaten his son, Zerval gave in and promised to resume resource shipments to Moraief.
The crisis ended.
As they left, they found Oravien resting under a tree.
Filmore kicked him.
"You coward! You disgrace! You're a stain on Alethiar!"
"I know…" Oravien muttered, then yelled: "But I don't want to die! I want to see my son before I die!"
"And is your son's face worth more than the honor of Alethiar, you bastard?!"
"This won't go unpunished. I'll tell Father. You'll be punished, Oravien. And I doubt your wife… or your son… will be happy to see you after you've disgraced Alethiar!"
Oravien was struck by the weight of what he had done—he ran.
The three returned to Moraief. Oravien's face was pale.
They met with their families.
"I told you, Oravien!" Alietra said. "You're strong! Of course you'd return!"
But she didn't know… he had run away.
When she learned the truth, her face changed.
"Tell me, Oravien… did you think I'd be happy to see you like this?" she asked, stunned.
"I… I don't know," he said.
"What do you think your son will say when he grows up and learns his father ran from battle? That he stained our name? Do you think he'll be happy about that? What will you do then?"
Oravien fell silent.
"I'm sorry… Alietra. I'll be punished… but you'll suffer that punishment with me. I'm… sorry."
He was summoned to the judgment chamber.
"You have brought shame on us, Oravien," his father said. "I never want to see your face in Moraief again. You are exiled."
---
Present Day
Oravien: This place… This is where I was exiled from Moraief...