The quite morning ring bells, with laughter of children.
Wait something was going on, children were gathered in small groups, some escorted other sliping away from caretakers who presented like they didn't notice. Jumping from one place to another, chasing rose with laughter, and as for the palace stood there with mystic vibe carried.
Sambha ran ahead of everyone.
He wasn't wearing ceremonial clothes, nor anything special, just light a daily fabric suitable for running, climbing, living. He vaulted over a low step, nearly collided with another child, and laughed when they both stumbled.
Rin stopped beneath the arch shape structure in shelter.
"They came to see him," she said softly.
"How can they not come, didn't forget who's bluffing about him," Gaja crossed his arms standing near Rin. "Looks like he finally got what he wanted."
"Yes, they were gone for quite while." Nearby guard spoke.
Limbo watched in silence as he walked.
Sambha moved among them easily, no gurad close enough to hover, no servant pulls him back. He listened more than he spoke, eyes bright, shoulders loose. This was not the child confined by corridors and lessons.
His journey since, he crossed path with Limbo had influence sambha more than anyone think.
Limbo felt something settle in his chest.
Strange feelings fill him.
The farewell did not come all at once.
It unfolded slowly, as if the palace itself didn't wish to let him go.
The children crowded around the trio next running.
Questions flew at them without order.
"Are the forest really dark?"
"Do monsters talk?"
"Can he really defeat them?"
Taking initiative gaja answered most of them, bluffing just enough to earn wide eyes and gasps on there face. "Hey! stop, don't fill their head with strange stuff," after that Rin showed a few children how to weave a leaf coed properly. She took another plane leaf and covering her lips she created sweet melody on the spot, leaving all child mesmories.
Limbo stood back, listening, answering only when asked directly.
Sambha watched him closely.
When the courtyard finally quieted, sambha stepped forward, clutching three small cloth bundles he was hiding.
"I made them," he said, suddenly serious. "So you don't forget me."
He handed one first to Limbo.
Inside was a small charm stone, carved unevenly but deliberately. Symbols etched carefully, copied from the archive. Not powerful.
Meaningful.
To Rin, he gave a braided cord, reinforced with a knot she had shown him earlier. To Gaja, a pressed leaf sealed in thin resin.
Gaja cleared his throat. "I'll keep it safe."
Rin tied her's around her wrist without hesitation.
Limbo closed his fingers around the stone charm.
"I won't forget," he said. "You're not meant to be forgotten."
Sambha nodded, satisfied with response.
The king arrived without announcement and ceremony.
He didn't wore any armour, nor any weapon with him.
He did not sit on a walking throne.
He walked straight into the courtyard as one who understood exactly what was ending —and what was beginning.
Conversation stilled.
He stopped before the trio, studying them quietly.
"You brought my son back to home," he said, at last. "Not because you were ordered, or had any alternative motives. But still you choose, what others have ignored."
A guard stepped forward at a subtle gesture by king. Carrying a long case and several sealed satchels. Too many.
"These are not rewards," the king continued.
"They are acknowledgements."
The case opened.
Inside lay wepons - balanced, practical, untouched by ornamentaion specially made for them.
"For survival," the king said. "Not display."
To Limbo, he handed a compact device etched with stabilizing runes.
"For sudden mana collapse."
To Rin, reinforced focus bands.
"For precision."
To Gaja, additional dual wepons compatible with the restraint on his wrist, strength.
"With high endurance, flexible—light weight."
None of them knelt.
None of them show overwhelming gratitude.
They accepted as equals in circumstance, not rank.
The second queen stood nearby, watching with faint smile. When Limbo met her gaze, she inclined her head—approval without distance.
Behind the king stood Sambha's mother.
She said nothing, she had already done in first meeting.
She just smiled.
That was enough, but—
She walked forward and gave each of them a symbalum carved with wood and royal Lineage sign of Rising Lion.
It will come in handy.
The final conversation came when the courtyard emptied.
"Where will you go now?" The king asked.
Limbo answered without hesitation.
"A Naval village surrounded by mountains, that's where our families are."
The king paused. "That's quite a far!" He asked.
Limbo nodded. "Farther than most people travel."
Due to teleportation gates we crossed unknowingly we came far than we ever imagined.
I hope, we can get back through the way we came.
The king exhaled slowly.
"You underestimate the distance," he said.
"Not in days —but in exposure."
But I've checked the map, Guess the distance based on that. Also the way we came.
"We've crossed worse," Gaja muttered intrupting.
The king studied Limbo for a long moment.
Then he raised a hand.
A signaling solder tell to prepare something silently.
Gurads moved instantly, not hurried —precise.
Soon the preparation complete they all move to different locations.
A teleportation gate was prepared.
Ancient, restricted.
Freely used.
"You will exit one day's walk from your village," the king said. "No closer."
Limbo stiffened. "That's —"
But word's held back.
"Respect," the king Interrupted. "Not interference."
Soon the gate stabilized and location was set.
Light folded inward.
Sambha stepped forward suddenly and hugged Limbo hard.
"Next time," he said, voice shaking, "I'll be stronger than ever."
Limbo rested his hand on his head.
"You better, because I will."
The king watched them.
"This will not be the last time our paths cross," he said. "When they do—be ready to help me."
Limbo nodded.
The gate Open Fully.
As they stepped through, Sambha raised his hand high, smiling even as tears finally fell.
The palace faded.
The world turned.
And far behind them, the lion watched.
Not in farewell, but in silence.
Somewhere in unknown location.
"Babam bam b bam...babam bam b bam...
Babam bam b bam...babam bam b bam..."
Chorus echoes, through the valley.
With a strong mystic chant.
Fierce face covered in ashes.
Garland of dead bones, weapons in hands.
World was almost turned upside down.
Land was burning and trembling by their mere presence.
They are...