Tristan Ravenwood POV

As William escorted Thorian and his team to the abyss, Tristan, alongside Robert, Oswald, and the two children, made their way to the heart of Locksley. They navigated through blocks of buildings until Robert halted.

"Your grace, I believe it's best if I take the boys to the mansion," he suggested, glancing at the children. "They need to change their clothes and shower."

"No, wait!" James protested, shaking his head. "I want to go to the festival with you guys."

"You tell them, James," Little Roo added, chuckling.

"You'll rejoin us shortly," Tristan assured them, smiling at their antics. "However, you must heed Sir Robert's advice if you wish to continue accompanying us. Do you understand?"

James looked down and pouted before sighing, "Okay, sure. But it’s not going to be a long shower! I hate those."

Tristan chuckled at his words, then nodded to Robert, who led the two boys toward the inner citadel.

After they left, Tristan sniffed under his armpit and frowned. "Perhaps I should have joined them," he muttered.

With a light chuckle, Tristan turned back to Oswald, and they continued on their path. Oswald remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground ahead, while he occasionally bit his lip and clenched his fists.

Before they could reach the main street, Tristan halted, while Oswald continued to march forward. It took Oswald a few seconds to realize and turn back in confusion.

"Why have you stopped? The festival is just ahead," Oswald asked, furrowing his brows in perplexity.

Tristan simply shook his head before sitting on the doorstep of a nearby house. "We're not going anywhere until we have a talk."

With a puzzled expression, Oswald returned to Tristan and sat beside him. "What's the matter? Is there something troubling you need to discuss?"

"It's not about me," Tristan replied, shaking his head. "It's about you. I've never seen you look so desolate before."

At those words, Oswald’s expression froze. He then shivered, looking down at his hands in dread before he stammered, "I... I killed my own father."

Tristan closed his eyes and bit his lip at the admission. Almost instinctively, he placed his arm around Oswald's trembling shoulders, offering consolation, "I'm sorry. I'm so deeply sorry."

"How can a son kill his own father?" Oswald looked at Tristan, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "What kind of son does that?!"

"You had no choice," Tristan assured him, hugging Oswald as he tried to stifle his sobs. "Your father was the one who betrayed you, who betrayed us all."

"I can't understand why he did it," Oswald spoke softly, causing Tristan to sigh. But then, Oswald's voice grew stronger, tinged with anger. "But what I can't forgive is my own ignorance. Your father, the lord, was imprisoned in my family's dungeon, and I was clueless."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"You're not to blame," Tristan pulled away to look Oswald in the eyes with a stern gaze. "No reasonable person would suspect their own family of such a heinous act without solid evidence, which you didn't have. And how could you? We were up against an organization capable of destroying all of Locksley in one night if they chose to."

Oswald lay back on the door, sighing, "Yet, those monsters managed it. They saw through my family's facade and uncovered the treachery."

"Don't compare yourself to them," Tristan countered calmly. "They had an entire division of spies combing through Locksley, comprised of the strongest individuals you've ever encountered. Meanwhile, you were diligently working with me to rid the city of monsters and secure our defenses."

Oswald remained silent for a few seconds after Tristan's words, making Tristan anxious, before finally speaking, "If only I were stronger, stronger than even Nalia, none of this would have happened. My father would have had no reason to betray the lord, and I could have solved all our problems. If only I were that strong."

"Dwelling on such thoughts won't help," Tristan insisted. "You've done everything you could to become stronger. Nalia, and even the Monster King, possess their power because they had access to much more information than us."

"And how did they acquire that knowledge?" Oswald asked, his expression neutral.

"I don't know," Tristan admitted with a sigh, then looked at Oswald earnestly. "What I do know is that as long as we continue to strive and fight, our strength will grow. Eventually, we'll be powerful enough to have a right over our own destinies."

"A right over our own destiny..." Oswald echoed the words thoughtfully before chuckling softly. "You're right. As weak as we are now, we don't even have control over our fate. It's only with strength that we can claim it."

Smiling at Oswald, Tristan stood up and extended his hand. "Let's take a walk around the city and enjoy the quiet for a change. I'm sure we have many stories to share with each other in private."

"I'm eager to hear about your adventures in the Monster Village," Oswald said, smiling as he took Tristan's hand and stood up. Together, they turned away from the lively and festive main street.

* * *

William Ravenwood POV

William stood before the gathered crowd, clearing his throat with a few coughs. "These past days have been filled with worry and turmoil, not just for me but for all of us. However, it brings me immense pleasure to announce that Nalia, the one who abducted many and plotted to usurp our beloved city, has been defeated."

This declaration was met with cheers and applause from the crowd, with some chanting, "Death to Nalia! Long live the lord!"

Once the fervor had settled, William continued, "Nalia and her organization, along with her closest associates, have been eradicated. This ordeal has been eye-opening for me, revealing that true worth is not determined by one's surname, birthright, or ancestral honor, but by hard work and character. It is with great honor that I announce our army will soon open its ranks to new recruits. Those among you who demonstrate strength, perseverance, and noble character will receive the recognition and rewards you deserve."

The cheers that followed were even more intense, nearly causing William to chuckle. The promise of jobs and rewards offered a beacon of hope to those hardest hit by the apocalypse, a chance for them to significantly improve their circumstances.

"Well then, I shall not keep you with long speeches," William concluded with a smile. "Enjoy the rest of the festivities."

With that, William made his way through the throng, meeting up with General Henry and his squad.

"I must apologize, my lord, for making you deliver such speeches so soon after your return," General Henry said, bowing slightly.

"It is but my duty," William dismissed with a shake of his head. "But let us set that aside for now. The more pressing issue is preparing for tomorrow's meeting."

"The meeting with the Monster King?" General Henry asked, a note of concern in his voice. "Indeed, that is a delicate matter."

"They have saved me, and arguably our entire city of Locksley, from certain destruction," William stated, looking thoughtfully at Henry. "What could we possibly offer that would suffice to repay such a monumental debt?"

General Henry paused before shaking his head. "My lord, I fear nothing we possess would be of true interest to them."

William stroked his beard thoughtfully, his gaze distant. "I wonder about that," he murmured, then sighed. "I must consult with my son about his experiences with them."