I jog up to Martha. “Did you bribe that guard?” I whisper, curious to learn her methods.

“What? No.” She chuckles. “The kid arrived here like every other orphan knocking on the Fort’s gate looking for power. He was smart but lazy so dropped out and joined the guard instead.”

Personal connection... probably more useful than money when you know the right people. Being affiliated with the Fist, or rather knowing Ehrhardt personally was likely key to our escape from Turan and I’m sure there’ll be many similar instances in the future. Maybe I should at least give socializing a try on I’m in Sereban.

Which might prove difficult since I have little patience for people.

“And how did you know we were nearby?” I genuinely have no clue how she found us.

“How to put this…” Martha creates a small pulsing spark of electricity on her palm. “Every living being’s heart makes a tiny lightning with every beat.” That might be true, Savant kinda agrees with it. “And that energy manifests as a weak but distinct sphere around every person. I was around the market when you entered my range.”

That… I’m not entirely sure how it works but all the way from the market? I can barely see thirty meters away with Mana Perception and her range is like half the city. Scary old woman.

“How is the city?” I ask Val, whose eyes keep taking in all that’s new.

“Too many humans.” She answers instantly and I kinda expected that. “Also, what is that?” She points at a lizardman.

“They are just like most Beastkin, two-thirds human and one-third animal of the reptile kind. With Beastmen the ratio is reversed, you’ll recognize them.” I answer and pull her hand down. “Don’t point at people, it's rude.”

“Sorry.” She doesn’t mean it. “There are so many smells. It’s similar to the bigger city where we found your parents, or they found us, just more…”

“Alive? Vibrant? Chaotic? Majestic?” Martha’s eager to learn about her, soon-to-be, newest student.

“Yeah.” Valka answers absentmindedly, her head turned towards one of my favorite bakeries ever.

That’s where the good stuff is, the goodest stuff.

I slow my pace to let my parents catch up and wave over Dad specifically. “Muffins, strawberry.” I whisper, nodding with my head in Valka’s direction.

This is his chance to redeem himself, not for his nature as an elf but for the comment about Val’s parents. To his credit, my old man catches on pretty fast and disappears down the streets after a wink.

Despite being back in a familiar environment, surrounded by familiar people, sounds and smells my body just refuses to relax. It was different back in Solermo where every three out of nine people would stare after us with malicious gazes just by walking past them. Danger was an ever-present sword looming over our heads so we had to adapt. Sure, actions seldom followed the glares but this new paranoid urge remains.

And I don’t think I want to change that.

A bunch more walking later we finally arrive at the square lucky enough to house Fort Karon. The entrance where I was told to piss off years ago, the somewhat park somewhat prison where I ran, read, trained, and slept for hundreds of nights. A second home, although Mom and Dad did sell our house back in Meliorport to come with me to Sereban so the first place is kinda vacant right now…

Still not a promotion to first place, that’s wherever my family is.

Lead by Martha we enter without any fuss, passing guards standing just as motionless and bored as the day I arrived. The reception area is still a bustling mess, the corridors however are a little less congested, which isn’t a surprise considering the deployment to Turan.

“What do you think?” Martha asks as if she’s showing off her home. Because that is pretty much what she’s doing.

“It’s… nice?” Val answers with quite a load of uncertainty.

It’s easy to forget Valka is from another continent, another world almost, and while she did manage to pick up the language and some minor social rules, which is all pretty impressive honestly, she’s like a smart three-year-old. Clothing, cuisine, history, laws, and of course architecture are sadly not among her strong points.

“You’ll learn to like it.” Martha encourages.

“Wait till you see the mess hall and the baths.” I add in a hushed voice. The true hearts of Fort Karon, and the only reason I didn’t try to escape during my three years here.

Although I noticed we’re not en route to either of the two. The four of us, Mom was allowed inside as an outsider, while Fleur and Aaron simply peeled off along the way, are headed for the courtyard. I can still navigate in here with ease and for whatever reason Martha is racing that way I won't ask, for now.

As we finally approach the archway leading to the open space she finally speaks. “That day you were attacked changed many things. Three died, or two as it turned out, one of them a senior member at that. The orders to kill on sight anyone who could, even at the slightest of chance, be working with the attackers was issued. We went on a hunt and with the Inquisition descending upon the Valerian elite after their blatant violation of the Conventions many noble lineages were eradicated.” We step out into the light and I see another afternoon practice secession in full swing. “Your friends were devastated, poor Hugo even gave up on everything here and disappeared. We all mourned in our own ways…” We turn towards the warriors’ sparring field and Martha whistles.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

There are both new and old faces in the courtyard and I hear whispering as some recognize me. The kids wielding swords, shields, spears and other weird melee weapons are instructed by a burly old man I know and hate through and through. He kidnapped me, threw me to beasts a few times and I will damn sure take revenge for that when the time comes. The man in question simply glances our way for a moment upon hearing the sharp noise before returning to his task.

Then his hands freeze and his eyes snap back here again with a pale face like he saw the dead walking. Despite gaining a bunch of levels since the last time I saw him fight, his movement still only registers as a blur to my eye.

Two strong hands grab my shoulder and a gust of wind blasts into my face. “How?” Bennett asks, voice aghast.

“I’m stubborn as hell, you should know by now.” I answer with a confident grin. “No hugs.” I add. That’s reserved for the selected few.

The old man’s eyes tremble as a cavalcade of emotions wash through them. Guilt, joy, sadness… pride.

“There must’ve been some close calls.” He says and touches the exact spots of some of my nastiest scars. With only my own regeneration to heal most minor injuries, I suffered it was inevitable to keep them as reminders of my mistakes. They’re a bit nasty but pretty cool. “You have become quite a bit stronger, did anything interesting?”

“Fought some beasts, burned down a nice patch of forest, met a Lord of the Forest, stumbled into some ancient tomb or something, and fought some criminals.” I list off my accomplishments without revealing too much about what we found underground. “The usual.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, you’re Elyssia no doubt.” The one and only.

Although I can’t really say how much I’ve changed in these past few months. I did my best to adapt in order to survive, heck even thrive on some occasions, without giving up who I am and the values I grew up with.

They were difficult times and I’m not sure I could’ve survived it all alone. With that said, without Val I probably, maybe, could’ve been back a long time ago and skipped all the gangster business. Not that I wouldn’t go through it again just to keep her but man it would’ve been easier without all the problems she brought on our necks.

Bennett sighs, lets go of me, and lowers himself to one knee. “I failed you as a guardian and a teacher. You were lost, thrown into Malor’s embrace, and climbed through it all on your own, all because of my inadequacy. Thank you for coming back and please forgive me.” He lowers his head and speaks every word with sincerity.

I’m caught off guard to say the least. Never thought the almost half a year I spent crawling through the forest and scouring Solermo did try to put the blame on him. The old man is a jerk and still deserves a good beating which will have to wait, but I know he did everything in his power to fight for us.

“You are forgiven, for a favor.” I say after pulling my act together.

He glances up with a half smile. “Thank you.”

“A big one.” I add.

He winces and looks at me pleadingly. “Medium?”

I glance towards Valka. “Two mediums.” And haggle for benefits.

Bennett nods reluctantly and follows my eyes. “And your friend?”

“Let’s just say I didn’t do the despair climbing part alone. I got some help with… like one-third of it.”

“More like four thirds.” Valka corrects, her math knowledge is still in the works.

Judging by the giggles and gossipping behind my back Mom and Martha are thoroughly enjoying the show. Well, so do I.

“In short, she’s Valka, an orc in human skin.” I describe my friend.

“Hey!” She snaps. “I’m better in every aspect! And I can introduce myself thank you.”

She clearly seems hesitant to speak, surrounded by random people in a place far away from home… The only reason she’s here in the first place is because I asked her not ot leave me alone and I value that. Highly.

A firm hand on her shoulder and a reassuring nod is all I can offer to convey she can trust these people. I haven’t regretted that decision yet and it could be insanely beneficial to her.

Valka’s tongue soon loosens and as she tells the elderly about herself, her skills, her way of fighting, and even her Blessing I catch Bennett’s eyes sparkling. Nothing unexpected there. The old goat works with the warrior wannabes, and Valka is the perfect candidate to shape into an unstoppable force. She’s stronger than average, thanks to her being a Nephilim, tougher than average, thanks to her Blessing, and can even heal herself.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Martha sinks an elbow into Bennett's side, grinning like crazy.

The man nods, ignoring her shenanigans. “It was time for the sparring sessions anyway. Wanna make a bet?”

Martha huffs. “Are you that confident after just words? Found a new favorite perhaps?” She wiggles her eyebrow at the old man. “Sure, a week’s pay as usual.”

Bennett claps his hand and a thunderous echo stops all activity in the courtyard. “Gather up at the dueling ground. Today we have a delicacy, younglings, firsthand experience right from the wilds and dueling style forged on the streets where only the winner matters.”

Who? Us?

----------------------------------------

“Your Grace, the ships have departed.” words seemingly without a source broke the study room’s silence once again.

“The agents?” his master asked without lifting his calculating gray eyes from the paper in his hand.

“Well entrenched and in key positions. However, his Highness changed his mind and entrusted Duke Bormond to lead the expedition just two days ago.”

This information did finally manage to earn the man’s attention along with a sigh. “To send a diplomat instead of a general to the Korellia… Yet another foolish mistake, father.” Yet his irate demeanor didn’t linger long. “This might work out even better. The Duke is a conservative coward, appointed only to negotiate with White Pearl and Agrait. His grip on the army is weak…”

His plans to reshape Valeria, Eborned, and the history of humanity as a whole have been in motion for a while now, taking small steps in the dark to build their power. Korellia has never been part of the original plans. Everyone deemed the lost continent and the journey across Balton Ocaen simply too dangerous for any efforts to be made.

However, the greed of the eastern merchants was powerful enough to venture out and prove everyone wrong. Lands unclaimed, and richer ripe for the taking. Mana has always favored those forests sometimes too hostile for even the elves to tame and the largest mountains, home, and birthplace of the dwarves. The true treasure trove of the world.

Now that the new wave of exploration was inevitable and more powers joined the race by the day seizing it all has turned into a necessity as well as an enormous opportunity.

“We still have time.” The man adjusted his plans in mere seconds. “Don’t make our operations obvious, let everyone settle down and claim a foothold for themselves. Let our dear duke cozy up to White Pearl, secure the sea lanes, and create a facade… Yes, the Hillar must be ours.”

Wealth is and always will be one of the key components of power and what other place to visit if not the Hillar mountains, the peak of the world, and the lost empire of the dwarves. Many escaped and took whatever they could with them but what remained could fill any nation's treasury.

The grand reward for those willing to do whatever it takes to tame Korellia.