Evelyn looked up into the skies with a depressed heart. Almost three years ago, Adam had disappeared behind the portal that led to the plane of death. Whenever she thought of that day, she would shudder. She had seen that deathly black dragon that was trying to come through and Adam ramming it through the portal to stop its appearance! Then... the portal closed and the portal stone exploded! Ever since then, there had been no word on Adam's whereabouts.

Evelyn and Heinrich had not time to investigate, as their hands were full from dealing with the aftermath of the dragon Heinrich had killed. The spirit essence that exploded out of its body infected many soldiers on both sides turning them into ghouls! Those ghouls would inevitably attack the others around them and also turn them into ghouls! A mass slaughter was carried out to eradicate the ghoul infection. In order to speedily deal with the situation and stop more people from becoming victims to the ghouls, Evelyn had used her fire formations to burn many ghouls. No matter how much time had passed, thinking about it always made her sick.

After Adam's disappearance, more wars similar to that one started breaking out! Dragons were now frequently seen on the battlefield! Many of those who resided in the village were mobilized for war efforts, as they had to directly fight against the oppressive southern flock to prevent its tyrannical domination over the world!

Heinrich chose to go out and join these wars, Evelyn adamantly refused. That one war was more than enough for her. In addition, ever since that day when Adam protected her when he should have been protecting himself and then disappearing behind the portal, Evelyn had felt a void in her heart. She was in no presence of mind to be useful during a war.

Suddenly, lightning crackled across the skies as a dragon roared into the skies! The voice of the dragon was too familiar! Evelyn immediately Dragon-formed and sped toward that roar. In her heart, she cried with anxiety and anticipation: “Adam!”

After roaring to the skies, Adam relaxed a little and looked down toward the village. He once again thought to himself: “I am finally back.”

Before Adam could take off from the mountain, a dragon soared out from within! The dragon was blue in color and quickly approached Adam with caution and hostility. “Who are you!?”

The water dragon could scarcely believe that a death dragon had made it all the way to the mountain without anyone's notice!

Adam could tell something was up. When he first came, while the dragons of the village were initially disbelieving of Adam not truly being a death dragon, they didn't quite have the hostility that the water dragon was currently showing him. Something had clearly happened while he was away!

Adam quickly sent out: “I am Adam! Even though I resemble a death dragon, I am not part of the southern flock! A few years ago, I had first dragon-formed and came to this mountain.”

The water dragon had already noticed the oddities of Adam's Dragon-form. He said: “I have heard of Adam, but I was not in the village during that time. Do you dare to submit yourself to me until I can verify your identity?”

Adam's Dragon-form started to recede as he began to transform into his Human-form. To Adam's pleasant surprise, he found that the unique clothing that had been tailored for him had somehow managed to remain with his soul when he fled from those six death dragons! Adam appeared before the water dragon in his very unique Human-form and said: “That is fine. Something must have happened and it is good to be cautious.”

At this time, a beautiful ruby red dragon could be seen a small distance away. With the eye-sight of a dragon, Evelyn could already see Adam atop the mountain. Evelyn sent out with excitement: “Adam!”

Evelyn quickly sped up to the summit and quickly landed while Human-forming. Looking over, Adam saw an emotional Evelyn quickly approaching. The water dragon also relaxed slightly. This was pretty much a positive identification of who Adam was. With a smile, Adam said: “Evely-” But was cut slightly short as Evelyn suddenly lunged in with a hug!

Evelyn tearfully said: “Thank goodness your safe.”

Adam was at a momentary loss before giving her a comforting hug back. As he did so, he heard a whisper in his soul: “Helen!”

Adam was instantly stunned. Evelyn suddenly thought that she may have been a little too forward with the hug, she had just been overwhelmed with the idea that Adam was back! She pulled away and noticed Adam's stunned look. She thought the hug must have indeed been a little too much. She instantly became embarrassed at this. She quietly murmured: “Sorry.”

This brought Adam back to his senses. He shook his head: “It's all good. I just thought of something that left me momentarily stunned.”

Evelyn wasn't sure what it was that Adam thought, but she felt that he somehow looked at her different. She wasn't sure how different, but it was different.

Adam didn't hear any more from that whisper, but he was certain as to what it meant. Looking at Evelyn, he felt sure that she was indeed Helen's reincarnation! Adam thought back to when he fist met Evelyn. He had felt that the way she called him a pervert at the time was oddly nostalgic. It was very similar to the times when Helen called him a peeping tom!

Adam asked: “How are you? I had to leave you at a pretty bad time.”

Evelyn shook her head: “I am fine, rather how are you? You disappeared behind that portal for three years! Almost everyone thought for sure that you were dead!”

With a smile, Adam said: “It takes more than that to actually kill me! Let's head back to the village first before we talked about what's happened in these recent years.”

Evelyn led Adam back to the village. There were more than a few people curious about the sudden bout of lightning that had assaulted the skies. Of the few remaining in the village, most of them remembered Adam. Everyone was ecstatic that he had managed to survive, despite having disappeared for three years. There had already been too many friends that had died in the recent wars.

Evelyn took Adam to the house she lived in with her parents. Evelyn led Adam in with a spry step and called out: “Mother, Adam is back!”

Coming out from a room in the back of the house, Samantha came out with a surprised look: “Adam, you've finally returned?”

Adam nodded. “It is good to finally be back in this world. I wasn't entirely certain I was going to get out from the plane of death at first!”

Samantha exclaimed: “It sounds like quite the story! Why don't you two head to the living room and I will get some refreshments. If Evelyn hasn't already drilled you for the story, she will be restless with questions. She was quite depressed with worry while you were gone!”

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With indignation, Evelyn shouted: “Mom!”

Samantha merely chuckled as she went to put some snacks and drinks together. Bringing them into the living room, Samantha and Evelyn were anticipating Adam's story. “So, what happened to you?”

With a wry smile, Adam started out: “Well, on the other side of the portal I was met with six death dragons! To prevent them from holding me down and going through the portal, I destroyed the portal stone with a lightning bolt!”

Both Samantha and Evelyn were shocked! Let alone so quickly destroying a portal stone, Adam stranded himself with six enemy dragons! Evelyn quickly asked: “How did you escape?”

Adam chuckled: “I didn't, I died!”

“What!?”

Adam couldn't help smiling. Long ago, he had gotten tired of telling everyone his stories time and again. To be able to tell it over and over, Adam had to take his own enjoyment with it. Putting his listeners in suspense made the retellings worth it.

Adam told them everything. Possessing his father's body, seeing his memories, following his father's soul through the desolate flow and entering the sea of souls! He also spoke of the danger the spirits' war posed to the world and how humanity fell from their height before the first era.

At first, Evelyn and Samantha were filled with wonder about the sea of souls. They grew concerned about what Adam told them about the spirit war, through. Evelyn's face slightly paled as she said: “More and more wars have been starting. Many from the village have gone out to join these wars or the southern flock of dragons would dominate humanity with their tyranny and depravity!... even father has joined.”

Adam turned Solemn. “I'm still not certain as to what I need to do to stop all of this. I think I will speak to the chieftain. Maybe he will have some idea.”

Samantha nodded. “That would be for the best. It is starting to get late, however. Why don't you properly rest tonight and speak with the chieftain tomorrow?”

Adam had arrived in the afternoon and the sun was already starting to set by the time Adam finished with his story. Adam agreed with Samantha's suggestion. “I will head back to my house then.”

Samantha shook her head: “Don't be a stranger, Adam. You still haven't eaten dinner! Let me prepare something and we even have a guest room in the house. Stay here tonight.”

Even though Adam had only been around for a few months before he left, it was enough for others to get to know him. It was also the first time Samantha had seen her daughter so worried about someone after Adam had disappeared. She didn't worry nearly as much about her father or Heinrich possibly dying in one of the wars. Samantha wondered if Evelyn's feelings for Adam were more deep than Evelyn realized.

The next morning, Adam headed off to meet with the chieftain. Evelyn decided to follow along. Adam had a vague feeling of it, but walking through the village again made Adam realize how desolate it was. He turned to Evelyn: "The village seems like it only has a quarter of the people he used to have. Have they really all joined the war?"

Evelyn sadly nodded her head: "Not only in this world, the wars in the spirit planes themselves have started to heat up. If what you said is true about sending armies of ghouls down, the spirits are likely fighting over portal stones so that they could employ more ghouls in a faster fashion..."

Adam shook his head. He could only murmur: "Why does there always have to be war?"

Entering into the plaza at the center of the village, Adam could finally see a hustle and bustle of people and dragons going about. Most of them seemed like they were doing important tasks with many moving in and out of the chieftains residence. Adam figured that most of them were doing some sort of back-end work for the war effort such as dispatching orders.

Walking up to the residence of the chieftain, one of the retainers by the door noticed his approach. With a smile he said: "Adam, you have arrived! The chieftain was hoping you would come by soon. He has a few questions to ask you."

Adam nodded: "I also wish to seek the chieftain's counsel."

The retainer responded: “Follow me.”

Adam and Evelyn followed the retainer into the residence. The building was huge, as the chieftain mostly remained in his Dragon-form. In a room close to the front, the chieftain was lying down in a large open room as he poured over some documents and heard reports from various individuals. No one noticed as Adam and Evelyn entered, guided by the retainer. The retainer politely waited until there was an opportune time to cut in. He spoke up: “Chieftain, Adam is here!”

It was at this point that everyone's gaze was shifted to Adam and Evelyn. Evelyn felt a little uncomfortable from all the stares, but they were mostly looking at Adam and not her. The chieftain also leveled his gaze at Adam. He sent: “It is good that you have returned Adam. I've heard much of your exploits during that unexpected war you took place in. are you well?”

Adam nodded: “I'm fine.”

“Good, would you mind if I asked you a few questions about what happened after you went through the portal?”

“I don't mind at all.”

Adam started telling his story. It lacked some of the suspense from when he told it to Evelyn and Samantha, since Adam figured the chieftain was not in the mood to be put in suspense. The chieftain paid keen attention to how simply Adam had managed to destroy a portal stone.

“You were able to destroy one so swiftly and effortlessly? It should take at least three elder dragons putting their full focus on destroying the stone while taking close to an hour to accomplish such a feat! I had been wondering how that portal stone exploded after you disappeared through the portal”

This was the first time Adam had noticed just how shocking it was that he had managed to destroy a portal stone. “I can only assume that it was some attribute of lighting that helped me destroy it so swiftly.”

The chieftain nodded his head ponderously before encouraging Adam to continue. The hall was in awe when Adam told them how he had found the sea of souls. Many quickly turned skeptical, though. One in his Human-form stepped forward and said: “We haven't even heard of these 'passageways' before. How can we believe this story! I am starting to doubt the veracity of the whole thing!”

Evelyn and a scant few of the others in the room shot the man deadly scowl. Evelyn wanted to step forward and defend Adam's claim, but everyone here was many centuries her elder. All she could say was that she firmly believed in Adam's words. How could that alone possibly convince them of the truth?

A dragon then sent out: “While I agree that this should be investigated, you shouldn't take it so far as to doubting Adam's entire story. What reason does he have to lie to us?”

The man shook his head: “It would be nice to believe all of this, but it is too much! Rather, I am starting to think that the death dragons took Adam's allegiance! Whether willingly or forcefully, the more I hear of his account, the more I believe he should be locked up and monitored!”

Adam didn't mind the man doubting his story as he realized it was outlandish. But to say that he defected to the death dragons and needs to be locked up? That was going too far! Everyone could see Adam's countenance starting to simmer with rage. Before he could speak, the chieftain said: “Enough with the quibble! Adam has given us plenty of food for thought. Whether any of this is true is of minor consequence. One fact remains, that I am chiefly interested in. the portal stone did indeed explode after Adam went through the portal. Adam's ability to destroy portal stones is of more value then his knowledge of the sea of souls! I ask of you Adam, will you use this ability of yours for our war effort?”

Adam looked to be at a loss. “What I originally came to talk to you about was the war. Rather than participating in it, I want to stop this war from continuing.”

Adam briefly described what he had learned about how this war was likely to turn out with the near extermination of humanity. The man who had spoken out against Adam before once again raised his objections: “What, do you want us to just not go to war with the southern flock? We would be letting them steamroll over all the kingdoms and let them control a majority of the world! With the influence from the death spirits, humanity will likely see widespread plagues and decay!”

Adam looked at the man with a demeaning glare. “I never said that. I am merely hoping that we can think of a way to stop both sides of this war from continuing! We cannot allow the spirits to destroy one another! Without death, life would not flourish. Without life, death would have no meaning. Just look at a garden and how compost of dead plants is used to fertilize new ones! Why are the spirits fighting when they need each other!?”

Few could follow Adam's sudden words. Most of it seemed philosophy without any backing. A few of the observes managed to glean the truth from Adam's words, however. Even if a garden was small, it was full of spirit essence like the world was! One could say a garden was a miniature simulation of the world!

The chieftain was at a loss. If they did not have to war, he was fine with that. He also saw the truth in Adam's words. The chieftain spoke: “I would put my support behind anything that could put a swift end to this war. Even if only the status quo would be maintained, that is fine. Only... will the spirits or the southern flock listen to this? Even if they did... would they care?”

Adam was at an equal loss. “I do not know. That is why I was hoping you knew of someway that could help.”

The chieftain sighed: “I am sorry Adam. I do not know of anything that could help you in this endeavor.”

Visibly, Adam became disappointed.