The story begins in the capital's castle, shortly after the witches' attack and just before Yoranios sets off on his journey. Kunvy and Jasmine moved swiftly from room to room, organizing a series of meetings with nobles, prominent merchants, and business leaders. These individuals had suffered significant losses due to the witches' assault, which had severely impacted their enterprises and trade.

Kunvy and Jasmine engaged in numerous negotiations, maintaining the most professional demeanour they could muster. Their objective was to convince the merchants to continue their operations within the kingdom—a task that demanded great effort and skill, especially given the events that had unfolded just two days prior.

As they walked together, Jasmine occasionally clutched her stomach, the pain from her wound lingering. Yet, she pressed on, her determination as strong as ever.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, Yoranios met with a devil merchant named Fiz, who spoke with measured words: "Yoranios Gyovani, I am not abandoning this kingdom. Despite the tragic attack, my business thrives here. I am grateful for the kingdom’s reimbursement of my losses. Please convey my thanks to Queen Jane Gray Gyovani."

Yoranios nodded in acknowledgement, and the merchant bowed before leaving the room. Yoranios then sank into a chair, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. "Many merchants have left," he muttered to himself, "and it will take time for others to return. Those who remain will need at least a month or two to resume their trade. It’s a tough situation, but when has anything ever been easy for us?"

Later, on the third floor in Lilithra's chamber, Jane sat on the bed beside a sleeping Jasmine. Yoranios rested in a chair, Monroe stood by the door, Kunvy wiped her eyes to stay awake, Taffer sat near the window with his wife, Mahin was absent, Fenris sharpened his daggers by the bookshelf, Lilithra read a book, and Aurelius stood by the window, gazing at the moon. The room was silent, and they all waited.

A careful observer would notice the gradual disappearance of wounds and scars on each member; demons, devils, and witches possess innate healing abilities. Severed hands and arms eventually regenerate, though the process is slow, a testament to their supernatural resilience. Witches, however, can hasten this regeneration by casting additional spells.

Yory and his family, on the other hand, rely on doctors and healers for their recovery. Their wounds linger for a few days before fading, but the pain and scars remain in the interim. Jasmine, in particular, carries the weight of a severe wound on her stomach. It takes only a few swift movements to make her feel the pain again.

As for Yory, it will take some time for his scars to fully heal, so he uses illusion magic to keep them hidden until they disappear on their own.

After a brief pause, Lilithra remarked, "This past week has been insane."

Laughter followed, and Jane mocked, "My first reign kicks off with an invasion."

More laughter echoed through the room. Aurelius smiled and said, "Good thing we’re not humans; otherwise, my ruined face would be your next source of entertainment!"

The laughter grew louder, but it quickly subsided as the door swung open, revealing Serathis and Nearf. Lilithra quickly cast a spell to prevent their conversation from being overheard outside.

Serathis glanced around and said, "Laughter? It’s a good way to lift spirits. It’s nice to see the family together, even if some are missing."

Jane replied, "The drunken punk is probably off somewhere; the knights haven’t shown up, so we can assume he’s not causing trouble."

Yoranios then asked, "What about our other brother? What happened to him?"

Jane nodded. "When Reyanna ambushed me during dinner with Mahin, she mentioned one brother was missing. She was talking about Cronix."

Jasmine added, "The same Cronix who disappeared 80 years ago."

Lilithra shook her head and said, "I don’t think he’s in any danger."

Nearf added, "Yes, if he were killed, we would have felt it. Being family, our bond allows us to sense when one of us is lost. So the chance of Cronix being in real danger is slim."

Yoranios nodded, and Kunvy said, "He was always an odd one, constantly wandering off to strange places out of curiosity. But he's strong and more importantly, smart. His mind was always working, especially during the wars with the humans. He would come up with strategies to counter their attacks, and if he were in danger, he’d either tell us or handle it on his own."

The family nodded in agreement, and Yoranios continued, "As for the witches, Monroe assured us that Cixilia is opposed to Reyanna and her daughters, or at least that’s what we know."

Monroe nodded and added, "We’ll keep watch over the witches’ territory and remain alert for any sudden moves."

Yoranios followed up, "And let’s not forget our main problem, Rolf, the human responsible for the witches' boldness, if you can even call it that."

Jane nodded and remarked, "We can also accuse him of helping the ghouls attack Daekrahm City. There’s no way the ghouls’ assault and Reyanna’s strike aren’t connected. This Rolf is dangerous, pulling too many strings and gathering too many allies."

Fenris, in his cold tone, added, "And resources. You think starting a war is cheap? Ask the blacksmith."

Taffer fell into contemplation, wondering if he should speak and if the others would even care to hear him. After a brief silence, he closed his eyes before finally saying, "He... will make a mistake."

All eyes shifted to Taffer as he continued, "He will, and when he does, we'll find him. He didn’t just appear out of nowhere; he’ll leave something behind that we can trace."

Still avoiding eye contact with his children, Taffer was surprised to see them nodding in agreement, acknowledging his insight. Lilithra added, "The Sorcerers' Kingdom—where I honed my magic—they might know something, or at least have heard some rumours."

Jane then declared, "My spies will have to uncover something, no matter how small."

As she lay in bed, Jasmine stirred and reminded them, "Don't forget the supplies from the Forest Children. They helped us in our time of need, along with other kingdoms that contributed whatever they could. We need to rebuild quickly and return their resources twofold to maintain our reputation as a strong and reliable kingdom."

Everyone nodded in agreement before Jasmine drifted back to sleep, uninterested in the rest of the discussion. Her materialistic nature made her prioritize concrete leads over speculation about Rolf, the one responsible for the destruction.

Jasmine’s pragmatic mindset also fueled her distrust toward Mahin, who had never given her enough reason to fully trust him.

Soon after, six maids knocked on the door, asking permission before entering with trays filled with soup, vegetables, and meat. The family burst into laughter as they shared the meal, enjoying their time together.

Later, Yory made his way back to Renolva, where he reunited with Lana and Tyva in Hetry City. As he hugged them, the two little girls clung to him, and in that moment, all their worries melted away.

The next morning, Yory prepared the cart, with Joe by his side and the girls inside, as they left Hetry City, beginning their journey toward the capital. Along the way, they planned to stop at Giraf village, where Tyva believed her mother resided.

After hours on the road, Yory concluded, "And so, the Mother of Witches met her end, at the hands of the Demon Queen. Quite the tale, isn’t it?"

Joe, impressed, added, "You fought an entire army of witches and beasts? That’s incredible!"

Tyva chimed in, "Your appearance doesn’t match the story! How could someone with such a slender, fragile frame take on an army of witches and beasts?"

Yory smiled arrogantly and replied, "I’m a hero of my kingdom! Skills matter far more than appearance. Learn that, you little fool."

Tyva glared at him, snapping back, "Oh, really? If you're such a hero, where's your armour and shiny sword? And if you're so valued by the queen, why hasn't she rewarded you with anything? You’re lying!"

At that moment, Yory realized he hadn’t received any reward from the battle aside from broken bones and scars. He forced a laugh and retorted, "You little idiot! My kingdom needed me. What better reward could there be than that?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Tyva grabbed Yory’s coat from behind, shouting, "That’s nonsense! You’re lying right to my face! Do you think I’m stupid?"

Lana, smiling, tried to calm them down, while Yory yelled, "Leave me alone! Lana, help me before I lose it and strangle this monster!"

Joe, meanwhile, kept his focus on the road ahead, lost in thought about Yory’s words regarding his kingdom needing him. He pondered how Yory didn’t even recall any reward, as if it were natural for him to serve without expecting anything in return. Joe whispered quietly, "Father."

After a long day filled with heated exchanges between Tyva and Yory, night fell. Boris, the horse, devoured his meat with the ferocity of a wild animal. Tyva glanced at him and remarked, "No matter how many times I see that creature, I’m always shocked—until I remind myself he’s not really a horse!"

Yory, annoyed, paused from eating his soup. "You fool! He looks like a horse, sounds like a horse, and pulls the cart like a horse, so he *is* a horse!"

Joe smiled and added, "My friend, real horses don’t bite people for fun."

Yory was about to respond when Lana grabbed his arm and interjected, "Yory, horses don’t eat meat."

Yory smiled, gently patting her head. "My little Lana, don’t listen to them. Any animal will eat meat if it's starving."

Lana gave Yory a confused look, but he continued, his smile unsettling yet sincere. "Give those innocent sheep a few days without food, and they’ll start eating chickens—and people—just to survive."

A shiver ran down Lana's spine as Yory pointed to Boris, still tearing into the meat like a predator. "And that, my dear, is a perfectly normal horse," he added.

Lana quickly got up and hugged Joe tightly, her voice full of worry. "Joe, please protect Yory if Boris gets hungry!"

Joe smiled and hugged her back reassuringly. "Don’t worry, Lana. Boris is... well, maybe not fully tamed, but he won’t hurt us."

Tyva, meanwhile, cautiously approached Boris, stopping a meter away. With a hesitant hand, she reached out to touch his head. Boris paused his eating and locked his red eyes on her. Taking a deep breath, Tyva extended her hand further, but just before she touched him, she pulled back quickly, holding her hand to her chest. "No, no, no, this is *not* a horse!" she exclaimed.

Returning to Joe’s side, Tyva warned Yory, "You’d better feed that thing every day, or we’ll end up as his dinner!"

Yory, having finished his soup, walked over to Boris. "He’s just a horse! And when bad people attack, he’ll eat *them!*" he proclaimed confidently.

Standing in front of Boris, Yory examined him closely. Joe and the girls watched as Yory hesitated to pat the creature. Finally, he turned around and admitted, "Oh right, I forgot—if you pat him, he might bite your hand off! I keep forgetting he’s... special."

Joe and Lana were startled, but Tyva was terrified. She cried out, "If I’d touched him earlier, that monster would’ve eaten my arm! Yory, get rid of that thing!"

Yory spun around and shouted, "This horse is my friend! …And he is useful."

Meanwhile, in the demon kingdom, a week later, in the land of the Children of the Forest, it took a four-hour cart journey south of Clovendell City to reach Taf's domain. Taf, often called the Mother due to her leadership, sat in her office surrounded by children. Little ghouls, dwarves, elves, humans, and some Forest Children all gathered around, captivated by her storytelling.

Her soft voice and calm smile made the story even more enjoyable. Taf was a strikingly beautiful woman with long brown hair that cascaded past her shoulders, vivid green eyes, and a small scar on her right cheek. She wore a long blue dress, and on her left hand, she wore a beautiful ring on her middle finger. Despite rumours of being over a thousand years old, she appeared youthful and possessed immense magical power. As one of the Forest Children, Taf belonged to a peaceful species incapable of harm, guided by their inherent nature.

At the doorway, an elven messenger waited with a letter, unwilling to interrupt her storytelling.

Taf finished the story, saying, "And so, the evil demon king died, ending an era, while the Children Forest lived happily. Now, my dear ones, go and play! Remember, I'm always here for you, even if it's just for a chat."

The children beamed, rushing to the door. As they passed, the elven guard bowed and announced, "Mother Taf, the Demon Queen Jane has sent you a letter."

Taf smiled warmly and replied, "Thank you, Zis."

The elf was momentarily surprised, then quickly bowed and exited the room. Once outside, he smiled to himself, whispering, "She remembered me? I was just a small elf when she raised me, and she still remembers me? I’m happy!"

Looking up at the sky, he added, "I must hurry now before I’m late!"

With renewed energy, Zis dashed toward the gate, eager to complete his remaining tasks. His heart was lifted knowing that, despite raising many children over the years, Taf still remembered them all.

In Taf's office, she opened the letter and read aloud:

"This is Jane Gray Gyovani, the demon queen, extending her gratitude to Taf Karaban, the mother and leader of the Forest Children, for the supplies and crucial support provided to the kingdom’s besieged cities. Time and again, you’ve shown that the Forest Children's land stands with us in our darkest hours. We will repay you with double the resources and generously compensate you for your help. – Queen Jane Gray Gyovani."

Taf finished reading and leaned back in her chair, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Of course, for the children, it’s always worth it,” she murmured with satisfaction.

She gazed out the window, watching the children play freely, the townsfolk content at their work, and the elders peacefully enjoying their days. Her smile lingered, though tinged with sadness, as she thought to herself, *The old times were harsh, full of cruelty. I can only hope these new days stay bright, that good people live in peace. If that means giving food and water, then I will do so, until every child is fed, every elder is cared for, and all live in safety.*

Placing a hand on her chest, she closed her eyes, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, and whispered, “And for you… Papa.”

Three weeks later, Yory and his companions reached Giraf village, Boris letting out a loud neigh as they neared its entrance. Giraf spread out before them, modestly guarded by small, decorative wooden walls, more for appearance than actual defence.

A ghoul guard approached with a friendly smile. “Good day, merchant. Welcome to Giraf village. The entrance fee is 2 silvers, if that’s fine with you.”

Yory handed over the coins and then entered the village. Unlike others, Giraf had two large buildings, several homes, a bustling market, and a cosy garden.

Taking it all in, Yory remarked, “Give it seven more years, and this place will be called a town.”

He stopped outside a small but notably larger inn than others he had seen in villages. Joe, still half-asleep, rubbed his eyes as he stepped out of the cart. Meanwhile, Tyva quietly taught Lana words from the old local language, allowing Joe a much-needed rest after their long journey.

Joe was exhausted. Over the past few weeks of travel, when they arrived at a small city called Yux, he had been forced to leave the cart behind and trek on foot to neighbouring towns, gathering information about the gold market.

This frantic running between cities had all started with a tip from a drunken dwarf Joe had met in a tavern in Hetry City before leaving with Yory and the girls.

At the tavern, Joe had sat across from the dwarf, who, drunk and still drinking, blurted out: "Young lad, I've heard a damn story about a foreign gold trader who’s opened a jewellery shop and a little gold-trading store. Damn my head! Anyway, that bastard’s the son of a wealthy ghoul merchant who came to this kingdom to kick off a gold business, and he's paying good prices for gold! Better than those greedy fools could ever imagine!"

Joe’s mind began to race. *If this is true and the ghoul merchant really is offering high prices, this could work in my favour—I've got enough gold to make a fortune! But what about the rest of the region? Surely, merchants from all over the kingdom will flock to this guy. It'll throw the entire market into chaos. Why would he risk losing money by offering higher prices?*

Joe paced back and forth as the dwarf passed out, surrounded by empty wooden mugs. Then it hit him: *He’s not planning to lose money. He wants to corner the gold market! By offering those prices, he’ll attract so many merchants that other regions will be forced to compete, or...*

Joe stopped, his face growing grim as the realization settled. "A brigands’ war will break out. Rich merchants will hire bandits to raid their rivals, and innocent lives will be caught in the crossfire. Unless the knights and soldiers of this kingdom are more capable than I’ve seen lately, the future looks dark."

Now, in the present, Joe lay fast asleep in a small room in Giraf's inn, still wearing his coat as he was too exhausted to take it off. Meanwhile, Yory was guiding Tyva and Lana toward the city’s Civic office to meet with the Alderman.

Upon entering the building, they found themselves inside a modest two-story structure. An elf guard greeted them with a nod and asked, "Welcome to our village. How may I assist you?"

Yory was about to respond when Tyva, her eyes filled with concern, spoke up, "Please, can you tell me anything about my mother? Risa, a noblewoman from Daekrahm City."

The elf guard, maintaining a calm demeanour, tried to reassure her. "Lady Risa is the Alderwoman of this village. She’s currently in the capital on business and is expected to return tomorrow."

Tyva’s face lit up with joy, and she threw her arms around Lana, exclaiming, "Mama’s there! Yory, we have to go to the capital!"

Yory, watching Tyva’s excitement, gently replied, "We can’t. The capital is too vast to search for one person."

Before Tyva could protest, the elf guard chimed in, "He’s right. There’s no need. Lady Risa will return either tomorrow or the day after. Besides, even if you leave now, there are many routes to the capital, each with smaller cities and crisscrossing roads. She could be travelling on any of them."

Tyva’s shoulders slumped, her disappointment clear, but she understood. Waiting was now the only option, though it was a hard pill to swallow for someone her age. Noticing her mood, Yory offered, "I heard the inn is serving meat today. Would you like to join us?"

Tyva managed a small, forced smile and nodded. "Yes, let’s go."

The elf guard then added, "Sir, she’s the daughter of the Alderwoman. She can remain here with us, and we’ll make sure she’s well taken care of."

Yory glanced at Tyva, noticing Lana still holding her hand, hesitant to let go. Turning to the guard, Yory stated firmly, "I was paid to protect her. I'll watch over her until she’s reunited with her mother. After that, I’ll head to the capital."

Lana hugged Tyva happily, while the guard nodded in understanding, replying, "Welcome to Giraf village, my merchant friend."

After lunch, Lana and Tyva sat beneath a tree, with Tyva teaching Lana more ancient words. Yory, sitting comfortably on a chair near the inn, kept an eye on the girls while reading a book about the intricate details and unspoken rules of the gold market.

As dusk approached, Joe stepped out of the inn, rolling his shoulders to shake off the stiffness. He joined Yory and grumbled, "I slept the whole damn day."

Yory closed his book and asked, "What's your plan now?"

"I’ll eat, then head back to bed," Joe replied. "Tomorrow, I need to make the trip to the capital. It’s a two-day journey, but for me, it’s just a day’s travel."

Yory nodded thoughtfully before suggesting, "Why not hire a horse?"

Joe laughed, a mocking edge to his tone. "I had a bad run-in with a horse four years ago. Let’s just say, I’d rather not repeat the experience."

Yory chuckled. "I’ll stay here another two days for Tyva. If all goes well, I’ll meet you at the capital in four days."

As Joe started toward the inn’s door, Yory called after him, "What happened with the horse? The one you had a bad experience with?"

Joe paused, turned back with a serious look, and said, "I killed it and ate it."

Yory erupted into laughter as Joe walked inside, muttering under his breath, "DAMN HORSES!"