Chapter 50: Return Home
The third day on the road dawned with a sky so clear it felt like the world was mocking us. The sun hung high, casting its golden light over the rolling hills and dense forests that stretched endlessly in every direction. The air was warm, but not oppressive, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and earth. It was the kind of day that made you want to kick back, relax, and forget about the fact that you were traveling with two nobles who had the emotional range of a brick wall.
But no. Here we were, riding back to Torak with the weight of history, betrayal, and a potential civil war hanging over our heads like a storm cloud. Ruko and I had spent the last two days in relative silence, the kind of silence that wasn't exactly uncomfortable but wasn't exactly comfortable either. It was the silence of two people who had too much on their minds and not enough words to say it. Every now and then, Ruko would glance at me, his ears twitching like he wanted to say something, but then he'd look away, and the silence would stretch on.
By midday, the walls of Torak finally came into view. The city was a sprawling beast of stone and steel, its high walls towering over the surrounding landscape like a fortress. From a distance, it looked almost majestic, the sunlight glinting off the polished stone and the banners of the noble houses fluttering in the breeze. But as we got closer, the cracks started to show—literally. The walls were old, their once-pristine surface marred by time and weather. The gates, though still imposing, bore the scars of countless battles, their iron hinges rusted and groaning with every movement.
The guards at the gate recognized Ruko immediately. They didn't even bother to stop us, just nodded as we passed through, their eyes lingering on me for a moment before moving on. I guess having a demi-human with you gets you a free pass in this city. Or maybe they just didn't care. Either way, we were in.
The streets of Torak were as bustling as ever, filled with merchants hawking their wares, children darting between carts, and the occasional noble strutting around like they owned the place—which, to be fair, some of them probably did. The air was thick with the smell of roasting meat, fresh bread, and the ever-present stench of too many people crammed into too small a space. It was chaos, but it was familiar chaos, and after days on the road, it was almost comforting.
We dropped the twins off at the best healer in town, Madam Roux. She happily took them off our hands when she noticed they were the twins of the city Lord himself.
We made our way through the city, heading toward the noble district. The closer we got, the more the atmosphere changed. The streets grew wider, the buildings taller and more ornate. The people here moved with a different kind of energy—slower, more deliberate, like they had all the time in the world. The guards patrolling the area were better equipped, their armor polished to a mirror shine, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. They eyed us as we passed, but again, Ruko's presence seemed to be enough to keep them from asking questions.
The noble district was a world unto itself, a place where the rich and powerful lived in their own little bubble, far removed from the struggles of the common folk. The mansions here were massive, their walls adorned with intricate carvings and their gardens filled with exotic plants that probably cost more than most people made in a year. It was the kind of place that made you feel small, insignificant, and maybe a little angry if you thought about it too much.
And then there was the city lord's mansion.
It was impossible to miss. The mansion was a fortress within a fortress, its high walls topped with spikes and patrolled by guards who looked like they could take on an army single-handedly. The gates were massive, made of wrought iron and adorned with the crest of the Detalia House—a lion surrounded by flames. The guards at the entrance straightened as we approached, their eyes narrowing as they took us in.
"Halt," one of them said, stepping forward. He was a big guy, the kind of big that made you wonder if he had a little giant blood in him. His armor was polished to a mirror shine, and his sword looked like it could cut through stone. "State your business."
Ruko stepped forward, his tail flicking slightly. "We're here to see Lord Lucian," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We have urgent news."
The guard's eyes flicked to me, then back to Ruko. "Ruko? I thought you went on a quest with the young master and young mistress?"
"Indeed," he said simply. "Lord Lucian will want to meet me to hear the report on the quest."
The guard hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Wait here."
He disappeared through the gates, leaving us standing there like a couple of idiots. I glanced at Ruko, raising an eyebrow. "You sure he's not gonna come back with a dozen more guards to throw us out?"
Ruko's ears twitched. "He'll come back. I have worked for him my whole life. The mission is too important too."
And he did. A few minutes later, the guard returned, his expression unreadable. "Lord Lucian will see you," he said, stepping aside to let us through.
The gates creaked open, and we stepped into the courtyard. The mansion loomed before us, its stone walls covered in ivy and its windows gleaming in the sunlight. The courtyard was immaculate, the grass perfectly trimmed and the flower beds bursting with color. It was the kind of place that made you feel like you should wipe your feet before stepping inside.
We were led through the courtyard and into the mansion itself. The interior was just as impressive as the outside, with high ceilings, marble floors, and walls adorned with tapestries and paintings that probably cost more than my entire life. The air was cool, carrying with it the faint scent of incense and something else I couldn't quite place—something old, like the smell of a library or a museum.
We were brought to a large sitting room, where we were told to wait. The room was filled with plush chairs and sofas, their cushions so soft they practically begged you to sit down. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. I couldn't help but feel a little out of place, like a stray dog that had wandered into a fancy dinner party.
We didn't have to wait long. A few minutes later, the door opened, and Lord Lucian stepped in.
He was an imposing figure, tall and broad-shouldered, with a presence that filled the room. His hair was streaked with gray, and his face was lined with age, but his eyes were sharp, piercing, like they could see right through you. He was dressed in fine robes, their fabric rich and heavy, and he carried himself with the kind of confidence that only comes from a lifetime of power.
"Ruko," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "What news do you bring?"
Ruko stepped forward, his ears twitching slightly. "My lord, we've returned from the ruins. The mission was… complicated."
Lord Lucian's eyes narrowed. "Complicated how?"
Ruko hesitated for a moment, then glanced at me. "Kaizen, perhaps you should explain."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Long story short, we found the ruins, fought some monsters, and almost got killed by a guy named Menato. You know, the usual."
Lord Lucian's expression didn't change, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. "Explain."
So I did. I told him about the ruins, about the artifact, about Menato and his insane strength.
By the time I was done, the room was silent. Lord Lucian stood there, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on me. For a moment, I thought he was going to yell, to demand answers, to do something. But instead, he just nodded.
"I see," he said, his voice calm but heavy with meaning. "This is… troubling news."
"Yeah," I said, leaning back against the wall. "Troubling's one word for it."
Lord Lucian turned to Ruko. "And the twins? Where are they?"
Ruko's ears drooped slightly. "They're… incapacitated, my lord. They were injured during the mission. We left them in the care of a healer on the outskirts of the city."
Lord Lucian's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned and walked over to the window, staring out at the courtyard. For a long moment, he was silent, his hands clasped behind his back.
Finally, he spoke. "You've done well to bring this information to me. But there is much to be done. For now you have to report everything you told me to the Duchess. If what you say is true, then we are on the brink of a conflict that could tear this kingdom apart."
I nodded. "Yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it."
Lord Lucian turned back to us, his expression grim. "Rest for now. You've earned it. But be ready. The days ahead will not be easy."
With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Ruko and me standing there in silence.
I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. "Well, that went about as well as expected."
Ruko didn't say anything, but his ears twitched slightly, and I could see the tension in his shoulders.
I glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "You okay?"
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'll be fine."
I didn't push it. Instead, I just leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room.
We were back in Torak, back in the heart of the noble district. But something told me this was just the beginning.
And I had a feeling things were about to get a whole lot worse.