A few moments later, as the carriage moved through the nation streets, Thorn stood and jumped off, landing softly on his feet without a sound.
The old woman gasped, yanking the reins to stop the horse. "Are you all right? Why did you do that?" she called, worry etched in her voice.
Thorn turned back to her with a calm smile, offering a reassuring wave. "I'm fine, ma'am. This is my stop. I should have people here to lead me to my friend."
She exhaled slowly, still frowning, but her expression softened. "Well… all right then. Bye, young man. Take care of yourself."
"Thank you," Thorn said gently.
She clicked the reins, and the carriage began moving again, creaking down the road until it faded into the distance.
Thorn stood there for a moment, watching it go. His voice dropped to a quiet murmur. "What a nice old lady…"
"That kind of kindness… unexpected," he thought, "but appreciated."
Behind him, movement stirred.
An orc elite was already stepping forward, large and imposing, his slate-gray eyes sharp beneath a coarse black topknot. He bent slightly into a respectful bow.
"Welcome, King Thorn. How was the journey?"
Thorn smiled faintly, his posture relaxed but firm. "It was good. I presume you're here to lead me to Subaru?"
"Yes, King Thorn. Please follow me."
With no more words needed, the orc turned and began walking, his steps steady. Thorn fell into step behind him, his gaze fixed forward, quiet and unreadable.
Somewhere in the dominion, in a sunlit playground, the warm breeze carried the sound of laughter and the rise and fall of a voice wrapped in story. A dozen children sat on the soft grass in a perfect semicircle, their faces bright with wonder and anticipation.
At the center sat Subaru, cross-legged and calm, as if he belonged there more than anywhere else in the world. Liora was curled in his lap, her tiny hands clutching his shirt, eyes wide and unblinking. Her seriousness made her look older than her years, but she leaned against him as if the story itself was the only thing keeping the world steady.
Alya stood nearby, arms crossed loosely, watching with the quiet vigilance of someone who knew peace was always temporary. Two elites, Clayton and Jong-Min, stood further back, their postures straight, though the corners of their mouths twitched with quiet amusement.
"…and when I was fighting the Minotaur," Subaru said, his voice a low, rumbling thread that wove itself through the sunlight, "I went straight for his head with a clean punch. I thought I had him. But the beast just slapped me aside like I was a leaf in the wind."
A ripple of gasps ran through the children.
"I hit the ground so hard I thought the earth might swallow me. My hand burned. I couldn't breathe. I felt…" he paused, letting the silence thicken, "…helpless. Useless. Like I didn't belong on that battlefield."
Liora's brows creased. She clutched his sleeve tighter.
"But" he continued, "then my friend…someone who was once dear to me…shouted at me. Told me to feel the emotion inside… That the only way forward was through the fire in my heart. So I stood up, one last time, and with my dagger in hand and his voice in my head… I brought that monster down."
There was a hush.
Then a human boy, his voice almost a whisper, said, "Were you scared?"
Subaru gave a small, thoughtful smile. "More than I'd ever been."
A beastkin boy with a forked tongue flicked it eagerly. "Did you fight more of them after?"
Subaru chuckled, the sound warm and deep. "Oh no. I passed out. Flat on my back. My body felt like stone."
Liora tilted her head, face scrunching in disbelief. "Grandpa… you were really weak."
A pause—then the children erupted in laughter. The half-elf girl with the golden braid laughed so hard she nearly toppled over.
Subaru gasped in mock betrayal. "Weak?! Your grandpa was a warrior! I was strong!"
The half-elf girl raised her hand like she had something very important to say. "My grandpa never passes out. Even when he fights ogres!"
"That's because your grandpa is an ogre," muttered a little boy beside her, and they all broke into louder giggles.
"My own family," Subaru said dramatically, placing a hand on his heart, "mocking me in front of the entire kingdom! My pride…shattered into a thousand pieces!"
"Even powerful people can fall down," Liora said softly, patting his cheek with a small, serious hand. "But you got back up. That's what matters."
The children paused, as if those words sunk into something deep inside them. Then, without warning, they swarmed him in a tide of small arms and excited laughter, tackling him with hugs and squeals.
Alya smiled faintly, her gaze softening. Behind her, Clayton let out a barely audible chuckle, and Jong-Min nodded once, the barest flicker of amusement in his eyes.
Clayton's smile slowly faded as his eyes drifted behind him. Something shifted in his posture, a quiet alertness. He turned slightly and bowed his head as two figures approached: the tall, commanding form of the orc elite and the unmistakable presence of King Thorn himself.
"Welcome, King Thorn," Clayton said respectfully, his voice low.
"Thank you, Clayton," Thorn replied with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes swept over the sunlit gathering of children, his expression softening. "He's telling one of his stories again, is he?"
"Yes, King Thorn," Clayton confirmed, glancing back at the joyful scene.
Thorn stepped forward, his footsteps light despite his stature. As he approached the cluster of children, Subaru looked up, immediately recognizing him. A grin spread across his face.
"All right, kids," Subaru clapped his hands. "We have a very good guest here!"
The children turned in unison, their chatter fading as they looked up in wonder at the approaching figure.
"Hello, children," Thorn said with warmth in his voice, dipping his head slightly. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Subaru rested a hand gently on Liora's head. "Everyone, this is my best friend. King Thorn."
A pause passed between the children, wide eyes flicking between the two men. Then an older human boy piped up, his voice tinged with awe. "Is it the king? The one who fought beside you against an entire army?"
"That's the one," Subaru replied, his eyes gleaming. He gave the children a mischievous wink. "Brave, stubborn, and taller than a pine tree."
Their eyes widened further, and Subaru leaned in. "Now… what are you supposed to do when a king visits?"
Without hesitation, the children sprang to their feet, even Liora. In perfect, practiced unison, they bowed their heads and declared, "Welcome to Dreadholm Dominion, King Thorn!"
Thorn threw his head back and laughed — a deep, thunderous sound that rolled across the field and made the grass seem to shimmer. The sound alone drew smiles.
"Thank you, all of you," he said, his tone grateful. "You honor me more than a crown ever could."
A moment later, the children surged toward him, their small voices erupting in a wave of excitement.
"Did you really fight an army?!"
"Who's stronger, you or Lord Reaper?"
"Can you lift a boulder with one hand?!"
"Do you wear a crown all the time?"
"Easy, easy!" Thorn raised his hands playfully, trying to make space as they surrounded him. "One question at a time! Or I'll forget which battle you're talking about!"
Off to the side, Liora hesitated, her brows knitting. She looked up at Subaru, her hands clasped tightly in front of her chest. Can I go too?
Subaru smiled, reading her thought in an instant. "Go on, Liora. Join them."
Her eyes brightened instantly. She leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Grandpa!" she said before darting off toward the cluster.
Subaru watched her go, the faintest trace of pride on his face. A few minutes later, without turning his head, he gave a small hand signal.
Clayton and Jong-Min moved forward with wordless precision, gently breaking into the crowd.
"Okay, okay, children," Clayton said, his tone firm yet kind. "That's enough for now. It's time to go home."
A wave of disappointed groans rippled through the group.
"But we just started asking questions!" a girl whined, clutching Thorn's sleeve.
Thorn crouched slightly so he could meet their eyes. His smile returned, wide and reassuring. "Don't worry. I'm not leaving just yet. I promise, I'll answer every question you still have… next time."
That was all it took. The children lit up again, their spirits instantly soothed. With bright chatter, they began trailing after Clayton and Jong-Min, still giggling and whispering excitedly among themselves.
Alya stepped forward, lifting Liora gently into her arms. The girl turned to look at the departing group, her voice small. "Why don't I get to follow them?"
"You can't, young mistress," Alya replied softly, brushing Liora's hair back from her face. "They're going home to their families."
Liora rested her head against Alya's shoulder. She didn't argue.
Thorn finally reached Subaru, who was still seated on the grass, watching it all with a quiet smile.
"It's good to see you, old friend," Thorn said, offering his hand.
"Good to see you too," Subaru replied, taking it and standing. He brushed the grass off his pants. "You came early."
The two men began walking together toward the mansion, Alya trailing behind them with Liora cradled close in her arms.
"What did you expect?" Thorn said, a low scoff in his voice. He bumped Subaru's shoulder lightly. "You said I needed to come early, so I did. Now tell me…why?"
Subaru didn't answer immediately. His gaze lifted toward the sky, where clouds drifted slowly across a pale canvas. The light in his eyes dimmed as something heavier took root behind them.
"We need to head to the Elven Kingdom first."
Thorn's footsteps slowed. His brow creased.
"The Elves? And why would we need to see that old kill joy first?"
Subaru didn't look at him. "It has something to do with the Seven Sins."
Thorn froze in place. His voice dropped, the playfulness vanishing like smoke. "The Sins... Don't tell me they've—"
"Exactly," Subaru said, cutting him off, quiet and grim.
A long silence followed, broken only by the sound of their boots against the gravel path. Thorn's jaw clenched, but he didn't speak right away. Then, after a breath:
"So we go there first. Then to the summit?"
Subaru finally turned to face him. His tone was steady, but there was something buried beneath it—urgency, maybe even fear. "That's the plan. You ready?"
Thorn didn't hesitate. "I always am."
Subaru nodded once. "Good. Let's stop at the mansion first."
"Fine," Thorn muttered, though the tension in his shoulders didn't ease.
They walked in silence for a few paces, their shadows stretching behind them. Then Thorn gave him a sidelong glance.
"Hey, Subaru... your security. You've really doubled it."
Subaru chuckled, a dry sound that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You never know who might try teleporting into the dominion uninvited."
Thorn laughed—deep, guttural, knowing. But the sound felt sharper now. Less amusement. More edge.
"The Sins... after all this time? Another problem to deal with."
And just like that, the air around them felt colder. Heavier.
Something was coming.