Nolan dismissed Torrent back into the Spectral Steed Whistle, stepped onto the small boat moored at the shore, and stood at the bow, gazing into the distance until his eyes settled on the village at the foot of the mountain.
In the blink of an eye, four full years had passed since he left Liurnia of the Lakes.
Now that he had returned to this old place, the sight before him made him sigh at how much had changed. The Liurnia of the Lakes he once knew had already been transformed beyond recognition.
The once scattered, undisciplined troops had become well trained soldiers, equipped with fine gear and carrying themselves with confidence.
The people, too, had gathered together into lively, prosperous towns. It was nothing like the old days, when a few hundred people had to crowd into a single small settlement.
"What a huge change," Nolan said with a smile as he turned to look behind him.
Even though he had spent these past years wandering far from home, every one of these changes was still tied to him in one way or another.
Just then, a soft, graceful female voice reached his ears.
"My Lord, we merely followed the course you set for us back then, one step at a time, until we reached this point."
Following the voice, he saw a massive white wolf lying quietly in the middle of the boat, breathing in low, heavy pants.
Seated on the wolf's back was a beautiful young woman with an outstanding bearing, her lovely eyes resting quietly on Nolan.
The metal plates of her armor overlapped tightly. A quiver hung across her back, and she held a Longbow in her hand.
This valiant woman was none other than Latenna, the commander currently stationed by Caria in the Village of the Albinaurics.
She had also once served as Nolan's aide-de-camp.
Though time had left a few traces on her, that old familiarity remained unchanged.
After meeting again, the two of them naturally began reminiscing.
As they recalled the fierce battles they had fought in years past, every detail of those clashes, every choice made at the edge of life and death, seemed to replay before their eyes like scenes from a film.
As the conversation went on, Nolan also listened to her talk about all the changes that had taken place across this land.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered what the Tarnished had said earlier, and from Latenna he finally got his answer.
Caria was an exceptionally inclusive Dynasty. Not only did it accept the Albinauric Children, even Trolls, Misbegotten, and all kinds of strange races were able to live and work here in peace.
Across most of the Lands Between, such beings had no so called human rights at all. They were slaves, monsters, lives considered lesser than others.
For Tarnished who made a living by hunting living creatures, these strange races naturally became the perfect source of experience.
Even if they slaughtered them as they pleased, as long as they could live with themselves, there was no need to worry about moral condemnation from anyone else.
"No wonder the Tarnished ended up colluding with the Cuckoos."
Nolan stepped ashore slowly, giving a light whistle to call Torrent over.
Those Tarnished could openly kill these strange beings for runes while also earning military merit. Not only would they avoid punishment, they would even be praised and richly rewarded.
Where else could they find such a perfect arrangement?
Melina lightly leaped onto Torrent's back, wrapped her arms tightly around Nolan's waist, then turned her head to one side and remained silent.
By contrast, Torrent and the great white wolf Lobo got along remarkably well.
They played together freely, because they had long since become close friends. As fellow mounts, the wolf and horse had always been excellent playmates.
Latenna was just as curious about everything Nolan had gone through over the years, and she could not help asking,
"To be honest, I really want to know where you went during all the years you were gone."
"I just took a nap."
Nolan smiled faintly and slowly removed his helmet.
With those eyes stripped of Grace, he blinked at Latenna.
"We are no different now, Latenna."
The moment Nolan said that, Latenna froze for a second.
She truly had not noticed that detail before. Or perhaps she had sensed that something was off, but never thought more deeply about it.
Only now, as she looked at Nolan closely, did she finally realize that the Grace he once possessed was gone.
"Your... your Grace is gone? Could it be... have you really become a Tarnished?"
Latenna stared at him in shock, hardly able to believe it.
"Yeah. Do my eyes look strange?"
Nolan gave a small shrug, his gaze fixed on her, a relaxed smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
His question left Latenna a little stunned, and she studied the man before her carefully.
His eyes had lost Grace, yet they were still bright and striking. Beneath his high nose, his lips were finely shaped. His face could honestly be called flawless.
But the thing he cared about was strangely specific.
"Mm... no, they look quite nice."
Latenna simply could not make sense of the man in front of her.
Shouldn't he be worried about his Grace? Why was he asking what his eyes looked like?
"That's good."
A satisfied look appeared on Nolan's face.
Whether he had Grace or not did not really matter. Being handsome was a lifetime matter.
The two of them, along with one quiet little grouch, made their way toward Caria Manor while chatting along the road.
They talked and laughed as they went, and the mood was fairly light and relaxed.
One wore Carian Knight armor, the other was a regional commander, so the journey through the royal territory was completely unimpeded.
Just as the towering walls ahead drew closer and closer, a sharp shout suddenly rang out from above.
"Halt!"
Several ballistae and bows were immediately aimed at the three of them.
Once the soldiers guarding the city saw clearly that the arrivals were an Albinauric and a Carian Knight, they slowly lowered their weapons.
Soon after, an elderly Albinauric with white hair hurried over with several subordinates, seemingly intending to carry out a routine inspection.
But the moment the old man reached Nolan's steed, he froze on the spot as if turned to stone.
His eyes went wide, his face full of disbelief, and he muttered under his breath,
"Lo... Lord Nolan?"
Still seated on horseback, Nolan gave the man a good look and could not help smiling.
"Isn't that Dhurke? Still not retired?"
The man before him was none other than that old Albinauric friend of Raziel's. Nolan remembered that the old man was already quite advanced in age, but he had never admitted he was old, and never knew how to give in.
Who was this?
The soldiers standing nearby, who had remained on high alert the whole time, all turned curious looks toward this unfamiliar visitor after hearing Nolan speak.
They exchanged glances, confusion plain in their eyes.
There were only a few Carian Knights left now, and they had seen every one of them before. But this Tarnished was a completely unfamiliar face.
"These old bones of mine are still strong. I can fight for Her Highness the Princess for another hundred years yet," Dhurke said.