Three days had slipped after the meetings in roundtable chamber~ three days since Draves agreed for them to participate in this war.
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Rigour Town no longer felt like the same place.
The once quiet streets now echoed with the heavy clang of armored boots. Royal guards had poured into the town in overwhelming numbers, their silver crests glinting beneath the muted sun. They stood at every corner, every gate—watchful, silent, suffocating.
Carriages creaked along the cobbled roads, pulled not by horses, but by massive ground dragons—beasts of scale and muscle, their breath steaming against the morning air. Inside those carriages, villagers sat in uneasy silence, clutching what little they could carry as they were escorted toward the neighbouring town of Oen.
The reason behind this action were because if any emergency occurs then life of vulnerable people would not be endangered.
Amid this chaos, Kira walked through the bazaar.
A market in Rigour town famous for its goods which attract many merchants from all over Ignaroth kingdom.
His eyes scanned the shifting world around him. In his hands were some fruits which Lisa ordered him to bring~ though mostly they were just apples.
Merchants who once bowed their heads in fear now argued loudly among themselves.
"Your prices are absurd!"
"And yours are lies!"
The noise was sharp, alive—normal.
Kira paused.
For the first time… they weren't whispering about him.
No one avoided his gaze.No one trembled as he passed.
A strange feeling stirred within him.
So, this is what it feels like… to not be feared., He thought.
But the thought didn't comfort him as much as he expected.
It felt… distant.
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"Didn't think I'd see you walking around like this.", It was familiar one~ quite familiar for Kira.
His eyes shifted with his head towards the voice. It was someone who helped him before~ He was one of them who played important part in his life before.
The person was~
"Stok", Kira acknowledged.
"How are you.", Stok said as a sign of a usual greeting when a two person meets after a long time.
"Yeah...", Kira hesitates, unable to say something after that and unable to overcome his past of despair.
Stok noticed it by looking into Kira eyes and decides to change the subject.
Stok smirked faintly."You heading to the university?"
Kira nodded.
Without another word, the two began walking side by side, their steps echoing in quiet rhythm against the stone roads.
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At University of Torminas.
The grand halls of the university stood untouched by the chaos outside—silent, towering, and heavy with mana.
As Kira and Stok entered, a familiar presence awaited them.
Oryn.
He stood near the centre of the hall, arms folded, his sharp eyes locking onto Kira the moment he stepped inside.
Disdain was not hidden—it burned openly.
It was in his eyes which tells Kira that he hates him though by not words by the bitter expression filled with hatred.
Kira observed but tilted his head unable to say anything.
Stok shifted uncomfortably, but Kira simply walked past him.
He never stops but continued walking forward and forward ignoring the glare of Oryn who was looking at his back.
Hatred is just a fool and retarded people's way to show jealousy. It is not something you except but is given to you by others like a marriage proposal. It is easy to ignore praises, but it is not easy to ignore hate,Despair.
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Kira and Draves walked through the hallway, through the door and enters a room.
It was principle office full of darkness but a faint light was passing through the window, but it was blocked by none other than Principle who was observing the wall surrounding Rigour town or to be specific beyond those walls~ Eldoria Forest.
Kira eyes hovered in the room and there he saw Lisa leaned herself towards wall. He passed the apples towards her and she smiled saying " Thanks".
Besides her was standing Riya with her hand on her sword and then he saw Draves was standing beside principle with his face looking at same direction as him.
The only one who was not present was Elvin who is naturally should be present but after giving some thoughts he realised that Elvin would be with royal guards~ at the wall.
The air was tensed.
and as he decides to cut the tension something emerged.
"Umm...~"
The principle cut him looking serious he says ~
"Here they come"
A large high pitched voice echoed through the town.
"Aghhhhhhhhh."
It was not only one. There were many.
Kira eyes hovered and he pushed himself towards the window and what he saw made his surprise.
A large group of wild beasts were rampaging towards Rigour town breaking trees of Eldoria forest.
The group was contenting mixtures of various animals like wolves, bear, but their size was not normal compared to normal animals. It was like they were artificially created beast.
And behind all of the beast there was a monster looking like a snake. His fangs were big approx. a height of a normal child. and behind him were wings though he was not able to fly with them, but it was pretty dangerous.
"It can't be", Stok muttered.
His voice was cracking.
"It can't be... It is the beast of corruption.", Stok said in a low voice, sweating and standing beside Kira.
"Wha...", a new word for Kira as he was confused about what did Stok said.
"No, it is not.", Draves said holding his sword and reliving Stok. "I fought him... It doesn't have any horn.", His eyes shifted towards Kira and then Riya.
"Let's go"