Return of the Mythic Bloodline

"How are you feeling?" I asked, lying sideways on the bed with my face resting on my palm.

"Refreshed," Ume murmured, opening her eyes after sleeping for twelve hours straight.

When she fell unconscious, I carried her to her room and stayed here, waiting for her to wake up.

She turned towards me, her hand touching my cheek, and asked softly, "Why aren't you wearing your mask?"

"I thought you would like it if you saw my original face when you woke up," I replied, scratching my temple.

"That's a very narcissistic thing to say."

"So you don't like it? Should I wear the mask again?" I muttered, reaching for the mask placed on the table beside the bed.

"Why are you in such a rush!" Ume mumbled, grabbing my wrist from behind. "I never said I didn't like it."

With a faint smile on my face, I turned to her side again as I continued the conversation, "I heard you formed your third tail. Congratulations on your breakthrough."

"Thanks," she whispered, her fingers playing with her hair.

"Huh? Did you comb my hair?" she asked, seeing her braids tied properly.

"Well, they had turned messy again, so I styled them. How is it?"

She rose to a sitting position, moved towards the mirror on the wall, and examined her hair.

"From now on, I bestow upon you the duty of taking care of my hair," she announced, obviously satisfied with her hairstyle.

My hands coiled around her soft stomach as I stood behind her with my lips closer to her fluffy ears.

"Why only hair?" I whispered. "I will take care of the whole you as long as there is life in this body."

Her ears straightened, and she took a long gulp the moment I said those words.

"That's a very heavy duty you're asking for," she mumbled. "I lived as a queen for over a millenia with every precious treasure of this world at my fingertips. I have been spoiled endlessly and can be very demanding."

She raised her face, her eyes meeting mine. "Are you sure you can take care of me?"

"As of now, I can't provide you with all the riches of the world that you used to have, however…" I pulled her closer to me from her belly, her back touching my chest, and landed a gentle kiss on her cheek before continuing, "I can guarantee that you will be happier with me than you ever were."

She turned to my side, leaned her head on my chest, and murmured, "Engrave these words that you said to me today into your heart and never forget them."

"I will never," I replied, gently patting her head.

The two of us moved to the bed where we sat side by side when I began, almost breaking, "Ume, because of me, a wife lost her husband and a child lost their father. I made an unforgivable and perpetual mistake for which I can never forgive myself.

May you come with me to meet Sarena? It's too difficult for me to go alone."

"When I was a queen, I also lost many subordinates I cherished," Ume explained. "It's a burden that every leader must carry on their shoulders. You might try to become powerful enough to protect your subordinates, but that can only reduce the death count. As long as you walk the path of a leader in Vyoman, sacrifices are inevitable.

By blaming yourself for their deaths, you are disrespecting the sacrifice made by them. You must live a life of true fulfillment so the souls of your subordinates won't regret giving their lives for you."

Every word of Ume struck my heart like a blacksmith strikes iron with a hammer to mold it into the perfect armour.

"I'm really grateful for this lesson, Ume," I replied, rising to my feet. "I will be back after visiting Sarena."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No," I rejected firmly. "As you said, it's a burden that I must carry on my shoulders."

Deciding not to delay it any further, I left the castle and reached the surface of the city.

The moment I arrived, people began gathering, their faces carrying dumbfounded expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

"H-he is still alive?"

"His limbs have also regenerated. What kind of power does he possess to recover from such injuries?"

Slowly, their expressions turned to relief as they murmured, their voices laced with awe and hope.

"Doesn't that mean the city is saved now?"

"You're right. El Dorado only managed to injure him by setting an ambush."

"Exactly. Even with all the key members of El-Dorado present that day, they couldn't kill Sir Morning Star. There's no way they can win against him in a fair battle."

My eyebrows lifted in quiet surprise hearing their murmurs.

"Key members? So those three were the only key members of El-Dorado?" I thought inwardly but didn't dwell on it further, as my primary purpose in arriving in the city was something else.

"Congratulations on your recovery, Sir Morning Star."

"We are glad that you are safe and healthy again."

Their warm wishes echoed through the street while I walked towards Sarena's house.

I was about to reach the place when a feminine voice called from behind, "Sir Morning Star?"

I turned and found Sarena standing behind me, holding an infant in her arms.

From the moment I had left Ume's room, I had been preparing myself to meet Sarena, ask for her forgiveness, and face all the hatred and curses she might throw at me.

Without showing a hint of hesitation in my voice, I announced, "Sarena, your husband Edrick was a brave, strong, and honorable man. Throughout the whole battle, he didn't show a hint of fear and fought fearlessly even though he was against Awakeners of higher realms."

Taking a deep breath, I declared, "As the leader of Forlorn City, I bestow upon Edrick the title of 'Hero of the Forlorn City'. His statue shall be mounted at the centre of the city to inspire future generations to become brave and honorable like him."

My announcement brought tears to Sarena's eyes. She began sobbing uncontrollably, falling to her knees.

"I understand no amount of wealth or treasure can replace what you have lost, Sarena," I continued, bowing my upper body before her. "I apologise for not being able to save him."

The people on the streets gasped in shock seeing me bow before Sarena.

"In all my life, I have never seen an Awakener apologising to a commoner."

"He is not just an Awakener. For god's sake, he is the ruler of this city, and yet he is bowing to her in front of the whole city."

"Have you ever seen a noble behaving like this before?"

"He isn't a noble. Before killing Victor, he was a slave like us—that's why he understands us. He is the best leader we can hope for."

.

.

.

While the gatherers' rustles filled the streets, the one whose response I waited for remained utterly silent.

She was just crying without saying anything.

After almost five minutes of continuous sobbing, she finally spoke, "Pl-please rise, Sir Morning Star. I do not blame you for Edrick's death. We would have never made it out of that hell if you hadn't stepped in that day. H-he only returned the favour."

She pushed herself to a standing position, extended her arms, carrying the newborn to me, and murmured, "Edrick wanted you to name our child. She has been nameless for twenty days. Give her a name, Sir Morning Star."

The little girl in her hands carried pale apricot eyes and gave a heartwarming smile looking at me. I softly touched her head and announced,

"From the place where I belong, there's a goddess that chases away the darkness. I shall bestow the name of that goddess upon this child. From now on, the name of this child is Usha."