Desperation was evident on Mira and Aldric's faces as they realized their time was running out. Aldric pulled out a teleportation scroll that could only take one person. He gazed lovingly at Izzan.
Aldric: "Izzan, listen carefully. This scroll will take you to a safe place. You need to leave now."
Mira held Izzan's hand, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.
Mira: "My son, remember that we will always love you. Never forget who you are. You are our hope. Stay strong, Izzan. We believe in you."
Izzan felt his heart shatter at his mother's words. But Aldric added firmly, while placing the pendant he had given him earlier around Izzan's neck.
Aldric: "This pendant will help you find my uncle, Dorian. He can help and protect you. When you use it, remember how to activate it: say 'Light, guide me to Dorian,' and he will appear. You'll need to find your own path now, Izzan. This is your life from here on."
As he fastened the dimensional pouch, Aldric continued, "There's some money inside. Use it wisely. You'll need to live independently."
Izzan stood speechless, overwhelmed by the reality that this new family he had just begun to cherish was about to be torn from him. All his cherished memories were just starting, but now they had to end. He cried out in desperation.
Izzan: "No! Don't leave me!"
As the explosion neared, Aldric ripped the teleportation scroll and activated it, forcefully pulling Izzan into its magic. Zarek, who had been watching everything, laughed mockingly as he avoided the blast that destroyed everything around him.
Zarek: "Haha! Nothing can save you now, Aldric!"
After the explosion subsided, Zarek glanced around, searching for the artifact he so desperately sought, but he couldn't find it. His frustration mounted.
Zarek: "Where are all the relics? This is pointless! The artifact should've been here!"
Realizing that Izzan had taken the sought-after item with him, Zarek knew he'd have to change his strategy. Izzan's uncle, Dorian, was his only hope of obtaining the technology he desired. However, Dorian was in the kingdom, a place not easily reached.
Zarek: "Fine, I'll return to the base. We'll figure out a way to reach Dorian and get what we need. This time, I won't underestimate my enemies."
With renewed determination, Zarek hurried back to his base, leaving behind an empty battlefield where Aldric and Mira had fought until the very end.
Izzan was still speechless, feeling the weight of the recent loss. Now, he stood in the heart of the city where his mother's kingdom lay, in front of the grand teleportation gates. All the luxury and grandeur felt foreign to him. Sensing Izzan's confusion, Athena tried to snap him back to reality.
Athena: "Izzan, you need to move! This isn't the time to fall apart. We have to find my uncle and continue our mission."
But before Izzan could react, two street thugs who had been watching the situation approached him. They mistook him for a clueless villager, awestruck by the city's splendor, and saw an opportunity to rob him. One of them put an arm around Izzan, attempting to steal his pendant and dimensional pouch.
Thug A: "Hah! What are you doing here, bumpkin? Hand over that pendant, and we won't hurt you!"
Athena immediately alerted Izzan.
Athena: "Izzan, be careful! They're dangerous!"
As if awakened from his despair, Izzan quickly subdued one of the thugs. The other, panicking, pulled out a knife and tried to attack. In an instant, Izzan dodged and swiftly took him down, neutralizing the threat with ease.
The commotion caught the attention of the city guards, who quickly rushed over. Seeing the situation, one of the guards questioned them.
Guard: "What's going on here?"
Izzan quickly explained that they had attempted to rob him. When the guard noticed the pendant hanging around Izzan's neck, his expression shifted to one of surprise.
Guard: "That pendant! It's a symbol only possessed by members of the royal family or ministers! Where did you get it?"
A dark thought seemed to cross the guard's mind, as if he intended to take the pendant for himself. He directed his men to arrest the two thugs before turning back to Izzan.
Guard: "Come with me to the station. We'll need to ask you a few more questions."
At the station, the atmosphere grew tense. The guard stared at Izzan suspiciously.
Guard: "Where did you steal this pendant?!"
Izzan tried to explain that the pendant was his father's. But the guard sneered.
Guard: "A filthy villager like you has no right to possess something so valuable!"
He snatched the pendant from Izzan's neck. Though furious, Izzan knew there was something bigger at stake. As he tried to fight back, Athena quickly stopped him.
Athena: "Izzan, don't! He's stronger than you right now. Focus on finding my uncle—don't waste your energy on this."
After a moment of hesitation, Izzan reluctantly let the pendant go. The guard ordered him out of the station.
Guard: "Get out now! We don't have time for people like you."
Once outside, Izzan felt empty without the pendant. He decided to seek Athena's help.
Izzan: "Athena, do a wide-area scan. We need to know where my uncle is."
Athena quickly executed the command, using 60% of her mana to generate a map of the kingdom, highlighting important locations and potential points that could help them find Dorian.
Athena: "The map's ready. We can use this to find more clues."
Izzan gazed at the map with newfound hope. Even though he had lost the precious pendant, he knew there was still a way to continue the mission and find his uncle.