Caesar asked with curiosity, "Zoe, do you have any thoughts?"
Zoe nodded and replied softly, "Actually… before I came to meet you, Lord Caesar, I encountered the Earth Goddess on my way here. She briefly spoke of the current situation and guided us to head towards the realm of the Wind Goddess to seek the sealed power. She also mentioned that Lord Barn's strength has been taken. At the time, I couldn't understand what she meant… but after meeting you, I finally grasped her words. So… should we follow her advice and journey to the Wind Goddess's realm?"
Caesar frowned, "The Earth Goddess? That eccentric has ventured into the Misty Forest? Hahaha, among all the goddesses, she is truly one of a kind!"
"Lord Caesar, you know the Earth Goddess?" Zoe asked, looking at him in surprise.
Caesar chuckled and nodded, "Of course. During my earlier adventures, I met her in battle once. She was quite amusing back then. While the other goddesses focused on defeating enemies, she offered us rest, invited us to dine, and even took our team on a tour of her domain for three whole days. Along the way, she upgraded our armor and weapons too. Her ways are certainly unique."
Zoe nodded thoughtfully, "I see. It sounds like the Earth Goddess has good intentions. So, her words should be trustworthy, right?"
Caesar agreed, "Yes, I don't believe she'd deceive us. Let's set out for the Wind Goddess's domain!"
Zoe nodded in return, "All right, then let's go to the Wind Goddess's domain together…"
Caesar paused, glancing at her. "You're coming too?"
"Of course!" Zoe answered naturally. "I already promised the Earth Goddess that I would help Lord Barn reclaim his power. Now that I understand the situation, I'm definitely going with you. Besides, with your current strength, Lord Caesar, it might be difficult to retrieve Lord Barn's power alone, right?"
Caesar scratched his head and said with a slight hint of reluctance, "You may have a point. Though my strength has waned a bit, I wouldn't say I need a woman's protection, hahaha—"
Before he could finish, Zoe's swift right hook sent him sprawling to the ground.
"See? You couldn't even dodge my little sneak attack," Zoe said with a satisfied smile. "Still think you haven't weakened? You're practically defenseless!"
Caesar lay on the ground, a large bump forming on his head, silently muttering, *This brat… doesn't play by any rules…*
Zoe then looked at Caesar and asked, "Lord Caesar, don't you need a weapon?"
Caesar thought for a moment. "Yes… I could use a sword." He glanced at her, "Do you happen to have one?"
Zoe shook her head. "What about the sword you used to wield?"
Caesar frowned, "I'm not sure where it is. It might have been taken back by my comrades after my death."
"So, it might be at the White Fortress?" Zoe asked.
"It's possible," Caesar nodded but quickly shook his head. "But we shouldn't return there. Last time we barely escaped with our lives, and they've likely strengthened their defenses since. All five Sages have probably returned to guard it, and even with Barn, we'd stand little chance against them together. Forget about my weapon for now; we'll find something in the towns or from traveling merchants along the way. That would be far easier."
Zoe narrowed her eyes and asked, "Lord Caesar… do you have any gold coins?"
Caesar jolted, realizing, "Right, buying things does require gold. How could I have forgotten? I used to earn it by taking on missions to hunt monsters, or by selling their pelts and meat to merchants… but now, it's complicated. I'm part of the dragon clan; I can't kill demons—they're practically my kin."
Zoe thought for a moment. "Not necessarily, Lord Caesar. I think we can still hunt monsters and exchange them for coins, just like you used to. Monsters grow quickly, and now that you've lost your dragon's aura, they won't recognize you as an ally. They'll treat you as a foe, so if we don't strike first, we'll be at great risk."
Caesar looked at her. "But aren't you also a dragon? Would they attack you too?"
Zoe sighed and nodded. "Yes. Monsters recognize only their own masters and kin. They're hostile to other races, and conflicts often arise, leading to casualties among us." Caesar nodded, understanding her explanation.
"Then let's be on our way. But, Zoe, do you know exactly where we are right now?" Caesar looked at her expectantly.
"We're not far from the White Fortress; just across the river ahead. Beyond it, you can see the fortress," Zoe replied.
Caesar nodded slightly. "I see. The Wind Goddess's domain is eastward, so we'll head toward the sunrise. But it may take us a few days. We should map our path along the way; otherwise, we might lose our bearings."
Zoe nodded enthusiastically, her face brimming with excitement. Caesar looked at her, puzzled. "Zoe, why are you so happy? This is a journey of wandering, after all."
Zoe, unfazed, replied with a lively tone, "Happy? Of course! It's been so long since I've traveled. I've always wanted to see the world. I hear it's filled with beautiful places just waiting for us to explore."
Caesar sighed gently and smiled at her, feeling as if he were watching over a younger sister—so pure and innocent. "Alright! Let's set off!"
Zoe beamed, repeatedly calling out, "Onward! Let's go, Lord Caesar!"
Caesar quickly interrupted her, "Zoe, from now on, just call me Caesar, without 'Lord.' I'm not used to such formalities."
Zoe nodded again, "Yes, Lord Caesar…"
Caesar sighed in exasperation, patting her on the head. "You silly girl… what am I to do with you?" He smiled, and they both laughed as they embarked on their journey.
*****************************
In the defense of the White Fortress, Niya, in the final moments, aided the Elder to drive back Barn, elevating his reputation within the stronghold to new heights. Wherever he went, townsfolk approached to offer him supplies, making him reluctant to venture outside. On this particular day, he stood atop the fortress balcony, gazing down upon the city and its surrounding villages, reminiscing about his days with the Heroes' Brigade. A soft smile played upon his lips, yet he still could not recall what had transpired on that fateful day. His only clue came from the soldiers' accounts—that Odissis had also been present. Determined to uncover the truth, Niya resolved to seek out Odissis and learn what had truly taken place.