"From what the spies have found, it seems like they are waiting for the last batch of their students from Warrior and Magic Academy to graduate before they start the third war," replied Ruston with a serious face.
"How long does it usually take them to graduate," Belinda inquired.
"Between twenty to thirty years,"
"Hmm, we both have enough time to become Elder Dragon and for Namari to reach Eight Circle," Belinda said.
"Indeed we have," Ruston said as he walked toward Renan's room door.
After reaching the door, Ruston slightly pushes the door open and looks through it, "He's really asleep," he said while looking at Renan's sleeping face.
Belinda, who saw Ruston acting like this, thought inwardly, "Why is he acting like that? Can't he just use his senses to see whether he's asleep or not?"
"Umm did I not just tell you he's asleep," she asked.
Ruston closed the door and looked back at Belinda, "You did, but you know kids his age are quite mischievous. They might act like they are sleeping while they are not, so I was just confirming," he said with a serious face.
"..."
Belinda stared at Ruston, her eyebrows slightly raised and her lips pressed into a thin line, a look that screamed, Really? Are you serious right now?
"Ahem"
Ruston coughed and said, trying to change the subject, "So where were you going?"
Belinda just shook her head and answered, "Because you were just standing outside the door instead of coming in, so I came out to find you—and to figure out where is my idiotic daughter."
"Huh, what did she do now," Ruston asked, completely ignoring what she said about him.
"She's been on the training ground all day and hasn't come out yet. She should realize she has a child now—a child she needs to take care of and spend time with. I've been looking after him the entire day, and it's not that I mind—I adore my cute grandson. But as a mother, she needs to be there for him too," Belinda said, her voice tinged with frustration. Her tone softened as she added, sadness creeping in, "Who knows if we'll even survive the upcoming war?"
Ruston, who was going to reassure Belinda by saying some words of comfort, stopped midway because even he was not sure if they would survive this war.
Belinda, who saw Ruston's face and hesitation, said, "I'm sorry," and disappeared.
Ruston lifted his eyes to the ceiling and murmured, "I'll protect you all, even if it costs me my life. I promise." It was a vow he made aloud, even though deep down, he wasn't sure he could keep it.
______
SWISH
SWISH
In a vast arena within the castle, large enough to rival the size of a football field, two figures could be seen locked in an intense battle.
It was Namari and Gracen who were fighting Gracen with a white color katana and Namari with her bare hand, but it seemed like Gracen was winning and Namari was losing.
But just as Gracen was going to bring his katana close to Namari's neck to make her surrender, Namari's speed, which was equal to Gracen's before, suddenly changed, and she brought her neck backward with a swift while throwing a punch at Gracen's stomach and...
BOOM
The punch connected with a thunderous impact, sending Gracen hurtling out of the arena at lightning speed. He crashed into the wall with such force that it shattered into rubble.
"Huh"
"Opps sorry,"