As Bebak watched the third chief pass away, a radiant light descended, dropping objects into the heart of the village. Squinting, he saw it was the third chief and his people. Bebak and Ranzak rushed to help, and once the third chief was stable, they explained the situation. The magnitude of the story overwhelmed him, causing him to faint eight times, surpassing Ranzak's record.
When he finally grasped the immense truth, he turned to Bebak and said, "I am happy for you, Sixth—no, Bebak now, right? You've surpassed your father's dreams and ambitions, facing an enemy from the future. Let me give you this."
He handed Bebak an ancient object, caked in layers of protective mud. Inside was a letter from Bebak's father. With trembling hands, Bebak unfolded it to read:
"I know I wasn't the father you hoped for. I was harsh and strict, trying to mold you into an adult quickly because I knew my time was short. Yet, with every challenge I placed before you, you overcame them all with ease. I'm proud of you. Every night, I wished for more time to watch you grow. Even in death, I will be a part of your soul. Go, my little fighter. Surprise me again with your hunger for knowledge."
Overwhelmed, Bebak collapsed, shouting and crying. Tears of joy and sorrow flowed freely as Ranzak and the third chief embraced him. Hours later, Bebak bid them farewell and returned to his village.
Upon arrival, he went straight to their lab, delving into the files left by the third chief's counterpart. Among them, they discovered Bebak's old research and wild theories, some seemingly far-fetched yet enticingly possible. Day and night, they studied.
One pressing problem was the Ash Tree—it rotted almost immediately when planted in the soil. Experimenting tirelessly, they wondered: what if the tree were grown on stone instead of soil? Unfortunately, the result was the same. A year passed with relentless effort. Then, a breakthrough came from an unexpected source: a villager from the first village. He noticed that even the tree's planks reacted when exposed to blood. Inspired, Ranzak performed a test: placing blood on one piece of Ash Tree and water on another. To their astonishment, the blood-fed tree began to grow—slowly but steadily.
Within that year, the foundation of Bedak City was laid. Its people rejoiced as they finally found a way to keep the Ash Tree alive. Bebak explained to a curious child why it was called the Ash Tree: "Because it resembles the ashes left by fire." The child asked eagerly, "When I grow up, can I search for you?" Bebak smiled and replied, "One day, under better conditions."
One evening, as Bebak walked into the lab, he found Ranzak asleep at his desk. Letting him rest, Bebak sat down to recharge himself. Reflecting, he thought, A dream... it takes me back to when we were innocent beings, unaware of how the future would unfold.
Suddenly, a journalist approached him. "Hello, sir. Would you care to share your thoughts on the discovery of the arcane rune?"
Bebak replied calmly, "It's rare to find something so ancient, from a race with no traces of life for centuries."
The journalist grinned. "Quite the historian for someone who looks 20! May I have your name?"
He hesitated. "Bebak Algai... a silent fighter."
"Your parents named you after the city?"
"No," Bebak said with a faint smile, "It's just what I call myself now. My real name is Bebak Conden." Before she could ask more, he gently stopped her. "Let's keep it a secret, like the rune." As she turned to the camera, he vanished.
Elsewhere, Maral watched the broadcast, shattering his glass in shock. "Bebak Conden... no, that's not his real name. He fooled everyone. That's the chief of the sixth village—the founder of our city!"
Maral's brother gasped. "Is he really alive after 300 years? That's impossible, even with today's technology!"
Maral nodded grimly. "Perhaps not for him. Bebak was a pure druid, wielding immense power—enough to destroy entire armies with a glance. Still, the rune's activation was dangerous even then, risking death. We don't know what he gained from it."
Before they could speculate further, Bebak appeared behind them, seated with a glass of whiskey in hand. "Good stuff," he remarked, smirking.
"What do you want?" they demanded.
He smiled darkly. "Simple. To kill an enemy."
Time passed, and Bebak married Cuen. Their union was celebrated with a grand banquet. A year later, they were overjoyed to welcome their first child. As the village flourished, they built rivers, wells, homes, and farms—accomplishing in years what once seemed impossible.
The cultivation of the Ash Tree advanced further: just a few drops of blood were enough to sustain it. Bebak asked Ranzak one day, "Any news from the human kingdom?"
"Yes," Ranzak replied. "They've accepted the trade agreement, and we've received our first shipment of iron. Oh, and Bebak... I've made progress on your father's project."