After leaving the palace, Alethion mounted his loyal horse, Stormith, and rode toward his luxurious home, located in a semi-isolated area far from the city's noise. Despite being a renowned military commander and a beloved hero to all the kingdom's inhabitants, he chose to live away from the complexities of the royal court, in a tranquil mansion surrounded by trees and adorned with flowing fountains—a sanctuary where he could retreat after long battles.
As he approached, he could see the lights shining from his home, where his family eagerly awaited him. At the palace gates, his dear wife, Meralin, stood with eyes full of longing and love, holding their little daughter, Ilora, in her arms. The child couldn't contain her excitement upon seeing her father approaching. She possessed remarkable magical talent and was considered a prodigy in sorcery, making her exceptional even among the noble children.
Beside them stood Kylor, his son, who had always seen his father as a great role model. He was excited to see him again after a long absence, waving a wooden sword enthusiastically. Passionate about sword fighting and enhancement magic, he aspired to become a formidable warrior like his father one day.
As Alethion drew closer, Ilora dashed toward him, leaping into his arms with joyous laughter.
"Daddy! I missed you so much!"
Alethion smiled warmly, lifting his daughter into his arms.
"And I missed you too, my little princess. You've been strong while I was away, haven't you?"
She nodded eagerly.
"Of course! I've been practicing new spells! I'll show you later!"
Kylor stepped forward, trying to conceal his excitement but failing as he declared proudly:
"Father, I've improved with the sword. This time, I won't be so easy to defeat!"
Alethion chuckled, ruffling his son's hair.
"We'll see about that, little knight."
Meralin, meanwhile, said nothing at first. She simply gazed at him with her deep eyes before stepping forward gracefully. When she stood before him, she couldn't resist any longer—she gently took his hand and spoke in a warm voice:
"I was worried about you, but I knew you'd return victorious as always."
Alethion looked at her with tenderness before squeezing her hand gently.
"I'm here now… and I won't let anything separate us."
Behind them, the half-human and human servants had gathered, watching this heartfelt reunion. Then, in unison, they bowed respectfully and said:
"Welcome back, my lord."
Alethion cast a glance at them and spoke in a calm yet firm voice:
"I have returned… and this time, I will ensure that you all have the safety you deserve."
And so, after a long journey of war, Alethion finally found himself among his loved ones, able to enjoy rare moments of peace… before the storms of fate would strike once more.
As Alethion entered his home, Meralin and their children, Ilora and Kylor, followed, while the half-human servants moved with discipline behind them, attending to their duties to maintain order within the palace. Despite the night's arrival, the atmosphere was warm, and the place radiated comfort, as if it were a world separate from the chaos of battles and politics.
At the palace entrance, his loyal head servant, Arendal, stood as usual, awaiting his master's return. He bowed respectfully.
"Welcome back, my lord."
Beside him stood Elenia, one of the maids. But to Alethion, she was more than just a maid—she was like a mother to him, the one who raised him since childhood and cared for him when he was just a boy dreaming of becoming a great knight.
Though she tried to maintain her composure, there was a glimmer of tears in her wrinkled eyes, as if she still saw in him the child she used to cradle to sleep after a long day.
She murmured in a warm yet trembling voice:
"Thank goodness you've returned safely… I was worried about you, as always."
Alethion couldn't help himself—he stepped forward and embraced her gently, just as he used to when he was young.
"How could I not return… when I know you're here waiting for me?"
Her hands trembled as she patted his back affectionately, smiling despite her tears.
"You've grown, my child… but you haven't changed."
Ilora giggled, grabbing Elenia's hand excitedly.
"Grandmother, my father is the strongest man in the world! No one can defeat him!"
Kylor laughed as well, adding enthusiastically:
"And I'll be just like him one day!"
Alethion smiled, resting his hand on his son's head before turning to Elenia.
"Come, sit with us. Tonight is a family night."
And so, they gathered around the dining table, their laughter filling the air.
After finishing dinner with his family, Alethion headed to his room to change his clothes, leaving behind the warmth and joy that filled the palace.
When he stood before his tall mirror, he removed his white armor adorned with gold and silver, the radiant sun emblem at its center signifying his status as the kingdom's hero and liberator. He carefully placed the armor aside before beginning to unfasten the leather straps of his inner tunic.
But as soon as the fabric slid off his body, he froze.
There, at the center of his chest, was an old scar—one he couldn't remember receiving. It was a dark mark, extending in fine lines like the remnants of an ancient burn or a wound that never fully healed.
He raised his right hand and touched it with his fingers, feeling its rough texture against his skin. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall when or how he had gotten it.
He murmured to himself in a low voice:
"When…? How did I get this?"
He tried to focus, to summon memories of his countless battles, but his mind was like a solid wall, blocking any answers. There was a gap in his history, a missing piece, as if it had been erased from his mind.
Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, muttering:
"There's no use thinking about it now…"
He put on a light shirt, but he couldn't forget what he had seen. Something was off, as if his body held a secret he had yet to uncover—a secret that might be tied to his destiny.
After changing his clothes, Alethion still felt the weight of battle on his body, so he decided to head to the grand bath on the ground floor of his palace.
As he entered, the warm steam filled the air with the scent of fragrant herbs. He began washing away the dust and sweat that had gathered on his slightly tanned skin. Once finished, he stepped into the large bath, letting the hot water gradually envelop his body, trying to ease the tension and stress from his weary muscles.
But despite his body relaxing, his mind did not.
The image of the mysterious scar on his chest resurfaced in his thoughts. He ran his hand over it again, tracing its shape slowly, trying to recall how and when he had received it—but his memory remained blank.
At that moment, he heard the soft sound of approaching footsteps before the bath door opened quietly.
Meralin stepped inside, dressed in a simple yet elegant gown, her eyes shining with longing as she saw her husband resting in the warm waters.
She smiled softly, walking toward him as she spoke in a gentle voice:
"It seems you're enjoying your bath after your long journey."
Alethion turned his head toward her, offering a faint smile, but he didn't reply immediately, causing Meralin to raise an eyebrow in curiosity. She sat at the edge of the bath, trailing her fingers through the water before asking:
"I was going to tell you everything that happened while you were away, but…" She paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she studied him closely before adding,
"Your mind is occupied with something else, isn't it?"