Chapter 33: The City of Stone and the Name of the Silver Lion

Deep within the forest, Rowan Ashgard’s lifeless body still lay where he had fallen.

His upper body rested crookedly against a dark stone. Blood had stained the ground beneath him a dark crimson. Despite everything, a faint smile still remained on his face.

His eyes were half-open.

The Demon General stood silently above him.

Deep red lines ran across the general’s dark armor, as if lava were pulsing beneath it. In his right hand rested a long red blade, from which faint demonic energy rose.

The wind gently moved his long black hair.

“Had I known that the Shadowrunners would cause you this much damage...”

His gaze drifted toward Rowan’s missing arm.

“...I would have preferred to fight you myself from the beginning.”

Slowly, the Demon General knelt beside Rowan.

For several seconds, he simply looked at his face.

Then, calmly, he closed Rowan’s eyes.

“After all these years, I truly thought I had finally found a worthy opponent again.”

The forest fell quiet.

Only the soft rustling of the trees could be heard.

The Demon General slowly rose to his feet and picked up the sewn-together scarf from the ground.

The scarf moved gently in the wind.

He looked at it in silence for several seconds.

Then his gaze turned north.

Toward the place where the first rooftops of Falkenreach could already be seen beyond the trees.

“Then I am curious...”

His yellow eyes began to glow faintly.

“...to see how the three of you will develop.”

“And whether you can truly become worthy opponents for me.”

With the scarf in his left hand, the Demon General slowly disappeared back into the dark trees.

And the forest silently swallowed him.

Before them lay Falkenreach.

The town was considerably larger than Lunaris.

Stone streets stretched between tall buildings. Carriages moved along the roads everywhere they looked. Merchants loudly called out their goods while people carrying heavy bags made their way through the streets.

It was loud.

Lively.

And completely different from anything the three of them had ever seen before.

Kaien looked around in silence.

Yun Yun was still holding his hand.

Beside them, Lyra walked with Rowan’s large shield in her arms.

The metal looked almost heavier than she was.

Kaien glanced at her.

“Do you want me to carry the shield for you?”

Lyra immediately pressed it tighter against herself.

“Never.”

Her red eyes grew more serious.

“I’m not giving it to anyone.”

Kaien was quiet for a moment.

Then he simply nodded.

Yun Yun gently tightened her grip on his hand.

The three of them stood silently at the entrance to the town for several seconds.

Then, at the same time, they took a deep breath.

And entered Falkenreach.

The streets were filled with people.

The scent of fresh bread drifted through the air.

Several merchants sold fruit, fabrics, and jewelry. Voices, laughter, and the sound of horses' hooves could be heard everywhere.

Yet although Lyra would normally have started drawing immediately...

her diary remained closed this time.

Yun Yun noticed it right away.

“You're not drawing at all.”

Kaien looked at Lyra in surprise.

“That’s true...”

Lyra didn’t answer for several seconds.

“I just don’t feel like it right now.”

Her voice sounded unusually quiet.

They slowly continued through Falkenreach.

Soon, the intense scent of fresh bread drifted through the street.

Lyra automatically looked to the side.

A small bakery stall.

Warm loaves of bread were displayed in the window.

And suddenly, she remembered how Rowan had always bought them food in the mornings.

Her chest immediately tightened.

She thought about his arm.

The blood.

His smile.

Her steps grew slower.

Kaien noticed right away.

Without saying anything, he reached into the small leather pouch containing the coins Rowan had given them.

A little while later, he returned with three small pieces of bread.

“Here.”

Yun Yun immediately took two of them.

Since Lyra was still carrying the heavy shield, Yun Yun repeatedly held small pieces of bread up to her.

“Open your mouth.”

“I’m not a little child.”

Despite that, she ate the bread.

Kaien and Yun Yun had to laugh softly.

Together, they continued through the town.

And little by little, the heavy silence between them began to feel lighter.

After some time, they finally reached a large building made of dark stone.

Above the entrance hung an enormous sign.

A silver falcon was engraved into it.

Beneath it were the words:

Guild of Falkenreach

Several heavily armed adventurers walked in and out.

Some carried swords.

Others carried spears.

A woman with scars across her face was currently dragging the head of a massive monster inside.

Kaien swallowed slightly.

Yun Yun looked nervous.

Only Lyra watched everything with careful attention.

Then they opened the door.

The moment they stepped inside, loud voices hit them.

The entire room was filled with adventurers.

People laughed.

Mugs slammed against wooden tables.

Somewhere, an argument broke out loudly.

Several adventurers briefly turned to look at the three children.

Then they immediately lost interest.

Kaien and Yun Yun slowly made their way toward the reception desk.

Lyra, however, sat down in an empty chair in the corner with Rowan’s shield.

She slowly pulled out her diary.

And began sketching the guild.

The tables.

The weapons.

The people.

But her lines became shaky.

Again and again.

She suddenly tore the page out.

Then another.

And another.

Nothing but unreadable strokes.

Lyra let out a heavy breath.

“No...”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

“I have to draw it properly.”

Her fingers tightened around the pen.

“So that Rowan can see it someday.”

Slowly, she began to draw again.

This time, more calmly.

More focused.

Meanwhile, Yun Yun and Kaien had already reached the reception desk.

It took almost two hours before they were finally called forward.

The receptionist looked up at them with a friendly smile.

“Good afternoon. How can I help you?”

Yun Yun gave a slight bow.

“Hello... Rowan Ashgard sent us.”

Kaien nodded.

“We’re supposed to meet one of his friends.”

The woman immediately paused.

“And the name of this friend would be?”

Kaien thought for a moment.

“Um... Gareth Valen.”

The receptionist slowly raised her eyes.

“...Gareth Valen?”

Yun Yun nodded cautiously.

The woman suddenly became much more serious.

“The Silver Lion of Valdris sent you?”

Yun Yun and Kaien looked at each other in confusion.

“Silver Lion...?”

“That’s Rowan’s title?”

The receptionist now looked surprised herself.

“You know Rowan Ashgard... but you don’t even know his title?”

Kaien became nervous.

Yun Yun quickly pointed toward Lyra.

Yun Yun: “My sister has his shield.”

The receptionist immediately looked over at Lyra.

She slowly walked toward her.

Lyra barely noticed her.

She continued drawing.

Receptionist: “Good afternoon.”

No response.

Receptionist: “Excuse me?”

Lyra slowly looked up.

Her red eyes looked tired.

Receptionist: “I just need to take a quick look at the shield.”

Lyra immediately jumped to her feet and pulled the shield closer to herself.

Lyra: “No.”

Kaien and Yun Yun immediately walked over to her.

Yun Yun: “Don’t worry, Lyra.”

She continued calmly.

Yun Yun: “She just wants to check whether the shield really belongs to the Silver Lion of Valdris.”

Lyra blinked in slight confusion.

Lyra: “Silver Lion... of Valdris?”

Kaien slowly nodded.

Kaien: “I guess that’s what they call Rowan here.”

The receptionist let out a quiet sigh.

Receptionist: “May I see the shield now, young lady?”

Lyra looked at her with annoyance.

Lyra: “My name is Lyra.”

The woman fell silent for a moment.

Lyra: “And only one person is allowed to call me ‘young lady.’”

For a brief moment, the room fell silent.

Then Kaien and Yun Yun suddenly began to laugh.

Even the receptionist couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Receptionist: “Then Miss Lyra it is.”

She carefully held out her hands.

Receptionist: “May I?”

Lyra hesitated for a moment.

Then she slowly nodded.

Lyra: “But be careful.”

The receptionist carefully examined the shield.

The silver falcon symbol was indeed engraved into the metal.

And beneath it were the words:

Rowan Ashgard
The Silver Lion of Valdris

The woman raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Receptionist: “Then you really weren’t lying.”

She carefully handed the shield back to Lyra.

Then she smiled politely.

Receptionist: “I will inform Mr. Gareth Valen immediately.”

She gestured toward the hallway.

Receptionist: “Please wait in our waiting room in the meantime.”

A second receptionist appeared shortly afterward and led the three children through a quieter corridor.

There was a small room with armchairs, tea, and water.

The door slowly closed behind them.

And for the first time since arriving in Falkenreach...

the three simply sat there in silence.

With Rowan’s shield resting between them.