Chapter 32: The Fall of the Silver Lion

Several hours later, the four of them finally emerged from the dark forest.

For the first time since their night beneath the trees, warm sunlight touched their faces again.

Before them stretched a vast plain.

And in the middle of it...

lay Falkenreach.

High stone walls surrounded the town, while several watchtowers rose above the rooftops. Dozens of people moved through its streets.

Even from this distance, they could already hear the sounds of the town.

Merchants calling out to customers.

Horses moving along the roads.

Countless voices.

The sound of metal somewhere in the distance.

Kaien stopped for a moment.

Yun Yun did the same.

Even Lyra stood silently as she stared at the town ahead.

And Rowan...

smiled faintly.

“Well...”

He let out a slow breath.

“So that was our adventure.”

The three children immediately looked at him.

Yet something about his voice felt different.

Quieter.

More distant.

Rowan raised his hand and pointed toward the town.

“The Silver Falcons' guild is somewhere near the center.”

He gestured toward a large building marked with the symbol of a silver falcon.

“Ask for Gareth Valen.”

Kaien frowned slightly.

Yun Yun did the same.

Lyra hesitated for a moment before asking carefully.

“Aren't you... at least coming with us to the guild?”

Rowan didn't answer right away.

Instead, he smiled faintly and gently ruffled her white hair.

“No.”

His gaze briefly drifted back toward the forest behind them.

“I have something else to take care of.”

Lyra slowly lowered her gaze.

Yun Yun understood as well.

And Kaien...

simply remained silent.

Rowan slowly knelt down in front of the three of them.

Despite his missing arm, his smile was still warm.

“And you three...”

His expression turned serious.

He looked directly at Kaien and Yun Yun.

“Never forget your fundamentals.”

“And always remember your first real fight.”

Kaien nodded slowly.

Yun Yun did the same.

Just as Rowan was about to stand up again, he suddenly paused.

His gaze briefly shifted to the heavy iron shield that was still strapped to his back.

Several deep scratches ran across the metal.

Scars from countless battles.

Slowly, Rowan loosened the leather straps with his right hand.

Lyra watched him in confusion.

He held the shield out toward her.

Lyra blinked in surprise.

“...What?”

Rowan smiled faintly.

“With only one arm, I can't really fight properly with both a sword and shield anymore anyway.”

He carefully placed the heavy shield into her hands.

Lyra nearly lost her balance.

“This is way too heavy!”

Rowan immediately started laughing.

“Then consider it training.”

Lyra glared at him, annoyed, but held onto the shield anyway.

Rowan slowly ran his hand over the many scratches in the metal.

His expression became unusually calm.

Almost nostalgic.

“Besides...”

He looked down at Lyra and smiled faintly.

“Who knows.”

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

“If your book about me ever becomes a success...”

He lightly tapped the shield.

“...you can hang it next to it as a trophy.”

For a moment, no one said anything.

Then Lyra suddenly laughed.

A small, genuine laugh.

“That sounds incredibly arrogant.”

Rowan dramatically placed his hand over his chest.

“I used to be famous, after all.”

Yun Yun immediately started laughing as well.

Even Kaien smiled faintly.

And for a brief moment...

the farewell felt warm again.

Before it all came to an end.

Lyra suddenly stepped forward and hugged Rowan.

Tightly.

Without saying a word.

Rowan seemed surprised for a moment.

Then he simply smiled.

A moment later, Yun Yun hugged him as well.

Even Kaien slowly stepped closer.

Hesitant.

But sincere.

Rowan laughed quietly.

“You're really making it difficult for me to just disappear now.”

Just as Rowan was about to turn away...

Lyra and Yun Yun stopped him once more.

Yun Yun suddenly held something up.

The scarf.

Sewn together from:

• Kaien's scarf

• Lyra's scarf

• and her own

Yun Yun smiled faintly.

“So you don't forget us.”

For a moment, Rowan was speechless.

Slowly, he accepted the scarf.

His fingers gently ran across the fabric.

Then he smiled.

More genuinely than ever before.

“I'll keep it.”

Lyra stepped closer as well.

Her red eyes were still slightly swollen from crying.

But this time, she was smiling.

“I promise you something.”

Rowan looked at her curiously.

Lyra held her diary tightly against her chest.

“I’m going to write a book about you.”

For a few seconds, she gathered her thoughts.

“And I’m going to become a great mage.”

Her voice grew more determined.

“So that next time... I can protect you.”

For several seconds, Rowan said nothing.

Then he suddenly began to laugh.

An honest,

warm laugh.

“Then I’m already looking forward to the book.”

The children slowly made their way toward Falkenreach.

More than once, Lyra turned around to look back.

And each time, Rowan gave her a small wave in return.

Until the three of them gradually grew smaller in the distance.

And eventually...

disappeared from sight.

The wind slowly moved through the trees behind Rowan.

His smile faded.

He slowly turned back toward the forest.

For several seconds, he simply stared into the darkness.

Then Rowan spoke calmly.

“I never thought...”

His voice sounded tired.

“...that someone like you would have enough heart to wait until I had said goodbye.”

The shadows between the trees shifted.

STEP.

STEP.

A large figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

Heavy demonic knight armor covered its entire body.

A faint red energy glowed between the black plates.

In its right hand, the figure held a long, dark-red blade.

And behind the helmet...

two dark yellow eyes glowed.

The creature's voice was deep.

Old.

Almost human.

“You know...”

The figure stopped.

“Before I became one of the Demon King's generals...”

For a moment, the words hung between them.

“...I was once a knight myself.”

Rowan began to laugh quietly.

The demon watched him in silence.

“A certain sense of honor has remained with me.”

For several seconds, neither of the two veterans spoke.

Then the demon asked calmly.

“Do you want to fight here?”

Its gaze drifted toward Falkenreach.

“Where the children might still be able to see you?”

Rowan smiled faintly.

He slowly turned back toward the forest.

“No.”

He drew his sword.

A silver aura began to flicker faintly around the blade.

“Let's settle this in the forest.”

Deeper among the trees...

the battle began.

WUUUSH.

The demon's red blade immediately tore forward.

Rowan barely managed to block in time.

CRASH.

The impact shattered the ground beneath them.

Rowan's body was thrown several meters backward.

Yet even as he slid across the ground,

he activated Valor once more.

Silver energy enveloped his sword.

Rowan immediately sprinted forward again.

SHRIIING.

The silver and red auras collided with brutal force.

Sparks exploded between the trees.

The demon moved with incredible precision.

Every strike was heavy.

Deadly.

And Rowan...

was already fighting at his limit.

With only one arm.

Blood loss.

Exhaustion.

Yet he held his ground.

SLASH.

Rowan's blade grazed the demon's helmet.

A small crack appeared.

The demon stepped back slightly.

“Impressive.”

The yellow eyes narrowed.

“Even now.”

The demonic figure vanished from sight.

WUUUSH.

Rowan's eyes widened.

Too late.

CRASH.

The red blade struck Rowan from the side.

Several trees behind him shattered apart.

Rowan coughed up blood.

Yet even now, he forced himself back to his feet.

Smiling.

“Damn...”

He raised his sword again.

“Back then, I would have hit you at least twice.”

The demon remained silent.

The red aura began to pulse more intensely.

WUUUSH.

The next attack was too fast.

Far too fast.

SHRIIING.

For a moment, the entire forest seemed to fall completely still.

Rowan slowly sank to his knees.

His body slowly came apart.

His upper body separated from his legs.

Blood stained the leaves dark red.

Yet even now...

Rowan still smiled faintly.

The demon looked down at him in silence.

“I never thought...”

The red blade dripped with blood.

“...that someone like you would be so easy to defeat.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“You were the Silver Lion of Valdris.”

Rowan coughed up a little blood.

Then he laughed weakly.

“Well...”

His breathing grew slower and slower.

“Getting older comes with its disadvantages.”

He smiled faintly.

“But I doubt an immortal Demon General would understand that.”

The demon remained silent for several seconds.

Then he asked calmly,

“Do you have any last words?”

Rowan's gaze slowly drifted toward the scarf lying on the ground.

He pointed at it.

“More of a request.”

The demon looked down at the scarf.

Rowan smiled weakly.

“Keep it.”

For a brief moment, only the rustling of the trees could be heard.

“So the children will recognize you... when they meet you someday.”

For the first time, the demon seemed slightly surprised.

Then he began to laugh quietly.

“Do you really think...”

The yellow eyes turned toward Falkenreach.

“...those children will one day become worthy opponents for me?”

Rowan smiled.

Exhausted.

But completely certain.

“Definitely.”

Slowly, Rowan closed his eyes.

With a small, peaceful smile...

the Silver Lion of Valdris died.

At the same time, Kaien, Yun Yun, and Lyra stood before the great gates of Falkenreach.

People moved busily past them.

Yet none of the three said a word.

Something felt wrong.

A light wind moved through their clothes.

And slowly...

the three children stepped into their new home.