The obsidian carriage finally ground to a halt at the grand entrance of the palace, its dark surface coated in the fine, grey ash of a deleted army.
Jee-shahn emerged from the vehicle like a ghost rising from a tomb.
His black hair was a tangled mess, and his eyes were heavy with the weight of a thousand years of boredom.
He stood for a moment, lazily rubbing his scalp as he surveyed the palace with a bleary gaze.
“Leo,” Jee-shahn rumbled, his voice thick with exhaustion, “show me the best guest bedroom in this place.
I intend to sleep for more than a month.
I am truly, deeply tired.” Before turning to follow the prince, Jee-shahn’s gaze shifted to Sora, who was currently ofloading a heavy wooden chest containing the severed head of Valerius.
The “Monster’s” eyes sharpened for a split second.
“Sora…
if anyone disturbs me during my sleeping cultivation, I will make sure your head is the next symbol I harvest.” Sora, clutching the chest to his chest, began to tremble violently, cold sweat drenching his collar.
“Y-yes!
Understood perfectly, Master!” Without another word, Jee-shahn vanished into the palace depths with Leo, leaving a trail of absolute silence in his wake.
The Gift in the Chest Sora was still shaking when the rōnin siblings—Shizuka, Nogi, and Masaru—approached him in the courtyard.
“You’re back soon, Sora,” Masaru remarked, his hand resting on his hilt.
“Don’t tell me you ran away?” Sora let out a jagged laugh, his eyes wide.
“Run?
No.
The Master just went to pick up a gift for Empress Faeloria so she’d finally let him relax.
You want to see it?” Sora flipped the lid of the chest open.
Shizuka and Masaru recoiled, their faces palling at the sight of Valerius’s sightless eyes staring up from the silk lining.
Only Nogi remained unmoved, a sharp, dangerous smile cutting across his face.
“So…
your Master actually won.” “Won?” Sora snorted, slamming the chest shut.
“He didn’t ‘win,’ Nogi.
He ended the game.” The Student and the Shadow The conversation was cut short by a heavy, rhythmic thud.
Sparta arrived, the Azure Lizard perched regally on his obsidian-scaled shoulder.
The Lizard flicked its tongue and waved a tiny claw at Sora, who waved back with his free arm while still balancing the head-chest.
Nogi’s smile vanished, replaced by genuine shock.
“Why is the enemy general here?
Why is Sparta walking freely?” “He’s the Master’s third student now,” Sora chirped, turning to head into the palace.
Sparta followed silently, his presence so massive that the air in the hallways seemed to thin as he passed.
Every servant and guard they crossed froze in terror, watching the monstrous pair march toward the throne room.
The South is YoursSora found Empress Faeloria in the central hall.
He dropped to one knee, the chest placed firmly on the floor, as Sparta knelt behind him in a display of absolute submission.
“What is the meaning of this?” Faeloria demanded, her gaze darting from the Lizardman to the wooden box.
“Why is General Sparta in my palace?” “Sir Sparta is now a student of the Master,” Sora explained.
“And the Master sent a gift for you.” He opened the chest at her feet.
Faeloria stared down at the remains of her ex-husband, her expression unreadable.
“And the border?
The status of the South?” Sora smiled, a gleam of pride in his eyes.
“The Master said to tell you: The South is yours.” A slow, triumphant smile spread across Faeloria’s face.
“Where is he now?” “Resting, Empress.
In the guest wing.” Faeloria immediately turned, her robes swirling as she hurried toward the Master’s chambers.
The Sleeping Monster In the palace’s finest bedroom, Leo stood by the door, watching as Jee-shahn collapsed onto the silk sheets without even removing his boots.
“You can leave now, Leo,” Jee-shahn mumbled into the pillow.
“If anyone asks, tell them I am busy.
Very busy.” “Understood…
Father,” Leo whispered, bowing low before quietly exiting the room.
As the door clicked shut, Jee-shahn let out a final, satisfied groan, his presence expanding until it filled the room with a protective, silent aura.
The war was over, the “noise” had been silenced, and for the first time since his rebirth, the Dragon was truly, deeply asleep.