The size of the Valdam Continent is so vast that the distance between each city could take days or even months to reach if they use conventional methods like flying ships.
If they try to walk around the continent to reach every place in it, they will take tens of years or even their entire lifetime.
However, there is a much faster method that people could use if they want a much faster way of traveling.
Almost in each city or any place where civilization thrives, there are devices called warp gates.
The warp gates are portals that connect one place with another.
Cities that would usually take days or even months to reach can be reached in only a second.
The only weakness of this method is that one gate cannot reach every part of the continent. If someone’s destination is too far away, they might need to pass through a few gates before they reach their destination.
Zayden at this moment was moving towards a warp gate station located in one of Bakdum’s plazas.
Once he arrived, he saw a few portal structures with several large crystals around them.
In the middle of each structure was a distorted space. Many people were entering and exiting these distorted spaces.
To reach their destination, one needed to tell their destination and then pay the fee to the operators who always stood by near each gate.
They were the ones who operated the gates through an instrument resembling a board in front of them.
They could connect the gates to various gates throughout the empire that were still within the gate’s distance.
Zayden approached one of the operators.
The man doing his normal work was slightly stunned when he saw Zayden standing in front of him.
Although Zayden did not exude any aura, his atmosphere at this moment made the operator feel tense and uncomfortable.
Moreover, Zayden’s calm expression gave him a gloomy feeling.
"I want to go to Teira Town in the Arkas Region."
Zayden said calmly.
The operator gulped.
"Uh... that would be two silver coins."
Without saying anything, Zayden just gave the operator one gold coin.
The operator widened his eyes and looked at Zayden.
"Sir, I said—"
"Just take it. If you want, you can just take the rest." Zayden said.
The operator widened his eyes, and his expression turned joyous. He took the coin and, put in the coordinates of Zayden’s destination before he said to Zayden,
"Please enter, sir. I wish you a safe journey."
His tone was cheerful.
Zayden did not say anything and took a step inside the portal.
Zayden felt the sensation of distorted space for a split moment, and his next step had already brought him to his destination.
He appeared in Teira, a small town in the Akares Region, a region located on the southern side of the empire.
This was a beautiful town surrounded by grasslands and hills.
After Zayden stepped outside of the portal station, he just stood there and observed his surroundings.
The town was obviously less grand than a big city.
But the atmosphere here was much calmer than in the city.
The people’s activities had already become much less frequent, as it was already night.
This place was the right place for anyone who wanted to run from the bustling life of a big city.
For those who wanted to enjoy a slow life.
He and Aria chose a place near this town to become their home.
The place where they could raise their small family.
The place where they would grow old together until death did them part.
Zayden then took a step as he began to stroll through the town.
There were still some food stalls, taverns, and even restaurants that were still open at this hour.
The memories of Aria rushed in as Zayden looked at some places and the people’s activities.
"Zayden, let’s go eat that bun! I heard that bun is the best here."
"Zayden, let’s go to that opera house. I heard that they’re giving a nice show."
"Zayden, let’s take a look at the night festival. There are many interesting things I want to enjoy."
"Zayden, I’m tired. Carry me."
Her sweet voice rang in his mind again and again.
Her beautiful, cheerful face, her fragrance, her gestures—all of them were still fresh in his mind, as if he had just separated from her yesterday.
Zayden unconsciously smiled warmly.
There were traces of her in every place in this town. Everywhere he went, he would remember the times they spent together.
"Hey, I heard that our forces are already getting closer to the capital city of the Relguis Empire."
Suddenly, Zayden heard one of the conversations from one of the food stall owners.
"Yes, I heard that too. It’s General Ansfil’s troops against one of Relguis Empire’s best elite knight orders. His Celestial Lion Knight Order truly lives up to its name." Another stall owner said.
"Maybe he used that Heavenly Sword to win the battle this time again?" another chimed in.
"That might be. That Heavenly Sword is truly powerful. Sigh, until this moment, I’m still thankful to the heavens for that kind of artifact falling into our empire."
"That reminds me, I wonder what made Commander Zayden betray us? What made him want to give the Heavenly Sword to the Relguis Empire? He seemed like a nice guy."
One of the stall owners sighed.
"I don’t know. It just still feels surreal. How could a man like that betray us? When I interacted with him, he was truly good to me. He didn’t seem like someone who would betray our empire."
One of them snorted.
"It could be his mask to hide his real devious intent. Even though I also found him to be a good man, I’m afraid that what I saw all those time was only a mask. It could be that he was simply too good at hiding his intent."
"Well, I just find it strange. I just feel that something is wrong."
"Whatever the case, the fact still remains that he did not show himself and explain to the people of this empire. Instead, he escaped to the Relguis Empire. That alone is enough to believe that he was a traitor." The man said with an angry expression.
The others sighed and then continued conversing about other things, without realizing that the person they were talking about was near them and had heard all of their conversation.
Zayden continued his walk. He did not take the opinions of the people who already considered him a traitor to heart.
They were ignorant of the truth, after all.
But he was truly thankful for the people who still doubted his betrayal.
That meant they still had faith in him.
Zayden kept walking for another hour before he walked to the outside of the town.
The guard saw him leave the town, but the guard did not stop him.
Although Zayden looked suspicious, someone like him was not uncommon.
As the guard was still observing Zayden, he was stunned when Zayden’s body suddenly disappeared and the ground beneath him cracked.
The guard blinked a few times, wondering where Zayden had gone.
Zayden was already in the sky and then used his movement technique.
He moved at a fast speed towards one of the nearby hills.
To reach this hill, one had to pass through the vast grassland.
The hill itself was covered with beautiful fields of various flowers, creating a beautiful and soothing sight during the day.
The flower field was split by a small paved path from the base of the hill towards the top, where there was a line of plum blossom trees.
Behind the line of plum blossom trees was a house.
With the plum blossoms and flowers surrounding it, the house looked like a celestial abode.
The house could be considered big, but not too big, just enough for a family of four and a few staff members to live comfortably.
That was the last memory Zayden had of his home when he left Aria while she was pregnant with Mira.
And that was the scenery he was supposed to see when he reached the hill, even though it was still night.
However, the moment he arrived at the hill, when his feet finally landed on the side of the hill where the flower field was supposed to be, what he saw was different from what he had imagined.
There was no flower field anymore.
The field had traces of having been burned, with only dead plants left behind.
The plum blossoms at the top of the hill also looked burned and dead.
There were no colorful sights or pleasant fragrances anymore. Only a gloomy sight remained, along with the sound of dried plants and leaves being swept by the wind.
There was also a wooden fence surrounding the top of the hill, something that had not existed in the past.
Zayden then transformed his face back to his real face.
Zayden’s heart felt heavy.
He bit his lips and clenched his fists.
He could only imagine what had happened here in the past.
Zayden then decided to approach the top of the hill.
As he kept approaching the top of the hill, his chest felt tighter and tighter.
His steps became heavier.
He suddenly had a bad feeling.
He did not know why.
Maybe because he would see the place where he had so many memories together with Aria?
Maybe because he would see that the house they built would not be the same anymore?
After walking for a few minutes, he finally reached the wooden fence that looked like it was meant to seal off the top of the hill so no one could step into it.
But then he saw something among the line of burned trees beside the paved path.
What he saw were a few tall poles.
Something that also did not exist in the past.
When Zayden focused his gaze on those poles, his body froze.
His eyes trembled.
His chest felt cold.
He felt like his heart had been crushed into pieces.
The dragon that saw what Zayden saw only remained silent.
But inside, a sudden surge of fury rose.
He felt how Zayden felt at this moment.
’Those sons of bitches.’ The dragon thought to himself.
What they saw were a few figures hanging from those poles.