Nobody moved on the Lantern Road.
The wind passed softly through the hanging lanterns overhead while broken chains and smoke still lingered across the battlefield.
Kael’s grip tightened slightly around his sword.
Selene straightened slowly.
Even Brakk stopped struggling beneath the chains wrapped around him.
The old man stood calmly between both squads holding the wooden tea container like nothing unusual had happened.
Dhruv noticed it immediately.
The silence around him felt different.
Not fear.
Respect.
The dangerous kind.
The old man looked toward the cracked stone road again and sighed.
“That tea took three hours.”
Deep quietly whispered:
“…I think we should apologize.”
Nobody disagreed.
The old man slowly crouched near the spilled tea soaking into the road.
Then, without looking up, he spoke:
“Kael.”
The Silver Wolves leader straightened immediately.
“Yes, Master Disar.”
Master.
Interesting.
Disar clicked his tongue softly.
“You attacked children again.”
Kael’s jaw tightened slightly.
“They carry Harun Mehata’s map.”
“I asked if they attacked you first.”
Silence.
Disar looked upward slowly now.
Golden eyes sharp beneath the lantern light.
Kael finally answered:
“No.”
Disar nodded once.
“Then you attacked children again.”
Deep looked emotionally invested already.
“This old man is incredible.”
Deepika elbowed him lightly.
“Quiet.”
Disar slowly stood back up and brushed dust from his robes.
Then his eyes shifted toward Dhruv.
Long stare.
Careful stare.
The kind older hunters used when comparing someone against old memories.
“You’re Harun’s grandson.”
Dhruv nodded carefully.
“Yes.”
Disar walked closer.
Not threatening.
But every instinct in Dhruv’s body screamed that this man was dangerous.
Not loud dangerous.
Controlled dangerous.
Like a sword still inside its sheath.
Disar stopped directly in front of him.
“You fight terribly.”
Silence.
Deep choked trying not to laugh.
Robin covered her mouth slightly.
Even Selene looked away.
Dhruv blinked once.
“…That direct?”
“You rely entirely on your Ember ability.”
“You disappear too early.”
“You move too loudly.”
“You waste motion.”
“You panic when pressured.”
Each sentence landed cleanly.
No cruelty.
No mockery.
Just truth.
Dhruv slowly exhaled.
“…Fair enough.”
Disar studied him another second.
Then unexpectedly smiled faintly.
“But your instincts are good.”
The compliment felt heavier somehow.
Kael lowered his sword completely now.
“If you know Harun… then you know what the map means.”
Disar’s expression faded slightly.
The Lantern Road became quiet again.
Even the wind seemed softer now.
Disar turned away from everyone and walked toward one of the hanging lanterns.
His fingers lightly touched the old red wood.
“Harun and I crossed this road together many years ago.”
Dhruv’s eyes sharpened slightly.
“You knew Grandpa personally?”
Disar nodded once.
“We were hunting partners before he became obsessed with the Stones.”
The word obsessed carried weight.
Not judgment.
Regret.
Robin stepped slightly closer now, listening carefully.
Disar continued quietly:
“He used to laugh constantly.”
“He challenged everyone.”
“He trusted too easily.”
A faint smile appeared again.
“Then one day he found something.”
Disar looked toward the distant mountains beyond the trees.
“And afterward… he stopped looking at the world the same way.”
Dhruv stayed silent.
Because somehow hearing about Grandpa from somebody who truly knew him felt strange.
Like meeting a version of him that existed before becoming a legend.
Deep suddenly raised his hand.
“Important question.”
Everybody ignored him.
Deep continued anyway.
“How strong are you exactly?”
Kael answered before Disar could.
“He’s the greatest swordsman in East Cloud.”
Silence.
Deep slowly blinked.
“…WHAT?”
Brakk finally broke free from Robin’s chains while muttering angrily under his breath.
Disar sighed.
“You destroyed half the road.”
Deep pointed proudly.
“That was mostly me.”
“I know.”
Robin quietly watched Disar now.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Something in her expression shifted slightly.
Recognition.
Not personal recognition.
Research recognition.
She slowly spoke:
“…Disar Veyron.”
Disar looked toward her.
“You’ve read about me.”
Robin nodded.
“Every hunter researcher in East Cloud has.”
Deep immediately looked impressed.
“You’re famous-famous.”
Disar looked mildly disappointed by that fact.
“Unfortunately.”
Kael stepped closer again.
“What should we do about them?”
Disar glanced between the Red Threads calmly.
Dhruv.
Deep.
Deepika.
Robin.
Young.
Untrained.
Dangerous in unfinished ways.
Then he noticed Dhruv’s stance again.
Too unstable.
Too dependent on instinct.
But beneath that… potential.
Large potential.
Disar looked toward Kael.
“You’re leaving.”
Kael frowned slightly.
“They have the map.”
“And you failed to take it.”
Silence.
Selene quietly sheathed one blade. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Brakk grumbled loudly.
Lior looked relieved more than anything else.
Kael stared at Dhruv for several long seconds.
Then finally stepped backward.
“This isn’t over.”
Dhruv smiled slightly.
“Probably not.”
The Silver Wolves slowly disappeared back into the forest between the lanterns.
Selene glanced once toward Deepika before leaving.
Not hatred.
Respect.
Lior looked toward Robin briefly like he wanted to say something.
But he stayed silent.
Then they were gone.
Only the Red Threads and Disar remained beneath the endless lanterns.
Deep immediately walked toward Disar excitedly.
“So how many people have you defeated?”
Deepika grabbed the back of his coat before he got closer.
“You can’t interrogate legendary swordsmen.”
“Why not?”
Disar unexpectedly answered:
“Three thousand two hundred and eleven.”
Everyone stared.
Disar looked thoughtful.
“Approximately.”
Deep whispered:
“…I love this old man.”
Disar walked past them slowly.
“You’ll die quickly if you continue traveling like this.”
Dhruv looked toward him.
“We’re learning.”
“No.”
“You’re surviving.”
The distinction hit differently.
Disar stopped near the edge of the Lantern Road where the forest opened toward distant mountains.
Then he looked back slightly.
“Harun once asked me to train him too.”
Dhruv froze.
Disar’s sharp golden eyes rested on him calmly.
“He improved.”
“You can improve too.”
Deep immediately gasped dramatically.
“WAIT.”
He pointed between them aggressively.
“ARE WE GETTING TRAINED BY A LEGEND?”
Disar ignored him.
His gaze remained on Dhruv.
“You have spirit.”
“But spirit without discipline becomes recklessness.”
The words settled quietly into the forest air.
Dhruv looked down briefly at his hands.
At the faint smoke burns still marking his sleeves from the battle.
Kael was right.
He relied too much on invisibility.
Without it?
He wasn’t strong enough yet.
Not to survive the world ahead.
Not to protect the people beside him.
Disar turned fully now and started walking down the mountain path beyond the Lantern Road.
“If you want training…”
He spoke without looking back.
“…follow me before sunset.”
The old swordsman disappeared slowly between the trees.
The lanterns swayed overhead once more.
Deep exploded instantly.
“WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FOLLOWING HIM.”
Deepika crossed her arms.
“We don’t even know where he lives.”
“We’ll find out.”
Robin quietly opened her book again.
But this time… even she looked slightly excited.
Dhruv stared toward the direction Disar vanished.
Then slowly smiled.
For the first time since beginning the journey… he had met someone who truly knew the road ahead.
And maybe… someone who could prepare them for it.
END OF CHAPTER 17