After the talk with Crystal, Adrian headed to a few more places to meet a few old friends. At night, he headed home to Swallowston.***Life was peaceful over the next few days. Adrian spent his days in Swallowston with Samantha, Gloria, and the others. He also took Nova out with him to have some fun every so often. A month later, the monument along Evercrest Mountain and Geras City's railway was finished, commemorating the hundred thousand soldiers who had sacrificed themselves. Scenes of the battle were depicted on the monument’s surface, and the structure stretched from Evercrest to thirty kilometers outside Geras. The monument was named the Evercrest Monument, and it attracted a large crowd of visitors upon its completion.Early one day in Swallowston, after learning of the completion of the Evercrest Monument, Adrian said, "Nova, let's go somewhere special today."Nova agreed. After informing Samantha, they left the house. Adrian and Nova drove to Evercrest Mountain and ar

A deep sound resonated throughout the camp as a huge screen at the square played a scene of a hundred thousand soldiers departing for their mission. Although these soldiers were paid actors, their acting was so superb that coupled with the music and scenery, the visitors felt as though they were watching the real scene.Adrian stood quietly in the crowd, unrecognizable to those around him. Nova teared up, her heart stirred by the scene. She had heard stories from Steel about the hundred thousand soldiers and how Geras would have been destroyed if not for them. Without Geras, they would not have located the Godkey. And without the Godkey, none of what they were enjoying at that moment would be possible. "Father..." Nova softly said as she grabbed Adrian's wrist.Adrian glanced at her and replied, "Let's keep moving." Nova nodded, and the pair left the camp to walk along the railway.On one side of the railway tracks were stone steles, each boosting the engravings of a soldier

Adrian smiled wryly. "Unlike Strider, Rozi and I have gotten old and are no longer the people we used to be.""But aren't you two the same as Strider? Weren't you two transformed by the meteorite?""Activating the Apex Obelisk sparked super radiation from the meteorites, and it killed the mutated cells inside our bodies. I'm actually doing pretty well myself, but Rozi is much, much older than I am.”"You can't be serious. She looked so beautiful though.""She's actually from twelve hundred years ago. Theoretically, she shouldn't be here. That's why after her mutated cells were killed, her metabolism sped up and her cells started aging. The truth is, there's another reason why I've brought you here aside from wanting you to see the Evercrest monument." Nova asked, "What is it, Father?""Rozi doesn’t have much time left. She probably won’t make it past half a year if we don't find a way to stop her cells from aging.""But the Timewinder has been destroyed. Can we still save her?"

Sage chuckled. She said regretfully, "Strider and I were planning on inviting you to our wedding, but it looks like you won’t be able to make it.""What?!" Adrian looked puzzled.Nova became extremely excited. "The two of you are getting married?! That's great! I'm definitely going to be there!" Sage laughed. "Strider and I have been through so much together. Plus, I'm almost forty now, so I don't want to wait anymore. Strider's physique is different from mine, so I'd like to settle down while I'm still relatively young.""Have your parents agreed to this?" Adrian asked. When Sage nodded, Adrian said, "This is wonderful. It feels like it was just yesterday I saw you at the selection, Sage. Who would've ever thought you and Strider would end up together? Well then, I may not be able to attend your wedding, but as your senior, I should still say a thing or two as a blessing."Strider, Sage is a wonderful girl, and I'm sure you two will be happy together."Strider looked down and

Adrian left One Jewel Road, driving to an unknown destination. He needed to see one more person before meeting up with Rozi. ***The next day, the War Legate Shrine in Vanglesville was bustling as usual. Adrian was standing outside the shrine's newly rejuvenated creek, quietly observing the town."What's the rush, Sean? Wait for me!" a voice called out.Sean, heading toward the shrine, slowed down. After Marissa caught up to him, the couple walked side by side. Just then, Marissa spotted a familiar figure and said, "Adrian!""Huh?" Sean looked puzzled.Marissa quickly let go of Sean and ran toward Adrian. She asked, "What brings you here?" Adrian turned around to see Marissa approaching and Sean following behind her, eyeing Adrian curiously."Long time no see, Sean. How have you been?""You know who I am? Have we met before?" Sean was puzzled, unable to recall if he had met Adrian.Adrian nodded. "I found your body by the creek eighteen years ago. There's something I've b