Nathan paused, suddenly feeling the weight of that emptiness.“I just want…” he trailed off, lost in thought.Lulu placed a gentle hand over his. “I can help with that.”His eyes met hers, full of quiet hope. “How?”Lulu’s eyes gleamed as she studied Nathan. There was something different in her gaze now, deeper than curiosity, warmer than kindness.“I can try something,” she said gently, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can go into the depths of your mind. If there’s anything left, anything about your mother, I may find it.”Nathan blinked at her, unsure if he heard right. Before he could speak, she added, “And if you have anything she gave you, I might be able to connect with her spirit through it.”He held up his hand and slowly pulled off the vintage ring from the finger. Its shine had faded, but it held a quiet strength, like it had known stories even time had forgotten. Holding it between his fingers, he stared down at it for a heartbeat before placing it into her open palm.

Tarka’s snarl was sharp, like an animal cornered and raging. His lips curled with contempt as he bared his teeth.“Just like the other foolish strangers who dared step foot in this village,” he growled, voice booming across the courtyard, “you’ll vanish. But you,” his eyes raked Nathan with venom, “you’re the first to ever enter my home uninvited. And so, your death will be brutal... and humiliating.”The guards tightened their grip on their swords, steps shifting into formation.Nathan’s eyes swept the semi-circle of blades drawn toward him. Not an ounce of fear flickered in his face. He only sighed, deeply and slowly, as if disappointed.“I’m not asking for trouble,” he said, his voice calm, even gentle, too gentle for a man surrounded by death.Tarka burst into cruel laughter. “You should have thought of that before trespassing!”Then he snapped his fingers.In a heartbeat, the guards lunged. Their swords flashed in the sun, a storm of steel aimed to tear him apart.But Nathan move

Nathan looked at Tarka without a word, his presence now echoing louder than any scream.The moment the silence thickened, he raised his hand with intent. A single sword lying abandoned behind him jerked upward as if yanked by a powerful force. It sailed through the air and smacked into his grasp with a metallic ring. The guards, startled by the unnatural pull of gravity, stumbled backward in fear. Their stance broke. Their courage faltered for the umpteenth time.Before anyone could blink again, Nathan appeared before Tarka like a streak of lightning, the tip of the sword gleaming and aimed directly at the trembling man's chest."A moment ago you wanted to kill me," Nathan said calmly, eyes sharp, voice echoing in the courtyard. "So it would be fair if I took your life right now, wouldn’t it, Tarka?"Tarka’s eyes, once fiery and wild, flickered with uncertainty. He began shifting back, step by step, as the blade came closer. The arrogant ruler who just moments ago had ordered Nathan’s

Tarka dropped to his knees beside his wife, his body trembling like a leaf in the storm. “Sera…” he whispered, his voice cracked and uncertain, as if afraid his lips had spoken too soon. He cupped her face with both hands, holding her as though she would disappear if he blinked.His fingers pressed against her neck. His breath hitched. She was warm. Her pulse, a steady rhythm of life beat against his skin.“She’s breathing…” Tarka muttered in disbelief, and then louder, “She’s really breathing!”His eyes darted to Nathan, wide and wet. “I don’t know who you are… but you’re not ordinary. You’re not even human, are you?”Nathan didn’t flinch. He stood like a statue, his gaze fixed ahead, not on Tarka, but on the girl still lying beside her mother. Her chest didn’t rise. Her color remained pale.The doctor’s voice was barely above a whisper. “No man brings the dead back without consequence. Unless…” he trailed off, blinking rapidly. “Unless you’re descended from them. The ancient ones…”

Cain stumbled to his feet, nose streaming blood as he clutched his face and whimpered, “My nose, Papa… he broke my nose!”His rage pushed him forward again. With a growl, he made to storm back to the cell, fists balled in fury, but before he could take another step, Tarka’s firm hand clamped around his arm and yanked him back.“Stop,” Tarka whispered fiercely, his tone sharper than before. “You can’t do anything. Not now.”Cain's breathing was ragged, and he shook with anger, but Tarka’s grip was unwavering.“He’s strong,” Tarka muttered lowly. “Even locked in a cell, he's not to be underestimated. Listen, you'll have your way with him, but not yet. When I'm done getting what I need from him, then you can finish him off. Understand?”Cain nodded reluctantly, eyes still burning with humiliation. His fists trembled by his sides.Sera, watching from the edge of the courtyard, wasn’t focused on her son’s bruised ego. She wasn’t blind. The exchange between her husband and Cain was far more