That afternoon in Valemoor, the atmosphere felt warm and peaceful.The village's reconstruction continued steadily, and smiles had begun to return to the faces of its people.On the porch of their new home, Jasmine sat beside Thom, gently holding his hand."You know, honey," Jasmine said softly, "you should greet your mother properly the next time you see her. Give her a hug."Thom turned toward her, one eyebrow slightly raised."What?"Jasmine smiled."She's a mother, Thom. And a mother only wants to hold her child. I could see it in her eyes when she looked at you. She may not remember everything from the past, but her heart knows that you're her son."Thom fell silent for a moment."Yeah, I know," he finally replied, his voice gentle. "Next time we meet, I'll hug her."Jasmine smiled in satisfaction and kissed Thom on the cheek.But the peace did not last long.From the distance, shouting and commotion began to echo through the village. Several soldiers of the Nameless Army ran tow

Yegaz and Baba Lug were utterly stunned. Their eyes widened as they stared at the shattered pieces of steel handcuffs scattered across the marble floor. How was that even possible? The handcuffs were made of high-grade hardened steel, impossible to break with nothing but human strength. Yet Thom had done exactly that. He stood before them with his hands free, his wrists bruised but unbroken. Thom casually rolled his neck from side to side, the soft crackling of his joints echoing through the room. "I should have done this before they brought me here," he said calmly, his voice steady and filled with confidence. "But I had a reason. I wanted to remove the handcuffs here, right in front of the two of you." A faint smile appeared on his lips. "Because I want you to know that I was never your prisoner. I came here of my own free will." Baba Lug remained frozen in silence, unable to utter a single word. Beside him, however, Yegaz slowly began to move. His hand crept toward his waist,

The morning sun bathed the valley of Valemoor in a warm golden glow. A thin veil of mist slowly faded away, revealing a village still in the midst of rebuilding. Newly constructed houses stood proudly, replacing the ruins left behind by Baba Lug's brutal attack.The villagers had already begun their daily routines, carrying their harvests to the newly established barter market.In the distance, clouds of dust rose from the main road connecting Valemoor to Eunosia. A convoy of armored vehicles approached the village. This time, however, there was no tension. No fear. No looming threat.Inside one of those vehicles sat the man who had brought victory to them all.Thom Haye.By the time the convoy came to a stop at the village gate, the entire population of Valemoor had already gathered. They waited with bated breath, their eyes shining with hope.The vehicle door swung open, and Thom stepped out with steady confidence. His face remained calm, but the relief in his eyes was impossible to

Two days after Hendrik returned to Eunosia, another distinguished visitor arrived in Valemoor. This time, it wasn't an ordinary envoy. A white private helicopter bearing the national emblem of Eunosia descended onto the open field near the village gate. Dust swirled through the air as the powerful rotor blades sent gusts of wind across the village, causing the workers to pause and look up. The cabin door opened, and a middle-aged man in a perfectly tailored suit stepped out. Though no longer young, his posture remained straight and dignified, and his sharp eyes carried the weight of responsibility. It was the President of Eunosia himself. He had come in person to meet Thom Haye. Red Dragon rushed to Thom's house to announce the President's arrival. Thom quietly set down his cup of coffee before making his way to the village gate to welcome his distinguished guest. The President approached with two armed aides following closely behind him. His eyes immediately found Thom, who s

The wooden pier, built only a few weeks earlier, was now crowded with dozens of villagers who had gathered to bid farewell to two of Valemoor's own. The atmosphere was filled with both pride and sorrow.Pear and Elias stood at the end of the dock, each carrying a small suitcase. Pear wore a simple blue dress, while Elias was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers. Though their faces were tense, their eyes shone with a hope they could not hide.The entire village had come to see them off.The women brought homemade food for their journey. The men proudly patted Elias on the shoulder. Children waved enthusiastically at Pear, calling out her name with bright smiles.Jasmine stepped forward and wrapped Pear in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her cheeks."Take care of yourself over there, Pear," she whispered. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find us."Pear hugged her just as tightly. "I'll miss you, Jasmine.""Thank you for accepting me as part of your family.