Rune king was first to act, giving out orders calming the situation before it could even be disorderly. All present had more or less confirmed that Hiro did not use any life force during the fight. A commotion could happen at any moment, not all gathered had noble mannerisms. The king took control acting in a most composed manner, his behavior and expression showed no signs of his thoughts on what just transpired. The loss of Jura, spar or not was no a small matter, he was the strongest they had, representing Akarn's might at an individual level and among the present were masters from foreign kingdoms, dignitaries of said kingdoms even.

  "Vazpin take chief warrior Jura to the infirmary to get proper healing and rest."

  He said moving to the center of the courtyard, joining Hiro and some other rune practitioner he had ordered to repair the damages. Following behind him was another one of Akarn's court masters, Oldomus. He too was similarly composed.

  (As old as I am, it seems there is still much of the world I don't know. Ignorance really is the undoing of a man)

  "Hiro was it, I'm conflicted wether to congratulate your victory or lament the loss of our top warrior".

  He said coming to a halt after the king, two to three steps behind.

  "I think neither are any good, what's truly unfortunate is not seeing your warrior fight at his best because the world has weakened".

  Said Hiro facing the two.

  "Hahaha. Right you are. But weakened or not a victory is a victory do not be so humble, as a master myself I can assure you even with the world at its prime you would have been more than just a match".

  The king said with a smile, extending a hand to Hiro for a handshake, congratulating him on the victory. This Hiro found terrifying, not being able to discern if the other was being genuine or had some other motive. But he wasn't bothered embracing the handshake.

  "Don't mind my previous rambling, the king is right and if I recall it is us that owe you now."

  Said Oldomus, hinting at the king to pick him but the king had already decided on someone else to fulfill their part of the agreement.

  "Ah, yes. The agreement, it is not much of a prise but at present it is all we can do in ways of hospitality, fulfilling our promise. Aleus, I'll leave our guest in your capable hands. Everyone else you are dismissed, except for the faction heads and court masters".

  They all wanted to have their curiosities satisfied but they could not act on their true feelings, not here and now so they reluctantly dispersed. Most didn't even have any power to them except their status as masters while those who were from other nations found reason to remain at the palace grounds in hopes of catching a whiff of information. While those that remained in the presence of Hiro were the officials of Akarn, they would have to discuss what this means and while the same was true of those that left, they were much closer to the heart of the matter.

  "I must ask, why the interest in the dragon. An interest in runes and the world is understandable but it. It's just a passing singular disaster destined to never return"

  Wondered Aleus, now that they were back inside and the atmosphere had eased. Only several people remained the king, Oldomus and a few other court masters and assistants. All eyes were on Hiro, ordinarily they would have all left returning to their duties or debating in separate room. But he was just too much of a mystery for them to do so, perhaps even something that would change the very course of the continent itself.

  (Where should I begin, how much do I say... It would be best to stick with half truths for now)

  "I've fought the dragon. Slaying it proved challenging"

  There was an audible gulp as the room fell into silence, everyone quietly digesting his words. His statement was just too broad they could not form concrete thoughts, but one thing they all believed, an individual matching its power, absurd. The silence that momentarily dominated was broken by the king saying.

  "Naturally. But surviving a clash with it, what a feat."

  With a shake of his head, Hiro corrected them causing them to fall deeper into their suppressed shock and disbelief.

  "No, you misunderstand. It's not its strength that proved to be a challenge. It was its way of constructing bodies, immortalising it, to which the limits I do not know perhaps for as long as there is earth or less. Either way I couldn't kill it, nor did I have stamina to figure this out. But I thought you would know more about it than I, possibly a fatal weakness. Also thought the answer may be hidden within the knowledge of runes."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  (Granted it was all a gamble)

  He thought in silence looking at those around him, readying himself for their response.

  "You're telling us you fought, arguably defeated even, the calamity dragon. I can only say madness, impossible even. But you've shown a power so foreign and mighty I can only be neutral if I don't believe in your words. Unfortunately we know not of the answer you seek, this immortality it's news to us"

  After Aleus, Oldomus also said a few words filled with desire, longing and regret.

  "Am I right to assume you plan to face it once more. If so it's a shame, if I wasn't so helpless I would accompany you."

  "I would also do the same, my kin and I have a score to settle with it. The two kings it ended are not forgotten, vengeance for my ancestors and world"

  Said the king, clenching his fist causing several veins to bulge, even making the a sound similar to knuckles cracking.

  "Don't waste your strength on it, dead or not the world is beyond saving"

  Some master in the background said.

  (If I'm not wrong, a blessing should fix their problem plus if they can help that's a bonus)

  Thought Hiro before proposing.

  "Oh, what if both could be done"

  "A world's life force is no small thing, even if we slayed and drained the dragon of its own, the world would not be restored. There's nothing to be done with all this dead land".

  Surprisingly the one to argue against such a possibility was Oldomus, saying so with deep melancholy. But Hiro was more than certain, they just didn't know it, by himself it would be impossible but with a holy sword it was more than just a possibility.

  "I don't know why you centered it around your palace but thanks to that, there's a way. I can't explain it, you'll have to see for yourselves. You can tell me more about runes and dragon after".

  With his assurance they returned to the courtyard. It was strange they had just met him but they started to believe in him. When they arrived they found it was now fully restored. Hiro unsheathed Epsilon, pointing it towards the sky, holding it with both hands close to his chest.

  "You call it dead land, that's not how I see it. To me it is closer to corrupt than dead and I can purify it. With my holy sword".

  (Epsilon I ask of you, bless this land)

  He thought activating the ability of holy swords to bless. He unleashed a ranged slash followed by a stab that made a streak of light following the earlier slash. The dark clouds were parted by the slash, clearing the sky so much so that from the courtyard only the clear salmon red sky could be seen. The streak of light continued to ascend reaching above cloud height then quickly expanded before exploding. The explosion resulted in a rain of golden light that spread possibly across all of Akarn maybe even beyond. With the sun now visible, it was like it was the source of this rain of light.

  "Guards, block all the entrances!"

  The king ordered the near by guards, having a premonition of what would happen if he didn't.

  "How is this possible, the world's life force, it's returning, and it keeps on growing. And that sword what is it ...it was for a split second but I'm certain..."

  "I felt it too, life force surpassing the world's""

  Said several spectators approaching only for the king to hold them back, making a barrier that separated Hiro from everyone else.

  "With this you should be able to draw more power than before ".

  He said as he returned to everyone. He was now separated from everyone by a barrier keeping everyone from reaching him. They had been through shock after shock no longer restraining themselves. What they were witnessing was nothing short of a miracle, surpassing all the previous absurdities Hiro presented. However not all rushed to his side, some were on their knees, white robes and all, feeling the ground beneath them. Oldomus was one them, clawing the ground and feeling the dirt, he looked like he could cry at any moment but not even a drop trickled. How long had it been since he felt the earth close to being as rich as it was when he was young, so long ago those that remained were his fellow rune masters, anyone else now part of the earth they walk on. No one reprimanded them for expressing themselves as such, even though they would dirty themselves further. Aleus couldn't relate to these old forks, the dead lands were all he knew but he could understand.

  (With one look it's obvious who is from that generation and who isn't with how each reacts to this.)

  While everyone did this the King was still focused on controling the flow of information, this surge of life force from the sword and the restoration itself would not go unnoticed.

  (Those sly foxes that managed to stay might find reason to make their way here)

  He thought while sending out rune golems carrying information on how the palace is to respond. He wasn't the only one whose gears were turning. Their world would potentially return to how it once was and even if it didn't everyone was bound to be busy that much was certain. They were already forming predictions of how things would turn out. After the rain of light ceased they quickly collected themselves. The barrier was released, the king expressed his thanks and the rest of the masters followed suit. Their world was not fully restored yet but the restoration was still ongoing and the possibility was more than likely.

  "It's far from being a fair compensation but I will throw a gathering in your name, with the land restored food will return in abundance. Oldomus, gather a few practitioners, you know what to do".

  Oldomus nodded before summoning a few rune golems, to deliver his instructions to his subordinates. Previously such a thing could not be done, not that there was no food, the only food they could spare was for those who could not use runes on their bodies. And throwing a feast, too much of a waste of what little life force they had.

  (It seems I've gone to far, things will get complicated if I stay too long).

  "There's no need, I think it's best to rush back to the dragon and slay it before it adjusts to its current self".

  "A meal won't take too long besides with the world as is we can assist you in its subjugation. The selection of masters to accompany you will take time. I myself would go there with you".

  Persuaded the king, at the same time Vazpin arrived walking passed everyone and reaching the front. He already knew everything, informed by the king, and he was against a certain idea.