Stepping out of the building known as the Federal Administrative Complex, he arrived in the middle of Volya City, former capital of the Rusvich Kingdom now the central administrative region of the Belfron Federation. Before him was a plaza and a fountain can be found right at its center. When he came closer to the fountain, he felt a chill down his spine and heard,

"CAVAROOOONNNNN!!! I WILL FIND YOUUUU, AND I WILL HAVE YOUUUU NO MATTER WHAAAA-geho!!"

behind him.

'I should get out of this place, fast!' he thought as the citizens looked at the source of the shout.

"The hells with the Premier?"

"Cavaron? Isn't he the champion twenty years ago?"

"Seriously? The hero? That means he has come back."

"Wait, if that is so... oh no, is it another war!?"

"Shut up, man! Don't even think about it."

Volya's citizens were in a panic.

'That stupid little girl.' Cavaron thought as he hid himself.

Yes, he thinks that the Federal Premier is a "little girl".

'If the city hasn't changed, the gates should be...'

Following the map in his memories, Cavaron weaved through the city to find an exit. After an hour of avoiding people, passing through alleys, and ducking under carriages and push carts,

"Hey, what are you doing?" a guard tapped his shoulder and got caught.

Cavaron quickly faced the guard and said, "Nothing, just..."

"Big brother Cavaron?"

"Ha?"

"Big brother Cavaron, it's yo-fff!"

"SHHH! Silence. I know a lot of you know me since I haven't aged. Now who are... baby Lucas?"

Like how Cavaron recognized Tania, he recognized the man before him from his mana signature. Lucas Osfort, a child he once played with during the Undead War. Now, that child is a strapping 25-year old soldier of the Federation.

Lucas removed Cavaron's hand off his mouth, "Hey, I'm not a baby anymore. It's good that you remember me, though."

"How would I forget about the brat that shat on my boot when a ghoul appeared?"

"Argh! Forget that, please!"

"Sorry, hard to forget things lately."

"Bah! So, what are you doing back here? Don't tell me the rumors of the undead are true."

"*sigh* Baby Lucas talks like a big boy now."

"Oh, shush! So?"

"Nah, nothing of that sort. Your beloved Premier went nuts and kidnapped me."

"Tania? Oh dang, her love for you is... can it even be called love?"

"Don't even bother. Stop thinking about it."

"*whistle* Wynn will be happy to see you, though."

"Wynn? Your sister?"

"Yeah, she works south of here as an archaeologist. Digs up a lot of stuff from time to time."

"Hm... interesting. Has she found anything noteworthy?"

"None that I know of. She usually keeps to herself unless something big happens."

"Like?"

"I dunno, finding relics of ancient civilizations?"

"Heh, good point."

"So, Big Bro, where are you going?"

"*sigh* Now he calls me 'Big Bro'."

"..."

"Kidding. No idea, honestly. Guess I'll see what's changed."

"Then, do you mind going south?"

"South? To Wynn?"

"Eh, yah. She's in a place called, Kintab's Recluse digging stuff up."

"And?"

"Can you deliver a message to her?"

"I don't see why not, sure. What is it?"

"Reply to our letters from time to time. Ma's getting paranoid from her silence."

"Oh, sure. Got a map to the place?"

"Sorry, no, but you can get a carriage to take you there. They should know since some merchants go there to buy junk to sell."

"Mmkay."

While they were talking,

"CAVAROOONNNNN!!!"

"Oh hells. Well, see ya, Baby Lucas." and Cavaron ran off to the gates.

"Dammit, Big Bro!"

"Hahaha!"

---

Lavinia City. Third Ring.

"*gasp* Her Majesty!"

"What is she doing here?"

"There wasn't an announcement regarding a personal visit, right?"

"Queen Ritna! You're beautiful!"

"Kyaa!! The Queen is here!"

The residents of the Third Ring were in an uproar at the unexpected visit of their queen.

"General Rowena, are we there yet?"

"After this corner, my Queen."

Ritna's entourage arrived in front of a jewelry shop. Ritna went off her horse and entered.

"Welcome to Myrn's Jewelries! How may I... *gasp*! THE QUEEN!" the girl tending to the counter shrieked.

"Dita, what's going... Your Majesty!?" Myrn scrambled into the shop upon hearing Dita's shriek.

"Greetings." Ritna said as she curtsied. "Myrn and Dita, correct?"

Myrn and Dita frantically curtsied as well.

"Yes, yes. We are, Your Majesty."

"Please, be at ease. I am visiting on behalf of a mutual friend."

"Cavaron?"

"Mister!?"

"Yes, I have a message to deliver."

"Erm, Your Majesty, if it would be alright, would you like to come into the living room for some tea?"

"I gladly accept your offer."

Myrn then led Ritna into their home, and had Dita prepare the tea. Rowena just stood outside, next to the counter, guarding the area.

Seated comfortably while drinking tea,

"Your Majesty, Cavaron... is he well?" Myrn asked to initiate the conversation.

"Yes, he is very well. Although, he had me deliver a message before he abruptly left."

"Did he... did he get.summoned?"

"You know?"

"Yes, I sensed a mana spike to the south west yesterday."

"And how were you able to sense this?"

"I also work as a small time enchanter, Your Majesty."

"Really? May I see.some of your works?"

"Of course."

Myrn then pulled out a ring from her pocket. It was the same ring she showed to Cavaron. Ritna then wore the ring and felt its effects.

"Oh? Stone Skin?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Just a minor rune."

"Hm... interesting."

Ritna then pulled the ring she received from Cavaron off her finger to show to Myrn.

"This ring, do you think.you could reproduce it."

Ritna handed the ring over, and Myrn inspected it.

"Your Majesty, this ring?"

"He gave it to me as a gift."

"I see. No wonder... I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but the enchantment used here cannot be found in this world. At most, I could decipher it but not to the point of mass production." Myrn said as she handed back the ring.

"I see."

"Then, Your Majesty, what is the message he asked to deliver?"

"Ah, yes. It's for Dita."

This time, Dita who was just listening to their conversation, perked up.

"Yes?" said Dita as she faced Ritna.

"Cavaron... he said before he left to tell you, 'sooner or later, I will.keep the promise.'"

"Oh..."

Tears welled up on Dita's face realizing that Cavaron left but she wiped her tears off her face, and said with resolve, "Then, I will wait for mister to come back."

Ritna and Myrn smiled at the little girl before them.

'Cavaron, I kept my end. You better keep yours.' Ritna thought of him one last time.

--------------

Made a poll because "why not?"

Was listening to this when I wrote the chapter: https://youtu.be/iKs7JQCohWA