The Maiden of Light. A legendary heroine that all races of Axis Mundi adored. Back in her time, it was an age of darkness where the demon king had declared war on the core races of the Axis, and she was their beacon of light. Her deeds and character granted her sainthood and adulation.

Although Relestia does not understand the meaning behind her new title, she could feel their idolisation and twirled her hair bashfully.

The merchant came over shortly. He had been sitting alone worrying for his children. The bright song had enliven his spirits and he give Relestia generous praises, making the girl blush harder.

The merchant is completely unaware of the evil that passed, and no one will ever tell him. What happened under the devil’s dark influence was gone like a bad dream. Kairos had made sure that nothing was left, even the splattered blood on the ground.

A little while later, Leo Stout and Linda Stout arrived with two carriages.

The front carriage is Leo’s, a sensible iron wrought wagon that can carry many goods. The latter carriage, on the other hand, was a strange brougham with doors flapping – as if the locking latch had spoiled.

A loud trumpeting accompanied the brougham, making their presence unmissable.

Leo gave Kairos an exasperated look and a long sigh.

Unable to put down his worries, he had left Linda alone and followed after Kairos into battle but his speed was dismal compared to the Lightning Flicker Body movement technique. By the time he arrived, the situation had already came under control. After all, it only took a second after Kairos let out his Aura.

He immediately turned back to fetch Linda but it still took some effort to bring the two carriages over.

Kairos’ carriage was conveniently fitted with an automatic-follow function and things should’ve been easy. By now Leo already know that the shabby exterior is a disguise, it is in fact it is an exceptionally a pricey coach filled with all sorts of magical contraptions. Technically, the carriage is considered a type of Landau as the roof and windows can be retracted but Kairos never used this feature.

Unfortunately, Leo had a challenging time trying to pick the correct function he wanted and the carriage was stuck between converting coach and open-air barouche mode.

He finally got it to move, but the carriage doors are now malfunctioning and the trumpets blazing. The coach looked like a giant flapping chicken coming over.

“Who is this strange mister?” someone looked at Leo and whispered.

“Whoever he is, his taste seemed quite heavy.”

Leo’s face is fully red by the time he pulled over. The griffins are not helping, they are constantly giving Leo the evil eye eve while disguised as white horses.

If they didn’t know he is a friend of their master, they would’ve eaten him.

When they settled down, especially after getting the raging flapping carriage under control, Kairos briefly told Leo up what transpired.

As a travelling merchant himself, Leo understand how dangerous it was. Furthermore, which trader had not seen the sleight of hand in their time?

While fighters harm each other with blade and violence, merchants are not less bloodthirsty; they simply do it another way – with glib and lies. Many times, a sure-fire moneymaking scheme is only another name for a death trap.

When Leo found out that they are still waiting for the burly man’s family to arrive, he quickly pulled Kairos. The others had a knowing look in their eyes, but they remained silently.

At a more private location, Leo gave Kairos a sigh, “We should leave right away.”

“They need our help.”

“You’ve help them more than enough. No one can expect handouts. If the young man’s family come to investigate who killed him, all of us will be in grave danger!”

Kairos nodded solemnly, but remained unmoved, “There is a saying back in my hometown, if you decide to help someone, do not do it lukewarm or it will be better not to help at all.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have helped? Linda is so young, and Kairos, you’re wounded!”

Leo has good reasons to be worried, and Kairos did not fault him.

“You are right; it is dangerous. But, I will not leave them in their plight. Abandoning them when things become inconvenient means that I had helped them only for my own gratifications. However, I had helped them for their sakes.”

“You don’t even know them!”

“You’re right, I don’t know them much, but I saw enough to determine what ought to be done. Just like you, Leo, they wanted someone to help them, and I was around with the power to right things. I do not need another reason to help them.

If I turn away my eyes every time it becomes difficult to do something good, it will not only be them that suffers injustice but my own soul too. I shall not stand by idling as I become a detestable person who take actions for self-benefits and remains unconcerned with another.”

“Well, what if you can’t help? What if you’re just not strong enough to bear their burdens? What if the repercussions come for those around you?”

“Leo Stout, never mistake kindness for weakness. Instead, the opposite is true. If you can stand up for what is right, you will gain a strength more than what you can get from life-and-death battles. One can stay alive cowering, or live standing straight, but I speak for myself. For the people around me, if there is true danger, I would’ve sent all of you on your way already.”

“You… you’re incredible,” Leo said with genuine respect.

Kairos had a smile on his face.

People will risk their lives to protect their pride, or charge headfirst into battle for a bag of coins, yet true strength is not measured by cultivation, mana, or sharp blades but by the steel of one’s heart and the brightness of one’s soul.

Those who do not raise a finger to help someone … are weak.

They are weak because they are defeated by the simplest inconvenience.

They are feeble to contests.

They are fearful of repercussions.

They are incapable of holding a powerful heart in their scrawny chests.

Those that see what is right and do it regardless of dangers are conquerors.

The weak calls them fools, but true tomfoolery can only come from ignorance. Those who tried doing what is right knowing the dangers took that step because the strength in their hearts moved them.

If they survive that battle, it will make them heroes; if they die in their great acts, legends.

The people they are waiting for came two nights later.

A small group of mercenaries led seven young lads and a little lady over to their camp in great haste. They looked worn, but otherwise unharmed.

When the burly merchant saw them coming from far, he ran out to meet them with great joy. His wife arrived a few steps later, and the family reunited in an embrace.

The apprehension drained out from the husband and wife, replaced by sweet relief.

Leo looked worriedly at the horizon for pursuers. To his surprise, when he asked the mercenaries they told him that no one was after them. There were some tailing them at the start, but were disappeared mid-way.

Leo was right that one’s action should not implicate another, but that is why Kairos had sent the mercenaries some help. A few shadows flew back into his clothes, amongst them are the three dragonlings and Aisa. No one noticed but there is one other presence in the group, Kairos’ Soul Contract – the Greater Lightning Spirit, Tempest.

It had followed Kairos wherever he went, even through the portal to this realm.

If not for this Elemental, it would’ve been impossible for the burly man’s children to come away unharmed.

Those with intent to harm the youngsters were all discovered later as charred corpses by bolts of lightning on a clear day. It is clearly different from any magic they know. It appears unstructured and wild, unlike the well-designed spells that mages use. Many of the witnesses are certain that it is divine retribution for all the evil that young man and his family had done.

The dragonlings had been busy messengers, finding all the merchant’s children and letting Kairos know that things are going smoothly.

Leo looked at Kairos with suspicion in his eyes and received a smile in return. It’s certain now, Kairos had done something despite staying here to reassure the couple. Did he know that everything will turn out fine?

Then, that speech was for his sake?

Leo turned his eyes back to the reunited family, and then to Linda who is holding his hand.

Suddenly, it was as if scales fallen off his eyes, and the things that were blinded to him became clear. This feeling of a wrong righted and loved ones unharmed is irreplaceable.

Even though he did not want to admit, he is glad to be able to see this scene. Kairos had told him, kindness is not weakness. To do a good deed is sometimes no different from participating in a battle.

As a Class 5 Aura Master himself, he had fought alongside soldiers and seen the things people will do to gain more power. Those that chose the easy way would steal from others, take lives, or commit villainous acts, but these shortcuts in life that may help them move quickly, would only take them far away from where they want to reach.

By the time such a person reached the top, he had already lost himself.

Maybe at first, helping another may seem unbeneficial, but while it may not enrich one’s wallet, it satisfy the soul and makes one truly live standing straight. Like Kairos said, doing a good deed isn’t meant for self-gratification or out of convenience. It is a pursuit of righteousness, a test of patience, an endeavour of wisdom and courage. Of course, those who are kind will inevitably meet with cruel challenges, but if such a person matures without losing their heart, then the strength he gains will be unimaginable.

In history, such people rarely appears but it is not zero. The maiden and hero of light are famous examples of those who had walked the straight and narrow path and what they acquired at the top are eternal. To protect those they love, they gained strength to rid the world of the demon king. Their names are left shining in the annuals of history, and their followers are throughout the land among all races that no kings can match.

More importantly, living their lives to the fullest, they have the contentment which those who betrayed their hearts can only look with envy. Leo now understands a little bit of what Kairos meant. Kairos knowingly turned towards him and gave him a nod, then motioned for everyone to pack up and leave. The moment to wait is over. It is now time for them to head towards the Dwarven Kingdoms at full speed.