The hustle and bustle of Oakvale faded behind them. Dustin didn’t leave immediately. On a night when the moon hung clear and bright, he appeared without warning in the courtyard of Grace’s private residence outside the palace. A few dishes sat on the stone table beside a bottle of wine.
Dressing in a simple, elegant casual dress, she sat alone and drank under the moonlight. When she saw him, she didn’t seem surprised. Instead, she smiled and gestured to the stone bench across from her, as if she’d known he’d come to say goodbye.
“Leaving already?” she asked casually, filling a glass for him. Dustin sat and took the glass, letting the smooth warmth of it settle in his hand, and nodded. “Yes. My business here is done,” he replied.
Grace raised her glass and spoke earnestly. “I truly owe you my thanks. Without you, I wouldn’t have even made it to Elysium Isle, let alone obtained the immortal essence tablet to save my father.”
He clinked his glass lightly against hers, the crisp ring resounding in the air.
“There’s no need for that between us. You guided me there, and I helped you get the elixir. We each got what we needed, so we’re even.”
His voice was calm, but carried the unique sincerity and casualness between friends.
Grace smiles softly. She understood Dustin well enough to know this wasn’t a polite brush-off, but what he genuinely believed. She said no more and downed her glass in one go.
“What’s your next plan?” she asked, her eyes filled with concern.
Dustin fell silent for a moment. His gaze seemed to travel across thousands of miles toward the distant west. He traced the rim of his glass with one finger and spoke calmly.
“I’ll be going to West Lucozia. My old man’s health isn’t great, so I should check on him and bring him something.”
He didn’t specify what, and she didn’t press. She already knew Rufus’ condition wasn’t that great. Without miraculous medicine to sustain him, he wouldn’t last much longer.
“It’s a long journey, so take care,” Grace said, raising her glass again. “Send my regards to the Prince of West Lucozia.”
“Will do,” Dustin replied, downing the rest of his wine and standing up in one smooth motion. “I’m off.”
There were no lengthy goodbyes. Just like when he’d arrived, his figure flickered briefly in the moonlight and vanished. She looked at the empty stone bench and smiled faintly.
After spending so much time together, that figure had unknowingly carved a place in her heart. It was a shame his heart already belonged to another.
After leaving Oakvale, Dustin didn’t head to West Lucozia. He knew refining an immortal essence tablet wouldn’t be easy. Years of chronic illness had drained Rufus’ vital energy, so the tablet had to be of exceptional refinement quality.
Without the fortunate circumstances of Elysium Isle, he would need to rely on his own core energy to craft the tablet, and that would take some time.
Several days later, the training grounds of the West Lucozia castle were alive with activity. Banners whipped in the wind, and the sounds of clashing weapons echoed across the field. Even with Rufus bedridden, the West Lucozian cavalry’s drills never slackened for a single day.
At the center, a tall, solidly built young officer in black training gear barked orders and guided soldiers through formation drills. His voice boomed like thunder, his movements sharp and efficient.
That was Dustin’s younger brother, Austin.
Suddenly, Austin felt something and turned. At the edge of the training grounds stood a white-robed figure that hadn’t been there a moment ago, watching him quietly.
“Dustin?” His surprise quickly gave way to joy. Ignoring the soldiers around him, he sprinted over in a few long strides.
“When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked excitedly. Seeing his brother’s more muscular frame, Dustin smiled faintly and clapped him on the shoulder.
“I’ve just arrived,” he replied. “Looks like the training’s been paying off, you’ve bulked up quite a bit.”
“I spend every day at the barracks. How could I not get stronger?” Austin said with a smile.
But then he thought of something, and his expression sobered. He spoke in a low voice.
“Father’s condition is getting worse by the day. I don’t know how much longer he has. He keeps asking about you. Maybe you should go see him?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already found a solution, “Dustin said, pulling out a box from inside his pocket and handing it over. “Take this. Have the old man swallow what’s inside. It’ll extend his life by ten years.”
“Extend his life by ten years?” Austin’s head snapped up. His eyes were filled with excitement and disbelief, his voice trembling slightly. “Dustin, are you serious?”
“I already had the King of Dragonmarsh test it. It absolutely works,” Dustin replied, dropping the astonishing claim without ceremony.
“You had His Majesty test a medicine for Father?” Austin said, raising an eyebrow. He knew only his brother would dare say something so outrageous.
“There’s no time to waste. Go now,” Dustin instructed. “And don’t tell him I gave it to you.”
“Aren’t you coming with me?” Austin asked.
Dustin hesitated, then shook his head. “No.
I’ll wait here for your news.” He still couldn’t bring himself to face the truth. Perhaps he didn’t know how to face his dying father, or perhaps he couldn’t bear to see the once-indomitable figure become so fragile.
Austin didn’t force him. He simply gave him a firm salute, turned, and bolted from the training grounds. Gathering his most trusted guards, he raced at breakneck speed towards his father’s secluded residence.
