Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 501 Everything will be fine

"incredible."

Gilbert's voice rose and fell with the movement of the carriage.

Sitting opposite him, Thales leaned against the wall, looking at his teacher whom he hadn't seen for six years, and was also filled with mixed emotions.

“I still remember, young man, six years ago, when we parted, you were just a child…”

Aside from slightly excited breathing, the other person's posture and manners remained impeccable and elegant, as if they were molded from a nobleman.

Thales shrugged and smiled:
"Perhaps it's not just children."

“Of course,” Gilbert smiled knowingly.
"You are certainly more than just a child."

“But look at you now,” Gilbert stared intently at him, looking him up and down with a mixture of relief and emotion.

"You've grown up."

His voice was uneven:

"At fourteen, by the standards of the imperial era, you are already a true adult, capable of wielding a sword in battle, marrying and having children..."

At fourteen, he fought in battle, married, and had children.

Thales scratched his head:
"Well, regarding this, with the changing times and social progress, I believe there's still much to discuss..."

Seeing his expression, Gilbert laughed heartily.

The wheels rolled on, and the two remained silent for a while.

Until Gilbert sighed:

"So, it's been six years, Your Highness. How are you? What's the situation in the North?"

Is everything alright?
What's it like in the North?
Thales had imagined many scenarios of reuniting with his old friends.

He had also imagined how he would exaggerate and vividly complain to them about the terrible food in the North, the frigid temperature of Valhalla, the dim-witted little rascal, the annoying Lady Jinx, the foolish Meteorite, the cunning Lisbon, the damned Rumba, the gluttonous Ada, and the two squires' boring eye-rolling arguments...

He even imagined pouring out all his bitterness, annoyance, and complaints at once: the strange looks from the people of Exeter, the sarcastic tone of the Northland teachers, the personal vendettas during outdoor classes, the relentless surveillance, the unreasonable searches...

But when the moment came, and the words were on the tip of his tongue...

“Hmm,” Thales said, pulling himself out of his reverie and smiling brightly.
"You know, it's the North."

The prince shrugged easily, his smile warm and understated.

"It's very...northern."

Gilbert did not answer immediately, but stared at him for a long time, his gaze fixed on the boy's sunny smile.

It was as if they had read something.

"Yes, Your Highness."

A few seconds later, Gilbert answered softly:

“Northerners, Yankees, I’ve negotiated with them, I know them.”

"I know."

Gilbert's gaze was calm and gentle, but for some reason, Thales had the unsettling feeling that he was carrying a heavy burden and could not bear it.

The carriage fell silent again, with only the sound of the horse's hooves outside.

Thales took another deep breath:

"And you, Gilbert? And Eternal Star City and the Star Kingdom? In the past six years?"

Gilbert paused upon hearing this, and slowly gripped his cane:
"Oh, I'm getting old. I'm not as good at riding horses as I used to be. I'm taking more and more carriage rides. And every day, the scribes and secretaries are writing bigger and bigger characters."

Thales listened quietly, looking at Gilbert, who was six years older.

Six years ago, they were sitting in the same carriage, traveling on the way to Fuxing Palace.

Six years later...

Gilbert turned his head and smiled slightly:
"Apart from that, it's the same as always."

"Working, living, breathing, and waiting..."

He paused for a second, looking into Thales' eyes:

"...Your return."

Thales froze.

For a moment, he was speechless and somewhat at a loss.

Gilbert's expression darkened:
"I can't imagine how much suffering you endured in Exter..."

He stared intently at his cane, unusually using harsh words:
“You damned Yankees, that was supposed to be only a few weeks, and then you would come back safely, back under our care. I remember I told you everything would be alright, but…”

Thales felt a pang of guilt:
“Gilbert…”

Gilbert leaned on his cane, head bowed, and sighed:
"It's our fault for neglecting our duties, which has implicated you..."

Thales shook his head at him.

But the former foreign minister continued, his words tinged with remorse:

"From King Nuen to the calamity, and then to the Black Sand Territory, just reading about it in the letters was enough to be thrilling, but experiencing it all firsthand..."

Thales had to interrupt him loudly:
"Gilbert!"

Gilbert was slightly startled, and then stopped talking.

The prince smiled:
"Hey, I made it through."

Gilbert looked at him quietly, and only smiled after a few seconds.

“Yes,” Xingchen’s cunning fox revealed a rare weariness for someone who was a prince’s teacher:

"You made it through."

"We made it through from the north..."

He nodded slowly, but was clearly distracted.

Thales suddenly noticed that Gilbert's energy and concentration were not as good as before.

Sensing the other person's emotional fluctuations, Thales, with mixed feelings, had no choice but to change the subject:
"So, what about them? Those who remained in Dragon Sky City..."

“Putila, Rolf, and that one…that one…oh, Ada!”

"And... Wyman?"

Upon hearing this name, Gilbert seemed to suddenly awaken.

"Oh, them, please don't worry, although they will need to stay in Dragon Sky City for a while longer..."

"But now that you, the most important person, have returned safely, there is no point in detaining your followers in either Dragon Sky City or Black Sand Territory."

Thales breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

“Gilbert, make sure,” the boy suddenly spoke after a few seconds:
"Make sure they come back safely, make sure your son comes back safely."

The prince raised his head and said earnestly:

"Without them, I couldn't have made it this far."

Gilbert was slightly taken aback.

Thales exhaled:

"If necessary, I can write a letter by hand and have it presented directly to the Duchess of Walton; I have some connection with her..."

Gilbert watched him silently, then smiled, the wrinkles on his face clearly visible.

"Your Highness."

The former foreign minister looked at him with a smile:
They will be alright.

"As long as you are well."

“And my son certainly knows that.”

Thales looked up, smiled back, and nodded.

Gilbert seemed to realize something. He took a few deep breaths, composed himself, and transformed back into the professional and dignified former Foreign Minister, Count Gilbert Cassel, the Star Fox.

“I have so much to say to you, Your Highness, but…”

A polite smile returned to Gilbert's face.

"Now that you're back, there are so many things to arrange... the prince's welcome banquet, your complete team of mentors and advisors—of course, we need to consider the prince's needs while also be befitting the duke's status... oh, and the dignity of the Duke of Starlake..."

Thales's face darkened when he heard the last sentence.

"In fact, that's exactly what I was going to ask about."

Thales' expression turned serious, and Gilbert subconsciously stopped smiling as well.

"The Duke of Star Lake".

The prince savored the meaning of the sentence, uttering each word carefully, and looked at his teacher with a suspicious expression:

"Gilbert, what does this mean?"

Gilbert paused, as if thinking about something, and after a few seconds, he smiled slightly:
"Please do not worry, Your Highness, this is a good thing."

Gilbert sighed with deep emotion:

"The Duke of Star Lake".

He looked out the car window at the receding fields:
"In the history of the stars, this is an honorary title exclusively for members of the Starry Sky family, bestowed upon members of the royal family. Although it is not as prestigious or influential as the six guardian dukes appointed by the King of Restoration, and its real power and fiefdom are insignificant, it cannot be inherited..."

Gilbert turned around and looked at Thales seriously:
"But the significance it represents is extraordinary."

Thales raised an eyebrow.

At that moment, it felt like a familiar feeling had returned.

He did not appear to be traveling on Grace Avenue in a carriage.

Instead, he returned to his study in the Mindis Hall.

Then Gilbert's signature steady voice slowly rang out:

Five hundred years ago, Sumer II, the "severed lineage", appointed his eldest son Elan as Duke of Star Lake, allowing him to manage the territory and participate in government affairs, and rightfully assist him in handling state affairs.

“After the death of Sumer II, the Elamite prince succeeded to the throne as a duke, becoming ‘Elam the Ascended’ I.”

The pulse is broken.

As Thales listened to the other person's words, he searched for the sly way of seeing the world he had learned during his six years in the North—cough cough, the history of the stars as seen through the eyes of the Northmen.

If I remember correctly, Sumer II was the one who ultimately benefited from the fierce confrontation between the two stars and ascended the throne. In order to prevent the kingdom from repeating the mistakes of blood feuds and fratricide, he promulgated the Succession Act, which truly established the power succession system of primogeniture and the younger son changing his surname and being enfeoffed.

(“As expected, we are more advanced. When choosing a king, of course we should choose the most powerful one. A face-to-face fight will solve the problem.” — The idle, arm-in-arms listener)
Under his laws, many collateral descendants with great surnames were forced to leave their homes and change their surnames (and a large number of distant relatives who were lurking in the long and complicated branches of the family genealogy were driven away from many noble families). Many vassals who were not the eldest sons hated him with a passion, and Sumerian Chansing II was thus known as the "Severed Lineage".

As for the King of Ascending Heights… Thales felt a strange sense of familiarity with the name, as if he had just heard it not long ago.

Gilbert's melodious voice continued:
"From then on, half of the bright stars who have been granted the title of Duke of Star Lake over the past five hundred years have been crown princes, whether publicly or privately, who wore the nine-star crown and inherited the supreme throne of the stars after the death of the previous king."

Therefore, the Duke of Starlake is a prerequisite title for the Crown Prince, and so on...

Thales, still wondering who the King of Ascent was, frowned:
"You mean, half?"

Gilbert's smile remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated what Gilbert was about to ask:
"The other half, such as the ancestors of the Taren family of Ice River City, and your grandfather's brother, John Starshine, the God of War, will hold great power and assist the king in governing the country as his closest family member and most trusted assistant."

John Shinsing.

Star God of War.

Thales' heart sank.

He recalled many things, such as the anecdotes about the Dukes in the Starshine Legion that the veteran Jenard had told him in the North, Samir's evaluation of the Duke of Starlake in the Prison of Bones, and the story of John's origins told to him by the Duke of the Western Wilderness in the Ghost Prince Tower.

Gilbert seemed to get more and more excited as he spoke:
"Therefore, Your Highness, for Starry Sky, the Duke of Starlake is either an honorary title granted only to the successor to the throne, as the crown prince before inheriting the throne..."

"Or grant it to the king's closest family members, demonstrating favor and trust, thereby consolidating the rule of the Star Family with the help of blood ties."

The closest family members.

Favor and trust.

Thales coughed lightly and squinted as he said:
“But I remember that, although the Duke of Starlake was his brother John in the time of my grandfather Eddie II, the crown prince he chose was…”

Unexpectedly, Gilbert quickly interrupted him, and his tone was firm and resolute:
"That only proves one thing—your grandfather was willing to trust John and his brother with his life, just as he would trust his own heir. He even believed that John would continue to faithfully assist the succeeding king in the name of the Duke of Starlake after his death."

I have faith in John with my life.

Trust his brother.

Just like trusting one's heir.

For some reason, Samir's indignant words in prison kept echoing in Thales' mind:

Was it a son killing his father, or a brother killing his brother?

Gilbert took a deep breath, still staring intently at Thales, as if there was no room for doubt:

"And John did not disappoint your grandfather: as the greatest contributor to the Blood Year, the former Duke of Starlake and his Starlight Legion fought against the rebels in the south and the dragons in the north, ultimately turning the tide and saving the entire planet."

John Shinsing.

The greatest contributor during the bloody year.

To conquer the rebels in the south and resist the dragon in the north.

They turned the tide and saved the stars.

Thales silently recited these words, trying to suppress the inexplicable chill rising from the bottom of his heart.

"Yes."

The prince remained calm and composed, speaking in a steady tone:
"Then he died."

Gilbert paused for a moment.

But the former foreign minister was clearly experienced; he frowned slightly and quickly picked up where Thales left off:
"...thus making the title even more noble—during the eighteen years that Starlake Castle was vacant, when people talked about the Duke of Starlake who shed his blood on the battlefield, they would only remember his loyal, tragic, and glorious past."

Listening to the other person's flawless explanation, this time, Thales didn't respond, but stared at Gilbert for a long time.

In that instant, Thales suddenly remembered Marina's words, the Sword of Calamity.
Please investigate this matter thoroughly and find out the truth.

[To uncover the truth behind Duke John's assassination in Sodara during the Bloody Year.]

the truth.

Under the prince's gaze, the former foreign minister frowned slightly.

He suddenly had a strange feeling: the students he once knew so well had become somewhat unfamiliar.

A few seconds later, Thales turned his gaze away:
"Yes."

Gilbert secretly breathed a sigh of relief, forgetting the strange feeling in his heart.

"Therefore, being granted this title is a testament to His Majesty's deep trust and high regard for you. It means that you are no longer a prince who relies on his father's influence and has only honor but no real power. Instead, you are His Majesty's right-hand man, with a fiefdom, authority, and status. You are a person whose status is comparable to that of the real feudal lords and can stand on equal footing with them. — Duke of Xinghu."

At this point, Gilbert looked at Thales with considerable excitement:
"With this status, you can even directly enter the Imperial Council to participate in state affairs, and help His Majesty solve problems and share his burdens, without any sense of incongruity."

"In dealings with foreign countries, the title of 'Duke of Star Lake of the Star Kingdom' is a more prestigious and powerful one than 'Son of King Kessel'."

Thales remained silent, lost in thought.

Perhaps to explain in detail, or perhaps out of concern for something, Gilbert paused for a fraction of a second before continuing, his smile still lingering:

"And of course, it also proclaims to all the vassals who still harbor ambitions: even after six years away from the country, your position in His Majesty's heart remains extremely important, and your right to the legitimate succession to the throne is unshakable."

The place in His Majesty's heart.

Thales appeared to understand, but inwardly he shook his head:
Well, that's definitely debatable.

Despite his lack of interest, Thales still managed to feign surprise: "Wow."

Gilbert seemed to be fooled by his appearance, seeing the former foreign minister looking pleased.

“Yes, I know, Your Grace,” he said, gripping his cane tightly and unconsciously changing his form of address.

"I have been waiting for this day for a long time."

Thales seemed to remember something and suddenly realized.

"So just now, Count Cloma immediately turned and left."

The prince squinted at Gilbert:

“He knew that no matter how much he showed the world his closeness and familiarity with the prince, and no matter how much he tried to build a closer relationship and understanding with me, it couldn’t compare to the extraordinary ducal title that had been vacant for eighteen years in the kingdom.”

Gilbert paused.

"Maybe they are, maybe they aren't, but that's their business," the former foreign minister sighed.

"The most important thing now is that you will soon be back at the Palace of Rejuvenation, back home."

Family.

Thales was lost in thought for a moment.

The carriage continued its steady journey, with vast fields and magnificent scenery outside the window, showcasing the great beauty of the western wilderness.

But Thales knew this was a completely unfamiliar sight he was seeing for the first time.

"Family."

Thales murmured:

"Is it?"

Looking at the prince's appearance, Gilbert's strange feeling intensified once again.

But being observant, he quickly moved on from the topic and shifted his attention to Thales's weapons.

"Your Grace, this is..."

Gilbert stared at the sword lying beside Thales, his expression changing slightly.

Thales snapped out of his daze and sighed, equally troubled.

"Does it look familiar? The Falkenhausen family heirloom sword, 'Warning Sword'," Thales patted the hilt of the longsword:

"I must say, it's a fine sword."

Gilbert's eyes narrowed.

The former foreign minister's expression was somewhat somber:

"The ancient imperial sword is not only priceless, but also carries historical significance and is of extraordinary importance. The Duke of the Western Wilderness is being far too..."

Thales stroked the hilt of his sword and raised an eyebrow:
"Too generous?"

Star Fox's expression turned serious.

"Given his reputation, yes."

Thales pursed his lips and nodded:

"Should I hide it so that no one else can see it?"

Gilbert shook his head and said:
“No, there are too many ways for people to find out. For example, if Duke Falkenhausen didn’t bring that sword to a banquet, some nobles would ask about it, and then…”

Thales shrugged:

"Should I return it?"

Gilbert paused for a moment.

"I'm afraid so."

The former foreign minister said thoughtfully, "I can draft a letter for you, tactfully and respectfully citing the history behind this sword. Our fast horses can return the sword within a few days..."

But this time, to his surprise, the young prince in front of him simply smiled and pushed the warning sword back into its sheath.

"Do not."

"I'm in dire need of a good sword."

Thales looked at Gilbert with a smile, and his words stunned the latter:

"I want to keep it."

Gilbert stared blankly at Thales, overwhelmed by a profound sense of unfamiliarity.

"Your Highness—Your Grace, if I may be so bold, considering our current relationship with the lords of the Western Wilderness, returning it is more meaningful than the sword itself. If the world were to see you accept it..."

But Thales interrupted him.

“Gilbert,” the prince said, placing the longsword back at his side, his tone flat, the emphasis barely audible:

"What you're worried about is the world seeing that I accepted Falkenhausen's gift..."

Thales's expression changed:
"Should I let my father see him?"

At that moment, Gilbert was truly stunned.

“Your Grace, I suggest you don’t overthink it…” The former foreign minister hesitated before continuing.

“Gilbert, I saw them, all three of them.”

Thales gazed out the window, slowly drifting into a daze:

"Whether it's Falkenhausen, Cloma, or Bozdorf, these local nobles of the Western Wilderness, their attitude towards me, and the things they're all eager to tell me."

“I can sense it, Gilbert, from the caution you showed when you explained the Duke of Starlake, to your concern about my associating with the nobles of the Western Wilderness…”

“Gilbert,” the prince sighed, his eyes closed.
"This duke, what the hell?"

Thales opened his eyes wearily:

"It's not an easy job, is it?"

Gilbert was about to retort instinctively, but stopped himself the moment he met Thales's gaze.

Thales leaned back against the carriage wall and sighed softly.

Gilbert watched him quietly.

A few seconds later, the former foreign minister sighed, a weary but unassuming smile spreading across his face:
"My little gentleman."

"Perhaps you don't know..."

"But do you know why we're here?"

Thales was slightly taken aback.

Gilbert let out a sigh of relief and pointed out the window:

"Because of your performance at the National Conference six years ago, this ancient country was prevented from falling into division and decline."

"That's why we have the opportunity to meet here today, six years later."

Thales frowned.

State Affairs Conference.

Memories inevitably return to my mind.

"And then, with your broad-mindedness and resolute courage, you went north to Exter to extinguish the flames of war and defend the kingdom single-handedly."

Heading north to Exeter...

Thales pursed his lips.

"But what you've done goes far beyond this..."

Gilbert's tone grew increasingly ethereal, yet also increasingly profound:

"For six years, with the departure of the Born King, Dragoncity has weakened, and Exter is mired in more chaotic internal strife than ever before."

"As far as I know, Fengzhao City has just raised tariffs on grain exports to Black Sand Territory and Rebuilding Tower, causing grain prices in the latter to remain high. The lords of the three regions are full of resentment towards each other and have almost become mortal enemies."

"Qiyuan City and Jieshou City are embroiled in a conflict along the Golden Corridor, locked in a protracted and difficult struggle with the Free Alliance and the hostile Cornmas Alliance."

"As traditional allies during the reign of King Nuen, the relationship between the two eastern territories of Glacier Sea and Deer City and Dragon Sky City has deteriorated sharply, with each side turning against the other in domestic affairs and engaging in mutual antagonism..."

Dragon Sky City...

Upon hearing this word, Thales's hand involuntarily tightened.

"...Most importantly, the three southern dukes who were originally eyeing us with hostility—whether it was Wilan, Rebuilding Tower, or the most feared Chaman I—have begun to turn inward and be wary of each other because they have lost their common enemy and the balance of power among the three has been broken by Black Sand's ascension to the throne."

"The three lords are on high alert with each other, and have therefore had to drastically reduce their military forces on the stellar borders to prepare for any potential threats from one another."

Gilbert looked at him gently, his smile as it always was in the Mindis Hall:
"Thus, over the course of six years, the pressure on the northern border eased dramatically. The Great Needle Forest returned to our patrol range, and even the fiercest Exter hunters dared not venture south to hunt. The people of Watchtower and Lonely Tower enjoyed a rare period of peace and prosperity."

"The border defenses of Black Sand Territory are unprecedentedly weak. It is said that the Flower of the Fortress led a patrol across the border and camped within Black Sand Territory for three days and three nights. The few Exter people dared not approach, only watching from afar—because their lord and their king were so disillusioned with each other that they had no time to look south."

"The relief of the Dragon-Slaying Fortress has had an immediate effect. From farming and harvesting to herding and commerce, all industries in the Northern Territory are slowly recovering. For example, many of the troops deployed to rescue you in the Western Wilderness were drawn from the service quotas saved from the Dragon-Slaying Fortress."

Gilbert paused for a moment, his words tinged with deep emotion:
"I still remember six years ago, Baron Mu's standing army was stationed in the central territory, training and preparing for battle every day, on high alert for any unrest at the fortress, and could not leave even for a moment;"

"But six years later, the army of the Kingdom's Wrath gallops across the land, spreading royal power wherever it goes, from the East Sea to the South Coast, the Blade's Edge, and the Western Wilderness. Wherever it goes, the four borders submit, and the vassals bow before the sword. The once out-of-control kingdom's territory has been restored to His Majesty's conference table."

"Thanks to the rare opportunity brought about by the decline of the dragons, we are able to act freely: whether it is to unite the nobles within the country, reaffirm the royal power, counter the Cornmas, strike at the Dragon's Kiss Lands, warn Allenbia, or deploy troops on the border to intimidate the Three Kingdoms of the Mist and reclaim hegemony in the West... things that we dared not think of before are now being put on the agenda one by one."

Hearing these news reports about the current situation, Thales frowned deeply.

Over the years...

So many things have happened around the stars?
"Your Highness, the devastating blows of the Bloody Year have left the kingdom in decline and languishing for years," Gilbert said sorrowfully.
"For nearly twenty years, an entire generation, we, who once dominated the Western Continent, with the blood of the empire flowing in our veins, had to humble ourselves, bide our time, and walk on thin ice with trepidation."

The former foreign minister's graying temples were silhouetted against the setting sun outside the window, and his voice rose and fell, clearly indicating that he was deeply troubled.

Gilbert took a deep breath, his expression changed, and with a surge of energy, his tone became more animated:

"But twenty years have passed, and look at it now..."

"The dragon folds its wings, and the mighty enemy is beheaded."

"The Milky Way shines, and the stars shine again."

Gilbert's eyes shone with a light that gave Thales the illusion that he couldn't breathe.
"We have finally caught our breath, freed up our resources, and are ready to rebuild our country."

"The kingdom's return to the top of the world is just around the corner."

The former foreign minister gently pressed Thales' shoulder.

"And all of this, from saving the stars and unifying kingdoms to ending wars and rebuilding the nation..."

"All of this is inseparable from you, my little sir, my..."

Gilbert took a deep breath, looking at him with complex emotions, a slight glint of tears in his eyes:

"Duke Thales".

Thales could only stare at him blankly, speechless for a long time.

Gilbert blinked hard, concealing the tears welling up inside, and composed himself.

"Yes."

“Being this ‘damned’ duke is indeed not an easy job.”

The middle-aged nobleman wore a bittersweet yet relieved smile:

"But it is precisely all your past efforts and struggles that have made you one of the millions of people in this great nation..."

Gilbert said softly:
"The person who is best suited for it."

Just now.

"Your Grace, Your Excellency ...

A familiar voice came from outside the carriage.

Thales snapped out of his daze.

He recognized the voice as belonging to a member of the royal guard, the blond knight who had stood behind Marius earlier, a "distant relative" of Deleuze, and the knight Doyle who had mocked the Cloma family for escorting Thales with ill intentions:
"We've arrived in Lorenburg. This is our rest stop for today. We'll set off again tomorrow."

Before Thales, still immersed in his inexplicable emotions, could react, Gilbert composed himself and stood up with a smile.

"Thank you, Doyle, I'm coming right now."

Gilbert opened the carriage door and stepped out. His voice continued to drift from outside the carriage, polite and composed, showing no trace of his earlier agitation:
"And I am very grateful for the service of the Royal Guard."

Doyle's laughter followed, clearly indicating a close relationship with the former foreign minister:
"It is my duty, Your Excellency."

“Furthermore, since we have been assigned as the Duke of Starlake’s personal guards,” Doyle’s voice was bright, as if he were forever oblivious to sorrow:
"Then perhaps you can call us the Duke's Guard, or..."

"Star Lake Guard?"

Thales was startled again.

Xinghu Guard.

Outside the carriage, the royal guards and Gilbert continued their conversation and laughter.

But Thales simply sat quietly in the carriage, without saying a word or moving an inch.

After an unknown amount of time, until Doyle urged him on, the young prince sighed, leaned back in the carriage, and said almost imperceptibly:
"are u there?"

A few seconds later, a barely audible, hoarse voice drifted down from the air:

"Yes."

Thales shook his head in confusion and gave a soft scoff:
"Did you hear that? What Gilbert just said... about what I did?"

From saving the stars and unifying kingdoms to ending war and rebuilding the nation...

It is through all your past efforts and struggles that you have become one of the millions of people in this great nation…

The person who is best suited for it.

Thales stared blankly into thought.

"Yes." The answer in the air remained as concise as ever.

Thales gave a perfunctory reply to Doyle's urging from outside the carriage, then stared blankly up at the ceiling, his gaze unfocused.

"Yordal".

Have you ever had a moment when everything in your life seemed so unreal, leaving you feeling lost and disoriented?

A few seconds later, the masked guard's voice came softly:
"Yes."

Thales curled his lips into a half-smile:
"Great, then I'm not crazy."

His tone was dejected.

“Thales…”

His name echoed from the void, along with a hesitant word of comfort:
"Everything... will be alright."

Thales laughed again upon hearing this.

everything will get better.

“Yes,” Thales said absently in the carriage, “every time, just before things get worse…”

"That's what I told myself too."

Yodl remained silent.

(End of this chapter)