The Stellar Swordmaster — Chapter 102

IF YOU HAVE TREASURE THAT SPARKLES AND SHINES...

...YOU MUST BE READY TO PROTECT IT.

FOR THOSE WHO FAIL TO DO SO, MISERY AND RUIN ARE ALL THAT AWAIT.

I SEE THE FLAME HERE STILL BURNS FOR NOW.

WELL, SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP IT GOING.

I'M SO GLAD I ARRIVED IN TIME.

I WAS AFRAID I MIGHT BE TOO LATE.

HMM?

I'VE COME TO REQUEST YOUR SERVICES.

THIS VERY MOMENT?

IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT IS...?!

ONLY THE UNDYING FLAME CAN TEMPER THIS METAL.

MASTER OF THE FINAL FORGE.

I NEED YOU TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR ME.

MAKE WHAT...?

DRAGONSBANE.

I INTEND TO SLAY THE MOST PERFECT DRAGON.

Episode 102

SIR?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER HERE?

AND WHY ARE YOU UP SO EARLY?

I COULDN'T SLEEP.

I DON'T BLAME YOU...

WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT WE'D ENCOUNTER ONE OF THOSE EVIL BEASTS ALL THE WAY HERE IN THE CENTRAL REGION?

AND YOU SAY THE MONSTER'S BODY VANISHED INTO THIN AIR, LIKE SMOKE?

IT WAS GONE WITHOUT A TRACE...

SOMEONE CLEARLY SOUGHT TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING OF THE BEAST WOULD REMAIN.

THIS MUST BE THEIR DOING. I'M CERTAIN OF IT.

I MUST NOTIFY LORD JOSEF OF THIS.

BUT THERE AREN'T ANY MAGES HERE.

SHOULD WE SEND WORD BY HORSE?

NO, NOT BY HORSE.

IT'S WINTER. IN THIS WEATHER, THE MESSAGE WILL TAKE TOO LONG TO REACH HIM.

WHAT'S THE NEAREST CITY TO THE EAST WHERE WE MIGHT FIND A MAGE?

LET ME THINK... EAST... EAST...

I SUPPOSE THAT WOULD BE TANOVO, IN THE TERRITORY OF COUNT VITZKAYA.

VERY WELL. THAT'LL BE OUR NEXT DESTINATION.

HAVE EVERYTHING PACKED AND READY TO LEAVE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

AS YOU WISH.

STRANGE... VERY STRANGE...

I'M SURE I DREAMED SOMETHING...

...YET UPON WAKING, IT'S AS IF THE DREAM SIMPLY DISAPPEARED, LIKE A MIRAGE...

I INTEND TO SLAY THE MOST PERFECT DRAGON.

SLAY THE DRAGON...

WHOEVER THAT WAS, THEY SOUNDED FAMILIAR.

MAYBE IT'S A FRAGMENT OF A MEMORY THE VOICE LEFT FOR ME.

WE'RE STILL CONNECTED. I CAN FEEL IT.

WE SHALL MEET AGAIN IN THE DEPTHS.

SOMEDAY, WE'LL MEET AGAIN...

WHY NOT WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO WARM BEFORE LEAVING?

MUST YOU GO SO SOON?

WAS OUR HOSPITALITY PERHAPS LACKING IN SOME WAY?

NOT AT ALL, BARON.

IT'S SIMPLY TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE. I'VE DONE WHAT WAS NEEDED.

HMM...

I WAS HOPING TO SQUEEZE A LITTLE MORE OUT OF HIM BEFORE LETTING HIM GO.

THAT IS, UNTIL THAT SLY FOX TALKED ME INTO HANDING OVER A SMALL FORTUNE.

BARON DALMATIA.

PRAY, DO NOT FORGET MY WORDS FROM YESTERDAY.

NOT TO WORRY. I'LL REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID.

NO LONGER SHALL WE SET FIRE TO THE FOREST TO CLEAR LAND FOR BARLEY FIELDS...

NOR SHALL WE FELL ANY TREES WITHOUT JUST CAUSE.

I ADVISE THAT YOU OFFER A SMALL TRIBUTE TO THE FOREST FROM TIME TO TIME AS WELL.

SUCH IS THE WILL OF THE LORD WHO DWELLS WITHIN THE FOREST. I SENSED IT QUITE CLEARLY LAST NIGHT.

PLEASE, ACCEPT THIS AS AN OFFERING TO GOD...

FOR BLESSING US WITH THIS VICTORY.

!

I SEE... SINCE IDOL WORSHIP OF SPIRITS IS FORBIDDEN...

...HE PRESENTS HIS OFFERING AS A PRAYER TO GOD?

I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WERE ANY KNIGHTS SO NOBLE AMONG THOSE BARBARIC NORTHERNERS.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SINCERITY AND KINDNESS.

OUR CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT SHALL LINGER IN MY HEART FOR YEARS TO COME.

THOUGH I RETURN TO THE NORTH, I WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR DOBRECHTI'S PROSPERITY.

FAREWELL TO YOU TOO.

WHAT SPIRITS NEED TO SURVIVE IS A SENSE OF PRESENCE.

THE MEMORIES AND EMOTIONS OF THOSE WHO THINK OF THEM.

THESE ARE WHAT GIVE SPIRITS LIFE IN THIS WORLD.

MEEP?

AT LAST, THE SPIRIT IS SAFE FROM FADING INTO OBLIVION.

WITH THE DAWN OF THIS MORNING...

WELL? DID YOU FIND OUT WHO HE IS?

HE APPEARS TO BE THE SON OF DUKE DRAGULIA, MY LORD.

THEY SAY HE'S THE HALF-BROTHER OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE DRAGON SLAYERS.

THE SON OF THE DRAGON BLOOD WARLORD...

...AND HALF-BROTHER OF MIRSHEA? THAT CAN ONLY BE ONE MAN...

RADU DRAGULIA.