Chapter 4: Return!

Chapter 4: Return!

Radiant Year, 3826 CE,

The air in Vecna was filled with a festive mood today, as it got ready to welcome its Prince Ryan after a long wait of eight years.

When Ryan left, he was only a seven-year-old child, who was recuperating from the loss of his friends and teachers after the terrorist attack.

Ryan had a favorable impression among the common citizens due to his innocence and intelligence, as well as his being Henry's eldest son.

"Maa, when will elder brother Ryan return?" Carl looked at Loraine with his innocent, childlike eyes.

Carl was Henry and Loraine's third child, making him fifth in line to the throne. Even though Carl was born three years after Ryan left, he knew Ryan as many others did due to the stories told by their mother.

"Any time now," Loraine replied. There was a gentle smile spread across her face, but her eyes were moist since she was going to see Ryan after years.

During the past eight years, she and Henry had tried several times to contact Ryan through Victor, but he had refused every single time, so today was a special day for her.

Horn!

Loraine was telling another story to Carl when the beast's horn rang in the palace.

An incalculable joy appeared on Loraine's face, and she rushed outside the room. A few seconds later, she returned to the room and left after grabbing Carl.

Henry and his other concubines were waiting outside the palace when Loraine arrived there.

She bowed and greeted Henry. Other concubines and children greeted her following that. She nodded and then looked ahead at the gate, waiting to see her son.

Every second she had to wait there was like an eternity of torture for her, but her wait finally landed as a rugged man stepped inside the gate.

Loraine forgot that she was a queen at that time and rushed to him.

Ryan had now grown to two meters tall, while his shoulders had become broad. He looked no less than an animal in the skin of a human.

At just fifteen years old, his face already bore the hallmarks of ruggedness and roughness. A rough beard adorned his face, despite his youth, and his blond hair, which could have flowed down to his waist, was instead tied in a bun. He had worn nothing above his waist, so the numerous scars he had received during battles across the past years basked in the sunlight as victors.

Loraine tightly grabbed Ryan into her embrace, not wanting to let him go far from her.

Ryan, whose eyes had lost the innocence of the past, smiled upon feeling the familiar unconditional love from his mother. His eyes then fell on his father, who was standing at the back with an incomprehensible expression on his face.

Loraine didn't want to let go of Ryan, and since he had selfishly left eight years ago, he didn't hurry his mother.

After she felt that she had held her son enough she parted from him, her heart heavy with reluctance but she understood that others were also waiting for him. At that time, his shoulder had turned entirely wet from all the tears she had shed.

Her heart felt a pang as she saw the numerous scars spread across his body. Ryan then grabbed her mother's hands and came to his father.

Loraine was herself a knight, so her strength was nothing to joke about.

"I am back, Father!" Ryan kneeled and announced his first words after returning to the Kingdom.

"It's great to have you back," Henry's voice trembled as he patted his son's shoulder.

When Ryan left, he was only a child, who hadn't started his training, and eight years later, he was a High Knight on his return.

Victor had a proud expression on his face. Ryan surpassed all expectations he had of him.

***

Ryan was introducing himself to his younger brothers and sisters, while Henry summoned Victor, asking him about what experiences he had during these years.

Loraine and other concubines were also there, listening to Ryan's stories.

"How can you allow him to kill at such a young age?" Henry suddenly roared.

What's a battle if not to kill or be killed?" Victor scoffed.

These numerous scars were the result of every deadly battle he went through and then triumphed over.

Henry sat down, but his eyes responded to what he was feeling. If not for Victor being his own younger brother, he would have punished the man for making his son go through killings at the young age of eleven.

"How many humans had he killed till now?" Henry asked after a long pause.

"More than you and I have killed at the age of fifteen," Victor replied with a smirk, resulting in an ugly expression on Henry and Loraine's faces.

"Don't worry, he didn't turn into a brute," Victor commented, seeing his brother and sister-in-law's reaction.

"I am going to meet my wife; it has been a long time," Victor then suddenly said and left without waiting for Henry's response.

"If you want to learn more, you should ask Ryan about it. I am sure he would feel happy sharing his experience with his parents. He is still the one who used to come to you every day," Victor commented, stopping at the door. He then didn't turn back and left the room.

***

A wistful smile on Loraine's lips as she gazed at Ryan. "Do you remember," she asked, "how you used to say that when you become the King, you will stop all wars and make everyone rich?" Her words filled with emotions.

Ryan nodded in response and smiled. His smile looked unnatural as if he hadn't smiled in the past few years. He would fight to the death every alternate day. Ryan still remembered the uncomfortable feeling when he killed a life for the first time.

"Do you still hold onto that dream?" Loraine's face turned solemn, and she asked.