Chapter 16 : Mysterious Man

A figure descended from the sky, cloaked in robes of white with golden embroidery woven into intricate designs, a man who looked no older than his mid-30s yet carried the grace and wisdom of someone who had seen the full spectrum of ages. His presence seemed harmless, a silent threat lying just beneath a composed surface, a man of quiet might who would strike only if needed. As he landed softly between Ray and the Beast, the guardian stiffened, awe evident in his posture. Bowing his head, he spoke cautiously, as if afraid to disturb the man's thoughts.

"What brings the esteemed sage, the Dragon Priest, to my humble abode?" The guardian's voice, filled with respect, trembled slightly.

A silence hung in the air until the robed man turned, his gaze falling on Ray with a piercing kindness. Ignoring the guardian's words, he addressed the boy.

"Are you unhurt, boy?"

Ray swallowed, nodding, uncertain of what to make of this powerful presence. He glanced between the sage and the guardian, catching the latter's growing expression of unease.

The guardian's mind was a storm of realizations. This was no ordinary visitor. He thought hard about what made him come here breaking his meditation, who usually doesn't involve himself with any of the world's affairs.

Domara, emerged from the cave with visible strain, just to see the boy who saved her and her children in a rugged state, wounded and his clothes torn to pieces. She was really angry at her husband, she couldn't stand, seeing that the guardian came to support her, Her voice, though weakened, held strength. She asked,

"He saved our lives, dear, mine and our children's. Why would you attack our savior?" though angrily but in a low voice as she looked warmly toward Ray with mixed feelings.

The guardian's eyes widened as he looked between Ray and Domara. Understanding dawned on his face, mixing shame with a new respect.

But it was the sage who broke the silence again, his tone soft yet commanding.

"You've misunderstood the boy, Black One. Had I not intervened, you would have killed one of my kin," he said, his voice hardening slightly at the end. His gaze alone felt like a weight pressing into the guardian, who now seemed to shrink under the sage's piercing eyes.

Suddenly the Guardian realized as he observed the energy around the boy, not only he treated him rudely and tried killing him because of whatever he thought was the reason, had he done the deed then his grave wouldn't have his body or name to even remember him by. A High Elf hybrid with High human and he has dragon blood flowing in him with the blessing of Dragon God himself, while also blessed by Goddess of Life, his Lord, God of death's Sister. Surely the human in front him was full of surprises and that made him think again about the consequences and he shuddered.

With a sigh, the sage extended a hand, a calming aura flowing from him, and he began to heal Domara with a subtle flick of his wrist. Domara regained her strength back, as if her body has turned into what it was 10 years before. She showed are gratitude by bowing her head.

The guardian, feeling both humbled and relieved, turned and knelt before Ray, 

"I, Kametsu, guardian of the central lands of the Dragon Realm, humbly seek your forgiveness, young savior," he said, his voice filled with regret.

"In my clouded judgment, I nearly made a grievous mistake. Please, whatever request you may have, I shall fulfill it to the best of my ability."

From the moment the sage appeared, Ray had felt a strange kinship towards the man, something that pulled at him, a connection that seemed to echo from his very core. Yet the reality of what he'd just experienced, the near confrontation with Kametsu, still lingered, filling him with a strange mix of awe and apprehension. He couldn't think of what to say.

"[Ray, say something,]" Luna chimed gently.

Ray looked up at the guardian, his lips curving into a small smile. "It's fine. I…understand. Even though I was attacked, I know I shouldn't have let fear get to me so easily. Someday, I want to be strong enough to stand my ground no matter what, you know? I plan to live a very long life."

"or else someone would come out of his grave to haunt me, ha ha ha..." he laughed at the possibility of that happening. 

Kametsu's tense posture eased as he took in Ray's words, nodding solemnly as a wave of relief crossed his face.

"Still I need to reward you for saving my kin, young dragon-blooded one" he said.

"Well," Ray shrugged, looking over at Domara, "If I can see the little ones, that'll be enough for me."

He then proceeds to go near Domara and babies, lifts them up into his arms embrace as the puppy seems to like the warmth, it make coo sounds as if satisfied. Seeing this Domara asks Ray,

" Ray boy, can you name the young one since he likes you so much?".

It was Ray's first time everything that's happening since he had never interacted with anyone else and now he has a responsibility of naming the successor of a god beast. He was nervous,

he stuttered," ww..what? me? but....alright. since he has green eyes and lively, Silas? As in Guardian of Forest, nature loves him."

Both the parents were content with the name when the sage who was silent spoke,

" They have a good future ahead of them, both of them.., can I have your attention now, Ray?"

Ray just nodded his head and started moving when Kametsu came and told him to close his eyes, he placed his head near Ray's heart and a faint purple glow surrounded them.