Chapter 152: Reunited

*Date: 33,480 Third Quarter — Parthanon* - One week ago

Demir held his friend and didn't let go.

Around them, the crowd was booing. "Finish the match, idiots!" "What is this?" "BOOOO!"

But Demir didn't care. He didn't care about the tournament. Didn't care about the prize money. Didn't care about anything except the trembling boy in his arms.

He had found Aris. After four years of searching. After four years of hoping and fearing and never giving up.

He had found him.

---

They walked out of the arena together. Aris was still crying, his face buried against Demir's armored chest. Demir kept one arm around his shoulders, steering him through the preparation chamber.

Officials rushed toward them.

"What the hell, Demir?" The tournament manager's face was purple with rage. "Why did you withdraw?"

"I had to." Demir looked down at Aris. "His last magic really hurt me."

"Bullshit!" The manager jabbed a finger at them. "Are you friends? Did you bet on the match?"

"We didn't bet," Demir hissed. "Leave us alone. Please."

Turbo pushed through the crowd, his massive frame creating space. "Sir, I know Demir. I trained with him. And I've seen this kid too. He came to the city alone. They never had any contact before today."

The manager glared at them. "You will pay for this. HE will pay for this in the final. And you won't receive any semifinal prize." He stormed away, muttering about disqualification and rule violations.

When the officials left, Aris was still shaking. Still unable to meet Demir's eyes.

Turbo looked between them. "Demir, where do you know this kid?"

"He's... he's..." Demir's voice caught. "He's my brother. I lost him when the portals closed."

Turbo's eyebrows rose. Then he nodded slowly and stepped back, giving them space.

---

More footsteps. Running.

Marco burst into the chamber first, his face flushed with worry. "Demir! Are you alright?"

Marven was right behind him. "Demir, you're not hurt, right? That mage kid used some heavy attacks!"

A sniff interrupted Demir's response. Aris pulled back slightly, his face red and wet. "Sorry," he whispered. "I used tier-three magic. It might have killed you."

"That fucker is still here?" Marco's hand went to his sword.

"Marco." Demir's voice was firm. "This is Aris. You know. The kid I mentioned all the time."

Marco's expression shifted from anger to confusion to understanding. "Your friend? The one who got stuck here at thirteen?"

"Yes."

Marco rushed forward. "Wow, kid! You're lucky! Congrats on being alive, I guess!"

"Thanks." Aris's voice was barely audible.

Marven smiled warmly. "This calls for celebration!"

Demir turned to Aris. "What do you say? I know a great inn." He paused. "Well, not great. But cozy."

Aris nodded.

---

The Sarmosa Inn was as dirty as ever.

It smelled of stale beer and unwashed bodies. The floor was sticky with spilled drinks. The regulars were the kind of people who made a living on the wrong side of the law.

But to Demir, it felt like home.

Kirious was already there, drunk to his heels, sprawled across a booth in the corner. When he saw them enter, his face split into a grin.

"To our finalist friend!" He raised his mug, sloshing ale across the table.

The inn erupted in cheers. Someone bought a round of drinks. Someone else ordered food. Before long, the whole place had transformed into a party, celebrating Aris's victory and Demir's withdrawal.

But Aris wasn't celebrating.

He sat in the corner of the booth, barely speaking. When food arrived, he ate like a starving animal. Tearing into the bread. Gulping down the soup. Shoveling meat into his mouth without chewing.

Demir watched with growing concern. He wanted to ask questions. Wanted to know what had happened. But something told him to wait.

---

Hours later, the party wound down.

Kirious was snoring in his booth. Marco and Marven had retreated to their rooms. Turbo's gang had filtered back to their posts. The inn was quiet, lit only by dying embers in the fireplace.

Demir and Aris sat alone.

"I'm sorry."

Aris looked up. "What?"

"I'm sorry for pulling you into this game." Demir's voice was thick with emotion. "I'm sorry I lost sight of you when the portals closed. I'm sorry it took more than four years to find you."

Aris stared at him. His eyes were hollow. Haunted.

"I wish I could say I'm angry," Aris said slowly. "Or sad. But I'm neither of those things. Not at you." He paused. "I'm just glad I found you, Demir. But..."

"But what?"

Aris bowed his head. His face twisted with pain he could no longer hide. His eyes began to water.

"I lived..." His voice cracked. "I was tortured. Beaten."

"By who?" Demir's hands clenched into fists. "Tell me and I'll kill them."

Aris raised a hand. "Don't worry. He's dead."

He took a shaking breath and continued.

"Tortured. Beaten. But there are more pressing things. One of my friends wiped her own memory to survive among zealots. And the head zealot, it turns out, was one of the instigators of the portal shutdown."

"What?"

Aris continued as if Demir hadn't spoken. "I started the journey to come here so I could win the prize and bring her memories back. But on the road, my best friend was kidnapped. A fox. The one you sent me on the first day."

"The fox? The pet?"

"He's not a pet." Aris's voice hardened. "He's my friend. He was with me for four years. And now he's being held captive here. At a place called Tartarus."

Demir's blood ran cold. "Tartarus?"

"Yes. They have him there. We need to free him."

"I know Tartarus." Demir hit his forehead. "I saw a black fox there! I thought it was just another animal, but..."

"That's him." Aris leaned forward, intensity returning to his hollow eyes

"I'm paying them huge money to look after my wolf."

"Your wolf?"

"Long story." Demir shook his head. "But yes, I know where Tartarus is. If your fox is there, we can get him."

Aris grabbed Demir's arm. "Then let's go. Now."

"Tomorrow." Demir placed his hand over Aris's. "Tonight you rest. Tomorrow morning, first thing, we go together."

Aris's grip tightened. "Promise?"

"Promise."

Aris's shoulders slumped. The tension drained out of him, leaving only exhaustion.

"He was with me for four years," Aris whispered. "Through everything. The academy. The dungeons. The torture. He never left me."

"Then we'll save him." Demir's voice was firm. "I promise. We'll save him together."

For the first time that night, something like peace crossed Aris's face.

"Together," he repeated.

Demir helped him to a room. A real room, with a real bed and clean sheets. When Aris lay down, he was asleep within seconds.

Demir sat in a chair by the door and watched over him.

He had found his brother.

Now he would make sure nothing hurt him again.