The Goal Achieved (Ryuu)

On the king's instructions, we reached the harbor and began loading goods and provisions for the fourth kingdom on board. The harbor was situated in a small place at the bottom of a hill, so small that it would have been difficult for people to find it easily.

The King had urgent business and couldn't be with us when we were leaving. This was good for both of us because the less attention we had to pay, the easier it would be. As we loaded our things, we talked to each other and calculated how many days it would take us to get there.

While we were doing this, Hiroshi and Shou said goodbye to their friends. Hiroshi spoke to his friend, who was once an elite soldier. "I spoke to the king for you. You are no longer a wanted person. Our people will help you, so you and your brother are free now. You can do whatever you want."

Lena, Hiroshi's friend, suddenly hugged him. "I don't know what to say, after everything, Hiroshi. Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Hiroshi replied. "Just be careful."

Lena broke the hug and continued speaking. "Listen, I know what kind of person you are and what you want to do, but please come with me. This is not your fight. Let's have a new life. I don't want to lose you like the others, Hiroshi."

"With whomever your face smiles, your heart belongs. My heart will always be with you, but I can't go back on my word. I'm sorry," Hiroshi replied.

Lena looked at Hiroshi with tears in her eyes and took the rifle from her back. She handed it to him. "You know who this gun belonged to - my father, your hero. I'm sure he would want you to have it."

"You want me to take it? I can't do that. It's yours," Hiroshi said.

Lena put the gun in Hiroshi's hand. "You know what the gun can do. That's why you should have it. If my father had known that you would use it to bring peace, he would have given it to you first."

"I don't know what to say. Thank you," Hiroshi said.

"You don't have to say anything. Just promise me you'll be careful. Nothing else matters," Lena said.

"I promise I'll see you again," Hiroshi replied.

I was sad to see Hiroshi and Lena say goodbye. There might be no turning back on this voyage, but if we didn't do it, who would? I was sure Hiroshi would want to come to war even if I stopped him.

I had to make them come back no matter what because I was the only reason they were here. On the other side of the ship, Shou and Karina said their goodbyes and spoke to each other for the last time before leaving. Shou spoke first; "Thank you for what you did, Karina. I owe you once again."

"No problem, It was an honor to help you," Karina replied.

"I thought you'd be scared of me after wearing this junk like the others," Shou said. Karina put her right hand on Shou's cheek; "You're not a scary person. You're much more than that. You're a kind person with a good heart, and I believe in you. I know that you're not helping these people just to get revenge." Shou gently held Karina's hand on his cheek; "Stay with the winged ones until the war is over. I'll try to come as soon as I can."

"Don't worry, I'll be safe," Karina replied. "Say hello to my grandfather when you arrive."

"I will," Shou said.

When the farewells were over and everyone was on board, just as they were about to take off, a voice from behind shouted towards the ship; "Wait for me!" The person shouting was Rose herself. Apparently, she had changed her mind and decided to come with us. When she approached the ship, she jumped on it in one go and managed to get on board.

She approached me and I was surprised but sure she was coming. I started the conversation; "So you've changed your mind."

"Yes, it was a bit like that," Rose replied. "I didn't want to feel indebted to you. After all, you saved me from Miron and my great uncle will join us in the future anyway. So I thought I should be here because it's kind of the war of the third kingdom."

"Well, if we're ready, we can go," I said.

Shou put the ring on his finger again, lifted the ship into the sky, and we sailed south over the clouds. After a while, while everyone was scattered somewhere on the ship, I approached Rose who was watching the sky in the corner. I wanted to find out what changed her mind. Maybe I could take this moment and give her the letter. "I'm glad you came with us," I said. "I really am. But I wanted to ask you what changed your mind."

"I came because you were right about what you said," Rose replied.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "When we first met, you said you were going to beat the Epics and I made fun of you," Rose explained. "But now I realize that if we don't try, who will? After seeing you try so hard, especially for someone like me, I thought it was the least I could do."

"Thanks," I said. "And about the wolf lineage." "It's okay," Rose replied. "I hid who I am from you so we're even. But there's something I've been wondering." "What is it?" I asked. "How do we know where our next destination is? because as I recall, the king said he didn't know exactly where the rebels were." Rose asked.

I thought that by looking at my map, which I hadn't looked at for a long time, maybe I could get a clue about where I was going. Since I had given it to Mila last time, I called Mila and asked her to bring the map. When the map came to my hand, somehow, it was slowly starting to gather dust. I asked Lezlie in a hurry before I realized what was happening. "Lezlie, what's going on?"

Lezlie looked at the map as if she was surprised like me. "This can't be it," she said. "Or is this it?"

I asked her one more time to see what Lezlie had said. "What? That's it?"

"The number of people we're gathering," Lezlie said.

Babu was trying to make sense of what Lezlie was saying and joined our astonishment. "Lezlie dear, can you explain a bit more?" Babu asked.

"The map has done its job," Lezlie replied. "Ryuu wanted to form a team to defeat the Epics and the map has done its job. The map has gathered everyone and now the map is disappearing."

Everyone was gathered around me, looking at me, and Mila asked the question on everyone's mind; "What do we do now?" They knew that I had been using the map all this time but the map was only showing the way. We were the ones doing the real work and I wanted the others to know that. "I know it's hard," I said. "But the map chose you and we're here for one reason only: to end the rule of the Epics."

It had been a long time since this journey had begun and I had finally achieved what I had set out to do. I had fully assembled my team to take on the Epics and now all we could do was fight with all our might.