Chapter 406: Catching Up

“Who do you represent?” The woman asked Doren with a respectful bow.

Doren shrugged his shoulders. “I represent myself.”

She sounded relieved at this answer. “That makes things easier. So, why are you here?”

“My own interests,” Doren said simply.

“And they are…?” She prodded.

“None of your business,” Doren told her bluntly.

She took it well and didn’t bring it up again. “Well, I appreciate you dealing with that fellow over there. I was waiting for him to make a move, but wasn’t able to detect him before he did.”

“I assume that this was all planned by the guild?” Doren asked a question of his own.

“Yes, we have had a number of traitors recently, and this seemed to be the best way to lure them out. We weren’t expecting so many, though,” she explained.

“You were risking the lives of some important scions,” Doren commented.

She winced upon the mention of this. “Yes, but it was the only way we could be confident that we would draw them out,” she said.

Julius shook his head, not happy upon hearing that. He had been skeptical about such a large expedition; he should have known there was something more behind it. He and his friends had almost been killed or hurt.

He let himself relax a little bit. He and his friends were fine. Even better, he had reunited with Edwin, and so while Doren and the unknown lady talked. Julius took Edwin off on their own. People were running all around, healing the wounds and finishing off any remaining monsters.

He also checked on these so-called dead people on his way. He knelt next to a guy who had his chest crushed and spotted the healing energy surrounding the body like a small bubble. He was right, there was some kind of time magic going on as well. He wasn’t an expert, but it felt just like what Stella had used against him.

He checked on multiple bodies, and while not everyone had this energy protecting them, a significant number did. He didn’t know these people, but it was a relief to see that there weren’t as many casualties caught up in this plan as he initially believed.

***

While Doren fended off the woman’s questioning, Edwin and Julius took this time to catch up. Julius created a pair of chairs for the two of them and removed some snacks from his storage ring. He even brewed some tea for Edwin, knowing exactly what kind of tea his trainer enjoyed.

Julius proceeded to give Edwin a brief rundown of what happened after the teleportation array had whisked him away.

He told him about the rift he found himself getting trapped in. He also told him about going to Heston and attending Goldencrest.

Edwin listened attentively and only interrupted to ask some clarifying questions. The man seemed more concerned about the direction his skills were leading him. He was really worried that Julius’s foundation had a flaw.

Julius knew that Edwin had his own issues with his foundation in the past, so he could understand the man’s worry.

After he spoke of his own experiences, Julius asked Edwin about what happened from his point of view. He even finally mustered the courage to ask about his uncle. He already knew the answer, especially considering that Edwin had been beating around the topic since they reunited. Still, it almost felt as if Edwin confirmed it, then it would actually be true.

“No, your uncle didn’t make it. He took out the rest of the attackers and gave me a chance to escape,” Edwin said with a pained expression, as if reliving the memory.

Silence pervaded between them for some time as they grieved. Julius already knew what had happened, but seeing Edwin alive gave him one last bit of hope that Lukas might have survived as well. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

They didn’t care about the people around them; they just talked and enjoyed the time they had together.

Eventually, Doren walked up to them, letting them know it was time to wrap it up. Something that neither of them was very pleased about, but knew there was nothing to be done.

“Are you sure you will be fine?” Julius asked Edwin again.

“Stop worrying. I will be alright,” Edwin assured him with a soft smile.

“Even if you return without Tuan?”

Apparently, the Tier 5 woman didn’t seem very willing to let the Tier 5 who came with Edwin go. And Doren didn’t fight too hard to keep her from that. Thus, it would just be Edwin who would be returning. He was going to tell the Conclave that the guild had laid a trap for them, which was technically accurate, but it was still a risk.

“They won’t be happy, but I don’t think they will blame me for it. They understand that anyone who can take care of Tuan would be able to take care of me much more easily. Plus, they know that I am very close to Tier 5 and would rather not lose a valuable asset.”

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Julius looked down at the ground and kicked some dirt. “Just be careful, okay? I only just got you back. I don’t want to lose you again.”

Edwin found this hilarious for some reason and grabbed hold of Julius in a tight hug. “I’ll see you again. Remember, I might see you in the capital if you end up going to the tournament.”

“Yeah, I guess we will have to see about that. I don’t know who this Cain person Doren wants me to meet. There is only a little over a month until the tournament, but I will know after I meet him.”

“It doesn’t matter. If you can’t, then I will go to Heston and meet with the vice captain you mentioned. Either way, we will find our way back to one another,” Edwin promised him.