Beyond the Apocalypse

Mirena was surprised by the question, and a meaningful light appeared in her eyes as she stared at Vlad for a few minutes before a calm smile crossed her face. "I know you loved my brother as if he were your blood; otherwise, you would not have pushed yourself to near death to avenge him. There is nothing in my heart but gratitude and respect for you."

The young Royal Guard spoke from the bottom of her soul, not caring about status or power, which made Vlad smile. He nodded and remained silent while waiting for the young woman to continue.

"Cazan died protecting the people he cared about, and I know by the foolish smile on his face that he had no regrets. I am sure he would have done it again even if he knew the fate that awaited him. My faith in you and the Xaos Kingdom has not wavered, and I will not hesitate to follow my brother’s steps when the time comes, as I believe you will never disappoint us." Mirena’s eyes were so sharp and resolute that they seemed to ignite with fire, showing just how deep her devotion ran.

Vlad couldn’t help but take a deep breath of relief upon hearing those words and seeing the determination in the young woman’s eyes. He stared at the Royal Guard, his eyes glowing with a fierce, well-contained wrath, ready to explode. "I promise you this: I will honor Cazan’s memory, and those responsible for the attack on the Strong Hammer Military Base will be dealt with without mercy."

Mirena didn’t say a word, but the killing intent radiating from her made it clear she desired revenge and needed to avenge her brother’s death. She did not condemn Vlad for Cazan’s death, but she absolutely hated and blamed the people of the Azarin Empire, especially that old man who fired the Holy Spells.

After addressing Mirena, Vlad focused on the small dog gazing at the grave, a deep frown forming on his face. "What is wrong with Oro?"

Vlad sensed how weak and frail the small dog’s condition was as if he hadn’t had a good meal in days and wouldn’t last long at this rate.

"My brother rescued Oro when he was very small, and they have been inseparable since then. When Oro saw Cazan’s corpse, he didn’t stop crying for two days, and now he refuses to eat or drink." Sadness filled Mirena’s eyes as she turned to the small dog, who seemed like a statue standing before the grave.

The small dog had grown wiser as the energy of the world flooded his body and constantly interacted with bloodline radiation. While he was still far from actual intelligence, he was smart enough to understand words.