Chapter 44: Return To Starbloom City The next two days passed in a blur of travel and routine. Lorraine had expected teaching Lillia magic to be slow and painstaking, but instead, it was terrifyingly effortless. The girl was a natural, gifted, talented.... Words alone couldn’t describe how much of a prodigy she was with magic. With just a single demonstration, Lillia would replicate a spell near-flawlessly, her tiny fingers weaving mana patterns in the air as if she had been born doing it. It looked like she understood magic completely, even Lorraine hadn’t reached that level because nobody truly understood what magic was, it was said that you could only start grasping what magic truly was when you reached the 6th circle. And when you truly gasped the meaning of magic, you would be able to perform high level spells that could lay waste to towns in a single attack. One could reach the level of an Archmage... so yes, Lorraine was jealous of the fact that the girl learned quickly but it also pushed her, She didn’t want to lose to the girl. After all she had already decided, she wanted to be a mage that Azel could trust on the field of battle... She would aim to reach that before she could stand alongside him. "Again?" Lorraine asked after watching the girl cast a Flame Whip spell perfectly on her second attempt. "Yes, Mama!" Lillia chirped innocently. Lorraine’s cheeks flushed at the title, but she didn’t correct her. She couldn’t deny it: this child was frighteningly gifted. Most children her age could barely sense mana, let alone manipulate it with this level of precision. Lillia’s single mana circle burned like a star within her, overflowing with raw power that even seasoned mages would envy. Meanwhile, Azel hunted. Monsters prowled along their route to Starbloom — Rank 5 wolves, Rank 5 stone-armored bears, even a swarm of biting insectoid creatures that moved like a tide. Azel dispatched them with brutal efficiency, his blade glowing with aura as he racked up more Fate Tickets from each kill. Though Fate Points still only came from missions, the steady influx of tickets was satisfying. Even though it was one ticket for so many kills... he had to use the fate wheel again. Every spin brought him closer to his goal: another Summoning Card. If he could pull another summon — maybe even a warrior, he could teach them the Dragon Saint Style and forge a living contingency plan. He could almost see it now: himself, Lillia, Lorraine, and a loyal summon by their side. A small, deadly unit. His lips curved slightly. By the morning of the third day, the walls of Starbloom City finally rose on the horizon. Even from a distance, they were awe-inspiring: towering fortifications adorned with ornate sigils and polished white stone. Mana cannons gleamed atop the battlements, aimed outward toward the wildlands. Soldiers patrolled the walls in perfect formations, their armor flashing beneath the sunlight. The closer they came, the busier the road grew. Carriages and travelers crowded the path, merchants calling out their wares, guards barking orders to keep the lines orderly. Gerome clicked his tongue as they rolled into formation, joining the long queue leading to the gates. "Once we reach the checkpoint," he said, turning to Azel, "the guards will check identification. Sometimes they’ll just verify and wave us through. Other times..." "They demand a bribe," Azel finished dryly. Surprisingly it was exactly how it worked in the game so he wasn’t surprised. Gerome gave a wry nod. "Exactly. Starbloom’s gates aren’t cheap unless you know the right people." Azel’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t reply. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚 When they reached the checkpoint, a broad-shouldered guard lumbered over. His armor strained around his belly, his gait sluggish from years of indulgence. Gerome exhaled sharply, already familiar with the man and his tendencies. "I’m a hired driver," Gerome said smoothly, gesturing toward the carriage. "My client wishes to enter Starbloom." The fat guard nodded lazily, but his expression twisted faintly — disdain flickering at the edges of his features. He barely hid it. Lorraine stiffened, her hands clenched around her skirt. She’d seen that look countless times since leaving Aegis. Here the sight of people with dark skin was rare, while some were fascinated, others hated it. Then the guard stepped toward the carriage window and leaned in. His eyes met Azel’s. Everything froze. The guard’s pupils widened, his breath catching in his throat. The man looked as though he’d seen a ghost — or rather, a specter from his past. Azel’s face had changed a lot but that wasn’t the most of the changes, he now had long silver hair tied into a neat ponytail, sharp crimson eyes gleaming with quiet confidence, and that aura of a swordsman.. The guard knew that aura. Four years ago — no, closer to five, he had stood near the arena, looking at the small event from the garden He had watched a young Azel dismantle the Crown Prince in a duel that shocked the royal family themselves. The memory was burned into his mind: the effortless precision, the sheer skill. And afterward, the order came. The Second Empress herself decreed that any knight stationed near the gates who saw Azel Everhart return must treat him with utmost respect and deliver him to the palace without delay. She paid them double — sometimes triple or even quadruple their stipend to ensure this. Now, here he was. Lillia tugged lightly on Azel’s sleeve. "Papa? Who’s that guy?" Azel tilted his head slightly. "No idea," he said flatly. He genuinely didn’t know this guy, was it someone he was supposed to know? The fat guard swallowed hard and spun around, barking orders to the other sentries. "Clear the way! Move those carriages aside!" The other guards blinked in surprise. "Sir? What—?" "Do it!" he roared. "Sir Azel has returned!" The name rippled through the checkpoint like wildfire. Carriages scrambled aside, merchants pulled their goods back, and soldiers snapped to attention. Within moments, the once-crowded line split cleanly in two, opening a direct path straight into the city. Gerome stared, jaw slack. Lorraine’s brow furrowed, confusion flashing in her eyes. Even Lillia tilted her head curiously. Two guards approached the carriage — a portly one and a wiry, sharp-faced man who looked far more disciplined. Both bowed low, their armor clinking. "Welcome back to the capital, Sir Azel," they said in unison, their voices laced with deference. Azel leaned casually against the window frame, crimson eyes unreadable. Since when had he become a celebrity? He didn’t miss the way Lorraine and Gerome were staring at him like he’d sprouted wings. Inside, Lillia gasped softly, tugging his sleeve again. "Papa... are you a prince?" Azel chuckled lightly, brushing her hair back. "I’m not..."