novelraw Chapter 287: Your Majesty
Chapter 287: Your Majesty
The memory of the fountain and the tranquil night in Greyvale faded like mist under the sun, giving way to the present, a heavy hum of mana resonating from the heart of the Evergreen Mountain Range.
The golden pillar still stood unwavering, piercing the sky and casting its glow over the cracked earth. Beneath that sacred yet perilous light, Sage and his companions confronted two figures who had descended in a blaze of crimson brilliance.
As the dust from their landing settled, Valeria emerged, exuding her usual calm authority, while Gregor stood beside her, no longer clad in simple attire but adorned in sleek silver armor that glimmered sharply in the golden light.
The armor fit him impeccably; each plate layered with precision conveyed both elegance and strength. A slender broadsword rested across his back, its dark sheath hinting at quality craftsmanship within.
His long green hair was tied into a high ponytail that swayed gently in the lingering currents of mana. Although his face remained composed, a flicker of recognition danced in his eyes as he took in familiar faces.
For a moment, silence enveloped them. The Adventurers behind Sage exchanged glances between Valeria and Gregor as if confirming their reality.
Brutus let out a low whistle under his breath; Caelis blinked twice; even Vanthrice’s typically steady expression softened slightly. It was Lyana who broke the silence first, her eyes widened with surprise, and before she could stop herself, she covered her mouth with both hands as tears shimmered in her captivating green eyes.
Without hesitation, she rushed forward, boots striking against the stone ground before stopping directly in front of Gregor and throwing her arms around him without warning. The sudden embrace made him step back half a pace, clearly taken aback; for a brief moment, his arms hovered awkwardly before he slowly wrapped them around her shoulders.
"You idiot," Lyana muttered into his chest, her voice trembling despite her effort to remain composed. "Where did you go? Why did you leave like that? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
Gregor’s lips parted slightly but no words came at first. He closed his eyes briefly and let out a quiet breath. "I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lyana pulled back just enough to grab his ear with one hand and twist it sharply.
"Don’t ’I’ me!" she snapped, tears still clinging to her lashes. "You disappear without a word and expect me to stay calm? What if something happened to you? What if you never came back?"
Gregor grimaced at the pain but didn’t pull away. "Lyana... that hurts."
"Good," she replied firmly as she twisted just a little more before finally releasing him.
Several Adventurers chuckled softly at this exchange; tension eased slightly under their familiar sibling dynamic. Gregor rubbed his ear quietly, choosing to accept the scolding without protest. His gaze drifted toward Sage, who stood a few steps back, observing the scene unfold with a calm demeanor.
"Well, well, well," Sage’s voice floated over lightly, laced with teasing. "Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence."
Gregor exhaled through his nose, half-expecting the comment. Sage stepped forward slowly, resting his staff against his shoulder while Mina perched comfortably on top of him, watching the exchange with keen curiosity. He stopped a few feet away and lowered his head in an exaggerated gesture.
"Welcome back, your majesty," he said with a faint smile.
Gregor rolled his eyes immediately. "Don’t start."
Yet the warmth spreading in his chest was hard to ignore. He could see it clearly in their expressions: no accusations or cold stares, no questions about why he had left, just relief and quiet acceptance.
Sometimes words weren’t necessary to understand how others felt; their smiles and playful banter conveyed everything he needed to know about his place among them.
Mina leaned down slightly from Sage’s shoulders and peered at Gregor curiously. "You look shiny," she remarked. "Did you polish yourself before coming?"
Gregor blinked and then smirked faintly. "Something like that."
Boren stepped closer, the creaking of his leather armor punctuating the moment as he sized Gregor up and snorted softly. "Hmph. At least you didn’t get fat while you were gone."
Gregor raised an eyebrow in response. "Says the man hiding behind his own stomach."
A few Adventurers laughed openly now, even Boren coughed awkwardly before pretending not to hear that.
Sage shook his head lightly, a small smile lingering on his lips. "We were just discussing how we might die gloriously in front of that Vault," he said casually, nodding toward the golden pillar in the distance. "You arrived just in time."
Following Sage’s gaze made Gregor’s expression turn serious again for a moment; the light shone brighter than before, and an intense hum filled the air around them. "I can feel it even from here," he murmured quietly. "It’s not stable."
"Vaults never are," Boren muttered.
Valeria had remained mostly silent during their reunion but finally stepped forward slightly, her eyes moving from Sage to Boren and then narrowing at Lyana just a fraction more than necessary.
"Why did you bring them here?" she asked calmly but with clear disapproval evident in her tone. "This place is too dangerous."
Boren stiffened immediately as sweat formed on his forehead again. "I..."
"I didn’t," Sage interjected, cutting him off before he could explain himself. "They kept pestering me. They insisted they would come, and despite my refusals, they ignored me. In the end, I had no choice."
He crossed his arms and continued, "Besides, they’ll enter with us when the Vault opens. It’s safer than leaving them out here alone."
Valeria’s gaze sharpened as it settled on Boren and Lyana. "If either of you slows us down, I will personally drag you out."
Boren’s face went pale instantly. He took two quick steps behind Sage, clutching the edge of his robe like a shield. "Guildmaster," he whispered urgently, "protect me."
Sage glanced back at him, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You’re larger than I am."
"That doesn’t mean I’m braver," Boren muttered.
Lyana, meanwhile, quickly ducked behind Gregor, using him for cover. Gregor looked down at her with a soft sigh. "You haven’t changed."
Valeria directed a long, steady glare at both of them. After a few tense seconds, she let out a faint breath and shifted her focus back to the golden pillar.
The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet, not violently, but enough to remind them that what stood before them was anything but ordinary.
Just as Sage was about to speak again, the entire mountain range echoed with a deep, resonating boom, like distant thunder rolling through the core. It wasn’t a sound from above; it was coming from the heart of the land itself, low and heavy.
The golden pillar flared suddenly, its brightness intensifying until it rivaled the sun, forcing several Adventurers to shield their eyes. The hum in the air spiked sharply, with the mana around them surging like waves, brushing against their skin like invisible currents.
Brutus tightened his grip on his weapon. Caelis muttered a quiet curse. Even Gregor instinctively shifted, moving his hand closer to the hilt of his broadsword.
Sage’s expression transitioned in an instant. The teasing warmth faded, replaced by sharp focus. The golden light reflected in his eyes as he sensed the shift; the Vault wasn’t just appearing, it was opening.
"Come," Sage said firmly, his voice cutting through the rising tension. "Let’s move. Otherwise, all the good stuff will be taken, and we won’t even get the bones."
Boren blinked rapidly. "That’s... not comforting."
Mina giggled lightly from Sage’s shoulders. "Race you."
Without another word, Sage stepped forward toward the illuminated core, staff steady in hand as the others fell into formation behind him, the golden light blazing brighter than ever.