Rin sat in his quarters, finally allowing his body to rest. The days inside the gate had taken their toll,both on his body and mind. But now, the gate was closed behind them, and the chaos was finally quiet.
He leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes.
A knock echoed through the room.
"My lord," one of the guards called. "Someone from the nobility requests an audience."
Rin frowned. "Let him in."
The door opened, and a familiar face walked in,the noble he had tasked with draining the blood lake. The young man looked exhausted but excited, his clothes dusty and torn, eyes burning with pride.
"Sir Rin," he greeted with a deep bow. "I've come to report on the lake."
Rin motioned for him to speak.
"I spent my entire time in the gate searching for a solution. It wasn't easy… but I found someone,a technician from a backline logistics squad. He had an old device capable of carrying massive quantities of liquid. It was rare technology, not valued much by the guild, so no one ever used it. A miracle, truly."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "You succeeded?"
Rin honestly didn't believe in him.
"Yes, sir. We drained most of the lake and stored it safely."
Rin gave a slight nod. "Good work."
The noble's face lit up. Rin stood, walked to the corner of the room, and picked up the item he'd promised,a second-level armor. He handed it over without a word.
"Th-this is… thank you, Sir Rin! I swear I will serve you loyally!"
Rin waved him away.
The moment the door shut behind him, another knock followed.
This time, the guard's tone was different. "My lord… there's someone else. A southerner. A commoner. He's been begging to see you for hours."
Rin's expression soured. "Let him in."
The door opened, revealing the familiar figure of the one-armed man,the strong commoner who had helped Rin in the ruins.
He entered slowly, head bowed, eyes downcast. The wound where his arm had once been was wrapped in cloth. He knelt the moment he entered.
"My lord," he said. "I greet you with all the respect I have."
Rin didn't move. "Aren't you angry at me?"
Rin predicted this will happen but he wasn't sure, the commoners looked at the royals as divine beings, but in reality they were just more gifted than them but in this world where power and Lineage is everything people didn't think very logically.
The man looked up. His voice trembled. "No… I came to beg."
Rin raised an eyebrow, watching him silently.
"I lost my arm helping you. My strength regressed,I can't train properly anymore. And I'm poor. I have no background, no faction. The people of the south won't accept me now… they think I betrayed them. They spit on me. I have no future."
"And you want me to help you," Rin said.
The commoner nodded. "Please, my lord. You don't owe me anything,I know that. But I beg you. Give me a chance to serve you. Let me earn my place under your banner. I'll do anything."
Rin stared for a long time, his gaze unreadable.
He remembered the man's blade blocking the western attacker's strike.
He remembered the blood, the pain,and the sacrifice.
Rin sighed.
"You helped me when you didn't have to," he said at last. "You stood beside me even though I gave you no reason to."
The man lowered his head. "I… I just thought it was right."
Rin nodded slowly. "Kyran … If you follow me, I will grant you honor. Not just as a servant,but as someone with a future. A great one."
Kyran's eyes widened.
Rin's gaze sharpened, the words precise and heavy. "If you manage to reach 50% Purity… I will make you one of my Dragon Wings."
The air seemed to freeze.
Kyran blinked. "Y-you're serious?"
The term "Dragon Wing" held weight. Every noble knew its meaning.
When a royal reached 50% Purity, their bloodline awakened a deeper power,the ability to share fragments of their noble energy with chosen followers. The one who received it would be bound, loyal for life, but their strength would skyrocket. They would be marked by the royal blood, forever changed.
To be granted that title was to be chosen. Adopted into power.
"I am," Rin said.
Kyran's mouth moved, but no words came out. Finally, he bowed so low his forehead touched the ground. "Of course, my lord. I'll do anything. Just… what should I do?"
Rin smirked. The plan had already begun forming.
"You'll go back to your people. You'll tell them the man we killed in the ruins was a western spy."
Kyran blinked. "He was?"
Rin's gaze narrowed. "Yes. I don't know why he was there"
Kyran's mouth went dry. "But… why would he risk himself like that?"
"I don't know yet. And it doesn't matter," Rin replied. "You'll say you discovered his identity and tried to stop him. You'll claim I refused to get involved. You begged me to vouch for you, but I sent you away."
Kyran tilted his head. "Won't they doubt me?"
Rin smirked again. "That's why I'll need to beat you up a bit. Make it convincing."
Kyran stared, wide-eyed, then nodded. "If that's what it takes… then I'm ready."
"Good," Rin said. "Go back to your faction. Play the humble hero. Let them investigate,it'll only prove your story. And once you have their trust, wait for my signal."
"You want me to spy for you?" Kyran asked, slowly.
"I want you to build a throne in the south," Rin replied. "You'll be my shadow there. My voice. And when the time comes, my blade."
Kyran's eyes were trembling, but not with fear,with purpose. "I will not fail you, my lord."
Rin stood, cracking his knuckles. "Then let's make it look real."