Maksim jumped out from the tree, meanwhile managing to scare some kids. He ran for Tadeas' house till his breath nearly stopped.

Maksim went inside the house without any voice.

He feared he had got mute till he somehow muttered something which made sense.

"Nortze." Tadeas heard the man scared to death breathe.

"What did he do?" Tadeas asked.

"He tried to kill me."

"Rumors have truth in them. Calajhans are getting weaker." Tadeas marched to help him stand, "And you are the living breathing proof."

"Saer and Fierlo escaped too."

Expression on Tadeas' face changed from there.

"They will come here for you." said Maksim, "And Nortze will come for me."

"He will find you."

"Tadeas, please send me in a safe place where I can live for rest of my life."

"Today is the festival day. I don’t work."

"Festival hasn’t started yet!" Maksim bellowed.

Tadeas gave him a dead stare, "You will hide somewhere till tomorrow."

Maksim calmed down a bit.

"Where will you send me then?"

"Wherever you will be appreciated."

"Don’t send me to your creation." Maksim's voice trembled.

"My creation is over."

_

A bird flew off a tree when something appeared out of thin air outside Pryeg city road. Nortze was glad no human being saw him zapping. If someone had seen him then he would have to kill him maintaining his low profile status.

As he headed further for the city by disguising his sword into a pocket knife, he spotted many woodcutters heading for the area from where he had appeared.

Last time he had been to Pryeg, he was a kid. Now, being centuries old, it was hard to believe there used to be a forest.

Realm had been formed, monarchy had crumbled and the castle had turned to ruins within the matter of centuries. But Nortze had no interest in any of it.

Neither his father was keen on keeping any relationship with the crown. As a result, Azmra never got to become The Great Empire of Azmra.

With the most powerful family in entire Supercontinent of Ouskerus reluctant to become allies with the crown, no other kingdoms had shown faith to reunite the scattered kingdoms.

Preaching of his father which were hundreds of years old were as fresh as told yesterday for him. But now while walking in the same place, he did not hear the words of their ancestors echo. Instead he heard men and women hasting and cursing.

I don’t even need to disguise myself here. He thought when realized nobody was paying any attention to him. Even though his attire was outdated for the current time, he got in the mix with people cosplaying monsters and knights.

In the crowd, a cart made its way. People who were on the street minding their own things moved aside to let the cart pass. Everyone stopped talking when the man sitting on back of the huge cart blew the horn.

Still Nortze couldn’t hear his ancestors' voice.

"In the evening," a man with a loud voice announced, "there will be the crowning of Three Evils. Just after the sunset, play of invasion will happen in the Coliseum and the crowning will take place near the ruins of the castle. Everyone who will go to coliseum is advised to join the rally to the ruins with Three Evils."

Nortze watched as the cart passed and the crowd filled the empty space again. Same announcement was audible from the other turn.

They have made a festival out of a joke. Nortze couldn’t stop himself from smirking.

He put hand on his waist then he lost his senses. His heartbeat accelerated after not finding the pouch where it used to be.

The pouch on his waist had been stolen.