Novel Full Chapter 429: He’s Too Stubborn To Die Easily
Chapter 429: He’s Too Stubborn To Die Easily
The night air over Delwig was calm again, but Arielle’s heart wasn’t.
After the debrief with General Ivaan, the soldiers dispersed in silence, and the great hall emptied until only echoes of boots remained. Damien had already gone off to gods-knew-where — probably to check on his summons or wander the ramparts, lost in his own thoughts.
Arielle’s words stuck to his head more than they shouldn’t have and he seemed to need some time alone to process them.
Arielle stood under the flickering torchlight, watching the dark corridors swallow him, her jaw tightening.
“Always disappearing,” she muttered under her breath. “Always carrying everything on his own shoulders…”
A soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
“He’s like that, isn’t he?”
Lyone stood a few paces behind, his cloak slightly torn, dust still on his boots from the tunnels. He looked exhausted but proud — a quiet confidence in his stance that hadn’t been there a few days ago.
Arielle turned to face him fully, her anger softening. “You shouldn’t be out of bed, Lyone. You need rest.”
He shrugged. “I’m fine. Captain Apnoch’s men hit harder than a few demonic beasts that I didn’t even get to fight fully because of Damien’s presence.”
Despite herself, Arielle smiled. “You’ve changed.”
He blinked, surprised. “Changed?”
“Yes.” She motioned for him to walk with her. Together, they stepped into the quiet courtyard outside the war hall. Moonlight washed the stone paths silver, and the faint hum of the city night surrounded them. “Your posture, the way you talk — even how you look at things. There’s more… steadiness.”
Lyone kicked at a pebble, watching it skip along the cobblestones. “I probably didn’t want to disappoint him.”
“Damien?”
He nodded. “He’s… something else. When he fights, it’s like the world slows down around him. Like he’s already planned every move before you can blink. And when he told me to stay close, to let him handle the big ones — I wanted to prove I could stand on my own.”
Arielle smiled faintly. “You did well, Lyone. You’re growing fast. But…” She hesitated, then added softly, “Don’t chase him too closely. Damien walks a path that hurts.”
Lyone looked up at her, puzzled. “Hurts?”
“Mm.” Her gaze turned distant, following the faint glow of the city walls in the distance. “I’ve seen a few men like him before. People who push so hard they forget what or who they’re fighting for. He takes the burden of every fight, every failure, even when it’s not his to bear. He hides it behind that quiet confidence, but…”
She trailed off.
Lyone frowned. “He looks fine to me.”
Arielle gave a small, humorless laugh. “That’s because you’re still looking at his strength, not his silence.”
For a while, they just walked. The streets were emptier now — most citizens asleep, the only light coming from scattered lanterns along the patrol routes.
Lyone finally spoke again. “Arielle… do you think Damien’s scared of something?”
The question stopped her mid-step. She turned, studying him. The earnestness in his voice was disarming — not childish curiosity, but genuine concern.
“…Yes,” she said at last. “But I don’t know what. Maybe it’s losing someone. Maybe it’s himself.”
Lyone frowned. “He doesn’t seem scared of anything.”
“That’s the trick,” she replied. “He’s learned to fight fear by burying it under resolve.”
She exhaled, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “You’re still young, Lyone. Don’t try to be him. Learn from him, yes. But don’t become him.”
He didn’t answer, only nodding faintly. ’You’re young too!’ Lyone almost retorted but he kept quiet.
They reached a low stone wall overlooking the sleeping city. Beyond it, torchfires dotted the distant gates — faint orange glimmers against the black horizon.
Arielle leaned against the wall, folding her arms. “Do you know why he let you come down those tunnels?”
Lyone blinked. “Because he needed help?”
She shook her head slowly. “Because he wanted to test you. Not just your strength — your resolve. He was watching to see if fear would break you or mold you.”
He looked thoughtful, eyes downcast. “Then… did I pass?”
Arielle smiled gently. “You’re still here, aren’t you?”
That brought the faintest grin to his face.
A moment of quiet settled between them — comfortable, almost peaceful.
Then, Arielle spoke again, her tone softer, more reflective. “When I was your age, I used to think strength meant never depending on anyone. That as long as I kept training, kept pushing, I’d never lose anything again.”
Lyone looked at her, curious. “Did it work?”
She shook her head. “No. It only made me lonely.”
He didn’t know what to say to that, so he just sat beside her on the wall, letting the silence fill the space again.
In the distance, the faint hum of soldiers changing shifts echoed. Somewhere beyond those walls, the tunnels Damien had destroyed still smoked faintly under the earth.
Arielle sighed, pushing away from the wall. “Come on. We both need some rest. Tomorrow, I’ll be heading out with you.”
“Heading out?”
“Yes. Ivaan wants more ground checked east of the barrier. Damien can handle himself here — but if there’s another nest out there, I want us to be the ones to find it first.”
Lyone’s eyes widened. “You mean—just us?”
“For now.” She smiled, seeing his mixture of surprise and excitement. “Consider it your next test. But this time, you listen to me, not Damien.”
He laughed softly. “Got it.”
As they started back toward their quarters, Lyone glanced over his shoulder once more — toward the direction Damien had gone.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that the older boy wasn’t sleeping either.
Arielle noticed, but didn’t comment. She only murmured, “Don’t worry. He’s too stubborn to die easily.”
Back in their quarters, Lyone collapsed onto his bed almost instantly, exhaustion claiming him. Arielle lingered by the window, watching the moon dip lower over Delwig’s walls.
Her reflection in the glass looked tired. Older.
“Damien,” she whispered under her breath, “just how much longer are you planning to fight alone?”
The night didn’t answer. Only the faint breeze rustling through the curtains.
“I need to get to the root of these demons.” Sitting atop the city gates, Damien whispered those words like a prayer in the night.