The Innkeeper

There were even clashes between the Henali and Fuegan themselves, though most of those took place outside the Origin realm so no one actually knew the details. The few battles that were fought in the Origin realm were fought in the Void behind space, to prevent the realm itself from being destroyed.

The many Dao Lords who had entered the realm all became neutral parties, unwilling to take part in such a conflict. It was fine while it was just their subordinate forces fighting, but they themselves were not going to expose themselves to war. But under the guise of neutrality, they too began to plunder the Origin realm.

The Jotun empire, which was the largest human force in the Origin realm, lost 14 galaxies overnight. They were traitors among the humans, unsurprisingly. But, ironically, it was not the humans who led the rebellion. Instead, it was the many Henali aides who were supposed to be helping Jotun run the empire who had secretly aligned their loyalties with the Fuegan.

Similar scenes happened across the realm, and only extremely powerful races, such as the devils, were spared from rebellion. After all, the devils never needed help to rule their lands.

All of this was the consequence of forcing the Fuegan hand before they were ready, so it could only be imagined what would have happened if their preparations were complete. At the same time, rumors began to spread that the Fuegan were the original rulers of the Origin realm, and that the Henali were foreign invaders who had driven them out.

As if to prove the rumors true, many of the strongest and oldest deities aligned with the Fuegan.

For a while it seemed like the Henali were on the losing end of this war. But no matter how great the momentum that the Fuegan gathered, the Henali were not without their strengths as well. They held on, and ultimately unleashed a legion of Celestial immortal level Henali warriors who temporarily stabilized the situation.

But what worried many was that the dreaded Jorlam never made an appearance during this entire time. It was a time of great uncertainty, where even the largest and strongest forces of the realm were vulnerable. But ironically, during this time when the strongest of forces were at risk, it actually became the weak and insignificant who became largely ignored.

That did not mean they were spared from their share of strife, but at least no one was paying attention to them. Alongside the fall of the Henali portal, some weaker races and forces became completely isolated. But life carried on, and the little people still had to eat and drink to survive.

On the planet Azula, one of the two habitable planets of the Soko star system, a young girl was dragging her body through the edge of the wilderness, forcing herself to take each step as she struggled with her exhaustion and the weight of the pack she was carrying on her back.

Her entire face was covered in bandages, though that was mostly to hide her identity. It was the bandages on her body that covered her countless wounds. Her once fair and flawless body was now covered in scars.

Finally, she reached a dirt road, and followed it towards Barin city. The inner city, behind the giant walls made of Obsidian- Steel, was older, and usually housed the rich and the powerful. Although that is where the young girl actually lived, it was not her destination. She forced her weary body to continue into the outer city, filled with foreigners, traders, the poor and the humble. But even so, those here were only poor or humble by Barin city standards. In actuality, all of them at least had the basic standards of living.

For those that didn’t, Barin city boasted countless cheap and affordable inns and taverns, which is exactly where the girl was heading. After navigating the crowded streets she made her way to the strange building made of some unknown material called wood.

But other than the strange wood material, this tavern was like any other in this city. The food was good and yet cheap, making one question what they were actually putting in the food. The drinks were always flowing and the music was always playing.

“Ay, the huntress finally makes it back,” said the tavern’s bouncer, Big Ben.

The girl only grunted in response, unable to muster the strength to respond properly. When she entered her sight fell on the three triplets whose beauty had nearly toppled the city. Countless patrons visited the tavern to get a chance to catch their visage, and perhaps try their luck at winning their hearts. None had succeeded so far.

She was worried for the day someone might try something foolish, such as forcefully trying to capture them, but nothing like that had happened so far – at least to her knowledge.

“Ah, little huntress, have you brought in a new haul?” asked Naki, the oldest of the triplets with a smile so pure it made even her blush. “I’ll take it over to Betty and see what it’s worth. I’m assuming you want payment in spirit stones once more?”

“Yes please,” she answered, forgetting to change her voice to the gruff persona of the huntress. She immediately realized his mistake, which is why her next sentence sounded a lot more hoarse. “Can you tell the tavern keeper that I wish to speak with him. Privately.”

“Ah, he’s on the roof waiting for you. You can make your way up. Shall I prepare a meal for you?”

“A meal and a room. Deduct the cost from my pay,” she said, making her way up the many stairs.

For some unknown reason, all the exhaustion she had been feeling faded away once she entered the tavern. The ache in her muscles did not go away, but at least climbing the stairs did not feel like death.

She made her way to the roof and saw the enigmatic tavern keeper, sitting in his favorite lawn chair, sunbathing. He looked like a teenager, fifteen years old at most, yet at the same time he was the most mysterious man she had ever met.

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