Chapter 53: The Return of the Legend

The summit meeting had finally come to an end.

The rulers and representatives of the superior races left the meeting hall one after another, each carrying a multitude of thoughts and calculations in their minds.

But those who had attended the meeting had no need to hear any news about Fafnir's appearance.

Volkan, Isabel, Elena, Gabriel, Lilith, Teresa, Eleanor, and Thorin...

All of them had witnessed his appearance with their own eyes.

They had seen the being who had vanished from the world for five thousand years.

And they had witnessed the terrifying power that had plunged the entire summit into a heavy silence.

Therefore, when they left the meeting, the question in their minds was not whether Fafnir had returned.

Rather, it was:

What does his return mean?

But the news of his appearance did not remain confined to the summit hall.

Shortly after the meeting ended, the news began to spread.

At first, it was nothing more than whispers among those who knew what had happened.

Then it reached the guards and advisers.

From them, it spread to the nobles.

Then it emerged from the palaces and reached the cities and kingdoms.

And within a short time, all of Gandalia was talking about it.

One of the greatest legends in history had returned.

A figure who had disappeared five thousand years ago.

Five entire millennia had passed without a single trace of him appearing.

His name had become a part of ancient history, and generations had passed down his story as one of the greatest legends of the age of the ancient war.

But now...

He was no longer merely a legend.

He had returned to the world.

The reactions throughout Gandalia varied.

Some did not believe the news at first.

Others were stunned.

As for the historians who knew the history of the ancient war, they treated the matter with the utmost seriousness.

Ancient records were reopened.

Manuscripts that had not been touched for centuries were brought out.

Researchers began comparing the ancient accounts with what had happened at the summit.

As for the rulers, they began reconsidering their calculations.

The return of a figure from that era after five thousand years was not something that could simply be ignored.

Especially since his appearance had come at a time when Gandalia was already experiencing a period of political tension.

The same question began to spread throughout the world:

Why now?

Was his return merely a coincidence?

Or was his appearance the beginning of something greater?

No one knew.

Meanwhile, in the Werewolf Kingdom...

Volkan made a different decision.

He did not return to his palace immediately after the summit ended.

He knew that what he had witnessed was not something he could discuss with his ordinary advisers.

And so, he headed toward a place that only a very small number of werewolves had visited throughout history.

A place hidden from most members of the race.

A place where the ancient ancestors of the werewolf race resided.

After a long journey, Volkan arrived at a remote mountainous region shrouded in mist.

He stopped before a massive stone entrance carved into the heart of the mountain.

He bowed respectfully.

Then he entered.

The passage was long and dark.

Ancient carvings covered the walls, dating back to primordial eras.

Eventually, he reached an enormous hall.

Several figures were seated deep within the darkness.

Their faces were not visible.

Only vague portions of their bodies could be seen, while their features remained completely concealed within the shadows.

Volkan stepped forward and bowed.

"My ancestors."

Silence descended.

Then a deep voice came from the darkness:

"We saw."

Volkan raised his head.

"So you know who appeared at the summit."

Another voice came from the darkness:

"We know who has returned."

Volkan said:

"Fafnir."

Silence fell.

Then a calm voice spoke:

"Do not speak his name lightly."

Volkan remained silent for a moment.

Then he said:

"I saw him with my own eyes."

One of the ancestors replied:

"We know."

"What we saw at the summit..."

Volkan paused briefly.

"It was frightening."

No one answered him immediately.

Then one of the voices said:

"Because what you saw was not everything."

Volkan's expression changed.

"What do you mean?"

He received no answer.

After a few moments, another voice spoke:

"Five thousand years..."

Silence followed.

"The world has changed."

Then a third voice added:

"But some things do not change."

Volkan asked:

"Does his return mean that the war will begin again?"

A long silence followed.

Then came the answer:

"We do not know."

That answer was more unsettling than any warning could have been.

Volkan said:

"Then what should I do?"

A voice came from the darkness:

"Watch."

Then another voice:

"Do not provoke him."

Then a third:

"And do not interfere with his path without reason."

Volkan remained silent.

Then he asked:

"And what about the humans?"

This time, the silence lasted even longer.

Then a mysterious voice said:

"Watch what happens between them and their ancestor."

Volkan did not fully understand what the words meant.

But he did not ask any further questions.

Meanwhile...

The human continent was witnessing a tremendous movement.

The news of Fafnir's return had reached every corner of the human lands.

And the impact of the news upon the humans was different from its impact on the other races.

To them, Fafnir was not merely a legend from the past.

He was an ancient ancestor of humanity.

A figure whose name was associated with one of the greatest eras in human history.

And as soon as news of his return spread, people began making their way toward the human capital.

From the great cities.

From remote villages.

From distant regions.

From every corner of the continent.

The flow of people continued day after day.

Until the roads leading to the capital became crowded.

Then the areas surrounding the capital filled as well.

Then the crowds spread across the nearby plains and hills.

And with the passage of time...

Millions of humans gathered.

Inside the capital.

And outside its walls.

Their numbers were so immense that the capital seemed to be surrounded by an endless sea of humanity.

But Fafnir was not there yet.

After millions had arrived in the capital...

Fafnir arrived.

He appeared calmly in the place his feet had not touched for five thousand years.

His old hall.

The hall was still standing.

It had changed very little despite the passage of thousands of years.

The ancient stone walls.

The massive pillars.

And the remnants left behind by his era.

Fafnir stood in the middle of the hall.

He looked around in silence.

There was no sign of surprise on his face.

To him, it was as though he had returned to a place he had left only yesterday, despite the fact that five entire millennia had passed since the last time he had stood there.

He took a few steps forward.

Then he sat upon his old seat.

Silence filled the hall.

But moments later...

He noticed something strange.

There was an unusual disturbance outside the hall.

Distant voices.

And enormous movement.

Fafnir raised an eyebrow.

Then he said:

"What is happening outside?"

He thought for a moment.

Then he said:

"Valor."

Only moments later, Valor entered the hall.

He bowed respectfully before him.

"My lord."

Fafnir looked at him.

"What is the reason for this commotion?"

Valor hesitated for a moment.

Then answered:

"The humans."

Fafnir said calmly:

"I know they are humans."

Then he looked directly at him.

"I asked you why they have gathered."

Valor answered:

"Millions have arrived in the capital from all across the continent."

Fafnir asked:

"Why?"

Valor said:

"Because they learned of your return."

Silence fell.

Then Valor continued:

"They have come to see their ancient ancestor."

Fafnir remained silent.

Then Valor said:

"They wish to perform the rites of reverence and allegiance to you."

Fafnir continued staring at him without saying a word.

He knew that his name had not been forgotten during the five thousand years.

But he had not expected his return to be enough to gather millions of humans in the capital.

Finally, he said:

"Millions of humans..."

Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"It seems the humans have not forgotten the past."

Valor bowed.

"They have not forgotten it, my lord."

Silence returned to the hall.

Outside...

Millions of humans were waiting.

They were waiting for the moment when their ancient ancestor would appear before them.

As for Fafnir...

He sat within his old hall, surrounded by the remnants of an era that had passed five thousand years ago.

And outside the hall...

a new era was preparing to welcome him.