Gnaeus looked at the ruined Castrum Kremnos around him. Feeling the lingering scorching heat, he realized that the warrior wreathed in flames was the one who had been holding Nicadori back.
He just hadn't expected her to be so violent. The moment they appeared, she had thrown a punch at them...
"That's right. This is Castrum Kremnos a thousand years later. As you can see, Lord Gnaeus, this place has also fallen to the Black Tide. Left with no choice, I made a decision that went against the traditions of the Xuanfeng people."
"That was to lead the clansmen willing to follow me to Okhema for refuge. As for me, those who stayed behind to fight to the death saw me as a deserter. They were even ashamed of me..."
Mydei gazed at the ruined Castrum Kremnos with a wistful expression, helplessly explaining his predicament. After Kalpas and Nicadori had torn through it, Castrum Kremnos had become even more dilapidated...
"No... On the contrary, that was the right decision, Mydei!"
"Rather than fighting the endless Black Tide monsters to the death and allowing your nation and people to perish, why not preserve the last hope and wait for the day you can rise again?"
"I don't think you're a deserter, Mydei. In my eyes, protecting your people and sparing them from national extinction was the wisest decision!"
Phainon looked at the somewhat dejected Mydei and patted his shoulder encouragingly.
"Heh... You're still as eloquent as ever. But you're right. I'm no deserter! I preserved my people's bloodline and kept them from being swallowed by the Black Tide. I've never regretted that decision!"
Mydei smiled and patted Phainon's shoulder as well. The two men exchanged smiles, and their earlier dejection was gone.
"Let's go. We'll return to Okhema through the portal.