Artoria fell into thought at Vortigern's words. Vortigern said nothing more to her, instead looking at Sovell with a smile.
"Silver, do you remember asking your father what your name truly meant when you were little?"
In Sovell's eyes, Vortigern's spirited face from twenty years ago overlapped with his aged features today.
His voice grew hoarse, and he stumbled over his words.
"I... I remember."
"It seems your father's prediction back then was right... My child, you truly are 'shining' now."
Vortigern patted Sovell's scale-covered arm and embraced him.
"My child, do you hate me? The me who neglected you all these twenty years."
"No! Father, why would you say that? If you hadn't picked me up in the Dense Forest back then, I wouldn't be alive today.
Raising a child who isn't your own is already a tremendous kindness. Besides, the White Dragon took over your mind all these twenty years. How could I hate you, Father?"
As he watched the figure before him grow weaker, Sovell's tears finally broke free, streaming down uncontrollably and dripping onto the ground.
"You don't hate me... That's good..."
Vortigern began to grow dazed. He gently pushed Sovell away and spoke to them both.
"Children, move farther away. Get farther away from me..."
"Father?"
"Silver... Your father has one last favor to ask of you."
"Tell me! Not just one-even ten or a hundred!"
Vortigern shook his head and smiled.
"Ten or a hundred? I don't have that much time left... If anyone has lost family to the foreign races 'I' brought here, please look after them.
Lower their taxes, or give them some compensation... Either is fine. Don't let the people lose heart. Ugh!"
After saying this, Vortigern suddenly clutched his head and groaned in pain.
"Father!"
Sovell hurried forward, but