Peace for the Time Being

Watching the loving young couple, Apophis felt that even if he died now, he would have no regrets.

"All right, you two lovebirds, stop flirting in front of an old man like me." Apophis interrupted them, ready to discuss something serious.

Leo and his wife blushed at Apophis's words and stood obediently.

"What is it, Uncle?" Leo asked.

"I feel that the day I leave is not far off. I intend to put the clan in your hands." Apophis's words shocked Leo and his wife.

"You're only in your fifties. Isn't it far too early?" Leo said. He knew he would inherit his uncle's position and become the clan's chieftain one day, but he had not expected that day to come so soon.

"My body is nowhere near what it used to be. I can't even swing a weapon anymore."

"I want to hand the clan over to you while I still have a breath left. The clan has grown immensely powerful under me. What you need to do is keep it from falling apart." Apophis deliberately stressed the words "falling apart."

"You both know the situation in the clan. Conflicts have already begun to emerge between the warriors and the mages."

Apophis's words left Leo and his wife silent. As representatives of the clan's warriors and mages, they knew better than anyone that the two classes had always been vying against each other in secret.

"I'm old now. The future is in your hands," Apophis said, looking at Leo and his wife.

"All right, go back and take some time to digest this and think about what you'll do in the future." Without giving Leo and his wife a chance to object, Apophis had the guards take them back.

Soon, Apophis was alone in the room.

Apophis sat on the throne, feeling that the burden on his shoulders was not so heavy anymore.

He rose from the throne and slowly shuffled over to the window. Looking outside, he saw the town lit up and flourishing. Back then, it had only been a small village.

Apophis could not help marveling at how quickly time had passed. How could he not feel attached to such a beautiful sight? He truly did not want to leave.

Early the next morning, Apophis told the guards to gather everyone in town so he could announce something important.

The crowd below the platform chattered nonstop, discussing why the chieftain had gathered them. Did he want to expand their territory again? Everyone was full of questions.

Apophis came out of the building and appeared on the platform. Everyone below felt differently when they saw him standing above them.

Some were fervently devoted to him. This chieftain had given them many chances to distinguish themselves and brought them great glory. Others worried about his health, for he was old, after all. Still others feared and hated him, for Apophis had brought the flames of war to their homes.

"Today! I've gathered you here to tell you something important!" Apophis spoke with all the strength he could muster.

The people below began discussing it, each offering their own opinion.

"Quiet! Quiet!" Apophis's guards began restoring order.

Once the guards had the crowd more or less under control, Apophis continued.

"The matter is this! I'm old, so I'm stepping down and handing my position over to Leo and his wife! They will become the clan's new leaders!"

The people below were stunned. They had never imagined Apophis would step down of his own accord.

Some could not contain the excitement in their eyes. This warmonger was finally stepping down, and they could finally revive their own clans.

But their hopes were too optimistic. Under everyone's gaze, Leo and his wife walked onto the platform.

Apophis gave the two of them the sword and jeweled crown that symbolized the chieftain's authority.

Jarod had given Apophis the sword and had the Shaman accompanying him place a simple enchantment on it.

The jeweled crown, meanwhile, had been suggested by Apophis's followers after he conquered many lands. They had urged him to make a crown to commemorate his achievements.

When Leo accepted the sword and Lilith put on the jeweled crown, everyone below cheered.

In their eyes, Leo was different from his uncle. They saw him as a very gentle man who treated everyone well and would not treat people differently simply because they came from another clan.

But they were wrong to think that. Apophis had made little progress after being taught by the old chieftain and was still just as direct as ever, but that did not mean he had not taken the lessons to heart.

Apophis was a warrior through and through. He disdained learning such roundabout ways, but with the passage of time, he had come to understand their importance. He could no longer change, however, so he passed everything the old chieftain had taught him on to Leo and Lilith.

Thanks to Apophis's guidance, Lilith and Leo had built strong popular support among the mages and warriors. Sometimes, a solid base of popular support was a powerful force in itself.

"Today, I hand this clan over to you. I hope you can help it develop further." After saying this, Apophis took a step back and yielded the place of honor.

Without any hesitation, Leo and Lilith walked to the front of the platform.

The crowd below cheered, welcoming their new leaders.

Leo and his wife waved in greeting to their people.

With all that done, Apophis let out a long breath. The speech just now had exhausted him.

After a new chieftain took office, the clan would usually hold a grand feast to celebrate the occasion.

Apophis returned to his residence, packed up his belongings, and left a letter for Leo and his wife before departing alone.

Apophis left the town alone and headed for Tyr's Tomb. Realizing he did not have much time left, he wanted to return to the site of the most glorious battle of his life and quietly wait for his life to end there.

After all, in the decades since gaining mages, Apophis had fought too many wars without a shred of glory. He would redeem himself here and rediscover the person he had been when he first became chieftain.

Fortunately, it was daytime, so there were not many beasts outside. Otherwise, Apophis as he was now might not have been able to deal with them. He had also sent the guards at the village entrance away using the celebration as an excuse.

Apophis walked slowly, but he still arrived before sunset.

Looking at the familiar place, Apophis was filled with emotion, and many memories of those days came to mind. Back then, he and Jarod had carried out a mission together and accomplished something even the guardian Tyr had failed to do.

Apophis found a huge tree and sat beneath it. Leaning against the trunk, he recalled the experiences of his life.

From childhood to youth, then becoming chieftain and finally growing into an old man, it had truly been a happy journey.

Apophis buried the communication stone Jarod had given him in the earth, then leaned against the tree and fell into a deep sleep.