Mirena was surprised by the question, and a meaningful light appeared in her eyes as she stared at Vlad for a few minutes before a calm smile crossed her face. "I know you loved my brother as if he were your blood; otherwise, you would not have pushed yourself to near death to avenge him. There is nothing in my heart but gratitude and respect for you."
The young Royal Guard spoke from the bottom of her soul, not caring about status or power, which made Vlad smile. He nodded and remained silent while waiting for the young woman to continue.
"Cazan died protecting the people he cared about, and I know by the foolish smile on his face that he had no regrets. I am sure he would have done it again even if he knew the fate that awaited him. My faith in you and the Xaos Kingdom has not wavered, and I will not hesitate to follow my brother’s steps when the time comes, as I believe you will never disappoint us." Mirena’s eyes were so sharp and resolute that they seemed to ignite with fire, showing just how deep her devotion ran.
Vlad couldn’t help but take a deep breath of relief upon hearing those words and seeing the determination in the young woman’s eyes. He stared at the Royal Guard, his eyes glowing with a fierce, well-contained wrath, ready to explode. "I promise you this: I will honor Cazan’s memory, and those responsible for the attack on the Strong Hammer Military Base will be dealt with without mercy."
Mirena didn’t say a word, but the killing intent radiating from her made it clear she desired revenge and needed to avenge her brother’s death. She did not condemn Vlad for Cazan’s death, but she absolutely hated and blamed the people of the Azarin Empire, especially that old man who fired the Holy Spells.
After addressing Mirena, Vlad focused on the small dog gazing at the grave, a deep frown forming on his face. "What is wrong with Oro?"
Vlad sensed how weak and frail the small dog’s condition was as if he hadn’t had a good meal in days and wouldn’t last long at this rate.
"My brother rescued Oro when he was very small, and they have been inseparable since then. When Oro saw Cazan’s corpse, he didn’t stop crying for two days, and now he refuses to eat or drink." Sadness filled Mirena’s eyes as she turned to the small dog, who seemed like a statue standing before the grave.
The small dog had grown wiser as the energy of the world flooded his body and constantly interacted with bloodline radiation. While he was still far from actual intelligence, he was smart enough to understand words.
However, that was also part of the reason for Oro’s great plight. His increased wisdom only deepened his loyalty to Cazan, and he refused to stay away from his master. If death were needed to be together again, he would accept it.
"I have done all I could, but he seems determined to follow Cazan." Mirena clenched her fists, feeling powerless. She didn’t want to lose the small dog, but there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Vlad’s frown deepened as he looked at the small white dog standing in front of the grave. If he allowed the Royal Guard’s family to die without doing everything in his power to save them, then he was truly unworthy of the Royal Guard’s sacrifice.
Vlad took a deep breath, calming his mind, before walking forward and kneeling in front of the grave, performing a deep bow to pay his respects to the man who saved his life. The small white dog seemed to notice his presence but kept its eyes on the grave.
"There is a phrase that seems to be stuck in my mind. I don’t know where I heard it, or maybe I just read it, but every time I remember it, my heart trembles as I imagine the moment it was spoken." Vlad didn’t take his eyes away from Cazan’s grave, and the intent behind his words was so intense that it unleashed a powerful, solemn aura that filled the area.
The small white dog was surprised by the solemn aura and couldn’t help but glance at the young man, who remained silent for an entire minute before speaking again.
"When does a person cease to exist? Does it happen when our bodies decay into dust, and our souls leave this plane?" Vlad’s aura intensified even more as he posed the question, captivating the small white dog’s attention, which awaited the answer.
Vlad turned to Oro, his eyes burning with absolute confidence as he shouted words he believed from the bottom of his soul, "We cease to exist when we fade from the minds of those who love us!"
The small white dog trembled as he heard those words, shaking his entire body. It then turned his eyes to the grave, confusion clouding his face as it didn’t know how to proceed. He wanted nothing more than to be with his master, but his death would mean one less person to carry Cazan’s memory.
"If you choose to stay here, I will not force you, and I will accept your decision out of respect for your loyalty and love toward my fallen brother." Vlad’s eyes were resolute, prepared to allow the small dog to die. Still, his aura burst once more as he continued, "However, if you choose to carry on, I will give you the chance to obtain not only an immortal life so you can carry his memory forever but also the opportunity to obtain revenge on those who took Cazan from us."
The small white dog froze as he heard those words. The temptation of immortal life would have driven nearly anyone insane, yet it meant nothing to Oro. What truly drove his heart was the promise of avenging the one he loved.