Date: Unspecified Time: Unspecified Location: Myriad Realms, Lil. Red Storm, Seed World, Trophy Section, Duel Realm, Crafting Sector Walking out of the Chaos Dwarven Forge, Wyatt and the trio navigated through the bustling crafting sector, heading toward a nearby colosseum. Wyatt had booked a private box for the group to regroup and sort things out. In the Duel Realm, there was little else besides venues for duels. The demon and devil merchants lingering here were either spectators or participants, making a private place just to hang out a rare commodity.
After the ordeal, Demon and Devil merchants had relentlessly approached Wyatt, keenly interested in his crafting skills—especially his unique craft print for the Frosling corpse puppet. Despite his increasingly obvious irritation, they refused to take the hint. Sighing and clenching his jaw, Wyatt had hurried out of the forge, his trio trailing close behind. Even so, the demon and devil merchants didn't relent entirely, shadowing him from a cautious distance. It wasn't the outright harassment Bigold had subjected him to before, but it was enough to set his nerves on edge.
After the duel, so much had transpired that Wyatt didn't bother tracking Bigold down. With the workshop already transferred to his guild under Vice Guild Leader Ezra's name, Wyatt saw no reason to waste his time further on that fool. What was done was done.
Arriving at the reserved box, Wyatt scanned the lavishly decorated room, then turned to Moon. "It's safe to enter the inter-realm city from here, right?"
Moon nodded confidently. "Yes, unless we call for room service, no one will be able to disturb us until the duel is over."
Satisfied, Wyatt exhaled sharply through his nose and gestured toward Biore and Dulas. "Good. Let's meet at the workshop to discuss things properly."
"Master Crafter, before we proceed, I need to inform you something important," Dulas suddenly spoke, her voice tight with emotion. The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to her, sensing the tension in her tone. Concern flickered across their faces.
"My parents replied…" Dulas began, but her expression wasn't one of relief or joy. Instead, her downcast eyes and trembling hands told a different story. This wasn't good news.
"What's wrong?" Biore asked, his brow furrowing. He found it hard to believe anyone would dare to contact her now, given the circumstances. If Dulas's parents had reached out, it could only mean trouble.
"They said I can come home…" Her voice cracked as she tried to steady herself. "I-if I manage to get the location of the Orbiumite mine owned by Master Crafter." Tears spilled down her cheeks as she confessed. Her words were heavy, each one laced with pain. Even though her family had abandoned her, she couldn't bring herself to hate them. Deep down, she still longed for them to accept her back in to the their race and family. But the price they demanded? It was unbearable.
The box was silent, the weight of her revelation settling over them. Though her voice shook, she spoke with honesty, unable to betray the person who had taken her in when her own family had turned away.
The trio froze, stunned by the gravity of her words. Wyatt was the first to recover. His expression unreadable but calm, he finally said, "It seems your parents are doing their best to bring you back into the family."
Hearing Wyatt phrase it that way, Dulas let out a heart-wrenching wail. The betrayal she felt wasn't from being disowned—it was from their silence after she was publicly disowned. They hadn't reached out when her life had crumbled, nor had they answered her desperate attempts to contact them. Wyatt stepped forward, his gaze softening. He gently patted Dulas's head, his voice calm but firm. "Don't blame them for asking you to betray me. To them, I'm just a stranger. But you're their precious daughter. They're trying to save you in the only way they know how."
Dulas cried even harder, her sobs shaking her small frame as she threw her arms around Wyatt and buried her face against his lower abdomen. "I thought they didn't love me. I thought they hated me. I thought they didn't want me anymore," she choked out between sobs.
Wyatt knelt down on one knee to meet her tearful gaze, his expression gentle but serious. "They don't hate you," he said softly, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "It's just that circumstances are forcing them to turn away from the one thing they hold most dear—you."
There was no anger in Wyatt's voice, only understanding. He didn't blame Dulas's parents; he could see they were trying to protect their daughter in the only way they knew how. He imagined that the moment they learned about her being disowned, they might have fought tooth and nail against their family and their race's collective decision. But bound by their rules and traditions, they likely couldn't reach out to her openly without risking everything. That was why they had resorted to this desperate measure.
Biore and Moon exchanged glances, their surprise evident. They had been furious when Dulas revealed what her family demanded—enraged by the audacity of the Ironhold family to ask her to betray Wyatt. Yet here was Wyatt, calm and composed, helping Dulas process the situation instead of using it to manipulate her.
After crying until she felt drained, Dulas pulled back slightly and wiped her eyes, her voice shaky as she asked, "What do I do now?"
"First," Wyatt said gently, "you let them know you're okay—that you're doing fine. They might be worried sick about you."
Dulas nodded and, after composing herself, sent a brief text to her parents through demon codex. When she was done, Wyatt continued, his tone steady but firm, "Now, you decide. Do you want to go home?"
"I can't," Dulas said, her voice breaking. "They want the location of your Orbiumite mine. How can I?" Her words carried a heavy implication—the answer seemed obvious to her.
"No, I'm willing to give it to them if that's what it takes for you to be with your parents," Wyatt said firmly, meeting Dulas's tear-filled eyes. "So, what's it going to be?" His tone was steady, but there was an unmistakable warmth in his gaze.
Trust was something Wyatt valued above all else because it wasn't something he could control or command—it had to be earned. Trusting Dulas and Biore had been a leap of faith, but Dulas had proven he was right to believe in her. To Wyatt, her loyalty and honesty were worth far more than an Orbiumite ore mine. If reuniting with her family was what she truly wanted, he would help her make it happen.
His words left Biore and Moon completely stunned. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, their minds racing to piece together who Wyatt truly was. The idea of someone casually offering up something as valuable as an Orbiumite ore mine was unfathomable—he couldn't possibly be some unknown figure.
Dulas, meanwhile, froze mid-sob. Slowly, she wiped her face with her sleeve, sniffling as she stared at Wyatt in disbelief. "You'd really be willing to do that for me?" she asked, her voice a shaky whisper.
"Yes," Wyatt said with a resolute nod, his expression unwavering.
"I've always wanted to explore the Myriad Realms," Dulas began, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. "To learn from crafters across various realms. But my parents never allowed me to leave our family's territory—they were afraid of the slave traders." She paused, her hands clenching briefly at her sides before relaxing. "Now that I'm finally out here, I don't want to go back until I've done that—until I've seen it all. So, no. I don't want to return home. I'll stay with you guys and work to reach the peak of crafting."
Her words were filled with a quiet determination, her gaze unwavering. Now that she knew that her parents love for was still their she decided to turn this tragedy into a opportunity for her to do what she always wanted to do. Wyatt's expression softened, and for a moment, something rare happened—a genuine smile blossomed on his face. It wasn't just a smile; it was an acknowledgment of her resolve and a reflection of his own pride in her decision. He gave her a single, firm nod, silently accepting her answer. It had been a long time since he had felt this way. Trusting someone wasn't easy, but when all was said and done, it could be deeply rewarding.
After making her decision, Dulas sent a text to her family through her demon codex, reassuring them not to worry about her and to take care of themselves until she returned. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty as she sent the message marking the start of a new chapter in her life.
Not long after, Biore's demon codex buzzed with a new notification. He quickly summoned it and went through it before looking up, his expression darkening. "My uncle truly has no shame," he muttered, shaking his head. "He texted me saying he'll let me back into the family if I get them the location of your Orbiumite ore mine."
He paused, clenching his jaw as he recalled the exchange. "Obviously, I didn't accept, and I used the chance to scold him, but this shows something else. The family seems to value your mine for some reason. It might explain why my uncle chose to fight as Bigold's champion and even invited you to join the Ironhold guild."
Biore's voice dropped, his brow furrowing in concern. "This could spell trouble for us."