Chapter 137 - 132: A Quiet Beginning
The afternoon sun hung low over the rolling hills as John and his companions entered Greenhollow.
Unlike the towering cities described in old books or the magnificent kingdoms of ancient history, Greenhollow was modest. A sturdy wooden palisade enclosed fewer than two hundred homes, and most of the buildings were built from timber and stone gathered from the nearby forest.
Smoke rose lazily from chimneys.
Children chased one another through the streets with wooden swords.
Blacksmiths hammered glowing iron on anvils while merchants called out the day’s prices.
It was peaceful.
Normal.
After everything they had experienced inside the Hidden Realm, the ordinary sights felt almost unreal.
John found himself smiling without realizing it.
---
Lythriel stretched her arms above her head.
"I never thought I’d miss noisy villages."
Aerion chuckled.
"You complained every time we stayed in one."
"I can miss something and still complain about it."
Sylvara laughed softly.
"That sounds exactly like you."
Lythriel grinned shamelessly.
"I know."
---
The Soul Raven quietly observed everything around it.
Although it had reduced its size, people still gave it curious glances.
Most assumed it was a rare magical beast accompanying adventurers.
No one could imagine that it was one of the oldest living guardians in the world.
The guardian lowered its head toward John.
"Mortals change quickly."
John looked around.
"They do."
The Soul Raven watched a group of children running after a handmade ball.
"They remind me of another age."
John knew what it meant.
The memories beneath the World Tree.
Children laughing beside dragons.
Some things...
Never truly disappeared.
---
As they walked deeper into the town, they attracted more attention.
Not because they looked threatening.
But because they looked... accomplished.
Aerion carried himself like an experienced swordsman.
Sylvara’s robes identified her as a mage.
Lythriel’s crimson spear was obviously crafted by a master smith.
John’s black horns and calm golden eyes immediately drew curious stares.
Even though he remained in his humanoid form, his draconic heritage was impossible to hide.
---
A little boy tugged gently on his mother’s sleeve.
"Mom..."
"Is he really a dragon?"
His mother quickly lowered the child’s hand.
"It’s rude to stare."
John simply smiled.
"It’s alright."
He crouched down slightly until he was eye level with the boy.
"I am."
The child’s eyes sparkled.
"Can you breathe fire?"
Lythriel burst into laughter before John could answer.
"I’ve been wondering the same thing!"
John sighed dramatically.
"...Yes."
The boy gasped.
"That’s amazing!"
His mother bowed apologetically.
"I’m sorry if he bothered you."
John shook his head.
"Not at all."
He smiled at the child.
"Just don’t ask every dragon you meet."
"There aren’t many friendly ones."
The boy nodded seriously.
"I’ll remember!"
As the pair walked away, Lythriel nudged John’s shoulder.
"You handled that well."
John shrugged.
"I remember being curious when I was a kid too."
---
They eventually stopped in front of a modest inn.
A wooden sign swung gently above the entrance.
**The Golden Acorn**
The smell of fresh bread and roasted meat drifted through the open windows.
Lythriel inhaled deeply.
"I’ve officially decided."
"No more ancient ruins for at least a week."
Aerion raised an eyebrow.
"A whole week?"
"I’m making sacrifices."
---
Inside, the inn was lively but not crowded.
Travelers talked over mugs of ale while a bard quietly played a lute near the fireplace.
The atmosphere was warm.
Comfortable.
The innkeeper looked up as the group entered.
A middle-aged woman with silver streaks in her brown hair smiled politely.
"Welcome."
"What can I do for you?"
John stepped forward.
"We’d like rooms for the night."
She nodded before noticing the Soul Raven.
"...And your companion?"
The guardian tilted its head innocently.
John smiled awkwardly.
"He doesn’t bite."
The Soul Raven added helpfully,
"Usually."
The inn fell completely silent.
Several mugs slipped from trembling hands.
One man slowly turned toward his friend.
"...Did..."
"...that bird just speak?"
Lythriel covered her face.
"Oh no."
John sighed.
"I forgot to mention that part."
---
A few minutes later, after a lengthy explanation—and several reassurances that the Soul Raven wasn’t dangerous—the atmosphere slowly returned to normal.
The innkeeper shook her head in amazement.
"In thirty years..."
"I’ve never checked in a talking bird."
The guardian seemed oddly pleased.
"I am honored."
---
After settling into their rooms, the group gathered downstairs for dinner.
The meal wasn’t extravagant.
Fresh bread.
Roasted venison.
Vegetable stew.
Cheese.
Wild berries.
Yet after weeks of travel...
It tasted incredible.
Lythriel was already reaching for a fourth piece of bread.
Sylvara looked at her.
"...Didn’t you say you wanted to pace yourself?"
"I changed my mind."
Aerion laughed.
"You say that every meal."
---
John quietly ate while listening to the conversations around him.
Farmers discussing the harvest.
Merchants complaining about road conditions.
Hunters exchanging stories.
Simple concerns.
Simple lives.
He appreciated them more than ever.
---
The door suddenly opened.
A traveler wearing a weathered cloak entered the inn.
He carried no visible weapon besides a simple walking staff.
His face was hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat.
For a brief moment...
John’s **Dragon King’s Instinct** activated on its own.
Not in warning.
Recognition.
John frowned slightly.
The traveler felt...
Strange.
Not powerful.
Not dangerous.
Simply...
Old.
Far older than any ordinary human should be.
The traveler glanced toward John’s table for only a heartbeat before taking a seat in the far corner.
Nothing more.
John eventually relaxed.
If the man meant any harm...
His instincts would have told him.
Still...
Something about him lingered in John’s thoughts.
---
Later that evening, after dinner had finished, the group stepped outside onto the inn’s balcony overlooking the quiet town.
The stars slowly emerged above them.
Lythriel leaned against the railing.
"...It’s beautiful."
Sylvara nodded.
"I almost forgot what peaceful nights looked like."
Aerion folded his arms.
"We should enjoy them while we can."
No one argued.
They all knew greater challenges awaited.
The world had begun to change.
Ancient mana was returning.
Powerful creatures would awaken.
John still had much to learn about the Dragon King’s Legacy.
And somewhere beyond the continent, secrets older than history remained hidden.
But those were worries for another day.
Tonight...
There was only the cool breeze, the laughter drifting up from the streets below, and the quiet company of trusted friends.
John looked up at the countless stars.
His journey had only just begun.
Yet for the first time since his rebirth...
He wasn’t walking it alone.
---
Far beyond the town, deep within an untouched mountain range, a colossal creature slowly opened one eye.
Its iris glowed like molten gold.
It did not rise.
It did not roar.
It merely looked toward the distant south, where a faint trace of the Dragon King’s Legacy had begun to shine once more.
Then, after a long silence, the ancient creature closed its eye again.
"...Not yet."
Its voice echoed through the mountain like distant thunder.
"The child still has much to learn."
The mountain became silent once more.
The sleeping legend waited.
---
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