CHAPTER 21 The Ashes Stir Once More
The morning sun rose slowly, but Rian was already awake.
For the first time in days…
no dream.
No past life visions.
No memories dragging him back to ancient stars.
Just silence.
He stood on a small cliff overlooking the forest trail ahead, wind brushing past his hair. The world felt unusually calm—as if waiting.
"So this is… the present me."
He clenched his fists. His body was getting stronger. His senses sharper. His aura heavier.
The dream memories were no longer controlling him—they were fusing with him.
Suddenly, he sensed footsteps.
Three figures approached from the trail—dusty, tired, but walking with pride. They stopped when they saw him.
The man in front dropped to one knee instantly.
"...So it is you. The same gaze. The same aura. The same presence."
His voice trembled.
"We have finally found you… Your Majesty."
Rian froze.
"Do I know you?" he asked.
The men looked at each other. Then the second one spoke, eyes filled with emotion.
"In the past… we served under the Goldian Banner—your banner."
He placed his hand on his heart.
"We were your shadows, your blades. We followed you into war, into death, into impossible battles. And now—"
All three lowered their heads simultaneously.
"—We pledge ourselves again."
Rian felt a sudden pressure in his chest, as if echoes of another life flickered inside him.
For a second—just one—he saw a battlefield of stars.
He saw himself standing at the front, an army behind him shouting one name:
"GOLDIAN! GOLDIAN! GOLDIAN!"
Then the vision faded.
Rian inhaled slowly.
"So you want to serve me again," he said.
The leader raised his head. "Once an emperor… always an emperor. Even in different lifetimes."
Rian didn't deny it.
Maybe he couldn't.
"Fine," he said quietly. "Then follow me. But the me you knew is gone. This life… starts fresh."
The men smiled—relieved, proud, loyal.
"As you command, Majesty."
And just like that—
the first embers of the Goldian Empire stirred back to life.
Rian turned around and began walking deeper into the mountains, the three followers behind him.
He didn't look back.
Because somewhere inside, he knew—
An emperor never walks alone.
TO BE CONTINUED