After enjoying an afternoon with Togis and listening to his stories, the orphans curled up around him and drifted into silent sleep.
Although they were surrounded by towering mounds of junk, the sunset's warm light and their serene faces painted a picture of safe, happy children resting after an exciting day.
One figure remained awake.
Sitting cross-legged on Togis's polished shell, Rael spoke inwardly with his first Steelborn through their master–servant bond.
He told Togis about his previous life and his reincarnation.
My current goal is to defeat Sister Sophia and become a Colonel of Conquest.
[I reckon a Colonel of Conquest is a rank far beyond My Lord's current reach. Conversely, Sister Sophia looms over you like a dark cloud. Defeating her will carry consequences that will soon find you, My Lord.]
[Focus on Sister Sophia is a must.]
[Precisely, Miss Dominica.]
Consequences… maybe her allies in the military will try to discover who beat her. I do not know whether I can hide our tracks. It will depend on the scale of the coming battle. No one wants the army involved right now.
This need to hurry was why Rael wanted to bring Shiran from the virtual world into reality.
The little lion needed far fewer parts than Togis, so the process was mercifully faster and should finish before Sister Sophia moved against the orphans.
[From my experience, information is second only to strength in all the universe. I am overjoyed by this second chance at life and even more overjoyed not to be alone.]
Now that you mention it, do you know what really happened? Think of it as gathering information.
[Haha, My Lord, no excuses are needed with your subjects. First, I was killed by a man who called himself a high human. From the moment he descended upon my world, I foresaw my demise.]
Why?
"For even the world itself bowed to him. Not my believers or other communities, but the very world. That was truly terrifying."
In his previous life, Togis had protected the Sacred Lake of Amasacra Mountain, which sustained the world's economy.
Yet the moment the high human arrived, the lake was handed over and the world withered into an empty star.
[Had I known of high humans, I would have reached out to other worlds, even to them, and sought an alliance. Instead I secluded myself beneath the mountain, pretending to be a deity I did not deserve to be.]
A heavy silence settled.
Rael could not imagine an entire world bowing to one person or the weight that memory placed on Togis.
Me, a high human? I cannot even ease your burden, Togis. If the world bows to me, I will ruin it with my lack of experience. All I can offer is to ask you to use your wisdom to protect those I love, which feels selfish and cold.
[I agree.]
Quiet, Dominica. This is my growth, not yours.
[My deepest apologies, Lord Rael.]
…Just keep challenging me.
Togis laughed.
[If I could not feel your emotions, your words alone might sound selfish, My Lord. Your feelings recognize my tragedy and comfort me, yet words are needed to share that with others. You will not share this bond with everyone, so you must learn to turn feelings into speech. Please try.]
Rael nodded and took his time.
I cannot imagine your pain, but we will face everything together. Your experience will stop such a tragedy from happening again.
[…I offer you my sincere thanks, Lord Rael.]
Thank you, Togis. Truly.
As the sky darkened and the air grew cold, Rael woke the children and sent them home.
Togis folded himself back into his shell and blended into the junkyard's landscape.
On the walk back, Dominica reminded Rael of tomorrow's task.
[Lord Rael will form his Strength Core tomorrow based on the Command Genesis foundation. May you sleep well.]
I will probably think about it until I pass out from exhaustion.
[Should I sing a lullaby?]
It would sound like a curse, so please do not.
[…Would it?]