Kapitel 49: Chapter 48: Reunion.

Rigel opened his eyes and was immediately welcomed by a blazing flame around him. He turned around and saw Hondo and Aria with all the assassins surrounding him in the backyard. He didn't know what he did, but he could see the mess and the protective barrier that prevented the flames from going out of the backyard.

"The eye is gone," Hondo said as he lowered his fists. "He's back, somehow..." he added and then collapsed.

Aria looked at Hondo and immediately carried him back inside the house. Rigel had no idea, but the assassins looked at him with fear in their eyes. Something happened, and the flames around him weren't his because they were dark red, like the flames that the black dragon had. He thought that the dragon was possessing his body, and they had to fight him.

All the assassins left as soon as they knew Rigel had come back, so he decided to get inside and ask Aria what had happened.

"Is he going to be okay?" Rigel asked as he looked at Aria putting Hondo on the bed carefully.

"His condition is already worse and he won't have much time left, but after what happened earlier, his life span is reduced by half," Aria answered as he took a few steps back. "Don't worry, he knew he's going to die anyway, that's why he's helping you," he added.

"You don't have to say it that way, Aria. I know I'm old, but that doesn't mean you can say it so casually like that," Hondo opened his eyes and looked at Aria. "Remember that I defeated you once. You're lucky that you can live for a very long time," he added.

Aria scoffed and Hando could see the mocking smirk under that mask. Rigel looked at both of them and it seemed like they both had a long history together.

"Is there a reason why someone like you wants to help us?" Rigel asked. "You were a Ranker, someone that had gone up high the floors inside the tower. You should know that you're going against other Players," he added.

"I know. I was at the peak compared to other Players from my generation. In fact, I got myself up high in status in the Player Association. I'm right below the Executives, Players that run the Association and control over other Players," Hondo explained as he looked at the ceiling. "But the older I got, the more I felt the things I had been ignoring. I realized the bad things I did, and lastly saw my own students use the things they learned from me to kill thousands of innocent lives," he added.

"At that moment, I realized. I should punish myself for the sins that I have done and my students' sins. That was when I met Aria, and he came to me as soon as I stepped down from my position, throwing away all the things I built," Hondo continued and looked at Aria. "She told me everything, about the secrets that those Executives and that man had been hiding from everyone. I realized I was the worst," he closed his eyes and reminisced about his life.

"But I don't think I can redeem all the sins I have done, and especially the students of mine," Hondo said. "Anyway, I think it's time for you guys to leave this place. I can no longer protect this village in this condition," he looked at Aria.

Aria nodded with understanding and then he left to inform all the Non-Players who lived there to move out. He knew the other places that wouldn't be dangerous for them to live in. After all Sevan village was one of the many hideouts on the 2nd floor.

"How do you feel? Since you're well and alive, that means you have unsealed the power," Hondo looked at Rigel.

"It's a bit complicated because I just met the dragon in my dream. It was listening to me, but it didn't give any response to my request," Rigel answered. "The power is unsealed, but I think the dragon doesn't want to lend its power to me yet. I believe there are things that I need to show the dragon since it's living in my head and it can see what I see," he added.

Hondo looked so confused, but he was glad that Rigel was fine and had managed to gain something.

"It's not as I expected, but that dragon was an Elder Dragon, so I can understand why you can't just unseal it to get its power," Hondo closed his eyes as he nodded. "There's someone that I know on the 67th floor that can speak a Dragon's tongue. But, I don't think he would help you since you're not a Player."

"It's fine, I know someone who can speak to Dragons. I'll meet her when I have the chance," Rigel responded as he leaned his left shoulder against the wall. "I'm sorry that I made you like this," he looked at Hondo's fragile body.

"It has been a while since I got serious, and I missed the thrill of it. If today is my last day, I'm satisfied to be able to fight a Dragon for one last time," Hondo smiled. "Don't bother thinking about an old man like me. Your journey is still long, you'll meet all kinds of things and you'll see moments like this, an old man dying," he chuckled but then coughed badly.

"I'll let you rest. Thank you for helping me," Rigel said as he walked to the door. "I'll leave now, so take care," he left after he said that.

Hondo didn't say a word and fell asleep because he had been enduring sleepiness. Rigel went to the stable and grabbed his horse, but then Aria was there waiting for him.

"I know that you want to get stronger, but currently on the 3rd floor, there's a hidden dungeon that Players are trying to get in. Currently, the 3 Guilds are trying to clear it, but they all failed miserably and lost a lot of Players there," Aria informed and looked at the horses. "If you want, we can help you take the dungeon for yourself," he added.

"No, I'm not going to the 3rd floor or roaming the 2nd floor," Rigel looked at the armor that he made inside the bags on his horse. "I'm going back to the 1st floor and clearing the Sacred Dungeon. I believe they won't be expecting me to go back down there," he said and looked at Aria.

"If that's the case, we will guard the dungeon for you if there are Players that still want to hunt your head down there," Aria nodded with understanding and then disappeared.

Rigel rode his horse and went to the tower so he could go back down to the 1st floor. Although he was alone, he could sense the assassins and Aria moving around him, creating a safe parameter for him. They moved unnoticed and invisible to the naked eye even though there was nothing that could hide their bodies which were quite amazing.

A week had passed, Hondo had been resting and was unable to move his body. He was at his weakest moment in his life, and he heard a commotion outside his house. He knew the Player Association wouldn't let him do whatever he wanted. He didn't care about the situation anymore since all the Non-Players had left a week ago.

He heard the front door creak and someone walked into his house. From the sound itself, he already knew who it was, and he pretended to sleep because he didn't want to be bothered.

"Old man, don't pretend to be asleep when your aura is on guard," Madam said as she stood at the door.

There was no response or reaction from Hondo, so Madam dragged a chair and put it next to the bed. She sat and observed his weak body with a bit of pity and sadness. She didn't say anything and just sat there, looking at him.

"You're always so persistent, Esra," Hondo looked at Madam with only his left eye open. "What do you want from me? I have not left to offer or teach you," Hondo was annoyed, but didn't hate Madam's presence.

"What's wrong with your student coming to visit her teacher?" Madam raised her eyebrows. "Anyway, have they gone? The Non-Players that you hid in this village for years?" Madam asked with a serious expression and her arms crossed.

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