NOVGO.NET Chapter 364 364: It's Better To Show Than Tell
The market square of Greshan was slower than usual — no longer the crowded checkpoint hub it was known to be, but still alive.
War hadn’t burned it down, just bruised it. Now, its people moved with gratitude rather than rush, the surviving merchants re-opening booths with cautious smiles.
Arielle walked among them, her cloak drawn over her shoulders, one hand lightly guiding Lyone at her side.
“Stay close,” she murmured.
“I’m not a child,” Lyone muttered, even though he didn’t stray a single step further from her reach.
She gave him a sideways smirk. “Then don’t act like one.”
They passed a line of Dunters sharpening weapons near a supply cart. The moment they caught sight of Lyone, one of them stood and raised a hand.
“Oy, child! You’re the kid who came with the silver-haired monster, right?”
Lyone blinked. “Uh—yeah?”
“Your boss still alive?” another called out.
“Did he lose both legs?” a third joked, grinning.
Lyone puffed out his chest slightly. “He’s fine! Just sleeping off the war, that’s all.”
Most of the men chuckled and waved him off. One gave him a little salute. Another flicked a gold coin his way, which Lyone caught with surprising reflex.
“He’s earned a damn good title,” a younger mercenary muttered. “They’re calling him the Silver-Haired Carnage now.”
Arielle caught that too, and raised an eyebrow at Lyone. “You going to start wearing that title on a shirt?”
Lyone gave a weak chuckle but said nothing. His posture slackened just slightly.
They kept walking — past fruit stalls, old armor vendors, and makeshift apothecaries that still stank of powdered herbs and disinfectant. Arielle paused to buy two meat buns and handed one to Lyone, who took it automatically.
“…You haven’t seen him since, have you?” she asked gently.
Lyone stared at his food. “No. When I sneaked there, they said he was resting. And I didn’t want to bother him.”
Arielle crouched beside him, pulling her hood back so he could see her expression fully.
“You miss him.”
Lyone didn’t answer. His silence was enough.
“Then let’s go.”
His eyes lifted. “Go?”
“To see him. He should be awake now. Or close to it.”
Lyone blinked. “Can we… actually?”
“I’ve got enough pull to get into the Commander’s quarters.” She stood, brushing her hands off. “And you’re too gloomy for my liking. Come on. We’ll finish lunch, then go.”
Half an hour later, the two of them passed through the outer ward of Greshan’s fortified keep — a circular stone structure guarded by a dozen lightly armored men who gave Arielle a quick nod of recognition. One of them opened the gate without a word.
Lyone stayed close, eyes wide.
The deeper they went into the building, the quieter it got. Every step was muffled by red carpet, every wall lined with rare portraits of past Dunters and commanders.
They passed a long hallway with sealed doors on both sides, until finally, they reached a tall oak double-door with a strange insignia burned into the center.
Arielle didn’t knock.
She just pushed it open and stepped inside.
~~~~~
Meanwhile, in the Commander’s Quarters, Damien opened his eyes slowly.
Warmth touched his cheek — soft light from the far window, filtered by morning sun. He blinked once, then stretched an arm across the bed, pressing his palm against the cool fabric of the blanket.
His other hand twitched — the mark on his wrist faintly glowing with residual system energy.
And then the notification flashed.
[System Reward Processed]
[Subskill Unlocked: Lesser Dominion]
[Description: You may temporarily exert partial control over any summoned magical beast as long as it is of a lower Core Rank than your strongest active summon. Duration of domination scales with difference in Rank and user’s willpower.]
[Note: Targeted summons must be within 40 meters and not under direct protection of contractual override.]
[Cooldown: 1 hour per use.]
Damien blinked at the screen for a moment.
Then slowly sat upright, flexing his fingers.
“…Now that’s dangerous.”
The implications ran deep. Being able to dominate a summon—even briefly—meant he could turn someone else’s weapon against them in the middle of a fight.
It also meant his enemies would be wary of summoning near him at all.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
It wasn’t just power anymore.
It was psychological warfare.
A knock broke his train of thought.
Rather—the door opened.
And in walked Arielle, with Lyone clinging nervously behind her.
Lyone’s eyes lit up the second he saw him sitting upright.
“DAMIEN!”
The boy darted across the room and practically lunged onto the edge of the bed, trying not to crash into him completely but failing to hide his excitement.
“You’re alive!”
“More or less,” Damien said dryly.
“You didn’t die!”
“Not for lack of trying.”
Arielle leaned on the nearby wall, arms crossed and watching the two of them with soft eyes. “He’s been sulking since the battlefield. You’ve got fans, by the way. They’re calling you the Silver-Haired Carnage.”
Damien raised an eyebrow. “…Please tell me that’s not a real thing.”
“It’s catching on faster than you think.”
Lyone grinned. “A merchant tried to give me a discount just for knowing you.”
“I hope you accepted.”
“I did! He gave me two apples for the price of one. Another mercenary face me a tip for no reason.”
Arielle moved to the side of the bed and set a paper-wrapped bundle on the nightstand. “Your lunch. Told the cook to make enough to feed Luton too.”
“Luton eats enemies,” Damien said. “Not meat pies.”
“Then more for you.”
For the first time in two days, the room was calm — not with silence, but with a kind of belonging. The kind that settled in when no one had to say anything to know they were where they needed to be.
Damien looked at the boy beside him, at the bruises beneath his eyes and the faint dust still in his red hair.
“You alright?”
Lyone nodded quickly. “Now I am.”
Arielle exhaled, letting herself sink into a chair near the window. “So. Going to tell us what ‘the sixth’ is yet?”
Damien didn’t answer.
But his hand flexed. “It’s better to show than tell.”