As both of them continued their journey toward Mike's house, Ak slowly regained enough strength to walk for nearly half the distance on his own. Even though his body still ached from exhaustion and injuries, he forced himself forward, refusing to remain weak forever. Mike walked beside him in silence for a while, his face carrying a heavy expression of guilt and sadness. Deep inside, Mike blamed himself for being powerless, believing that he could not protect the people important to him when danger arrived. Ak, on the other hand, kept remembering Max. Every step reminded him of the moment Max had stood fearlessly before death just to save him. In Ak's eyes, Max was not merely a companion anymore. He had become the image of a true knight, someone who could risk everything without hesitation for another person's life. The thought of Max filled Ak with both gratitude and sorrow because he still did not know whether Max was alive or dead.
As they walked through the dusty road surrounded by forests and open grasslands, they suddenly noticed a wandering trader approaching with a wooden cart pulled by a tired old animal. The cart was filled with strange objects, small bottles, rusty weapons, old books, mysterious stones, and trinkets collected from unknown places. Ak immediately became curious because the trader looked like someone who traveled across dangerous lands and possessed unusual things. Ak and Mike stopped the trader and began examining the items spread across the cart. Among all those strange objects, one thing instantly caught Ak's attention. It was a glowing red gem that seemed almost alive under the sunlight. The crystal reflected a deep crimson color, and for some reason Ak felt drawn toward it as if the gem was calling him. He asked the wandering trader about its price, but the answer shocked him completely. The trader demanded far more gold than Ak could ever hope to possess. Ak's expression darkened with disappointment because he had no money at all. He stared at the gem for a few more moments before slowly stepping back, trying to convince himself to forget about it. However, Mike noticed the look in Ak's eyes. Without saying much, Mike stepped forward calmly, paid the trader, and bought both the red gem and a healing gel for Ak. Ak stared at him in surprise, unable to understand why Mike would spend so much for him. Curiosity filled Ak's mind as he picked up the strange red gem and asked the trader what exactly it was.
The wandering trader scratched his beard carelessly and admitted that he had absolutely no idea what the object truly was. His answer immediately annoyed Ak. He frowned and asked how someone could sell an object without even knowing its purpose or origin. The trader only shrugged casually and explained that he had discovered it near a dangerous place called Mount Sorvhan. The moment Ak heard that name, his interest grew even stronger. Something about the name itself sounded ancient and mysterious. Ak immediately asked where Mount Sorvhan was located and whether the trader knew the path leading there. The trader smirked slightly before revealing that he possessed a map of the area. However, instead of helping them freely, he offered the map in exchange for one bronze coin. Ak looked irritated at how greedily the trader treated everything like business, but before he could complain further, Mike once again stepped in and paid for the map without hesitation. Ak looked at Mike silently for several moments before finally admitting quietly that he owed him one. Mike simply smiled and told him not to worry about such things between companions.
After buying the map, Mike handed it over to Ak carefully. Both of them thanked the wandering trader and prepared to continue their journey. Surprisingly, instead of accepting their gratitude normally, the wandering trader looked directly at Ak with an unusual expression and thanked him instead. He said that he hoped they would meet again somewhere in the future. His words felt strange and mysterious, almost as if he knew something Ak did not. Ak greeted him respectfully with a handshake, and soon both groups went their separate ways. Mike and Ak continued traveling across the road while the wandering trader disappeared into the distance with his cart.
After many more hours of walking, they finally arrived at a workplace that seemed to belong to Mike. Ak looked around curiously at the buildings, tools, and workers moving around the area. He asked Mike whether this was where he worked, and Mike confirmed it while explaining that after resting there, they could later continue toward his kingdom and home. Hearing that brought some comfort to Ak because he desperately needed a safe place to recover. He asked Mike if there was somewhere he could sleep. Without wasting any time, Mike guided him toward a small quiet room and prepared a simple bed for him. Ak's exhaustion had reached its limit. The moment he lay down on the bed, his body completely gave up. Within seconds, he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Far away from there, beside a flowing river hidden within a garden-like area filled with flowers and trees, Max slowly regained consciousness. His body felt heavy, and pain spread across every part of him. As he opened his eyes, he heard faint voices nearby. Confused and disoriented, he pushed himself upward and looked around, only to witness a horrifying scene. Bodies were scattered everywhere across the ground. Some wore armor while others looked like ordinary people. The air smelled of blood and death. Max immediately became alert. Not far away, he noticed a young girl surrounded by five armed men holding swords. Fear was clearly visible in her eyes as the men cornered her like predators hunting helpless prey.
Without hesitation, Max walked toward one of the nearby corpses and picked up a sword lying beside it. Even though his body was still injured, his eyes burned with determination. He approached the men and demanded to know what was happening. The men laughed at him mockingly, clearly seeing him as nothing more than a wounded traveler interfering in their business. Max ordered them to leave the girl alone or face the consequences. One of the men stepped forward aggressively and shoved Max to the ground. The others laughed loudly, believing he was weak. However, the moment Max stood up again, something terrifying changed in his expression. Rage and pain mixed together within him, especially as thoughts of Ak flooded his mind. He remembered losing Ak and the possibility that the killer might have harmed him. That thought alone ignited fury inside Max unlike anything before.
Two men rushed toward Max with their swords raised high, but Max reacted instantly. Despite his injuries, his swordsmanship remained extraordinary. His movements were sharp, fast, and precise. Within moments, both attackers fell lifeless onto the ground. Shock spread across the faces of the remaining men. The other two attacked together in desperation, but Max blocked their strikes skillfully before defeating them as well. The final attacker tried to escape, yet Max showed no mercy and finished the battle completely. Silence soon covered the area except for the sound of the river flowing nearby. Max looked around at all the dead bodies scattered across the battlefield and quietly prayed for their souls, even for those who had attacked him. Only after that did he finally sit down to catch his breath.
The girl slowly approached him, still trembling from fear. As she came closer, Max noticed how beautiful she was. Her appearance carried elegance and nobility unlike ordinary people. She looked at Max with deep concern and asked whether he was alright after the battle. Max reassured her calmly before asking if she herself was injured. The girl thanked him sincerely for saving her life, her voice still shaking from the terror she had experienced. Max then asked her what had happened there. She explained that those men had attempted to kidnap her, and everyone who tried protecting her had been killed. Hearing this made Max's expression darken slightly. He told her that he would escort her home safely before continuing his own journey. The girl smiled faintly, admitting softly that she truly believed she would die that day if Max had not appeared.
The two of them began traveling together through roads and villages. Max silently followed the girl as she guided him forward. After many hours, they finally reached a medium-sized kingdom surrounded by strong walls and guarded gates. As they entered the kingdom, many people stared at both of them strangely. The entire situation felt awkward and amusing to Max because he did not understand why everyone kept looking at them. Suddenly, several armed soldiers rushed toward the girl. Instinctively, Max stepped in front of her protectively and drew his sword, pointing it toward the approaching soldiers. Before the situation could become violent, the girl quickly stopped him and ordered the soldiers not to attack. Instead, she instructed them to escort Max to the king's hall. Though suspicious, Max agreed and followed them.
Inside the grand king's hall, Max witnessed numerous ministers standing in rows while the king himself sat upon a magnificent throne. The atmosphere felt heavy and formal. Soon the girl also entered the hall. The king immediately stood up with concern visible on his face and asked where her guards were. She quietly answered that they had all died. Anger spread across the king's expression as he demanded to know who was responsible. The girl explained that five men had killed them during an attempted kidnapping. The king then asked what had happened to those attackers. The girl pointed toward Max and revealed that he had killed all five of them alone while saving her life.
The king turned toward Max with great interest and asked for his name. Max introduced himself simply and respectfully. The king thanked him deeply for rescuing his daughter and declared that he owed Max a great debt. Only then did Max realize the girl beside him was actually a princess. Slightly surprised, he commented on it, and the king confirmed it while explaining that his daughter often hid her identity whenever she traveled outside the kingdom. As gratitude, the king offered Max a place within the kingdom where he could stay for as long as he wished. However, Max politely refused the offer because he still needed to find Ak, the junior companion he had lost. The king respected his determination and instead ordered servants to prepare a horse, supplies, food, and equipment for Max's journey. Max accepted the help gratefully.
After all the preparations were completed, Max mounted the horse and prepared to leave the kingdom. Just as he was about to ride away, he suddenly heard a familiar voice calling his name. He turned around and saw the princess, Rose, running toward him. Without hesitation, she embraced him tightly and asked him to return safely someday. Max promised her that he would return, and only after that did he finally continue his journey.
After traveling for an entire day and night, Max eventually returned to the place where he and Ak had once lived. His heart pounded with fear and hope as he rushed toward the house, praying to find Ak waiting there. However, the house was completely empty. Silence filled every corner. There were no signs of Ak anywhere. Realizing he had truly lost him, Max felt despair consume him once again. Unsure where else to search, he eventually decided to return to the kingdom where Princess Rose had invited him.
Following another exhausting journey through the night, Max finally reached the kingdom once more. Princess Rose was overjoyed to see him alive and safe again. Over time, the bond between them deepened, and eventually Rose confessed her feelings to Max, asking him to marry her. After everything he had suffered and lost, Max accepted her proposal. Their marriage brought happiness to the kingdom, and soon afterward the king announced Max as the new king of Solveyne. Though Max had gained power, wealth, and a kingdom, he never forgot Ak. One of his very first orders as king was to begin searching across every land for a person named Ak. Even after becoming the ruler of Solveyne, Max continued carrying hope in his heart that one day he would find his lost companion again.