A Place Called Home

"None of you should go looking for Rihan Daniel." Arken said firmly while stopping Julius' footsteps. The King of Dragons' expression showed that his decision was final and could not be discussed further.

The long-exhausted dream which given to all the Dragons made Arken ashamed of himself. Rihan Daniel the mixed-blood descendant, did so much more than the pure-blood was. Even compared to himself which was the great Dragons King. Somehow, Arken really hated himself for being this weak.

"But, what about the High Honor Dragon's status?" Julius asked.

"Even if Daniel returns, are you all ready to accept him as High Honor Dragon?" Arken asked as he looked around the halls of the great Dragon Castle.

"I'm sure some of you will opposed." Arken landed his gaze on Elis Ragnvald, William Frostfall and Demita Waldermar.

"The Holy Flame has rekindled. The power of the Tanah Agra as well as the power of our dragon blood is almost restored. After being given this much, what else could you want from Daniel?" Arken's voice softened.

The Dragons realized that their Lord was already very tired with recent incident. The shock of learning about his eldest son's past far surpassed the Dragons and other family heads.

"We from the Frostfall family also don't want to trouble you, Lord Arken. Compared to everyone in here, you are the one who mostly wants Rihan Daniel to come back. Even so, you still put us as priority." William Forstfall spoke.

"If Rihan Daniel comes back, we won't protest. But if he doesn't want, we also will not force him. In reality, Rihan Daniel is already a High Honor Dragon. Whatever the decision, shouldn't we respect him?" He added.

"Even though he is High Honor Dragon, can any of us forgive someone who has destroyed his own name from the Sacred Stone Wall?" Demita Waldermar asked in loud.

"Rihan Daniel is the chosen one by our ancestors. To doubt him means to doubt our own ancestor's decision." Elis Ragnvald made a defense. Not defending Demita, but Rihan Daniel who once slaughtered his entire family instead.

"I agree with William. If Rihan Daniel wants to return, the Ragnvald family will not protest either. We fully respect the ancestral decision," Elis said in certain.

"Even though some of us disagree and think this is stupid, it would be wise if we could show abilities that surpass Rihan Daniel and gain the recognition as High Honor Dragon." Julius Aditya Kane finally joined in on the conversation.

"Personally, I hate it… we all big talker but has no competent skills. Does the triumph of the Dragons make us feel so proud that we forget the fact that we are not as strong as our ancestors anymore?" Julius spoke offensively. Even the most sensitive things don't stop him.

Indeed, it is a fact. The Dragons themselves are also aware that they are no longer as superior as they used to be. Their embers weakened and their roars no longer shook the sky. The fact that they could be destroyed so easily by the Arinas was undeniable proof.

"You dare to speak like that because your family was not affected by the Rihan Daniel massacre. You should think more about other families, Kane." Demita replied in disagreement.

Julius laughed sarcastically. "Well, sorry then. But I don't want to waste my time to think about such things, Waldermar. Being strong isn't just because your blood is pure from the Dragons nobles. Strong is not inherited. But it comes from strong determination and courage." Julius finally chose to withdraw from the hall. It's useless to keep arguing with them.

Julius walked in relief towards the door. Now he is starting to understand why at that time Rihan chose to leave the Dragons, leaving Tanah Agra.

"Daniel, this place simply not fit to you…" Julius muttered as he breathes the fresh air in relax.

"Really?" Rihan's voice broke Julius' thoughts. The eldest son of the Kane family turned around with a bright smile.

"You know, because of you, the atmosphere in there is so damn hot." Julius gave the code towards the Dragon Castle.

Rihan lowered his medium-sized bag that had been carried on the back of the shoulder styled. "What happened?" He frowned without knowing if his past had been made public—and with no permission—to all the Dragons.

"All of us already know your past, Daniel. Now they are discussing whether to accept you as High Honor Dragon or not." Julius answered.

Rihan smiled mischievously. He patted Julius on the shoulder twice before walking past his friend. "Just let them be." To the surprise, Rihan didn't look surprised nor angry.

"I thought you left and never came back." Julius jogged after Rihan. "What did you bring?"

Rihan lifted the bag he was carrying. "Clothes. I took it from Yi Lu this morning. After more than 20 years of not coming home, how can there be anything for me to wear?"

Julius looked at his friend questioningly. "I used to be so desperate to persuade you to come back, but you always refused. Now… what kind of demon possessed you? Are you really that Rihan Daniel I know?" Julius interrogated with a joke.

Rihan chuckled. "If I can choose, I simply didn't want other people to know what I had done in the past nor what I'm planning to do. But now, things already different, Julius. Everyone already knows. I have no reason to keep running."

"Hoo… No because Alvi is here?" Julius half teases Rihan.

Rihan's smile got even wider. "Well, not denied." He answered while throwing a small fist into Julius' stomach.

The laughter of the two young men was heard throughout the Vaiskyler residence. Freya thought it was Julius and Raka's voice. Just as she opened the door, her eyes immediately fell on to Rihan.

"Mom, I'm home." Rihan showed a smile of his best.

Freya smiled back in tearful joy.

"Sorry, mom, for worrying you all this time." This time nothing could stop Rihan from showing all of his feelings. He stepped closer and hugged his mom tightly. He always wants to do it.

There was nothing happier than this little reunion. In all her life, Freya Natalia Grey was never thought and didn't even dare to think about the return of her eldest son. This day, everything is back to normal. Rihan really has come home and is very close to her.

"Welcome home, son." Freya couldn't hide her joy while looking at Rihan intently.

"Mom's not mad at me?" Rihan had prepared himself for his mom's wrath. But such thing was not happening.

Freya shook her head. "I don't want to give you another reason to run away."

Rihan thought for a moment. "Am I that spoiled?" He wondered since he couldn't find any suitable logic.

Freya walked into the house. "Who used to cry a lot when came home from playing outside?"

Julius couldn't help but laugh. Rihan throws his bag at Julius in annoyed while gives a code asking him to take the bag upstairs.

"I was four or five years old back then. Strange, why mom still remember what happened during that time?" Rihan continued the chat with Freya at downstairs.

"Is the meeting over?" Alvi looked surprised when finding Julius hanging around on the second floor of the Vaiskyler residence carrying a bag.

"Nope, the meeting is still going on. I'm the only one who walked out," answered Julius. "But luckily I got out. Otherwise, I might have missed the chance to see Daniel. Well, he comes home."

"Now in downstairs with Aunt Freya." Julius gave a code to the downstairs where the conversation was still audible.

"Ryan is back? I thought, he left secretly because he didn't want to come back." Alvi had the same thoughts as Julius. As well as, everyone in the Tanah Agra.

Julius tilted his head and replied. "Maybe we just too negative. Tanah Agra is also his home, right?"

Alvi made a disapproving face. "Don't blamed me. He is the one who makes us think bad about him."

"Really?" Julius' smile grew wider and fuller. "But I'm pretty sure you have other stories you haven't told. Between you and Daniel. In Samsara," Julius teased.

Alvi's facial expression suddenly changed.

"The ancestors gave us a dream, about his past. Apart from you, all the Dragons have seen it. Including Aunt Freya since she's already part of Lord Arken's family." Julius added.

"Dragons are tolerable to think negatively about Daniel. Lucie the number 6 had killed so many in the past including Frostfall and Ragnvald families. But what about the Lucie you know, Alvi?" Julius asked profusely.

Alvi was shocked.

"I'm sure the image of him in your heart isn't that bad. It is Daniel who has been taking care of you while in Samsara. But I think there are some things you need to speak about honestly." Julius suggested.

Alvi didn't reply. She understood what Julius meant. Between her and Rihan, there are so many misunderstandings. There are so many things that can't be explained in mere words. Eight years in Samsara's prison cell was certainly a suffering, but Rihan managed to turn that hell life into something that Alvi will always remember. She started to like that place, liking the small space that was only privately owned between two of them.

But on the other side, there is a kind of fear. That day, with her own hands, Alvi had slayed their relationship. The sight when she stabbed Rihan right in the chest from behind was something that she regretted the most.

"Are you… afraid?" Julius had been trying to investigate the doubt behind Alvi's face.

"Listen, Alvi. You are the person Daniel wants to protect the most. Everything that happened during the attack on Samsara was all by his plan. Including his own death at your hands." Julius explained.

"If he really hates you, your encounter in Yi Lu will tell a very different story. He could choose to hide without you finding him." Julius patted Alvi's shoulder lightly before entering Raka's room and placing Rihan's bag at there.