Arix was standing beside Tarin. The fighting had already stopped after Halden entered the battlefield. The sun was still strong.

  Lyra and Meilie both lay unconscious in the distance. Bromgar was also in no shape to fight or even walk.

  Rurik was beside Bromgar. Most of the dwarves and Nyctonas were dead, and only around fifty remained, including both dwarves and Nyctonas.

  They kept their distance from the three of them.

  Halden was holding a sword that looked just like Arix’s, but instead of a black blade, it had a white one.

  He was pointing it toward Tarin.

  Tarin stood there, confusion written across his face. "What are you talking about, father? We just met," he said. His eyes widened.

  Halden’s eyes were wet. “I am not here for a reunion, son. I am here to kill you.”

  “Kill me? Why? I have done just as you asked. We are looking for a prison,” Tarin replied.

  "Yes sir. These dwarves promised to tell us the prison's location. We are very close," Arix said.

  “It doesn’t matter. I already went to the prison three years ago,” Halden said.

  “Already went there? And what did you find?” Arix asked.

  “Father, please lower the sword. I don’t understand. Why would you attack me?” Tarin said.

  “In order to save the people of the island, and your mother, I am bound by law to kill every human that enters the mainland,” Halden replied, avoiding eye contact.

  “Law? I don’t understand,” Tarin said, raising his voice.

  After pausing for a bit, Halden lowered his weapon and looked at Arix. “Arix. I know about your father.”

  “My father? Tell me.” Arix’s eyes lit up, and he leaned forward toward Halden.

  “I traveled with him for a long time. He is a great man. I wanted to be strong like him, but…” Halden paused.

  “But what?” Arix also raised his voice.

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  Halden stayed calm. The tears on his face had dried. “But we were both captured by this land's lord. He has kept him captive to this day and bound me by law,” Halden answered.

  “What is this law thing you keep talking about? You keep ignoring my questions,” Tarin asked.

  “You don’t know it yet, huh? This land is no ordinary land. Here, if you get bound by law, then you have to absolutely follow it. If you don’t, then you die within a day. Humans like us don’t stand a chance against these laws. We have to worship them like a god and keep following them,” Halden paused, then looked toward Arix. “Arix. Your sword. It seems to be the weapon of Nexur. You are also bound by law.”

  Arix drew his weapon. “When I wielded this weapon, the sword spoke and told me that if I drop it, I will die.”

  “That is what law means. If you break it, you die,” Halden said.

  There was silence all around. The dwarves and Nyctonas kept watching the three from a distance. Nobody dared to close the distance between them.

  Thunder roared. Arix hadn’t realized it, but the sunny weather had turned cloudy. He looked up. "Rain in winter? That's unusual," he thought.

  Tarin broke the silence first. “FUCK THIS LAW THING. You are going to kill your own son for some fucking law made by some stupid lord?”

  Halden's face was wet again, but not from tears this time. A few drops of rain fell on his face. Soon it started raining heavily.

  “As far as I know, only the Lord can create a law. And once created, not even they can disobey or destroy it. It is absolute. And there is a price to pay for creating a law. The Lord paid the price too. He promised that he will not touch the people on the island. As long as they remain on the island, they are safe,” Halden replied.

  "What? Does that mean if we don't leave, we will be safe there?" Tarin said.

  “There is not enough land remaining on the island. They will have to leave sooner or later to survive,” Arix added.

  Halden kept quiet. His body was already soaked. Tarin and Arix were also soaked, including all the Nyctonas and dwarves. Bromgar lay in the distance, trying to make sense of their conversation, but he was unable to hear from that far.

  "What are they talking about?" Bromgar asked in a low voice. Lyra was lying ahead of Bromgar, and to her left, some distance away, Meilie was also unconscious.

  “I don’t know, chief. I can’t hear anything,” Rurik answered.

  “Fuck. Do we have to fight more? We are already out of stamina,” Bromgar said.

  “It’s enough. I will kill this lord of yours, and I will make this land free for everyone,” Tarin announced.

  “Run, son. I will not have to fight you if you run now,” Halden said.

  “The hell with running. You didn’t raise a runner, father. I will stay here and fight,” Tarin replied.

  Halden stayed quiet for a while. “Are you going to fight too, Arix?” he asked.

  “You said only Lords can create laws. Then how was this sword able to do it?” Arix asked.

  “Nexur is the brother of Eryndor,” Halden replied.

  “And who is this Eryndor?” Arix asked.

  “Lord,” Halden replied.

  “Then it's settled. I will go and free my father. Before that, I will fight you. If Tarin has decided, I am not going to betray my group member like you,” Arix said, putting one leg behind and getting into a stance.

  Tarin also unsheathed his greatsword and tightened his grip on it.

  Halden stayed quiet for a while. “Very well then. Know that I am proud of your decision, son,” he said before raising his sword and charging at Arix and Tarin.