How much time has passed? Eagle searched for the Autozam he once knew, but it was nowhere to be found. Initially, he thought he could finally say, "I'm home," with a feeling of joy, satisfaction, or relief, but now he realized his thoughts had been shallow. There was no "I'm home" because what he saw through the large window of the NSX ship was not Autozam—it was a land entirely unfamiliar to him.

His ship had taken hundreds of images of this place, and now he was studying them. So far, he only recognized the mountain ranges encircling a massive city he didn't recognize. This place resembled ancient Cephiro's architecture before the war more than the Autozam he once knew. Lantis was right. A Pillar ruled here—the Pillar of Runes—and they seemed highly successful in building the land from the ashes of war.

"Eagle, what do you think about this?" asked Geo, who was also examining the images of "Autozam" with him. So far, Geo mostly expressed admiration, but this time, he seemed puzzled by something.

"Where?"

"Here. If you look closely, this is at the heart of that enormous city. It's eerie… finding a site like this in the middle of this paradise."

Eagle frowned.

"A massive, octagonal ruin…" Geo pointed at an image and continued, "Abandoned and burned settlements… or were they burned down to the ground?" He showed another picture. "Empty."

The central area lay flat… an enormous space… empty. "What could have caused this? Why is it so empty? Judging by the layout, this is the center."

"Don't you remember, Eagle?"

"What?"

"If I'm not mistaken, the Iron Palace should be here."

Eagle gasped, realizing he'd indeed forgotten. He quickly examined the image again. "Yes… I vaguely recognize it. I remember the mountain range… If I estimate it, the Iron Palace would have been here." Eagle pointed.

Geo sighed. "You should decide soon—are we landing or continuing to hover here until we run out of fuel? It's been nearly a week." Geo pointed out several other images.

"This place is heavily fortified. Its urban planning is extraordinary. Look at the roads, flying vehicles, those buildings… and then the greenery, gardens, and forests… I imagine they have formidable defenses, with thousands of soldiers stationed everywhere. Introducing ourselves as people of Cephiro may not be wise. We're from Autozam originally, after all. Hopefully, they'll accept us as distant relatives…"

Eagle looked thoughtful. Just how much had this place changed? Was there anyone left who would recognize them? He was slightly hesitant. "Prepare for landing. Notify them of our arrival."

"Prepare for landing!" Geo relayed Eagle's command to the crew in the control room.

"Yes, Sir!"

Nexus's House

"The defeat of Runes will draw the people of Cephiro to come. We can seize this opportunity to venture into Cephiro without arousing suspicion." Nova's prediction proved accurate, Alba thought.

"The people of Cephiro," Robin said, displaying an image of a fighter jet captured by a sentinel scout positioned on the city's eastern wall. The aircraft was familiar to them.

"NSX." Alba recognized it well. It was a type of aircraft manufactured by Autozam nearly twenty-five years ago, a model that had become outdated compared to the newer designs. Alba squinted, scrutinizing every detail of the hovering plane as it prepared to land.

"They're daring to land..."

"Someone, whoever is on board, might believe this land poses no threat to them. Could they be Autozam natives who have settled in Cephiro?" Alba recalled Nova's words. "They may be here to hunt the remaining magic swordsmen…" He turned to Robin. "What about the people of Runes and the magic swordsmen?"

"I've prepared a scenario to conceal their presence. Schwan and Gannet are handling it. They are safe."

"Good. Be cautious with these newcomers." The NSX touched down, enveloped in a thick dust cloud that shrouded the aircraft and the surrounding environment. "Should I greet them?" Alba asked.

"It's up to you. They likely have studied the conditions in Runes. Bring a few soldiers with you, just in case."

Alba nodded. "Keep monitoring them. Fire if they start any trouble."

A contingent of fully armed troops emerged from the NSX, forming a protective barrier. A tall, robust man with a graying black beard was the first to step out, clad in a white military uniform that signified his high rank. Behind him came a more petite figure, with hair tinged with gray, dressed in a green cloak that concealed his uniform. A communication device was affixed to his ear, and dark sunglasses hid his eyes.

I feel like I've seen him before... Alba thought, a vague recognition surfacing. He studied them intently, observing the soldiers who blended in with the civilian crowd, disguising their true identity. He had instructed his men to remain vigilant. Alba felt the pistol hidden beneath his cloak shift slightly, causing him some discomfort.

"At last, I am home…" exclaimed the cloaked man, a radiant smile illuminating his face.

Ah! Alba was taken aback. He knew who this man was. Though his appearance had changed—his hair longer and unkempt, tied back haphazardly—his face bore the marks of time, with a scruffy beard. Yet Alba could not mistake him; he had seen countless images of this man. Time had indeed sculpted his features...

"Eagle Vision…" Alba's guard fell away. For some reason, he felt a rush of joy. Until now, he believed himself the last member of the Vision family. To discover that another Vision was still alive was a revelation he had not anticipated. This was the first good news he had received after weeks of sorrow.

With a friendly demeanor, Eagle Vision greeted the gathering crowd, "Forgive my boldness in landing on your soil. I am Eagle Vision from Cephiro. I hope to meet your leader."

"My name is Alba. I will take you to meet him." Alba offered, and Eagle smiled broadly, removing his sunglasses to reveal his hawk-like eyes. "Please, follow me." Alba smiled back and bowed slightly.

Eagle marveled at Autozam, a sight he had never before beheld. In his heart, he felt a deep admiration for the city. Alba guided him in a flying vehicle that Eagle had never seen before, zipping quickly along magnetically levitated rails. However, as they reached their destination, Eagle began to question whether he had arrived at the right place, for he had expected the young man accompanying him to lead him to a fitting location for meeting the leader of the land.

Alba feigned ignorance about his actual status. He brought Eagle Vision to the Nexus House, which is now transformed into the headquarters of the Runes leadership. Children of all ages, cared for by Nexus, still wandered about. The house had been only slightly modified to accommodate more people under his governance. Alba understood the disappointment and smiled. He truly had nowhere else to go. Alba led him into a room, the living room of Nexus.

"Please wait here. Someone will meet you shortly," he said.

"Very well."

Alba exited the room, leaving Eagle Vision alone.

Bored from waiting, Eagle began to examine the tidy room. There were numerous photos of children. One picture caught his attention, prompting him to pick it up for a closer look. The figure in the frame reminded him of the young man named Alba, who had brought him here. Was this the young man as a child? Eagle smiled. The child in the photo embraced a younger boy, and their bond was evident. The younger child had a cheeky grin, showcasing a few missing teeth. The contrast between their appearances was striking.

Eagle continued to observe the room walls, which were adorned in places with scribbles and drawings made by children. What kind of place is this? He heard footsteps approaching and turned to find a very old man smiling at him. The man bowed slightly.

"Young Master Eagle!"

Eagle froze. It had been a long time since anyone had greeted him in that manner. He felt a strange familiarity, yet he couldn't recognize this man.

"I'm not surprised you've forgotten me. I am Nexus. I once served as a general under your father's regime and also under your cousin Albatross."

"Nexus?" Eagle began to recall. He laughed. "I didn't know you could get this old!" he exclaimed, pulling him into an embrace and enthusiastically patting his back. "I'm glad to see you well. It's truly a pleasure to meet you again. I thought I had arrived in a completely foreign place. Turns out it isn't."

"You seem well too. You've been living comfortably in Cephiro." They both laughed again.

"I've been back to health for many years. Someone took good care of me there."

"Well then, that person deserves all the credit! I never expected you to return. So much has happened since you've been away."

"And I have experienced many things in Cephiro. Cephiro is my home now."

"I understand. We will treat you well as a state guest."

Now was the time to ask the question, nagging at him. "Is this your leader's place?" This felt like an ordinary house.

"You are not mistaken. This is truly our home…"

"Home? Our home?"

"I take care of many orphans here, including your nephew. He made this place his headquarters…"

"Nephew? I have a nephew?" Eagle sounded utterly shocked. "Is that true?"

"He is the son of Albatross. He is named after his father. He is your nephew…"

Eagle's eyes widened. "I think I remember... Back then…"

"He's not a baby anymore. He is our leader. Haven't you met him?" Nexus sensed that Eagle didn't quite grasp the conversation. "You haven't met him?"

"I don't know…" Eagle's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Oh my God, he hasn't changed at all. That boy is playing tricks on you." Nexus shook his head. "Albatross!"

"Albatross?" Eagle recalled something. Alba? "Is that the young man?" He laughed heartily. But how could he have guessed that the young man was the leader of this country? The young man didn't look extraordinary; he appeared just like an everyday person.

"What's that boy up to?" Nexus exited the room. He returned shortly, dragging someone along with him. "What are you doing? Not properly introducing yourself! Leaving your guest in confusion!"

"Stop!" shouted Alba. "I'm not ready to meet him."

"Not ready? He's your uncle!"

After Nexus left the two of them, everything felt awkward. The uncle and nephew both exhibited a palpable discomfort. They couldn't initiate a conversation for almost thirty minutes, each lost in their thoughts. Alba only knew this man as the traitor of Autozam, while Eagle couldn't forget that this boy's father had once tried to kill him. Moreover, they had never met before.

The events of the past indeed served as a barrier between them. This couldn't go on.

"I think we're thinking the same thing. What happened in the past was unpleasant, wasn't it?" Eagle broke the silence. Alba lifted his head, and their eyes met.

"I don't know. I see it more as a story; I never really took it seriously."

Eagle smiled. "The last time I saw you, you were still a baby. No wonder you don't know me."

"Not really. I have many pictures of you. A few times, Nexus has also talked about you."

"Really?" Alba nodded. "So, what's stopping you from calling me 'uncle' or, at least, approaching me and revealing your identity?"

"I don't know. I just... feel strange. To me, you were someone long dead..."

"I'm still alive." Eagle extended his hand, inviting Alba to shake it. Alba accepted. "Nice to meet you." Eagle then pulled the young man into a hug, patting his back. "You've grown so much…"

"And you, Uncle, you're so old. Those photos are no longer accurate."

"I'm not even fifty yet!"

They both released their embrace and burst into laughter.