The Dawn of the New World Chapter 1522

He waited until Song Yi caught her breath, allowing them to relax somewhat and listen to his ramblings.

"I wasn't always like this you know. Once upon a time, I was a different person..." he said thinking about the past, which wasn't untrue.

They went quiet listening to him. His aura had slightly changed recalling those events.

"I had people I could call friends and comrades, people I could depend on," he proudly stated as countless faces flashed past his eyes.

From Zhurong, Fortis, and Jin Wang to Princess Ceni and Ma Jiang, even all those back in the Mei Kingdom- those who wouldn't even be born for another seven centuries.

"I never realized it in the moment but, for a little while, I had everything I wanted...oh how blissful I was in my ignorance."

He glanced at them to make sure they were paying attention and they were, undividedly.

"I wasn't born into it but there was a time when I had many vassals. I commanded a small army to lord over an abandoned kingdom in a fractured, forgotten world far away from all else. I had great hopes for that place- for the people that began to call it home."

"But my mistakes began to mount and the choices forced upon me sent me down a very different path. One by one I began to lose everything- EVERYONE! And...before I knew it I was here..."

For a second even Hao Xuan forgot this was supposed to be an act and in the heat of the moment he let them catch a glimpse of the truth.

His voice fell to a whisper.

"Now most days I don't even recognize the face that stares back at me in the mirror. Before I knew it I had gotten so old, with white hair and regrets by the hundreds. Now I walk this foreign land hoping for a better future, of a DIFFERENT future. Maybe this time I can do things differently- no, I have to...no matter what it costs."

Hao Xuan caught himself before it was too late and forced himself out of the stupor.

Het met Song Yi's gaze and surprisingly found it to be a tad bit softer.

"You're right, I'm just a lowly slave," he said openly so she could never use it against him again, "We have nothing against each other- we couldn't with how far I have fallen. Forget I exist and leave me to my own devices. Stay in your ivory towers and enjoy your time here until-"

*BANG*BANG*

Someone kicked the door open before Hao Xuan could end the speech and gracefully take his leave.

It was the rodent demihuman Luz trying to catch his breath much like a blowfish. He looked around the room and upon finding Hao Xuan his brow knitted to the extreme.

"There you is! It is time for work, slave!" he said while jumping up to grab his ear and failing miserably since Hao Xuan was more than twice his height.

So he grabbed his robe instead and dragged him out of the room while hurling obscenities, "Why is you bothering the princesses?! Huh?? A stupid slaves should know its place! Come with me, I will teach yous a lesson!"

He paused momentarily to look at the speechless Song Yi, "D-Don't worry princess, I will teach this one the harsh lessons so...you don't need to do anything!" before pulling Hao Xuan away.

For a few seconds it was deathly silent in the room until Lady Saira let out a giggle.

"Oh my, Sir Jin said he was all alone but it seems he has already made a good friend."

Song Yi wobbled up to her feet and plopped down on the chair with full force.

"Hmph! What a pitiful sap. How could he tell his entire life story to total strangers? Isn't he ashamed??"

Bertha shook her head while heading to her seat behind the table.

"Some people don't have the luxury of shame. Once you've fallen far enough there comes a point where nothing is too much. And...it didn't feel like he was lying," she muttered the last sentence to herself, with which Lady Saira agreed.

"I concur," she said while looking at the marbles in the contraption, all of which were on the left side now.

"It was a sad and beautiful tale of love and loss that anyone could empathize with. I cannot speak to its authenticity but at least he meant everything he said. How do you plan to proceed?"

Song Yi waved her hand in annoyance, "I don't care. It doesn't matter how great of a warrior he once was, right now he is just a slave with no real power. Why should we even bother with him?"

Bertha gestured towards Song Yi, "What about his mark? Isn't he from the same faction as you?"

"So? It doesn't matter at all," she hissed, "I am not going to tiptoe around some failure of a man just because he once had some achievements in the sanctum. Right now he is nothing but a washed-out old fool who happened to be in the right place at the right time. We need to know for sure first..."

Bertha was more than a little confused, "You don't believe young master Nae Shin is the chosen one?"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Song Yi jumped to her feet in rage, "THAT- I don't accept that! There is no way...it can't be..." she whispered at the end.

Lady Saira let out a weary sigh and started packing up the device.

"Let us return for now. The situation outside seems to be getting worse with every minute. We need to deal with what's happening first."

Bertha nodded, "I have heard whispers of some unknown elements at play."

She took out a leaflet from her desk and handed it over to Lady Saira, "There are some people trying to drive a wedge between the general populace and...well, their masters- you. They were talking some nonsense about giving freedom to all the slaves and food and water for everyone...equally! Can you believe that? There was even mentions of a savior, a chosen one."

Lady Saira went through the leaflet before passing it to Song Yi, "The timing seems a little too good to be mere coincidence."

"I agree," Bertha smiled, adding, "But we caught this little mailshot months ago. None of this is new!"