The Urban War God Returns

Birthday party

“Sara, how dense can you be?... Did you come all the way here to ask for money?... On such an auspicious day?”

“It's father's birthday and not only did you not bring a present, you dared to beg for money?... Don't you have any shame?”

“The family already pays for your accommodation and takes care of your feeding, yet you still need more?”

“I mean, common sense states that you don't ask for money from someone celebrating their birthday, but it seems you don't have any of that.”

Everyone in the dining hall was unhappy with Sara's presence, even going as far as to make their displeasure known with vile words directed at her.

Tears welled up in Sara's eyes as she was well aware that asking for money at such a time was unwise, but what other choice did she have?

She was a single mother, and she needed money to pay for Vera's medicine. Else, her daughter would not be able to live till the new year.

Falling to her knees, Sara intoned, “Isaac, please, I beg of you. Vera has tried so hard to fight this illness and I can't let her down now. I promise I'll do anything you ask, just lend me the money.”

Everyone present was naturally displeased with Sara's request, having forgotten that everything they had was because of her husband.

“Mother!” Vera exclaimed as she grabbed her mother and tried to make her stand on her feet. “Why are you kneeling?... Have some self-respect, for crying out loud!... They don't want to give us the money, so let's forget it. We don't need it.”

Vera was naturally pained, considering she was going to lose everything if her grandfather didn't lend them the money, but what else was there to do?

To beg a man that caused her father's death and stole everything their family owned, leaving them in abject poverty, barely able to live from hand to mouth.

With her brother not present, Vera couldn't allow her mother to be insulted and humiliated, so even as she knew that she was playing with her life, she yelled through the tears.

“Stand up!”

Unfortunately for her, Sara loved her daughter too much to care about her dignity. “Isaac, please, don't abandon us; Vera is still your brother's daughter.”

Isaac frowned, as he knew he couldn't just ignore Sara.

But that didn't mean he was about to help her with the money she needed to save Vera.

He was well aware of the danger the two siblings posed if they ever became anything in the future.

There was no way they wouldn't ruin everything he'd built if they gained the power.

With this at stake, he could only stall for time, hopeful that the poison in Vera's blood would finish its job soon enough.

“We'll talk some other time. Today is my birthday and I wish to celebrate it without problems.”

Sara grew anxious, intending to plead for leniency, but Vera wasn't about to let her humiliate herself more, as she exclaimed.

“That's enough!... I'd rather die than watch you humiliate yourself further!”

No one bothered to come to their aid, treating them as outsiders.

Just then, Isaac's brother, William, ran in with some good news. “Brother, I just got word that the War God is coming to see you, and he will be here in ten minutes.”

Everyone went wide-eyed with shock, unable to believe what they'd just heard.

“You don't mean the war god from the south, right?”

Naturally, only one person currently held the active title of War God in the whole of Avalon, and he was the leader of the Dragon Legion.

“Who else?... Of course, it's the King of the Battlefield, the one that managed to subdue the South, turning it from a land of war to one of peace.”

“Impossible!... Such a great figure is coming to our home?”

“To think that our family has grown to such an extent that such a figure is paying a visit. Heavens be praised!”

Everyone was excited as they wondered what they had done to deserve the attention of such a formidable individual, with Isaac remarking with a smile.

“Indeed, we are destined for greatness. This is only the beginning. Now, we can only wait for even more blessings!”

Just as everyone was talking about how to host the War God, with the ladies even discussing his appearance, someone spoke up, drawing attention back to Sara and Vera.

“Since we are preparing for the War god's arrival, Isn't it appropriate that these two be kicked out so they don't end up shaming us before such a great figure?”

Yet another family member intoned, agreeing with her sentiment. “Indeed. Sara, you should take your sickly daughter and leave before the war god arrives so you don't embarrass us. It is best to avoid anything that would offend that great individual, else we won't even get a chance to beg for mercy.”

Sara wasn't even surprised that she was being chased out in such a manner.

It only hurt her that, despite her pleas, they didn't plan on giving her the money she needed.

To think that she had failed both her children, unable to protect them or even provide for them.

“Come on, Mom, we are not welcome here.”

As Sara burst into fresh tears, wondering why the world was so cruel, Liam, one of William's sons, remarked in disgust. “Why are you still here?... Waiting for someone to drag you out?... Fine then, I'll help you.”

As he spoke, he walked forward and was just about to shove Sara when someone rushed over from seemingly out of nowhere and struck him across the face with a kick.

Liam screamed as he was sent flying with a disfigured face.

Everyone was stunned as they stared at the tall man that had struck Liam.

He

was standing before Sara and Vera, possessing a fierce demeanor that seemed oppressive.