Chapter 564 - Fanaticism

Panning his gaze around at the crowd, Erik noticed they were looking at him with awe and respect… and he felt good. He never believed himself to be a vain person, or someone who cared about other's opinions, but… having a crowd of hundreds look at you like you were a warrior-god of legend felt like nothing he'd ever felt before.

Previously, the only time he was looked at similarly was back in Kirkenes, after he solved the war between the Silver Enclave and the Dominion. Unfortunately, the respect and deference they gave him back then was merely because of his identity as Runa's son.

If Runa went back there now, he could only imagine the shapeshifters would look at her no differently than these Enkarians looked at him now. Part of it was due to his aura and Nora's preaching, but mostly it was because his thundersnow barrier had never been invisible.