Chapter 19: The Golden Healer’s Brother

The sun was beginning to set, casting long golden streaks across the town of velaris.The streets bustled with merchants, returning adventurers, and curious townsfolk gathering to hear stories from the day's quests.

Among the crowd, Kai and Zac quietly made their way back to the inn, still reeling from their encounter with the Razor beast.

Zac exhaled as they approached the familiar street. "We really got lucky, huh? If Leo and his crew didn't show up…"Kai nodded, rubbing his healed side.

"Yeah… I don't even want to think about how that would've ended. I need to get stronger. I messed up not bringing my twin daggers."

Zac glanced at him. "The ones Dax gave you?"

"Yeah, Al's best friend. They're special. He said they were once used in real combat. And I left them sitting in our room like an idiot…"

Zac shrugged. "Just be ready next time. You did your best today."

Kai smiled faintly. "Thanks. But hey… that healer girl—livia, right? She was something else…"

Zac smirked, already sensing where this was going. "The one with black hair and… ahem… big boobs?"

Kai chuckled. "Exactly. Beautiful and powerful. I mean, that healing magic was insane."

Zac sighed and gave his brother a reality check. "Don't get your hopes up too much. Pretty sure she's into their leader. That Leo guy."

Kai looked at him with a frown. "Seriously? How do you know?"

Zac gave him a side-eye. "I just know. The way she looked at him after the fight? That wasn't just a party member worried about her leader. It was the look."

"Tch." Kai looked away, unconvinced.

"But I gotta say," Zac continued, changing the subject, "that team's solid.

JR, the twin axe guy, is crazy strong. And Jax with the shield? Tanked that Razor like it was nothing."

"Yeah," Kai said. "Pretty balanced group."

Zac rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But… they're missing a long-range dealer. Every good RPG party needs one.

A bow-user or sniper." Kai nodded, then blinked. "You know… Leo looked familiar somehow.

Didn't he?" Zac raised an eyebrow. "Right?! I was thinking the same thing. Couldn't place it though."

Kai shook his head. "No clue. Blonde hair, golden aura, flashy personality. Doesn't ring a bell."

As they reached the front of the inn, the gentle hum of conversation and laughter greeted them.

The place was getting busy—more adventurers had returned, and the smell of Al's famous steak and potatoes wafted through the air.

Sophia, the innkeeper, noticed them immediately. "Welcome back! How was your first day?"

Kai grinned and waved. "It was... exciting."

Zac added, "Let's just say, we almost didn't make it back."

Sophia's eyes widened in concern. "What happened?!"

Kai recounted their encounter with the Razor, how it ambushed them, and how Leo's team saved them just in time.

"Leo?" Sophia asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah," Kai said, "Blonde-haired guy with a giant sword. Killed the Razor in one clean slash."

As if summoned by name, the inn's door swung open. A familiar voice rang out: "Mom! I'm back from my quest!"Both Kai and Zac froze.

There, standing in the doorway with a carefree grin, was Leo—his golden hair slightly tousled, cloak fluttering behind him, and a freshly cleaned sword on his back.

Sophia's smile turned warm. "Welcome home, Leo." She walked over and gave him a big hug, patting his back.

"Thanks for saving Kai and Zac today," she said with a nod.

Leo looked over, and the recognition clicked in his eyes. "Oh, so you're the guys living here? Small world."

Kai blinked. "Wait… he's your son?!"

Sophia nodded. "Yup. My pride and headache, all rolled into one."

Zac let out a low whistle. "That's why he looked familiar! He's like a male version of you!"

Leo laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Guess that makes sense."

Sophia turned to Kai. "He told me everything. But I also remember how you saved me from those thugs a while back, Kai. Without you, I wouldn't have even made it back here to run this inn."

Leo walked over and bowed lightly. "Then I owe you. Thanks for saving my mom."

Kai, still shocked, shook his head. "No big deal…"

The group took a table near the window, food already being brought out by Al. Platters of sizzling steak, roasted potatoes, and freshly baked bread filled the air with mouthwatering aroma.

As they ate, Leo shared his side of the day.

"So while you guys were out herb-picking and fighting a Razor, we had a quest to clear out a goblin colony."

Zac leaned in. "Goblin colony?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah A group of them settled in an abandoned mine east of here.

We got a report from the guild. Roughly 100 goblins, and one Goblin King. Nasty brute."

Kai asked, "How'd you take them down?"

Leo grinned.

"Strategy. First, I scouted the colony's layout. They were all huddled inside the narrow tunnels, easy pickings.

So I had Jax seal the exit with his shield, while JR and I lit a couple of flash bombs."

Zac whistled. "You had bombs?"

"Alch bombs from Livia," Leo said. "Once they went off, it stunned and blinded most of them. We rushed in.

JR spun through them like a tornado with his axes, and Jax held the line in case any tried to escape."

"And you?" Kai asked. Leo smirked. "I handled the king." He leaned back and described the fight.

The Goblin King Fight – Flashback

The cavern shook with each step of the Goblin King. Nearly seven feet tall, with warped muscles and jagged bone armor grown from its own body, the beast roared as it charged Leo.

"I activated Turtle Style, just like dad taught me," Leo explained.

As the king lunged, Leo crouched low and tightened his stance—every muscle locked, his sword held like a coiled spring.

The Goblin King brought its club down.

BOOM!

Leo blocked with the flat of his blade, absorbing the impact like stone. The Turtle Style emphasized rooted defense and precise retaliation.

The moment the club hit, Leo pivoted on his back foot and slammed his sword into the beast's side.

The Goblin King staggered, then spun wildly.

Leo ducked, shielded by the weight of his stance.

He stepped forward, elbowed the goblin in the ribs, and followed with a low slash to its knee.

The beast shrieked and kicked him back—but Leo dug his feet in and slid across the stone like a boulder rolling downhill.

"I was in control the whole time," Leo bragged.

The Goblin King tried a desperate overhead smash.

Leo waited.And waited. Then—step, slash, pivot!

The blade pierced clean through the king's chest.

Blood exploded from its mouth. It collapsed, twitching. Leo stood tall, not a scratch on him.

"…and then livia yelled at me for handling it alone," Leo finished with a shrug.

"I didn't even get hit."Sophia narrowed her eyes and smacked the back of his head.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"How many times do I have to tell you, Leo? You don't leave your team behind especially not when you're the leader!"

"I didn't leave them! They had their own fights!"

Sophia crossed her arms. "Livia's right to nag you."

Kai, Zac, and even Al at the counter were laughing now.

"Man," Zac said, "Getting scolded by your mom in front of guests. That's rough."

Leo sighed, defeated. "I win fights and still get punished."

Kai grinned. "Welcome to real life, hero."

As laughter filled the inn, the warmth of new bonds formed around shared danger, food, and the realization that even in a world of monsters and magic—sometimes, your biggest threat is a mom with a wooden spoon.