Chapter 475: THE PARENTS ARRIVAL

Following his quiet midnight journey to the southern seas to repay his debt to Toli, Sagiri returned to the sunlit capital of Azareen.

The turquoise domes and wide salt canals of the eastern metropolis glowed warmly beneath the bright morning sun as the city woke to bustling trade.

As Sagiri walked into the shaded courtyard of the sovereign residence, the sound of lively voices and heavy wagon wheels echoed through the archway.

A grand southern carriage adorned with the crest of Thazir had just pulled into the courtyard, escorted by elite desert scouts.

Leaping down from the lead carriage was young City Lord Azir, his face beaming with excitement as he waved his arms frantically.

Behind him, stepping down carefully from the polished wooden steps, were Sagiri's adoptive parents, Bakuru and Rusha.

"Big Brother! Look who I brought from the northern waystation!" Azir shouted proudly, sprinting across the courtyard with a bright grin.

"I personally escorted their carriage all the way from the border so they wouldn't hit a single bump!"

Sagiri stood frozen for a moment, his amber eyes widening in disbelief before a wave of deep warmth washed over his chest.

The heavy fatigue that had lingered in his bones since the wars seemed to vanish in an instant at the sight of his family.

"Mother... Father..." Sagiri breathed softly, taking swift, eager strides across the courtyard flagstones.

His heart pounded with a joy he had not felt in years.

Before he could take another step, Rusha rushed forward with tears spilling down her weathered cheeks, throwing her arms around Sagiri's neck.

She pulled him into a fierce, trembling embrace, burying her face into his shoulder while sobbing softly with pure maternal joy.

"My boy... my precious Sagiri," Rusha wept, her hands smoothing over his back and shoulders to make sure he was whole.

"Look at you, you haven't been eating enough, and your face is so pale! Did those wicked wars wear you down to the bone?"

Sagiri wrapped his arms tightly around his mother, closing his eyes as he rested his chin against her shoulder.

"I am whole, Mother. I am safe now, and everything is at peace."

Standing just behind them was Bakuru, his towering, broad-shouldered frame clad in clean woolen clothes and his heavy leather belt.

The stoic blacksmith of Wuzi village stood quietly with his arms crossed, his weathered face etched with deep lines of discipline.

Bakuru's keen eyes swept over Sagiri, lingering on the calm posture of his son and the steady weight of Nokai resting along his spine.

A rare, proud smile touched the corners of his rough lips as he placed a heavy, calloused hand firmly on Sagiri's shoulder.

"You built a solid foundation, son," Bakuru said in his deep, gravelly voice, nodding with solemn approval.

"The northern highways are clear of bandits, and the southern stone holds strong. You have done good work."

"Thank you, Father," Sagiri replied with deep reverence, bowing his head slightly.

He felt the steady strength in his father's grip that had anchored him throughout his childhood.

Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Healer Lira stepped out from the garden terrace, carrying a silver tray with cups of fresh melon water.

She wore a simple white linen dress with embroidered gold trim, looking both graceful and modest as she paused at the top of the steps.

Rusha pulled back from Sagiri and immediately turned her tear-streaked face toward Lira, her maternal instincts zeroing in on the young maiden.

"And who is this lovely child? Don't just stand there in the sun, come over here, dear!"

Lira's cheeks flushed with a soft pink as she walked down the stone stairs, bowing her head politely before the elders.

"Greetings, Mother Rusha, Master Bakuru. I am Lira... I have been tending to Sagiri's health."

Rusha took Lira's hands into her own warm palms, squeezing them affectionately while inspecting her with glowing approval.

"So you are the wonderful healer Sagiri mentioned in his letters! Such gentle hands and a kind face."

"I can already tell you take better care of this stubborn boy than he takes care of himself," Rusha added warmly.

Lira smiled shyly, glancing at Sagiri with bright, affectionate eyes before nodding softly to his mother.

"He forgets to rest when he is busy with the councils, but I make sure he drinks his herbal tonics every morning."

"Good! You must keep a strict eye on him, my dear," Rusha declared firmly, already treating Lira like her own daughter.

"If he refuses his medicine, you just tell me, and I will knock some sense into his thick skull."

Azir puffed his chest out proudly, gesturing toward the line of supply wagons parked along the courtyard wall.

"I also brought all five of Mother Rusha's heavy travel chests! She packed six jars of pickled northern plums and three barrels of wild forest honey!"

Bakuru let out a dry, amused grunt, shaking his head slightly.

"She insisted on bringing the entire pantry across the continent. She thought the South had nothing but sand and bitter herbs."

"A growing boy needs proper northern honey to keep his blood strong!" Rusha scolded her husband lightly, waving a dismissive hand.

She then turned back to adjust the collar of Sagiri's tunic with loving care.

From the shade of the garden portico, Lady Kiana watched the lively family reunion with a calm, serene smile.

She kept her hands tucked neatly inside the wide sleeves of her grey robe, feeling the gentle warmth of true family fill the desert fortress.

Sagiri led his parents into the sunlit garden pavilion, where cool waters flowed through carved stone channels beneath blooming orange trees.

The fragrant breeze carried the sweet scent of citrus blossoms and desert jasmine, creating an oasis of quiet tranquility.

As they sat around the low wooden table, Lira poured cups of hot herbal tea and served plates of sweet southern pastries and sliced figs.

Rusha immediately began ladling rich northern honey over the bread, placing the largest portions directly onto Sagiri and Lira's plates.

Bakuru took a slow sip of the tea, gazing across the expansive gardens and the white stone arches of Azareen.

"The craftsmanship in this city is impressive. The iron hinges are forged true, and the waterworks are designed to withstand centuries."

"Azir helped oversee the reconstruction of the western aqueducts," Sagiri said, glancing with pride at the young city lord.

"He has grown into a dependable leader."

Azir beamed with pride, stuffing half a honey pastry into his mouth while nodding vigorously.

"Big Brother taught me everything! When we finish building New N'folu, it will be the most magnificent settlement in the entire South!"

Rusha reached across the table, gently resting her hand over Sagiri's and looking into his eyes with boundless love and relief.

"All that matters to me is that the fighting is over. We have our boy back, and the world is finally at peace."

Sagiri looked around the table at his parents, his brother Azir, and Lira sitting quietly beside him with a serene smile.

For the first time in his life, the long storm had truly passed, and the sun rose over a home filled with laughter and enduring love.