Published at 1st of September 2026 6:02 am

Chapter 1978: Wake Up Call

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The night passed.

As the magical sun slowly rose beyond the horizon, its muted rays fell upon the cave entrance and illuminated the interior.

After an entire night, Adam, bruised and bloodied, had finally finished healing Valerian.

The little fellow lay before him, sleeping soundly. It was only now that a peaceful look had appeared on Valerian’s face. Adam realigning his broken limbs had been a terribly painful process. It couldn’t be helped, as Adam did not have a sedative to give to him.

Thankfully, there were no internal injuries. Dragon scales were sturdy. If not for them protecting his body for the most part during the battle, Valerian might have died.

The vampire Dorian had truly lost all his senses the moment he caught sight of Valerian’s blood.

Fortunately, Adam had been able to expel most of the Nerve-Severing Toxin just in time to save Valerian.

Recalling the events of the previous night, Adam’s lips curled up involuntarily. Yet his eyes showed no mirth. Instead, they were filled with sadness and helplessness.

He hated this feeling.

He hated knowing that he was too weak to protect Valerian in this new world.

Back in his homeworld, he had been strong enough to face almost any danger that came his way. But here on Myrrandor, there were simply too many unknowns.

Even taking this secret plane into consideration, too many powerful beings lurked in the shadows, and he had yet to gain equivalent strength.

And the worst part was that Valerian had nearly paid the price for it.

I should have been able to protect him.

Adam clenched his fists.

That was precisely why he had always instructed the little fellow to remain within his spirit sea. It was the safest place he could offer him. No matter what happened outside, Valerian would be protected as long as he remained there.

But that safety came at a cost.

His freedom.

Adam had always disliked forcing Valerian to remain inside his spirit sea. The little fellow was lively by nature. He loved exploring, playing, and following Adam wherever he went. Keeping him confined, even for his own protection, felt cruel.

Yet what choice did he have?

Every time Adam allowed Valerian to accompany him, he was gambling with his little brother’s life. And every time he ordered Valerian to stay behind, he was taking away another piece of his freedom.

Adam hated both choices.

But after seeing Valerian lying battered and helpless on the ground, he hated himself even more.

If only I were stronger...

He clenched his jaws as he fought hard to contain the tears in his eyes.

Then I wouldn’t have to choose between protecting him and letting him live freely.

Sometimes, Adam couldn’t help but wonder if it had been wise to refuse to hand Valerian over to his clan members when he had the chance.

If he had, Valerian would have grown up in a far safer environment. Not to mention, he would have had access to countless resources that could have greatly aided his growth.

Logically, the Somnia Clan was a far better place for Valerian to grow up than with Adam.

But matters of love were rarely logical.

Adam loved Valerian more than life itself.

And it was precisely because of that love that he had fought so desperately to keep Valerian by his side.

He had been selfish.

There was no other way to put it.

He had told himself that he was protecting Valerian. That keeping his little brother by his side was the safest choice. But perhaps, deep down, he simply couldn’t bear to let him go. He couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from the little fellow he had raised and cherished for so long.

And just like that, a crack appeared in his beliefs.

Perhaps... I was wrong, he wondered.

The thought hurt him more than he cared to admit. Yet even knowing that, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Because if he were given the same choice again, he knew he would still selfishly choose Valerian.

But the crack grew wider as he gazed at Valerian’s sleeping figure once again. His lips trembled, and he couldn’t help but begin to question himself.

This was a wake-up call for Adam.

If he had once been adamant about keeping Valerian by his side, he was now beginning to see the dangers in doing so. He had narrowly managed to save Valerian this time. But what about the next? Would he be able to save him then?

Once they left this secret plane—which Adam had no doubt about—and returned to Davos, where countless hidden experts resided, would he still be able to protect his little brother?

And when those people eventually discovered that Valerian was a Mind Dragon, what then?

People were capable of going to great lengths when greed consumed them. Adam knew this deeply because he was a greedy man by nature.

And if Valerian became the target of those greedy eyes, would Adam still be able to protect him?

The answers to those questions frightened him more than he cared to admit.

Perhaps keeping Valerian by his side had never truly been about what was best for Valerian.

Perhaps it had always been about what Adam wanted.

In the end, it was only a matter of how selfish he was willing to be.

I’m sorry, Brother... I just... wanted to help you...

Valerian’s words echoed in Adam’s mind once again, and he couldn’t stop the dam of emotions from breaking. Tears streaked down his face as he silently sobbed while looking at his little brother.

Damn it, I’m so pathetic! he admonished himself inwardly.

Sudden sounds echoed from the depths of the cave, and Adam quickly wiped his tears away. He returned to his usual calm demeanor, and a carefree smile appeared on his face.

"Ugh." Luca groaned in pain and confusion as he tried to sit up straight.

"You’re finally awake," Adam said.

Luca frowned. "What happened?"

His body hurt all over. It was a bloody mess, to say the least. And he, for sure, thought that he would die.

"Where are we?"

"We’re back in our hideout," Adam said as he walked over to him. "I didn’t get the chance to examine your wounds. Come, let us begin."

"Erm... okay." Luca lay back down and allowed Adam to examine him. The man was a skilled Herbalist, after all.

Luca glanced at Adam and noticed that, though he had a smile on his face, his eyes were reddened and filled with sadness.

He looked around in the cave and found Valerian, but not Genevieve.

And he finally understood the reason for Adam’s sadness.

In the end, he simply murmured:

"We’ll get her back, Constantine."

Even he didn’t believe his own words.

But it was the least he could do for the man who had just saved his life.

Share