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nBeing successful in defeating his hardest battle on the Demon Lord which was on the last defence of Humankind.

nCreating peace after he made the forces of evil retreat. With them retreating, the demons suffered great casualties and were gathering their forces again.

nAfter many years, he guided new Heroes to defend the kingdom but he was a hermit and didn't create a family to inherit his legacy.

nHaving been told, Joan devoted his life to train new generations to come. His hairs went white and so his wisdom also was at its peak.

nEarning the title of the Sage of the Kingdom. Learning all the job classes he has to know and kept watch in his tower with his spell to keep the dark forces at bay.

nJoan was exhausting himself to maintain the spell day and night without rest. A grand spell only he was capable of and other Mages can only maintain it in minutes..

nAfter many years has passed, he was a hundred years old and was on his last days. Joan was on his bed and his strength was fading as he mustered his remaining effort. Barely able to lift his hands on the process.

nA King-size bed with red curtains felt lonely and dull as he was solitary in his room. Making him count the stars at night and the birds flying by at day.

nGolden picture frames of his image and the images of the Heroes he nurtured till that day were what ornamented the walls of his tower.

nAdding to his pain was the regrets he was thinking over and over while his heart was crushed by his self-pity and tears welling up from his eyes.

nThe souls of the ones whom he failed to rescue were haunting him day and night. Not wanting him to sleep as nightmares assaulted him in his peaceful sleep.

nIt was caused by the effects of Soul eater that was getting worst as his days were getting on the ends of its existence.

nHe felt that his day of departing this world was at hand so he made preparations for it while he was still breathing.

nAs his last wish, he requested the heroes to see them in his last moments. Commanding his butler, he went on his way to find them.

nIt was when the eve of the war that he felt ill. He waited for them to come after a day and they were still not coming.

nThinking of his shortcomings on them and the ones whom he can't save, Joan can feel his heart crumpled as his eyes oozed out tears that he can't control.

nWhile Joan couldn't help but have many regrets in his life while thinking of it. Time passed by and his soul felt wearier as the hours of waiting for them exhausted his patience and strength.

nAwaiting until he was wearier and wearier until he can't stand up in the meantime. Locked up on this tower, Joan can hear and see the war raging by his Clairvoyance.

nHe saw that they won the war and the Heroes went to him as fast as they could.

nIn the past, he met those boys on his travel as a Sage and nurtured them until they become heroes.

nTheir Mage cast Teleportation on themselves and went to the door of the tower just outside his room.

nImmediately, the old man saw the door open up and the heroes arrived. From the door, his eyes saw the faces of his eleven students and he began to be emotional.

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"I am sorry master for we are late. We are at war with the Demon army and we won! Now master, please get well soon,

" Said the Holy Knight who kissed his hands.

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"Child, no one is exempted to death. Even I will not last for a thousand years. Our body is designed to get old and become fragile. You know that,

" Joan said to him with an old voice.

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"I know...I know,

" said the Holy Knight.

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"Young Frank, please guide your team on the rest of the way. I can't be with you for long. As you travel in this life, you will find it difficult to struggle with it. But, don't forget that you have your friends with you,

" said Joan.

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"But we could cast Rebirth to you right?

" said their Mage Baggus.

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"Even though I will cast Rebirth to me, I will still perish as a powerful curse was put on my soul that the Demon Lord put on me. It will be triggered when I will cast it and will kill me immediately. I can feel that the curse has slow effects but it was eating away my soul. I can only cast Soul transmigration to my self and I will be sent to another world. This way, my soul will be purified and will continue on the cycle of life. This is the last time we will meet and at last, I can say goodbye to you all,

" Joan said to them.

nThe other Heroes were starting to cry and they can't help themselves to be at ease.

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"Before saying goodbye. I will give my last message to you all. Mistiban, you are the bravest in your company. I hope you become the greatest support on your team. Do not be timid when you are needed the most. You are the most reckless after all, haha. Make sure to keep your temper at all times,

" Joan said to him.

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"Yes master, I will not be hot-headed and make sure this temper will protect the weak. Anger is my power! Haha,

" Mistiban scratched his head.

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"Shin, you are the kindest in your team. I hope you will not be timid in battle with your inferiority complex. Haha, despite it all. You are still one of the fastest. Make use of your Ronin blood and be the best version of yourself,

" Joan said in a low voice.

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"Yes master, I will make sure that I will not be timid. I will surely not disappoint you,

" Shin said then bowed.

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"Arthras, you are a tough guy. Not because of your Paladin job but of your personality. You rarely showed weakness and shed a tear. Despite it, I saw you hiding when you cry. It is a sign that you are strong. I am grateful to have you as my student,

" Joan said to him then coughed.

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"Yes master, I am feeling the same. I will treasure all of our adventures in my heart and I am glad we met you as our master,

" Arthras said to him.

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"Snap, you are the jolliest among others. You rarely showed how strong you are but I know that you didn't like to unleash every strength you have on each enemy. You tend to pity your enemies despite the fact that they will hurt you. When you give your all, the enemies will pop like a balloon if you do so. Haha,

" Joan laughed low.

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"I will do my best master from this day forth. I hope you too master,

" Snap said then bowed.

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"Hahaha, I will my dear Snap. You give me a challenge and I will keep it in mind,

" Joan said then winked at him. They all laughed bitterly.

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"Baggus, I know you are the greatest Mage in this kingdom and you protected your comrades well. I am happy that you grew into a great man. I am proud of you. Well, you still need to eat more rice to reach my level. Haha, I hope you are happy together with your comrades. They treated you like brothers so you treat them like one too,

" Joan coughed twice.

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"I am treating them like one master, it's just they are sometimes cold to me,

" Baggus said while shedding a tear.

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"You all will be having more trials, so be kind to each other. I hope you all treat yourselves like brothers,

" Joan said to them.

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"Deathbane, you are the timidest in the team. Despite it, you are still voicing out your feelings. Despite being shy, you are slowly shedding your shell and is getting along with your comrades. It is nice to know you have grown and conquered your fears,

" Joan said to him.

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"I am grateful too of your guidance master. I am what I am because of you,

" Deathbane said to him then bowed.

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"Splinter, you show weak in battle but you showed that you are something not to be trifled with. Making your enemies mistake you for being weak. That is a nice strategy though but always be careful. You are the scout of the team. The same with Maldor, you are one of the ranged job classes of the team. Make sure you are also responsible for the team's welfare,

" Joan said to the two of them.

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"We will not disappoint you, master!

" Maldor said loud and clear.

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"Yeah! Disappointment will be the least we will do!

" Said Splinter.

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"Hahaha good! Now Saber and Branmoor, you two tend to fight with your strength, not with your head. Both quarrelling who was the best among you two. I say you have the strengths that made you unique from each other. Become stronger than before, all of you should surpass me as I am cursed. I know all of you can do it,

" Joan then coughed a bit.

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"We will try master but it is hard for us. Maybe if you are not cursed, then it will not be hard for you,

" Saber said to him.

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"Haha, that is reassuring. And now Frank, being the leader you should always be the strongest physically, emotionally, and, mentally. The team will be passed on to you and is now in your hands. Please take care of them for me,

" Joan then breathed deep.

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"I will master, I will. Please make sure not to forget us when you leave,

" Joan said to him while holding his hands.

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"We will miss you, master! Take care on your journey,

" said Shin.

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"Hah! I am a tough guy! Who do you think I am! Cough cough!

" said Joan who later on went coughing.

nThey loosened up a bit and they found comfort with his words.

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"Upon our last request, can we have the honour to cast Soul transmigration ourselves?

" asked Frank.

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"Sure! Help me with my sending off. I can at least see you all and be at peace.

" Joan said in a calm voice.

nThe eleven of them circled him and cast the spell. The bright light was emitted into the room and Joan stopped breathing.

nHe was smiling with tears in his eyes. After that, the heroes wept and announced that he was gone. The city wept for three days and three nights and at his funeral, the heroes led him to his grave.

nThe Kingdom's watcher and Sage were now gone and the spell that protects them from the dark forces has vanished.

nIt was then, the Heroes stood by his grave until it was noon, and the rain came pouring on them. A very saddening moment for the heroes and as well as the kingdom's citizens.

nMany attended the funeral of their very own pillar. The King also wept as he was his close friend and mentor. He was also his master when he was young.

nThe Kingdom wept but the Demons were celebrating, attacking the kingdom on the same day.

nIt was then, the heroes went back to defend the realm but this time, there was no one in his tower to watch the Kingdom from above.

nEven though they were saddened, they continued to fight for humanity. Battling anything that harms their realm.

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