Heroes of Etheron

The days that followed the battle were quiet, unnervingly so. No alarms. No monsters. No more war cries from beyond the hills. The Mirdia border base, once bustling with mobilized soldiers and roaring airships, now felt like a fortress holding its breath. Rain continued to fall on and off, as if the sky was still grieving the aftermath.

Arriel and Lira kept mostly to themselves. They ate, slept, and stayed out of the barracks politics. There were murmurs—some hopeful, some grim—about what might come next. But no one had answers. Until the messengers arrived.

An officer stood before the assembled heroes and remaining troops in the central courtyard, scroll in hand, voice loud and steady despite the drizzle.

"The Kingdom of Theodor has officially submitted a request for peace."

A wave of whispers swept through the crowd.

"Following the slaying of the Abyssal Wyrm, Theodor's forces have been decimated. Ninety percent of their army is gone. Their Special Heroes Army lost one hundred and eighteen out of one hundred and fifty combatants."

Gasps. Shock. Even Lira widened her eyes at that number.

"Seventy percent of Theodor's capital has been obliterated," the officer continued grimly. "More than ten thousand civilian lives have been lost."

He paused for breath, then added, "The Kingdom of Mirdia has accepted the peace proposal. Effective immediately. The treaty is to last one hundred years."

There was no cheering. No celebration. Just silence. Arriel glanced at Lira, who looked down, fists clenched.

Later that afternoon, the Heroes Division was summoned one last time. Valtheas stood on the platform erected in the center of the field, with Commander Elle at his side. The sky was clearing, and rays of light peeked through the thinning clouds.

"The war is over," Valtheas began. His voice, as ever, was steady and commanding. "You are dismissed."

A breathless pause. Murmurs broke out.

"You are free to return to your lives as adventurers. However, the Kingdom of Mirdia reserves the right to call upon you again if another crisis arises."

He looked over them all, his sharp blue eyes cold and focused.

"Let me be clear. What we faced… was not the end. Creatures like the Abyssal Wyrm may exist elsewhere. We do not know how many. We do not know when they might appear. But they will. And they won't care about treaties or kingdoms."

Valtheas stepped forward.

"Train. Hunt. Level up. Don't waste what you've survived."

A silence fell again.

Then Commander Elle stepped forward, calling names one by one, handing each hero a sealed envelope.

Inside: 50,000 Git.

Arriel stared at the envelope in his hand, the weight of it more emotional than physical.

That evening, Arriel and Lira packed their few belongings and joined a hovertruck transporting heroes back toward each of their towns. The ride was long and slow, the hum of magic crystals beneath the platform lulling them into silence.

When they finally arrived at the Veilden town, near the Adventurer's Guild, it was early evening. Lamps glowed warm in the windows, and the streets were quiet save for a few townsfolk carrying baskets of bread or herding small carts.

Kael was waiting outside the guild.

The moment he saw them, he broke into a run.

"Arriel! Lira!" he called.

He embraced them both quickly, stepping back with a grin. "You're alive. Thank the stars."

"You waited here all this time?" Lira asked.

"Where else would I go?" he shrugged. "You two always bring trouble with you. I had to be around for the next disaster."

They laughed, even Arriel. It felt good to laugh again.

They headed to a nearby tavern. A round table, a warm meal, mugs filled with sweet ale and stew thick with meat and spice.

Kael raised his cup. "To surviving."

They clinked mugs. The food was simple, but it tasted like a feast.

But even as they ate and smiled, Arriel's brow furrowed.

"You alright?" Kael asked.

Arriel leaned back, staring at the candlelight flickering on the wooden wall.

"I'm just… thinking. About what Valtheas said. What if more of those monsters appear? What if next time we're not enough?"

Lira looked up from her plate, her voice quiet but firm.

"Then we'll be ready. We'll level up. Like we always do."

Kael grinned. "And you've got us. That counts for something."

Arriel gave a small smile, nodding. The fear didn't vanish, but it dulled.

The future was uncertain. But for now, they were together.

And that was enough.