Heroes of Etheron

The morning sun poured its warm light into Veilden, but the news posted all over town carried a chill of unease for some. On wooden bulletin boards nailed outside inns, guilds, and bakeries, a bold headline written in ink read:

"New Hero Registry Law Enacted by the Crown!"

Beneath it were the details: All individuals identified as Heroes must now register at the nearest Royal Governor's office. Upon doing so, they would receive a magical pendant, designed not only for identification but also to track their location and receive emergency messages from the kingdom. It was not optional.

"Looks like we don't have much of a choice," Lira muttered as she stood next to Arriel in front of the guild's bulletin board. Her brows were furrowed, eyes scanning the parchment with distaste.

"I was hoping to avoid things like this a little longer," Arriel replied, his hand unconsciously grazing the fabric that hid his status bracelet beneath his sleeve. "But if we don't register, we'll stand out even more."

Kael, leaning lazily against a post behind them, crossed his arms. "It's a leash, that's what it is. But… not registering makes you a fugitive. Better a leashed dog than a hunted one."

Lira sighed. "Let's get it over with."

---

The Royal Governor's office in Veilden was located in a modest two-story stone building near the center of town. Inside, the walls were lined with polished wood panels and sealed documents, and a pair of clerks worked quietly behind magical crystal screens.

After stating their purpose, Arriel and Lira were directed to a private room, where a senior registrar mage performed a brief mana scan to confirm their identities and class. Then came the pendants—silver teardrop-shaped crystals on black cords, warm to the touch and pulsing faintly.

"These pendants cannot be removed by ordinary means," the registrar said. "They will vibrate and emit red light when receiving messages from the capital. You are now officially recognized Heroes under Mirdia's protection—and law."

Arriel stared at the pendant in his palm. Somehow, it felt heavier than it looked.

---

That afternoon, just as they were returning home, a messenger arrived at their doorstep, delivering a formal request stamped with the seal of Town Lord Hashiel.

"A request from the town lord?" Kael said, peeking over Lira's shoulder as she read it. "I wonder what this is about."

The following morning, the trio made their way to Hashiel's estate, a well-maintained manor near the southeastern edge of Veilden. Guards at the gate recognized their names and escorted them through a garden lined with hedges and magically kept roses.

Lord Hashiel, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a regal robe of navy and silver, greeted them in his sitting room. He wasted no time.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," he said, gesturing for them to sit. "I'll speak plainly. My son, Ismel, was recently discovered to be… one of you."

Lira and Arriel glanced at each other.

"We've obtained one of the kingdom's new Hero Detection Orbs," Hashiel continued. "A magic device that can detect hero potential, even before leveling. When Ismel placed his hand on the orb, it glowed brighter than the sun."

From behind a curtain came a seven-year-old boy, golden-haired and bright-eyed, holding a wooden sword and wearing a scarf too long for his size.

"This is Ismel," Hashiel said with pride. "He's enthusiastic. But there's no Hero Academy yet in Mirdia. That's why I'd like to hire you two to mentor him. Once a week."

Arriel blinked. "Mentor? Us?"

"You've survived battles. Fought monsters. You know the road ahead. All I ask is that you guide him, teach him caution, and help him understand his gifts."

"I… don't know if we're qualified," Lira said slowly.

"You are. And I will compensate you well—one thousand Git per session."

That caught Kael's attention. "That's quite a sum."

Arriel looked at Ismel. The boy waved his wooden sword excitedly and shouted, "I'm gonna be just like you!"

He smiled faintly. "Alright. Once a week."

Lira sighed. "We'll do our best."

---

As they walked back home, Kael looked thoughtful. "That orb sounds like dangerous tech. Imagine if someone used it in secret to hunt heroes down before they even knew who they were."

Lira agreed. "The Kingdom's getting more involved in our kind. Tracking pendants. Detection devices. We should be cautious."

Arriel nodded, glancing down at the glowing pendant around his neck. "We'll help the kid. But we need to stay ahead of whatever's coming."

Just before they reached their house, Lira muttered, "I hope this doesn't come back to bite us."