The sunlight poured into Srahart city like a gentle blessing, its warm rays glimmering against the dew-kissed rooftops. The city was still scarred—blackened stone and broken timber littered the streets—but it was alive. People bustled around, their clothes dusted with debris and ash as they moved in and out of the remains of their homes. The sound of hammers striking nails, saws cutting through wood, and people shouting directions filled the air, blending into a chaotic symphony of recovery. The sound of cats and dogs blends with the morning song of birds

  Some children played among the rubble, laughing as they ran through the remnants of what had once been a marketplace. Their innocent joy seemed almost out of place, like flowers growing through cracks in stone.

  Inside a moderate inn, on a bed on the third floor, lays Duke Caddel sleeping peacefully.

  A gentle arises “Still dreaming of battle even in your sleep, Duke?”

  I slowly opened my eyes, realizing that Sylas was standing beside my bed, her lips curved in a teasing smile. Her presence was a comfort like the dawn breaking after a stormy night.

  I grumbled, burying my face deeper into the pillow. “M’not dreaming… just… resting my tactical genius…” My voice came out muffled and sluggish.

  Sylas chuckled softly, crossing her arms. “Oh really? Because I distinctly heard you muttering something about ‘noodle monsters’ and ‘rice bowl reinforcements.’”

  I groaned, shifting slightly but refusing to open my eyes. “Shhh… negotiations are still ongoing… need five more minutes before the treaty is signed…”

  She flicked my forehead, and I finally cracked one eye open with a tired glare. “Alright, alright. Maybe I was hungry.”

  Heat flushed to my cheeks. “Alright, alright. Maybe I was hungry. How long have I been out?”

  “A full day,” she said with a gentle shake of her head. “The others are waiting downstairs. They’ve been worried sick.”

  I sighed, feeling a strange mix of relief and guilt. I had survived, sure—but Arthur’s bloodied face and crazed laughter still haunted me, even now. I pushed the thought away and dragged myself out of bed, ignoring the protests of my stiff limbs. I quickly threw on my jacket and wrapped my scarf around my neck, the fabric bringing a bit of comfort as it brushed against my skin.

  As I made my way down to the inn’s main hall, the familiar clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation grew louder. The innkeeper nodded to me as I passed, her tired eyes crinkling with a smile that looked like it hadn’t been there for days.

  “Good to see you up, young hero,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice.

  I gave her a small nod in return. “Thanks for looking after us.”

  The scent of grilled meat and freshly baked bread hit me like a punch to the gut, and my stomach growled loudly in response. When I finally reached the table where my friends sat, they all turned to me, smiles spreading across their faces.

  Kaldor raised a hand in greeting. “Well, look who decided to join the living!”

  Mira’s eyes sparkled with relief. “We thought you were going to sleep through the whole reconstruction!”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it,” I replied with a grin, sliding into the chair they’d saved for me.

  Before I could even think about catching up, bowls of rice, steaming vegetables, and slabs of roasted meat were placed in front of me. Without a second thought, I dug in. The flavors exploded in my mouth, and I realized just how hungry I was. As I stuffed my face, Sylas leaned back with an amused look.

  “At this rate, you’ll eat the entire inn’s supply,” she teased.

  I swallowed hard and wiped my mouth, trying to hide my embarrassment. “Can’t help it. I need the energy after everything we went through.”

  It was Kael sitting across from me, his usual calm attitude replaced with a rare, genuine smile. He leaned back in his chair, wiping a bit of gravy off his chin with the back of his sleeve.

  “Hey,... you are taking all my ratio!” he said

  When I looked at my plate and his, it was completely empty, I blinked at him

  “Ughh, thanks for the meal, I guess”

  “I didn’t save you for your sake of eating a bunch bowls of rice”

  We laughed at each other as more jokes followed up

  As the laughter died down, I leaned back in my chair, letting out a sigh. “Seriously, though... How did you guys even find me? I thought I was completely lost back there.”

  Kaldor exchanged a glance with Kael before shrugging. “After we cleared out the remaining bandits, we found some of Arthur’s notes hidden in his study. Turns out, he was using those teleportation circles to move around the city. Once we figured that out, we just started following the trail. Took us through a lot of... interesting places.”

  Sylas nodded, leaning forward with a grin. “Yeah, one of those circles led us right into the nest of those Sage Sand Worms. I’ve never run so fast in my life!”

  I stared at her, wide-eyed. “Wait... you actually ended up in the nest too?”

  Kael nodded, his face a picture of calm amusement. “Yep. We managed to slip past the worms, but there were a few close calls. And what do you mean by ‘too’? ”

  I couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh. “Honestly, it wasn’t me who woke them up! Arthur’s traps triggered something, I swear!”

  Sylas raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but she let it go with a chuckle.

  As we continued sharing our experiences, I couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through me. These people—they weren’t just my comrades anymore. They had become something closer, like a family forged in the fires of battle. They had come for me when they could have turned back, risking their lives to pull me out of the inferno. And for that, I would always be grateful.

  We wrapped up our meal, and I patted my now very full stomach. “I don’t think I can move,” I groaned.

  Sylas smirked. “Better get used to moving again, Duke. The city’s got a lot of rebuilding left, and I’m sure they could use your help.”

  Kael nodded. “But first, let’s head to the square. I heard the lord Cedric is giving a speech.”

  With that, we gathered our things and made our way outside. The streets were even more crowded now, the villagers all heading towards the center of town. I took in the sights as we walked—people passing buckets of water, carrying piles of bricks, and children running around, laughing as if nothing had ever been wrong.

  The city lord stood tall on the platform, his dark blue cape fluttering slightly in the evening breeze. His sharp eyes, lined with exhaustion yet burning with unshaken resolve, scanned the crowd before he continued speaking.

  “We have endured treachery and ruin! Our homes were pillaged, our streets turned into battlefields, and our loved ones were taken from us. But look at where we stand today—together, unbroken, and ready to reclaim what is rightfully ours!” His deep voice rang through the square, silencing the murmurs of grief and replacing them with a collective determination.

  He took a step forward, his hands clenched into fists. “Let me tell you something, people of Srahart! The world will not mourn for us! The kings and nobles of distant lands will not send their knights to rebuild our homes! No gods will descend from the heavens to heal our wounds! If we are to rise again, it will be by our own hands, by our own strength! And I say to you all—let this night mark the first step toward a new Srahart!”

  A ripple of agreement swept through the crowd, the villagers nodding, murmuring among themselves, some even wiping away tears. Cedric’s voice softened slightly, but the fire in his tone never wavered.

  “107 deaths will not be forgotten. Our fallen will not be left behind. Their names will be etched into the heart of this city, so that generations from now, when people walk these streets, they will know the price of freedom.” He took a deep breath, straightening his posture before his voice boomed once again.

  “But as we move forward, we must not forget the danger that still lurks in the shadows. Many of those who sought to destroy us remain at large.” His gaze hardened. “Arthur, the mastermind behind this chaos, has fallen. The traitor who brought ruin to our city is dead.”

  Murmurs spread through the crowd—some in relief, others in hushed disbelief. Whispers of Is it truly over? and the madman is gone? drifted between the villagers. Cedric let them murmur for a moment before he continued.

  “However, the site of his death has been reduced to rubble. Powerful explosive substances had been planted within his final refuge, erasing much of the evidence of his last moments. The city guards and the adventurers who have aided us are currently investigating the remains, but it will take time before we uncover the full truth.”

  The air felt heavier, the weight of uncertainty settling over the crowd. Even I felt a twinge of unease. Arthur’s last stand had been an inferno of destruction, and if his body was buried beneath the wreckage, confirming his death wouldn’t be easy.

  Cedric pressed on. “Our battle is not finished. There are still remnants of his raiders scattered throughout the land—some fled into the wilds, others may be hiding among us even now. The city guards, alongside the adventurers, are already working tirelessly to hunt them down, ensuring that no more harm befalls our people.”

  He took a deep breath, letting his words settle before adding, “And even as we speak, the city’s greatest powerhouses have been alerted. The high-rank adventurers and our esteemed examiners are on their way to assess the situation.”

  Examiner? I remembered the last talk with Soren Valtier, a strong adventurer and an examiner, I somehow still feel bad for the man. With all of the oldest tricks in the book and some of the tips I got from my previous world, he somehow managed to fumble a beautiful girl… Agh, forget it.

  “And let us not forget the ones who stood beside us in our darkest hour!” He turned his gaze toward us, and before I knew it, his arm shot forward, pointing directly at me. “Blades Keeper! Shade Walker! Night Hunts! Silver Breeze! Amber Veil! Without them, Srahart would not have survived!”

  I felt a dozen pairs of eyes land on me at once, and for a brief moment, I froze. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and I could feel the weight of the entire city’s gratitude pressing down on me. The cheers rose, loud and deafening, as the villagers raised their fists and tools high into the air.

  Cedric lifted his arms, his voice rising above the applause. “Their bravery, their strength, their unwavering resolve—it is because of them that we stand here today! They did not come here as nobles seeking riches nor as kings seeking dominion. They fought for us when they had no obligation to do so! They risked their lives for people they had never met, for a city that was not their own! Tell me, is that not the mark of true heroes?”

  A roar of agreement surged through the crowd, and I felt Sylas nudge my arm. “Did he just say heroes?” she muttered under her breath, eyes wide with disbelief.

  I barely managed a nod, my mind still reeling. “I think he did…”

  Cedric’s next words shattered whatever hope I had of quietly slipping away.

  “In honor of these brave souls, let it be known that Srahart will recognize them as our honored heroes! And tonight, we shall celebrate their deeds at the grand Sunfire Pyramid!”

  “Wha—huh?!” I blurted out, my voice an awkward, panicked whisper.

  Sylas turned to me, her expression caught between amusement and horror. “Did he just say celebrate?”

  I was still trying to process what was happening when the crowd erupted in wild cheers. My mind was reeling, struggling to catch up. How did we go from fighting for our lives to suddenly becoming celebrated heroes of a city we barely knew? I glanced at my companions, who looked equally confused but tried to put on brave faces for the crowd.

  Before I knew it, we were being ushered through the streets toward the looming silhouette of the Sunfire Pyramid. Up close, the structure was even more magnificent, its golden surface catching the fading sunlight and reflecting it in brilliant hues. The pyramid itself was surrounded by smaller spires that jutted out at various angles, almost as if the entire building was reaching for the sky.

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  As we ascended the wide stone steps, the city lord walked ahead, leading us towards the massive gates at the entrance. I had expected something solemn, something befitting the grand exterior. But as the doors creaked open, the sound that greeted us was... laughter.

  I blinked in surprise as we stepped inside. The interior was nothing like what I’d imagined. Instead of a grand hall filled with stiff officials, the place was bustling with life. Colorful banners hung from the high ceilings, and the air was filled with the scent of spiced food and the sound of music. People were dancing, and laughing, and vendors were calling out to sell treats as if we had walked into a festival.

  “This... is not what I expected,” Sylas whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.

  “Yeah, me neither,” I muttered, still trying to make sense of it all. For a place that had just been through a near-disaster, they sure knew how to throw a party.

  We were led through the lively crowd until we reached a circular platform surrounded by a low, glowing barrier. The city lord motioned for us to step onto it, and as we did, the barrier shimmered to life, encircling us in a soft glow.

  “Hold tight,” the lord said with a knowing grin. “The ride can be a bit disorienting.”

  Before I could ask what he meant, the platform began to rise. Or at least, it felt like it was rising.

  But there was no sense of movement, only the sensation of the world around us bending and warping as if reality itself was being stretched. The light grew brighter, and my stomach twisted, my sense of time slipping away.

  “What... is this?” I muttered, gripping the edge of the barrier.

  The city lord chuckled. “The barrier separates you temporarily from space and time, allowing for instant travel within the pyramid.”

  I could only nod in bewilderment. So it was like an elevator... but one that played with space itself? This world’s magic never ceased to amaze me. The next thing I knew, the barrier dissipated with a gentle pop, and we were standing at the top of the pyramid.

  The doors in front of us were grand, gilded with intricate designs that seemed to shimmer in the light. As they swung open, I was momentarily blinded by the bright glow spilling out from within. The room beyond was nothing short of magnificent, with windows lining three sides, offering breathtaking views of the desert as the sun dipped below the horizon. The floor was covered in deep crimson carpets, and golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting glittering reflections across the room.

  The queen, seated regally on her ornate throne, watched us with a smile that was both warm and discerning. As we stood before her, I couldn’t help but feel small under the weight of her gaze. She was elegant beyond words, with dark orange hair cascading like waves of fire, crowned with a diadem embedded with gleaming gemstones. Her eyes, a striking shade of amethyst, held a calm yet powerful presence.

  Queen Elara Seraphine, ruler of this vast desert nation, gestured for us to approach closer. We hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, each of us still trying to process everything that had just unfolded.

  “You have all done a great service to the people of Srahart,” she said, her voice carrying both softness and strength. “Please, I would like to hear from each of you. Your thoughts, your experiences... How did you find the strength to defend my people?”

  Her tone was solemn, but the way she leaned forward, eyes practically sparkling with anticipation, made me pause. Was she… excited?

  Sylas, ever the bold one, stepped forward first. “Your Majesty, we simply did what was right,” she said, her voice steady despite the weight of the queen’s gaze. “The people needed us, and we couldn’t just stand by.”

  Queen Elara beamed. “A noble heart, driven by compassion! That’s how true heroes act!”

  Sylas bowed her head, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  Mira was next, standing stiffly but respectfully. “It was... overwhelming,” she admitted. “But we had no choice but to fight. If we faltered, others would suffer.”

  Queen Elara nodded. “And that’s exactly why your actions are so meaningful.”

  Mira gave a small, grateful bow.

  Kael stepped forward next, scratching the back of his head. “Honestly, Your Majesty, I just did what I do best—get in and out without being seen,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Turns out that’s pretty useful when it comes to saving lives.”

  Queen Elara let out a delighted giggle. “Oh! That’s just like the heroes in the stories I used to read! So mysterious and cool—”

  “Your Majesty.”

  A voice cut through her excitement, and we all turned to see a stern-looking woman beside the throne, hands clasped in disapproval. Dressed in elegant but simple robes, she radiated the aura of someone who had spent years keeping things in order.

  The queen immediately straightened, coughing into her fist. “Ahem! Yes. As I was saying—your efforts were truly heroic.”

  Kael’s grin widened, and he gave her a deep bow, nearly toppling over from enthusiasm.

  Kaldor was next, his deep voice steady. “Your Majesty, there was no other option but to stand firm. The people needed someone to protect them, and that was my duty.”

  Queen Elara nodded again. “That unwavering resolve is what makes a true hero.”

  Finally, it was my turn. I swallowed hard, stepping up to face her. My mind raced for the right words, but all that came out was, “I... just didn’t want to see anyone else get hurt, Your Majesty. If we could prevent it, then we had to.”

  Queen Elara studied me for a long moment, then smiled. “That’s what it means to lead, Duke Caddel. And that’s why you’re all heroes in my eyes.”

  I barely had time to process that before she suddenly sat up, grinning. “Ah! I just realized—I’m the first queen of Degaritas to personally honor adventurers at my age! Isn’t that amazing?”

  Kael crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. “Your Majesty… how old are you, exactly?”

  For a second, there was silence. Then, in the blink of an eye, Sylas and Mira each grabbed one of his arms and pinched him—hard.

  “Ow! What the—”

  “You’re not supposed to ask a woman her age, you idiot,” Sylas muttered under her breath.

  “Let alone a queen,” Mira added, shaking her head.

  Kael winced, rubbing his arms. “Okay, okay! Geez…”

  Queen Elara, on the other hand, simply chuckled in amusement. Then, with exaggerated flair, she stood up, puffed out her chest, and raised her chin as if she were about to make a grand declaration. The air around her practically shimmered with pride.

  “I am Queen Elara Seraphine of Degaritas, ruler of the boundless sands, guardian of the desert’s heart, and sovereign of the golden dawn!” she proclaimed dramatically, stretching her arms out. “And I am twenty years old!”

  I stared at the scene, completely unsure of how to react. What is this flamboyant wannabe even doing?

  The room was dead silent for a second—until a loud, deliberate throat-clearing cut through the air.

  “Ahem.”

  Elara’s advisor, whose patience must have been made of steel, looked completely unamused.

  The queen immediately flopped back onto her throne with a sigh, turning her head away with an audible tch. “Ugh. These strict rules are such a pain. I’d rather just be a humble farmer…”

  Her advisor’s lips tightened as she raised her voice. “Your Majesty, please do not speak so carelessly. You are the ruler of Degaritas.”

  Elara only chuckled at that, clearly enjoying how much she was getting under her advisor’s skin.

  The queen then addressed us again, this time more softly. “Now, brave heroes, you have earned your rest. Enjoy the festivities in Srahart. And know that should you ever need a place of refuge, Degaritas will always welcome you.”

  Sylas, unable to resist, asked with a playful grin, “So... we have your permission to enjoy all the feasts, Your Majesty?”

  Kael, still rubbing his sore arms, smirked and leaned slightly toward Sylas. “So let me get this straight. Just a moment ago, you were lecturing me about not bringing up a woman’s age…”

  Sylas arched a brow. “Yeah?”

  “And now you’re already talking about food?”

  Sylas blinked, then turned away with a small huff. “Priorities, Kael. Priorities.”

  Mira sighed, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I agree with him, but he’s got a point.”

  Queen Elara lit up. “Of course! Eat as much as you—”

  Her advisor let out another small cough.

  “Er, I mean, do not forget—true heroes know the balance between celebration and duty,” Elara corrected herself, though her eyes still sparkled with excitement.

  I couldn’t help but smile as we bowed deeply one last time before the queen. The titles she had given us felt heavy, but in that moment, surrounded by my friends, I realized that maybe... just maybe... we were starting to live up to them.

  I couldn’t help but smile as we bowed deeply one last time before the queen. The titles she had given us felt heavy, but in that moment, surrounded by my friends, I realized that maybe... just maybe... we were starting to live up to them.

  For the next weeks, the city of Srahart became our playground. We explored its wonders, experimented with their magic circles, and simply took the time to enjoy the fact that we had survived. But eventually, it was time to move on.

  We gathered at the outskirts of the city, the sun dipping below the horizon one last time as we prepared to depart. We had set up a teleportation circle in Srahart, just in case we ever needed to return, but with limited circles in our storage, we had to be careful where we placed them.

  The city’s lord came to us once last time.

  “Before you go, may I ask you what was your true identities?”

  “Hmph, I am Du-” Before I could finish my final sentence, I got a flashback of that green scale drakonians, Eregor. A bold decision came to my mind

  “I am a follower of the drakonians, Duke Hevas Caddel”

  “A dra-drakonians? B-but…” The lord stayed quiet for a while but in response to that, I just gave him a smile.

  “Ah… Could it be… I understand it now, I will help you guys out!” The Lord said

  “Thanks a lot, mister”

  I looked back at my friends, they were all confused about what I had said, of course, but they all knew why and happily to be a ‘follower’ as well.

  As the city’s gates faded into the distance behind us, I turned to my friends, a grin finally breaking through the uncertainty that had lingered since the ceremony.

  “Alright, ready for whatever comes next?” I asked.

  Sylas nodded with a bright smile, while Kael gave a nonchalant shrug. Mlara couldn’t resist a teasing remark.

  “Lead the way, Hero of the Dunes,” she said with a smirk.

  I groaned at the nickname but couldn’t help the smile spreading across my face.

  As we made our way through the city’s gates, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of my words still lingering in the air. A follower of the Drakonians. A bold claim, but one that I didn’t regret. If Eregor was going to change how the world saw his kind, then maybe this was a step forward.

  I glanced back at my friends, expecting some sort of reaction. Sure enough, Sylas looked intrigued, Kael seemed amused, Mira was rubbing her temples like she was processing it all, and Kaldor… well, Kaldor just nodded like it made perfect sense.

  Before I could say anything, Mira crossed her arms. “So, when exactly were you going to tell us that we were suddenly ‘followers of the Drakonians’?”

  I shrugged. “Figured you’d roll with it.”

  Kael chuckled. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”

  Sylas smirked. “I don’t mind. It sounds pretty cool, actually.”

  Mira sighed, but I could see the small smile tugging at her lips. “You better have a good reason for this.”

  “I do,” I assured her. “And I’ll explain later.”

  She gave me a skeptical look but let it slide for now.

  We didn’t make it far before a firm voice called out from behind.

  “Duke!”

  I turned, recognizing the figure standing next to Lord Cedric. The man had short yellow hair and was dressed in simple, unassuming clothes—an odd contrast to the battle-ready adventurer I had last seen. It took me a second to place him.

  “Soren?” I blinked. “You’re back from the dungeon raid already?”

  Soren rubbed the back of his head, looking… oddly nervous. “Uh, yeah, about that…”

  Kael smirked. “Don’t tell me you ran away.”

  Soren shot him a glare before clearing his throat. “I actually, uh… won’t be going on any more dungeon raids.”

  That caught me off guard. “Wait, what? But weren’t you the one who—”

  Before I could finish, a woman stepped up beside him, smoothly looping her arm through his. She had long black hair tied up in a neat ponytail, a confident expression, and wore her usual tight-fitted shirt that made it clear she was just as strong as she was intimidating.

  “Laire?” My confusion deepened.

  She got straight to the point. “Soren and I are together now.”

  …What?

  Soren, visibly flustered, tried to cover his face with his hand. “You weren’t supposed to just say it like that! I was building up to it!”

  Laire gave him a look. “Why bother? It’s not like it’s a secret.”

  I stared at them, my brain stalling for a solid few seconds. “Wait. Hold on. When—how did this even happen?”

  Soren sighed, still looking embarrassed, and Laire decided to answer for him. “During the dungeon raid, I got lost in the maze and was injured. Badly. Thought I was done for, surrounded by monsters.”

  She tightened her grip on Soren’s arm and looked at him with something that was almost too affectionate. “And then, just as I was about to die, a true mighty hero appeared and saved me.”

  Soren groaned. “Don’t say it like that…”

  Laire ignored him. “I fell for him right then and there.”

  Kael, clearly enjoying this too much, let out a low whistle. “Wow. Soren, I didn’t take you for the knight-in-shining-armor type.”

  Soren scowled. “I literally just got lucky and found her by accident! I wasn’t trying to be a hero!”

  Before he could protest any further, Laire reached up and kissed him on the cheek, making him go completely red.

  “See?” she said with a smug smile. “Isn’t he cute when he gets flustered?”

  Soren looked like he was about to pass out.

  Meanwhile, I just stood there, my face slowly contorting as my brain tried—and failed—to process what I was witnessing.

  Sylas leaned toward me. “Your face right now is priceless.”

  Mira sighed. “I get why you’re struggling, but just accept it. Some things in life don’t need to make sense.”

  I inhaled sharply, shook my head, and forced my brain to reboot. “Right. Okay. Soren, congrats, I guess? Good luck with… this.” I gestured vaguely between him and Laire.

  Soren, still red-faced, gave a weak nod. “Uh… thanks. And, um, sorry for not telling you sooner.”

  I waved him off. “It’s fine. Not like I needed to know about your love life anyway.”

  Kael snorted. “I dunno, I think we all needed to see this.”

  Soren shot him a glare, but Laire just chuckled.

  As we turned to leave, I gave Soren one last look. “Take care of yourself. And… someday, I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

  Soren gave me a genuine smile. “Yeah. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

  With that, we finally continued on our way.