The air was still heavy. The smell of burned earth and magic lingered across the battlefield. For a few moments, only the sound of labored breaths could be heard—Kuto, Haru, Jack, Romeu, Sensi, Sónia, Dimitri, and Selina lay on the fractured ground, covered in sweat and dust. They had won… but each of their bodies begged for rest.
The shadow bear, the creature that had nearly drained them completely, lay defeated. The energies of the battlefield began to dissipate, and the wind blew gently, as if the world itself recognized their victory.
"Uff…" Haru murmured, lying on his back, staring at the gray sky. "If this was only the beginning… I don't even want to imagine what's coming next."
Kuto gave a faint smile, eyes fixed on the horizon.
"The important thing is that we won." His voice was calm, yet carried the weight of leadership.
Soon after, they struggled to their feet. In the distance, Gunja and Célia were running toward them, ready to restore their energies. One by one, each member of the group was touched, and a soft light enveloped them. Their HP and MP bars began to fill rapidly, as if life itself was returning to their bodies.
Then, a familiar sound echoed—"Ding!". An individual HUD appeared before each of them, displaying the message:
+100 VelPoints acquired.
The system's electronic coins shimmered before their eyes. It was the reward for their victory.
Jack, still excited, looked up and saw King Zordis IV observing them from above the pavilion, accompanied by the queen and Princess Raimi. Even from a distance, the surprise in their royal eyes was clear.
The king rose from his golden throne and, with a deep voice, declared:
"Zenk, bring them to us."
The royal mage nodded. Raising his right arm, he channeled a bluish aura that expanded like a field of energy. In an instant, the group began to float gently, being lifted up to the royal pavilion.
When they landed, still panting, Kuto lifted his gaze and met Raimi's eyes. She quickly looked away, a faint blush appearing on her face.
Breaking the silence, the king spoke:
"I am truly impressed. You have proven, with bravery and loyalty, that you are worthy of the trust of the Kingdom of Zordis."
His words were firm, but the sincere smile revealed something deeper—respect.
"Zenk," the king continued, "escort us back to the palace. I want our guests to rest as heroes."
During the flight back to Zordis Royal Palace, Jack couldn't contain his curiosity.
"Your Majesty, forgive me for asking, but… where did that creature come from? I've never seen anything like it."
The king looked at him seriously.
"That beast was born from a forbidden spell, created by the Mages of Fear. They are sorcerers consumed by dark magic. They absorb the fears of others and shape them into physical form, creating monsters that embody the terror of their victims."
"So…" Sónia murmured, "that bear… was a reflection of our fear?"
"Exactly," the king replied. "That's why it was so powerful."
Jack raised an eyebrow.
"But if it was so dangerous, why didn't you send Zenk himself to handle it?" he asked with a small smile. "I'm sure he could have dealt with it effortlessly."
Zordis chuckled briefly.
"Zenk is a very busy man. In truth, if you hadn't appeared yesterday, he would have eliminated the creature today. Fate simply moved one day ahead."
The group exchanged surprised glances. Even after so much effort, they realized they had interfered in the natural course of events… and yet, the king still recognized their value.
---
Upon reaching the capital of Zordis, the pavilion landed softly before the palace gates. The guards bowed, and the king commanded:
"Rest. Later, we will have a conversation. For now, enjoy the city." He turned to one of his servants. "Give them the Royal Card. Let them use it as they wish."
He and the queen withdrew, leaving the group under the watchful eyes of Zenk and Raimi.
"If you wish, you can visit my department of magic," said the mage, adjusting his hood. "I'm sure you would learn a lot there." With a slight nod, he disappeared down the corridors.
Now, only the group and Princess Raimi remained.
Selina crossed her arms, facing the girl.
"Raimi, I still want an explanation. Why did you deceive us that night?"
Silence fell heavily. Raimi lowered her head.
"I… didn't want to involve you." Her voice trembled. "I ran away because… I don't want to get married."
Sónia's eyes widened.
"What? Not marry that handsome prince? Are you kidding me?!"
Raimi shook her head, her gaze sincere.
"He's my cousin. And more than that… I don't love him. He belongs to the royal world, but what truly drives him is magic. I don't want to be the burden that ties him to a throne."
For a moment, the group remained silent. It was rare to hear a member of the nobility speak with such honesty.
Romeu broke the tension with a forced smile.
"Well, enough drama. We have something more important now."
"What?" asked Dimitri.
Romeu stood and shouted, fist in the air:
"Shopping!"
The group burst into laughter.
---
Later, now in clean clothes and renewed energy, they walked through the city. Raimi, wearing a hood to remain unnoticed, followed closely.
The first stop was Jack's idea—a weapon shop. Swords, axes, shields, and spears gleamed on the shelves as if they held stories of a thousand battles.
"Look at this!" Jack exclaimed, fascinated. "Legendary weapons of Velerithon… perfect!"
The rest of the group just sighed.
"Who thinks about buying weapons on a stroll?" murmured Sónia, crossing her arms.
Soon, Haru intervened:
"Relax, there's an amazing shop nearby. Follow me!"
The store was dark, wrapped in shadows. As they entered, the air seemed to cool. Suddenly, a hooded man spoke from the back:
"Welcome…"
Slowly, he lit candles scattered across the counter, revealing rows of daggers and magical artifacts. Haru, enchanted, picked up a dagger and held it to the light.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured, with a sinister smile.
Romeu sighed.
"This group is full of weirdos…"
Soon after, it was his turn to choose the next destination. He led everyone to a clothing store.
"Ladies, it's time to shine!" he announced theatrically.
While the girls examined the dresses, he whispered into the shopkeeper's ear:
"Bring the boldest outfits you have. The ones that… show the most curves."
The merchant smiled mischievously.
"Understood, sir."
But before he could leave, Selina was already behind him.
"Pervert!" she shouted, delivering a kick that sent Romeu flying into the counter.
The entire group burst into laughter.
---
They left the shop still laughing, but a strong gust of wind blew Raimi's hood back. Her face was exposed.
"It's Princess Raimi!" someone in the crowd shouted.
Instantly, the murmur turned into chaos. People started running, pointing, and calling for guards. The group reacted quickly—running through narrow streets, turning corners, and leaping over crates, fleeing until they could go no further.
Panting, they stopped in a hidden alley, trying to catch their breath.
"Wow…" said Célia. "What a stroll!"
"All our day ruined…" Selina complained.
Raimi lowered her gaze, guilty.
"I'm sorry… it's all my fault."
But Kuto placed a hand on her shoulder.
"No need to apologize. It's not your fault. We just wanted to get to know you better… and in the end, we did."
She smiled shyly.
"Thank you. But I still want to show you something… a special place for me."
---
They followed her through quiet paths until they reached a cliff on the high part of the city. From there, the golden rooftops of the palace, the glow of magical lanterns, and the setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange.
The wind blew softly, making Raimi's hair dance.
"Wow…" Jack murmured. "What a view…"
"It's beautiful." Célia added, marveling.
Raimi smiled.
"I always come here when I want to remember who I am." Her voice was calm, almost poetic. "Sometimes, royalty feels like a prison. Here, I feel I can just… be myself."
They all remained silent, watching the sunset. That simple moment, after so many battles, felt magical.
When the sun disappeared on the horizon, they returned to the palace, tired but with light hearts.
Before retiring, Raimi approached Kuto. Her eyes met his, and in a soft voice, she said:
"Kuto… about the request I made yesterday… can I know your answer now?"
The night's silence wrapped around the palace. The wind carried promises—and perhaps, the beginning of something that could change everything.