The journey back to the Royal Capital felt longer than usual.
Their bodies were tired, their minds still echoing the sounds of battle, and their hearts weighed down with thoughts they couldn't yet speak. The fight against Varnex, the sudden appearance of Kalix, the mystery surrounding him, and the dungeon collapsing behind them, it all felt like a blur, like a dream they weren't sure had ended.
When the gates of the capital finally came into view, there was no cheering or warm welcome. No celebration. Just the quiet acknowledgment of warriors returning from a long war.
Inside the castle, the mood was serious. King Arthur sat on his throne, calm but focused. Beside him stood the three princes.
Cyrus, Kael, and Junith, each carrying a different expression. Cyrus stood tall and proud, Junith's eyes sharp and thoughtful, while Kael's face held a quiet storm.
As the group stood before them, the King gave a small nod.
"Speak," he said. And so, they did.
Cyrus stepped forward first. His voice was clear as he explained how the journey began. How they had first entered the dungeon of Varnex after receiving troubling information. How they had faced the 24-hour challenge deep inside its chambers, designed to break even the strongest minds, and the main focus was to tire the body. He spoke of the fight with Varnex's commanders and the chaos that followed.
Junith continued from there, describing the battle strategies they had used and how each of them, worked together, fighting with everything they had, trusting each other in the tough long lasting fights.
Kael, finally stepped forward. His voice was quiet, but every word was like steel. He explained the final confrontation with Varnex. How Varnex had unleashed his power, using his Imperial Thunderclaw with terrifying force. Kael had answered with his own, Blackfire Tragic ,a move he had been holding back until the last possible moment. The clash had torn the battlefield apart.
Everyone in the throne room listened in silence as Kael spoke of the explosion, and how, even after that, he wasn't able to defeat Varnex, and that he was unable to fight.
As Cyrus took over again, continuing to tell the details of rest of the fight, and how he thought he might have to die. But then came the lightning.
It was Kalix, the Divine Lightning, who had struck down Varnex with a single bolt, piercing through him and ending his life instantly. The surprise on everyone's faces was still fresh in Kael's memory. Kalix had arrived casually, calling them "losers" with a cocky smile. And then another figure, a mysterious woman, had appeared and scolded him. She had healed the wounded, without saying a word about who she was.
The King narrowed his eyes. The room was silent again.
Kael didn't elaborate further.
Junith then spoke of how the dungeon had started to collapse. Kalix had warned them, and despite the confusion, they followed him out. There was no time to question him then. The mysterious women with Kalix was Riya. And then another guy had come with Ristella, Veltha and was also dragging Borrum at the same time, his name was Shin. As then he threw a scroll and the corrupted core to Kalix. The scroll is kept by Kalix himself, telling us that he will give it to us afterwards, and as for the corrupted core he had given it to us.
As Cyrus further continue, Kalix also mentioned that Varnex was just a pawn, he was just an experiment, the corrupted core is an experiment. There is someone who is behind the shadows who are plotting something big. And the information about Kalix, Riya and Shin is that they are all students of Zortheus, the Uncrowned King of the Dungeons.
King Arthur's face had very mixed emotions as soon as he heard the mention of Zortheus.
As Cyrus mentioned about the Jewels as well. That if they got in wrong hand it may be catastrophic.
Once the full report had been given, the King looked at each of them.
"You have done well," he said simply. "But this is only the beginning."
With those words, the audience ended. No fanfare, no applause. Just quiet understanding.
Everyone had realised that there is a big threat lurking around, and they can't sit ideal, they have to get stronger in order to preserve peace in the kingdom.
---
Outside the castle, as the sun began to set behind the horizon, the members of The Rising Heroes gathered together on the city walls. The sky was painted in soft orange and gold. The breeze carried the scent of the distant mountains and the faint hum of a city still healing.
Lila stood at the front, her hands resting on the stone rail. She didn't say anything at first. The silence felt right.
Drakar leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. Adrian sat on the edge, swinging his legs lazily. Doran was sharpening his blade, not because it needed sharpening, but because it calmed him. Fizzle sat beside Sera, who for once, wasn't talking.
"We've come far," Lila finally said.
"We almost didn't make it out," Drakar muttered.
"We did," said Adrian, smiling faintly. "Barely."
They stood together for a while longer, watching the sun dip lower and lower. The light hit their faces softly, like a warm goodbye.
"Do you think this is the end?" Sera asked.
"No," said Doran. "It's just the start."
Lila looked at each of them. Her voice was steady, full of quiet strength.
"We survived," she said. "But we're not strong enough yet. Not for what's coming."
Everyone nodded.
Fizzle finally spoke. "Then let's become strong enough."
A small smile tugged at Lila's lips. She stepped forward and held out her hand.
"Together," she said. "Let's grow more. Let's become stronger, strong enough to protect what we care about. Strong enough to face whatever comes next."
One by one, the others placed their hands on top of hers.
Drakar. Adrian. Doran. Sera. And Fizzle sat on top their hands.
They didn't shout. They didn't cry. But in that quiet moment, a promise was made.
To grow more.
To fight harder.
To never stop moving forward.
As the sun finally disappeared beyond the hills, The Rising Heroes stood together, not just as an adventurer group, but as a family forged through hardship, pain, and trust.
And for the first time in days, they let themselves rest.