The streets of Ardent grew silent with the demon's defeat.
Dust drifted through the ruined district, settling over broken stone and splintered wood. The fires that spread uncontrollably started dying down, leaving little more than smoke and occasional flickers.
Caelus stood over the unconscious knight before him.
For a moment, he simply stared.
The black hair. The familiar face. The clothes he wore now torn and stained with dust and blood.
"Dante..."
He crouched beside his old friend, placing two fingers against his neck.
A pulse.
Weak, but steady.
Caelus exhaled.
"Still alive. Good."
He placed a hand against Dante's chest, a way to let him have a greater sense of Dante's mana flow. His physical condition was poor from his imprisonment, with the circulation of mana being irregular and his body observably having gone through considerable strain, both likely the result of Larfrei's unanticipated takeover.
Caelus withdrew his hand.
"Your health's really gone to shit, hasn't it?"
Dante naturally offered no response.
"Oh well." Caelus sighed
He reached down, pulling Dante's arm over his shoulder, and lifted him upright. The unconscious knight's weight immediately threatened to throw him off balance.
"Damn, you're heavier than I remembered."
Caelus adjusted his grip before beginning to drag his friend along the street. It wasn't particularly dignified, but he doubted Dante would complain once he woke up.
He barely made it past the remains of a collapsed building when he heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
"Caelus!"
Mira came around the corner, with Elise beside her. Mira was breathing heavily, likely due to her exhaustion. Elise, meanwhile, looked as if she spent hours pacing, trying to process everything that happened.
"Hey, Mira, are you doing okay?" Caelus asked
"I'm good! You're probably doing worse than me." Mira chuckled
"Caelus, are you sure you haven't broken anything? You're not sore anywhere?" Elise asked, almost frantically
"Well, sweet Elise, you don't have to worry yourself too much. I have the wonderful talent of hiding my suffering." Caelus replied with a smirk
"That's not something to be proud of!"
"To each their own."
Mira looked at Dante.
"How's he faring?"
"Eventually. His mana's damn near been dried up, and his body's in a terrible state, but he's alive." Caelus adjusted Dante's weight on his shoulder. "I don't know a strong enough spell to help with this, I'm not gonna act like I can do much."
That seemed to ease some of Mira's worries.
They looked back towards the ruined buildings.
"Still, I can't believe you went blow for blow with him."
"I'm hurt, Mira," Caelus replied dramatically, "I can't believe you'd think I'm that weak."
"Yeah, yeah, you don't have to be patronising, you asshole!"
"I'm just pulling your leg." Caelus chuckled
Elise followed with a giggle as they continued walking.
"To be honest, I wasn't expecting to use magic against him. Last time we fought, it wasn't this direct."
"That's true..." Mira muttered
They gazed toward the distant horizon.
Ardent had once been a magnificent city. The abundant Lumestone, grandiose buildings and avenues along the bustling markets had drawn travellers from across the continent. Now, smoke stained that horizon, with the occasional cries of the injured echoing throughout the streets.
"How much of the city did he..." Elise began
"Too much," Mira answered quietly, "Let's get back to my parent's place."
None of them said anything more. They continued on toward the Noblesse province. With every step, the full extent of Larfrei's rampage became harder to ignore.
The bustling market streets of the Carrée province had been reduced to a landscape of broken stone and scorched timber.
Stalls that once stood tall lay overturned. Goods were strewn across the roads, trampled beneath the feet of frantic civilians. One of the larger buildings partially collapsed into a road, forcing the city guards to redirect people around its remains.
They passed a group of guards helping an elderly merchant onto a makeshift stretcher.
The man looked up at Caelus.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Caelus said nothing. He simply lowered his gaze and continued walking.
The more residential Cœur province was no better. The destruction there seemed more extensive, with stretches of buildings left unrecognisable. A fountain stood cracked and dry in the middle of a square, the central statue missing its head. The streets were littered with fragments of stone and broken weapons.
Larfrei revelled in destroying Ardent.
Elise wrapped her arms around herself.
"Why... why would he do this?"
"To bring chaos. It's in his nature." Caelus answered
"That's horrible."
"Well that's the world beyond the safety of cities and towns for you."
Mira shot him a glare.
"Why do you have to go and make things sound so bleak?"
"I'm just trying to be realistic."
"You're being irritating."
"They aren't mutually exclusive."
Despite her prior reaction, Elise let out a quiet laugh. It was brief, but it helped.
They pressed onward, leaving the worst of the destruction behind as they approached Noblesse, the lodging ground for many of the city's noblemen and elite. The buildings here were more elaborate, their faces decorated with carved stone and ornate balconies. Its streets were clearly laid out with greater care than those in the commercial districts.
The effects of the rampage seemed to have not touched it.
"We're not too far from my family's home, so we might be able to see how travel can—"
"Halt!"
The party stopped.
A group of armed soldiers emerged from the street ahead. More appeared behind them, spreading across the road and attempting to block any method of retreat. They wore different uniforms from the infantry and the guards from the Isole. Their uniform bore the insignia of a sunburst enclosed in a circular crest. Their weapons were already drawn, and their expressions made it clear that they had little interest in conversation.
One of them stepped forward.
"By order of the Régir Guard, you are to surrender the fugitive known as Dante Corvolegno."
Mira stiffened.
"Fugitive?!"
"The man you are carrying is a fugitive imprisoned in the Isole for harbouring the demon Larfrei of Greed. He is to be returned to custody as soon as possible."
Caelus looked at Dante, then back at the soldier.
"He's unconscious. I also dealt with the threat."
"That is of no concern to us."
"How honourable of you..."
The soldier's expression hardened.
"You will hand him over, and you will come with us to provide an account of your involvement in his escape. Refuse, and you will be treated as accomplices to the crimes."
Elise took a cautious step backwards
"You can't seriously be asking this of us!"
"Silence!" the soldier snapped. "You have no authority to interfere with the Régir Guard!"
Mira moved in front of Elise.
"And you have no authority to threaten innocents."
"Stand aside, girl."
"Refer to me as Lady Ardent, you bastard."
Caelus sighed.
"Can we get one day without someone trying to arrest us?"
"Apparently not." Mira replied
The soldiers raised their weapons.
Mira's hands shifted toward her sword. Elise, despite her uncertainty, grasped her dagger preparing to defend herself.
Caelus shifted Dante's weight, aiming to gain a greater grip on his friend's arm.
"Well, this is looking tough."
The leading soldier pointed his sword towards them.
"Last warning. Surrender the fugitive!"
A brilliant flash erupted above them.
The street was engulfed in white light.
"What the hell?!"
The soldiers stumbled back, shielding their eyes. Several dropped their weapons as they desperately scrambled around in their sightless state.
Caelus immediately turned his head away from the flash.
Mira blinked rapidly.
"Up there!" Elise cried
A figure stood on the roof of a nearby building, shrouded in a dark hooded cloak.
The figure looked down at them.
"Don't just stand there and wait for them to recover. Start following."
Caelus stared at them for a moment. Then he smiled.
"How convenient."
He moved his free hand to support Dante's side.
"Come on. Let's get out of here before these guys start seeing again."
Mira needed no more words. She grabbed Elise's hand, and the group hurried after the hooded stranger, slipping through a narrow side street while the Régir Guard continued shouting in their tracks.
After weaving through several alleys, they emerged onto one of Ardent's main roads.
A carriage waited beside the curb.
Leaning out from its open door was a familiar face, dressed in a suit with another fur trimmed coat on top of it.
Dorian.
Around the other entrances to the carriage, two of his associates were making impatient gestures.
"Be quick! Get inside now!" Dorian called out
Caelus raised an eyebrow.
"Nice seeing you too."
"Now's not the time for this sarcastic shit."
"I was just hoping for a warmer welcome."
"You can have one after we've left the city!"
The sound of boots echoed from the street behind them.
A meek expression fell over Dorian's face.
"Now would be an excellent time to get in."
Caelus climbed into the carriage with the unconscious Dante, followed by Elise and Mira. The hooded figure jumped down from the roof he was on and hung off the carriage, as they revealed their face.
"Aelius?!" Mira gasped
"You must have not been expecting to see me," he replied, shaking his hair loose, "Look I don't have too long to talk to you."
"I'm... why are you here?!"
"I have to help out family, no?"
"...You got me there." Mira replied quietly
"You're serious about being an adventurer, aren't you?"
Mira slowly nodded in confirmation.
"Then it's my job to help pave the way for that," Aelius continued, "Hey, Caelus! Elise! Look after her for me, will you? She's like a sister to me, so I'd be happy knowing she has people she can count on."
"Sure thing!" Elise nodded
"Deal." Caelus spoke
The stomping boots could now be heard accompanied by shouts searching for the runaway fugitives.
"I'll go deal with the Régir. I'll see you sometime, Mira." Aelius said, as he let go of the carriage with a warm smile on his face
"Move, now!" Dorian wasted no time after farewells were exchanged
The carriage picked up speed as Aelius' figure grew smaller as the Régir Guard came closer.
The journey out of the city was less comfortable than the carriage suggested. It rattled over uneven cobblestones, the wooden frame creaking whenever the wheels rolled through a deep groove in the path. Every so often, the driver, one of Dorian's men, called out to passing guards and travellers or slowed down to navigate around any debris from the rampage they came across.
Dorian remained sat by a window with Caelus and Dante next to him, occasionally pulling back the curtain to examine their surroundings. Mira, meanwhile, had settled into a seat opposite them with Elise beside her.
"Damn, you're getting heavy." Caelus muttered to Dante
"He's unconscious." Elise reminded
"I know."
"Then stop complaining."
"I didn't think I needed permission, milady."
Mira covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
Dorian let the curtain fall.
"We'll be clear of the crisis ring shortly. After that we'll need to take the western road to get you all back to Willowstead."
"Crisis ring?" Caelus questioned. "And why not the northern road? That would be more direct."
"An expedition was sighted along the northern road. We don't have many details on what they're doing there, so I thought it best to avoid that area entirely."
"You're kidding." Mira uttered
"Well there's also the fact that all Ardentian authorities in the surrounding area have been told to keep an eye out for Dante," Dorian continued with a slightly irritated tone, "oh, and the group I happen to be transporting also happened to raid the country's stronghold, y'know, the Isole? Half the city's authorities were alerted at that point."
"Only half?" Caelus parroted. "I'm losing my edge."
Dorian ignored him.
"The route change will add two or three days to our journey, depending on road conditions."
"Three days?!" Elise interjected
"Two days at the earliest."
"But Willowstead isn't that far away!"
"When the roads are clear."
Elise sank into her seat.
"Just when I thought we'd be back home in no time..."
"Personally, I'm looking forward to it." Caelus says as he shifts in his seat
"How?" Elise questions
"No demons, no guards, no getting thrown through buildings. It's nice to have a bit of a break." he continued as he closed his eyes
"You make it sound like you weren't enjoying yourself back there." Mira adds, raising an eyebrow
"I enjoyed winning, but the fighting was too exhausting."
"Oh? The mighty Caelus Aran is exhausted?!" Mira replied with a mix of genuine surprise and sarcasm
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But I haven't really used magic like that in a long time..." he spread his palm open before squeezing again. "I guess I underestimated how much it'd take out of me."
"Yet that didn't stop you from continuing your quips."
"Because I'm talented." he replied with a content sigh
"You're insufferable."
"So I'm told."
Elise shook slightly as she let out a giggle. For the first time since leaving Ardent, the carriage fell into a comfortable silence.
Then a groan broke through it.
All focus immediately shifted to the source.
Dante.
"...Ugh."
His fingers twitched against his side. He shifted slightly, his brow furrowing as though he were trying to wake up from an unpleasant dream.
"Look who's decided to come back to the world of the living." Caelus beamed
Dante's eyes opened slightly. For several seconds, he stared at the carriage ceiling without any understanding of where he was.
Then he moved.
"Argh!"
He immediately clutched his side and curled forward with a low groan.
"Easy now!" Caelus caught him by the shoulder before he could fall from his seat.
Dante breathed through his teeth, keeping one hand pressed against his ribs.
"What the hell happen—"
The realisation of what led to this moment seemed to dawn on him in that moment.
"Ugh, you kick like hell, man." he continues as he flops back onto the seat
Mira bursts out laughing.
Elise quickly covers her mouth, but her shaking shoulders failed to keep up her facade.
Even Dorian looked as though he struggled remaining composed.
"In my defense, they weren't aimed at you." Caelus said sheepishly
"Don't even start." Dante interrupted
"But—"
"Don't."
"Look, I'm sorry but Larfrei couldn't be beat with me pulling my punches. I wasn't trying to damage your body that much, I swear to Magnus."
Dante's anger gradually subsided, replaced by a weary expression.
He looked around the carriage. Elise. Dorian. Then Mira and Caelus.
"You guys are really here..."
"Yeah." Caelus spoke with a small smile on his face
"I'm really out of that prison."
He flexed his fingers slowly, as though reassuring himself what he sees is reality. Then he let out a long breath.
"I didn't think of when I'd see you two since that day..."
"We weren't just going to abandon you." Mira spoke from the other side of the carriage
"What she said." Caelus says as he firmly pats his friend's shoulder
Dante looked up, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"...You bastard."
"Good to have you back, Dante."
Once Dante had recovered enough to sit upright without immediately regretting it, the questions began.
Elise was the first to speak.
"Dante, I have a lot of questions I want to ask."
He turned towards her.
"Fire away."
"What... exactly was Larfrei? I know he's a demon, not much else though."
Dante took on a more stern expression.
"I suppose I can't fully explain without going into the Pillars."
"Hm?"
"The Pillars were made in more ancient times to be prisons to high-ranking demons. There were seven made, to be more specific, each entrusted to a kingdom or settlement to watch over. Why only seven, you may ask? Because the high-ranking demons being sealed were known as the Seven Princes of Hell."
"Princes of Hell..." Elise repeated
"From what the texts we could find told us, the Princes were ancient demon warmongers and leaders of the Demon Realm. Each seem to represent a cardinal sin. Larfrei, for example, is the Prince of Greed."
"Didn't think I'd hear of those withered books again..." Mira muttered
"Ditto." Caelus added
"If you're curious about my situation," Dante continued, "the sealing magic Caelus used essentially chained Larfrei to my soul."
"And if anything were to mess with the control and health of his body or mind, Larfrei can pop out like he did in Ardent." Caelus finished
"Sometimes I wonder how far I can test the limits of the seal..." Dante mutters as he glances down at his chest
"I don't recommend that. We don't want a repeat of Ardent." Caelus interjected
"You have a point..." Dante accepted. "Well then, Caelus, something has been bothering me. Just where the hell is Stella?"
"About that..." Caelus' expression shifts as well
"Wait before you answer," Elise cut in, "what exactly is Stella?"
"Stella is a sword forged from ore obtained from a meteorite—one that landed around when Caelus was born." Dante answered
"Why's that last bit important?" Elise continued her questions
"Because it was forged by Caelus' dad, Gerald Aran, a man many a Magnarian would call the best smith in the kingdom."
"Oh?!"
"It's said to be akin to a Legendary Grade sword. Like the Sword of the Winds and the All-Rending Blade of the Vampire Incursion. Now, Caelus," Dante shifted focus, "where's the sword?"
Caelus looked towards the window.
"...It's broken."
Dante stared at him.
"Broken?"
"The blade got broken in half..."
"How?!" Mira asked as she leaned forward
"Remember two years ago..." Caelus started explaining. "How we departed from Magnaria?"
Dante and Mira nodded slowly.
"To get out of the city, I had to fight the old man..." Caelus let out a dry laugh. "That's how it broke..."
Dante's expression shifted immediately.
"The old man, as in Sir Snorri?"
"Who else?" Caelus nodded
"You mentioned him earlier," Elise chimed in, "the former Grand Holy Knight of Magnaria, right?"
"One of the strongest warriors I've ever laid eyes on." Dante added. "Is there really no way to fix Stella?"
Caelus stared into the distant landscape.
"Not any I can think of. But Dad did leave me some remaining ore from the meteorite. And he told me that he originally came here from Valtheron. It could mean that I have relatives that have the capabilities to repair Stella."
"Not much we can do now then." Dante muttered
"Continent-crossing will have to wait until all of us are back together."
"You don't mean..."
"Yeah, the Celestial Blades." Caelus confirmed. "We can talk on that later."
Elise just sat there, staring at Caelus.
"I never would have guessed that you're a smith's son, Caelus."
"What about it?"
Elise's face flushed.
"I just guessed that since you were a knight, you were probably some noble family's son."
He let out a laugh.
"Oh, that's priceless."
"What... I've heard of some nobles retreating to towns such as Willowstead." Elise continued, twiddling her fingers in embarrassment
"Maybe I should've introduced myself properly when we first met. Caelus Aran, former knight, resident helper and humble son of a blacksmith."
"You're enjoying this way too much..."
"Absolutely." he chuckled
"Stop teasing the poor girl, Caelus." Mira interrupted
"Alright." Caelus agreed
The conversation eventually drifted away from Stella, though it took considerable effort to stop Caelus and Dante from arguing who had been the more troublesome knight during their service in Magnaria. During this time, Dorian left the passenger cabin and joined the driver at the front.
Elise, who had been listening with an ever active curiosity, leaned forward once more.
"Dante, you mentioned your family is from another kingdom. So what exactly were you doing in Magnaria?"
Dante straightened slightly, though the movement made him wince.
"Since you asked, I suppose I should properly introduce myself."
He placed a hand on his chest.
"My name is Dante Piero Corvolegno, travelling knight of Marittimo, hailing from the Kingdom of Granavale."
He gave an exaggerated bow from his seat.
Caelus immediately snickered.
"Still dramatic as ever."
"Oh, shut it. I'm trying to keep up an image."
He continued.
"My family has served the Marittimo family of Granavale for generations. I was originally sent to Lucestione to study under one of the family's branch houses to gain some experience beyond my homeland."
"And you ended up in Magnaria?" Elise asked
"Yes. I heard stories about the strength of their Holy Knights. I wanted to test myself."
Caelus rested his cheek against his hand as he glanced at the both of them.
"Don't start." Dante muttered
"I didn't say anything." Caelus replied
"I will say it's good that I met Caelus and joined the Blades. My swordsmanship definitely benefited."
"But you're forgetting one crucial detail."
Dante's eyes narrowed.
"Caelus."
"So I can't talk about your beloved princess?"
Dante's face flushed immediately.
"Shut up!"
"He won't want to talk on it too much, but she's why he wants to become a better knight." Caelus whispers into Elise's ear
"Whatever he's telling you isn't true..." Dante muttered in a quiet voice
Mira burst into laughter once more.
Elise couldn't hold back her giggles.
Dante sank into his seat, looking like he was seriously considering if the carriage had enough room for him to throw Caelus out of it.
"I swear I'm going to kill you one day."
"You have to recover first."
"Bastard."
Caelus grinned. The tension that hung over their conversation since Dante woke up now appeared non-existent. For all the years that had passed and all the things that had changed, some parts of their friendship remained exactly as they had been. Elise watched them with a smile. The Celestial Blades, the legendary knights that once stood unrivalled in Tiravel, were now just simple friends reuniting after two years apart.
The carriage continued along the western road, leaving the last of Ardentia's outlying settlements behind. Outside, the landscape gradually opened into rolling field and wooded hills. The road was much quieter than the main routes, though they occasionally passed merchants, travellers and adventurer parties heading in the opposite direction. For the first time in day, the world seemed truly serene.
Mira watched the scenery pass by for a while before speaking.
"Y'know, I've been thinking. When we get back to Willowstead, we should all register with the Adventurer's Guild."
Elise blinked.
"That doesn't sound unreasonable." Dante said in consideration
"Nope." Caelus immediately shot it down
"Why not, Caelus?" Elise asked
"Look, you guys can do that if you want. But now, in my life, I'm not looking for stuff like that. I just want to lay low for the moment."
"Think of all the jobs we could do. It'd keep our lives active." Mira spoke, trying to reinforce her point
"I'll consider it at another time, Mira, but definitely not now."
"Alright then..." Mira replied, barely masking her disappointment
As the afternoon hours wore on, they continued conversing. They discussed whether or not Caelus could hold a regular line of work, their plans for Willowstead and what to show Dante and Mira in Eldralis after Dante recovers. Eventually, the sun began to sink into the horizon. Dorian came back into the passenger cabin.
"We'll have to stop soon. There's a clearing up ahead. Should be good for a small camp."
"It's been that long already?" Mira asks as she glances outside
"I suppose time passes quickly when you're having fun." Elise said
"I guess so." Dante chuckled
"We'll continue from sunrise." Dorian added
The carriage slowed as the road widened beside a grassy clearing. A few other travellers had already settled in the area, their carts arranged in a loose circle around several small fires. Dorian stepped down first, followed by Caelus and Mira supporting Dante as he descended from the carriage. He closed his eyes as a way to hide his embarrassment. Elise was the last to step down and helped setting up the bedding.
While the rest of the party set up camp, Mira took a chance to wander around the other camps. Amongst them, she saw a middle-aged woman organising what seemed like herbs. Not long after, she returned to their camp with the lady, who began examining Dante.
"Who is this lady again, if you don't mind repeating?" Caelus probed
"Her name is Victoria," Mira said, "She's a travelling apothecary. Thankfully, she agreed to look at Dante."
The woman knelt beside him, running fingers along his arms and face, sometimes poking.
"Well, Mr Dante, was it?" Victoria started
"Yes?"
"To be frank with you, your body is severely exhausted. Not only that, you're also showing some minor signs of malnutrition. You'll need at least three months of rest before you should consider returning to any major physical activity."
Dante stared down.
"Dammit." he muttered
Victoria reached into her satchel and took out several packets of dried herbs.
"These should aid your recovery. Brew them into tea once a day, and make sure to have it with proper meals."
"Yes ma'am."
"Alright, how much do we owe you?" Mira asked, reaching for her purse
"Nothing."
Mira blinked.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I feel like I should be kind to you young adventurers." she follows up with a wink
"Thank you very much," Dante spoke with nothing but gratitude, "I won't forget this."
"Thank you. Remember what I told you, young man."
She packed her supplies and returned to her wagon after exchanging some more words with Mira.
"Three months..." Dante ruminated over those words
"I recommend you pick up a new hobby. It makes it go by faster" Caelus adds
"I suppose."
"That is weirdly good advice from you." Mira chimed in
"It's too late to antagonise me, don't you think?" Caelus asks
"Never."
They had all taken up the bedding set out for them, whether in the clearing or in the carriage.
The next two days passed far more peacefully than expected. The group travelled along winding country roads, passing through quiet settlements and open fields where tall grass swayed with the breeze. They encountered several merchants, some heading to Ardent, as well as groups of adventurers returning from expeditions.
Occasionally, they spotted monsters wandering through the countryside. Most of the horned behemoths paid the travellers little attention, with the few that were interested being easily discouraged from the mana emitted around the carriage. Caelus was perfectly fine leaving them be, with Dorian and Mira keeping a watchful eye. To the surprise of most of the group, Elise found the horned behemoths endearing and cute, with Dante agreeing with her reasoning and Caelus behaving as if he's heard similar takes before.
Dante kept up with Victoria's prescription, consistently drinking the herbal tea despite complaining about the taste, which was typically followed by Mira or Caelus asking if he'd rather have booze instead.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity away, the familiar outline of Willowstead appeared in the distance.
"There it is!" Elise called out
"Home at last." Caelus sighed contently
"Willowstead..." Mira muttered as she leaned towards the window
The town looked just as it had been when they left, as if time froze the buildings circling around the town square. Compared to the chaos in Ardent, it's modest streets seemed almost unreal. Elise could barely hide the smile on her face.
The carriage rolled through the town's entrance, making a way toward many familiar streets, stopping around Patisserie Ashfield. As soon as the doors opened, Elise practically leapt out.
"We're finally back!" she announced, voice filled with glee
Caelus climbed out after her, supporting Dante as he did so.
"If anything, a long journey makes you appreciate home a lot."
Mira stepped down next, stretching her arms above her head.
"So where's Dante staying?" she asked
"I thought he was just gonna stay with me." Caelus answered
"Are you sure?" Dante raised an eyebrow
"Well, yeah, I've been letting Mira stay so I don't see the problem in adding you."
"I seem to remember you complaining for at least three days." Mira grumbled, folding her arms
"Take it as a sign of my hospitality."
"By telling me I was taking space?"
"It's how I make you feel at home."
Elise and Dante laughed in near-synchronisation.
"Some things never change." Dante says, wiping tears from his eyes
"I'm honestly gonna look into buying a house at this point." Mira grumbled
"I could help if you'd like." Elise offered
"We'll see." Mira replied
"So see you tomorrow, Elise?" Caelus asked
"Yeah." she replied with a smile
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Willowstead as the group began to part ways. Mira and Elise exchanged a few more words as Caelus and Dante began making way towards Caelus' home. Caelus' guess as to what the two ladies were discussing is that Mira wanted Elise to register as an adventurer. Not long after, Mira re-joined Caelus and Dante, as the streets of Willowstead settled into their usual afternoon rhythm.
As they arrived at Caelus' home, Mira helped Dante settle in as Caelus went to his room. Caelus opened a chest in the corner of the room, containing some damaged armour and other items. He pulled out a hilt and a broken blade, just letting his eyes settle on them. His thoughts drifted to his father, his family, everything that led him to this point. He could only wonder what awaited him in the future.