Kingsland Arc Chapter: 39
The heavy, oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon lifted as the Shadow Legionnaire finally vanished. The suffocating bloodlust and the chill of malevolent magic faded,
"With each step toward the cave's mouth, the heavy air thinned, replaced by the faint scent of moss and distant rain. When they finally broke into open night, stars blinked overhead—a silent welcome the dungeon had long denied."
replaced by the familiar, damp air of the cave. Ronin, his body reverting from its demonic state, felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He collapsed to his knees, his muscles screaming in protest, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Everyone else was in a similar state, their weapons clattering to the ground as they sank to the floor, panting. The silence was deafening, broken only by their heavy breathing.
Freya: "Let's take a moment. We need to rest before heading back to the capital."
The group took refuge against a cold stone wall. The tension that had held them captive for so long finally broke, replaced by a wave of relief. Chou, Rafaela, and Yue Xin rushed to Ronin's side, pulling him into a group hug.
Chou: "I'm so sorry, Ron. We thought you were… gone."
"If you try dying again, I'll kill you myself," Chou muttered, but his arms tightened protectively around Ronin
Freya joined them, a rare, genuine smile on her face. "We are all so glad to see you're safe."I hope the capital has a bath. I can smell three battles on you, Ron," she teased—a rare warmth flickering in her eyes.
Kaelen: "But seriously, how did you survive? We saw the whole dungeon collapse. We all thought you were dead."
Ronin chose his words carefully, hiding the truth of his fight with Astinkein's hunters and Saber's true form. He bowed his head, pretending to look humble. "I honestly don't know how I survived. It must have been a miracle. I didn't encounter any strong monsters, and I had them..." He gestured to Saber (still in his cat form) and Luna, the shadow wolf. "...by my side. It wasn't that hard with their help."
Luna padded forward, her tongue rough against Ronin's hand, while Saber, in cat form, curled at his feet and rumbled a contented purr.
A few of his friends exchanged knowing glances. They sensed he was holding back, but they chose to respect his privacy. The unspoken acceptance was a comfort to him.
Ronin. "He stood, dusting himself off, tension easing from his tired shoulders. His eyes, rimmed with tears but bright with hope, met each of his friends as he bowed deeply."
his friends. "I'm sorry for all the trouble. And thank you, everyone, for risking your lives to rescue me."
Kaelen: "There's no need for thanks, Ronin. We would have done the same for anyone else in our group. So stop talking and start walking. We still have to get out of this place."
As the group headed toward the dungeon's exit, a deep-seated guilt gnawed at Ronin. He had revealed his demonic power to his friends, but there was still a part of him that was a stranger to them. He'd kept his true identity a secret for so long, and now, with the weight of the battle and Lamus's injury, he couldn't keep his silence.
He stopped, his heart pounding in his chest.
Flashes of memory threatened to surface—the cold eyes of the Legionnaire, the echo of his own monstrous roar. Had his power scared them as much as it scared him?
Rafaela (noticing his hesitation): "What happened, Ron? Are you hurt?"
Ronin stuttered, the words catching in his throat. "I'm… I'm sorry. I hid the truth about my demonic powers from you all. Please, forgive me. I can explain how I got them, if you'll just—"
Rafaela cut him off with a gentle touch on his arm. "There's no need for you to explain anything, Ron. We don't want to know who you are, or where you come from. You are our friend, and you will always be our friend. Right, Yue Xin?"
Yue Xin nodded, a soft smile on her face. "Yes. And thank you, for saving me. For saving all of us. It doesn't matter what kind of power you have, what matters is how you use it. We are sure that you will always use it for good, and to protect others from evil."
"You've shined brighter than any of us tonight," she added softly.
Chou nodded. "You're stuck with us, face and fangs included."
Tears welled up in Ronin's eyes and spilled down his cheeks. He had been so afraid of this moment, terrified that his friends would hate him or abandon him because of his cursed lineage. Instead, they had offered him unconditional acceptance.
Ronin: "Thank you, everyone. I… I don't know what to say."
As they resumed their walk toward the exit, a new lightness filled Ronin's step. He wasn't alone. He wasn't a monster. He was their friend, and that was all that mattered.
Eventually, the cool, fresh air of the surface hit their faces. They had survived, and they were home.
"He walked in step with the others, heart lighter than it had been for years. Maybe tomorrow, he'd stop hiding. Maybe tomorrow, the world would see the friend his friends knew."