The road back to Veilden was uneventful, but the silence between the three heroes felt heavier than ever. Arriel, Lira, and Kell sat in the hovertruck, watching the countryside blur past. Their minds remained on the mission, on the elf girls they couldn't save directly, and on the unsettling presence of Commander Elle and her team.
When they finally arrived home, the warm sight of their modest house brought a strange mixture of relief and unease. The moment they stepped through the door, Lira's eyes swept across the space instinctively, as though expecting to find Eryna resting on the couch with a gentle smile.
But the house was empty.
Before they could say a word, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
A messenger stood outside, bearing the royal crest of the East Province.
"Royal Governor Klein requests your presence at once. It concerns your... house guest."
Without waiting, they rushed to Klein's mansion.
---
Klein met them in his study, pacing with a furrowed brow. For once, he didn't greet them with his usual sarcasm or teasing. His face was solemn.
"She's gone," he said simply.
Lira blinked. "Eryna?"
Klein nodded. "A group of military personnel came. All Heroes. They said they were ordered to escort her back to the Azalea Kingdom."
Arriel's eyes narrowed. "Did they say who gave the order?"
"No," Klein replied. "But they carried royal documents. Everything was... in order. I couldn't stop them even if I wanted to."
Kell asked the question none of them dared say aloud. "Did they hurt her?"
"No. They were surprisingly gentle. Spoke to her respectfully. Even apologized for disturbing her. She left with them willingly."
Lira exhaled, shoulders loosening slightly. "Then... maybe she really is being taken home."
Klein nodded. "That's the only comfort I can offer. I thought you deserved to know."
As they walked out of the mansion, none of them spoke for several minutes. The air felt strangely still, like the moment after a storm passes but before the sun breaks through.
Back at their house, Lira sat down quietly. Arriel leaned against the wall, arms folded. Kell flopped into a chair and muttered, "I guess that's that."
Arriel looked at the empty seat near the window where Eryna had once sat.
"I hope she's safe."
---
Three days passed. The house slowly settled into its routine again, though the absence of Eryna remained like a missing breath.
On the fourth morning, Kell burst into the kitchen with a newspaper rolled tightly in his hand.
"Hey! Guys! You're not gonna believe this!"
Lira raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
Kell slapped the newspaper onto the table and pointed to the massive front-page headline.
"THEODOR'S SLAVERY RING DEFEATED – MASTERMIND CAPTURED!"
Arriel leaned in. Kell read aloud:
"Hundreds of elf girls rescued from an underground slave auction in Theodor. Among them were survivors from border villages of the Azalea Kingdom. Authorities now possess solid proof linking several royal descendants and government officials to the slave trade."
Lira's hands clenched into fists. "They did it…"
Kell continued, flipping the page.
"Kingdom of Azalea Issues Ultimatum: Release All Remaining Captives or Face War!"
"Theodor's People Revolt – Peaceful Protests Turn Violent!"
"Civil Unrest Deepens – Theodor on Brink of Collapse!"
Arriel stared at the words. "So that's why they came for Eryna…"
Lira nodded slowly. "She must have been among the key evidence. A living witness. That's why Commander Elle moved so quickly. It wasn't just about removing us from the picture… It was about securing the narrative."
Kell leaned back in his chair, whistling. "Well... at least they're safe. That's all that matters in the end."
Lira frowned. "It matters. But it still stings."
Arriel looked up at her. "We helped. Even if no one knows it."
She gave a small smile. "Yeah. I guess we did."
---
After finishing breakfast, the three of them decided to head out. It had been a while since they last took a proper quest.
As they walked through the now-familiar streets of Veilden, townspeople waved, some calling out their names.
"Morning, Hero Arriel!"
"Hey, Miss Lira, thanks again for the healing spell last time!"
"Kell! You still owe me that drink!"
Kell laughed. "I swear they all love us more now."
Arriel chuckled. "They do. It's... strange."
Lira gave a soft sigh. "It's also pressure. But I'm glad we helped."
The three entered the Adventurer's Guild. The quest board awaited.
Arriel stepped up. "Let's see what the world wants from us today."
Lira glanced at him. "Hopefully something simple."
Kell snorted. "It never is."