The morning sun glimmered softly across the rooftops of Veilden as the Kind Heroes stepped through the doors of the adventurer's guild. The scent of wood polish and parchment greeted them, followed by the rising hum of conversation turning into cheers.
"They're back! The Kind Heroes!"
Adventurers of all ranks crowded around, some clapping, others nodding in admiration. Word had already spread through town – Arriel, Lira, Kell, and Mirable had successfully slain the A-rank monster, Flamehorn Drakar.
Guildmaster Halma, a broad-shouldered woman with a perpetually serious face, emerged from the back office, arms crossed. She walked toward them, her boots echoing through the hall.
"I heard the whole tale," Halma said with a small, rare smile. "You four fought an A-rank monster and lived to tell the tale. That's no small feat."
She gestured to a staff member, who quickly returned with a heavy pouch of coins.
"Fifteen thousand Git. Earned with sweat and skill."
Arriel accepted the pouch with a polite nod. "Thank you, Guildmaster."
Halma motioned toward the wooden plaque wall to the left of the hall. "And from today onward, your party is officially recognized for A-rank quests."
An assistant hammered a new plaque onto the wall, freshly inscribed: **Kind Heroes**.
Mirable squinted at it, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Kind Heroes, huh... sounds like we open soup kitchens in our spare time."
Lira elbowed her playfully. "Better than Kell's first idea, 'Death Blades of Kindness.'"
"Hey," Kell protested, "it was balanced."
Laughter eased the tension of the past days, and they left the guild with light hearts and heavy pockets.
---
The next morning, the house was filled with the smell of fried eggs and toasted bread. The four of them sat around the breakfast table, enjoying the calm.
Kell unfolded the newspaper with dramatic flair. "Alright, listen to this. Headline news:"
**THEODOR'S GENERAL ARMY DEFEATED BY PEOPLE'S REBEL ARMY**
Arriel paused mid-bite. Lira blinked. Mirable calmly sipped her tea.
Kell continued, reading aloud with rising interest. "After months of unrest and organized rebellion, the last of Theodor's loyalist generals have surrendered. The people of Theodor have elected a new ruler: Elizabeth, a royal descendant, now Queen Elizabeth, age 19."
He whistled. "Nineteen. That's younger than us."
"Barely," Lira murmured.
Kell flipped the page. "Get this: Prince Vanhil of Mirdia publicly endorsed her rule and promised support in rebuilding Theodor. Supplies, soldiers, and political recognition."
Arriel leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "That's fast. Didn't we just return from Theodor a few weeks ago?"
"More like they were just waiting for the dominoes to fall," Lira said. "Vanhil moves fast when it matters."
Mirable placed her cup down. "You all act surprised. You really thought humanitarian relief was just about handing out bread and blankets?"
Kell squinted at her. "You're way too calm about regime change."
She shrugged. "I read a lot."
Arriel watched her for a moment, then chuckled. "It's not just books you read, huh?"
She just smiled.
---
After breakfast, the group prepared for the day. As they left the house, Kell turned to Arriel.
"Do you think we played a small part in this? Helping Eryna, the information we dug up..."
Arriel nodded slowly. "Maybe not a big part. But someone noticed."
"I think," Lira said as she tied her boots, "this is only the beginning."
The streets of Veilden bustled with activity, but the Kind Heroes walked with quiet purpose. The winds of change were blowing through the continent – and they would not be left behind.