After the battle had ended, Dorian, Kael, and Julian were found by the army sent by the mayor of Driftwood Village. Word of the massive disturbance in the Dark Woods had reached the village, and soldiers were dispatched immediately.
What they found was not a battlefield,
But devastation.
The land was torn apart, the forest reduced to ruin.
And at its center lay three figures.
Two unconscious.
One of them tho....
Unconscious forever.
The soldiers carefully carried them back to the village.
Upon arrival, Kael and Julian were taken to the village's community healing center, where healers worked tirelessly to stabilize them.
As for Dorian,
Preparations for his funeral began immediately, under the mayor's orders.
A few hours later...
Kael and Julian awoke.
Silently, the two rose from their beds. Their bodies ached, wrapped in layers of bandages, but neither spoke of pain.
Without a word, they walked toward the door.
Kael pushed it open.
A fresh breeze entered the room.
Sunlight followed.
Outside..
People had gathered.
Villagers froze as they saw the two emerge.
Then came the murmurs.
"Are they the same knights?"
"They're so young…"
"Did they really defeat the dragon?"
"I heard they're students from Magnus Academy…"
The whispers spread like wildfire.
Then,
A small voice cut through the noise.
A little girl stepped forward.
She was a young girl, no older than six, with soft almond-colored hair framing her small face and eyes filled with quiet innocence. A purple bow was tied neatly at the back of her head, and her long frock, purple with gentle white accents, fluttered softly with each step she took.
She looked at Kael and Julian, her eyes wide with curiosity as she noticed the bandages covering their bodies.
"Are you… the heroes who defeated the mean dragon?"
Kael looked at her.
For a moment,
The battlefield flashed in his mind.
Then he smiled softly.
"Yes," he said gently. "The three of us defeated the dragon."
The girl's eyes sparkled.
"Wow! Where is the third one, sir?"
Kael paused.
Julian turned his face away, clenching his fists.
Kael let out a quiet breath.
He placed his hand on the girl's head and gently patted it.
"He's taking a long rest… somewhere far away."
A bittersweet smile rested on his face.
The girl looked up at him, the sunlight behind him hiding parts of his expression.
She hesitated, then asked softly..
"How was he?"
Kael went silent.
Then he answered,
"He was the bravest… and the strongest among us."
"Kaira! There you are!, are you bothering the knights?"
A refined voice called out.
Kael and Julian looked up.
An elderly man approached.
He had a slender, dignified build, a neatly groomed mustache, and wore golden-framed glasses. His gray hair was parted cleanly to the side, and he was dressed in a formal black suit with subtle purple accents, paired with a white shirt and a bowtie.
The villagers bowed slightly as he passed.
The girl ran toward him, and he gently lifted her into his arms.
Kael stepped forward and bowed gracefully, his left hand resting over his stomach, his right behind his back.
"I am Kael Dravenheart of the Dravenheart family, a trainee of Magnus Academy. I greet the mayor."
Julian followed.
"I am Julian Grates of the Grates family, also a trainee of Magnus Academy. I greet the mayor."
The old man chuckled softly.
"There is no need for such formality, young sirs," he said warmly. "If anything, I should be the one bowing to you."
He inclined his head respectfully.
"I am Gurtrud Strage, of the Strage family, mayor of this town."
His voice softened.
"And… a friend of the man you lost."
Silence fell between them.
"I thank you," he continued, "for saving Driftwood Village. And I mourn with you… for your loss."
Kael nodded quietly.
Julian said nothing.
"We are preparing for his funeral," Gurtrud added. "Please, rest… or explore the village as you wish."
With that, he bowed slightly and made his way toward the preparations.
Kael glanced at Julian.
The cheerful boy from before,
Was gone.
In his place stood someone quieter.
Heavier.
Kael placed a hand on Julian's shoulder.
"My friend," he said softly, "this… is the weight of the sword."
Julian remained silent.
Kael continued,
"It is the path I've chosen to walk."
He paused.
"If you choose not to walk it with me… I will understand."
The breeze passed between them.
"This weight… is not meant for everyone."
Kael gave a faint smile.
"But it was an honor to fight beside you."
Julian nodded.
Silently.
"Um… excuse me…"
They looked down.
The little girl stood there again.
She straightened herself and spoke politely.
"Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Jasper Strage… I'm the mayor's granddaughter."
She lifted the edges of her dress slightly and bowed, imitating noble etiquette.
Then she looked up at them, hopeful.
"Would you… like a tour of the village?"
A gentle breeze passed through.
Kael's hair shifted slightly in the wind.
He smiled.
Then he knelt on one knee.
"Of course, my lady," he said warmly. "It would be an honor."
Her face lit up instantly.
She turned around and pointed excitedly toward a path paved with worn stone bricks.
"Then let's go!"