It took them months to find their way back home. None of them had expected it to take so long, some had left, not fully expecting to come back at all. The plains and mountains they once crossed almost effortlessly now felt like a herculean task to stroll on. Thankfully, one in their party remained relatively unscathed to guide them back across the mountain corridors he’d grown up in, else they likely would have died already.


    The other two, while grievously injured, survived, and day by day they improved. The magician struggled for a while to control herself, her hands blasted apart the skin peeled and flayed from her arms. But slowly, she began to recenter herself, her magic slowly returning and repairing with time. The worst among them, his limbs destroyed or torn free, remained the jolliest of the group. Even as splitting pain washed over him in endless waves, he’d always find some joke to tell or stupid comment to make.


    And so they crossed the mountains and plains in reverse, grew closer and closer to a home they’d thought they left behind. When first they recovered well enough to travel, they weren’t sure what to do now. Their quest was completed, they didn’t know what to do now. It was finally the most injured member of their party who ruddered their ship back toward home, eager to see his family again. The other two, lacking any real purpose now, agreed without much hesitation.


    So, it came that they returned to Morsel. Lana, Leopold, and Rick felt nervous passing the large gates into town. As the sun shone overhead, casting a warmth they were still getting reacquainted with, they braced themselves to be arrested. Rushed by guards and forced to slink away into the shadows and hide as they tried to hunt down Leopold’s family so they could flee. Instead, as they took shaky step after shaky step into the city, their identification verified by nervous-looking watchmen at the front gate, a silence seemed to fall upon the town.


    All eyes turned upon them. The three supposed it made sense. They were battle-damaged and coated in filth. Tense and frozen, surrounded by dozens upon dozens upon dozens of people the three readied themselves to run or fight as needed. As the tension reached a boiling point, Rick beginning to inch to the side to try and sneak himself out of sight best he could, in preparation for his escape, the crowd exploded.


    “Alert his Majesty!”


    “THE LIGHTBRINGERS!”


    “They’ve come home!”


    “Look at them! Call someone fast!”


    Cheers erupted from everywhere as the mob closed in on the group. Suddenly, the three found themselves forced to shake hands and receive thanks from utter strangers or hear worried cries over their injuries. As the sudden impromptu celebration continued, the three were forced from the city gates into the heart of the town as they were paraded about. Booming laughter could be heard as Leopold’s joy echoed all around.


    “I told you they’d love us!” He shouted next to him, a smug grin on his face as he eyed Lana and Rick. The two could only sigh in annoyance, forced to endure his growing laughter as they were welcomed back into Morsel.


    <hr>


    They were rewarded handsomely by his majesty and his court. The three had certainly seen some sour faces as they sat kneeling before the king. They felt certain those were people still upset they broke the law sneaking away when the sky was missing, or perhaps people whose plans they ruined with the sudden return of the sky. The world of political schemes and underdealing was not of much concern to them. That was why all three were extremely happy with the generous monetary compensation promised to them. Enough to keep them from having to work lifetimes over, without any mention of a noble title or responsibility.


    Perhaps it was the way nobles who still felt spiteful towards them intended to keep them out of the court. Perhaps the king simply felt he couldn’t trust them, viewed them as troublemakers. They were technically fugitives soon as they began their journey. They didn’t particularly care. They were more than happy to stay well clear of the political and simply bask in the fame and riches brought to them by their sudden journey.


    Well, one of them was at least. Reunited with his family, the injured Leopold would spend his days at home, relaxing with his wife and daughter. His nights, though, those he spent roaming the streets, moving from tavern to tavern. Not because he particularly desired to get drunk. That was simply a nice perk. No, he was simply always summoned, always asked to retell the tale of his adventure, or the story of his missing arm, or describe the missing hero not present within the trio.


    He was happy to abide by the people and give them what they wanted. For a time at least. He was starting to grow bored now. He missed his duties as a guard and the time spent in the wilds. Much as he loved his family and loved every second spent with them, something was just missing. He guessed that constantly recalling the glory days wasn’t helping him much either. A sigh escaped him as he walked down the street, lost in thought as he aimlessly wandered the darkened backstreets, desperate to be alone, unrecognized.


    … farming. Maybe he should try his hand at farming. A slight smile crossed his face. He had the money for the land. And it could be nice. Somewhere quiet with his family, somewhere he wouldn’t be recognized. Somewhere, he could move on. Farming. Sounded better every moment.


    As Leopold stepped forward through the backstreets, a new determination in his heart and his head held high, elsewhere by the front gate the other two famed heroes of Morsel were saying goodbye.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for him? I can call him quickly, he wouldn’t take long to get here…” Lana said, glancing over her shoulder behind her as she fidgeted a bit.


    “No,” Rick said, voice serious. He stood clad in his same cloak, a new bag full of supplies draped over his shoulder. “Please don’t. Every time I’ve tried to leave so far he’s always stopped me. Always takes me to the side for a drink or to see his family. He hasn’t said it yet, but I can tell. He doesn’t want me to go.”


    “I don’t want you to go either, you know…” she whispered, voice quiet and almost incomprehensible. Rick smiled at her, eyes sad and almost empty, before he said,


    “I have to go. They’re still out there somewhere. Dead and rotting, maybe, or shuffling around hidden in the shadows. I can’t just leave them. The sky may be back, but the dead are still walking.”


    She stood quiet after that, still and unmoving as she watched him adjust the oversized pack on his back. A small smile on his face, sad and lacking something. He put his hand on her shoulder before adding,


    “You know I can’t stop. You know why I can’t stop.” She paused, wanting to refute his claims, but found himself unable to. Biting her tongue a bit, she could only nod her understanding. Watch as he pulled away, ready to leave the city behind and return to the wilds.


    Yet he paused a moment, his gaze cast behind her locked to the newly installed sculpture, the kind that had been ordered upon their return. “The Hero’s Triumph”. Four figures stood victorious, their features clear and easily read. His own face, skinny and gaunt, made him scowl a bit. But that was not what drew his attention. It was the central figure, who stood clutching an orb above his head. His features were clear and perfect despite nearly no one having met him. That was because this was the fourth version of “The Hero’s Triumph” to exist.


    The others were all destroyed after the three heroes raised hell about the inaccuracies of the carving. They would go to great lengths to ensure the central figure looked accurate and was modeled properly. Went around making sure everyone knew that though he may not be present now, he’d served a key role in seeing the sky returned above. The Missing Hero.


    Rick smiled a bit as he met Jake’s carved face. They got the eyes wrong. He didn’t look nearly scared enough. Still. It would have to do. Turning around now as he walked quickly through the gate, Rick stared at the sky overhead. At midday, the sun hid behind some clouds. He could faintly hear the birds chirping in the distance and feel the wind blowing his hair free from his face. A beautiful day. He thought back to Jake’s departure. Sudden and intractable, they’d all wondered where he’d come from, where he’d go next. Now, though, all he could do was hope he was happy. Hope he managed to find peace. Setting off toward the mountains far off in the distance, he realized truly how important it was to find peace.


    Lana watched him walk away for a bit, her hands pressed tight together as best they could before a slow sigh escaped her. She couldn’t stop him from going. She had no right to stop him from chasing his obsession. Not after he followed her into the depths of hell for hers. She just wished she could be more helpful to him now.


    Turning away, she walked with her head hung low. She wasn’t sure what to do now. The past few months following their return, she’d spent all her time with either Leopold or Rick. But Rick was gone now, left to hunt what was left of The Swarm. And Rick was close to leaving. She could tell, could see the growing resentment for the city growing in his eyes. She’d seen it before when he left Largo. What he’d do now, where he’d go next, she couldn’t say. But she knew he wouldn’t be here long.


    And then there was her. What should she do now? Her hands lay broken. Slowly, they got better, patching themselves together into something almost usable. But she doubted she’d ever really be whole again. But that was fine. She could live with that. What still hurt was the loneliness. She thought it would get better if she managed to live out his wish, managed to put the sky back where it belongs. Became the hero he imagined her as. But it didn’t matter. He was still gone. They were both still gone.


    She froze, lost in thought, her feet had carried her here again. Sinking low to her knees, a tearful cry escaped her. Knelt before his grave, she couldn’t keep it in anymore.


    “Calvin… Will… what do I do now?”


    Her cries filled the cemetery as her tears fell heavy on the dirt below. She wished she could just die, just lie down and shrivel up and finally be with them. Left alone, she might just do that. Just give up till she can finally be reunited. The thought began to creep into her mind. She could think of nothing else to do. Saw no future for herself. Curled against the soft dirt of his grave, she felt a sudden hand grip her shoulder.


    “Thought you might be her, Lala.”


    She turned and glanced up to see Leopold smiling down at her. She said nothing, just let her tears continue to flow. He let her cry and didn’t try to stop her. Simply held her, comforted her as she wept.


    “Did he finally leave?” Leopold finally asked as she began to calm down, her tears dying off to light sniffles, “Been sending him hints for weeks. Took him long enough to go!” Despite his words, she heard the sadness in his voice.


    “Listen, Lala. I’ve been thinking. I’m going to buy a farm. A real nice one!” He sounded excited as he made this announcement, but Lana felt her stomach drop as her fears were confirmed. Alone again.


    “Problem is, though I’m worse than useless now, what with…” He gestured vaguely toward his missing arm, tone conveying a vague sense of annoyance rather than any real sense of loss, “So I’ve been thinking how bout you come with me! Could always use a good farm hand since… You know… I don’t have one!” He let out a booming laugh as he fell back a bit, coming to rest sitting beside her.


    She was in shock for a moment, unsure what to say. Finally, her voice returned to her.


    “What good would I be?! I don’t know how to farm. Besides, my hands aren’t any better!” Despite her pleas, there was a hopeful desperation in her voice that Leopold didn’t fail to pick up on.


    “Two messed-up hands are still better than no hands at all! Besides, not like I don''t know how to farm! It’ll be fun, a family project for us all! Come on, the wife and I would love to have you!” He stood up now with some difficulty, before brushing himself off and offering his remaining hand toward her,


    “Come with us, Lala!”


    She sat, frozen a moment before finally reaching out to grab hold of him, letting herself be pulled forward. Pulled upright into the future.


    <hr>


    Jake and Alice landed in a vast open meadow. Looking around, there was practically nothing around them at all. Just sprawling fields of grass as far as either could see, rippling in the wind.


    “Kinda boring…” Jake said, reaching up to scratch his head.


    “I don’t know!” Alice said as she strolled forward a bit, before turning back and offering him her hand, “I think it’s nice, peaceful!”


    A smile growing across his face, Jake moved forward to grab hold of her hand as they began to march amongst the fields, hand in hand.