ã€ŠStill No Peaceã€‹


 Chapter 1: Retirement

    Lucas POV

    The crunch of snow as I stepped out of the carriage was oddly satisfying. The chill bit at my face, but I didn''t mind. This little town, tucked into the mountains and blanketed in white, was perfect. It wasn''t bustling like a city, but it wasn''t a ghost town either. Decent folk, plenty of trade passing through, it felt alive without being overwhelming.

    Just what I needed. Just what we needed.

    My wives and I plan on laying low here for a while. So let me introduce you to them.

    Harper Silver was just a bit taller than me, with wavy black hair and striking purple eyes. On the other hand, Ramona Silver was slightly shorter than me, with blonde hair and green eyes.

    Harper was busy directing the movers, her breath puffing in the cold air, while Ramona wandered toward the garden plot, already muttering about what she could plant come spring. I smiled, letting the moment settle into me. We made our way to the house, a small, stone building with 2 floors and 4 bedrooms. We thought about using the 3 extra rooms for guests or future kids, but those kinds of thoughts are for another time.

    No more battles, no more demons, no more heroes fighting each other for power. Just peace. For once, I could finally relax.

    I helped with the moving, and after about an hour or so, everything was done, and it was just us relaxing on the couch. Harper and Ramona settled next to me, I closed my eyes and relaxed. Maybe, just maybe, I could finally retire from the world that had demanded so much from me.

    <hr>

    I woke up to the soft warmth of the morning sun creeping through the window, the golden light spilling across the room. It was cozy here, peaceful. The weight of the world outside felt miles away. I stretched slowly, feeling the softness of the blankets around me, and then I noticed how cute my wives were as they curled up against me.

    I smiled, feeling that rare kind of calm I''d been longing for. I tried to move, but Harper stirred, tightening her hold on me.

    "Where do you think you''re going?" she mumbled.

    "Just getting up, Harper."

    "No," she whined, nuzzling into me, "Stay. Just a little longer."

    "Hmm, you''re cute without your glasses."

    "Mona, help. He''s trying to distract me."

    "She''s not going to let you up, you know." Mona chimed in.

    "I''m starting to get that feeling...You sure you don''t regret turning down that headmaster position? You always wanted that. The youngest headmaster...pays a lot and you only have to be there for 4 days a week."

    "Luke...I''ve had my fill of responsibilities. I want this," she then gestured to our surroundings, "Besides, we''ve got more than enough money to last a lifetime. Why go looking for stress when I can stay here with you and Harper?"

    <hr>

    The crisp morning air greeted us as we stepped out of the house, the snow crunching under our boots. The sun reflected off the frosty rooftops, giving the town a golden hue. Harper slipped her arm through mine while Mona walked beside us. The diner wasn''t far, nestled near the town square. It had a warm, inviting charm to it, with a wooden sign hanging above the door and a steady stream of locals coming and going. We pushed the door open, and the comforting aroma of fresh coffee and sizzling breakfast filled the air.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    A young waiter approached as we settled into a booth near the window. He looked young, probably not much older than I''d been when I was summoned to this world.

    "Good morning," he greeted, "How''re you all doing today?"

    "We''re doing great, thanks," I replied.

    "You''re new around here, right?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.

    "Yeah," Mona said, "We just moved in."

    "Welcome to the town!" he responded cheerfully, "It''s a nice place, and if you need anything, don''t hesitate to ask."

    The waiter jotted down our drink orders and disappeared into the kitchen. A short while later, he returned, not just with our coffees but with a small plate of what looked to be fried croquettes.

    "This is on the house," he said, setting the plate down in the center of the table, "Just a little welcome gift from us. It''s a local favorite house-made croquettes. Hope you like them."

    "Oh, thank you."

    "No problem. Enjoy now." he said as he left to serve the others.

    <hr>

    After finishing our meal, we sat back, enjoying the warmth of the diner. Just as we were getting ready to leave, a small girl approached our table. She couldn''t have been older than ten, bundled up in a patched coat and a woolen hat that looked too big for her. In her hands, she held a small basket filled with flowers and candies.

    "Excuse me," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Would you like to buy some flowers or candies? They''re not expensive."

    "How much for the flowers?" Mona asked.

    The girl''s eyes lit up.

    "Just a copper coin for 3 flowers," she said, "And the candies are the same."

    "I''ll take 9 of each, and I''ll give you 10 copper." Mona said, "You can keep the change."

    The girl''s hands trembled as she accepted the money, her eyes wide.

    "Thank you so much!" she said, her voice brighter now.

    She handed Mona a small bundle of flowers and a few wrapped candies, bowing her head before hurrying off to try and sell it to the other customers.

    Harper watched her go, her brow furrowed slightly.

    "She''s out here alone? That''s rough."

    I nodded, but there wasn''t much to say. The world hadn''t been kind to everyone, even after the demon lord was gone.

    <hr>

    After brunch, we spent the rest of the day walking around town, taking in the sights, and stocking up on groceries for the week. It felt good to do something so normal, just picking out fresh meat, bread, and vegetables at the market. Harper made it her mission to choose the best cuts of meat, while Mona negotiated prices with the vendors, her sharp tone leaving no room for argument.

    As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, we made our way back home. The path wound through the edge of the forest, the trees casting long shadows over the snow.

    We were close to home until I spotted her, the girl from earlier, crouched in front of a small shed deep in the woods. She was building a fire, her hands moving quickly to stack the wood and strike a spark. Her basket sat nearby, nearly empty. The shed looked run-down, with gaps in the wood and no sign of insulation.

    "Why is she out here?" I muttered, stopping in my tracks.

    Mona and Harper followed my gaze.

    "That''s not right. She shouldn''t be living like that." Harper frowned.

    "I''m going to check on her," I said, stepping off the path, "Can you guys bring the groceries home

    As I approached, the girl noticed me, her eyes going wide with fear. She jumped to her feet, clutching a stick like it was a weapon.

    "Stay back!" she shouted, her voice trembling.

    I held up my hands in what I hoped was a calming gesture.

    "Hey, it''s okay. I''m not here to hurt you. I just saw you out here and wanted to make sure you''re alright. We bought flowers and candy from you earlier, remember? In the diner?"

    "...What do you want?"

    "Nothing. I don''t want anything. Are you here alone?"

    "...Yes."

    "Where are your parents?"

    "They...they left with my brother for the city."

    "...Why?"

    "They said there wasn''t enough for all of us. They said I''d be fine here¡­as long as I sold flowers and candies."

    "How long have you been here by yourself?"

    The girl looked away, refusing to answer.

 Chapter 2: Carter

    Lucas POV

    "I''m Lucas," I said, keeping my voice soft, "My wife Harper is a great cook. She''s probably making something amazing for dinner right now.

    "Why don''t you come to my place? I''ve got a lot of room. It''s warm, and you can join us for dinner. We can help you."

    "Why would you do that?" she finally asked.

    "Because you''re out here, alone, in the cold. And no one should have to live like this. Especially not someone your age."

    She looked down at the stick in her hand, then back at me. Her lips pressed together tightly, as though she wanted to say something but didn''t know how. The fire crackled between us, its warmth doing little to ease the chill of the moment.

    "It''s your choice," I added, keeping my tone calm, "But the offer''s there. No one should have to spend the night out in the cold."

    "I''m Lisa." she introduced herself.

    "Alright, do you have any pets or anything? We can bring them in too."

    "I live alone."

    This feels a bit familiar...

    <hr>

    The girl, Lisa, didn''t say much as we walked back toward the house. Her steps were hesitant like she expected me to turn around and change my mind. I couldn''t blame her. The way she held herself, the way her eyes darted toward every noise...it told me enough. She wasn''t used to trust. I kept quiet, not wanting to spook her, but my mind churned with questions. How long had she been living like that? How could anyone leave a child behind like that?

    When we reached the house, the warmth from the windows made the cold feel even sharper. Harper opened the door before we could knock, her smile bright and welcoming.

    "Oh, you''re back!" she said, her eyes quickly shifting to Lisa and her smile then softened, "Is she staying with us?"

    "Yep, her name is Lisa. And Lisa, this is my wife, Harper."

    I gave her the look and it didn''t take long for her to register as she crouched down to Lisa''s eye level and introduced herself properly. Lisa avoided eye contact, but Harper didn''t mind.

    "Good thing I was planning to head out anyway. I''ll grab some proper clothes and a few other things for her." Harper said, "Mona is doing the cooking today." Harper then tip-toed up and kissed me on the cheek, "I''ll be right back."

    I then led her to the living room next to the fireplace where it was warm. Mona then walked in and I briefed her on our interaction in whispers, but it was clear that

    "Lisa, this is Mona," I said, gesturing toward her, "She''s my wife, too. Don''t let the serious face fool you. She''s kind once you get to know her."

    "Hi Lisa, I''m Mona, it''s nice to meet you." Mona introduced herself, "Welcome to our home."

    Lisa shrank back a little, clutching the edge of her coat, her gaze flicking between us.

    "H-Hi," she said quietly, her voice was barely audible.

    "Luke, would you mind doing the cooking instead, I''ll help her settle in. I can also help bathe her a bit, her face is a bit dirty."

    "Sure, you''re way better with children than I am...Lisa, is there any food you dislike? Or do you have a favorite food that you want me to cook?"

    <hr>

    The soft murmur of water splashing echoed from the bathroom as Mona helped Lisa bathe. Harper had just returned, her arms full of fresh clothes and supplies, her cheeks pink from the cold. I then briefed her on the situation.

    "Here, I also brought chocolate, do you think you can make it for us?" Harper asked.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Sure, but don''t we already have chocolate?"

    "These are sweeter, it''ll taste better for a little girl." She then gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to the bathroom to check-in.

    I stayed in the kitchen, stirring the last pot of stew and setting out the bread. The table was already laid, and the room filled with the warm aroma of the meal. By the time Mona and Lisa reappeared, Lisa was dressed in the new clothes Harper had brought¡ªa simple sweater and leggings that looked warm and comfortable. Her hair was damp but brushed, and she clung to Mona''s side, her shyness still evident but softened.

    We then all sat down for dinner. Lisa took a seat between Mona and me, her small frame dwarfed by the chair. She didn''t say much as we all started eating, her gaze flicking between us as though she was still trying to figure us out.

    "Why are you helping me?" Lisa asked, breaking the silence.

    Mona opened her mouth to respond, but Lisa turned her attention to me, her small hands clutching the edge of the table.

    "I¡­I want him to answer." she requested and pointed at me sheepishly, "Why...did you approach me?"

    "...No reason," I answered, "A little girl...shouldn''t be out there by herself...That''s all."

    Lisa stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing my words. Finally, she gave a small nod and returned to her plate, quietly eating again.

    The rest of the meal passed in a comfortable quiet. Harper and Mona chatted softly, giving Lisa space to process everything. By the time the plates were cleared, Lisa''s eyelids were drooping, her exhaustion catching up with her. Mona stood and extended a hand to her.

    "Come on, Lisa," she said with a soft smile. "I''ll show you where you''ll sleep."

    <hr>

    I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the newspaper in my hands. The bold headlines stared back at me, painting a grim picture of the world outside this quiet little town.

    The bed shifted as Harper sat beside me. I felt her warmth before her head gently rested on my shoulder. Her hair was still damp as she just got out of the shower.

    "What''s wrong?" she asked softly.

    I didn''t answer right away, my eyes scanning the headline again: Tensions Rise as Nations Court Heroes for Support. Below it, smaller articles detailed skirmishes, alliances forming, and whispers of war. Harper shifted closer, her hand brushing against mine.

    "Luke," she said a little firmer this time.

    "Sorry...I zoned out."

    "..."

    "The world was supposed to be happy...after the demon lord was defeated, after everything we sacrificed¡­it was supposed to be better. We were all supposed to have a happy ending, such as the abolishment of the nobility hierarchy and the peace treaties. Instead, it''s all falling apart. The nobility just rebranded themselves. Nations are stockpiling weapons, and the 9 other heroes are being pulled into this mess...I thought we were building a world where no one would have to suffer under tyrants. But here we are...We stopped one tyrant just to give room for a hundred more.

    "And now there''s Lisa...kids like her. They weren''t supposed to be in that kind of situation. That''s what we fought to stop. We fought, and sacrificed everything, so kids like her wouldn''t have to go through this. And yet¡­I...I can''t even go back home..."

    "Luke...you didn''t create this world. You gave it a chance to be better. What people do with that chance is on them." she said softly as her thumb brushed against my hand, "But maybe¡­ maybe we can start making the world better, even if it''s just in small ways. Like taking care of Lisa...there''s no orphanage nearby...we got the financial means, and since we''re retired, we also got time...Giving her the kind of life she deserves seems like a good start."

    <hr>

    3rd Person POV

    The grand double doors of the mansion swung open, revealing a pristine marble foyer where maids stood at attention. The group of representatives, clad in formal attire, exchanged wary glances as they were ushered inside. The mansion was filled with priceless treasures and many other expensive decorations. Despite the grandeur, there was an underlying tension in the air, a weight that came from knowing whose domain they were entering.

    The maids led them through the halls without a word, their footsteps echoing on the polished floors. At last, they stopped before a heavy door. One of the maids knocked lightly, then pushed it open and leaned inside before gesturing for the representatives to enter.

    The sight inside made some of them falter. The room reeked the scent of incense and wine. Several naked women lounged about, their laughter and chatter halting as the newcomers entered. At the center of it all sat a towering man, his presence dominating the room.

    Carter Hayes.

    He was massive, nearly 2.15 meters tall, his broad frame barely contained by the oversized chair he lounged in. His dark hair was messy, and his sharp eyes glared at the group with open disdain.

    "What the hell do you want? You''re disturbing me." he demanded.

    The representatives swallowed their unease, the oldest among them stepping forward.

    "Master Carter Hayes," he said as he tried not to cough on the heavy scent of incense,  "We''ve come with a proposition."

    "Well? Spit it out before I toss you out." Carter grumbled as he chucked a glass of wine.

    "We wish to hire you for a task. One that requires your unique skills."

    "And what''s this task?"

    "We need you to eliminate Hero Jacob Sanders. The new heir of the Western Vale kingdom."

    "Eliminate Jacob Sanders, huh?" he scoffed, "New heir...I thought we got rid of all that nobility nonsense before we even beat the demon lord. What''s the point of royalty? Clinging to that throne or...crown, whatever, like stupid worthless roaches...Alright, then. Let''s say I am interested. What do you have to offer? Because I don''t work for free."

    "We can provide you with the location of the one thing you desire most. The woman you''ve been searching for, former Saint, Harper Vivienne Blackwood."

 Chapter 3: Party

    *Flashback*

    3rd Person POV

    The grand cathedral''s halls echoed with the soft murmur of anticipation as the summoned heroes gathered. The ten of them stood together, their freshly adorned ceremonial attire marking them as the chosen ones destined to save this world. At the far end of the hall, the heavy doors opened, and a hush fell over the room.

    She entered.

    The Saint of Light. Harper Vivienne Blackwood.

    Draped in pure white robes that shimmered faintly in the light, she moved with an ethereal grace. Her black hair cascaded down her back, framing a face that was both serene and otherworldly. Her eyes, a striking shade of purple, seemed to peer into the souls of those she looked upon. She greeted each hero with a gentle smile and a soft blessing, her words carrying a weight of compassion and hope.

    When Carter Hayes stepped forward, the Saint looked up at him, her gaze unwavering despite his imposing size. She placed her hands gently on his and whispered the blessing. Carter stared, captivated, as if the world had fallen away and only she existed. By the time she moved to the next hero, he was still rooted to the spot, his heart pounding in a way it never had before.

    <hr>

    Later that evening, the cathedral came alive with celebration. Chandeliers lit up the grand hall, and tables overflowed with food and drink. Nobles and dignitaries mingled with the heroes they had sponsored, voices raised in laughter and toasts. But Carter wasn''t mingling. He moved through the crowd, searching for the saint, but she was nowhere to be found.

    Outside the cathedral, the night was quiet. Lucas Silver sat alone under a large tree on the front lawn, his back resting against the trunk. A simple sandwich sat on a napkin beside a glass of water at his feet. The music and laughter from the party filtered through the night air, but he paid it no mind.

    "Skipping the party, huh?" The sudden voice startled him.

    He looked up to see Harper standing there, her white robes stark against the dark backdrop of the night. She wasn''t smiling, just observing him with curious eyes.

    "Saint." he said, blinking in surprise and trying to get up and properly greet her, but she sat down and gestured for him to do the same.

    "Is that what you''re going to call me?" Harper asked.

    "What else should I call you?" Lucas questioned.

    "How about Harper?"

    "I don''t think I can refer to someone of your status so casually."

    "Sooo...why aren''t you inside? That''s your celebration, you know. Big party, lots of food...You''re missing out."

    "You''re here too."

    "Yes, but you answer first. You''ve been grumpy since the moment you got here. You''re the only one who hasn''t been in awe of anything...the summoning, the cathedral, the magic...none of it. Why?"

    "Do you want the fake answer or the real one?"

    "The real one?"Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "I want to go home, I didn''t ask to come here. Didn''t ask to be a ''hero''." He then gestured vaguely toward the cathedral, "All of this? None of it matters to me. I just want my old life back."

    "I guess I can''t blame you for that."

    "Not exactly the inspiring answer you were hoping for, huh?"

    "Maybe not, but it''s honest. That''s more than I can say for most people."

    <hr>

    *Present Time*

    Harper POV

    I woke up to the soft rustling of fabric and muffled voices. I caught a glimpse of Lucas and Mona quietly moving around the room. Mona was already stretching, her long-toned frame against the faint light streaming through the window, while Lucas was already changing.

    "Morning workout?"

    "Didn''t mean to wake you." Lucas replied as he then gave me a quick peck on the lips before leaving.

    I then buried my face back into the pillow and went back into sleep. The next time I woke up, the sun had climbed higher, its warm light spilling into the room. The house was quiet save for faint noises coming from downstairs. I then slid out of bed, tossing on my robe as I headed toward the source of the sound. Descending the stairs, I found Lisa in the living room, her small hands fumbling with the straps of a worn satchel. Her hair was a bit messy, and she was dressed in her old clothes.

    "Lisa?" I called, "Where are you going?"

    "I-I''m going out," Lisa stammered, "To pick flowers and make candies. Like I always do."

    "For what?"

    "To sell them?"

    "Thank you for letting me stay for the night-"

    "For the night, no, I think you misunderstand, we''re not just letting you stay for the night, Lisa. We¡­we can take care of you. Stay as long as you like."

    "But-"

    "You don''t have to worry about taking care of yourself, not here. You can stay with us for as long as you want. Unless...if you''re uncomfortable, I know some orphanage that we ca-"

    "No, not an orphanage." Lisa denied, "My mom said that they do bad things to children."

    "Oh, I didn''t mean to scare you." I apologized, "I promise, no one is going to make you go anywhere you don''t want to go. And definitely not to an orphanage."

    "But I can''t just stay here for free, I don''t want to be a problem."

    "You''re not a problem, Lisa, you''re just a kid. You''re supposed to be worrying about what kind of flowers to pick because they''re pretty, not because you need to sell them to survive."

    "...What if I make things harder for you?"

    "You won''t, and even if things do get harder, it doesn''t matter. We''ll figure it out. That''s what family does."

    "Then...I can''t live for free...I need to do something."

    "Do you want to go back to sleep?"

    "No, I''m not sleepy anymore." Lisa shook her head.

    "Then I have a task for you, for now, shower, and brush your teeth, then you can come help me cook. Luke did tell you about me being a good cook, but he ended up cooking yesterday, so I''ll have to live up to my name. The other 2 should be here after a while, so we can all have breakfast then."

    <hr>

    Lucas POV

    I pushed the front door open, stepping into the warm, welcoming scent of breakfast cooking. The sound of quiet chatter came from the kitchen, and I saw Lisa standing on a stool by the counter, grating cheese while Harper stood beside her, guiding her tiny hands as she was chopping herbs nearby. I didn''t want to ruin the moment, so I went to wash up for now.

    By the time I came back, the table was set with a large variety of breakfast. As we were eating, I unfolded the newspaper I''d picked up earlier and skimmed the headlines. Most of it was the usual mess, but one article in particular caught my attention.

    Eastern Sun Empire Hires Hero Carter Hayes.

    I stared at the bold text for a long moment, my stomach sinking slightly. Carter Hayes. That guy was unpredictable at the best of times and outright dangerous at the worst. The Eastern Sun Empire clearly thought they''d gained a powerful ally...well, he somewhat is, he''s a hero, he''s technically an automatic top 10 right now, but...

    This could be a huge problem. Carter''s strength wasn''t the issue. It was his temperament. The man didn''t care about alliances or loyalty. He cared about his own whims and whatever entertained him in the moment. If the Eastern Sun Empire thought they could control him, they were sorely mistaken.

    But what troubled me more was the why. Why would they even hire him? Carter wasn''t the kind of person you brought in unless you had no other options. Sure, he could win a fight, but the price of his loyalty was high. What the hell do you have to offer for a guy who already has everything?

    He didn''t need wealth when he could already take whatever he wanted. And he certainly didn''t care about politics or the ideals of the empire. No, for someone like him, it had to be personal. Something he couldn''t get on his own.

 Chapter 4: Bandits

    Lucas POV

    "You know, just because you''re retired, it doesn''t mean that you should spend all day reading newspapers and books." Mona said as she sat next to me, "You''re still only 24."

    "Well, it''s not like I have anything to do."

    "What about...opening a bakery?"

    "You wanna open a bakery?"

    "Why not? You said that your former world have a lot more variations of delicious bread that this world doesn''t, right? Might as well bring them to life and share it with the world."

    "Sure. But not today, I feel like relaxing."

    "Of course. Tomorrow, though, you''ll have no excuse."

    "I will."

    She then shifted closer, resting her head on my shoulder.

    "Speaking of things to do," she said, "what about Lisa? She told me earlier she''s 7. She should be in school. Or at least learning something."

    "Yeah, she mentioned that. We''ll need to see what''s available in town. If she''s behind, you could tutor her until she''s ready."

    <hr>

    Mona and I walked side by side down the snow-covered path leading into the woods toward the shed that Lisa called home for the past year, alone only from the past year. Her father was a lumberjack and this shed was where he kept his tools, and when he left with her brother, this became her home.

    I had asked if she had anything important that she wanted to pick up, but she said no, and so I told her about upgrading this thing or repurposing the shed, it''s a bit weathered. The shed''s door creaked loudly as I pushed it open, revealing the interior. It wasn''t bad, all things considered, it was decently clean. But the walls had holes large enough to let in cold drafts, and there was no insulation to speak of.

    "Well, she could use this teddy bear, so we''ll keep that and clean up the rest."

    "What do you think you''ll make it into?" Mona asked

    "Maybe some community shed or something."

    "Repurposing a shed into another shed?"

    "Yeah...it sounded better in my head."

    Mona chuckled softly, and I allowed myself a small grin, but something in the back of my mind nagged at me. A faint ripple, barely noticeable, but unmistakable. I stilled, reaching out with my senses.

    There it was again. Movement. Too many quiet footsteps for them to be casual travelers. The patterns were too organized.

    "Hold on," I said, cutting Mona''s laughter short.

    "What is it?" she asked, straightening immediately.

    "Something''s wrong," I said quietly, walking to the door.

    I locked it with a subtle click, then crouched and peeked through a small gap in the wood while signaling Mona to do the same. Through the thin opening, I spotted them, armed men, dozens of them, moving through the woods in disciplined formations. They wore matching gear, though it was muted enough to blend with the snowy surroundings. Their movements were fluid, and efficient, as if they''d done this a hundred times before.

    Expanding my senses further, I felt the presence of even more men, positioned in a wide arc around the town. My heart sank as the realization hit. And there were a lot more, the town''s surrounded.

    I pulled back from the door and glanced around the shed for anything useful. My eyes landed on a trapdoor in the corner, half-concealed by a stack of wood. I hurried over, moving the wood aside as quietly as possible.

    "What is it?" Mona whispered, following my gaze.

    "Looks like a trapdoor," I said, lifting it open.

    Beneath was a decent-sized space, just big enough for the two of us to fit.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Get in."

    She hesitated for a moment but nodded, climbing down into the hidden space. I followed, pulling a dusty old blanket over the opening to conceal it before closing the trapdoor behind us. The door eventually creaked open. Whoever it was didn''t linger long. The sound of boots shuffling and wood creaking lasted a few seconds before the door closed again. I waited until the footsteps faded before carefully pushing the trapdoor open and peeking out.

    "They don''t seem strong, but it''s better to be safe than sorry."

    "Yeah, hero or not, being cautious isn''t a bad thing." she said as she got out as well.

    "You''re going to have to head back home."

    "What about you?"

    "You do know who I am, right?"

    "Yes, but like I said, being cautious isn''t a bad thing, you shouldn''t underestimate anything, look what that got the demon lord."

    "Our house is a bit farther from the main part of town. It should be safe, but I need you to make sure Harper and Lisa are okay."

    "Sure, be safe."

    <hr>

    I slipped out of the shed, keeping low and moving silently through the trees. I trailed the armed men at a safe distance toward the town. They were converging on the town square while others split off to ransack the houses. As I crept closer, I saw them gathering the townsfolk in the square, forcing them to huddle together in the cold. Children cried while the men barked orders. Men and women were dragged from their homes as the soldiers rifled through their belongings, tossing anything valuable into bags.

    At least no one is hurt.

    As I watched the chaos unfold, my mind drifted to the rumors I''d heard over the past few months. Stories of raids like this, of armed groups striking at towns and villages across the region. It wasn''t widespread yet, but it was growing, and the pattern was always the same.

    People had let their guard down.

    After the demon lord''s defeat, everyone believed we were entering a new era of peace. But not everyone saw it that way. Bandits, mercenaries, and opportunists were taking advantage of the calm. They struck when towns like this one were least prepared, sweeping in to loot and pillage, knowing there wouldn''t be anyone to stop them.

    I closed my eyes, expanding my senses further. The subtle vibrations of life spread out before me like ripples in a pond. I could feel every presence in the town. I pushed my focus further, toward the edge of town, and found what I was looking for. Mona had made it back home. Harper and Lisa were safe, just as I''d expected. The house was untouched; no one had ventured that far out yet.

    Why now? My thoughts drifted back to the promises I made to myself when this all ended. No more fighting, no more bloodshed. I''d sacrificed enough of my life already, hadn''t I? I didn''t even get a chance to enjoy my retirement properly.

    Chain magic: Lockdown.

    Invisible chains of energy spiral out from me like a tidal wave. I kept my eyes closed, directing the chains as they spread across the town. I felt the magic latch onto its targets, one by one. The bandits froze mid-step, confusion, and panic spreading through their ranks as the chains wrapped tightly around their bodies, binding their arms and legs.

    Weapons clattered to the ground as they were pulled off balance and forced to the ground. In the town square, the townsfolk gasped and murmured in shock as the armed men suddenly fell to their knees, immobilized. The chains tightened, locking each bandit in place. They struggled, grunting and cursing, but it was no use as no amount of brute force could break it.

    I approached the town and they all stared at me in shock. Relief washed over their faces, but I wasn''t ready to relax just yet. Something felt off. A sharp sound split the air, the snap of metal breaking under force. My eyes darted toward the source.

    One of the men stood, towering above the others. His chains had shattered, the faint glow of my magic fading from his form. He rolled his shoulders, flexing his arms as if shaking off invisible dust.

    "Well, that was cute," he said, his voice a deep growl that carried easily through the square.

    This wasn''t normal. No ordinary bandit should have been able to break my spell.

    "I see...you have an anti-magic detection ring, you''re the leader, I assume?"

    "Looks like we''ve got ourselves a hero," he sneered, "Didn''t think this backwater town would have someone like you lurking around."

    "I take it you''re the one in charge."

    "You could say that. Name''s Garreth. You''ve got a neat trick there with those chains. Too bad it won''t work on me." Garreth''s grin widened as he crossed his arms, "You''ve got some real skill, I''ll give you that, Not many could pull something like this off. I could use someone like you."

    "You''re trying to hire me?"

    "Why not?" he replied with a shrug, "You clearly know what you''re doing, and you''re not just some washed-up nobody. Think about it: someone like you working with me instead of against me. We could make a killing."

    "Yeah...you can''t afford me."

    "You sure about that? I don''t like hearing no."

    "Then you''ll hate this. No."

    "Pity."

    Before I could respond, he slammed his fists into the ground, and the earth trembled beneath us.

    "Earth magic: Rock gauntlet." he cast.

    A jagged pillar of stone erupted from the snow, encasing his right arm in a gauntlet of solid rock.

    "Guess I''ll have to show you what you''re missing out on." he said as he charged at me.

    I sidestepped his first swing, the massive stone fist narrowly missing my head and slamming into a wooden fruit cart behind me. Wood splintered everywhere under the impact. He spun quickly, faster than I expected for someone wielding so much weight. His fist came at me again, forcing me to duck and roll to the side.

    When he lunged again, I sidestepped, grabbing his wrist and twisting. He roared in anger, the stone gauntlet cracking under the sudden pressure.

    "I''ll give you one chance, give everything back and leave peacefully or...you can try and fight me."

    "Fat chance." he retorted.

    "Some people, I swear."

    Garreth gritted his teeth, trying to wrench his arm free, but I held tight. He let out a growl of frustration, then jerked violently, using his strength to twist away from me. The stone gauntlet broke as he pulled away.

    "You really think you can just walk away from this?" he then laughed, "I fought in the Human and Demon War! Earth magic: Earth Titan."

 Chapter 5: The squad

    3rd Person POV

    Garreth roared, slamming his gauntleted fist into the ground. The earth around him shifted violently, the snow scattering as massive chunks of rock and stone erupted upward. They swirled around him, forming jagged plates of armor that encased his entire body. His form grew, towering higher with each passing second until he stood as a monstrous titan.

    Lucas took a deep breath, his mind flashed back to the countless battles he''d fought; the demon hordes and the Demon Lord himself. This wasn''t new, but that didn''t make it any less exhausting. He watched as Garreth raised a massive stone fist, the air itself seeming to groan under its weight. With a deafening crash, it came down toward Lucas.

    In a blur of movement, Lucas leaped into the air, evading the strike. The force of the impact shattered the ground below, sending shards of rock flying in every direction.

    Wind Magic: Gale barrier.

    Lucas then cast a spell to protect everyone from the rocks and shrapnel that were flying in every direction, shielding the townsfolk and ensuring that none of the debris could harm anyone. Once he landed, he braced himself and launched himself into the air with a burst of speed. In a single, fluid motion, he clenched his fist, aiming straight for the center of Garreth''s rocky chest.

    The strike connected with the center of Garreth''s massive stone chest, unleashing a thunderous impact that seemed to shake the heavens themselves. The titan''s form disintegrated instantly, the rock shell shattering into countless fragments that blasted outward in a storm of debris.

    Lucas watched as Garreth''s shattered form was flung into the distance, crashing through the trees with the force of a falling star before leaving a crater on the ground once he stopped.

    Lucas then propelled himself forward, landing near the downed man. Before Garreth could recover, glowing chains materialized, binding his limbs and pinning him to the ground.

    "Why?" Lucas asked, "A man of your caliber, someone who fought in the war, why would you stoop to something like this?"

    Garreth gasped for breath, his chest heaving under the weight of his injuries. Lucas sighed as he knelt beside Garreth, placing a hand over the man''s chest. A soft, golden light emanated from his palm, weaving through Garreth''s battered body, mending broken bones and easing his breathing.

    "Why heal me? You planning to make some kind of righteous speech?" Garreth glared at him.

    "I want answers." Lucas demanded.

    "You want to know why I''m doing this, huh? Fine...I fought in the war because I had to. If the demons won, the world would burn, and I''d go with it. Survival, plain and simple. But fighting for some noble cause? Staying on the straight and narrow? That was never part of my plan...You think I didn''t try to do things right?

    "I did. I worked honest jobs, lived paycheck to paycheck, and barely scraped by. Meanwhile, I watched my so-called friends raking in cash from drugs, smuggling, and every dirty trick in the book. They lived like kings. And nothing ever happened to them. No punishment. No consequences. Do you think I didn''t envy that? Doing the right thing doesn''t pay. Doing this does. And don''t pretend you don''t know it. You''ve lived in the same world. You''ve seen how it works. If you''re not getting ahead, you''re getting left behind."

    "And that''s enough for you? Terrorizing innocent people just for the money?"

    "Tch, I don''t know who you are, but you''re naive. You think the world''s fair? That doing the right thing get you ahead? It doesn''t. I tried living straight. Tried working honest jobs. All it got me was empty pockets and envy. So save it, you can''t change my mind, so don''t bother. Now, either finish me off or drag me to whatever passes for justice in this town. I''ve got nothing else to say."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Lucas stood in silence for a moment before grabbing the chains and dragged Garreth back toward the town. By the time they reached the town square, the gathered townsfolk watched with wide eyes as Lucas approached the mayor.

    "Call someone from the capital," Lucas said, dropping the chained man, "These men need to be taken to prison."

    The mayor nodded quickly, already sending messengers to arrange the escort. Lucas cast one last glance at Garreth before turning to walk away, leaving the defeated bandit leader to face the consequences of his actions.

    <hr>

    It didn''t take long for the knights to arrive. Their armor gleamed in the sunlight as they got off their horses and marched into the town square. The leader, an elf with silver hair and green eyes, recognized me immediately as we locked eyes the moment we saw each other. Riley Palmer, Magic Knight Captain of the Northern Peak Kingdom.

    I put a finger on my lips to signal her to be quiet and she understood as she halted her subordinates and announced her presence.

    "Captain Riley Palmer on duty!" she declared.

    "Mayor, do you think you can handle this? I want to relay matters of their leader to this Captain in private." I requested.

    "Of course, young man." the Mayor nodded.

    <hr>

    "What brings you out here? And why aren''t you in the capital, Lucas?" She asked.

    "I could say the same thing, what are you doing out here, Captain? Weren''t you supposed to be a commander?"

    "Bah, I have always liked traveling, if I had taken that position, I would have been forced to stay in the Capital and I just happened to be the one nearby. And you?"

    "Tired of the capital, to be honest." I shrugged, "Besides, a guy as good-looking like me gets offered a lot of marriage proposals."

    "Even if you''re the least famous of the 10, you are the sole support mage among the heroes and the strongest support mage in the world, that kind of title does earn you some hindrances like that."

    "You forgot my title of also being the best looking."

    "Are you trying to flirt with me? Aren''t you married?"

    "Please, don''t get too ahead of yourself, I''ve seen better...would you like to join us for dinner?"

    "Who''s cooking?"

    "Harper. Don''t worry, Mona and I''ve managed to teach her."

    "How was it?"

    "Stressful, but it paid off."

    "...Fine, I''ll just write the report and let my lieutenant handle this."

    <hr>

    I got home and briefed everyone about what happened and the invaders should be being led by the earlier group of knights to the nearest prison. Mona, who had been glancing over at me with a concerned look, made her way over and immediately checked on how I was doing. She eyed me with a soft frown but was relieved to see that I was spotless.

    Riley watched our exchange with interest, but I could tell she was trying not to pry into our personal dynamic. Instead, she made small talk with Harper.

    It was when Lisa entered the room to see who had arrived that things took an unexpected turn. She stepped in quietly, black hair tied neatly in a braid, her eyes wide with curiosity. Riley''s gaze immediately flicked to her, and I saw the subtle surprise in her expression.

    She tilted her head, her gaze scanning Lisa with confusion before she blinked.

    "Wait... is that your daughter?" she asked.

    "What?"

    "You and Harper...you already have a child?"

    "No, no. She''s not our daughter. Lisa...she''s someone we''re helping out."

    "But she looks so...well, you look like her father."

    "I have white hair and I have a light brown skin tone, how do we look alike?"

    "Maybe a hero''s gene is different, you never know."

    "...is she perhaps a daughter of you and one of your exes?"

    "No."

    "Is she your other wife?" Lisa asked.

    "She wishes. But no. We just used to travel together."

    <hr>

    It had been 2 grueling years of training, two years of endless lectures, and drills to prepare me for this very moment. And now, I was finally stepping out, not just as a summoned hero, but as the leader of a team. The thought alone was exhausting. Leadership wasn''t something I had signed up for, but apparently, being a hero meant it wasn''t optional.

    My team was already waiting for me as I approached the camp. 3 people, complete strangers to me, each one with their own skill set, their own expectations.

    First, there was Terrence Lance. A tall blond guy clad in silver and gold armor that practically shone even in the dim light. He used to be a Magic Knight Captain, but now he was here, reassigned to my team. Next was Riley Palmer. She stood with her arms crossed, her green eyes darting around like she was analyzing everything. An elf and lieutenant of Terrence''s team, who is now also assigned to me. Finally, there was Evan Hall, a short red-headed healer. Compared to the other two, he seemed more relaxed. His soft features and easy smile made him feel approachable, a contrast to the tension in the air.

    "Lucas Silver, I guess we''ll be working together."

    "Terrence Lance, I''ll be the tank." Terrence said and put his hand out, which I shook.

    "I''m Riley Palmer, I use the spear and will be the vanguard." Riley chimed in.

    "And I''m the healer and support mage, Evan Hall." Evan said as we shook hands.

    "I''ll be the offensive mage. Nice to meet you all...um, I''m not good at this leader thing, so I''ll let Terrence take over most of the time since he''s the most experienced."

    "Smart." Terrence smirked, "But we''ll be travelling for at least the next 2 years together, you got plenty of time to learn."

 Chapter 6: Abandoned

    Lucas POV

    "How''s Evan doing?"

    "Oh, he''s doing well, but he''s struggling a bit since he can no longer use magic." Riley answered, "He is turning to alchemy though, he''s a bit older and slower than his classmates, but he''ll eventually make a living."

    "What about Terrence''s kids?"

    "Evan adopted them all, can''t trust that ex-wife of his after all."

    "Won''t he have to go to court?"

    "Yeah, but her husband never liked them and the kids made it clear. Either way, even if Evan wasn''t taking them in, I would."

    "Not just you, we would too, we got plenty of room here."

    "So what are you going to do about her?" Riley asked, pointing at Lisa who was learning how to read from Harper, "I know you''re retired and got time, but a kid is a lot of responsibility."

    "Being a hero is too, and look how that turned out."

    "It''s kinda too bad you had to play support for the others, you were better as an offensive mage."

    "I still am, but I had to be flexible, otherwise we''d lose. It''s like every time I play a MOBA game, I usually play other roles better, but I always end up playing support since most don''t."

    "You summoned heroes and your weird words." she sighed and she then slap my back, "So, when can I expect my nieces and nephews?"

    "What?"

    "You''re like my brother, so any kid you have will be my niece or nephew, so when can I expect them?"

    "Soon, I guess?"

    "How soon? If it''s tonight-"

    "Not that soon."

    <hr>

    The knock was soft, almost hesitant, but enough to pull me from the edge of sleep. I groaned, rubbing my eyes as I sat up. The house was quiet, the faint creak of the wood settling under the weight of the cold outside. I shuffled to the door, still half-asleep, and opened it. Standing there in the dim light was Lisa, clutching her teddy bear tightly against her chest.

    "Lisa?" I whispered, keeping my voice low so as not to wake Harper or Mona, "What''s wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

    "Are you having a nightmare? If so let me wake Mona or Harper. They''ll-"

    "No...No...I-I need your help, Mr. Lucas."

    "Sure, anything you want. And you can just call me Luke."

    "I heard you talking earlier¡­with everyone. About you being a hero. A summoned hero from another world."

    "Yeah, I am."

    "...I heard¡­that summoned heroes can grant wishes."

    "I don''t know if I can, but I''ll try my best."

    "I heard you¡­you and the others talking about having kids. If you''re going to have kids¡­please don''t abandon me...and if you''re planning to, just¡­tell me now. I''ll leave before I get too attached. I wish...I..."

    For a moment, I couldn''t find the right thing to say. I crouched down so I was at her level, taking a slow breath to steady myself.

    "Lisa, I understand why you''re scared. But let me tell you something about me."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    She looked up at me, tearing up, but she stayed silent.

    "I was abandoned too when I was about your age. My parents always fought, and money was tight. They decided they couldn''t afford to keep me, so¡­they left each other and me in the process...But I was lucky. I was adopted by a wonderful couple. They gave me a home, love, and a second chance at having a family. They''re the reason I know what it feels like to be cared for, to belong somewhere.

    "I know how it feels to be abandoned. And I would never, ever do that to someone, especially not to you. If you want to leave, if you feel uncomfortable, please tell us...if not, think of yourself as part of this family now, Lisa, for as long as you want to be"

    "You promise?" she asked.

    "Of course, I promise."

    <hr>

    Ramona POV

    The soft morning light streamed through the windows as I stretched, ready to begin my morning workout. That''s when I noticed it. Lisa, curled up between Luke and Harper on our bed, clutching her teddy bear with a peaceful expression. I paused, a small smile tugging at my lips. The image was unexpectedly heartwarming, even if it didn''t surprise me. I had overheard their conversation last night.

    Shaking my head, I leaned in and pressed a light kiss on Luke''s cheek before heading out. Riley was also awake doing her morning exercises and workout and joined me.

    By the time I finished my workout routine, the town was beginning to wake up. On my way back, I passed the local bakery and decided to stop in for some fresh bread. The smell of warm dough and baked goods filled the air as I pushed open the door. Behind the counter stood Mr. Haynes, the elderly baker who had been running this place for decades. He greeted me with a warm smile as I approached.

    <hr>

    "So, have you decided what you''ll do after you retire, Mr. Haynes?" I asked as he wrapped our bread.

    "Not quite yet. Why do you ask?" he responded.

    "If you''re thinking about selling the bakery¡­let me know. I might be interested."

    "Right, you did want to open a bakery." Riley chimed in, "It''s a cute idea."

    "I''ll think about it, Ramona. It''d be nice to see it go to someone who cares about it as much as I do." Mr. Haynes chuckled, "I put in some extra there. It''s to thank your husband for helping us yesterday."

    "Thank you so much."

    We exchanged a few more pleasantries before I headed back home. When I returned, the smell of breakfast cooking greeted me. Harper and Lisa were in the kitchen, the little girl helping to mix something in a bowl while Harper carefully watched over her. I smiled at the sight, placing the fresh bread on the counter. I noticed Luke was still asleep and decided to check on him. Quietly, I walked into the bedroom and sat by his side. His hair was messy, and he looked so at peace that I hesitated to wake him. But as I leaned closer, his eyes fluttered open.

    "Morning," I said softly.

    "Morning," he mumbled as he pulled me into a hug.

    "You know...I overheard your conversation with Lisa last night."

    "You did?"

    "Of course I did, I''m a teacher, I am a very light sleeper...Do you still want to meet your parents again?"

    "Yeah. I want to at least thank them for adopting me¡­for everything they gave me...Maybe even bring them back here with me. I owe them that much."

    "You''ll get that chance, Luke. I''ll make sure of it."

    <hr>

    Carter Hayes leaned casually against a marble pillar, his imposing figure dwarfing those around him. The room was quiet, save for the soft shuffles of cloaked assassins adjusting their positions in the shadows. At the far end of the chamber stood Trevor Kenichi, his striking blue hair falling over sharp, calculating eyes. Unlike the rest, Trevor carried himself with an air of authority, though his lean and nimble frame was far less intimidating than Carter''s towering presence.

    "You''re not going to boss me around, Trevor," Carter said.

    Trevor''s lips curved into a small, almost mocking smile.

    "I wouldn''t dream of it," he replied smoothly. "Your task is yours alone. My job is simply to ensure the surrounding security is¡­eliminated. No interruptions. No distractions."

    "Fine. Just don''t get in my way." Carter snorted, crossing his massive arms.

    Trevor then went and sat down.

    "I know why you''re here, Carter," Trevor said, "Though I don''t have all the details, I''ve heard something¡­interesting."

    "Spit it out." Carter demanded as he also took a seat and drinking whisky directly from the bottle, "What do you think I want, you blue-haired freakshow?"

    "Harper Blackwood. She''s married." Trevor answered with a widened smile.

    "Married? To who?" Cater asked as his grip tightened around the bottle.

    Trevor let the silence linger for a moment, savoring the tension.

    "Lucas." he answered as he took out his blade and cleaned it in front of the now enraged Carter, "Lucas Silver."

    "Lucas? That Lucas? The weakest one? The damn support mage?" Carter''s face twisted into a snarl, the veins on his neck bulging, "Why the hell would she marry someone so useless? A waste of space! The man couldn''t fight his way out of a paper bag without someone holding his hand. And she chose him?"

    "Funny, isn''t it? Guess the Saint of Light saw something you didn''t...do you still want her now?"

    "Tch...a little bit lesser."

    "Then why continue? I can easily handle Jacob."

    "Unlike you, if I accept a job, I''ll see it all the way through...besides...I''ll just use her once, she''s already tainted after all."

    "...You are one messed up individual."

    "Me? Messed up? If the world know about your fetishes, I''d look like a saint."

 Chapter 7: Confrontation

    *6 months later*

    Lisa POV

    It had been six months since I came to live with Mr. Lucas, Mrs. Harper, and Mrs. Ramona. Time flew by so fast, that it almost didn''t feel real. I still called them "Mr." and "Mrs." even though they told me I didn''t have to. It felt...proper, I guess. Like I was respecting them for everything they''d done for me.

    Today, Mrs. Harper picked me up from school like she always did. She waved at me with a big smile as I ran up to her, my bag bouncing against my side. The other kids sometimes stared, probably because she was so pretty, but I didn''t mind. I grabbed her hand as we started walking toward their new bakery.

    When we got inside, I set my bag down on one of the chairs in the corner. The smell of freshly baked bread and cookies filled the air, and the warm, cozy atmosphere made me feel at home. The bakery had customers from the moment it was open till the afternoon, it''s really popular among traveling caravans who are stopping by for rest, so they have to keep baking till I left school.

    "Lisa, did you have a great time today?" Mrs. Ramona asked. as she came to check up on me.

    "Yes, we''re learning multiplications today. And I can also read everything in class now."

    "Do you have any homework that you need help with?"

    "Yes. Can you help with my math homework?"

    "Yes, of course."

    I sat down at the table and opened my notebook. Mrs. Ramona sat beside me, helping me with the tricky parts while Mrs. Harper helped a customer pick out some pastries.

    "Here," Mr. Lucas said, sliding a small plate of cookies and a cup of tea in front of me, "We got some extra cookies."

    "For me?"

    "Of course. You''ve been working so hard."

    "Luke, you know better than to give her snacks before dinner." Mrs. Ramona frowned and crossed her arms.

    "What''s wrong with that? You had some."

    "She''s a growing girl, she should have something more healthy."

    "You worry too much."

    "And you worry too less."

    <hr>

    Lucas POV

    It was late, and I was already in bed when the knock came at the door. I groaned, wondering who would show up at this hour. I expanded my senses and felt that it was Riley, which was weird. Pulling on a shirt, I made my way to the door. When I opened it, Riley stood there, looking unusually frantic.

    "Riley?" I asked, stepping aside to let her in, "What''s going on?"

    "Jacob Sanders has been assassinated." She didn''t waste any time.

    "Huh?"

    "And that''s not all," she continued, pacing the room as she got in, "The royal palace of the Western Vale Kingdom has been destroyed, and many of their strongest guards have been found dead."This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "Alright, let''s sit down, I''ll boil some water for coffee."

    "Magic residuals at the scene...They closely resemble Carter Hayes''."

    <hr>

    "...There''s no official accusation," Riley explained as she concluded everything she remembers about the report, "Not yet. The Western Vale Kingdom isn''t in any position to make an enemy out of one of the 10 heroes, not after losing their heir and so many of their best fighters. But¡­"

    "But what?" I pressed her as I poured her more coffee.

    "But the Eastern Sun Empire might have another hero on their side, Carter couldn''t have done this alone. Only the bodies of the Western Vale''s mages were found, but no one else. Not a single enemy casualty and the bodies didn''t resemble something that Carter would do, he''s more destructive. His squad members have been reported back at the empire, but they''ve been moving suspiciously."

    "The Western Vale Kingdom...Carter...too many things are happening at once."

    "...I came here because there''s a rumor, Lucas."

    "A rumor?"

    "There''s talk that Carter is coming for Harper next."

    "What? Why?"

    "I don''t know, but I think you might want to move, at least, just temporarily. We need this to blow over."

    "I would say to try and reason with the guy, but if the guy wants something, he''s going to go for it."

    "...Why? Do you want to set a trap instead?"

    "Either way, I have to fight him, I might as well do it somewhere with no civilians."

    "I''ll help you."

    "Just make sure there''s no interference because I think I can take Carter."

    "You might want to take your necklace off, suppressing your powers isn''t going to help your case. Carter is known for going his all." Riley advised.

    "...Do you think you can move my family? I''ll go talk with Carter for a bit, try and find out what he wants...and if it''s as the rumours say...I''ll try to reason with him for a bit, it most likely won''t work, but...I''ll have to try."

    "I haven''t seen you serious in quite a while, especially since your womanizing days."

    "Let''s not talk about that."

    <hr>

    3rd Person POV

    Carter woke up to the soft light streaming through the silk curtains of his bedroom. Around him, the women he''d chosen to entertain him the night before were still asleep. He pushed a few of them away and got up to wash himself. After a long, hot shower, he stepped out into the cool morning air of his private courtyard.

    It was peaceful until a voice cut through the quiet.

    "You seem comfortable, Carter." The voice said.

    Carter froze, his senses sharpening instantly. He turned his head, scanning the courtyard, but there was no one there.

    "Behind you," the voice said again.

    Carter turned slowly. From the shadows of the courtyard''s towering trees, a familiar white-haired figure emerged. Lucas stepped forward, his expression calm but made sure that his presence was impossible to ignore compared to his earlier hidden presence.

    "Lucas," Carter said, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

    "I came to confirm something." He replied.

    "Confirm what?"

    "The rumors. Are you going after Harper Blackwood?"

    "And if I am?"

    "Well, I''ll let you know that she''s Harper Silver now, she''s my wife. If you think I''ll let you anywhere near her with no good reason, you''re mistaken."

    "You must love her a lot...hahaha...HAHAHAHA." Carter laughed, "It''ll be quite entertaining if I get to use her in front of you."

    "...What?"

    "I liked her first, but I only recently learned that she''s tainted. I made a deal to go after her, and I plan to stick to that till the end."

    "That''s it? That''s why you want Harper?" Lucas questioned.

    "So?"

    "Did you kill Jacob?"

    "Of course I did, catching an archer off-guard in his sleep made it easier."

    "You''re not going to hide it?"

    "Quite frankly, I find you other heroes in my way. Power. Women. Control. I want it all, Lucas. And the righteous ways of you and the others? You''re a problem. You''ll stand in my way with your stupid morality and justice."

    "What are you? Some 3rd-rated villain, why are you talking like this?"

    "If going after her means I have to deal with you, then great. Eliminating you is just another step toward my goal."

    "Carter..."

    "Don''t act like you can do anything you support mage." Carter sneered, "You should be glad, your girl will live, unlike Jacob''s wife, who had to watch her husband and children die before I slit her throat. I''ve made my decision. I''m coming for Harper. You can''t stop me, so save yourself the trouble and give me an address. Somewhere we can settle this without civilian casualties. Otherwise¡­I''ll come to your little town, and I promise, Lucas, it won''t be pretty."

    Lucas met Carter''s gaze, and neither backed down.

    "The Purple Forest. If you''re so determined, meet me there." Lucas said.

    Without another word, Lucas turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows as silently as he had arrived. Carter stood there for a moment, the anticipation of the confrontation already sparking a twisted excitement in his chest.

    "Soon," Carter muttered to himself as a grin crept across his face.

 Chapter 8: Silver Phantom

    3rd Person POV

    Dennis Johnson wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. Across from him stood Sarah, his wife and fellow hero, her stance relaxed but her eyes sharp. She flicked a strand of her dark brown hair from her face and grinned.

    "You''re getting slow," she teased, lowering her sword.

    "Or maybe you''re getting too good." Dennis chuckled.

    "Flattery won''t save you." Sarah said and stepped forward for another bout.

    The sparring match ended with her disarming him in one fluid move, her blade tip resting lightly against his chest. They both laughed, a sound that echoed warmly in the training room. Afterward, they cleaned up and settled into their shared routine: paperwork, studying political theory, and drafting policies for the betterment of the Southern Sun Theocracy. It was tedious but necessary, a far cry from their days battling demons, yet no less important. By evening, they set the work aside, savoring the meal Sarah had prepared.

    Dinner was a quieter affair, at least until their guest arrived. Trevor Kenichi stepped into the room, his signature smirk firmly in place. He moved with the ease of someone who didn''t belong but didn''t care, taking a seat as if it were his throne. They talked about their old training days and the few days when they fought the demon lord together, eventually, the topic shifted to recent events, the death of their friend, Jacob Sanders.

    It got quiet again, but Trevor brought up another interesting topic.

    "So, did you hear? Carter''s planning to fight Lucas." Trevor asked.

    "What?" Dennis froze mid-bite and dropped his fork, "What the hell are you talking about?"

    "Who knows? Carter''s got his reasons. But let''s be real here, Lucas doesn''t stand a chance." Trevor shrugged, to the shock of the couple.

    Dennis shot up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he stormed across the table, grabbing Trevor by his collar.

    "What the hell is wrong with you? You know Carter''s dangerous, and you''re just letting this happen?" he yelled.

    Trevor didn''t flinch, his smirk only widening.

    "Well, well. Didn''t think you two cared so much about little Lucas." he chuckled.

    "Carter is going to get himself killed!" Dennis yelled as he shook Trevor.

    "By who? Lucas?! HAAHAHAHAHA." Trevor laughed, "The guy who swore off fighting after the war?"

    "Lucas'' nickname before he joined us was the Silver Phantom, he only took on the role of a support mage because the team needed it. The one guy who had enough mana to supply and support 9 heroes at once! Are you insane?!"

    "Trevor, did you arrange this?" Sarah asked.

    "As problematic as I am, I am not very good at arranging such a fight." Trevor answered, "Besides, the Silver Phantom? That old rumor? It''s just exaggerated stories."

    "You''re an idiot," Dennis muttered before turning to Sarah, "We need to get moving."

    "Where are they meeting?" Sarah asked him.

    "The purple forest." Trevor answered, "Carter should arrive there by tomorrow morning, if you leave right now, you should arrive at around the time they meet up."

    <hr>

    Carter walked into the Purple Forest, a place shrouded in an eerie yet captivating beauty. The trees towered above him, their purple leaves casting a surreal glow under the sunlight, it was a beautiful sight. Legend had it that a god had fallen here long ago, his blood seeping into the barren soil and transforming it into this vibrant woodland. The trees, nourished by divine essence, were among the toughest in the world.

    As he ventured deeper, he noticed faint glimmers of light catching along thin, almost invisible lines crisscrossing the path. Wires. Dozens of them strung tightly between the trees. His eyes narrowed as he approached one, reaching out to brush his fingers against it.

    The wire didn''t even scratch his skin. His laughter echoed through the forest.

    "Really, Lucas? You think these can stop me?!" He shouted.

    But as he stepped forward, he noticed the wires weren''t randomly placed. They were at precise heights and angles, designed to slice through anyone moving with speed or recklessness. Carter crouched, running his fingers along the taut line. With a flick, he tested its sharpness against one of the smaller branches nearby. The branch split cleanly in two.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    He stood and strode forward, ignoring the traps as he carefully maneuvered through them. It was slow-going, but it didn''t bother him. He wanted to savor this. Then, through the thick purple leaves ahead, he saw him. Lucas stood in a clearing, the sunlight casting sharp shadows across his figure. He was no longer in his usual relaxed attire. Instead, he wore light armor, a combination of plates and reinforced leather designed for agility.

    "All this trouble for me? I''m touched." Carter commented.

    "I swore off bloodshed, Carter, and I rather plan for it to be that way." Lucas replied, "You killing Jacob made it hard to ignore, but I was willing to let it go, but to want to go after my wife...that''s a different matter. Last chance, back off."

    "Is that a request or a demand?"

    "Both."

    "Then no, I liked her first, and I imagined how much lovemaking we''d be doing since, and I plan to make it happen."

    "First, you talk like a low-level goon, and second, you''ve seriously made it hard for me to keep my oath." Lucas said, "Magnet magic: Heart manipulation."

    A sudden, crushing pressure filled the air. Carter instinctively stepped back, his cocky demeanor replaced by a wary focus as his body tensed. It started as a faint tug within his chest, a disorienting pull that quickly grew into a relentless force. Carter staggered, his hand shooting to his chest as though he could physically stop whatever was happening. His blood roared in his ears, and his heart felt like it was being yanked by invisible chains.

    "You..." Carter spat, his voice strained as he struggled to keep his footing, "You''re manipulating my blood?"

    Lucas'' eyes narrowed, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

    "Blood contains iron. Iron is magnetic. And you''re full of it." Lucas said nonchalantly.

    Carter snarled, trying to charge forward, but his movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. Every beat of his heart betrayed him, answering Lucas'' call instead of his own will. His muscles twitched erratically, his own blood working against him.

    "Magnet Magic: Blood Puppet." Lucas cast.

    Carter''s body jerked unnaturally, his arms snapping to his sides and his legs stiffening as if they were no longer his to command. His breath hitched as he felt his own muscles betray him, controlled by an external force. His fists rose, tightening until his knuckles cracked, and he swung them toward his own face.

    Carter''s body surged with raw energy as he fought against the restraint Lucas had placed on him. His teeth ground together, his blood boiling as he summoned every ounce of mana he had left. With a roar, he tapped into his physical strength and enhanced his defense, his body glowing with a surge of power.

    "You PUNK!" Carter shouted as his muscles bulged, his veins pulsing as he activated his magic, "Strength magic: Berserker. Defense magic: Adamantium Skin!"

    His skin thickened and his aura shifted as his body grew into that of a goliath. The transformation was as much mental as it was physical, and Carter felt the rush of adrenaline as his power skyrocketed. The ground trembled under his feet, and the air seemed to crackle with the intense energy surrounding him.

    Mana surged through his blood, expelling Lucas'' mana control of his body, allowing him full control again. With a sudden burst of speed, Carter lunged forward, his immense fists crashing through the air with the force of a freight train. His target was Lucas'' head, but before he could make contact, Lucas vanished, disappearing like smoke in the wind.

    When Lucas appeared again, Carter''s fists swiped through the air, smashing the ground where he thought Lucas would be, but each time his hands passed through empty space. The moment he turned his head, the sound of footsteps from behind him rang out, and without hesitation, he spun around, launching another swing. But again, his hand cut through nothing.

    Then, all at once, he felt it, pressure from every direction. Dozens of clones, all identical to Lucas, appeared from the shadows of the trees. Each one closed in with remarkable speed, fists already raised. He swung wildly, his massive fists crashing into the first figure he saw, but as his hand met its chest, it went through it, as if Lucas was a ghost. The clone managed to deliver a powerful punch to Carter''s ribs, but it barely hurt.

    The next hit landed, not from one, but from 2 Lucas figures, each delivering a powerful punch to his ribs, at the same spot. Carter staggered back, it got stronger and stronger, causing his muscles to strain against the impact. The blows didn''t feel like they came from one body but from everywhere. He couldn''t catch his breath. He swung his arm in a desperate arc, trying to force his way through the barrage of blows, but each punch he made only passed through the illusion.

    "Magnet magic: Vessel Rupture." Lucas cast.

    Instantly, Carter''s body froze, his senses overloaded with a sudden, sharp pain that erupted deep within his veins. The sensation was unlike any injury he had ever known. The magnetic force pulled at the iron in his bloodstream, dragging it toward the surface of his skin. Carter gasped, the searing agony flaring up as his veins throbbed painfully, his skin stretched as though it were about to tear apart. The pressure mounted, blood vessels straining with the unnatural force.

    With each pulse of the spell, the force grew stronger, causing internal damage. His body trembled, unable to keep up with the manipulation of his own blood. His senses blurred, the world spinning as he tried to remain on his feet, but the pressure was unbearable.

    He could feel his blood shifting, as if being pulled by an invisible hand, every movement sending a wave of sharp pain surging through him. His heart hammered in his chest, desperately trying to pump blood through his body as the magic twisted his insides. Carter''s breathing grew shallow, his body growing heavier with each passing second.

    "Your one weakness is your lack of healing magic," Lucas explained as he appeared before Carter, "That''s why your original squad had 2 healers. The second issue is that while your magic is effective, it''s quite basic, it only enhances your body as you can''t apply it on everyone, and all your spells are close-range. Third, you''re slow. And last but not least, I''m very good at fighting against close-ranged fighters."

    "You...support mage!" Carter snarled.

    "Well, I''ll use an element you''ve seen before. Chain Magic: Chain of Endless Servitude."

    A green spectral chain materialized in the air, shimmering with a powerful, ethereal glow. Lucas'' hand extended forward and a green spectral chain shot out toward Carter and latched onto the middle of his chest. The moment the chain connected, Carter''s body jerked violently. The spectral chain seemed to pulse with a sinister life of its own, digging deep into his heart and locking him in place. His blood continued to leak from the ruptured vessels as the spell tightened, forcing him into an agonizing state of helplessness.

    "Let''s get this over with, it seems like some friends of ours are heading this way." Lucas muttered.

 Chapter 9: Pride

    Lucas POV

    The fight was over, and I had won. A rush of wind behind me made me glance over my shoulder. Dennis and Sarah stood at the edge of the clearing, their faces etched with a mix of shock and disbelief as they took in the scene.

    "Lucas... what the hell is this?" Dennis was the first to approach, his voice tense.

    "I assumed that Trevor sent you here?" I then dragged Carter''s limp form closer before dropping him at their feet.

    Blood trickled from his wounds, staining the ground below him. I healed him enough to make sure he didn''t die since the guy needed to learn a little lesson.

    "He''s responsible for Jacob Sanders'' assassination and the destruction of the palace. He''s also working with Trevor. Investigate him."

    "Trevor? You''re saying he''s involved? That''s...that''s a lot to accuse someone of, Lucas." Sarah commented.

    "We heard rumors about you," Dennis replied, "About how you''ve changed since the war, but...this?"

    He gestured to Carter''s beaten form.

    "We''re comrades, Lucas. We fought side by side. We were brought into this world together." Dennis continued, "I know that you''re mad about not being able to go back, but you shouldn''t take your anger out on Carter, even if he''s a bit rash."

    "And I''m telling you that your good friend Trevor isn''t what you think he is. Look into it. Or don''t. It''s up to you...as for this guy, I made sure that he won''t come after me again."

    "Why the hell are you being so cold?! We voted to go back home, the same as you did."

    "I am not."

    I remembered the vote clearly. Dennis, Sarah, Jacob, and I had all stood on the same side that day. Only 4 out of 10 of us wanted to go back. But it wasn''t enough. It was apparently easier to summon us here than send us back, the energy required didn''t exist, not naturally. The only way was divine intervention, and the gods wouldn''t intervene without a unanimous decision.

    4 votes weren''t enough to convince them.

    "Look, the only reason I''m a bit mad was that this guy wanted to do inappropriate things to my wife, that''s all. Since this guy being a hero stop him from being imprisoned, just lecture him and make sure it never happens again. And investigate Trevor like I asked. That''s all, bye."

    <hr>

    I knocked softly on the door, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The door creaked open, and Mr. Pierce, the mayor, stood there, his familiar smile warm but tired.

    "Come in, Lucas," he said, stepping aside to let me in.

    Inside, the house was cozy, filled with the faint scent of pinewood and something freshly baked. My eyes immediately went to the couch where Lisa sat between Harper and Ramona. Her legs swung idly as she clutched a book, looking up at me with a shy smile.Stolen novel; please report.

    "Hi, Mr. Lucas." Lisa greeted.

    "I hope you don''t mind us staying here for a while. Hiding outside of town won''t work."

    I just told the mayor that some bandits tried to get revenge and we wanted to hide my family here since they wanted me specifically, he didn''t ask too many questions and he and his wife welcomed my family in with open arms. Carter''s got enhanced senses, like the eyes of a hawk. He''ll spot us before we even make it out of sight. And Riley already sensed some of his men lurking near the town, so leaving wasn''t an option since we wanted to handle things quietly.

    "It''s no trouble at all, Lucas. You''ve done so much for us by dealing with those bandits. Think of this as repayment." He chuckled softly, "Besides, I enjoy the company. Especially Lisa. I haven''t had children in the house for a long time."

    My gaze drifted to a framed portrait above the fireplace. It showed a younger Mr. Pierce with his wife and 4 children. As I sat down, I reassured my wives about my well-being before they then went to help Mrs. Pierce cook our dinner, leaving me alone with Mr. Pierce.

    "Your children?" I asked, pointing at the painting.

    "Yes, of course. This house used to be a lot livelier back then." He answered, "3 sons and a daughter."

    "Where are they now?"

    "They served in the war." he answered.

    "...How does it feel? Losing them like that?"

    "You''re the first to ask me that." He chuckled, "You know, people usually say I must be proud. They tell me, ''Your children died heroes, sacrificing themselves to protect so many lives.'' But to me...there''s no glory in death, Lucas. None. I''ve heard all the stories. How brave they were, how they saved countless people. They even sent medals, official letters, the whole lot. But at the end of the day, none of that means much to me. It''s hard to feel pride when the only thing you want is for them to come home. That''s all I ever wanted, for my kids to come back, alive and safe.

    "I''m not that old, you know. I shouldn''t have to bury all four of my children already. But here I am. This house feels so much bigger now...and so empty." he sighed, "I appreciate Lisa''s presence, if I had known about her situation, I would have taken her in, but...her parents were great people too, but I guess it''s true when they say that demons make themselves beautiful to deceive humans."

    "I''ve never heard that one before."

    "You served too, didn''t you?"

    "...I did...And if you want, I''ll have Lisa visit you often."

    "Of course, she''s very welcome."

    "I''ll bring her tomorrow since she''s having a holiday anyway."

    "Might was well stay here till then, we got room."

    "Sure. Thank you."

    "It''s the least I can do."

    <hr>

    Carter POV

    Every breath I took reminded me of how close I had been to the brink of death. My body seemed to be healed, but I could still feel it aching. The room was dim and the scent of herbs lingered in the air. My head pounded as flashes of what happened rushed back to me.

    That bastard Lucas...

    I tried to move, but my body felt heavy and sluggish. And the pain just gave me bits and flashes of that stupid spell of his.

    "You''ll live. But in exchange for your life, you''ll serve under me for the rest of it. Those are the terms." he said.

    At the time, I didn''t have a choice. My pride wouldn''t have let me beg, but survival was instinctive. I remembered nodding faintly, agreeing because I didn''t want to die there. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying bits and pieces of that conversation. Lucas''s voice had been calm, almost eerily so, but there was no mistaking the edge beneath his words.

    "Continue doing what you''re doing. It doesn''t matter to me how you choose to live, though I''d prefer it if you''re living a regular and peaceful one. But if something important comes up, you''ll report it to me using any reasonable method. Investigate Trevor for me, and none of this si to ever come out of your mouth, you being my slave will be our secret."

    I hadn''t thought someone like him could have such a terrifying side. My fists clenched weakly at my sides. I wanted to hate him, but a small part of me...Fuck. The spell has already taken effect...I shouldn''t have went there with my guard down.

 Chapter 10: Visit

    Lucas POV

    The soft crackle of the fireplace mingled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread as I leaned back in my chair, letting the warmth of the bakery seep into my bones. Winter had fully settled in, and outside, a light dusting of snow coated the rooftops. Lisa sat at the table beside me, tongue poking out in concentration as she sketched in her notebook.

    Her exams were finally over and it''s now winter break, so the girl had thrown herself into her art with a renewed sense of freedom. Every so often, she''d glance my way, holding up her drawings for feedback. I always gave her an encouraging smile and a thumbs-up.

    "Cold?" I asked as she tugged her scarf tighter around her neck.

    "A little." she admitted, rubbing her hands together.

    So I brought over a blanket and draped it over her. The thought of traveling crossed my mind, it had been a while since I''d seen Evan. Mona''s parents were along the way, too.

    "Lisa, how would you feel about visiting Evan? He''s the good friend I told you about. We can stop by Mona''s parents'' place on the way too."

    "What about the bakery?" She asked.

    "We''ll just post a sign saying we''re closed for a bit. It''s winter break, and we''ve earned it. Besides, there''s already another bakery trying to open nearby. Maybe that''ll help them get a good start."

    "Really? You''d just close the bakery for a trip?"

    "Yeah, I''ll introduce you to Evan and my in-laws."

    <hr>

    Lisa beamed as she proudly held up a small bag of lemon candies she had been working on. They were wrapped in bright yellow paper with hand-drawn smiley faces on them. We''re currently in a carriage heading for the capital, it should be a few days'' trip, we can travel faster with magic, but we have time, and we plan to enjoy every moment of our retirement.

    "These are the candies I told you about! Super sour at first, but they get really sweet after a bit. Everyone in my class loved them!"

    "Did you make them?" Mona asked

    "Of course, all by myself." she replied proudly, "Here, try one."

    Mona hesitated for a split second, but not wanting to disappoint Lisa, she unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth. For a moment, her face remained neutral, but then her eyes widened, and her cheeks puffed up as if she''d just bitten into a raw lemon. I raised an eyebrow. Mona hated sour things, and she wasn''t exactly subtle about it. But, as expected, she was doing her best to endure it for Lisa''s sake.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    I had it and I liked it, but even the sweet part was still a little bit sour. Lisa then turned away to check her bag for more snacks and activities, and while she was distracted...

    "Want me to help with that?" I whispered.

    She shot me a confused look, her lips pursed tightly around the candy. Before she could respond, I leaned in and kissed her, using my tongue to swipe the candy from her mouth. Mona pulled back, her face bright red.

    "What are you-"

    "Shhh." I said as I silenced her, "I got you."

    "W-where did you learn to do something like that?" She exclaimed with a flustered face.

    "Hmm? What''s going on?" Harper asked, "Why is Mona so red?"

    "Oh, I just stole her candy."

    "Lucas, you seriously should bully Mona too much, you know."

    "Okay, I''ll give it back."

    I leaned in closer, and before she could react, I pressed another kiss to her lips, gently slipping the candy back where it came from. She froze, her hands shooting up to cover her face the moment I pulled away.

    "This is so embarrassing¡­" Mona groaned, her hands still firmly pressed against her face, "Seriously, where did you learn to do that?"

    "I saw it on a show that was based on this comic that I once read."

    "I have no idea what that means, but please stop...I don''t think my heart can take that again."

    "We have done much worse things."

    "No fair! Why are you only being lovey-dovey with Mona?!" Harper demanded as she latched on to me.

    "You''re seriously as clingy as always."

    "Of course I am. Remember my vow, my closeness is to make up for the years that I wasn''t allowed to do these things, so being clingy is normal."

    "I''ll kiss you later because Lisa might be uncomfortable."

    "Don''t mind me, you three." Lisa chimed in, "I''ll just turn away and close my ears."

    <hr>

    The journey to the capital was long, but the sight that greeted us was worth every mile. Nestled in the heart of the mountain range, snow-covered peaks surrounded the city, the Northern Peak Kingdom''s capital lived up to its name. The city was filled with stone buildings and homes that were covered in snow. Streets were packed with people, their voices blending with the sounds of merchants shouting, children laughing, and carriages going over the cobblestone road.

    Lisa had never been outside our small town before, and now she was drinking it all in. The towering gates, the sprawling market, the endless swirl of people...it all seemed to overwhelm her but in a good way. Eventually, we made our way to Evan''s address.

    The moment Evan spotted me after his door opened, his face lit up with a wide grin. Before I could say a word, he pulled me into a tight hug, nearly lifting me off the ground.

    "Lucas! Long time, no see!" he exclaimed.

    "Hey, Evan, you didn''t think I''d forget about you, did you?"

    "You just show up unannounced and plan to stay at my house without even asking? Bold move, buddy."

    "Let''s be real, you''d be more pissed if I stayed anywhere else."

    "And you''re still shorter than your girlfriend, I see."

    "She''s my wife now."

    "Somehow." He shrugged, "Nice to meet you...two...eh?"

    "Right, this is Lisa. Lisa, this guy right here is the Evan guy I told you about."

    "Ah, nice to meet you, Mr. Evan." Lisa bowed and greeted him, "I heard that you like to feed bugs to your wife."

    "WHAT?!" a woman''s voice screamed from the inside.

    "Wait, Ari! She''s joking! She''s- POW!" Evan then went flying after a short brown-haired woman kicked him into oblivion.

    "Hello, you three. It''s nice to see you again." Arianna greeted us, "Ah, is this your daughter? How old is she?"

    "Hello, I am Lisa. I''m 7 and I''m-" Lisa was then cut off.

    "Wait, 7?!" Arianna greeted, "Did you force Harper into breaking her vow as a saint 7 years ago? How scandalous!"

    "Can we come in? We''ll tell you later. And I want to heal Evan before he gets brain damage."

 Chapter 11:" The Teacher

    Lucas POV

    After we headed inside, the wives went off to talk with each other and introduced Lisa to their 4 children, 3 of which were actually Terrence''s. I then sat down and talked with Evan, bringing him up on everything that happened on my side while he gave me the news on his. he took up a new hobby of brewing alcohol on the side while his wife opened up a salon to work while the kids were at school. Eventually, Evan talked about some incidents that have been popping up here.

    "...Lots of crazy shit have been happening over here too." He shrugged as he poured me a drink.

    "Fruit beers have been a thing in my world for quite some time."

    "Not that." He waved it off, "But funnily enough, theft has increased and there have been a lot of attacks. Even increase in organized crime groups."

    "Is that why the knights have always been going out and about?"

    "Yeah...I know you retired and all, but you should consider coming out of it for a bit."

    "I-"

    "I''m not forcing you, and this suggestion ain''t even good." He cut me off as he finished his drink, "I think it''s going to be handled eventually, we already took out the big guns."

    "You''d think that when one threat is gone, you''d think it''s gone forever...I guess...reality is often disappointing."

    "That''s the thing, Luke. You chop the head off one beast, and another one grows. Sure, we got rid of the big bad, but that left a vacuum. People are opportunistic, and when they see a gap in power, they fill it...often with crime and chaos. Chaos sounds fun sometimes, but...yeah...besides, it''s not like everyone is not trying, but it''s a mess. Corruption runs deep in some places, and let''s not even get started on the tensions with the demons."

    "Demons...? Oh? The survivors."

    "The surviving demons are isolated on their continent. With all their strongest warriors gone, they''ve got no way to defend themselves. It''s like leaving a defenseless village surrounded by wolves. Humans see an opportunity to expand, to take resources, to push their agendas. Some of the kingdoms are already treating them like dirt, raiding their lands, enslaving them."

    "What the...? Does the government know?"

    "If I do, how would they not?" he shrugged, "The demons are powerless now, but resentment builds over generations. If humans keep pushing them, and treating them like this, it''s only a matter of time before they retaliate. Maybe not in our lifetimes, but give it a century or two. History has a way of repeating itself."

    "...You ever want to get your magic back? There''s a chance that there''s an artifact somewhere out there that can fix you."

    "There probably is, but I''m content with what I''ve got. I have 4 kids, a loving wife, and lots of money...I don''t need magic to be happy. I''m only going to get richer once I get my alchemy certification."

    "You plan on having more?"

    "I got 4 already, I don''t want anymore. What about you?"

    "We are trying. Harper suggested adopting Lisa the other day too."

    "What''s stopping you?"

    "The age. I''m 24 and Harper''s 23. Lisa is 7. I''m more of an older brother."

    "Ramona is also 26, and in this world, people marry at 15." He pointed out.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    "It''s still weird. Like I''m not against adopting Lisa or whatever, but we''ve only known her for 6 months, so it''s a bit fast. She''s still calling me Mr. Lucas. Luke or Lucas is still a no-go for her, it''ll be a bit forceful to suddenly be her dad."

    "You''ve grown."

    "You''re only 29, don''t like an old man."

    "We should call Riley over and have a small reunion." He suggested and took out a call crystal.

    "She''s probably busy, we shouldn''t bother her. Besides, these call crystals are still very expensive to use for something that''ll last about 20 seconds."

    "What else are you here to do?"

    "Meeting Mona''s parents. I''ll do that in a few days."

    <hr>

    The next day was lovely as our families hung out together the whole day. And we ate out for dinner at a nearby diner that was quite overcrowded, making us speak louder than usual to just be able to hear each other. Everything felt calm until I caught the hushed voices of soldiers at a nearby table. Having enhanced senses can truly be a burden sometimes.

    "Did you hear about the Famus raid?" one of them asked.

    "Yeah, complete disaster," another replied, shaking his head, "They underestimated the group. Famus isn''t just some back-alley gang. They''re ex-soldiers, mages who fought on the frontlines. That''s not something a few former reserves can handle."

    "Especially not with the heroes out of commission, what are we supposed to do? Jacob''s death has them scrambling, and the Lifegiver''s retired now. That''s two heroes gone. The rest? They''re busy or scattered. How''re we supposed to keep up when the strongest are out of the picture?"

    Famus. I''d heard the name before. They are a very rich criminal organization that specializes in trades, using money to acquire the best of the best. Even though slavery should be banned and eliminated by now, they filled the empty vacuum and rose to the top through that. The fact that they were made up of former soldiers, mages who''d fought alongside us in the war, made it worse.

    The soldiers were right too, with Jacob gone and me out of action, that left only 8 active heroes. The reserves were trying their best, they''re now the main forces as the stronger ones are resting after receiving injuries that couldn''t be healed during the war. Some made money by joining these organizations like Famus. These newer soldiers...they were just bodies being thrown at a problem they couldn''t handle.

    Retirement had felt like the right choice after everything we''d been through. I''d wanted peace, a chance to build a quiet life with Ramona and Harper. The heroes couldn''t be everywhere at once, but if Famus was as dangerous as they sounded, someone had to step in.

    "...Seems like I might have to come out of retirement sooner than I thought."

    "What?" Evan exclaimed, "I was kidding."

    "Help me tomorrow, I''ll just need 3 days to have this handled."

    "3 days? You''re a healer."

    "There''s a lot of overpowered healer characters nowadays, I''m just one of them."

    <hr>

    "Hey, are you sure?" Mona asked once we got back to our room.

    "Yeah. As much as I hate this life...it seems that I''m needed, so I''ll just go and handle it."

    "That''s exactly what you said when we first met." she giggled, "Just in a different tone."

    "I remembered that you didn''t like me at all."

    <hr>

    *Flashback*

    Lucas POV

    The Northern Peak Kingdom, I couldn''t help but admire the snow. The cold had a way of waking you up, making you feel alive. And the beer...let''s just say it put the ones from home to shame, mana-rich ingredients really do help the taste...not that I know what the taste of beer is back home, and...well, the women were undeniably beautiful.

    They asked me to volunteer at a school to boost morale. A hero showing magic tricks to kids. It wasn''t exactly my idea of a good use of time, but I went. I figured if it made them happy, it wouldn''t kill me to indulge them for a day.

    The school was cozy, the kind of place that felt like it had seen generations of children come and go. The kids were wide-eyed and full of questions. I remember conjuring a simple flame in my hand, making it dance between my fingers. They clapped and cheered, their excitement infectious. For a moment, it almost made me forget why I was there in the first place.

    I then turned to see this hot blonde teacher in the corner of the room, clearly with a displeased expression as I tried to flirt with her earlier.

    <hr>

    When the demonstration was over, she pulled me aside into an empty hallway.

    "You''ve got some nerve," she said, "Flirting with a teacher on a volunteering mission? A hero stooping that low? Are you sure that you''re not a fraud, you silver-haired goblin?"

    "Flirting? I was just being friendly." I said as I leaned against the wall, "I don''t see beautiful girls like you everyday."

    "Friendly or not, it''s inappropriate. I can''t believe someone who''s supposed to be a hero would act like this."

    "...A hero, huh? You think I like being called that?"

    "If you hate it so much, why don''t you quit then?"

    "Yeah. As much as I hate this life...it seems that I''m needed, so I''ll just go and handle it."

    "You''re impossible."

    "Impossible? I stopped flirting the moment you rejected me."

    "You-"

    "Lucas!" a voice called, "There''s been an attack!"

 Chapter 12: Ramona

    Lucas POV

    The cold air bit at my skin as I followed the knight through the encampment. The crunch of snow underfoot was the only sound accompanying us as I was led toward the group I''d be commanding. The top 100 soldiers, they said. They are the best of the best...well, among the former reserves, most did fight in the war. This kind of team wouldn''t be sent out if it weren''t for me...but the lesser, the better, it''s hard to cover for so many people.

    White Forest loomed in the distance, its trees perpetually covered in snow. Even now, it looks more like a painting than a real place. But that beauty came with danger; low temperatures, poor visibility, and enemies who knew the terrain better than we ever could. And right near its edge was our target: Famus'' second-largest base.

    They''d been moving assets and personnel there ever since their other bases had been found out and infiltrated, even if the raids failed, they moved most of their assets here. It was a logical choice, hidden in the snowy depths and fortified against both the elements and outsiders.

    A base this important meant people who knew things: locations, plans, and weaknesses. A successful raid here wouldn''t just cripple them, it could open the door to dismantling the entire organization.

    As I approached the gathered soldiers, I was greeted by a tall man in a polished uniform, his presence as imposing as his title. Bryan Johnson, a Magic Knight Captain and second-in-command for this mission. His hand was firm as we shook, his face was also skeptical.

    "I''m Brian Johnson, magic knight captain." He commented, "For a healer, you are very heavily geared."

    "A helmet is useful for a person who''s targeted the most, and a gas mask is useful for gas-related attacks."

    "I''m told you''ll only need two days to finish this operation."

    "That''s correct," I replied simply. I didn''t need to justify myself.

    The plan was sound, and I knew what I was doing.

    "Two days? This base is fortified, heavily guarded, and buried in some of the harshest terrain we''ve dealt with. Most raids of this scale would take at least a month." he commented, "I understand that you are a hero, and calling for only a hundred troops is a very understandable move, but it is a bit rash."

    "Oh, come on, Bryan. Who are we kidding here? You''ve got Lucas leading this." Evan said, "The Lifegiver, one of the 10 summoned heroes. If he says it''ll take two days, then it''ll take two days."

    "I''ll admit, I''ve heard the stories. But seeing it for myself is another thing entirely." Bryan sighed.

    "You''ll see it soon enough, I''m leaving by the third day. Once the base is down, you''ll take over information gathering and follow-up operations. That''ll give you time to solidify what we find."

    <hr>

    *3.5 years ago*

    Lucas POV

    I rushed outside, the urgency in the voices of soldiers and civilians alike pushing me forward.

    "Sightings of more than a hundred demonic wyverns heading straight for the capital!" Terrence informed me, "Rush for the walls."

    Evan then applied support magic to help speed us all up as I sprinted to the walls, slipping my helmet on and tightening the straps of my gas mask. Civilians were running towards evacuation zones as the soldiers helped the evacuation. I saw the mage soldiers on the walls with their staffs prepping strong long-range spells to shoot toward the wyverns. They would aim to thin the numbers as much as possible before the wyverns reached the walls.

    But even if they succeeded, only a few will die, the wyverns'' air cavalry would still bring chaos, taking too many lives before they could be brought down. Their riders are probably also armed with explosions or simply powerful mages that can drop down and cause massive damage.

    The wyverns were still distant, but their forms were unmistakable, massive creatures with molten bodies, made of rocks and lava. I''m surprised that they are not called inferno or something fire-related, but people here called them demonic because they''re only found on the demon continent.

    Fighting them in the air was the only way to minimize casualties. Terrence wouldn''t be much use here. As a tank, his skills were defensive, meant to absorb damage and protect those around him. I can help him fly and help him move to where he wants, but he''ll be more useful down here, and his leadership skills would be better put to use commanding the soldiers on the wall and organizing the evacuation.

    Evan is also more useful down here as there would be many that he needed to tend to.

    Riley was my best bet. She could fly and had offensive capabilities, but her body wasn''t built to withstand prolonged damage. I can heal, but I need physical contact...unless...

    "Terrence, Evan, you two stay down here. Riley, with me."

    "You sure? My magic doesn''t last as long if I''m not nearby." Evan said, "Besides it renews as long as I''m nearby, you''re going to need me."

    "Yeah, but I want to minimize casualties, we can take down 90 of em, you guys can hold off the rest before I come back, can''t you?"

    "I would say leave some to me, but that would lead to deaths of civilians, so go, we got no time." Terrence responded.

    Riley and I then used wind magic to fly toward the wyverns.

    <hr>

    "Chain magic: Spectral chain."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Spectral chains shot out from my hands, linking to Riley''s body. The glowing links shimmered faintly as I cast the healing spell: Restoration. Normally, my healing magic required physical contact, but with the chain acting as a conduit, I could keep her in fighting shape from a distance.

    "Riley, you''re good to go." I called out.

    "You''re going to put Evan out of a job!" she replied.

    "That''s funny, but let''s joke later."

    She nodded, taking off with her spear. Water magic enveloped the weapon as she surged through the air, cutting down the riders and fighting the wyverns. She was flying and weaving through the wyverns and their blast, every time she got hit, my magic healed her immediately, proving my earlier theory correct. And once I saw that she was far away...

    "Lightning magic: Volt Detonation!"

    The spell exploded from my body in a sudden burst of electricity, sending a violent shockwave through the air. The blast brought down several wyverns in an instant, their bodies convulsing as they fell.

    "Watch it!" Riley screamed.

    Sorry!" I yelled back  and then yanked on the chains once I saw that a wyvern blasted a surge of flames at her.

    The spectral links glowed brighter as I dragged Riley through the air, out of the wyvern''s line of fire. I should really start using chain magic more, that was cool. Riley then shot me a quick look of thanks before diving back into the fray. Her spear streaked through the air like a comet as she tore through wyverns one by one.

    I landed on the back of a wyvern, its molten body searing hot beneath my boots. I should really buy higher quality fire-resistant boots.

    "Lightning magic: Lightning Mark." I chanted, placing a crackling sigil on the creature''s hide, "Speed magic: Rapid Movement."

    Leaping off, I moved to the next wyvern, repeating the process. My body felt weightless as I darted from one wyvern to the next. Once I gained enough distance, I focused my energy, feeling the electric charge building within me. The marks destabilized them, crackling with energy before detonating.

    "Lightning magic: Lightning Surge."

    A massive pulse of lightning energy radiated outward, collapsing inward before the marks exploded in a devastating blast. The shockwave tore through the wyverns, sending their charred bodies plummeting to the ground like meteorites. But even with the destruction, about fifty wyverns still remained, flying toward the capital and not stopping.

    "Chain magic: Lockdown."

    Chains then flew from my hands, flying toward the wyverns and wrapped around the bodies of every remaining wyvern, coiling around their wings, necks, and limbs. The creatures roared in defiance, thrashing against the unyielding restraints, but they couldn''t break free. The chains connected back to me, coiling tightly around my forearms. Their weight bore down on me like a mountain, but I wasn''t about to falter. I poured more mana into the spell, feeling the chains pulse with energy as they tightened, binding the wyverns in place.

    "Wind magic: Gale Force." I cast.

    My body surged with unnatural speed and force with wind boosting my downward pull. With a guttural yell, I yanked the chains with everything I had, dragging the entire swarm of wyverns down with me. The sky darkened as the mass of molten bodies hurtled toward the ground. I braced myself with healing magic and layers of wind barriers as we plummeted together, the earth rushing up to meet us since I couldn''t swing them against the ground.

    The impact was cataclysmic. The wyverns slammed into the frozen earth-like meteors, the ground quaking beneath their combined weight. A blinding explosion of heat and light erupted, sending molten rock, snow, and shards of ice flying in all directions. The shockwave tore through the battlefield, knocking down trees and sending plumes of steam and debris skyward. When the dust settled, a massive crater sprawled before me.

    I then dodged as I felt several spells were shot in my direction from the capital, hitting the wyverns. Several wyverns then lay motionless, their bodies shattered or charred beyond recognition. Others stirred weakly, their molten scales cracked and dimmed. But it wasn''t over yet. Most of the wyverns were still alive as Riley landed next to me.

    "Terrence should be running toward us." Riley said, "I got the wyverns, you focus on the riders."

    "Yeah, no worries. Spectral magic: Phantom step."

    "Wind magic: Tempest Lance."

    <hr>

    Back at the capital, the celebration was in full swing. The streets were alive with cheers, soldiers, and citizens alike reveling in the victory. Word of the wyvern attack had spread, and there were cheers of relief and gratitude from every corner. The city had survived, and there were no casualties to mourn. But I wasn''t celebrating with them. I slipped off my mask and helmet, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I stepped away from the bustling crowd.

    I then went back to the school that I volunteered at and asked for their break room. The dim light inside was a relief from the brightness outside. I peeled off the rest of my gear and collapsed into one of the chairs as I unpacked my takeout, causing the room to smell of beer, chicken, and sandwiches.

    "Not out there celebrating with everyone else?" Ramona asked.

    I sensed her a bit ago. She also came here with some takeout herself.

    "We can share if you want."

    "Where did your earlier personality go?" she asked as she sat down.

    "This is the very same me."

    "Your personality sure have a lot of ups and downs." she commented, "So answer my question."

    "I just don''t feel like it. So, why are you here?"

    "Why not? I live here."

    "Didn''t think you''d be the type to hang around the celebration. There should be a lot of beautiful women out there."

    "Yeah, but I''m not that desperate. Sleeping with women does start to feel empty eventually."

    "So why do you want to sleep with women? I heard the rumors of the so-called phantom, good-looking and surrounded by beautiful women. You''re not sleeping with that party member of yours, are you?"

    "The surrounding part is way exaggerated, I have slept with only...hmmm..."

    "Are you actually counting?"

    "Yeah, so wait...I have slept with only 6 women. Flirted with or had a kiss with, that''s another story."

    "6 women in like what? The 3 years you''ve been here or throughout your life."

    "The former." I answered as I shared half my sandwich and gave her a few pieces of chicken.

    "So why do you do it?"

    "Why would a young man not want to sleep with beautiful women?"

    <hr>

    "You know, you''re kind of a contradiction. You claim you''re not desperate, but you keep doing it anyway. If it starts to feel empty, why not stop?" She commented as she took a bite of her sandwich.

    "Yeah, you''re probably right."

    "It''s easy to get caught up in the moment, especially when everything around you is so...chaotic. But that doesn''t mean you have to follow along with it."

    "You''re a lot more insightful than I thought."

    "I''m just not too busy to notice things. You''d be surprised how much you can learn just by paying attention to the little things."

    "Guess I''ve been too focused on other stuff to notice, but hey, I guess it''s nice to talk about something that isn''t life or death for once.

    "Yeah, well, I''m just glad you''re listening. It''s not like I''m an expert or anything. I just think people like you, with all the power and responsibility, need someone to remind you that there''s more to life than...just fighting."

    "So, what about you? You seem like you''ve got things figured out."

    "I don''t know about that. But I do like what I''m doing here. I''m living here because they needed a teacher for the kids. It''s not a high-paying job, but it''s fulfilling enough. My family comes from a long line of merchants, so I could''ve easily taken that route. But I wanted to do something I enjoyed, you know?"

    "Merchants, huh? So you''re well-off?"

    "Not really. I mean, yes, but it''s not my money. But it''s good that I can do what I enjoy without worrying about finances. My family has always supported me...I guess that you''re not that bad of a guy after all."

    "You''re falling for me? Huh? Maybe I should look sad more often."

    "...That''s...not...why are you making me take back my words?"

    "Ramona is your name, right? Would you mind if I call you Mona?"

    "Yeah, I take it back, you are a bad guy."

    "I thought girls love a bad guy."

    "I hate you."

 Chapter 13: Free

    3rd Person POV

    "Divine magic: Eyes of the gods." Lucas chanted, causing his eyes to glow up.

    The spell allowed him to see everything past the snowstorm and check the inside of the base. And it seemed like there was already a leak as he could see figures armed and readied at every door of the base. Lucas was at a vantage point with Bryan while the rest are spread out surrounding their secret base, which was holed up into a mountain.

    "Bryan, it seemed like there are no slaves at this base...unless the slaves are also armed." He commented.

    "I see...then the possibility of just blowing it up entirely is still on the table." Bryan responded, "Because their strongest should barely survive the blast, and we can capture them then."

    "Not only that...you all mobilized within a day, we got a mole, a good one too."

    "Can you regroup everyone for a second?"

    "To check for the mole? That''s a -"

    "I know, but I just want them all in one place. I want no one to leave the area, and this information should only be shared between you and me. I''m going inside to check."

    "Alone?"

    "Yep, I should take...let''s say 7 hours. Rest until then, we''ll attack in 8 when they''re tired from waiting."

    "Should I at least leave a few to surround their base? I''ll make sure to keep an eye on them from afar at all times."

    "Sure."

    "Last question, the slaves have brands on their necks, right?"

    "Yes. It''s at a spot that is visible to everyone and doesn''t compromise their looks."

    "Spectral magic: Phantom Step." Lucas cast as he then vanished into thin air."

    <hr>

    Lucas moved through the base unseen and each room he entered was the same: soldiers standing on high alert, weapons drawn, scanning their surroundings and waiting for the order to attack. But there were no signs of branded slaves, not a single one. The eerie silence gnawed at him.

    "Not a single mark," he thought, his eyes narrowing. "If they''re hiding them, it''s deeper than I thought, either that or...they''ve moved their assets."

    He made his way past barracks, supply rooms, and a few hastily constructed workshops. The soldiers were disciplined, though none seemed to possess abilities that could detect his presence. Still, he stayed cautious, keeping his movements slow and light. When he reached the largest room at the center of the base, he paused. It felt empty and full at the same time. He considered slipping inside but decided against it. If there were any traps or alarms, they''d likely be concentrated there.

    He confirmed it with his divine sight, it was empty, apart from one piece of magic equipment inside, used to fool treasure hunters. The room was more than likely trapped, however, there were none elsewhere. And the members of Famus weren''t that strong, maybe a few whose strength rivaled Bryan''s.

    "No slaves, no detection spells, and no defenses that are specifically countering invisibility. They''re confident...too confident." he thought, "I could kill while doing this, but a death of one would cause this place to go into lockdown, being trapped might get me killed."

    The walls of this place also contain a lot of mana and are made of materials that are rarer than that of a royal palace. It was way too strong, not only that, but he found several mana generators that powered this place up. A base of any kind would have such generators, a suggestion on blowing this place up is reckless, that''s never the plan unless you''re desperate.

    A captain is smarter than that.

    "But these generators..." Lucas thought, "There''s too many of them, turning them off is also impossible as I don''t understand such technology that well...and a wrong move would blow me up."

    <hr>

    Lucas returned to the vantage point where Bryan waited, his expression guarded as he rematerialized. Bryan flinched for a bit, but he calmed down after a while. It''s been 5 hours, faster than he thought.

    "Anything?" Bryan asked.

    "No slaves," Lucas confirmed. "I checked every room I could without tipping them off. Unless they''re hiding them in a pocket dimension or buried underground, they''re not here. The place can be blown up."

    "Then we go with the plan."If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    "No...we''ll fight head on, I want to preserve the base. Spread everyone out and surround the base. Tell them to stay at least fifty meters away. The mole should flush them out, if not...In 2 hours, have them cast their spells simultaneously."

    "Understood," Bryan said, "What happens the mole flushed them out? I''m very confident in our skills, but they outnumber us by 10 at least."

    "Don''t worry, 99 excluding the mole is more than enough to fight them head-on. I''m here."

    "Overconfidence can-"

    "Just don''t get your necks cut off, I can''t heal death, so don''t fight recklessly."

    "How will you know not to heal the traitor?"

    "If there''s one, he''ll be dead before you have any time to worry."

    <hr>

    Lucas did not sleep throughout the night as he continued to monitor the area.

    "Divine Magic: Divine Hearing." he chanted.

    At first, it was nothing but idle chatter and nervous breathing, the kind of tension that built before an attack. His eyes roamed across the positions he''d memorized earlier, finally settling on Bryan, stationed at another vantage point. Something about his stance felt off. Lucas frowned. He did suspect it a little bit.

    Bryan should''ve reacted more when he''d mentioned the possibility of a mole earlier. His lack of offense, his measured calmness...it didn''t sit right. If anyone accused the groups of having traitors, he should have demanded more proof or pushed back immediately. But Bryan? Nothing. The thought lingered like a bitter taste in Lucas''s mouth. Corruption had been a growing problem lately, creeping through the ranks like a slow poison. Lucas had kept his eyes open, watching for signs even within his trusted circle. So far, there had been no proof, no slip-ups. Nothing.

    Until now.

    Bryan moved suddenly, lifting something in his hand...a call crystal. Lucas''s breath caught as he watched the man activate it. Still, a sliver of hope persisted, the smallest flicker that perhaps he was mistaken.

    "Now." Bryan hissed to the crystal.

    The single word shattered Lucas''s hope, confirming his worst suspicions as men started to flood outside of the base, running at him.

    "A bit clich¨¦, don''t you think? The most trusted being the traitor." he joked silently to himself.

    But what truly surprised him wasn''t Bryan. It was everyone else. The men stationed around the base, all one hundred of them, began to join in the attack with no hesitation toward Lucas'' position in perfect coordination. Bryan wasn''t the only one. They were all in on it.

    "Spectral magic: Phantom Step."

    He vanished and reappeared silently behind Bryan.

    "You should''ve been more upset when I mentioned the possibility of a mole," Lucas said while coldly glaring at him, "So tell me, Bryan. Are you all in on it with Famus?"

    "Does it matter?" Bryan asked flatly before lunging forward, his blade arcing toward Lucas.

    Lucas sighed, stepping back to avoid the blow with ease. His hand reached up to the necklace he wore, a small trinket designed to suppress his power, and tore it off. A surge of energy erupted from him. The air grew heavy, and an oppressive pressure forced even the sturdiest men to their knees. The soldiers froze, their eyes wide with shock as the immense power bore down on them, a weight that felt like gravity itself. Even Brayn had to kneel down as the pressure crushed him from above.

    "Chain Magic: Lockdown."

    Chains flew from his body and latched onto their targets, one by one. Chains wrapped tightly around their bodies, binding their arms and legs, incapacitating all the soldiers and the raid target. Only Bryan wasn''t, but that''s only because Lucas had another spell ready.

    "Chain Magic: Prometheus'' Chains."

    Thick, glowing chains erupted from the ground, far larger and more intricate than the ones before. They shot toward Bryan, wrapping around his arms, legs, and torso with a force that shook the ground. He struggled, but the chains tightened, glowing brighter as they locked him in place. This was Lucas''s strongest locking spell, the same one that had once held the Demon Lord.

    No amount of strength could break free. Bryan glared at him, teeth clenched in frustration, but Lucas''s expression didn''t change. He stood firm, staring down at the man trapped before him.

    But before he could do anything, he felt death. He then turned to the soldiers and back at Bryan as all the soldiers suddenly bit down on something. A golden liquid spilled from their mouths, glinting unnaturally under the moonlight. One by one, they collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

    "What...?"

    He was certain no poison could escape his senses, yet here it was, hidden right under his nose. How did they conceal it? His thoughts raced as the golden liquid began to seep from their bodies, pooling together and dissolving their armor, weapons, and flesh into the same glowing substance. The liquid moved unnaturally, defying gravity as it surged upward, forming a floating orb of gold in the sky. The sight set Lucas on edge.

    "Lightning magic: Zeus'' Fury."

    Lucas shot a barrage of lightning bolts toward it. But before they could reach it, more golden liquid from the bodies below shot up, merging with the orb and growing larger and took no effect from the spell. The spell fizzled out upon contact, unable to stop the transformation.

    The orb pulsed once, then detonated. A blinding, golden explosion erupted outward, consuming everything in its path. The ground trembled violently, cracks spiderwebbing across the earth as the shockwave tore through the landscape. Trees ignited instantly, their leaves and trunks reduced to ash in the searing heat. Rocks disintegrated, and the once-solid terrain melted into glowing molten craters.

    The force of the blast hurled debris miles into the air, shards of earth and fragments of incinerated structures hurtling like projectiles in every direction. The glowing remnants of the explosion created a fiery haze that painted the night sky gold, its light visible from miles away. The shockwave traveled fast, carrying destruction to the capital walls, even causing a tremor in the area.

    Debris rained down upon the capital of the Northern Peak Kingdom like meteors, crashing against the walls and startling the soldiers stationed there. They braced themselves, staring in horror at the golden glow fading into the distant horizon.

    And then they saw it.

    A massive shadow began to take form within the golden haze, its figure towering above the ruins of the explosion. A figure so enormous it seemed to pierce the heavens themselves. Its silhouette was otherworldly, its presence exuding an overwhelming sense of dread. The soldiers on the wall froze, their breath hitching as they stared at the colossal being. It loomed over the horizon like a living nightmare.

    From within the golden haze, a voice spoke, shaking the air like thunder.

    "Finally..." it boomed, "Not as strong as my true body...just as I expected."

    The figure then started to move.

    "But it feels good to be free."

 Chapter 14: The Father of Monsters

    Lucas POV

    I gasped for air as I came to, my body searing with pain. The first thing I noticed was the rough, uneven earth beneath me. A crater surrounded me.

    My crash site, basically.

    The golden explosion had flung me far, burning everything off me in the process. My armor, my clothes, even the mask, it was all gone. I coughed violently, blood spilling onto the dirt. My hands glowed faintly as I cast a healing spell on myself, stitching up the internal damage. But the moment the spell ended, I coughed even harder, expelling more blood and whatever impurities had seeped into my system.

    My body handled it better than most would, thanks to being a hero, but I didn''t care.

    None of that mattered right now.

    Raising my head, I looked toward the horizon. And there it was.

    That...thing.

    Even from this distance, its presence was overwhelming. A towering, ominous figure, shrouded in smoke and shadow, stood amidst the destruction. My instincts screamed at me, every fiber of my being recognizing the danger. Whatever it was, it wasn''t something that should exist in this world.

    The head alone was enormous, crowned with multiple eyes that seemed to glow faintly like embers, each one radiating an unsettling, malevolent light. It had serpentine features, with long, sinuous necks extending from its body like giant vipers, each head writhing and snapping, as if seeking prey.

    Its body was a grotesque mix of scales and writhing tendrils, many of which seemed to stretch and retract with unnatural speed, cracking the earth beneath it with each movement. Dark wings, like those of a bat but far larger, unfolded from its back, stretching wide enough to cast a shadow over the land.

    The creature''s limbs were massive, each one ending in claws that dug into the ground as it moved, shaking the very foundation of the earth. Its presence alone made the air heavy, as though the world itself recoiled from its existence. Every step it took was like an earthquake, sending shockwaves through the air.

    The monster''s skin was covered in scales that looked like molten rock, pulsing with dark energy. From its gaping maw, the air grew thick with heat and the smell of sulfur as fire constantly blew out of its nose. Even from where I stood, the sheer pressure it exerted made it hard to breathe. It wasn''t just a monster...it was far worse.

    The pressure it gives off...even from a distance, felt twice as powerful as the demon lord.

    <hr>

    I felt it, a second powerful presence in the distance. Not as intense as the monster, but still...significant. I knew it immediately, it was Carter. The guy who had tried to kill me a while back, but now? He couldn''t touch me if he tried. It was almost a calming thought.

    I turned just in time to see him land beside me as I covered myself with an armor of mana.

    "What the hell is that?" Carter demanded, "I''ve been heading in this direction since that golden glow earlier. I was nearby for a vacation to calm down after our last little encounter. What in the fuck is that thing?!"This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "I don''t know. But it looks like it''s heading toward the sea. Give me a ride, you''re faster than me, we need to get to the capital fast. We gotta alert the others, even that dubious Trevor."

    "What if he''s behind this?"

    "You know something?"

    "No, but he looks stupid and it''s the type of shit he''s into. Where are your clothes?"

    "Explosion, I''ll explain on the piggybag."

    "I can''t believe I lost to you."

    "Your fault for not coming at me with full power. No time, go!"

    He then carried me and jumped toward the capital as the monster headed toward the sea. We couldn''t even fight that if we tried, so running away is the best method for now.

    <hr>

    We landed in the capital, and the sight of panic was unmistakable. The city was in chaos as people were running through the streets while soldiers were doing their best to control the flow, pushing civilians to safety. I could feel the tension in the air, but the soldiers were holding their ground, keeping the peace despite the madness.

    I made us invisible with my magic to not attract any attention. We rushed toward Evan''s house, making sure to stay out of sight. Once we arrived, I barely gave the door a knock before I walked straight in. The place was calm for the moment, but I wasn''t sure how long that would last.

    "Harper," I called, walking toward her as she appeared, "Can you still talk to Luxor?"

    "Yes, I can. What''s going on?" She asked as I went to ask for sleeping pills from Evan.

    Evan got one and threw me a bottle, which I threw to Carter.

    "Evan, give me another one. Carter, take the whole bottle. Let him sleep on the couch, no questions."

    Before anyone could react, I turned back to Harper.

    "Request to connect me to the other heroes. Immediately. Through their dreams. If anyone''s awake, put them to sleep."

    Harper didn''t ask anything more, already understanding the urgency.

    "Got it." She nodded as she begin to clasp her hand in a prayer.

    "Also...dress me up while I''m asleep. We don''t have time."

    I then rushed to the bed and slowly took the pills to fall asleep. Without another word, I let the sleepiness take hold. I could already feel my mind slipping as I collapsed. I closed my eyes, ready to drift off, and just like that, I was asleep.

    <hr>

    "Dennis, Sarah, nice seeing you again...you too, Trevor."

    "Ah, you''re greeting me too? After accusing me of Heinous crimes?" Trevor replied back sarcastically, "Dennis and Sarah have been monitoring me for ages...Carter, why are you quiet? This isn''t like you, you drunkard."

    "Shut up." Carter grumbled, "Just listen to what Lucas have to say, it''s actually serious this time."

    "Ara...This really isn''t like you, Carter." Jennifer said, "I assume that you''ve summoned us, Lucas?"

    "Yeah."

    Jennifer Rose had fiery red hair and piercing green eyes, and her lean, athletic frame was built for agility because she was a student-athlete. She was an offensive mage, known for her devastating area spells and crowd-control abilities.

    Rika Satou had jet-black hair tied in a ponytail and sharp brown eyes. She specialized in burst-style offensive magic, great at instant massive amounts of damage in one strike.

    Pedro Olivera was a tall quiet guy with short-cropped brown hair, and dark grey eyes, and a tall lean frame, even taller than Carter. He was the tank for us in the back.

    Gabriela Santos had wavy dark hair, hazel eyes, and a strong, muscular build. She was an offensive vanguard, excelling in the battleaxe.

    Dennis was a tank alongside Sarah on the front lines as Carter refused to take that role, Carter and Trevor were our offensive vanguards, though Trevor possessed more assassin-like skills. We''re currently only missing Jacob, our archer, but he was killed by Carter and Trevor. I was about to say something, but Luxor, this world''s god of light made his appearance.

    He appeared to us in his original form, a humanoid figure of golden light, which he dimmed down to let us see.

    "I will take over the explanation from here, Lucas." Luxor said, "What you and Carter just saw was the father of monsters, Typhon."

    "...From the Greek mythology?" Pedro asked.

    "Yes, he was summoned into this world, and I''m sure that Carter and Lucas have noticed, he is much stronger than the demon lord."

    Shit.

 Chapter 15: News

    Lucas POV

    "So why is he here? I almost died from the summoning ritual?"

    "You were there?" Sarah asked, "Was it at the Famus raid thing that you joined?"

    "Yeah, the magic knight captain turned out to be in on it too."

    I then explained about how the failed raid went in detail, the explosion and the monster. With Luxor confirming my story, they had no reason to doubt it. But as usual, these gods only watched and did nothing to help, I don''t know if summoning us here counts. With only 9 of us left now, how are we supposed to take care of such a thing?

    We already had a hard time with the demon lord, how are we supposed to take care of this?"

    "So, what do we do? Why is this guy here?"

    "For now, you can rest." Luxor answered, "Typhon seems to be going into the depths of the ocean and we highly believe that he is heading to Hallow Terra."

    "What?"

    "You know, Hallow Earth." Trevor chimed in, "The concept that there''s another world beneath the surface of this one. An entire hidden realm, with its own skies, landscapes, and maybe even life. I''ve seen it in Godzilla."

    "I still don''t know why this planet can''t decide between calling it either Earth or Terra."

    "Back to our topic." Luxor cleared his throat loudly to get our attention, "His first goal is to free himself after being sealed beneath Mount Edna and they had hoped to take down one hero in the process, that being you, Lucas."

    "Why don''t they just bring us there and take us all out at once?"

    "It''ll be too obvious if more than one of you appears and your survivability increases in numbers, so they sought to kill you all one by one, and I presume that the sole support hero was on top of their list."

    "I wouldn''t say top." Jennifer shrugged, "Jacob got done in quickly."

    If Jacob was taken down by that monster, it would be easier to explain. Carter can''t really hurt me or anyone right now, but no cell can hold him, and even if I ordered him to stay, it''ll be useless, especially now, when there''s an even bigger monster on the loose...he''ll be more useful out here than in there.

    "Not only that, Ignis, the god of Fire, has betrayed us and is the one helping Famus." Luxor added, "Ignis has allied with Typhon. Together, they plan to reshape Hallow Terra into a place where the gods and their creations can roam freely once more. To do that, they intend to recreate Tartarus itself, where they can summon other allies, conquer this world, and eventually yours."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Is there a reason why he chose to be summoned into this world specifically?" Dennis asked.

    "The gods of your world have Mount Edna and many prisons closely guarded; they''ll be taken down the moment they get out. Our world has only 7 gods, 2 of which are dormant. So they plan on coming here, summoning their allies, and eventually go back to take revenge on their enemies."

    "That''s it? Revenge? Hasn''t it been like centuries or millennia? Can''t they just use their godlike powers to recreate a world of their liking from scratch?"

    "A world with life takes dozens of gods to make."

    "I thought that you have only 7." Dennis pointed out.

    "They have given their powers to us before they passed." Luxor answered, "As of now, Typhon is heading to Hallow Terra to meet up with Ignis."

    "What do you expect us to do? We''d lose to this Typhon guy according to the assessment of Carter and Lucas."

    "For now, let us deal with Typhon and Ignis. You 9 will raid all the biggest criminal organizations in the world, Famus is the only one we know that is connected to Typhon and his allies, go for them first."

    He then gave us some brief explanations and answered a lot of questions raised by the others, and just before he let us go, he asked me to stay behind for a chat.

    <hr>

    I woke up to see that Harper was curled up right next to me, I was clothed and it seemed that she already helped wash my body in my sleep, I then looked at the time and saw that it was already lunchtime. The dream didn''t feel that long, I then headed downstairs. I sensed Riley was there and went down, and saw that she was sitting near the couch, watching Carter closely, who was getting up.

    "...I''ll head home first," Carter said, "I''ll do my part, you should do your part for this nation too...it''s going to be batshit crazy out there when it all goes down again."

    He then just up and left without a word. He knows that Harper is here too, I guess my spell worked somehow. He can''t really seek out me or my family unless it''s an emergency. I then turned to Riley.

    "Why are you here?"

    "A lot of us were ordered back to the capital. Magic Knight squads are regrouping to defend against a possible monster attack." She answered, "Seeing how these guys told me how frantic you were last night, you know something."

    "Yeah, Typhon, father of monsters, yada yada. Hallow Terra...anyway, you got connections to the grand commander, right?"

    "Yeah, what do we need to do?"

    "Raid a lot of criminal organizations, Famus is a good start."

    "What about you? You still retired?"

    "Yeah...I''ll join if the headquarters is found, but I want to enjoy my life a bit more. I saw a little bit more deaths than I wanted to yesterday...oh, and investigate the 100 men that came to join my raid, they were all with Famus."

    "I see, I''ll report it in and I''ll come back for dinner."

    <hr>

    I sat on the edge of the bed, my back against the headboard, Harper curled up against me. Her head rested on my shoulder, and her hand gently traced patterns on my arm while Mona was in the shower.

    "You okay?" Harper asked softly.

    "Yeah."

    "I knew this day would come, the day you''d have to go back."

    "I''m not going back, Harper. There''ll be a few things here and there, but it''s not like before. I promise. I''ll always prioritize us."

    "How dangerous is it going to be?"

    "Not that dangerous."

    "You''re a bad liar."

    "I would disagree. I''ve lied to a lot of people and got away with it."

    "...That''s true...you knew that I liked you and you kept teasing me with the ''friends hold hands all the time'' and doing other mean things."

    "...It is kinda funny."

    "It is now, but not back then."

    "...Hey...um...so, Luxor told me something, and I just want to confirm it."

    "What did he tell you?"

    "Are...are you pregnant?"

 Chapter 16: New (2)

    Lucas POV

    "Um...what?" Harper gave me a surprised look.

    "Yeah, Luxor pulled me aside and told me about it."

    "Are you sure? Can you check?"

    "Yeah."

    I then placed my hand on her belly and expanded my senses a bit. There it was. Faint, but undeniable. A small, budding spark of life. I pulled my hand back and let out a breath I didn''t realize I was holding. It was around 4 months old, but it''s there.

    "Yeah...you''re pregnant."

    "What?!" Harper exclaimed.

    "I''m more surprised that we didn''t notice any symptoms."

    "Maybe I chalked up any signs of stress or exhaustion." she responded, "Well...congratulations to us, I guess."

    "You''re trying so hard to stay calm."

    "Okay, fine, I''m losing it a little. I mean... oh my gods, Lucas, we''re going to be parents! Do you think they''ll have your eyes? Or mine? Or what if they have a mix of both? And names! Oh gods, we need names. What if it''s a boy? Or a girl? Do we go classic? Something unique?"

    "Girl, breathe."

    "Well, someone has to plan ahead! We''re going to need to start thinking about schools, and clothes, and-"

    "Babe, calm...we should tell Mona first."

    "Okay!" Harper then got off the bed and opened the bathroom doors and presumably jumped on Mona, because I heard a yelp and a loud thud as they slipped.

    <hr>

    As the night went on Harper''s energy eventually crashed and fell asleep first. I was trying to sleep myself, but it wasn''t working, this Typhon situation is way too stressful, even for me. At least the gods are doing something this time and helping us. I can definitely see a future where the gods send me to this Hallow Terra thing for some long mission, a mission that I can''t refuse.

    Mona then moved next to me as Harper was sleeping in the middle tonight. We snuggled next to each other for a bit before we spoke of anything.

    "Don''t worry too much, if you have to go, go." She advised, "We can handle ourselves."

    "That''s not what I''m worrying about...it''s just that the possibility of me not return-"

    "Don''t finish that sentence."

    "You know my job, it is dangerous."

    "...Fair, but be a little bit more optimistic for once...besides, if this problem is solved, we can finally go back to things like this everyday. Our future children, the bakery, traveling...and just relaxation for the rest of our lives."

    "Thank you."

    "Seriously, you feel sad way too often, what would you do without us on these missions?"Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "Scared that a woman out there would use my vulnerabilities to become my 3rd wi-agh, okay, stop pinching me."

    "Hmph." she pouted, "You''re lucky that I''m in a happy mood for Harper''s pregnancy. I never thought she''d beat me to it."

    "What''s this? Are you actually jealous?"

    "What? No! I mean...maybe a little." She huffed and turned in the other direction, "Ugh, don''t look at me like that."

    "Like what?"

    "I just...it''s not like I want to race or anything. It''s just...okay, maybe I''m a little jealous, but only because she gets to go through that whole...thing first."

    "I thought women didn''t like being pregnant."

    "I don''t think I''ll enjoy it, but it''s just...you know...besides, it''s a little bit embarrassing to lose to a woman who mostly took it up her ass." She grumbled.

    "I thought you''re not supposed to make fun of each other''s preferences."

    "She''s asleep, so it''s fine."

    "We can try again once we''re home if you want."

    "...Maybe we should just let Harper do this first. Having both of us pregnant at the same time might be a bit difficult in our current situation."

    "Fine, we''ll just do it for fun once we get home."

    "...Should I break this to my parents in the morning?"

    "It''s up to you."

    "My parents still like the both of you, it''s just that they find it hard to accept the fact that we''re married without a proper ceremony, so to them, we''re just an eloped family and not legitimate...I''ll ask Harper and everyone else in the morning."

    "It''s all up to you two, I''m just here along for the ride."

    <hr>

    At breakfast, Harper broke the news to everyone in the house and Riley responded with how we should name our future son or daughter after her and how Riley is a perfect name.

    "No offense, Lucas is a great guy, but what do you see in him?" Evan asked.

    "I''ll kill you, Evan."

    "I know you love me."

    "I don''t."

    "You''re in my house, just say that you love me as a thank you, it''s not going to be that bad."

    "I''d throw up."

    <hr>

    Mona''s family home, the Avalon mansion, was enormous. Calling it a house felt like an insult. It stood like a fortress, with tall white walls and gleaming windows that reflected the morning sun. The estate sprawled out with perfectly trimmed hedges and fountains that looked like they belonged in some kind of royal palace.

    Lisa couldn''t hide her awe. Her eyes darted around, wide with wonder, as she took in the sight of the towering mansion. I couldn''t blame her. I was also impressed when I first got here...well I also thought about not fumbling a wealthy girlfriend. The head butler, a sharp-looking man dressed impeccably in black, greeted us at the entrance. He gave a respectful nod to Mona, though I caught the slight hesitation in his gaze when it shifted to me. Not unexpected.

    Winston Von Avalon, the head butler, was the only one who was vocal about our relationship. Rightfully so, I wouldn''t want someone close to me to marry a person who possesses another partner. He is Mona''s mentor and the reason why she wants to become a teacher.

    "Miss Mona," he greeted, "Welcome home. Please, allow me to guide you to the meeting room."

    "Long time, Winston."

    It''s Mrs now, but I''m not going to correct him. We then followed him to their meeting room. I''m hearing chatter and whispers of Lisa from the servants as we walked by, but we ignored it. Winston himself was making occasional glances at Lisa while giving me a few glares, mostly from me winking back at him.

    Ben Avalon, Mona''s father, was already seated at the large table in the center of the room. His wife, Cassidy, stood by his side, her sharp eyes focused on us as we entered. Mona went in to hug them both and introduced Lisa to both of them. Her parents then went to formally greet Harper as if she''s still the saint, which...to be fair, she''s one of the few who can hear Luxor''s voice and contact him directly.

    Harper was the one who broke the news to them that she was pregnant, and the 2 of them called for a celebration and ordered Winston to arrange a feast. We were all catching up and discussing a few recent events before Ben handed me a letter. It had a familiar golden seal on it.

    "It''s a summon, from Queen Bramblewood." He said.

    "How urgent?"

    "Well, I wouldn''t ignore a summons from a queen of a foreign country. You were there with your squad before, maybe it''s related to that. I planned on sending it to you later, but after receiving the letter from Ramona informing us of your visit, I''d figure that now is the right time."

    "I...hope it''s not."

    What could she want now? That was the only thing running through my head as I stared at the letter in my hands. It''s been years since I''ve been in the Elven nation. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck as I turned the letter over in my hands.  And if it was tied to my time there with the squad...well, let''s just say that wasn''t exactly the best chapter of my life.

 Chapter 17: Urgent Summon

    Lucas POV

    I broke the seal carefully, the wax cracking under my fingers as I unfolded the letter. The queen''s handwriting was just as I remembered: pretty and elegant. I remember telling her to send it to this house after I moved out since the Avalons would then get me the letter quickly due to their connections.

    The message was short and to the point. She wanted me to return to her kingdom to discuss an issue involving one of her commanders, Bell Flameswood. I remembered Bell well. He was competent, loyal, and surprisingly easy to get along with for someone in his position. We hit it off during my time there, even sharing a few drinks after long missions.

    The letter stayed on my mind all day, like a quiet buzz I couldn''t tune out. I was watching Mona''s parents doting on Lisa, it was strange, though. Despite how intimidating the Avalons could be, they were surprisingly gentle with Lisa. She''d taken to them quickly too, already calling them grandpa and grandma. For a kid who''d never left town and never spoke to any family members outside her original parents and brother, and now us, I guess.

    But such a happy sight could still be easily disturbed as I found my thoughts drifting back to it.

    By the time the day wound down, the weight of the letter hadn''t left me. What happened to Bell? I was still lost in thought during one of Mona''s father''s stories when Winston stepped into the room. He carried a letter in both hands, the paper marked with a red and gold seal.

    "This arrived for you just now. It''s marked as urgent." He said as he handed me the letter directly.

    A red and gold seal meant immediate attention. The contents were brief and direct, much like the first one. It acknowledged the earlier message but stated that whether I had received it or not didn''t matter. The queen needed to see me immediately. No delays, no exceptions.

    "Go, it''s okay," Mona said, placing her hand on mine, "We''ll stay here for a while longer to wait for you."

    "Bring Riley with you." Harper suggested, "Just in case."

    "...thank you."

    "And don''t rekindle old relationships while you''re there. I know you won''t, but just in case, don''t do it."

    <hr>

    After packing my things, I bid farewell to everyone and apologized to Lisa, since I was the one who brought us here and our vacation was sort of ruined due to my job. She didn''t mind, but I promised to get her something on my way back. I then flew quickly to Evan''s house and showed Riley the letter, she already had most of her stuff packed and was ready to go.

    She may just be a captain, but she was treated better than one, so leaving for a mission like this should be fine.

    "If you guys want, go stay at the Avalons, they got a great pool and servants to watch over your children. If it''s you guys, it''s free."

    "I''ll consider it." Evan replied, "Go do your thing. I wish that I still have magic, so that I can be of help, but here I am."

    "It''s alright, just inform us of anything important and check on my family while I''m gone...on yourselves too, I guess, since you''re..."Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    "Family?"

    "Ew...but yes."

    <hr>

    The flight to the World Tree was quick as we rushed there. The sprawling elven nation, second only to the four major powers, loomed in the distance. Its towering spires and endless forests surrounded the massive World Tree, a sight so grand it still left me speechless every time I saw it. The guards at the entrance didn''t even flinch as I landed with Riley, holding up the envelope with its unmistakable seal.

    Without a word, they nodded and motioned for us to follow. We were led through the grand halls of the palace toward the throne room, where the queen excused her advisors and escorted the 2 of us to a private meeting room.

    Queen Isabella Bramblewood had dark brown hair that fell smoothly past her shoulders and striking green eyes that seemed to catch every detail. Her smile, as always, was soft and pretty, making it hard not to stare. I felt a little flustered thinking about our past, and judging by the way her eyes lingered on me, she definitely noticed.

    "So, your-"

    "Lucas." the queen cut me off, "Call me Isabella, you know our history."

    "Wait, history?" Riley questioned, "No...Lucas...you didn''t."

    "It would be rude to address you so casually, Your Majesty...and I''m married."

    "I thought it was the princess, but it was the queen?! You little...I mean...I apologize for my surprise."

    "We can talk about our past relations later, but for now, Bell." The queen said before proceeding to explain the reasons for the summon, "At first, he seemed the same as always, loyal, committed to his men. He was one of the most trusted commanders and was highly decorated, enough to one day become a grand commander.

    "After the war, he received numerous rewards, and recognition for his leadership. He used his new status and higher position to further his reach, but not in the way most would expect. It wasn''t for political gain or to amass power over nations, no. He sought something else...real, raw strength. The kind of power that doesn''t come with titles or fame, but with force. He wanted to be stronger, more than what he had been before.

    "You see, Lucas, what he truly wanted wasn''t just strength, it was the same kind of power he felt when he had your support magic on him during the war. That feeling, that rush, when he was strong and fast when he felt free. That high of invincibility, the one he got when your magic amplified him, made him feel unstoppable. He craved it. He couldn''t get enough of it. And that''s what drove him to these...experiments

    "He wanted to recreate that feeling. He knew he couldn''t get you to grant him that feeling, so he sought to do it himself. The ability to feel that high, that freedom, every time he fought. And in his search for that power, he lost himself. What began with animals, small tests to push his limits, became something much darker when he crossed the line and moved on to demons. It was as if nothing was ever enough for him. He wanted to feel invincible again, and when it wasn''t enough, he kept pushing. And then...

    "We have launched an internal investigation at this point, a secretive one so that we can''t alert him, but before we got close...He murdered his own family, and that''s when we lost track of him. He''s been hiding ever since."

    "It''s...unbelievable, I''m speechless, Bell isn''t that kind of person." Riley commented in shock.

    "So this is my fault, huh?"

    "No, it isn''t." The queen responded, "But I fear that you might have unintentionally enabled or...awakened a darker side to him. The power you gave him... it wasn''t just a simple boost. It was... addicting. For someone already struggling with their own sense of strength, that kind of power is dangerous. It becomes an obsession."

    I couldn''t see this coming, not even in my worst nightmares. I had never imagined Bell could fall so far, let alone resort to this kind of madness. My mind kept replaying the memories and refused to believe such a story.

    "Why did you summon me, then? What is it you need from me now?"

    "Bell''s been spotted recently...but this time, it''s worse." Her expression darkened, "He''s been kidnapping fellow elves. It''s become public knowledge, and panic is spreading across the nation. People are terrified. They need someone to restore their confidence, to remind them that they''re not alone. And if you''re willing...we need your help, Lucas. If not in taking him down and the investigation, at least stay here to reassure the people and maybe talk with him once we meet him again."

    "We''re in."

 Chapter 18: Strange Princess

    Harper POV

    I sat on the couch, a thick book propped open in my lap, and Lisa nestled comfortably in my arm. She leaned against me, her small hands tracing the pictures as I read aloud. Her wide eyes flicked between the pages, absorbing every detail like a sponge. Moments like this made the chaos of the world seem so distant, and I cherished them.

    Ramona was nearby, sitting in the armchair with a cup of tea in her hands.

    "Are you two worried about Mr. Lucas?" Lisa asked.

    "Of course, I worry. But this is his job. It''s what he''s good at, and he''s needed out there. He wouldn''t be Lucas if he just stayed behind. It''s not always easy, but I''ve learned to trust him. He''s strong, and he knows what he''s doing."

    "Do you two miss him already?"

    "Of course we do, with a husband like Lucas, not seeing him for even a day would make you worry for him."

    The urgent summon from Queen Bramblewood had to be terrifying. Urgent calls like that never came with good news. It was probably dangerous, maybe even life-threatening, but I was surprised at how calm I felt about it. The thought of him heading straight into potential danger made my chest tighten a little, but I didn''t worry too much. I hoped this wasn''t as bad as it sounded.

    Let''s hope he doesn''t get along too well with his exes. I trust him, but that doesn''t extend to those girls.

    <hr>

    Lucas POV

    "So, talk." Riley said as we got to our room.

    "What do you want to know?" I asked as I dropped off my bag and sorted through the clothes that were included in the room.

    Our room was a two-bedroom suite, fully equipped with everything we needed. Security and servants were stationed outside at all times, ready to provide any service we desired, whether it was food, drinks, massages, or anything else we could think of.

    "You and the queen? I thought you were all buddy-buddy with the princess." She said, "Do your wives know?"

    "Yeah, of course, they know. I was close with both her eldest daughter and her...and may have slept with both."

    "Does the queen know?"

    "Why wouldn''t she? It might...have been at the same time."

    "I knew that you were bold, but this is something else."

    "It''s not something to be proud of."

    "So why didn''t it work out?"

    "Our lives are just way too different from each other, that''s it."You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    "You still like her?"

    "Nah, anything romance outside of my wives just doesn''t exist in my head anymore. It''s a good thing really, my wives wouldn''t marry the old me."

    "Yeah, your old self is the type of guy who''d be a good friend, but a terrible romantic partner. It''s why I never introduced anyone to you."

    "Thank you. Mona taught me a lot of things."

    "Like what? Telling women that you want to date them both at the same time and it working out somehow?"

    "Hey, your mother has 6 husbands."

    "Don''t bring her into this, besides, she''s still a good mother."

    "Should I bring up your love life? Timmy? Really?"

    "Hey, he''s kind and smart."

    "He was also into-"

    "Let''s not bring that up."

    <hr>

    The next day, the city bustled with its usual energy, but my focus was elsewhere. Walking through the streets of the elf kingdom, I couldn''t help but appreciate the anonymity as I could walk around maskless and not get recognized. The mask I wore, initially a necessity after surviving a gas attack, had become a part of my identity. No one recognized me without it, and that suited me just fine. Didn''t help that I usually went around using only nicknames.

    I asked around, stopping by shops and speaking with locals who seemed willing to chat. I tried using Bell''s name directly, even in the case of missing children, but the lead turned up empty. No one knew anything about Bell''s whereabouts or his recent actions. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

    Riley, however, wasn''t as patient. She sighed heavily, brushing her hair back as we walked toward the royal palace once we got back.

    "I don''t get it. You''d think there''d be something. How does someone like Bell go unnoticed?" she exclaimed.

    "Well, at least they got every other people out there investigating too, something will come up."

    We passed through the palace gates, the guards recognizing us and waving us through without question. We then decided to skip dinner and just go around and explore the place. Talking with the guards and staff seemed like the next logical step. Most were polite but offered nothing new. A few were more chatty, but their words didn''t amount to much. Bell''s name brought uneasy glances, but no concrete answers.

    As we rounded a corner near the royal gardens, I was so lost in thought that I didn''t notice someone stepping into my path until it was too late. We collided, and I stumbled back slightly, my hand instinctively reaching for balance.

    "Apologies." I said quickly, looking up to see Fiona.

    Friona Bramblewood is the eldest princess, she has bright orange hair and her mother''s green eyes.

    "Lucas, you''re here." she said, "How''s the investigation going?"

    "Not well...what are the chances that he''s working with someone higher-up? The politicians, advisors, or whatever position the nobles chose."

    "It could be, I can reach out to some and let you in."

    "As much as I appreciate that, it won''t work, they''ll know to hide evidence...besides, didn''t my mother grant you full authority, you wouldn''t need me for this stuff."

    "What about creating a trap? There is a pattern." Fiona commented, "Bell prefers teenagers. We can lure him to a spot of your choosing, but

    "Yeah, we thought about that, but we''d rather not endanger any lives right now."

    "Then what about examining the bodies of his dead wife and child?"

    "We are planning to do that tomorrow."

    There was an awkward silence before Fiona broke the ice.

    "...How''s your new married life?" she asked.

    "Well. They''re very lovely."

    "I should have pursued you harder...but it is what it is, and I''ve moved on. So, um, bye for now."

    Fiona''s sudden change in topic left me blinking in surprise. She was clearly uncomfortable lingering on anything grim, but something about her abruptness felt...off. Her lips curled into a polite smile, but it didn''t reach her eyes. I could tell she wanted to flee the conversation as quickly as possible. However, she''s also not the type to even talk about such a topic in the first place.

    And just like that, she left. It was so abrupt, so rushed, that it left a strange taste in my mouth. I watched her retreating figure, my mind turning over the odd exchange. Fiona wasn''t one to leave a confession hanging like that, nor was she the type to end a conversation without offering something more.

    The talk felt too short, too incomplete, as though she''d deliberately cut herself off. Either she''s real uncomfortable around me or she knows something.

 Chapter 19: Elyndor

    Lucas POV

    "Fiona acting weird?" the queen gave me a questioning look after I told her of our previous encounter with Fiona.

    The next day, we requested an audience with the queen and gave her our report. The no-lead bit seemed normal, but her daughter''s weird behavior got her attention.

    "To be fair, she used to be all over him." Riley added, "But yeah, checking on the body of Bell''s dead wife and child? Such a topic shouldn''t be coming out of your daughter''s mouth. She''s usually sensitive around that stuff."

    "The all-over-him part was over four years ago, so unlike me, she''s moved on," the queen replied. But if we must, I''ll send someone to chase after her."

    "Oh, you''re not over this guy? You could do better, all this guy got his looks."

    "Let''s not get into this. And you better move on, I''m not looking for a third wife, 2 is already more than enough for me. And I really want to finish all of this and get back to my vacation, not only that...if Fiona turns out to be something that we never expected of her, our relationship is going to be greatly ruined."

    "If Fiona turns out to be a traitor of any kind...I trust that you two will turn her over to me first." the queen requested.

    "We''ll do. But first, we''re going to do what your daughter suggested."

    <hr>

    I walked into the morgue, feeling a heavy weight in my chest. The man in charge, a middle-aged man with a tired face, looked up when I entered. He nodded and spoke softly.

    "Are you here for the bodies?" he asked.

    "Yes, Bell''s wife and child."

    He led me to the table where their bodies lay. I could already see the extent of the damage. Both had been beaten badly, with bruises covering their bodies, and broken bones, the kind of damage that fit Bell''s style of fighting. He used a staff, and the impact marks matched. The blows weren''t wild; they were controlled, and precise. It was clear that Bell had done this. It was then told to us that they had lost a lot of blood with signs of them having their blood siphoned off somewhere.

    I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. This wasn''t the Bell I knew. But the evidence was there, and I couldn''t ignore it. I have doubts, but these injuries matched way too well for it to not be Bell.

    Using my healing magic, I restored them to their normal state. I couldn''t bring them back to life, but at least I could make them look peaceful again. The marks of violence faded, and their bodies appeared whole as if nothing had happened.

    "Did you learn anything about them? Anything that might explain why Bell targeted them? A special power or something?"The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    The man scratched his chin, thinking for a moment.

    "Well, there''s one thing that stands out. They were both blessed by the World Tree. A rare blessing, not many have it. Most of the other victims we''ve found...were teenagers. These two are one of the only ones that are not in that age group."

    "Blessed by the World Tree? That''s the only connection, then?"

    "That''s what it looks like," the attendant confirmed, "It''s not common. The World Tree only blesses those with significant ties to the land or those the tree deems important for the balance of things, like you and the other heroes. But beyond that...nothing else really stands out."

    I nodded, absorbing the information. It was strange. Bell had always seemed so focused on power. What could he possibly gain from murdering a woman and child blessed by the World Tree? The blessing doesn''t really carry over if you kill a blessed person, if anything, you''ll eliminate any chance of receiving it.

    "I''ll head to the shrine dedicated to the World Tree. Maybe I can get some answers from there."

    I left the morgue and made my way toward the shrine. The tree could be seen from almost anywhere in the city, its massive presence looming over everything. But in the shrine is where you''d have a chance to speak with the tree. I needed to ask it for help, maybe get a hint at why Bell did this, and if there was any connection between the World Tree''s blessing and the murders. After all, the world tree is one of the dormant gods.

    <hr>

    The shrine was quiet, the air thick with the scent of incense, and piles of offerings from visitors. I sighed and dropped to one knee, Riley standing a little ways off behind me, giving me the space I needed. I''d managed to ask everyone else to stay out. This shrine was famous, a place where people came to ask for guidance, blessings, and advice. But no one questioned why it was just the two of us.

    "Elyndor," I whispered, the name feeling strange on my tongue, "It''s been a long time."

    A soft rustling filled the air, and the temperature in the shrine seemed to shift. Before my eyes, a light shimmered into being. A small figure appeared before me, glowing faintly with an ethereal green aura. The spirit of the World Tree. Her form was delicate but strong, her presence ancient yet welcoming.

    "Lucas, long time no see." she greeted, "You look well."

    "Do I still have to keep kneeling in a praying motion?"

    "I''ve been summoned, so you can stop."

    "She looks familiar," she said, her voice tinged with suspicion. "I swear I''ve seen you somewhere before."

    "Perhaps you have." Elyndor replied.

    "Head maid of the queen?" Riley guessed.

    "That was me," Elyndor admitted without hesitation, "I often disguise myself among mortals to observe my people. It''s easier to understand their struggles that way."

    "You knew?!" Riley elbowed me.

    "I only found out when I had to move into the party with other heroes."

    "Which was funny, because we''ve dated." Elyndor chimed in.

    "You what?!" Riley exclaimed.

    "I didn''t date her."

    "But you did sleep with me, Isabella, and Fiona." Elyndor pointed out.

    "Again, not the proudest period of my life."

    <hr>

    "Bell Flameswood..." Elyndor sighed, "I wouldn''t say that he is a tragic soul...but...he seeks my blessing, but not in the way you might think."

    "What do you mean?"

    "My blessing cannot grant him the power he desires. He knows this, but he believes he can create something similar that can grant a superior effect. He targets those blessed by me, using their blood in twisted experiments to create potions. Potions meant to grant power to those who are not blessed, he is nowhere near perfecting it."

    "Blood?"

    "I can feel the pain they endured, the torment their souls suffered. It weighs heavily on me, Lucas. It''s how I''ve learned of this."

    "So he''s trying to replicate the blessing''s effects through...a fucked up version of torture and alchemy."

    "Yes," Elyndor nodded, "But the power he seeks is a fleeting illusion. It will never grant him the freedom or strength he once felt."