Chapter 206 – Departure

Chapter 206

 Departure

Date : Day 5 of Frostfall 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

After Guild Master Fiona and Fern left, calm gradually settled over the infirmary ward. The faint sound of the closing door disappeared into the quiet hallway. 

Arianna returned to the sofa beside Jackey. Elise settled comfortably against the head of the bed, enjoying the rare moment of peace. The soft morning light coming through the window illuminated her silver hair, making it shimmer faintly. Ina and Hyoren remained seated on the side of the bed.

For a while, none of them spoke.

They simply enjoyed the quiet. There was something strangely comforting about it. No alarm. No screaming. No sound of weapons clashing. No desperate orders being shouted across a battlefield.

Just the faint sounds of the church outside the room and the occasional footsteps of people moving through the ward.

Hyoren eventually turned toward the window.  Outside, the silver light of Luna continued climbing higher into the morning sky. The silver sun steadily approached its zenith, its pale radiance spilling through the window and illuminating the white stone walls. He watched it for a few moments.

Then his eyes slowly moved around the room. Towards everyone around him. His companions. His party members. His family.

We are alive…

They were wounded. They were exhausted. Some of them were still recovering. But they were alive.

Hyoren slowly clenched his hands.

His mind briefly returned to everything that had happened. The white fog enveloping Riverville Town. The realization that it wasn't fog at all, but a cage created by the Ritual of the Undead. The endless horde of Living Dead pouring from the Still Forest. The explosion that had torn through the refugee camp. The Flesh Golem. The grotesque mass of corpses. The five members of the Voided Covenant sacrificed themselves to control it.

There had been so much death. So many sacrifices. So much suffering.

But at least… The nightmare has ended…

His gaze softened. Then he looked toward his companions.

“We need to decide our next plan…”

He smiled wryly.

“At first, I wanted to join the attack to raid the Voided Covenant base…”

His eyes briefly dropped toward Elise who was still too weak to walk.

“But it seems we can't join with our state. So we could only wait for the good news.”

Ina laughed softly.

“Nyahaha. Don't worry, Hyoren. Guildmas is going to lead Akela's knights.”

She leaned back slightly.

“They're experienced and powerful. Voided Covenant isn't famous for their strength in the first place.”

Arianna nodded from the sofa.

“Lady Ina is right.”

She carefully adjusted the folds of her purple robe.

“My esteemed mother and my father's knights are strong. And the Voided Covenant's power usually comes from their ritual magic, which requires preparation and sacrifice.”

Her light blue eyes became thoughtful.

“So if they receive surprise attacks, it should be an easy raid.”

Hyoren nodded.

“I see. That's good. I don’t need to be worried then.”

At least he didn't need to worry about the raid failure and there being more deaths or sacrifices.

He tapped his chin.

“So, when should we go back to Akela?”

He paused, trying to recall the seasonal conditions.

“If I recall correctly, soon Riverville Town will get cut off from outside when the river gets frozen, right?  So we should go back before it happens.”

Ina looked toward him. Her amber eyes met his dark ones.

“I think we should be fine for two to three days.”

She briefly glanced toward the window. Her cat tail swished slowly on top of the blanket.

“Today is still day 5 of Frostfall. The snow will fall in two or three days.”

Hyoren crossed his arms.

“I see…”

He looked around the room.

“How about we go back tomorrow?”

He gave a small shrug.

“I know we still have a few days, but… the town is in its recovery phase. And we couldn't really help it. We should let the townsfolk rebuild their town.”

He smiled wryly.

“I don't want us freeloading here. Taking resources and food that should be directed to recovery.”

Elise laughed softly beside him.

“Fufufu. I don't think the town populace would mind if we stick around, to be honest.”

Arianna also agreed. She leaned forward slightly on the sofa, idly playing with the hem of her purple robe.

“Mentor is right, Leader. The town populace was truly grateful for our help.”

A mischievous smile appeared on her face.

“They even said they should make you the hero of the town. Ohoho.”

Hyoren immediately winced.

Elise noticed. She laughed again.

“Fufufu. Hyoren… That's exactly the reason you want to run away, right?”

She tilted her head.

“You're still not used to being in the spotlight? Not wanting everyone to parade you around the town?”

Hyoren rubbed the back of his neck.

“You know me so well, Elise…”

He sighed.

“And yeah. The longer we stay here, the higher the chance the town is going to throw some kind of celebration for us.”

He glanced toward the window.

“And… I think they should divert those resources toward the town's recovery instead.”

Ina reached over and patted his shoulder.

“Nyahaha. Hyoren is shy… He is so shy!”

Before Hyoren could respond, Jackey suddenly stood. His fist shot into the air. His tabby cat tail spiraled wildly behind him.

“Big Bro! But you are the hero!”

He pointed toward Hyoren with absolute conviction.

“You and Elise basically killed the monstrosity in front of many guards! Those are heroic feats! I already heard those guards basically adore you as a hero!”

His golden eyes practically sparkled.

“Many bards are going to sing your feat! WOHOO!”

The room erupted into laughter.

Hyoren could only laugh wryly, scratching the back of his cheek.

“Jackey…”

He shook his head.

“Please don't encourage them.”

Jackey blinked.

“But why? You were so cool, Big Bro!”

That only made everyone laugh harder.

After a while, Ina settled back onto the bed.

“But Hyoren is right…”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“I think we should not overstay here.”

Her expression became a little more serious.

“I don't want to burden my juniors in the guild either. The longer I'm away from the guild, the more work of the Vice Guild Master is going to end up on those poor girls…”

She smiled. Her cat ears twitched.

“Especially since Guildmas would be away for a few days for the raid. The guild needs its Vice Guild Master.”

Hyoren smiled. He was clearly pleased to finally have someone agreeing with him.

“See? We have reasons to go back quickly.”

Everyone laughed again.

Elise covered her mouth, hiding another soft laugh.

“Fufufu. But I guess… resting in our own home would be more welcomed.”

She wrinkled her nose slightly.

“I'm already sick of smelling antiseptics.”

Arianna nodded. She shifted her position on the sofa.

“We still have the artifact left by Mikail Smirnov to be appraised too.”

Hyoren's expression immediately brightened.

Right… We still have that…

The mysterious artifact—the legacy of the Dark Saint. Another mystery waiting for them once they returned to Akela.

His dark eyes wandered over his companions one more time.

Everyone was tired. Everyone was injured. But they were together. And they had a home waiting for them.

“Okay.”

He smiled.

“Everyone agree? We are going to go back to Akela tomorrow?”

One by one, everyone nodded. The decision was made.

The next plan of the Freedom Party was settled. Tomorrow, they would leave Riverville Town and return to Akela.

***

Freedom Party spent the rest of the day recovering and resting.

They didn't do much. After everything that had happened, none of them had the energy—or the desire—to go sightseeing around Riverville Town. More importantly, they didn't want to bother the townspeople while the town was still dealing with the aftermath of the disaster.

The recovery effort had already begun. Damaged buildings needed to be repaired. The destroyed warehouses needed to be rebuilt. The wounded needed to be treated, and the dead needed to be properly mourned and buried.

Freedom Party had done what they could. So they remained inside the church. The bishop and clergy of the Luminara Church continued tending to them from time to time, checking their condition and making sure none of their injuries had developed complications.

By the following morning—day 6 of Frostfall. 

Everyone had mostly recovered. Freedom Party stood in front of the Luminara Church's Riverville Town branch, preparing to leave. The church sat beside the town plaza, in the part of Riverville built directly upon solid ground rather than on the elevated platforms above the river.

Morning had arrived. The silver sun of Luna hung high in the sky, their pale light bathing the plaza in a cool silverish glow. Behind them, the white-stone church stood quietly. They had already thanked the Bishop and the clergy for taking care of them.

Now, it was time to return to Akela.

Hyoren flexed his fingers. He rolled his shoulder once. There was still some stiffness. A faint reminder of the terrible backlash he had endured. But there was no pain anymore.

He shifted his weight from one foot to another, testing his legs. He could walk normally. He couldn't run yet, and he certainly didn't want to test himself with anything strenuous. But for ordinary daily activities, he had recovered enough.

His gaze moved toward Elise.

The silver-haired elf stood beside him, already dressed in her green Aerostag Leather Armor. Her Moonveil Bow, however, remained stored away. They weren't going to fight today. She didn't need her weapon.

Hyoren studied her for another moment.

“Are you sure you could move normally, Elise?”

He sounded genuinely concerned.

“Should we extend our rest day?”

Elise raised one finger toward him.

“Shuush, Hyoren.”

She smiled. Her emerald eyes glittered under the morning sun’s rays.

“I have already recovered enough.”

She gestured toward herself.

“I don't have any wounds, remember? I only received Aethell exhaustion backlash. After my Aethell is recovered, there is nothing wrong with my body.”

Hyoren opened his mouth. He clearly wanted to argue. Before he could, Ina gripped his arm.

“Good grief, Hyoren.”

Her amber eyes narrowed.

“If it's talking about recovery, it's you who actually need more time.”

She gave his arm a small squeeze.

“I could see you winced from time to time. Your Berserker backlash is way more severe than Elise’s Aethell exhaustion!”

Hyoren scratched his cheek.

“Well…”

He looked down at himself.

“I could walk… at least.”

Elise tucked a strand of silver hair behind one of her pointed ears.

“Then I'm the same.”

She stepped forward.

“I could walk normally, Hyoren.”

She deliberately took several steps away from them. Then she turned around. Her silver hair swayed with the motion.

“See? Fufufu.”

Hyoren watched her for a moment. She really was walking normally. He could only nod in defeat.

“Fine…”

Ina snorted softly.

“That's better. Nyahaha.”

A few meters away, Jackey and Arianna had been watching the three of them banter.

Jackey crossed his arms. His tabby cat ears twitched as he watched Hyoren.

“Big Bro is always not caring about his own state…”

He shook his head.

“But worry wart for others. HAHA.”

Arianna tried to stifle her laugh behind the back of her hand. Her purple robe shifted slightly with her motion.

“Ohoho. You were so right, Sir Jackey…”

Her light blue eyes shifted toward Hyoren, Elise, and Ina.

“But that's how Leader is.”

Her smile became softer.

“He is going to go into battle with grim determination, not caring about his own wounds or his own states.”

She paused.

“And he is going to pay any price as long as his family is not harmed.”

Jackey's expression became serious.

Arianna looked toward the hulking cat-clan beastkin beside her.

“Isn't that why we will always follow Leader, no matter where he goes?”

She lightly folded her hands in front of herself.

“So we could at least ease his burden… and help carry it with him?”

Jackey crossed his arms tighter and nodded several times. His tabby cat ears swayed with every movement. His tail moved energetically behind him.

“You were right, Miss Purple!”

He grinned.

“I will whack any enemies who are going to threaten Big Bro and our family!”

Arianna smiled.

“Yes.”

Her gaze remained on their companions.

“Me too.”

***

Hyoren gazed around at his companions.

He looked at each of them for a moment. Elise. Ina. Arianna. Jackey. They were still recovering from exhaustion, but everyone was standing. And everyone was ready.

Hyoren nodded, satisfied.

“Everyone, let's go back to Akela…”

Everyone nodded. But before they could take their first step—the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed across the plaza.

Hyoren's eyes widened.

Elise merely watched the scene unfolding with a calm expression, though her emerald eyes immediately became attentive.

Ina's cat ears twitched and her cat tail swished lazily. She murmured under her breath.

“I thought so…”

Jackey and Arianna looked at each other. Then both smiled.

The sounds of footsteps grew louder. And then people began pouring into the plaza. The first to appear were the town guards.

Hyoren immediately recognized the two leading them—Arad and Alvis. The father and son were wearing their now-clean and crisp brown guard uniforms. Both carried steel spears in their hands, and their posture was noticeably straighter than before.

Behind them came the militia.

The same ragtag group of youngsters who had been recruited when Riverville Town needed every able-bodied person to defend the town.

Their equipment was nowhere near as good as Arad and Alvis's. Some carried iron spears. Others held swords, axes, or whatever weapons the town had managed to provide. But their posture was just as straight. They stood proudly.

And behind the militia came even more people—the townspeople.

Elderly men and women. Young mothers carrying children. Farmers who had apparently left their fields. Carpenters. Shopkeepers. Builders. Fishermen. Merchants. People from nearly every corner of Riverville.

They had put aside their work. They had come here for one reason—to see Freedom Party off.

Hyoren stared at the gathering crowd. For several seconds, he couldn't find the words.

“What is the meaning of this…”

Arad and Alvis stepped forward. They stopped a few paces away and raised their spears in salute.

Arad lowered his spear first.

“Mister Hyoren. We, Riverville Town populace, are going to see our savior off!”

Alvis lowered his spear next.

“We couldn't give you any reward! So at least let us give you our gratitude! And send our savior off!”

Hyoren was speechless. He slowly shook his head.

“Arad… Alvis… It was truly… unnecessary…”

Before he could say anything else, two small girls stepped out from the crowd. Neither looked older than ten.

They were holding bouquets in their small hands. One bouquet was filled with colorful flowers.

Hyoren recognized the flowers among them.

Gladiolus…

The girl holding it approached him nervously. She stopped in front of him and held the bouquet out with both hands.

“Please accept this, Mister! Thanks for saving our town!”

Hyoren looked at the flowers. Then at the girl's earnest expression. He couldn't refuse. He carefully accepted the bouquet.

The second girl stepped forward.

Her bouquet contained bright yellow flowers.

These were yellow tulips…

She offered the bouquet.

“And this! We are all truly grateful for Freedom Party's help!”

Hyoren accepted that bouquet too.

His fingers gently closed around the stems. Flowers. Simple things. Yet they carried something far heavier than their weight. Victory. Gratitude. The acknowledgment that someone had survived because they had chosen to fight.

He didn't know if the world of Kresneger had the same expression for the flowers. But it seems the language of flowers transcended the world.

Hyoren smiled at the two girls.

“Thank you…”

He looked at them warmly.

“We just did what we thought was right. We couldn't let atrocities run rampant.”

The two girls nodded.

“Un. Thanks again, Mister!”

They smiled before running back toward the crowd.

Elise, Ina, Jackey, and Arianna watched the exchange with warm expressions.

Hyoren looked toward the crowd again. Then he returned his gaze to the two guards. He shook his head.

“It was truly unnecessary…”

His expression softened.

“But thank you… Arad… Alvis… and everyone here…”

Arad smiled.

“Mister Hyoren. Everyone was truly grateful. Without your help, this town is no more…”

Alvis nodded firmly.

“Father is right. We are so grateful for what Freedom Party did. You are truly a party of heroes.”

Hyoren gave a wry smile. He glanced down at the two bouquets in his hands. Then, without saying anything, he handed the gladiolus to Elise and the yellow tulips to Ina. Elise accepted hers with a small smile. Ina's ears twitched as she accepted the other bouquet.

Hyoren then faced the crowd again.

“Okay.”

He took a breath.

“We're going to go back to Akela now.”

Arad immediately stepped forward.

“Let us accompany you.”

The crowd began moving—almost as if they had practiced it beforehand—they parted. People stepped aside from the center of the plaza. One after another, they created a wide corridor. A path made entirely from people.

Hyoren's eyebrows twitched.

Did they really want to do this…?

He didn't say anything. Ina, however, elbowed him lightly.

“See? This is what I said before. Townsfolk are definitely going to celebrate it. Nyahaha.”

Elise laughed softly.

“Just accept it, Hyoren. From their perspective, you really are their hero.”

Jackey nodded enthusiastically behind them.

“Big Bro is shy! HAHA!”

Arianna adjusted her wide-brimmed hat.

“Right… Leader is too shy. Ohohoho.”

Hyoren scratched his cheek.

“You guys…”

He looked forward.

The corridor stretched toward the far end of the plaza. There was no escaping it now.

He sighed.

“Okay then…”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Time to go home.”

Freedom Party began walking. Arad and Alvis led them from the front. They walked with straight backs and raised spears, looking almost like knights escorting honored heroes. A few steps behind them came the militia. They followed with equal determination, forming an entourage around the Freedom Party.

The more Hyoren walked, the more embarrassed he became.

They had barely gone several meters when a woman holding a child on her hip stepped forward. She threw a flower toward them.

“Thank you, Heroes, for saving me and my daughter!”

Another child eagerly threw a flower.

“Thank you! My papa and mama are safe because of you!”

A woman holding her child's hand watched them pass. Tears streamed down her face.

“My husband couldn't be here…”

Her voice trembled.

“But my kids were saved! I couldn't ask for more! Thank you, heroes!”

Hyoren's steps slowed for half a heartbeat. He looked at her. He knew even if the town was saved, not everyone was leaving unscathed. There were wounded. There were deaths. 

He offered quiet condolences to the mourning woman. Then he continued walking.

The cheers grew louder. More and more small flowers were thrown into Freedom Party as they walked.

“Many people were saved thanks to the Heroes!”

“They defeated the monstrosity that could have destroyed our town!”

“They're heroes!”

Beside him, Elise laughed softly. She was still holding the gladiolus bouquet against her chest.

“Fufufu.”

She glanced at him. 

“Walk straight and chin up, Hyoren. Act like the hero you are!”

Her smile widened.

“Even if you are embarrassed.”

Ina laughed. Her cat ears twitched.

“Nyahaha. You should get used to this, Hyoren.”

Hyoren smiled wryly.

“You two…”

But he knew there was nothing he could do. So he did what they told him. He straightened his posture. He raised his chin.

And as they walked through the crowd, he began returning their greetings. Waving to the cheering crowds.

“Come back anytime, Hero! My restaurant will always welcome you!”

“Yes! It's all on the house! Please visit again!”

“For the savior of Riverville Town!”

“Hero!”

“Freedom Party!”

“Savior!”

“Freedom Party!”

The cheers and flowers followed them as they crossed the plaza.

Eventually, they reached the elevated section of Riverville Town.  The wooden platform creaked beneath their footsteps as they climbed higher above the river. 

But even here, the townspeople continued following them. They had apparently decided that they would see their saviors all the way to the harbor.

“Hero! Please come back!”

“Thank you for saving us!”

“Freedom Party!”

Hyoren and the others could only wave toward the crowd as they continued forward. Ahead of them was the harbor in the middle of the town. Their ship waited in the central canal, ready to take them back to Akela.

Arad and Alvis continued leading the way, spears raised proudly. The militia followed behind them. And behind Freedom Party, the people of Riverville continued waving, shouting, throwing flowers, and calling their names.

The nightmare that had nearly destroyed their town was over. Now, the people who had survived it were sending their saviors home.

The Freedom Party continued toward the harbor—surrounded by the gratitude of Riverville Town populace.

***

Just as they approached the harbor, Hyoren suddenly heard a familiar voice inside his head—the Voice of Aethell.

He halted mid-step. His sudden stop made Elise, Ina, Jackey, and Arianna slow down as well.

Hyoren's dark eyes stared forward. But he was confused when he heard the announcement. 

“Requirements met. Sufficient recognition from enough populace.”

A brief pause followed.

“The Hero of Riverville Town — Title acquired.”

Hyoren blinked.

For a moment, he simply stood there while the words settled in his mind. Then he felt something subtly change.

It wasn't a dramatic surge of power. There was no sudden increase in strength or speed.

Instead, it was something much more difficult to notice. A faint influence. A slight boost that made people more inclined to trust him. More willing to believe his words. More likely to view him favorably when first meeting him. It was subtle enough that most people probably wouldn't even notice it. But the effect could compound as he earned more titles.

Hyoren frowned slightly.

So titles don't only come from clearing dungeons…

He continued walking.

After a few steps, he glanced toward his companions. Elise, Ina, Jackey, and Arianna had also stopped for a moment when they received their own notifications.

Hyoren looked at them.

“Did you guys get it too?”

Elise was still clutching the bouquet against her chest. She nodded.

“Yeah… a title…”

Hyoren furrowed his brows.

“But I thought we could only get titles from clearing dungeons.”

Ina slightly adjusted the bouquet in her arms.

“That is one way to get it, Hyoren.”

She glanced toward the crowd surrounding them.

“But you can earn a title if enough people recognize you for something.”

She gestured subtly toward the townspeople.

“Evil deeds might brand you with a title like ‘Enemy of Something.’ But good deeds like this can give you this kind of title.”

Hyoren nodded slowly.

“I see.”

He looked back toward the people cheering around them. Then he sighed internally.

But now I'm stuck with this Hero title… Good grief…

He shook his head. There was nothing he could do about it now.

The cheers continued around them. Flowers still occasionally flew through the air, some landing near their feet while others were caught by Jackey or Arianna.

Eventually, they arrived at the harbor.

Arad and Alvis stopped at the edge of the dock. Both turned toward the Freedom Party and raised their spears in salute. The militia behind them followed.

Arad lowered his spear first.

“Be careful on your return journey, Mister Hyoren.”

Alvis lowered his spear next.

“Please remember that Riverville Town will always be indebted to Freedom Party.”

Hyoren nodded.

“We'll definitely come to visit later.”

He smiled.

“Let's meet again.”

Ina stepped forward and waved toward Alvis.

“Become a guard your father could be proud of, Alvis. You survived this nightmare. I'm sure you'll become a good guard.”

Alvis straightened proudly.

“Thank you, Lady Ina!”

Freedom Party then stepped onto the wooden dock. The boards creaked beneath their footsteps.

Ahead waited the same ship that had brought them to Riverville Town—The Sailer. Holley Tirv, the helmsman, was already waiting at the back of the ship.

Ina greeted him.

“Holley. Is everything ready?”

Holley immediately straightened his posture.

“Everything is ready, Lady Ina. We can depart anytime!”

Ina nodded. Then she turned toward Hyoren.

“Let's go?”

Hyoren looked back one last time toward Riverville Town. The guards. The militia. The townspeople. The people who had only a short while ago been fighting desperately to survive. Now they stood here smiling.

He nodded.

“Let's go, everyone.”

One by one, the members of Freedom Party boarded the Sailer. Once everyone was aboard, Holley moved into position. The ship's magic engine hummed. A faint vibration traveled beneath their feet. Then the Sailer began to move.

Slowly at first. Then it glided forward over the central canal.

Arad suddenly raised his spear high. His voice rang across the harbor.

“Salute to the savior of Riverville Town!”

Every guard raised their weapons. The militia followed. Then the townspeople. The entire harbor seemed to move as one. They saluted Freedom Party as they left the town.

Hyoren looked back.

The sight made him pause. So many people. So many lives that had nearly been lost. And now they were standing there, sending them home.

Hyoren reached into his storage bag.

His hand emerged holding his mithril spear—Étendard Sacré du Lys. He raised it high.

The banner of Aetovacus unfurled in the morning wind. The symbol of Freedom Party soared once again beneath the clear silver sky. No abyss. No unnatural darkness. No cursed fog. Only the clear sky of Kresneger beneath the silver sun.

The Sailer continued down the central canal.

Riverville Town stretched along both sides. People stood along the waterway, throwing flowers as they passed.

“Freedom Party!”

“Freedom Party!”

“Our saviors!”

The cheers followed them.

Hyoren stood at the bow with the banner raised high. Elise, Ina, Jackey, and Arianna stood nearby.

For once, there was no undead to fight. No ritual to uncover. No heretic waiting in the darkness. Only the sound of cheering people and the gentle movement of The Sailer carrying them home. The whole town bid farewell to the party that had ended the nightmare.

The Sailer continued onward. Toward Akela City. Toward home. And behind them, Riverville Town’s cheers slowly faded into the distance.