The throne room of Lumeris’s palace was quiet. Six heroes stood before the throne. They no longer looked like the uncertain people who had first been summoned over six months ago. Their armor had been refitted many times since then. Their weapons were well maintained. Their posture carried the confidence of people who had fought enough battles that hesitation had disappeared. They had grown used to battle. More importantly, they had grown used to killing.

  Arin stood at the front with his sword resting at his side. Faint lines of light moved through the channels in his armor whenever his magic stirred. Reina stood beside him with her staff. Several different elements flickered briefly around the crystal at its tip before fading again. Daisuke rested a heavy hammer across his shoulder. The stone beneath his boots cracked slightly as earth magic settled around him. Hiro rolled his shoulders once, faint heat gathering around his fists. Ayane stood quietly near the back, one hand resting near the thin blade at her waist. At the end of the line Kaito held his bow loosely, wind moving faintly around the arrows at his back. Two daggers rested at his belt for when distance disappeared. Together, the six of them had become one of the most powerful forces in Eryndor. And they had grown comfortable with it. King Arathen regarded them from the throne.

  “You have done exactly what was asked of you,” he said.

  No one bowed. They didn’t need to.

  “You have crushed threats before they became wars. You have stabilized regions that would have fallen into chaos.”

  His gaze settled briefly on Arin.

  “You lead them well.”

  Arin inclined his head once. The others didn’t react. They already trusted him to make decisions when battles began. Lyra stood beside the throne with her hands folded behind her back. Her eyes moved slowly across the group as she listened.

  “The Church in Aseran has collapsed,” Arathen continued.

  That caught their attention.

  “Order Knights have been detained. Records have surfaced that were never meant to leave their vaults.”

  Hiro frowned slightly.

  “So someone exposed them.”

  “It appears so,” Arathen said.

  Arin stepped forward.

  “Do we know who?”

  “Not yet.”

  The king gestured slightly.

  “Arin. Hiro. Daisuke.”

  The three stepped forward immediately.

  “You will go to Aseran,” Arathen said. “Find out what happened and make sure the situation does not spread.”

  Arin nodded.

  “We’ll handle it.”

  Arathen turned his attention to the others.

  “Ayane. Reina. Kaito.”

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  They stepped forward.

  “Caldris’s capital, Westgate, is becoming unstable. The Church’s authority there is weakening. Riots have begun.”

  Reina smiled faintly. “Riots again?”

  “You will restore order,” Arathen said.

  Ayane inclined her head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Arathen looked toward Lyra.

  “You will accompany them.”

  Lyra nodded once.

  “Of course.”

  “You will operate separately,” Arathen continued. “You are no longer novices who require constant supervision.”

  None of them questioned the decision. They had power, authority, and the king’s favor.

  “You leave immediately,” Arathen said.

  The six heroes turned and walked from the throne room without hesitation. The throne room doors closed behind the six heroes. Their footsteps faded down the long corridor. When the doors closed behind them, Lyra’s gaze lingered where they had stood.

  “They have grown comfortable,” she said quietly.

  Arathen’s expression didn’t change.

  “As they should,” he replied. “That is how power is meant to feel.”

  Outside the throne room, six figures moved toward their next assignments without doubt, without question, and without ever considering that the world they were shaping might one day resist them. For a moment the room was silent. Lyra remained beside the throne. King Arathen spoke without looking at her.

  “Lyra.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “You are dismissed.”

  She hesitated for only a moment. Then she bowed once and stepped away from the throne. Her boots echoed softly across the stone as she moved toward the side doors. They closed behind her with a dull sound. The throne room grew quiet again. Arathen leaned slightly back in his seat.

  “Bring them in.”

  The doors opened. Cael entered first. The scorch marks across his armor had not been fully polished away yet. His movements were controlled, but slower than usual. The heat from the earlier battle had left its mark. Arden followed a step behind him. His expression remained calm, though the tension in his shoulders was hard to hide. Neither man knelt. Neither was asked to.

  “Report,” Arathen said.

  Cael exhaled quietly before speaking.

  “They were better than expected.”

  His tone carried more disappointment than frustration.

  “They knew exactly where to go. They moved through the church like they had studied it for months.”

  Arden scoffed. “It’s because that woman led them.”

  Arathen’s gaze shifted slightly.

  “Seris Thynes, the former Legate Executive’s daughter.”

  Arden nodded once.

  “She hasn’t gotten weaker,” he said, jaw tightening. “If anything, she’s worse.”

  Cael continued.

  “They weren’t just relying on her.”

  He paused briefly.

  “There was another one.”

  Arathen waited.

  “A Kaijin user,” Cael said. “He wasn’t ordinary.”

  Arden stepped forward slightly.

  “That one was the problem.”

  His irritation was obvious now. “He adapted during the fight. Every exchange got harder.”

  Cael nodded slowly. “I’ve fought Kaijin users before.” he said calmly. “This one was different.”

  Arathen’s eyes narrowed slightly. “How so?”

  Cael answered calmly. “He was learning me as we fought.”

  “Isn’t that normal?” Arathen said.

  “Not this. It was as if I was a book he read too many times. The longer we fought, the harder it became to end him.”

  Arden added bitterly, “And not just him. There was another weird guy there.”

  Arathen remained silent. For a moment the throne room was still. Then he spoke.

  “And yet you are both still standing.”

  Cael inclined his head slightly. “They were dangerous, but not unstoppable.”

  Arden looked less convinced.

  “That woman nearly—”

  Cael cut him off with a glance. Arden stopped speaking. Arathen rose slowly from the throne.

  “In the end, you both performed your duties well,” he said. “With that Legate Executive gone, we’re free to continue elsewhere. Security must be doubled.”

  His attention settled on Cael first.

  “You will be stationed in Solara Dominion.”

  Cael nodded once.

  “One of the churches there requires leadership.”

  Arathen then turned his attention to Arden.

  “And you.”

  Arden straightened slightly.

  “You have done exceptional work.”

  Arden remained silent. Arathen paused briefly.

  “You will be rewarded with magic. You no longer need Kaijin. You will also be promoted to Paladin-Legate. Have the Legate that came back with you appoint you properly.”

  Arden’s expression shifted slightly. Silence hung in the room. For the first time, Arden looked genuinely surprised. He lowered his head.

  “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  Arathen turned away.

  “You will both depart for Solara Dominion immediately.”

  Neither man questioned the order. They turned and walked toward the doors. The throne room fell silent again once they were gone. Arathen returned to his throne. Far from the palace, a group without names continued moving through the world. And for now, the kingdom chose to ignore them.