Dante was summoned to the world of Velora to save it from the Demon King and the fiend’s ever-growing armies alongside nine others. They beca the Ten Heroes who defeated the great evil and were worshipped by the people. While on the way back to the Sunreach Empire after the great battle, to take part in the celebrations happening all across the world. All organized by Emperor Marcus Sunreach alongside the other rulers who wanted to thank them.
He felt a nagging unease ever since leaving the Demon realm in the far north. The air seed heavy, charged with sothing unspoken. His companions avoided his gaze, their eyes darting away, leaving him bewildered. Social dynamics had always been a mystery to him, and the group’s behaviour only deepened his confusion. Dante turned toward his girlfriend, Ashley, who had always helped in situations like this, just like back in school.
’’What’s wrong with everyone, Ash?’’ he innocently questioned. ’’They’re acting like soone’s killed my cat and won’t tell .’’
The blonde girl glanced in his direction, an unknown expression crossing her face for a split second, which resembled pity or sothing else. She ignored his query, shook her head, and quickly changed the subject. ’’So what’s the only Gold Rank in the empire going to do now, the Demon King’s dead?’’ she asked. ’’I heard the nobles are worried about your power; they say you’re getting too strong for the empire to handle.’’
Dante was confused even more by her words; she already knew what the plan was. He shook his head and responded. ’’Have you forgotten already? I wanted to get a small house in the south, as we explore the world.’’
He glanced out the window and finished talking. ’’I still rember your promise about taking the next step once everything was over.’’
After Dante spoke, he turned his head only to find her acting strange; compared to her usual bubbly personality, especially since he killed the Demon King, but she blad it on exhaustion. Currently, the carriages are traveling along the King’s Road that leads to Highreach City, the heart of the empire on the Eldoria Continent. Seconds later, Ashley’s infectious giggle broke the rhythmic sounds of the wheels.
’’Sorry, babe, I’m just exhausted and can’t think straight,’’ she muttered.
Ben, ever the instigator, reached over and ruffled Dante’s brown hair from behind as he gave the young woman a knowing look. ’’Co on, buddy,’’ he teased, his grin wide. ’’We’ll get drunk when we roll into the capital. I hear the taverns are overflowing with the finest ad this side of Eldoria.’’
He was about to reply, but his friend continued. ’’And who knows? Princess Serene’s got her eye on you. Word is, she’s been asking about the dashing hero who saved the empire in its ti of need.’’
Following that, Ben winked, then shot a playful glance at Ashley. ’’Also, Ash here wouldn’t mind a sister wife, would ya?’’
His girlfriend’s cheeks flushed, but her lips curled into a coy smile, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusent and sothing unreadable. Dante’s gaze flickered toward her, catching the subtle nod she gave Ben. ’What the fuck is wrong now?’ he thought.
Ashley was usually the jealous type, quick to stake her claim using a sharp quip or a touch of his arm whenever another woman ca close. The nod felt out of character, and a faint unease stirred in his chest, like a shadow passing over his heart. Sothing wasn’t quite right, but Dante chose to ignore the lingering feeling, chalking it up to their long journey and exhaustion due to the fight.
Ben clapped him on the shoulder, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. ’’Must feel wild, though, being the only Gold Rank. The whole empire’s going to roll out the red carpet for you,’’ his best friend said.
Ben concluded with a knowing smile. ’’Bet they’ll be chanting your na in the streets.’’
His best friend’s words had an odd edge, and Dante noticed a peculiar glint in his eyes, pride, certainly, but also sothing veiled, as if he were concealing a thought too heavy to speak. The ntion of his rank sent a familiar thrill through him. Three years of tough trials, battling beasts, unravelling ancient curses, and defending the lands had forged him into sothing extraordinary.
A Gold Rank, a title whispered with awe and envy, marked him as a mage of unparalleled power. Thanks to the Sunreach Empire being the strongest and richest on the continent was able to fund his growth. Over ti, the entire realm celebrated him as a hero, but the mantle sotis felt heavier than the spoils in his pack. ’I need to stop worrying, it was only a dream,’ he thought while shaking his head.
After all, Dante trusted his friends implicitly; the ten of them had been through too much together for him to question their motivations. They had journeyed side by side, their bond forged in all the fights along the way. It had all begun when they were fifteen and summoned to the world during the first day of classes after winter break, thanks to a powerful spell the Imperial Mage cast to bring the group here.
They were bound together and set on this path to fight monsters, bandits, and all kinds of horrifying things to save the world. All of them had turned eighteen, celebrating their coming of age amidst the chaos of their quest. Now, as they revelled in their final victory, he let the mont wash over him, allowing the joy of their triumph to drown out the nagging doubt. His friend’s faces glowed with pride, and for now, that was enough to quiet the unease in his heart.
Dante rested his eyes as his body was still recovering from mana overuse during his fight against the Demon King. ’Too bad the injuries were too much for Fiona to heal after the Demon Princess attacked once her father was dead,’ he wondered. ’She should be able to, she’s S Rank after all.’
Before falling asleep, he heard so of the group whispering about sothing, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Following that, the journey back to the capital took so ti. Highreach City was the gleaming heart of Sunreach, stretched out in front of them. Nestled at the continent’s heart, the empire’s most powerful and prosperous city shone as a beacon of grandeur.
Its markets pulsed with life, while its walls and defences proclaid strength against the outside world. He had always loved the King’s Road as it wound through many beautiful landscapes, lush valleys dotted with ruins. Rolling hills kissed by the golden light of the afternoon sun, and rivers that shimred like veins of liquid crystal. Soti later, Dante woke up, and the earlier unease lingered faintly, but his friend’s laughter kept it at bay.
Yet, as the city’s silhouette began to rise on the horizon, that faint whisper of doubt crept back into his mind, urging him to stay vigilant, but he shoved that aside as they entered the city and were guided toward the palace. As the carriage halted outside, the imperial guard stood in formation, lining the entrance. Ashley erged alongside Fiona, Jess, Beth, and the other heroes. Dante watched the others leave as Jason slapped him on the shoulder.
’’Co on, bro,’’ the tall boy said with a strange smile, pulling him outside. ’’We need our strongest fighter in front, the crowds will love you.’’
’’You know what they say,’’ another young man, Michael, whispered so only he could hear. ’’The people? They love their heroes, parade them through the streets, and sing their praises to the heavens. But deep down? They’re addicted to watching them crash and burn. The higher you climb, the harder they cheer for your downfall.’’
His so-called friend paused, letting the words settle, his grin widening as if he’d just revealed so cosmic truth. ’’So, what do you say, buddy? Let’s not disappoint the crowd.’’
When hearing those words, a chill gripped his entire being, a primal warning that sothing was amiss. ’Fight, my boy!’ his father’s voice echoed in his mind.
Dante’s instincts scread, urging him to act before his mind could fully process the others moving around him. Mana surged through his veins, a torrent of raw energy coalescing around his clenched fist. With a roar of defiance, he swung, his fist connecting against Michael’s chest in a thunderous collision. The impact unleashed a resounding clap that reverberated through the air like a storm breaking.
The force sent him hurtling backward, his body carving a fleeting arc before crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust. Dante’s heart pounded, adrenaline fuelling his every move as he pivoted toward Jason, his next target. His muscles tensed, ready to unleash another strike, but before he could close the distance on Jason, an invisible weight slamd into him. Gravity itself seed to betray him, pinning his limbs with a force that rooted him to the spot.
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