As the sun rose the following morning, Sirvan and Eyria's armies entered the capital through its gates, accompanied by the cheers and welcoming cries of the citizens.
People stood in long lines along both sides of the road, waving their hands and celebrating the safe return of their heroes.
At one side of the square, Mark stood beside Nero, with Kartithia next to them. The moment she saw Sirvan approaching, she jumped with excitement and shouted in a childish voice filled with joy:
Kartithia: "Welcome back, Sirvan!!"
Sirvan smiled as soon as he heard her voice and gently waved at her.
Then he glanced toward Mark and Aether with a calm, reassuring look.
Beside him, Eyria smiled warmly as she exchanged greetings with the people welcoming their return.
The Royal Palace
As soon as Sirvan and Eyria reached the Royal Palace, they bowed before the King and Queen.
Sirvan spoke in a formal tone:
Sirvan: "Your Majesty, Canria has been successfully reclaimed without losing a single soldier."
The Kingdom's Minister raised his eyebrows in surprise and quickly asked:
Minister: "Without casualties? How did that happen?"
Sirvan answered calmly:
Sirvan: "We encountered no forces from the Dark Kingdom... But we noticed something strange. There were numerous holes throughout the village, some of them extremely deep, as if they had been searching for something beneath the ground."
The Minister's expression suddenly changed.
He began muttering under his breath, visibly shocked.
Minister: "Are you saying... they were digging? In Canria?"
The King and Minister exchanged a worried glance.
Then the King spoke heavily:
King: "Beneath Canria... the body of our legendary hero, Arons, was buried there. He died under mysterious circumstances many years ago, and we revealed the location of his grave to only a limited number of commanders."
Sirvan looked at him in surprise.
Sirvan: "You mean the enemy was trying to obtain his body?"
The Minister answered with concern:
Minister: "Arons was not merely a warrior. His power encompassed every element in the world. There are those who say that his soul and power were passed on to his daughter, whose whereabouts—and even existence—remain unknown... to this day."
Sirvan nodded.
Sirvan: "We discussed the matter with the General, and he decided to relocate the body and bury it again in a more secure location."
The King breathed a sigh of relief and looked firmly yet approvingly at Sirvan and Eyria.
King: "You have done an excellent job. Go now and get some rest... You have served the kingdom with great courage."
Sirvan and Eyria bowed.
Then they left, accompanied by the respectful gazes of everyone in the room.