A few days later, the new heroes were summoned to the royal palace.
The grand hall was packed.
Nobles, generals, priests, and representatives of the kingdom's most prominent houses had been called to witness the presentation.
High above them, upon the throne, King Philip Erkhan watched in silence.
The past few weeks had been difficult.
The appearance of the Heralds had changed the balance of the kingdom in a matter of days.
The temples were overflowing.
The population was demanding answers.
And now, for the first time, the new heroes would be officially presented before the crown.
The great doors opened.
Four young people entered.
Emily walked first.
A faint light surrounded her body, still difficult to control.
Beside her walked Alejandro.
Fire occasionally manifested around his fingers, appearing and disappearing with each breath.
Leonardo seemed incapable of remaining completely still.
Small sparks traveled along his arms.
Kara, on the other hand, walked with a serious, focused expression.
All four had received divine blessings.
But they were still only young.
They were heroes in training.
Far from being the most powerful beings in the world.
The Heralds appeared behind them.
The atmosphere changed.
They did not need to raise their voices.
Their presence alone was enough to make the priests and nobles fall silent.
Their armor remained impressive.
Their auras were powerful, but fractured.
As if they could not contain their own power, allowing it to constantly leak through them.
No one commented.
The Herald of Light stepped forward.
He stopped before the throne.
"Your Majesty."
His voice appeared directly inside everyone's minds.
"The gods have heard humanity's prayers."
The king inclined his head slightly.
"And they have answered."
The Herald extended one hand toward the four young heroes.
"They are the chosen ones who will walk this world beneath their blessing."
A pause.
"But a campaign of this magnitude cannot be sustained by four heroes alone."
His eyes slowly swept across the hall.
"They will need armies."
"Supplies."
"Shelter."
"Information."
"And above all, the cooperation of the kingdoms."
His tone remained respectful.
But it was no longer a request.
"Therefore, we formally request that the crown make its resources available to the campaign."
The king remained silent.
The Herald continued.
"The noble houses will be required to contribute soldiers, provisions, and wealth."
Several nobles exchanged glances.
"The temples will coordinate religious and civil efforts."
A pause.
"And the heroes will be granted the authority to act wherever calamity threatens humanity."
The hall fell silent.
There were no threats.
No explicit demands.
But everyone understood the message.
The gods had sent saviors.
And now they expected the kingdom to open its doors to them.
The king finally nodded.
"The kingdom will cooperate."
Several nobles lowered their heads.
It seemed the ceremony would continue without incident.
Until Alejandro stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
His voice was firm.
The Herald of Light turned his head slightly toward him.
"There is another matter that must also be resolved."
Alejandro looked toward the other end of the hall.
"The Douglas family."
The atmosphere changed.
Lusian's back stiffened.
Alejandro clenched his fists.
"For years, the Douglases have shed blood throughout this kingdom."
His voice began to harden.
"Entire families disappeared."
"Parents."
"Children."
"Brothers."
His eyes locked onto Lusian.
"My family was one of them."
Lusian remained motionless.
Alejandro continued.
"And while we buried our dead, they accumulated power."
A heavy silence followed.
"Now the gods have given us the strength to deliver justice."
Emily took a small step forward.
"Alejandro..."
He looked at her.
For an instant, something different appeared in his eyes.
Pain.
"How do you expect me to forget?"
Emily lowered her gaze slightly.
Alejandro took a deep breath.
"Your family suffered because of them too."
Emily answered.
"Enough, Alejandro! This isn't the time."
But there was another truth Alejandro wasn't saying.
The woman he loved had been forced to become engaged to the Douglas heir.
And now that same man was standing there.
Alive.
Free.
Looking at him from the other side of the hall.
Alejandro looked at Lusian again.
"We cannot talk about saving humanity while allowing monsters like him to continue walking among us."
A murmur spread through the hall.
Lusian felt several gazes turn toward him.
He said nothing.
Or rather, he didn't know what to say or what to do.
Then Leonardo stepped forward.
"I agree."
His voice was cold.
"The Douglases aren't the only ones responsible."
His gaze went directly to Lusian.
"But he is the heir."
He paused.
"And as long as he remains in his position, many will suffer."
Lusian felt his stomach tighten.
Leonardo clenched his jaw.
"Justice, Father."
Now there were two.
Two heroes.
Two different reasons.
The same target.
Lusian.
The hall began filling with murmurs.
Some nobles supported Alejandro.
Others were beginning to wonder what the arrival of the heroes truly meant.
Then a calm voice cut through the tension.
"Enough."
Sophia had not raised her voice.
She had barely even moved.
But something answered from outside the hall.
A roar.
Deep.
Beastly.
The sound tore through the palace walls.
The windows rattled.
The flames of the chandeliers bent sideways.
Silence fell immediately.
Some soldiers instinctively reached for their weapons.
The four heroes tensed.
Emily's eyes widened slightly.
Alejandro turned toward the doors.
Leonardo went pale.
The Herald of Light remained motionless.
But a bead of sweat slowly rolled down his temple.
Sophia noticed it.
She smiled faintly.
"We're not here to start another war within the kingdom."
The Herald slowly breathed in.
Not because he was afraid.
Or at least, that was what he wanted to appear.
Because he knew perfectly well what was behind that roar.
A magical beast of that level was not something a Herald could fight.
It didn't matter how great the blessing was.
It didn't matter how much divine power he possessed.
His body was still human.
And that creature could kill him before he even had time to react.
"Lady Sophia," he finally said.
His voice remained courteous.
"I understand your concern."
Sophia looked at him.
"It isn't concern."
Her eyes shifted toward Alejandro and Leonardo.
"It's a warning."
Silence fell once more.
The Herald held her gaze.
"The gods wish to save humanity."
"Then let them save it."
Sophia smiled.
"But I will not tolerate disrespect toward my lord."
The Herald's eyes hardened slightly.
For the first time since arriving at the palace, he seemed to be truly assessing someone.
Her.
And behind her, beasts capable of turning a Herald into a corpse within seconds.
"No one wants a war," he replied.
Sophia held his gaze.
"Then don't provoke one."
Alejandro was about to speak.
But the Herald raised a hand.
"This matter will not be resolved here."
His voice became firmer.
"The heroes were sent to fight the calamity."
He looked at Alejandro.
Then at Leonardo.
"Not to turn their personal wounds into the objective of this campaign."
Alejandro clenched his teeth.
"And what if justice is part of that campaign?"
The Herald of Lightning leaned slightly toward Alejandro.
He did not look at him.
He simply allowed his voice—soft as the prelude to a storm—to brush against his ear.
"Hero... justice is not demanded."
"It is revealed when the world is ready to accept it."
A pause.
A silence that crackled through his thoughts.
"Impatience is the nature of mortals."
"But you no longer belong solely to them."
And then, almost imperceptibly, came the final lesson:
"Wait."
"He who acts too soon... wins a battle and loses a war."
Alejandro lowered his eyes.
"Justice will come."
A pause.
"But it will come when the time is right."
It was not a defense of Lusian.
Nor was it an absolution.
It was an order to wait.
Alejandro slowly lowered his gaze.
Leonardo did the same.
But neither seemed willing to give up.
Lusian watched everything from where he stood.
And inside, he was completely trapped.
What do I do?
If he drew his sword, he would become exactly the monster they wanted to portray.
If he demanded respect, he would look arrogant.
If he defended his family, he would only confirm that he was still protecting the Douglases.
If he denied his family's crimes, he would look like an idiot.
And if he remained silent...
He would look guilty.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Lusian felt that he had no good move.
Only bad ones.
Then he felt someone's gaze.
Emily.
She was watching him in silence, as if she wanted to say I'm sorry.
The concern in her eyes was obvious.
Lusian looked away.
He couldn't use her.
He couldn't ask her to defend him.
The king finally spoke.
"This audience is over."
His voice was not loud.
But it was enough.
"The crown will cooperate with the heroes."
He looked at the nobles.
"And any dispute concerning the Douglas family will be handled through the proper channels."
The Herald of Light inclined his head slightly.
"A wise decision, Your Majesty."
The four heroes bowed.
The ceremony continued.
The nobles began applauding.
The priests raised their prayers.
The heroes were presented as saviors.
But Lusian barely heard any of it.
The heroes already had a reason to hate him.
Alejandro wanted justice.
Leonardo wanted Isabella.
The Herald of Light looked toward her once more before leaving the hall.
Their eyes met for only an instant.
Neither smiled.
Neither said a word.
But both understood the same thing.
As long as Sophia continued protecting Lusian, the will of the gods would have an obstacle.
And the gods did not tolerate obstacles forever.
Lusian remained motionless.
He swallowed hard.
And now what do I do?