Flyers rained from the sky, spreading across the streets. Newspapers in every hand bore the same name in glaring headlines, and every phone screen buzzed with the breaking news. " The 7 Shadow Mystics " A single image dominated them all—our silhouettes soaring through the night sky, shrouded in mystery and power.

    The kingdom of Latros was in chaos. The Latros port''s massive architecture, lay crumbling in heaps of steel and stone across the port. The destruction was colossal, Fires burned dimly in the rubble, but even they seemed like faint burns compared to the things of the night before.

    People crowded the streets, looking up to the skies with awe and unease. The stories had already begun spreading, whispered from person to person, growing more exaggerated with every retelling.

    "Seven shadows," a merchant muttered to his companion, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and admiration. "They flew through the sky like specters, taking down Luci''s forces as if they were nothing."

    "My son won''t stop mimicking them," another villager said, chuckling despite the grim circumstances. "Keeps saying, ''I am shadow, the coolest and strongest of all!''"

    Children ran through the streets with makeshift black cloaks, their laughter piercing through the somber atmosphere. They weilded sticks like swords, striking in the air.

    "Did you hear?" one of the bystanders asked. "The Queen of Latros... she was captive all along. Held hostage by Luci himself."

    "Impossible!" a man scoffed. "And yet it''s true. The Shadow Mystics freed her last night. We all saw them vanishing into the night sky. Heroes, if you ask me!"

    The whispers grew louder, some in awe, others in suspicion.

    Knights of the Round Meeting

    In stark contrast to the streets'' animated energy, the council chamber of our kingdom was tense. The air was thick with unease as knights gathered around the grand round table. Their faces bore the weight of shame and frustration.

    "We were blind," a knight admitted, his voice low and somber. "Blind to the suffering in Latros. Blind to Luci''s control. And blind to the Queen''s plight."

    Another slammed his fist onto the table. "For years, we traded with them, oblivious to the truth. It''s an embarrassment to the crown."

    The Queen sat at the head of the table, her expression unreadable but her fingers drumming impatiently against the polished wood. She finally spoke, her tone cutting through the room like a blade. "And while we failed to act, these so-called Shadow Mystics did. They not only uncovered Luci''s control but also eliminated his forces and freed Latros''s Queen."

    The room fell silent, the truth of her words undeniable.

    She shot me a tired glare, but the corner of her lips twitched. "Funny," she muttered.

    Crossing the room, I handed her the tea. "Here, Drink this. It''ll help."

    "Thanks," she said, taking the cup and wrapping her hands around it. She stared into the tea for a moment before taking a small sip. Her eyes drifted to the window, the sunlight casting a soft glow across her face.

    I sat down beside her on the edge of the bed. "You okay?"

    Athlea nodded but didn''t say anything. Her silence spoke volumes. I reached out and placed a hand on her head, gently caressing her hair.

    Her gaze met mine, and for the first time since she''d woken up, she smiled—a small, genuine smile that melted away some of the tension in my chest.

    "You don''t have to say anything," I said quietly.

    She leaned into my touch, her smile growing. "You''re annoyingly good at that whole comforting thing," she teased.

    I chuckled. "It''s a talent."

    Leaning forward, I kissed her lips. She closed her eyes, her smile widening.

    "A hero just kissed me," she said, her tone playful.

    "Your hero," I corrected, grinning.

    She laughed softly, the sound light and genuine. It was a moment of calm in the midst of chaos, a reminder of what we were fighting for.

    Without another word, I lay back on the bed, pulling her down with me. She nestled over me, smooching me and tasting off my tongue in the blissful wake.

    She lay over me, her soft lips locking against mine as her fingers held my chin. It felt less like a kiss and more like a silent thank you, an unspoken gratitude I couldn''t quite place. My hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer as I soaked in the warmth of her touch, a heat that spread through me like a quiet flame.

    The sunlight continued to stead through the window, bathing the room in warmth.