46 Reunite

A few moments passed as the battle between Lyrica, Riko, and the others against the Guardian Snake have reached its conclusion, somewhere outside the northern edge of the Forest of No Return are a group of wounded knights clad in broken white armor.

These wounded fellows are the same people Lyrica saw trying to get out of the forest.

"Is everyone all right?"

Asked the knight who came checking up on every single one of them. While they all appear badly wounded, at least their consciousness is still intact. The knight is relieved.

"Eisvel is not far from here. We're gonna get help, and send a message to the Reyna." The knight turns around, gazing at the silhouette of the Forest of No Return. "The kingdom of Kruule has turned against us."

Fast forward in the afternoon, inside a certain throne hall lies two throne seats situated side by side. One of the oversized chairs is being occupied by a woman wearing an elegantly stylish dress.

Kneeling before the woman is a man who came from the town of Eisvel.

"That is all, Mahal na Reyna." Said the man to the woman in the throne seat.

"Very well." She replied. "Tell the Alkalde of Eisvel to give the Malayas the treatment they need and report back to me once they have fully recovered."

"Masusunod!"

Following his respectful bow to the Reyna, the man turns around and starts walking across the carpet where knights in red armor are lined up on both sides. He then makes his way through the giant door that was opened by two other red-armored knights.

After that, they closed the door shut.

"What do you think, Ina?"

The voice of a youthful man resonates right beside the throne.

"It is unbelievable, but this encounter says more than enough," He said to the Reyna. "The Hari have turned against us—And he's hiding the four heroes in Kruule."

"I can't fathom the reason behind his actions, but there's no time." Said the Reyna as she turns to her right, facing her son. "THEY are here..."

The Reyna hardens her grasp on the throne seat before standing up.

"We need them." She uttered. "We've got to get the four heroes, no matter the cost."

...

Meanwhile, in that same afternoon, the image of Lyrica, Riko, and the others gradually appears from the distance.

From their point of view, they can see a wall of concrete in the distance. And right in the middle is a gate made out of hardwood that resembles a Higantes. Standing in front of the wooden entrance are the two fellows wearing the same black armor as Riko and the rest.

"Is that it?" Lyrica asked. "Your home?"

"Yeah," Riko replied as a smile form on his face.

"Hey, is that Nikolo?" Marlo points his finger towards one of the two people standing in front of the gate. "And Nico, too!"

"Hey!"

"Hm?" Nikolo looks into the distance right after hearing the faint voice of Marlo. "...Hey, is that..."

"Huh?"

Nico takes a look, as well.

"No way...!"

And sure enough, his eyes went wide in disbelief. He went straight through the gate as quickly as he could.

"Hey!" Nikolo shouted, waving his hand in the air.

"They see us! Hey!" Roberto shouted back, waving his hand in response.

"Looks like you're home," Lyrica told the young knight.

"Yeah," Riko responded. "Welcome to our town—Takkot."

A couple of minutes later, the group reaches the front of the wooden entrance.

"Holy moly. Welcome back from the dead." Nikolo greeted with a smile on his face as he fistbumps with Magdalo and the others. "We all thought you're all inside the Guardian Snake's stomach by now, or so as the commander said."

"Well, that was the plan. Until we got help."

Following Marlo's statement, the group stares at Lyrica, urging Nikolo to look at the girl.

"I see." He uttered. "I don't know how you did it, but thank you for saving these old farts."

Lyrica wordlessly turns away without saying anything.

"Hey, you bastard! We are not that old yet!"

"Besides, you're the same age as Magdalo and Roberto."

"Hey, don't drag me and Magdalo into this."

The age of Magdalo and the rest ranging from the 30s to 40s, excluding Riko who's only 18 years old.

"Jokes aside, let's go ahead and bring everyone the good news!" Nikolo cheerfully spoke. "The whole squad who bravely confronted the Guardian Snake has returned well and alive!"

Nikolo tries to lead them inside the town Takkot. However, as he felt no movement, he turns back and sees the gloom on their faces.

"What's wrong, everyone? Why the gloomy face?"

He wondered what's wrong, and then he begins to look at each of them, including Lyrica. Only then he realized that the band of knights did not return as a whole.

"Where's Karlo and...?"

He gazed directly into Riko's long face. The young knight's expression says it enough. Just like what Nikolo's picturing in his mind, Karlo and Riko's father ended up being eaten by the ruler of the forest.

"I'm sorry... I didn't realize it sooner." Nikolo guiltily looks down as his enthusiasm greatly drops empty. "I'm sorry, Ri—"

Riko's hand appeared out of nowhere and gently grabbed Nikolo's left shoulder.

"It's all right."

Riko told the man with a melancholic smile. After that, Nikolo embraces Riko so tight it's as if the young knight is his own child.

Meanwhile, Lyrica who is now with Magdalo wordlessly watches the young knight from behind. It was a look of amazement. She admires how Riko manages to keep himself from breaking out into tears after all this time.

Riko had seen a lot of things. His father's death, Karlo's death, and even the death's door. No ordinary person would be able to witness all that and not lose it.

Creaak~!

"Hm? Ah..."

Just then, the wooden gate creaked open, revealing Nico standing right in the middle of the entrance. And behind him is a crowd of people he called out from their houses.

Amidst the mob of people who came to see the returning knights are the families of each one of them.

"Estella... Nonoy!"

"Ama!"

"Marlo, dear!"

As Marlo reunited with his wife and son, the other's relative started rushing out from the crowd.

"Cardo!"

"Ina!"

Cardo is greeted by his mother's tearful embrace.

"Ama! I knew the Guardian Snake couldn't kill you!"

"Margareth..."

"I'm so glad you're alive."

"Synthia..."

"Welcome back, Roberto."

"Calilla!"

Roberto could not believe it, but he gets to see his family once again. On the other hand, Magdalo also gets greeted by his family who is eagerly waiting for his return.

"Ama!"

"Ollie!"

"Magdalo."

"...Olivia."

"I knew you'd come back."

Riko watch as Magdalo, Roberto, Marlo, and Cardo reunites with their families after surviving a battle with the infamous Guardian Snake.

"Big brother...?"

Riko flinched as he heard a familiar voice of a little girl calling him from behind. He then turns around to see a young girl along with a much younger little girl and two other boys standing in front of him.

"Nela, Robert, Nilo, Rona!"