Welcome Back
"I don't think projecting you suddenly from my eyes was the best idea," Artemis said.
[Aw c'mon, this world is full of magic and they faint at the mere sight of something like this?] Caitlyn pouted.
"Well, there isn't much that we can do for now. I'll end your projection and I'll just carry these two back to the city," Artemis said.
[Okay, dear,] Caitlyn retreated from her projection and returned.
Artemis then picked the two up from the muddy and wet grass and carried them on each shoulder.
With his strength, carrying them made no difference whatsoever.
After five minutes of walking, he was finally spotted by the northern watcher and the news of his imminent arrival quickly spread among the outer and inner district.
Inside the castle, a guard burst through the doors that lead to the king's throne room and announced in a frenzy.
"Milord, your vassal has returned,"
Immediately, King Wart stood from his throne and suspended the current session, Pandora, Silvanna, and the other aides quickly ran outside with the King as the others who were trying to secure influence had their dreams immediately shattered.
Once the man in black was reinstated, their underhanded deeds and crimes would be immediately revealed and their heads would roll from the courtyard.
Knowing this, they tried to flee.
But Reinhard was already a few steps ahead of them and had them all arrested.
Most of the peasantry and the citizens flocked to the northern gate and clogged the streets leading to it.
The garrison was forced to ward off the hordes of people that wanted to have a front row seat.
The people cheered as soon as Artemis' silhouette appeared in the distance. Even under the pouring rain, the men, women, and children of the city flocked to greet their hero.
Unbeknownst to Artemis, despite showing himself to be a murderous and uncaring person before, the people grew to love him in just a short amount of time.
Not because they were forced to or brainwashed to do so. But because of many reasons.
All families had food on their tables during every meal time.
All had their fair share of the harvest.
All had fair pay.
All were given meaning as workers for what they soon coined to be "the greater good of all"
Despite the blood that was shed, the people, desperate they had been for decades, were finally blessed in return for that bloodshed.
The garrison also felt the same. The northern archers cheered and waved their arms over the walls.
King Wart and the others soon arrived and were led through the crowd and climbed up the northern wall.
They looked and saw him walking down the dirty path that lay in-between the wheat fields and the ditches.
Wart felt relieved.
Pandora was happy to the point that she cried once again on Silvanna's shoulders.
Silvanna, on the other hand, was worried. His other eye was blue but nobody seemed to care.
The red seems like his evil side but he was rather a very calm character, the blue however was a mystery.
Just as she was about to tell the guards to be on alert, she noticed that he was carrying two men on his shoulders.
"So that's where those two idiots went," Silvanna said, referring to Jord and Toby who were then recognized by the garrison soldiers and Reinhard who had just climbed up the southern tower of the northern gate.
But Artemis stopped walking just a few meters short from the gate.
The crowds went silent, the garrison was confused.
Wart and the others looked at each other and then looked back at Artemis who was looking around, seeing the familiar faces.
Jord and Toby then both coughed themselves awake and soon realized that Artemis was carrying them.
Noticing that his cargo were awake, Artemis gently lowered them to the ground at the same time and they both stood on their feet and faced Artemis.
Despite Artemis' heterochromia eyes that gave off a feeling of dread, Artemis nodded.
It was a sign both men understood, Artemis was not a threat.
And so, both of them stood on Artemis' side and stared down everyone else in the City of Diedel.
A tense atmosphere befell the drenched sides.
Artemis then looked at Wart who in turn looked at Artemis in the eyes.
Artemis also gave him a nod before taking a step further.
"Am I still welcome?" Artemis suddenly asked.
Nobody replied. The rain began to lessen its downpour as if it was complying with the current situation.
"Am I still welcome?" Artemis repeated his question.
Suddenly, when nobody dared to speak, a young boy walked away from her mother's arms and confronted the man in black.
"Young one?" Artemis asked.
"Mister," the child said.
"Yes?" Artemis knelt down and faced him.
"When are you going back to work?" The child suddenly asked.
[You're welcome after all] Caitlyn whispered inside Artemis' mind.
Artemis gave the child a good rub on the head and stood up.
"Young man," Artemis said in a loud voice.
"Let's get to work,"
And the crowd cheered. Reinhard and the garrison drew their swords and held them up high in honor of Artemis' return. Wart laughed as he waved his vassal welcome.
"""Erik! Erik! Erik! Erik!''" The crowd cheered as Artemis entered the city. Pandora and Silvanna were quick to join the cheers.
King Wart had referred to the man in black since becoming king as Lord Erik, the name quickly spread among the people and he was then known to be Erik The Almighty, a title worthy only to Artemis.
Jord and Toby quickly walked alongside their leader and tried their best to keep the crowd from pushing and pulling on him.
Seeing this, Reinhard immediately descended the walls with a few knights and quickly formed a circle around their leader.
Although Wart was the king, Artemis was their true leader.
And Wart was happy with it.
The day was a glorious day of celebration for the Fortress city's people as a feast was immediately hosted by the king in honor of his vassal's return and their victory against the Imperial government.
It was, however, a rather dreaded day for those who tried to take advantage of the turmoil.