Gerard stepped before the villagers.
"Each of you has grown stronger. You now know the perils of the outside world and can protect your friends and family from Kilreath. You are no longer victims of circumstance but fighters! Take back this knowledge to the castle, and help secure our future!"
The five villagers cheered. A quiet cheer, but a joyful one.
The sun cast an amber glow over the devastated settlement. Their group took their time to bury the dead. Although the villagers didn't know the fallen, they said words of respect to every corpse.
"Sprite, what are their levels?" Gerard asked as he watched them deal with the corpses.
"They're all level 7. The difference in experience at lower levels isn't enough to give them different levels now."
"Very good. If they keep training, they'll be useful in the coming times."
"If someone attacks the castle, that is."