The thick, dark clouds that once formed a blanket on the skies was slowly disappearing. Gina and John looked at each other, smiling when they see a dark purple lightning struck right outside the gate of Galaron.
The gate was encased inside the wall, so they have to climb that before they landed on the ground which Glenn and Patrick were.
"You're back!" Gina cheered. "I was so worried about you suddenly leaving, and then Patrick suddenly getting selected."
"If you read the notebook I gave you, then you didn't have to worry," Glenn said. "My plans always work, you of all people here should know that."
Gina shook her head in amusement. "I'm just so glad you're back safely."
"So, what now?" John asked. "The Four Waves event is over, but we're still nowhere from defeating the Dark Lord."
"Oh, we're getting there," Glenn said. "But let's start by talking to Melissa first. The Four Waves may be over, but the war between us and the Darkness has just started."
Glenn arranged a meeting with Melissa and they were now inside the town hall where they discussed the future events that would take place.
"For now, your town is safe," Glenn said. "The Four Waves are the only threat to Galaron."
"Thank you for saving our town even when we drove you away," Melissa stood and bowed.
"Twice," Glenn smirked. "But that was under the influence of Viros, so it doesn't matter. For now, we have to discuss the things that actually matter, the Adventurers' role in this town."
Melissa listened intently to what Glenn had to say. She was doing her best to keep her mouth shut and not interfere when Glenn was talking.
What the healer wanted was simple, equal treatments of the Adventurers and the Knights. The influence from Viros may have vanished, but there were still lingering memories that may cause chaos in the future, Glenn wanted to avoid that.
He wanted the basic mechanics of the game and this world. The Adventurers would take on quests from the town folks while gaining EXP as they hunt in the wild.
The next thing was the food, lodging, and other services for the Adventurers. Melissa promised to warn anyone who discriminates Adventurers in their establishment just because the customer is an Adventurer.
Lastly, Glenn wanted the Galaron Adventurers to remain in Galaron until they reach Level 40. The forests outside of the newbie area are highly dangerous. Unlike the game where they would just respawn back in the town, Glenn worried that the Adventurers who die in this world would permanently die.
"Alright," Melissa nodded after hearing all of Glenn's requests. She throught that the presence of the Adventurers would also benefit their town because there are a lot of quests from the town folks that the Knights were incapable of doing.
"Alright," Glenn nodded. "I will leave this town and search for a way to defeat the Dark Lord."
"You're leaving us?" Melissa asked. "But what if we need your help again?"
Glenn smirked. "I'm not the only Adventurer in this town, Melissa. There are still a lot of people who are on the process of becoming stronger. In a week or so, you'll start seeing those people."
Melissa was silent as she nodded. She let Glenn, Gina, and John leave the town hall and walk away.
"Those three," Melissa smiled. "They're the heroes of Galaron."
Jasmin smiled and nodded. "I agree. Without them, this town would've perished."
–
"So, you're just leaving like that?" Gina asked Glenn. They just hopped off the wall since the supposed entrance was still yet to be built. "You're not even going to say goodbye?"
"I believe that this would ignite a burning will of passion inside them," Glenn said. "Those kids. If we fail, they are going to be the future of humanity."
"Big Brother Healer!"
"Big Brother Assassin!"
"Big Sister Enchanter!"
Glenn turned around to see four young Adventurers jump off of the wall. They were racing towards Glenn, one by one reaching him and panting.
"Are you really going to leave us?" Cecil asked. "What are we going to do now? Felix is such a bad leader."
Glenn snorted after hearing this. He kneeled so he can look at them in the same level. "You don't need me anymore. The four of you had grown a lot just in these past few days."
"But we're still far from where you are," Don argued. "What if something like the Four Waves would happen again. What will we do by then?"
"You fight," Glenn smiled. "But you don't have to worry, and you just have to trust me. There's nothing in the near future that would come for you and hurt you. But this being said, you also shouldn't procrastinate in getting stronger."
"Where will you go?" Felix asked. He was trying to put on a stern face, but he was failing. His face would scrunch up from time to time, showing that he wanted to cry.
"We will hunt the Generals first," Glenn said. "After that, we will hunt the Dark Lord. Our adventure will be separate from yours, but we will meet in the middle."
"What do you mean, big brother?" Cecil asked. "How will we meet?"
"Tonight, when the full moon strikes, I want you to look closely," Glenn said. "There will be a symbol in the moon. Thirteen smaller circles encircling a diamond. It's not going to be obvious, but the symbol is there."
"What do we do with the symbol?" Don asked.
"The symbols show a faint light, each circle and the diamond would have a distinct color on them," Glenn replied. "I assume you know what these colors represent?"
"The thirteen Generals and the Dark Lord," the three chorused, leaving Patrick silent throughout the conversation.
Glenn noticed this, but he didn't say anything. He just continued. "When all the colors of the circles along with these symbols vanish, the fight between the Dark Lord will commence. I will need your help by then."
"What could we do against the Dark Lord?" Felix asked. "We're just kids."
"You're Adventurers," Glenn corrected. "Well, now since I know you're going to chase aftet me. Here are gifts from the Death Arena. Their attributes will be great and they have small levels to match yours, but you can use scrolls to upgrade their levels."
He handed Felix a dagger. "The Dagger of Endless Nights. This will now be your main weapon to slay the ones who bring threat to your family."
Glenn then handed Don a shield. "The Shell of the Black Tortoise, one of the hardest shields that ever existed. Use this to protect your loved ones from harm."
He turned to Cecil to gave her a scepter. "The Scepter of the Pink Serpent. Great for mages who like cute stuff."
"I don't like cute stuff, but this is so adorable," Cecil cheered.
"Lastly," Glenn sighed. He turned to Patrick and kneeled in front of the boy. "Yours doesn't belong from the Death Arena, but this is still good."
Patrick was still silent as Glenn pulled a staff from his Inventory.
"The Staff of the Mystic Mount Evermore," Glenn said. He smiled as he handed the staff down to the younger boy. "This was the staff I used when I won my first competition. Use this well to bring your friends from harm's way, okay?"
Patrick couldn't hold back his tears. He launched himself towards Glenn and sobbed. "Why do you have to leave? Wait, don't answer it."
Patrick wiped his tears and took the staff. "I will do my best to protect them. I will become their new big brother."
"You're the second youngest–"
Don was cut off by Felix who elbowed him. The latter clapped his hands at Patrick. "That's my friend!"
Glenn smiled and nodded. "Alright. I will go now. The four of you must promise me that no matter what happens, you will be there for one another, alright?"
"Right!" the four of them yelled.
Glenn waved his hand as he entered the forest, leaving the kids at Galaron. He was now going to face a much harder track up ahead.
"I almost cried," John fake wiped a tear from his eye.
"That was really emotional, indeed," Gina sighed. "But are you sure that those kids are going to be alright?"
"Of course," Glenn said. "I have someone protecting Galaron."
–
"Tiresome," Diana sipped her coffee as she sat on a shop inside the town. "I really don't like this, but whatever."
"You just have to suck it up," Philip chuckled. "He will defeat the Generals. And then we'll all be free."
"I bet you three months," Quentin slammed a gold bar on the table. "He will take them all down in three months."