As Hydra, Phoenix, and Xenon stepped out of the judgment hall, the tension in the air was palpable. The king, still sitting rigidly on his throne, could barely mask the seething rage that simmered behind his cold gaze. His pride had taken a heavy blow, and yet, he had no choice but to accept the outcome of the battle. His prideful soldiers, semi-dragons, who believed they were invincible, had been humiliated, and he had to let these Elementals these humans go free.
The king clenched his fists, knuckles white, and leaned toward the head of his soldiers. "I cannot believe they defeated us so easily."
The head soldier, equally shaken, nodded gravely. "The Elementals are definitely something beyond our understanding, my king. I've heard rumors that some of them can destroy entire planets in seconds."
The king's expression darkened further at the thought. "Escort them out of the palace," he commanded, his voice cold.
As the soldiers approached, Phoenix glanced back at the king with his ever-present grin, his voice smooth and teasing. "We're not done, King. A dear friend from the Elemental Society would love to have a word with you. Don't worry, they won't harm you... unless, of course, you make them unhappy. In which case..." Phoenix's smile widened mischievously, "your so-called kingdom will be reduced to ashes in seconds."
The king's face twisted in fury, but he remained silent as the trio was escorted out. The soldiers, uneasy and cautious, kept their distance.
Once outside the palace, under the serene glow of the moonlight, Hydra turned to Xenon, confusion evident in his voice. "These people hold so many grudges against humans. How can a king be like this? A true king cares for even the smallest creatures in his kingdom."
Xenon's eyes were cold as he surveyed the empty streets. "They believe themselves to be the most powerful race in the universe, but they're delusional. They don't realize they're just grains of sand in a vast, multiversal ocean. In truth, humans are far more powerful than they understand second only to the demi-gods."
Hydra tilted his head, still processing. "But what about Victor Blackwood? You mentioned him earlier."
Phoenix, though normally carefree, was momentarily serious as he chimed in. "You've never heard of Victor Blackwood? The greatest warrior of all time?"
Xenon shook his head. "Long story, kid. For now, stay focused on the mission."
As they left the palace grounds and stepped into the quiet town, the streets were nearly empty. The commotion of the day had taken its toll, and only a few shops remained open, their dim lights flickering in the night.
Hydra let out a sigh of disappointment. "All that, and we wasted an entire day."
Phoenix, ever the optimist, clapped Hydra on the back. "Look on the bright side! Now we can enjoy a nice, cozy sleep, maybe a hot spring bath, and of course, some drinks at a bar. Maybe even meet a few... interesting people."
Hydra shook his head, chuckling. "I'll pass on the 'interesting people' part, thanks."
They wandered into a nearby bar, the warm glow of the firelight spilling out into the street. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of roasting meat, laughter, and the unmistakable aroma of Adsolph fruit wine a notorious brew capable of making even the strongest man drunk in a single shot.
The old lady behind the bar greeted them warmly as they entered, her eyes wrinkling at the sight of Phoenix, who always seemed to make an impression. The bar was full of drunken patrons, some dancing, others swaying in their seats.
Hydra found a table with three empty chairs, and the trio sat down. Xenon leaned back, his gaze scanning the room. "What now?" he asked, his voice low and thoughtful.
Phoenix, already eyeing the bar with excitement, replied, "We need to gather more information. No point in asking around in here, though. These people won't know anything. We'll need to investigate similar disappearances or figure out who might have the power to make someone vanish like this. But for now... let's relax."
Hydra nodded, grateful for the brief respite. The old lady returned to take their orders.
"I'll have Adsolph wine," Phoenix said with a grin, "and some Rye goat meat."
"I'll take cream bread and some sweet apple plant honey," Hydra added politely.
Xenon, much to Hydra's and Phoenix's surprise, ordered without hesitation, "I'll have a whole Rye goat roast."
The old lady blinked, her eyes widening as she processed Xenon's request. Rye goats were massive creatures, standing at nearly five feet tall, with a build as large as a horse. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded and hurried off to the kitchen.
Phoenix burst into laughter. "A whole Rye goat, Xenon? Really?"
Xenon shrugged casually. "I'm hungry."
When Hydra and Phoenix's food arrived, they dug in quickly. Phoenix, being true to form, took four shots of Adsolph wine, quickly reaching the point of drunken exuberance. Before long, he was on his feet, dancing and laughing with the other patrons.
Xenon's meal arrived not long after, and he began eating in his usual quiet, focused manner, unfazed by Phoenix's antics.
Hydra sighed as he watched Phoenix stumble around the bar, eventually having to help him to his room for the night. Once Phoenix was settled, Hydra and Xenon retired to their own rooms.
Lying in bed, Hydra stared at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling. The day had been long and strange, but it was far from over. There was a deeper power at play, and they were only scratching the surface.
As his eyelids grew heavy, the world faded into darkness, and Hydra drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.