**The Battle's Aftermath**
The excitement of the previous day seemed to have vanished with the morning that followed. The bodies of fallen soldiers lay on the ground, drunk and suffering from severe hangovers. The battlefield's rooster crowed at the dawn of a day that would be the first without any battle or surprise attack from the demons.
The humans were at peace, knowing that nothing could disturb the tranquility they had earned after their victory and celebration. However, it wasn't as if everything could be perfect. People woke up, angry from their headaches, while the priests did their best to heal them. However, they were already overwhelmed from the previous day's injuries.
Only the healers remained, those who assisted when the priests were unable. Everyone began to come to their senses, though slowly. But there was no time to wait; the return home had to begin that day, as they were all homesick.
Everyone was constantly organizing, preparing boxes, and arranging horses and carriages. In a line, they were already getting ready for the sacred entrance into the Empire's capital, Kyrios.
"Miss Sasha, where should I place this?" The question came from a young healer undergoing the priests' rite of passage.
"Let me see," Sasha checked the supply boxes the girl had shown her and gave a gentle smile. "Place it with the second unit; they're running low on that."
The girl smiled and bowed in thanks, carrying the supply box in another direction as Sasha waved to her.
Other people communicated with Sasha as well, mostly healers, deacons, and priests, as they were familiar with her.
The soldiers watching from a distance saw Sasha as a saint, due to her gentle nature and uncommon beauty. Her hair, reminiscent of jasmine flowers, and her onyx-black eyes stood out against her almost scar-free skin. It was as if some saint had descended to Earth without announcement, and all the soldiers admired her in some way, even deifying her.
Sasha was one of the heroes after all.
The soldiers gathered and whispered about her, wishing she could be their wife, even though it was impossible due to the church's rules.
"Hey, at least try asking her to the victory ball, Klaus. It's not like that's against the rules," suggested an older soldier.
"No, she'd definitely say no," replied the younger, brown-haired Klaus, embarrassed.
Klaus's golden eyes looked in Sasha's direction as she helped others prepare for the week-long journey to the capital, using the divine gifts of the church.
The boy knew it was impossible for her to return his feelings; somehow, he felt that. But… why not try? After all, she was bound by the empire's rules anyway.
"Hey, don't forget to pack your things; we're leaving today," came Hiraeth's voice.
"Yes, Captain!" they shouted in salute.
Hiraeth was someone they all respected, despite being a woman. She had achieved things they never could: slaying three Injustices and a Sin.
Between fear and admiration, they dispersed, doing what they needed to do. Before nightfall, they set off for one of the Gifts, as the journey would take two days, with the first Gift not being too far away.
As they stopped to rest, setting up an improvised camp for the more severely wounded on their way to the Gift, Sasha was busy in one of the tents when Hiraeth arrived and sat down on the ground, grumbling about something Sasha didn't yet know until her angry voice started speaking:
"These men are a bunch of idiots!" She slammed the tip of her sword into the ground.
Sasha sighed, understanding what she was talking about.
"Let them talk; don't pay them any mind. Can you still maintain your composure as a hero?" Sasha asked, handing her a cup of water.
Hiraeth took it and drank before responding:
"What does it matter being a hero? That place will only use us more and more, Sasha. The Goddess Mother's providence is telling me that," Hiraeth affirmed. "Besides, they were talking about you. Why would I let them speak ill of someone I care about so much?"
That made Sasha blush, turning her face away in surprise at Hiraeth's words.
The dark-haired woman looked at her with a protective gaze, touching Sasha's flushed face.
Sasha glanced at Hiraeth from the corner of her eye. The almond-shaped, loving eyes met the deep darkness of the albino's eyes.
"Can I kiss you?"
It wasn't as if she needed permission, the albino thought.
Their gazes and faces drew closer, slowly and in sync, until what they wanted to happen was just about to occur when someone shouted:
"Sasha! Hiraeth! Are you here?" Jonathan called out as he entered the tent. "Huh, why are you on the ground?" he asked.
Startled, the two bumped their foreheads hard, both clutching them in pain.
"It's nothing…" Hiraeth replied.
She stood up and left, her ears red with embarrassment. Jonathan, curious about the situation, though suspicious of his friends, followed the brunette to find out what had happened.
Soon after, they continued their journey, arriving at the first Gift of their return, in the city of Jim, in the Duchy of Felis.