The reception was warm; most of the soldiers came from humble origins and were uncertain if they would be treated as heroes by the state. However, the citizens of that city welcomed them with flowers and gifts.
The soldiers exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond to the enthusiastic reception from the townspeople. General Ghilher simply instructed them to proceed naturally, as they were "heroes" in the eyes of the people. Still feeling shy, they followed the orders of the senior paladin.
Waving and catching the flowers thrown from the rooftops, they marched through the city towards the manor of the lord of Jim, who welcomed them with a smile.
The lord of Jim was a baron who received his title due to a significant contribution to the empire and was granted his former land, Jim, as a token of gratitude. Some other nobles claimed he "infiltrated" Enya's nobility, but they could not deny that he had saved them twice, during the Great Famine and the Succession War.
The old lord stood with his eldest son and granddaughter by his side. In the empire, there were no strict rules of succession, so although the male heir was preferred, the old lord had only his eldest son and his granddaughter.
"It is a great blessing to welcome you to my castle," he said.
The grand castle was an old fortress that had fought countless battles against demons over the years and was named Azul because, according to legend, the blood of demons had stained its walls.
They all entered the enormous castle-fort. The old plebeian lord had welcomed them two years prior, before they finally reached the front lines of the Holy War.
"What? There's no need for all this, Lord Jim," Hiraeth said, feeling embarrassed.
"You are one of the great heroes, my lady. Why stay with the soldiers?" the old lord asked.
Hiraeth had grown up without luxuries and was still not accustomed to them when the opportunity arose. This was one of the reasons why the Church of the Three Saints had named her the hero of the virtue of "Humility."
"This is very generous, my lord, but I must decline," she refused again.
There were still restrictions on the heroes, though they were invisible barriers to those unaware of the inner workings of the church and the seven heroes. The old lord seemed disappointed.
"I was hoping this time I could offer you a proper room, my lady hero."
Hiraeth chuckled awkwardly, not wanting to feel burdened by a room, even with the smallest of luxuries.
Most of the soldiers set up camp within the walls of Azul. Those of higher rank, such as the heroes, stayed inside the stone castle. Hiraeth was the only exception, preferring to remain among the soldiers.
She even declined the dinner that was to be held in her honor, staying with the soldiers who chatted and drank once more.
"Captain, you should have gone! You could have dined with the great lord of abundance!" one squad soldier exclaimed.
Hiraeth sighed, sipping from her canteen as she listened to her subordinates' complaints.
"You know I don't feel comfortable surrounded by jewels and luxury," she said, pointing towards the castle.
"Ah, come on, Captain. Haven't you ever desired anything in your life? Not even one little thing?" another soldier asked.
Hiraeth pondered the question but only threw the canteen at his head, calling him audacious and disrespectful. It was better not to stir up any rumors with such inappropriate remarks.
She walked away, wandering through the castle's garden, where she could faintly perceive the banquet inside, rich and filled with the small luxuries the place could offer.
Someone stood on a balcony in one of the corridors, gazing at the moon and stars with a somewhat empty look. Clad in one of the most beautiful garments Hiraeth had ever seen, it was something she never imagined wearing herself, but she remembered well who would look beautiful in such attire.
The wavy hair blowing in the cold wind of the region made the hero's almond-shaped eyes marvel at the sight, as if a daughter of the Mother Goddess had descended to Earth.
Then their eyes met. The previous emptiness was filled with a kind of light unknown to Hiraeth, and a long, sweet smile appeared on Sasha's lips as she stood atop that balcony.
Their gaze lasted only a few seconds, but they were the most enchanting in her view.
The following morning began with a march towards the first of the three blessings they needed to pass before reaching the capital.
The soldiers were sluggish in the morning but got up quickly when Captain Hiraeth shouted orders in their ears.
By noon, they left the lord's castle and headed towards the local cathedral, where there was a sacred object that could transport many people to a specific location, this time to the Duchy of Lestra to the west. They were to proceed to the next blessing from there.
Without the use of this blessing, the journey would have taken a month. The church welcomed them as old friends, with the three heroes—Hiraeth, Jonathan, and Sasha—famous for protecting that place on their way to the front lines.
"Sister Sasha, look, look!" one of the church's children gave her flowers.
Sasha held the bouquet in her hands, smiling and thanking the little child.
As everyone gathered at the entrance of the great portal, preparing to continue the journey, Hiraeth, seeing the bouquet of white flowers that seemed to have been plucked straight from the ground, smiled—they looked like Sasha's white hair.
She picked one of the flowers and placed it in Sasha's hair.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Sasha's face turned red at Hiraeth's gentle touch.
The heroine simply smiled, then leaned down and kissed Sasha's red lips softly before skipping off towards the portal.
Sasha was too stunned to react to the quick kiss from her. While she was still processing what had happened, she found herself being dragged towards the portal.