The crowd was ecstatic, much like the soldiers who marched into the imperial capital of Kyrios. Many of these soldiers had never dreamed of receiving such overwhelming gratitude from the people, especially those who lived in the capital.
Flowers were thrown at them, along with ribbons and divine glitter. Citizens cheered and celebrated, and the soldiers were filled with joy.
The three heroes, Hiraeth, Sasha, and Jonathan, marched behind General Ghilher, whose blonde hair shimmered even more under the cascade of thrown objects. The heroes held their heads high with pride, dressed in simple clothing, unlike their gleaming armor that reflected the faces of onlookers.
Some soldiers were overcome with emotion—not just from the reception but from the realization that they had survived and would soon be reunited with their families.
The procession was long, and the main street of the capital had been opened specifically for such events. The final destination was the Basilica of Ecclesia, the seat of the Pope and home of the Sulidas family, the most powerful theocratic family in the Empire, second only to the imperial family.
The lower-ranking soldiers remained outside the basilica, reuniting with their families.
General Ghilher dismounted from his horse and led the way, followed closely by the three heroes, who marched with pride.
Upon entering the grand hall of the basilica, they found several individuals of importance to both the Church and the Empire present.
At the center of the altar stood the Pope, an old man from the Sulidas family, which had long controlled the papacy. History claimed there had been other popes outside the Sulidas line, but most knew the family's blood ran through them all.
To the Pope's right were the four cardinals, the most esteemed figures of the Church and the Pope's closest advisors, followed by the other heroes who had remained in the capital during the Holy War.
To his left sat the imperial family, though the young emperor was notably absent. The widowed empress and the imperial princess were present, along with key members of the Sulidas family, followed by the empress's own family, and finally, the leaders of the Brancos and Ribamar families.
With steady steps, Ghilher and his three heroes knelt before the supreme authority of the Church and the second-highest in the Empire.
"I dedicate this victory to the Sacred Empire of Enya, the Holy Church of the Three Saints, and the Mother Goddess," Ghilher declared as he raised his sword and presented it to the Pope.
The old man accepted the sword, which many claimed he had personally given to Ghilher at the start of the war. With that, the ceremony began.
"To all those who have returned to your lands…" the Pope's words echoed throughout the hall. His speech was lengthy, filled with blessings for the fallen and those tainted by demonic energy, yet all present listened intently.
The sermon lasted about an hour, concluding with the Pope returning the sword to Ghilher. Applause erupted from the gathered crowd, celebrating the end of the war, the defeat of the demons who had plagued the Empire for years.
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"They say humans rarely celebrate anything—except when they defeat us," sneered one of the *Injustices*, a tone of derision in their voice.
"They're far too naïve. Even their goddess's gifts pale in comparison to ours," another *Injustice* scoffed.
"But they did manage to defeat one of the Sins," the smallest *Injustice* remarked quietly.
Silence fell upon the darkened hall. The demons knew just how powerful the *Sins* were, but the fact that humans had managed to defeat one meant they had grown stronger.
A chuckle broke the silence, followed by laughter.
"Lord of Lust, why do you laugh? Wasn't it one of your own who was defeated by that human?" asked one of the *Injustices*.
"Rafaela knew exactly what she was doing when she faced that human with that kind of energy," the Lord of Lust grinned. "Besides," he added with a sly smile, "she told me something very interesting before she went off to face him."