The sun had begun to set as the heroes emerged from the dungeon and made their way back to the village. The villagers, who had been hiding in fear, came out cautiously as they saw the group approaching.
"It's safe now," Tai said, his voice weary but firm. "The monsters won't trouble you anymore."
Cheers erupted from the crowd. The villagers gathered around, offering food and water as thanks.
"Thank you, heroes!" an elder said, bowing deeply. "We owe you our lives."
Ono smiled faintly. "We're just doing our duty."
Sen helped bandage a few injured villagers while Yuuki used her magic to reinforce the village's protective wards. Once they were sure everything was in order, the group set out for Pushkaradweep.
---
The heroes arrived at the royal capital of Arvalis late in the afternoon. They were tired but eager to report their success to Prince Paraksh. Upon entering the palace, they were guided to the prince's chamber, where both Prince Paraksh and Princess Rimu were waiting.
"You've returned," Prince Paraksh said, rising from his seat. "How did the mission go?"
Tai stepped forward. "We cleared the dungeon and eliminated the source of the monster attacks. But there was something unusual—a cursed knight with dark energy. It was unlike anything we've faced before."
Yuuki added, "We managed to seal it, but it was strong—too strong for a regular dungeon guardian."
The prince frowned, exchanging a glance with Princess Rimu. "A cursed knight? That's concerning. Such entities shouldn't appear near our borders."
Princess Rimu looked thoughtful. "Could this be linked to the demon king's activities?"
"We can't say for sure," Ono said. "But we should stay vigilant."
---
After the meeting, the heroes were led to a sitting area where they found Uzu waiting for them. He was leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, with his usual calm demeanor.
"You're back," Uzu said, his voice steady.
Tai grinned. "And alive, thanks to teamwork."
Sen rushed forward. "Uzu! You won't believe what we faced. It was intense!"
Yuuki nodded. "We've been training hard, and it's starting to pay off. I even mastered a new sealing spell."
Ono crossed her arms, smirking. "Tai even pulled off a magic combo—by accident."
"Hey!" Tai protested, but he couldn't hide his pride. "It worked, didn't it?"
Uzu chuckled. "Seems like you've all been through a lot. I'm glad you're making progress."
The heroes spent the next hour recounting their journey to Uzu, describing the traps, battles, and their encounter with the cursed knight. Uzu listened carefully, asking questions and offering insights where he could.
Sen looked at Uzu. "What about you? Have you learned anything new?"
Uzu shook his head. "Not much. But I've been observing things closely, and let's just say, there's more going on in this world than we realize."
Tai nodded. "Well, you're still part of the team, magic or not. We'll figure things out together."
Uzu smiled faintly, appreciating their support.
As the group settled down for a well-deserved rest, the bond between them felt stronger than ever. Though challenges lay ahead, they were ready to face them together.