Chapter 102: Closing the Gate
The retreat from the dungeon remained a hazy blur, and my consciousness flickered in and out. My passive mana recovery gradually restored my body and mind, and by the time we emerged from the Gate, I could at least keep my eyes open. The fetid swamp lay before us, seemingly untouched by our absence, and a handful of guards eagerly welcomed our return.
Countless flashes of light illuminated the marshlands as soldiers reappeared through the gate. Some bore faint burns or were laced with claw marks, while others simply carried the exhausting weight of battle. The commanders wasted no time in dismissing their troops, granting them a few precious hours of rest before discussions about leaving the swamp began.
"I can stand now," I whispered, meeting Fyren’s gaze.
"Rest a little longer. That last spell must have hit your soul, so take it easy," he urged with a reassuring smile.
"Then I’ll trouble you a little longer," I murmured, resting my head against his arm.
I had come to the realization I must rely on myself, but that didn’t mean I intended to reject other’s kindness. Especially from Fyren, who I now recognize as the man from the first vision. Although his face had been hidden, the memory of his stoic kindness was etched in my mind. While I couldn’t fully trust him yet, in the near future, he would be our companion. At the very least, he wouldn’t betray us until after the events of the vision.
Soltair sighed, his gaze shifting to Trithe’s sleeping face. Although unconscious, Trithe was actually in the best condition among the four of us, having managed to escape Soltair’s Solar Flare almost unscathed. As a human, it was expected she wouldn’t have been affected to the same degree as I was, but even Fyren had suffered burns. Soltair had a nasty cut across his waist, where the Flame Commander’s claws broke through his defenses, but the only sign he acknowledged it was a slight pained tightness in his face. I reached across the distance and cast a low-level healing spell, mending the worst of it.
"Sun Hero," Fyren said after I withdrew. "Care to explain yourself?"
Soltair’s head rose slowly, and he averted his gaze before making eye contact with the adventurer. "We killed the demons and won. What else matters?"