Three months passed.
The battle with Kevin had pushed them to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The price of survival had been heavy, and for Ashborn, the scars ran deeper than any wound. After narrowly averting the destruction of an entire nation, Ashborn, Lida, and Rick made their way to Grasia, a fortified town nestled between mountains and rivers. The journey was long and quiet—each of them lost in thought, haunted by the memory of Kevin's overwhelming strength and the devastation he nearly caused.
Grasia was unlike any other place they had been. It was a sanctuary for elite adventurers, protected by enchanted stone walls and blessed by ancient spirits. The town thrived under constant vigilance. Its Adventurer's Guild stood tall at its center, buzzing with warriors, mages, and scouts from all over the continent. For once, they weren't alone in the fight against the demon army.
Here, in the relative safety of Grasia, they began to rebuild.
---
A Time for Growth
Ashborn found himself waking up without fear—for the first time in years. There were no ambushes. No generals waiting in the shadows. Just peace, and the steady rhythm of training.
His body, once broken and burnt by Kevin's spell, was slowly returning to full strength. Every morning, he sparred against S-Rank adventurers in the guild's arena. His swordplay became sharper. His reflexes, faster. His connection with Raphael deepened, allowing him to simulate battles within his mind, learning hundreds of scenarios in minutes.
But it wasn't just strength he sought.
Ashborn spent hours poring over scrolls and ancient records in Grasia's library. He was desperate to understand the hierarchy of demons, the hidden weaknesses of generals, and the true history behind Basara and his rise. If knowledge could save lives, he wanted all of it.
Meanwhile, Lida pushed herself beyond her limits.
Her healing spells—once slow and draining—now shimmered with divine precision. She trained with Grasia's High Priestess, mastering area-based recovery magic and purification techniques that would prove invaluable against demonic corruption.
But healing came with a cost. Each session left her drained, her body aching, her mana core trembling. And yet, she smiled through the pain.
Rick, ever the wildcard, began refining his golden chains. He learned to manipulate them mid-air, imbue them with elemental energy, and even manifest defensive barriers. Though he trained alone most days, Ashborn noticed something different about him—less arrogance, more focus.
Maybe Kevin's attack had shaken him too.
---
The Haunting Silence
Despite the growth, the memories lingered.
Some nights, Ashborn would sit alone atop the guild's watchtower, watching the stars in silence. The air was cold, the sky cloudless, but his heart remained heavy.
He replayed the moment Kevin activated that devastating spell—the sheer terror in the villagers' eyes, the feeling of helplessness when even Raphael couldn't guarantee survival.
Ashborn clenched the rail. "I should've been stronger…"
Footsteps broke the silence behind him.
"You're thinking about what happened in Bolton, aren't you?" came a gentle voice.
It was Lida. Her silver hair glistened under the moonlight, and her light blue eyes held both understanding and pain.
Ashborn didn't turn at first. He just stared at the horizon—where smoke once rose, now only shadows remained.
"Yeah," he finally said. "I keep thinking… if I was just a bit faster, a bit stronger, maybe I could've stopped it sooner. Maybe no one would've had to die."
Lida stepped beside him, her hand brushing against his.
"You saved that town, Ashborn. You took the hit that none of us could've survived. That wasn't weakness. That was strength."
He looked at her—really looked at her. The girl who'd stayed with him since the beginning. The one who healed his wounds without question, who believed in him even when he doubted himself.
"I don't want to fail like that again," he whispered.
"Then let's make sure you don't," she replied, tightening her grip on his hand. "Let's get stronger. Together."
Ashborn's purple eyes locked with hers, a glint of yellow burning within them. He nodded.
"We will."
And in that moment, something unspoken passed between them. A promise. A bond.
They weren't just fighting demons anymore.
They were fighting for each other.
---
Chapter 13 Preview: The Road to War
Their training was complete. Their minds focused. Their hearts, steeled.
The demon general Claude wouldn't come to them.
This time, they would go to him.
And this time... they'd be ready.