Two days had passed since the battle.
Aric slowly opened his eyes. The ceiling above him was painted with golden vines and silver stars—he recognized it at once.
"…Wait. I've been here before," he murmured. He turned his head and scanned the room. The scent of herbs and soft linen confirmed it.
This was the medical room in the emperor's castle.
"How did I get here?" he whispered. "Wasn't I in the Demon Forest?Fighting the Demon Lord?"
The memory of that final moment came flooding back. The Demon Lord's words echoed in his head.
Come back when you are stronger.
"…He let me live," Aric said quietly.
How can I fight him again? How can I win? Unlike the other heroes—noble-born, trained by the best—Aric had grown up with nothing. A commoner boy who only got this far by luck and raw talent. A mistake in the eyes of most nobles.
But he couldn't let that stop him.
I have to fight. I –
Just as his thoughts darkened, the door creaked open.
A short, elderly doctor entered the room holding a clipboard. His eyes widened when he saw Aric awake.
"Oh dear hero, you're awake!" he said. "You've been unconscious for two whole days!"
"Two days…?" Aric sat up slowly. "Doctor, what happened? How did I end up here?"
The doctor paused for a moment. "The fight dragged on too long. The emperor grew worried and sent a squad of knights to investigate. They arrived at the battlefield and saw everything …" His voice faltered. "…devastated. The other heroes were already gone."
Aric lowered his gaze.
"…Except you," the doctor continued, but his tone shifted. Not relief. More like restrained disappointment.
Aric noticed it—but said nothing.
"So the emperor's knights saved me…"
"Yes. And the emperor has asked to see you as soon as you are well enough. He wants a full report on the battle. Of course, if you're still recovering, we can delay the meeting—"
"I'm fine," Aric said calmly. "No pain. I can meet him whenever he's ready."
The doctor nodded. "Very well. I'll send word to His Majesty. We've prepared fresh clothes for you—they're folded on the chair by the window. Please wear them when you meet the emperor."
After the doctor left, Aric climbed out of bed. He approached the chair and picked up the set of clothes—rich black garments trimmed with gold, with the imperial crest sewn into the chest.
"…These look expensive," he muttered. "Not something a commoner like me should be wearing."
But then again, he was one of the heroes. Or at least… the only hero left.
He dressed quietly and waited.
A few hours later, a pair of silent servants arrived to escort him. They led him through the grand stone corridors of the imperial palace, past towering stained-glass windows and proud marble statues of past emperors.
Finally, they stopped before a tall golden door.
One of the servants knocked twice, and a guard opened the door.
Inside stood Emperor Aurelian Vance, ruler of the Empire of Vance. He was a man in his early forties, with stern features and cold, calculating eyes. He sat on his throne with the grace of someone born into power.
Aric knelt.
"I greet you, Emperor of this land," he said.
The emperor nodded slowly. "Greetings, Hero Aric Miller. Are you doing well?"
"I'm feeling better now, Your Imperial Majesty. Thank you for your concern."
Aurelian didn't waste time.
"Hero Aric," he said firmly, "let us get straight to the point. I don't have the luxury of time. What happened during your battle with the Demon Lord?"
Aric remained kneeling, his voice calm and precise. "It was a one-sided massacre, Your Majesty. The Demon Lord didn't even need help from his commanders. He destroyed us with ease. If he were to attack the Empire now… we would not survive."
The emperor's eyes narrowed. "Then how did you survive, Aric?"
"I was spared," Aric said simply. "He let me live."
"What?" The emperor leaned forward. "He spared you? Why would he do that?"
"I don't know for sure," Aric replied. "But I have a theory."
The emperor raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
"Demons," Aric began, "live for amusement. For chaos. Out of all four empires on the continent of Aethelgard, Vance is the only one left standing. If he destroys us too, he'll have nothing left to play with. I believe he spared me because… I might become strong enough to entertain him in the future."
The emperor was silent.
"…Of course," Aric added, "that's only my hypothesis. I was just the lucky survivor. He could've chosen any of the other three."
Aurelian stared at him.
"We've met many times before," the emperor said at last, "but this is the first time I've heard you speak so much."
"That's because," Aric said, "the other heroes did the talking for me. I knew my place. I'm just a commoner, Your Majesty. It wasn't my place to speak."
For a moment, the emperor saw something different in the boy he once considered a fluke—a quiet strength, a cold honesty that even the nobles lacked.
"…What will you do now, Hero?"
Aric stood slowly. "I don't know yet. But I swear, I'll become stronger. I'll protect the Empire. Even if I must walk alone."
The emperor gave a small nod. "Very well. You may leave. Train hard. We'll hold you to your promise. And if you die trying…" He smirked slightly. "I'll honor your service."
"Understood," Aric said, bowing. "Goodbye, Your Majesty."
As he left the palace and stepped into the bustling capital city, the whispers began.
"Look it's The Hero Aric!"
"Is he really a hero?"
"With red eyes like blood and black hair as dark as the night… he looks more like a demon than a human."
"Why did only he survive?"
"Stupid commoner. Why didn't he burn to death with his parents in that cursed village 10 years ago?"
"I heard he was adopted by a family from that village"
"Really who would want to adopt anyone like him"
"He may have good looks, but he's cursed. That's why he has those red eyes. You'll see."
Aric heard every word. He didn't flinch. He was used to them.
He didn't care what they said about him.
But he did feel a bit in rage when they talked about his family.
"Anyway let's get going and think where to go for my training .. but before that I should visit grandmother."
His heart felt warmth just by thinking about his grandmother. After all she took care of him after his adoptive parents died.
"I should buy her something since I'm in the capital. Hmm, let's see what would she like?"
And like that he was in his way to see his grandmother.