Every knight had two or three paladins helping them mount a horse. Elric had two paladins carefully lay him over a saddle while another two paladins led his horse with a leash.

The knights were getting the hero treatment in Karth of all nations.

At the entrance, two lines of paladins stood opposite of another to face the middle with their shields held high. Striking at the shields rhythmically, the paladins began to sing.

Several knights felt like all their work the past few days were finally at an end and it was time for them to receive their reward.

At the very front of the procession stood three people.

Never would Jack imagine that the princess and his commander would be standing there right in front of him. Never would he also imagine that the magus in between them was Kebrilio.

In the presence of royalty, the knights immediately dismounted from their horses. Two of them swiftly took Elric off his horse and carried him over to the rest of the group.

But the princess was already walking toward them. Accompanying her was a group of magi and priests.

“My heroes, your long journey is finally over.” 

The traces of tears on Flania’s face humbled Jack. It moved him that his princess would be so affected by their survival. The other knights were equally moved behind him.

Their beautiful princess crying on their behalf? It was enough for them to silently renew the pledges they made. Their lives would be for the princess. Their services for her no matter the costs.

“O’ Admirable Heroes, please allow me to preface my earlier conduct with an apology. Should your distinguished selves ever require anything, I will do all within my power to bequeath it to you.” Kebrilio humbly spoke.

“None of us would ever dare to take offense at your actions. It was a decision we will respect.” Jack returned.

“Hahaha, verily, your words honor me. But it is my hope that I may have the opportunity to serve you heroes.” Argued Kebrilio. “I must admit, I am curious on what transpired back then. Would it be possible to learn the cause?”

The ears of everyone within earshot perked up. 

This

 was what everyone else wanted to know as well. The twelve magi guards and the princess were among those who were especially curious and not willing to miss even a single syllable.

Jack, of course, chose to ignore the heavy looks he was getting and pointed his finger at the carried Elric.

“It was all thanks to Sir Elric that we are alive. He was the one to defeat the bandits and magi earlier as well.”

His words weren’t lies, but the impact felt by everyone certainly almost felt like one. It was a bombshell announcement that no one could properly take in.

The experienced Charle, the knowledgeable Flania, and even one who had peered into the abyss that was maguscraft, Kebrilio, were stunned by this revelation.

It was almost comical how the knights under Jack’s command all nodded their heads to verify that his words were true.

Smiling with an expression equal part embarrassment equal part stunned, Kebrilio looked first to the unconscious young magus and then to the princess. 

“Your Highness,” He began, “what kind of magus is this Sir Elric? I was lead to believe he was but a Journeyman, but…” He didn’t finish his sentence in fear of openly calling the princess a liar.

The princess looked just as lost as he was, however. “He is but an apprentice from Circle of Magi in Sina. He has yet to even finish his examination.”

She was so shocked that she didn’t even really listen to the words she was saying. But the Karthian magi did. 

Color bled away from their faces. Only one word rebounded within their minds.

An apprentice.

Someone who was still not even officially a magus.

One that had yet to finish their training.

What kind of joke was this?!

He was a powerful magus.

A magus that could go toe-to-toe with the strongest spell from one of the most powerful magi on the continent. 

Against a practitioner of 

forbidden magic

.

And yet he was still an apprentice.

They would’ve questioned the princess if not for her stunned manner, diplomacy be damned.

The only one able to regain his bearings in a reasonable manner was Charle. He wasn’t knowledgeable about magic and was therefore not as shocked as his magi counterparts. So it was him that took notice of the slackened expressions of the princess and Kebrilio and coughed once to get their attention.

“It seems that a break is in order. I propose that we wait until these gentlemen are well-rested before we get to the bottom of this. As you can see, Sir Kebrilio, we are just as confused as your distinguished self is. We request that we be given time to understand what transpired just now.”

“Oh my, oh my, yes, of course.” The magus responded, still just a little dazed.

As he escorted the dazed princess back to her tent, Charle ordered Jack and his knights to rest for as long as they needed. Excused from their normal knightly duties, they were now free to enjoy the special treatment normally reserved for honored guests.

Charle didn’t have to worry about them. The paladins were already making sure the knights were being given the best food and drink Jack and his knights had ever had before.

It wasn’t until the fourth day after their return that Elric finally woke from his coma. He was surprised to see himself in a tent and even more so after seeing everyone’s attitude toward him when he stepped out from it.

Not only was everyone treating him like a hero, but even the knights—Hamon included—were treating him with reverence. It confused him so much that he went straight to Kite for the story. But the story was so strange that Elric could hardly believe the story was about 

him

. The most unsettling thing was how even Kite looked at him like he would at a hero.

It truly bothered Elric that he couldn’t remember what he was claimed to have done. The last thing he remembered doing was casting Chaos Bulwark to protect himself from Final Day, and after that, nothing. It boggled his mind when Kite told him he was seen using a black spear of some kind since he had no idea what that spear was. It couldn’t have been a lie of Kite either since Jack and the other knights stated the same thing.

Jack’s story was actually the most descriptive in what Elric did.

That black mist. That black spear. Those bestial claws of his. Everything sounded reminiscent of Monster from the demon realm.

It sounded like the stygian wasn’t as useless as Crazy said they’d be. He’d have to find some time to speak with Monster and see if he could find out the truth. It’d also be nice if he could learn that spear magic. Magic that could counter forbidden magic was always a tempting thought.

He was, of course, unable to escape from the interrogation from everyone else. Kebrilio was the most polite in his questions while the princess was the most unbearable for him to undergo. He had to thank his newfound hero status, as without it he was absolutely certain the princess wouldn’t have been as civil as she was now. The princess wasn’t one to shy away from less scrupulous methods if it meant getting a satisfactory answer. Subtle or direct, she had plenty of ways to get what she wanted when it mattered.

Practically a whole day was spent with the princess staring at Elric.

“Think. Try to remember.”

“Or maybe you’ll remember through hypnosis.”

“Elric, remembering even just a little detail would be a wonderful contribution to our kingdom.”

“By decree of Princess Flania, I hereby command you to remember.”

“Don’t forget, you’re the personal property of royalty. Your memories belong to us as well, so remember it already.”

“If you can’t remember anything, then we’ll have to send for my aunt, Crazy. She’ll most certainly be interested in magic capable of neutralizing forbidden magic. And I’m quite sure she’ll be more persuasive than I am.”