Humanity's Hero Of Despair

Distant hums of cheerful voices and laughter fill the atmosphere all around us.

To our surprise, fireworks light up the night sky, celebrating the first day of King Grey's reign. It is also to celebrate the first official full day of humanity's freedom from the Eradicators in Tarondar. The fireworks are huge as they burst into the air. The fireworks display showcases a variety of colors, including blue, green, red, purple, orange, and yellow.

I glance slowly at Ivy.

The faint colorful glow of fireworks shimmers across her beautiful face. She looks peaceful and happy. It was the same look she had when we were first at Sky Point together. This time, though, she is even happier. Seeing her happy makes me happier than everybody in the world. I can't simply put it into words. It wouldn't do it justice.

She catches me looking at her. She takes a second to react and giggles slightly at me.

A soft smile spreads across her face. "We have come a long way since we first met, haven't we?"

For a moment, both of us just laugh. We certainly have come a long way. From fighting off bullies, taking down dragons, defeating the Eradicators, to now dating. It is certainly a long, winding path to get to where we are now. Once we calm down from laughing, I speak up.

I nod with a gentle smile. "We certainly have beautiful. I had no idea this is where I would be right now. Being with you under the fireworks. I couldn't ask for more."

The night is getting colder, as the night is now in full swing. People start going home to sleep, and the streets become more peaceful. There is nobody on the campus of Hero Academy except Ivy and me, as well as those guards in the Revolutionary Room. I hold Ivy's hand, and we bound down the steps of Sky Point. Before we fully leave campus, I turn around to look at the Sky Point tower once more.

"Thank you…", I say to it as I turn back around, and we are both led back to the ground of Stonelight by an escort. After the escort leaves, we start our walk back to Mistfall. I know what you might be thinking.

We both decide it would be more fun and romantic than a simple carriage ride.

We were surprised to find the villagers in Mistfall to be awake.

Mistfall is still slightly alive despite being quite a late hour at night. Small fires and lanterns flicker against the darkness of night as the villagers wave goodnight at us.

"Have a goodnight Lord Lotus! Sleep well!" one villager says to us as we walk by their house. The villager's kid also notices us and waves goodbye to Ivy and me. That puts a smile on both of our faces.

"Make sure to treat that girl Ivy well, Lord Lotus!" one of the older villagers tells me as we pass them on the pathway while he chuckles.

"Will do!" I respond politely back to them. I am happy that the villagers treat me like family, even if I am nobility now. My status doesn't change how they feel about me or how I feel about them. We continue to pass a few more villagers on our way to the cabin.

When we reach the cabin, the familiar sight of the beautiful flower garden greets us. The flowers look beautiful under the soft glow of the moon. The flowers give life to my bland property. Those flowers have stood the test of war and made it out alive, just like we somehow survived. The flowers being alive proves beautiful things can still exist even after the hellish landscape of the battles.

"I still can't believe…everything we have been through," Ivy says as she admires the flower garden and then looks up at the sky. "I hope Ignis and Justus are watching over us."

"I hope so as well," I say as I pick a few flowers from the garden to put into a vase. We both then walk up the stairs and shut the door behind us. Once inside, we change into comfortable clothes. The formal attire from the royal party has become uncomfortable, so I am happy with the change.

The warmth of the cabin puts me at ease. Ivy gets the fire going in the hearth, which I am very thankful for. The cold air of the night of Mistfall falls away in place of the warmth of the homely flames. I hear Ivy yawn across the room.

"I am going to go sleep now," Ivy yawns while stretching out her arms.

"Sleep well my angel," I respond to her as she climbs the stairs and goes to sleep. My body doesn't feel like sleeping quite yet, so I stay in the living room. The moonlight reflecting off the window draws me to it.

Meeting Ivy has been the first real shift for me.

Ever since I met her, she accepted me for who I am, even if nobody else did. Then Leena, with her trigger-happy personality, found it easy to confide in me about some of her insecurities. Zephyr shows me how confidence gets you far. Justus was always there to give me wisdom and to show me the truth. Ignis was like a protective big brother.

I could go on and on with this.

With the Eradicator threat finally over, who knows what will happen next in Tarondar. I am just happy to find some close friends, even if those friends are quirky. Turning from the window, I head up the stairs to go to sleep as well.

Closing my eyes, I think about everything and nothing at the same time. I finally find some peace, just like all of humanity finds tonight. I find peace with the world and with myself, with who I am at my core.

If there are only two words to describe how I feel.

It is acceptance and hope.

Little did I know, this was really a fragment of the tragedy about to occur.

The calm before the storm.