SSS Rank: Strongest Beast Master

The walk back to Greenfield was a beautiful dream. The forest they had fought through, once a tangled nightmare of thorns and hate, was now a paradise reborn. The air was clean, filled with the scent of blooming flowers. The golden ash from the cleansing fire still covered the ground in places.

New life was everywhere. Bright green shoots poked through the ash, and the trees that had been skeletal claws were now covered in fuzz of new leaves.

As they got close to the edge of the woods, a man dressed in the leather of a militia scout suddenly came from the trees ahead. He saw them, his eyes getting big. He dropped his rifle, turned, and ran back towards town, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"They're back! They're back! The Saint is back!"

By the time the team cleared the last line of trees, it seemed the entire population of Greenfield was there to meet them. The governor stood in front, looking very happy. His whole army stood next to him. They looked straighter and taller than Jonah had ever seen.

When the townspeople saw the healthy forest behind the team, the crowd made a sound. First, a gasp. Then, a quiet talk of not believing. Finally, a happy roar of cheers.

They were surrounded. People were joyful and tearful, reaching out to touch their arms, patting them on the back. Someone threw flower petals that rained down on them.

"You did it!" the governor cried, his voice heavy with emotions as he held Jonah's hands. "We saw the golden fire! We saw the blight receding! It was a miracle!" He raised his voice for all to hear. "The Saint of the Scar is now the Savior of Veridian!"

The crowd took up the chant. "Savior! Savior! Savior!"

Jonah felt his face turn red. He looked over at his team. Draven stood calmly, but his mouth curved in a tiny smile. Vanessa looked a little overwhelmed by the crowd but gave Jonah a reassuring look. Lira was blushing hard, trying to hide behind Master Fen, who was clearly loving the attention.

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That night, Greenfield had its biggest party ever. Long tables in the town square were heavy with cooked meat, fresh bread, and local beer. Music played, and for the first time in months, the town felt happy with hope.

Jonah's team were the guests of honor, seated at the head table with the governor. Jonah found himself picking at his food, feeling uncomfortable with the constant stares and toasts in his name. Every time he looked up, someone was raising a mug to him, their face shining with gratitude.

Finally, the governor stood, clinking a spoon against his glass for silence. The square became silent, and all eyes turned to him.

"Friends! Neighbors!" he began, his voice booming with emotion. "For months, we have lived in the shadow of a great darkness. We lost our farms, we lost our friends, and we were beginning to lose our hope. But we held on! And our faith was rewarded!"

He turned and gestured towards Jonah. "The heavens sent us a miracle! A humble young man with the power to command life itself! Let us raise our mugs to our savior, Jonah of Cinderfall!"

The crowd roared their approval, chanting his name again. Jonah felt a hundred pairs of eyes on him. The governor was now ushering him to the front, expecting a speech. He looked helplessly at his team. Vanessa gave him a subtle nod of encouragement.

He walked to the front, his heart pounding. The cheering slowly died down as everyone waited for him to speak. He looked out at their hopeful faces. They saw him as a figure from a legend, a chosen one. But he knew the truth. He was just a boy who had been in the right place, with the right, strange power, and the right friends.

He cleared his throat. "Thank you," he began, his voice a little shaky. "But… you're cheering for the wrong person. Or, at least, you're only cheering for one of the right people."

He turned and pointed towards his team.

"You see that young woman there?" he said, his voice getting louder. The crowd followed his finger to Lira who looked very shy. "Her name is Lira. She is a Druid. She was the one who listened to the pain of your forest. She was the one who guided us through the darkness when we were blind. She is the true voice of Veridian, and she gave your land the strength to heal."

"And that cranky old man trying to steal an extra chicken leg?" Jonah continued, pointing at Master Fen, who quickly hid the leg behind his back. The crowd chuckled. "That is Master Fen, one of the greatest alchemists in the nation. His genius, and his courage, gave us the weapon that cleansed the blight. Without his knowledge, we would have failed."

Fen scoffed, but he puffed out his chest, showing great pleasure.

"The woman next to him is Vanessa," Jonah went on, his eyes softening as he looked at his friend. "Her magic was our shield. She fought a huge wave of monsters and never gave up. She kept us all safe."

Vanessa gave a bright smile that made her whole face glow.

"But they aren't the only heroes here tonight," Jonah said, as he turned back to the crowd. He looked directly at the town militia, standing by the stage. "The real heroes are the ones who never left. Your soldiers, your governor… they held the line. They fought back the darkness every single day, long before we arrived. They did it to protect their homes, and their families. They are the reason Greenfield still stands."

The crowd went silent in shock. Then a new cheer started. It wasn't just for him. It was for Lira, Fen, Vanessa. And then, the loudest for their own soldiers and leaders. Their faces were bright with pride they totally earned.

Jonah slipped back to his seat, the weight on his shoulders finally gone. He hadn't just won a battle; he had given the victory back to the people who deserved it most.

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The next morning, long before the sun had risen and the town had a chance to start another day of celebrations, the team quietly packed their gear. Their work was done.

In the governor's office, Jonah left a sealed note on the desk. Inside was a detailed report. It contained Master Fen's analysis of the magical ash, Lira's advice on which native plants to cultivate first, and Vanessa's schematics for a simple runic ward to help protect the new growth.

They met by their transport in the early morning quiet. They looked back at the peaceful town. A few lights were on. Behind it, the forest was a moving shape against the first light of day.

They had come to a place of pain and left behind a garden of hope.

"Ready to go home?" Draven asked.

Jonah nodded, a feeling of satisfaction settling over him. "Yeah. Let's go home."