Todd and Milo came marching toward us like they owned the plaza.
Well—Todd came marching. Milo came stalking, shoulders tight, jaw clenched like he'd just lost an argument he refused to accept.
Ash shifted in front of me with a tired sigh, like a man preparing to catch something heavy before it fell.
From what I knew… he'd probably done this before.
Todd had always been weirdly serious about heroes. The kind of kid who could stare at a statue and look offended it wasn't moving.
And Milo—
Milo treated every story like it was happening right now, and he was the narrator chosen by fate to shout about it.
I watched them approach and thought, with sudden dread:
I'm about to get dragged into a hero argument.
Todd was the first one to speak—because of course he was.
"You're late," he snapped at Ash like Ash owed him something.
Milo immediately shoved his face into the conversation, voice loud enough to wake the statues.
"We were in the middle of a HISTORIC debate!"
Todd clicked his tongue. "Debate? You mean you yelling nonsense."
Milo gasped. "Nonsense? Todd, this is literally the fate of Avalonia we're talking about!"
Todd jabbed a finger behind him at the monument. "We're talking about heroes. And you have terrible taste."
Ash rubbed his forehead. "Morning to you too."
Then Todd turned his gaze like a sword point and fired it at Milo.
"The best hero is Luneth Vaarknight," Todd declared, loud and absolute. "Grandmaster swordsman. He wielded the strongest artifact, the Starbreaker Sword. The chosen one. End of discussion."
Milo's eyes widened like Todd had just insulted Milo's entire bloodline.
"END OF—?" Milo squeaked, then launched forward dramatically. "No. Absolutely not. Dagonell Wildern is the best hero. He tamed a dragon. He had his HEART replaced with a dragon heart—"
Todd made a choking sound. "That's disgusting."
"That's AWESOME!" Milo shouted.
"It's weird," Todd insisted.
"It's legendary!"
"It's gross!"
"It's COOL!"
They were in each other's faces now, their voices bouncing off the stone plaza like the monument was forced to listen.
Milo flung his arms wide as if the entire sky was part of his argument.
"Dagonell could partially transform into a dragon! He was the first human to ever do it!"
Todd's face tightened. "And Luneth is the only human who ever wielded Starbreaker. Not 'partially transformed'. Not 'my heart is a lizard'. He mastered swordsmanship."
Milo slapped his chest like he was personally offended on behalf of dragon-kind.
"Dragon heart beats louder than your opinions!"
Todd's eyes narrowed. "Your opinions are loud because they're empty."
Milo gasped again, louder. "YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"
I blinked rapidly, my head turning from one to the other.
Ash muttered, "Here we go."
I leaned slightly closer to Ash and whispered, "Do they always do this?"
Ash glanced down at me. "Yes."
"About heroes?"
"About everything," Ash said. Then he added, "Heroes are just their favorite weapon."
Todd pointed at the monument again, as if Luneth's statue would rise up and personally approve him.
"Starbreaker is in the capital!" Todd snapped. "Waiting for the next chosen swordsman!"
Milo snorted. "Waiting for someone who isn't you."
Todd stiffened. "I didn't say it was me."
"You think it's you," Milo sang.
"I do not."
"You do."
"I DO NOT."
Milo's grin turned feral. "You absolutely do."
Todd's hand twitched like he wanted to shove Milo, but he held it back with visible effort. Like he was trying to be heroic even while arguing about heroes.
Ash stepped in before they could escalate into something truly stupid.
He lifted one hand and spoke with the kind of calm that made noise hesitate.
"Boys."
Todd and Milo froze mid-breath.
Even Milo's arms stopped mid-wave.
Ash's voice stayed flat, steady.
"All of them were heroes," he said. "Every one of the Hendeca."
Todd clicked his tongue at Milo without looking at him. Milo clicked back. The tongue-clicks sounded like two angry birds arguing over crumbs.
Ash continued, not bothered.
"If any one of them was missing when they fought the Dark Lord," he said, "this kingdom wouldn't exist the way it does. We wouldn't be standing here arguing about who's cooler."
Todd frowned slightly, stubborn. Milo looked like he was trying to protest, then realized Ash's point was too clean to stab.
"…Fine," Milo muttered.
Todd muttered, "Still Luneth."
Milo hissed, "Still Dagonell."
Ash sighed again, but there was a hint of amusement in it.
Then Milo turned his bright, hungry gaze toward me.
"Trey!" he said, as if remembering I existed only now. "Which hero do you think is best?"
I stared at him.
"I…" My mouth opened, then closed. "I don't even know any of them."
Milo's face crumpled in horror like I'd confessed to not knowing what the sky was.
Todd blinked like I'd spoken in a language he didn't recognize.
"You don't know?" Todd said, voice sharpening. "How do you not know?"
I shrugged helplessly. "I know heroes exist. I know… they saved us. But I don't know the names."
Milo slapped a hand over his heart dramatically. "This is a tragedy."
Todd's eyes narrowed. "This is unacceptable."
Ash glanced at me. "Don't worry. They'll fix it."
I hadn't realized what he meant until Todd and Milo turned in perfect sync, like two performers stepping onto a stage they knew by heart.
Todd pointed to the monument's center with crisp precision.
Milo inhaled like he was about to deliver a prophecy.
Todd started, sharp and controlled. "Okay. Watch. This is how you do it."
Milo's voice overlapped instantly. "Welcome to the HERO TOUR—!"
Todd snapped, "No."
Milo coughed. "Fine. No tour voice."
Todd pointed again. "Name. Specialty. Weapon."
Milo added, unable to help himself, "And the cool part."
Todd clicked his tongue. "And the cool part."
They began walking along the semicircle.
Up close, the statues were even more imposing. Each about the height of a grown man, carved from pale stone, weathered smooth by time. Each one held a stone hilt extended toward the center like an invitation.
Ten hilts were empty.
One—only one—held a real steel sword, seated into the stone grip like it had been waiting for someone to take it for a thousand years.
The names were carved into the stone bases beneath each hero in ornate letters.
Todd stopped at the center statue—because of course he did.
"That one," Todd said, voice almost reverent, "is Luneth Vaarknight."
Milo's eyes brightened. "The sword guy."
Todd ignored him. "Grandmaster swordsman. Specialized in swordfighting. Wielder of the strongest ancient artifact—Starbreaker."
Milo leaned in and added loudly, "And he was so good people still cry about it!"
Todd shot him a look. Milo shrugged. "They do."
We moved to the next statue.
Milo darted forward first this time, pointing like a child claiming treasure.
"Dagonell Wildern!" Milo announced. "The Great Dragon tamer."
Todd muttered, "Here we go."
Milo continued, eyes shining. "His heart was replaced with a dragon heart by Corcimm. He gained dragon-like strength and could partially transform."
Todd shook his head like it physically pained him. "Still weird."
Milo pointed at Todd's chest. "You're weird."
Todd sighed through his nose and moved on before Milo could start a speech.
Next statue.
Todd took it. "Altes Baltazhar."
Milo's tone changed slightly—not mocking, but less excited. "Great archmage."
Todd's voice sharpened with respect. "Specialized in spell knowledge, ancient rune language, magical device creation, and artifact analysis."
Milo added, "He's basically the brain hero."
Todd nodded once. "Yes."
We moved again.
Milo pointed dramatically. "Corcimm Erangel!"
Todd's eyes narrowed. "Careful."
Milo blinked. "What?"
Todd spoke first this time, controlled. "The stories around him vary."
Milo huffed. "Fine. Some say Corcimm was a divine doctor—"
Todd added, "Specialized in human, animal, and monster biology."
Milo continued, "With knowledge so deep he could alter his own body."
Todd said, more cautiously, "Some legends claim he became tied to the origin of Chimmeria."
Milo waved his hands. "And Chimmeria might've taken his scattered knowledge to create chimmera monsters."
Todd cut in. "Or that's propaganda. Seagate scholars argue about it."
Milo blinked, then nodded. "Right. Scholars ruin everything."
Ash, behind us, murmured, "Or keep you alive."
Milo pretended he didn't hear.
Next statue.
Todd's voice softened a fraction. "Mirella Godfreyne."
Milo nodded. "Great archmage specialized in recovery and buff magic."
Todd added, "She used a special rapier created by Durgan Tharin."
Milo clasped his hands. "Support queen."
Todd paused, then reluctantly said, "Yes."
Next statue.
Milo pointed. "Gigantoneil Crowlance!"
Todd's brows lifted. "Great defender."
Milo continued, "Specialized in defense. Massive lance. Massive shield."
Todd muttered, "Finally, someone who understands 'don't die'."
Milo grinned. "He'd like you, Todd."
Todd ignored him.
Next statue.
Todd pointed sharply. "Eldaria Stormvane."
Milo's voice rose. "Thunder and lightning archmage."
Todd added, "Electric magic. Precision caster."
Milo made sparks with his fingers like a child. "Zap!"
Ash flicked Milo's hand down casually as we walked. "Stop."
Milo pouted. "I'm educating."
Ash replied, "You're embarrassing the dead."
Next statue.
Milo perked up again. "Durgan Tharin!"
Todd nodded. "Dwarf. Blacksmith and enchanter."
Milo added, "And he fought with a hammer, because of course he did."
Todd's eyes were almost fond. "He built weapons that let the others win."
My ears caught that.
Built weapons.
Like devices.
Like tools.
Next statue.
Todd pointed. "Naevira Sylthara."
Milo's tone softened with admiration. "Elf. Bow master. Long-range specialist."
Todd added, "She never missed."
Milo whispered dramatically, "Legend says she shot the Dark Lord's shadow."
Todd exhaled. "That part is probably a made up story."
Milo glared. "Stories are important."
Next statue.
Milo pointed. "Nyx Seirin!"
Todd's voice dipped. "Stealth and assassination specialist."
Milo leaned toward me. "This one is scary cool."
Todd muttered, "If you like being stabbed."
Milo grinned. "I do not."
Todd glanced at Milo's grin. "Your face disagrees."
Last statue.
Todd's voice firm. "Bairon Godstryx."
Milo's eyes widened. "Unarmed martial arts master."
Todd added, "Unbreakable body. Hand-to-hand combat."
Milo threw a slow punch in the air. "Pow."
Ash caught Milo's wrist without looking. "Stop."
Milo sighed. "Fine."
We finished the semicircle and stood again facing the center inscription, all the statues offering their hilts like silent judges.
I stared at them.
The variety hit me like a wave.
Swordmaster.
Dragon-heart.
Archmages.
Healers.
Defenders.
Smiths.
Assassins.
A martial artist.
They weren't one kind of hero.
They were… a team. A collection of people who filled each other's gaps.
I found myself wondering what their aura manifestations would've looked like.
If they even had aura back then.
Or if heroism didn't need it.
Milo's elbow nudged mine. "Okay," he said, eyes bright again. "Now that you know them—who interests you most?"
Todd's gaze sharpened too, like this was an exam.
I hesitated.
Then, surprisingly, one name sat in my mind like a nail.
"Altes Baltazhar," I said.
Todd and Milo stared at me.
Then both of them burst out laughing at the same time.
Milo laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world. Todd laughed like he couldn't believe my answer was real.
I blinked at them. "What? What's wrong with him?"
Milo wheezed. "Nothing is wrong with him, Trey—he's just—"
Todd cut in, still laughing. "He's the least powerful in direct combat."
Milo nodded emphatically. "Yeah! He mostly stayed in a workshop!"
Todd waved toward the statue. "He contributed devices, not sword swings. He didn't stand on the front line like Luneth."
Milo smirked. "He's like… the background hero."
My brow furrowed. "So what? Isn't that still—"
Ash spoke from behind us, voice calm and heavy enough to stop the laughter.
"Without Altes," he said, "your 'front line' heroes wouldn't have made it to the Dark Lord."
Todd and Milo quieted.
Ash stepped closer, eyes on me for a moment.
"You picked the right one," he said.
My chest warmed with something like pride.
Milo blinked. "Wait, seriously?"
Ash nodded once. "Yes."
Todd looked slightly offended. "But sword—"
Ash cut him off with a look. "Sword doesn't matter if you can't breathe. Or heal. Or hold the line. Or keep the world functioning after the fight."
Todd shut his mouth, jaw tight.
Milo scratched his cheek. "Okay… that's fair."
I looked back up at the statue of Altes.
"If he didn't fight," I asked slowly, "why do people call him a hero?"
Todd answered this time, tone more serious.
"Because his devices changed everything," he said. "They made life easier. They made survival possible."
Milo nodded, surprisingly earnest. "Almost every magical device in the kingdom traces back to his design."
I blinked. "Even—?"
Todd's eyes sharpened. "Yes. The anti-miasma devices."
My stomach tightened.
I thought of Ash's earlier explanation. The containers. The dense miasma. The monsters drawn to it.
Something built eight hundred years ago still keeping people alive today.
"That's…" I whispered. "That's insane."
Todd nodded. "His designs were so brilliant that even now, people at Seagate try to improve them and fail."
Milo groaned. "They always come back to the original. Like the original is cursed to be perfect."
I stared at Ash. "You said Seagate scholars argue about Corcimm too."
Ash nodded. "They argue about everything."
Milo muttered, "Boring."
Todd ignored Milo and continued, voice dropping like he was savoring the darker part of the story.
"And after the Dark Lord was sealed…" he said, "the other ten died."
My throat tightened.
Milo added quietly, "Altes survived."
Todd nodded. "And then people hunted him."
"Hunted?" I echoed.
Todd's mouth flattened. "Because he lived when others didn't. Because people wanted his knowledge. Because fear makes people ugly."
Milo's voice softened. "He disappeared."
"Where?" I asked.
Todd's gaze flicked toward the horizon beyond the gate, where the land stretched open.
"The Great Abyss Dungeon," he said.
The words landed like cold water down my spine.
Milo nodded, quieter than I'd ever heard him. "Some say he went looking for something the heroes left behind."
I felt the faintest chill crawl up my arms.
Abyss.
Floor forty-three.
Myrina.
My chest tightened and I forced a breath.
In. Out.
Don't panic.
I kept my voice steady. "What happened to the sealed Dark Lord?"
Milo perked up slightly, like he was relieved to switch back into story mode, but his tone stayed respectful.
"They say the Dark Lord is sealed in the deepest part of the Abyss," Milo said. "The seal is down there."
Todd added, "Some think the Abyss itself formed as a consequence of the seal."
I stared at the steel sword in the center.
A sword waiting for a chosen hero.
A seal buried in the deepest part of the world.
"And the miasma?" I asked.
Todd and Milo looked at each other.
Then Todd shrugged slightly. "We don't know much about miasma."
Milo nodded. "It existed before the Dark Lord was sealed."
Todd added, "Which means nobody really knows where it began."
That answer made my skin prickle.
Myrina was down there.
In a place tied to heroes, legends, seals, and mysteries people didn't understand even after centuries.
I swallowed hard and forced my thoughts to stay in the present.
Ash clapped his hands behind us.
The sharp sound snapped the air like a rope.
"Story time's over boys," he said.
Todd flinched like he'd been pulled out of a trance.
Milo blinked like he'd forgotten they had bodies.
Ash nodded toward the forest path leading away from the monument. "Why don't we do a real adventure now?"
Todd tilted his head. "Adventure?"
Milo echoed, "Adventure?!"
Ash said it like he was announcing a walk to the market. "Primrose Forest. Gathering quest. Herbs."
Todd's face immediately soured. "That's not an adventure."
Milo's shoulders slumped dramatically. "That's… picking plants."
Ash glanced at them, deadpan. "Yes."
Todd opened his mouth like he wanted to protest.
Milo opened his mouth like he wanted to dramatize.
Ash didn't give them time.
He reached out, grabbed both of them by the back of their collars—one hand each—like they were misbehaving puppies.
"Move," Ash said, voice calm and terrifyingly casual. "Boys."
I blinked.
He included me too, with that one word.
And somehow that made my chest feel… lighter.
Todd sputtered. "W-wait—Ash!"
Milo shouted in sync, "W-wait! Ash!!"
Ash started walking anyway, dragging them forward.
Their feet scrambled over stone, protesting, but they followed because Ash was Ash.
I hurried after them, my bundle bouncing lightly against my side, my sling tugging.
And as we left the Monument of Heroes behind—eleven silent figures offering their hilts to the world—
I couldn't shake the feeling that the real adventure wasn't the forest.
It was whatever waited beyond the stories.
Beyond the wall.
Beyond the past.
And we were walking toward it whether Todd and Milo liked it or not.