After the battle in the demon general's base, Arabella and her subordinates finally returned. A few were injured, and those unable to walk were carried by their fellow mages who had escaped unscathed.
When they arrived at the Vanguard, news of the demon general's defeat spread like wildfire. It reached every corner of the kingdom — even the citizens were talking about it. The new guild, Obsidian Legion, had made a name for themselves overnight.
Among those who heard the news was Lyra Velamir, an Absolute Tier mage known for deflecting the attack of one of the Demon King's commanders. Curious about this rising star named Arabella, she decided to meet him in person and deliver his reward.
When Lyra entered the Vanguard guild, she was stunned. Three hundred mages — all from one guild — filled the hall. Mages were rare, yet here they gathered under a single banner.
Inside, Arabella was speaking with the receptionist.
"You can claim your rewards at the Ascendant League since they were the ones who issued the mission,"the receptionist said.
Arabella nodded.
"Understood. Thank you,"he replied, turning to leave — but Lyra stepped in.
"Oh, your robe really is beautiful,"Lyra said with a faint smile.
"Thank you,"Arabella answered politely.
"I'm Lyra," she introduced herself. "An Absolute Tier."
Gasps filled the guild. Two Absolute Tier mages standing in the same room was a rare sight — especially when one of them was the infamous Lyra Velamir herself.
Yet, neither Arabella nor Lyra paid attention to the murmurs. Their focus was entirely on each other.
"I've heard of you," Arabella said calmly. "You're from the Ascendant League. Are you here to give me the reward?""Wow, you're sharp," Lyra replied, amused. "Yes, I'm here to deliver your reward — one thousand gold coins."
Arabella accepted it with a nod.
"Thank you."
But Lyra wasn't finished.
"Actually, I'm not here just to give the reward. I have a question."
"What is it?" Arabella asked.
"Why don't you join the Ascendant League? We could use your power."
Arabella paused.
"I just want to earn money for my master. We need gold to buy food."
Lyra smiled softly.
"Fair enough. Feeding three hundred and four mages isn't easy."
She turned to leave.
"Alright then. Thanks for the talk."
Arabella simply watched her as she exited the guild. Then he looked back at his comrades and said,
"Get up. We're heading back to the castle."
Back at the castle, Rafael sat on his throne, his crimson eyes sweeping over his returning soldiers.
"What happened here?" he asked sharply. "Why are there so many injured? Treat them, Alexander."
"As you wish," Alexander replied, ordering the tanks to bring out healing potions.
Recently, Rafael's spies had returned with livestock, gold, and food — along with a message from the king. Shortly after their arrival, new reports came in about the vampires' sudden discovery deep within the mines. They had found a waterfall hidden beneath the earth, one that turned out to be no ordinary spring — it was the Legendary Falls, a source capable of producing Legendary Healing Potions.
A single potion was worth one hundred gold coins, and even a quarter of it could heal an entire body instantly.
But Rafael was firm in his decision:
"We will not sell these potions. The Legendary Falls will be used for our own kind."
As the injured mages were treated, Arabella stepped forward and handed over the one thousand gold coins they had earned.
"This is the reward from the mission," he reported.
Rafael nodded with approval.
"Good work. You've done enough for now. Rest in the castle, Arabella."
And for the first time in days, the Obsidian Legion found peace — even if only for a moment.