"THE PRISON HAS FALLEN! FROM THIS MORNING ON, ARDORIS IS FREE! THIS MORNING WILL BE KNOWN AS THE FINAL DAY OF ARDORIS!!!" shouted Chud. The other guards and prisoners behind were all hugging each other and shouting happily.
"Eh, at least the name of the day isn't that bad…" whispered Liro as he couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. Tyel, who was looking at Chud with a horrified expression, took a step forward.
"Ch-Chud, come down!! And…" said Tyel, almost feeling awkward for his friend, "AND PUT YOUR PANTS BACK ON!!" he yelled as Chud's thing was moving around like it was nothing.
Chud, who hadn't yet spotted the others, finally turned his head and looked at the group. "EVERYONE!! YOU'RE ALIVE TOO!!" shouted Chud as he left the flag on the ruins and rushed to hug the others.
"TYEL!!" he shouted as he ran towards the group with his arms open. Tyel looked at him with a scared look and put his hands forward. "PUT SOMETHING ON FIRST!!"
"Well, you see…" said Chud, still with his arms open as he tried to hug Tyel while the other rebel pushed him away with his hands. "They all got burned… only my pants remained," said Chud as he finally stood still and dropped his hands.
"And… we still didn't have a flag, so…" whispered Chud as he looked back. Behind him, all the guards and prisoners who had helped in the fight were looking proudly at the flag made of pants, as it had become the symbol of the final fight.
"Hey Chud… for how long have you kept that flag? It feels like they are really idolizing it…" pointed out Darian.
"Well…" said Chud as a huge smirk appeared on his face. "SINCE I CAME INTO THE PRISON!" he yelled, almost proud of himself.
The others were all looking at him confused, and with that, Chud's expression changed and became an awkward one. "You see… it's not my fault that an enemy guard using his power burned down my clothes…"
"Still, let's change the topic…" whispered Darian at the sight of the flag, letting out a deep breath.
As they kept talking together, other people—especially citizens who were always scared to get closer to the prison, were slowly coming closer to look at what had happened in the prison and in the city in general.
"Has Ashikunz been defeated?" whispered an old woman, scared of what was going to happen now.
"If someone has defeated him… are we really going to be ok with it? Will they not rule over us in a worse way?" asked a middle-aged man in fear.
"But… why are there pants waving?" asked a teenager, confused.
"Guys, but… at first I didn't notice it… but what about the others?" asked Chud, worried. "Wasn't Martheel supposed to be with you too? Is he alright?" With that, Chud's expression changed and he became slightly scared.
"Both Martheel and Catripple are doing alright, they've just fallen unconscious," answered Lily. "Vane is with them, and… other friends of ours have arrived too," she pointed out.
"Other friends?" asked Chud, confused.
"Our allies. They have arrived and thanks to them we've been able to defeat Ashikunz," said Darian.
As the group kept talking, multiple people had finally arrived and gathered in front of the fallen prison. All of them were looking at each other in confusion, wondering one single thing: "What is going to happen now?"
"It's like they need a guide…" whispered Liro as he stepped forward. As other people finally noticed the group, they pointed their fingers, recognizing who they were.
"Hey… aren't they the rebels?" whispered a woman.
"REBELS, HAVE YOU SAVED US?" shouted another person happily.
"I wonder if that is actually true… what if they're going to just rule over us in a worse way?" said another person, scared.
"Why is that man naked…?" asked someone, confused.
"Are these supposed to be his pants?" asked the woman right next to this confused man.
"Tyel, let's go…" Without any fear, Orechin took a step forward and began to walk towards the fallen prison, which was right in the middle of the crowd.
"You should put something on…" whispered Tyel.
Chud, slightly annoyed, grabbed some trousers from a fallen guard that were stuck in the debris of the prison. With the help of Syrmax, he pulled them free, and without actual underwear, he just put these trousers on.
"They're so tight…" pointed out Chud. He was walking with his legs really close together as he could barely move freely; his legs had turned completely red because of how tight they were.
"Everyone… can you hear me??" shouted Orechin as he finally arrived on top of the debris right next to the flag, followed by the others. Syrmax and Tyel positioned themselves next to Orechin, as they were part of the rebels too.
"We can remain here… it's their moment," pointed out Darian as he stayed behind with Snowy still sleeping in his arms.
The crowd, after hearing Orechin's words, fell silent. The dust of the fallen prison settled over the crowded ruins, catching the harsh glare of the desert sun. Hundreds of citizens, escaped prisoners, weary workers, and survivors who had hidden in the shadows for decades gathered at the base of the rubble. They looked up in disbelief, their faces stained with soot and sweat, waiting for someone to confirm that the nightmare was truly over.
Orechin, Syrmax, and Tyel were standing above the fallen ruins. They were not scared anymore; they knew that the nightmare was finally over, and as a happy look appeared on their faces, they wanted to make everyone realize one thing: that they were safe.
Orechin took a deep breath, his voice raspy from the exhaustion of the fight that had almost brought him and his friends to the brink of death, yet carrying a weight that silenced the murmuring crowd.
"He's one of the rebels…" whispered a woman.
"I knew his parents! They were from the old generation of rebels!!" shouted a man who looked really old.
As he shouted these words, the crowd turned quiet once again.
"Look around you," Orechin began, his gaze sweeping across the sea of faces. "For three hundred years, this ground knew only the weight of chains; it knew the terror of Ashikunz's shadow, the tyranny of his empire, and the silent deaths of thousands whose names were stolen by these walls. But look at the sky above you right now. The iron grip is broken. Ashikunz has been defeated!"
A sudden, collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a tense, disbelieving silence as countless people thought about those who had been killed by the Krukin, and how their friends, their parents, or simply the random prisoners who were stripped of everything had nothing left.
Syrmax stepped up beside Orechin. He hadn't stored any energy at all; in fact, he was extremely thin, and people could almost see his bones through his skin.
"Many of us standing here thought this day would never come," Syrmax shouted. Even with his small body, his booming voice echoed off the ruins. "We watched whole generations of rebels fall. We lost brothers, sisters, friends, and leaders who bled in the dark so that we could stand in the light today. But their hope never died! It lived in every secret whisper, every act of defiance, and every heart that refused to yield! Today, their struggle ends in victory! The city is free!"
As Syrmax mentioned this word—hope—everyone's eyes lit up.
"Hope…" whispered a child who was barely seven years old. To him, this word didn't mean much yet, but to the older people nearby, it mattered a lot.
"It has been the only thing that kept us going… my parents… my grandfather and the old generation kept going…" whispered another old man.
"And some of us lost it… they stood with Ashikunz…" said a guard as he looked down, crying, remembering the scene of the people he used to call friends going against him because they believed Ashikunz was the only one who could help them.
"BUT OTHERS GAINED IT TOO!!" shouted another guard as he wrapped his arms around two other guards next to him. They were supporting Ashikunz a few hours ago, but with the help of everyone, they had started to believe in the hope brought by the rebels.
Tyel, hearing this, stepped to the edge of the rubble, tears cutting clean paths through the grime on his cheeks, but his eyes were bright with fire.
"We are no longer slaves to an emperor's cruelty! No one needs to believe in that shit anymore!" Tyel called out, his voice ringing with pure conviction. "We are no longer hiding in the dark! From this moment on, the era of suffering is dead. The era of Ardoris is officially over!"
Tyel paused, looking back at Orechin and Syrmax, who both gave him a firm, single nod. Tyel turned back to the crowd, raising his hand toward the horizon.
"This land will no longer carry the name of our oppressors," Tyel declared. "Today, we reclaim our history. Today, this city is born anew, and it will be called once again Karyuz!"
A swell of emotional shouts erupted from the crowd. People wept openly, embracing one another as the old name echoed through the streets for the first time in centuries.
Yet, as the initial shock of joy began to settle, a quiet anxiety began to spread through the gathered citizens. People began looking at one another, murmuring in confusion. Whispers grew louder across the crowd:
"What happens now?"
"Who is going to lead us?"
"Is another tyrant going to take the throne?"
"Without the empire, who will keep us safe from chaos?"
Sensual uncertainty hung thick in the air. The fear of an unstable power vacuum threatened to overshadow their newfound freedom.
"Take him for a moment," said Darian as he slowly passed Snowy to Liro. The moment Liro grabbed the sleeping creature in his hands, sparks appeared in his eyes. "I can pet you again, Snowy…"
Darian, hearing the panic and anxiety spreading through the crowd, finally took a step forward, positioning himself near Syrmax, Orechin, and Tyel.
"Listen to me!" Darian called out clearly, his calm demeanor instantly drawing their focus. "I know why you fear what comes next. You've only ever known a single ruler who takes, who crushes, and who governs through terror. You're afraid that without a ruler, everything will collapse into lawlessness."
Darian gestured toward Orechin, Syrmax, Tyel, and the rest of the surviving rebels who stood tired behind them.
"But look at the people who brought you this freedom," Darian continued, his voice steady and persuasive. "The rebels have never fought for power, for wealth, or for titles. They bled for one reason only: to protect the people of this city when no one else would. They were the ones who shared their bread in the dark, who took the blows meant for you, and who risked everything to build a future where your children could breathe without fear."
Darian looked directly into the eyes of the citizens in the front row.
"Chaos will not consume Karyuz, because these men and women will not allow it," Darian declared firmly. "They have proven their hearts through three hundred years of sacrifice. They deserve to safeguard this city and guide it through the days ahead—not as masters, but as guardians. I know them: they will not let this city fall, and they will never betray your trust."
Silence held the crowd for a single, breathless second.
Then, someone in the center of the crowd began to clap. Another joined, and then another. Within moments, the silence shattered into a deafening wall of sound.
A thunderous applause erupted across the entire ruins, echoing off the collapsed walls of the prison and carrying through the streets of the reclaimed city. Cheers and clapping filled the air as the citizens of Karyuz raised their hands together, finally united in hope for the future.
"WE ACCEPT THEM AS OUR NEW RULERS… NO, BETTER, OUR PROTECTORS, OUR…" shouted a person in front of the crowd. As he glanced behind him, the people next to him nodded in agreement.
"OUR GUARDIANS!" shouted all of them. Their voices were loud; the countless claps coming from behind weren't able to drown them out. They all kept shouting non-stop the word: guardians.
With that, a few hours passed. All the people of the city were out in the streets shouting happily, and the group had returned to the base.
"It's over… we don't have to hide here anymore…" whispered Syrmax as he looked at the chair he had used to sit in for the past three years.
"It will be sad to leave this place," pointed out Orechin as he sat on the sofa. Next to him, Catripple and Martheel were sitting after finally regaining consciousness. Alerya, who couldn't stand on her feet, was sitting in a chair.
Darian and the others remained near the entrance. "Well, it's not like you have to destroy or close it… it can still become a museum," proposed Darian. As he mentioned this word, something popped up in his mind.
"Guys, wait…" With that, Darian left the sleeping Snowy on the table and took something from his backpack: his phone.
"If I really want to document everything…" Darian opened the camera app, "…we'll have to take a picture first of this place… and then of all the rebels."
"Oh, that thing we took before coming here?" asked Vane. Darian nodded. "I think it would be fair to take it… especially after everything that has happened."
"A pic-what?" asked Kael, confused, as he didn't know what the word meant.
"You'll see now." With his phone in hand, Darian positioned himself next to the others and took a photo of the room and the table, empty as no one was sitting there anymore.
"Tyel, Martheel, Orechin, and Catripple… shouldn't you all take a picture together?" asked Darian. "You've been rebels for the longest time… not taking a picture of all of you would be a waste," said Darian with a happy face. The others looked at each other and nodded.
"I've never understood how this picture thing is supposed to work… Zrelekai barely created a camera," pointed out Tyel.
"When I was his prisoner, I remember him talking about creating something like that… but he always got bored too fast," pointed out Catripple. "Still, from what he explained, a photo is like a painting taken instantaneously?" she asked. Darian nodded.
The four of them lined up right next to each other. Syrmax adjusted his monocle while Orechin, standing in the middle of Tyel and Syrmax, wrapped his arms around their necks. Catripple, next to Syrmax, made a V sign with her hands. As all of them smiled happily, Darian was finally able to take the picture.
"Thank you so much guys… for everything…" said Orechin as he walked towards the Veilguard and Tauren. "Without you… I don't think we would have ever been able to free this city." With that, Martheel rose from the sofa too, and all the rebels stood in front of the others.
"In the name of all the people of Karyuz… we thank you with all our hearts!" With that, they bowed forward. Their voices sounded extremely grateful, knowing it was only thanks to them that they've been able to defeat Ashikunz.
"We will miss you so much, guys," said Darian as he took Snowy back into his hands. The others raised their heads again and nodded. "We will definitely meet again… right?" asked Tyel. Darian nodded before high-fiving Tyel.
"We will surely meet again," said Kael as he grabbed the chair in which Alerya was sitting and began to push it around like a wheelchair. Tauren, with Darian's help and with guidance from Rusty over the phone, had attached some small wheels so it could be rolled around.
"Still, Rusty said he will do what he can to build a new leg for you… let's see what he's going to do," said Darian as he read the text Rusty had sent him out loud again.
"I get it, I get it…" said Alerya, having heard this text countless times now. "Still… you'll have to explain how this works… how can you talk with someone so far away?"
"I already explained it to Liro and the others once… then to Tyel and the others last time… will it ever end??" asked Darian in an amused tone.
"No." These were the only words that came out of Vane's mouth before Darian looked at him with a deadpan expression.
"I'll miss these moments," said Orechin happily. With that, the group finally came out of the base and walked towards the city.
"It's a bit sad that you'll have to leave at night," pointed out Syrmax.
"Don't worry, it's not a problem for us," pointed out Liro. "Especially because it's not that late yet… probably in an hour we will head to sleep," he added, as the others agreed with him.
"Thank you for everything, guys…" said Catripple, unable to find the words to fully express her gratitude.
"You've said it eight hundred times," said Orechin playfully before giving a small pat on Catripple's back. "I'm sure they understood."
Darian let out a soft laugh. "Don't worry, everyone…" Darian noticed that everyone was looking directly into his eyes. "We will meet again… bye guys." With that, the group, all together except for the Veilguard and Tauren, shared one last big group hug before waving goodbye as they walked away.