"Let's go," Kael muttered. "We don't have a lot of time."
He didn't want to waste another second. They needed to get Caius and find a way out of this messed-up world.
As they walked toward their inn, they saw the diner owner—and the people who had been there—being arrested by the elite guards.
They were different from the normal ones. Bigger, more built, and dressed in fancier gear. They carried double-handed axes and long swords sharp enough to cleave a man in half.
The mages held staffs with glowing red orbs on the tips. They walked with pride, power, and authority as they dragged the men through the streets, surrounded by the people of the kingdom.
One of the men started to scream, "The Demon Lord has returned to save us all!"
At first, no one moved.
Then another voice joined in.
And another.
Just like that, one by one, the crowd started cheering.
He looked at them. Their faces were tired, worn—but now they smiled like children seeing sunlight for the first time in days.
