Rest up.

After awhile, Nyllia and her crew return from the depths of the castle with a few prisoners previously locked up in the Demon King's dungeon. The two bee girls you encountered earlier were nowhere to be found. But after she returns, the army departs from the battlefield. It's time to make your way back down the path and make camp near the base when the sun nears the horizon. You don't need to walk either, thanks to Zazra. She even does so with Peony's tree heaved over her other arm.

At camp, you sit around a campfire with Peony wrapped tightly around your arm. You thought it was going to be a brief embrace at first, but she hasn't let go of you for an hour now.

"I know this isn't much of a celebratory party, with water and rations, but... I'm so happy," you say. "We're finally done."

"Cheers," Nyllia says with a raise of her waterskin. "Everybody did well.

"And my husband returned safe and sound," Peony hums.

"I had no idea you were married," says Rada.

"I'm not! She's a dryad, and--" you frantically explain.

Yaera cuts you off. "Indeed. So you are still available," she says, shifting her eyes to Amara.

Her daughter blushes. "Please stop..."

Bek lets out a boisterous laugh. "Kyle is right about one thing! A post-fight party sucks ass without booze. But damn, you gave me the fight of my life. I owe you for bringing me here. I don't know if I'll ever get to fight a Demon King's army a second time."

"No kidding," says Tom. "Though it isn't exactly something I'd want to do again."

A falcon soars through the air. It dives down, to your surprise, and you notice a rolled up piece of paper clutched in its talons. It lands on the arm of Rinlin, and she casually takes the paper and pets the bird on the head. "Thank you," she says before sending it off.

He turns over. "What is it?"

She unfurls the scroll and begins to read. You're left in suspense by her look of surprise.

"Just tell us!" Bek shouts.

Rinlin scowls back at him. "Patience. I wanted to understand it fully first." She stands up and clears her throat. "I have some... big, strange news from Tivera. During our absence, it seems that Queen Catherine II has fallen deathly ill. The next eldest in the royal family, Thadius, will be taking her place as king. It happened swiftly, and as we speak, they're likely holding a gathering in the capital to welcome His Majesty."

Catherine...?

Everybody looks taken aback by the news.

"I would have never expected..." Rada mumbles. "No. It does happen. Monarchs fall, and others take their place. I doubt much will be different. Though I will certainly be busy upon my return to Tolis."

Fang hangs her head. "But she was so sexy and cool."

Why do I feel strange? I can't worry about it now. It's almost time to sleep, and I'm gonna be out like a light. It isn't like I've cared too much about politics, though I am technically a knight. I wonder if the new king will want to speak with me. King Thadius. Damn. I hope Catherine is all right. It didn't say she was dead.