Clean up.

The area at the front gates is an absolute mess of defeated monsters, rubble, and scorch marks. Part of the wall is damaged, and a ways back where you were nearly blasted by fire, the stone bricks on top are partially melted. A few of the buildings will need to be rebuilt in whole. However, all things considered, it could have been substantially worse. Everyone is clearly clearing the area, and those with any wounds are being wrapped in bandages. Amara, however, can barely stand. She uses her silver staff to step carefully in your direction, and just as it looks like she's about to fall, you catch her in your arms.

"No more healing, Amara," you whisper. "You've gotta be out of mana by now, and even if you weren't, I don't think your body could take anymore."

Hot, heavy breaths blow against your neck. "I... I have... never felt..." she whispers as she pants. Her eyes turn up to you. Her face is completely flushed red, and her tongue hangs partially from her mouth. A bead of drool runs down her lip and to her chin. "N-Never felt... so stimulated in my life..."

"Shh." You wipe the drool from her chin and place your hand upon her cheek tenderly. "You did amazing, Amara. Don't worry about walking anymore. I'll carry you." Then with relative ease, you reach down and scoop her up by the rump to hold bridal style in your arms.

She eeps as she's lifted. "N-No... In th-this state, I can not..." The elf curls up in your arms to hide her glowing face and quivering body. She can barely hold it together.

Lady Sulta saunters her way over with one of her painted nails gently against her chin. "That was certainly a battle like I haven't seen in years, but I should have expected as much from those who took part in the Golden Sword, hmm?"

"Indeed." Rada steps closer with one arm behind his back. "I don't believe I've ever taken part in such a battle before, which I'd say is for the best. Either way, as much as the Circle keeps distant from political affairs, that truly opened my eyes. For Lord Vraelion to have such connections... Monsters, demons summoners, and more. Could they have come from Elok Daven, or was it King Thadius? Both? This was an important win, Kyle. Now all of your enemies will know you won't go down easy."

"First they dethrone me--" Queen Catherine II walks up from behind you as those who hadn't yet come from the Throne Room spread out to help with cleaning up the mess. She takes a deep breath and sighs. "I won't allow Tivera to fall because of one man's foolishness."

"We won't," you say. You then turn your eyes to the two mages. "Thank you, Vazeela. Thank you, Rada. I didn't doubt my spy for a second. I knew she'd bring help somehow. I hope this means we'll be helping each other take down Elok Daven in the future. That is, unless the Circle wants this to get worse."

"We're on a first name basis, are we now?" Lady Sulta smirks. "All right. Kyle."

"At the best of times, it's hard to get the Circle to care about anything beyond their own business," Rada says. "But this is something else. As pessimistic as it sounds, the powers at play may interest those who don't care to play the hero. They may be interested in how our enemy is doing what they do."

"As in, use it for themselves?" you ask.

"Possibly. The magic is both outstanding and dangerous. Advanced magical automatons. Isekai Theory. Altering the very structure of a class... Even I'm curious to what extend their research as taken them. If we aren't to defeat them to save the Empire and beyond, we must to make certain their findings don't fall into the wrong hands."

You nod. "It's true. They've started something that could change the world forever."

Well, it's finally over. I still can't believe that all happened. I didn't expect somebody to storm Castle Phoenix, just like we did back back Sa'dis. But we won. People on our side were barely injured. I've really amassed a powerful group of friends. Though maybe friend isn't a strong enough word for many of them. Either way, we're safe once more. Now we just need to hit Elok's other laboratories and eventually find him in the flesh. Maybe even get Catherine on the throne before then. We'll see how things go. For now, I think everyone needs to rest... especially Malakae. Speaking of which--

You turn to see the golden-haired dragoness standing by herself not far away. Because her dress had to be torn to pieces in order for her transformation to happen, she's now wearing a deep red house coat, not too different to what Catherine was wearing before. She pulls it in tight.

"Amara, may I put you down?" you ask softly.

The elf nods. "I am fine now, yes."

You attempt to place her down, though her legs refuse to hold her. "Ah. Are you--"

"I am fine, but I think I want to sit for awhile."

"Right." You chuckle as you place her down onto her bum. "Let me know if you need anything."

After that, you make your way over to Malakae.

It takes her a moment to notice your presence. It seems she's deep in thought. Though when she does, you offer her a warm, inviting smile and a wave of your hand. "Hey. I know that was a lot. But are you all right?" Then you step closer. Slowly, you reach out to take hold of her hand after noticing a bandage wrapped around her wrist. "You should rest. Not just for your body, but--"

"I'm fine." She pulls her hand away and whips her head to the side. "Hmph."

"Did you just hmph? You really are a tsundere."

"I don't know what that means, but I'm stronger than you think."

"Malakae," you say softly. "I'm not asking because I think you're weak. It's because we all care about you, whether you like it or not. You just went through a lot. More than most people ever will."

She swallows hard. Her face slowly turns red as she continues to stare off to the side--not ignoring you to be dismissive, but instead too embarrassed to make eye contact. "Y-Yeah, well... th-thank you," she whispers so quietly that you can barely hear it. "For everything."

"Come on. Let's get you some clothes."

As if she needed to hear those words to be reminded of her situation, she lets out a soft whimper, though does her best to maintain her already crumbling composure.

"Ah," you continue. "Never mind. You can stay naked if you want. I won't make you--"

"Of course I want clothes, you idiot!" she barks out.