The underground hall pulsed with a quiet power. Lit by crystals embedded in the stone ceiling, the passage glowed with gentle, golden light. Arriel, Lira, and Kell followed the man named Lowis through the corridors of the True Heroes headquarters. The air was cool, but not cold, and each step echoed lightly off the smooth stone floor.
Lowis wore simple leathers and a faded red scarf. His demeanor was calm but confident, the way seasoned adventurers often carried themselves. "The elders are waiting," he said, glancing over his shoulder with a reassuring smile.
The trio entered a circular chamber, larger than any room they had seen in Kearon. Nine elders stood as they arrived, their status bracelets glowing faintly. All of them displayed the same level: 90.
In the center stood a tall man, gray-haired, yet straight-backed and full of vigor. His green eyes studied them with wisdom rather than scrutiny.
"Welcome to the sanctuary of True Heroes," he said. "I am Zefiri."
Arriel, Lira, and Kell bowed instinctively, unsure what to expect.
"Please," Zefiri gestured to the seats around a wide, polished table. "No need for formalities. Here, we are comrades, not rulers."
As they sat, steaming cups of tea were served by a quiet attendant. The warm aroma of herbs filled the room. The tension that had clung to the trio slowly began to lift.
Zefiri folded his hands and looked at them. "You no longer need disguises here. Kearon is a free town, beyond the eyes of kings and armies. You are safe."
Lira let out a quiet breath of relief. Kell shifted in his seat, eyes still darting between the elders. Arriel simply listened.
"Long ago," Zefiri began, "there was a party of five adventurers. Heroes, like you. They called themselves the True Heroes. They believed in something different. That to be a Hero meant to protect the people, uphold justice, and never be used as weapons by those who sit on thrones."
The room fell into respectful silence as the story unfolded.
"Their ideals spread," Zefiri continued. "Others joined them. The group became a movement. A guild. But their strength frightened the powerful. And so, they were branded as traitors. Countries used their own heroes to hunt us."
His voice was calm, but the weight of memory hung heavy.
"Many fell. Many fled. But we survived. We adapted. We became quiet. Hidden. And yet, we still serve our purpose. Helping people, even from the shadows."
Zefiri leaned forward. His green eyes locked with Arriel's.
"You two," he said, glancing at both Arriel and Lira, "are powerful. But there's something you must know."
He raised his wrist, tapping the glowing number.
"No Hero can level beyond 90. We have tried everything. The ceiling is absolute."
The trio froze. Lira's lips parted slightly. Arriel blinked in surprise. Kell whispered, "So even Valtheas..."
Zefiri nodded. "Even him."
He then leaned back and placed his tea on the table. "We are offering you a choice. Join us. Walk the path of True Heroes. But the choice is yours. There is no pressure."
Lowis rose and gestured for them to follow. "Let me show you around."
They toured the vast underground town. Magical lanterns lit winding streets. Training halls echoed with clashing practice weapons. The tavern buzzed with friendly voices. Libraries hummed with soft chants of mages studying. An underground farm thrived with glowing crops. And at the far corner, steam drifted from a public bathhouse fed by natural hotspring.
Finally, they arrived at their living quarters—a cozy, stone-walled room with three beds, a crystal-powered shower, a desk, and a bookshelf lined with well-kept tomes.
"This will be your home, for now," Lowis said. "Rest. Think. No one here will rush your decision."
He bowed politely and left them.
For a long while, the trio sat in silence.
Kell spoke first. "It feels weird. Being in a place where no one wants to control us."
Lira nodded, rubbing the spot where her hero pendant used to be. "It almost doesn't feel real."
Arriel looked at the glowing crystals outside their window. A faint hum filled the air.
"Maybe," he said softly, "this is what being a Hero was meant to be."
None of them had an answer. But for the first time in a long time, they felt something close to peace.