Under the protection of Golden River’s valiant knights, we finally emerged from the dark depths of the dungeon. As we stepped through its ominous gates, we were greeted by an emotional Elise, tears streaming down her face.

"Griffith! Seraphina! Varon! You’re alive!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around us in relief.

Her joy quickly turned to dread as she scanned the group and noticed Kenzo and Liam’s absence. Her expression fell, and she looked at us with trembling anxiety.

"But… where are the others? What happened?" she stammered.

I lowered my gaze, unable to meet her eyes. "Kenzo and Liam… they’re gone," I said, my voice heavy with grief. "We faced a demon of overwhelming power. We barely made it out alive."

Elise’s face crumpled as she raised a hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. "No… that’s horrible…" she whispered, her voice breaking.

Before anyone could say more, a stern and authoritative voice rang out behind her.

"This is what happens when you entrust a mission to incompetent recruits."

Elise turned, startled, as an older man approached us with a grim expression.

"Doyen Eleazar…" she murmured, bowing her head.

Eleazar, the dean of the academy, fixed us with a cold, disapproving stare. "I warned that this mission was far beyond your capabilities. And now, look at the outcome: lives lost for no reason."

Anger boiled within me at his harsh words. Kenzo and Liam had given their lives to save us, and here he was dismissing their sacrifice so callously.

"With all due respect...," I said, clenching my fists, "your men did their best against an enemy that defied all expectations. Kenzo and Liam died as heroes, giving us a chance to survive!"

Eleazar’s eyes narrowed, his expression unwavering. "Heroes, you say? They were nothing more than inexperienced recruits, sent to the slaughter. Their deaths are the result of your failure and incompetence."

Seraphina and Varon exchanged outraged glances, as did the knights who had escorted us back. But Eleazar wasn’t finished.

"You were fortunate to survive, thanks to the timely intervention of our troops," he continued mercilessly. "But that doesn’t change the fact that you were ill-prepared for this mission."

I gritted my teeth, struggling to contain my anger. "Kenzo and Liam sacrificed everything to save us! They deserve your respect, not your scorn!" I snapped.

Eleazar raised a hand to silence me. "Enough! Your failure has tarnished the reputation of the Golden River Academy. You are nothing more than novices, unfit to face such threats!"

His icy gaze locked onto me. "And as for you, young man, you may be the most capable among them, but your arrogance and inexperience led you to failure. You still have much to learn."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off with a sharp gesture.

"That being said, your actions did reveal potential," he admitted begrudgingly. "The Council wishes to speak with you."

I blinked, caught off guard by his words. Seraphina and Varon looked just as surprised.

"Follow me, boy. The Council is waiting," Eleazar ordered, turning on his heel without sparing me another glance.

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Hesitant, I glanced at my companions. They gave me encouraging nods, despite their own weariness. With a heavy sigh, I followed Eleazar, the weight of Kenzo and Liam’s deaths still pressing down on me.

As I walked through the academy’s grand halls, I felt the stares of the other students bearing down on me. Their gazes were heavy with judgment, as though they held me personally responsible for the tragedy. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the guilt that clung to me.

When we reached an imposing wooden door, Eleazar stopped and turned to face me.

"The Council is waiting for you inside," he said curtly. "They wish to speak with you in private."

I nodded, my stomach twisting with unease. What did the Council want from me? Did they know about my status as a Legendary Hero?

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy doors and stepped into a vast chamber that resembled a throne room. Around a long, ornate table sat several men and women in regal attire, their gazes fixed on me with quiet intensity.

"Step forward, young man," a deep voice commanded.

Summoning every ounce of courage I had, I walked toward them, stopping just short of the table.

"You’re Griffith, correct?" asked a grizzled man with a gray beard. "We’ve heard much about you."

I swallowed hard, doing my best to appear composed. "Yes, that’s me, honored members of the Council."

A stern-looking woman seated nearby spoke next. "We’ve been informed of your confrontation with the demon Xanatos in the dungeon. Your bravery and determination are commendable."

I lowered my head, guilt twisting in my chest. "Unfortunately, two of my companions lost their lives," I said, my voice tight with emotion.

A murmur spread through the room, and the bearded man nodded solemnly.

"Yes, we were told. Their loss is a tragedy, but their sacrifice will not be in vain," he said gravely.

His sharp gaze locked onto me. "However, Dean Eleazar has raised concerns about your capabilities. It seems you were overwhelmed by the sheer power of your opponent."

I stiffened, struggling to suppress my frustration at the dean’s criticisms. "With all due respect, Lords and Ladies of the Council, Kenzo and Liam fought valiantly. They died as heroes, ensuring the rest of us could escape."

Another council member, a woman with flowing white hair, raised a hand to calm me.

"We do not question their bravery, young man. But it seems your group was gravely underestimated in the face of such a threat," she said gently.

Her piercing gaze softened slightly as she continued. "Tell us, Griffith—what do you know about this demon? What are its abilities?"

Grateful for the opportunity to share what I had learned, I quickly recounted the details of my encounter.

"Xanatos is a demon of devastating power. His abilities include regeneration, duplication, and numerous dark magic skills," I explained. "Even my strongest attack only managed to wound him superficially."

The Council exchanged worried glances.

"This confirms our worst fears," the gray-bearded man muttered. "This demon is far stronger than we initially believed."

The white-haired woman studied me intently. "And what have you learned from this confrontation, Griffith?"

I took a deep breath before answering. "I’ve realized that my arrogance and lack of experience led to our failure. Despite my best efforts, I wasn’t strong enough to protect my companions from such an overwhelming enemy."

My voice faltered, grief creeping in. "Kenzo and Liam died because of my shortcomings. I couldn’t save them."

The woman nodded slowly. "It’s a hard lesson, but an important one. Facing threats like this requires far more than raw talent."

She leaned forward, her expression both curious and thoughtful. "Tell me, Griffith—what do you intend to do now?"

I raised my head, the determination in my eyes clear. "I want to become stronger. I want to be able to protect the people I care about and honor Kenzo and Liam’s memory."

A murmur of approval rippled through the room, and Eleazar, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

"That’s an admirable goal, young man," he said, his tone measured. "Your potential is undeniable, and the Council has decided to entrust you with a new mission of great importance."

My heart raced. A new mission? So soon after the devastating failure of the last one?

Eleazar’s piercing gaze bore into me as he continued.

"Griffith, we need you to eliminate the threat posed by the demon Xanatos. Are you prepared to take on this challenge?"