"Marine hopefully don't have terrorists like Spirit did." I sighed.
The roads up here in this mountainous region of Mila were scattered with pot holes. So many, the driver begged me not to force him to drive further into town.
Black leaves occasionally fell in the summer wind. The dense forest looked more like walls as the monster trees fought each other for sunlight. The farther away from the town the less dense the trees were, as they dance on containment.
The run down town sign hanging up in front of me read 'Welcome To Marine'. There was a small pond under the word Marine and red trees painted on around the sign. Of course the sign itself was made out of the dark wood of the forest.
A fog fell around the entrance to the dark forest town. It was framed like a graveyard or a boss door depending on how you looked at it. Fog was a staple of Noxstave culture hinting that the majority of the population were actually immigrants from there.
It had been a couple days since Fayha and Baydí. I brought Stella back to my house, got convinced to meet a scientist with the adventurers, saw someone try to destroy the capital of Mila, then headed on an extermination quest in a town known for slumber.
My first step and nearly missed a pothole. Oh, and I gained a title.
…
Opening and closing my eyes had no effect on my vision for now I saw through my eyelids. Stella's new eyes seemed to do the same thing as mine. Red crosses stared through her eyelids at me. Her body was frail in my arms and became more limp as she fell asleep.
The orange bedroom had a wave of summer air from the outside window come in and hit us both. The pumpkin blankets hugged Stella and embraced her as I laid her down. The bed was keeping her safe for me temporarily.
I raised my hands up to my eyes and touched them again. Again I only poked my eyes and instantaneously pulled away. That symbol that destroyed the ocean into a marble was sitting peacefully in my eyes now. I didn't have an explanation for why my eyes were different but it seemed to give a lighter version of universal being's reaction to those who saw it.
Shortly later, Paukena and Jace returned. Paukena's radiant long white wavy hair framed her warm brown skin nicely. Her face was hued a red from all the tears, a few falling every now and then as she pushed through it. Her orange dress was crumbled by her fists. Her bright orange eyes were as wide as planets as they looked at mine.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes."
I wiped away tears on my face. Her hand came up and rubbed them away.
Jace came over, his green eyes contorting up and down. They swayed to still and he patted my back. His dreads were combed by his hand as he looked away.
"Are you planning to leave right now?"
"Yes."
"Could it wait, perhaps? I'd like to give a reward to the Hero of Teleportation along with celebrating the end of our competition, even if it was cut short and ruined by this whole thing."
"Sure, who even ended up winning?"
"You."
"Huh?"
I took a step back, stopping short of bumping into Stella.
"What about Angel, Herika, why me! My last opponent was killed by Baydí before I even fought them!"
"Because you told Rex about what was happening, I feel it's perfect to reward you for calling a hero."
"I didn't do anything though really! Rex just couldn't come till the end. I didn't figure anything out."
"Are you going to keep fighting it or let me praise you!" Paukena's cheeks popped out. "You're the only one who can really take the reward I prepared for it so you must."
"Alright, fine."
…
"Ladies and gentleman. Good afternoon, I'm your host, the one, the only, Festive Queen of Pumpkins." She made a mini drum roll on her mic, even though she could afford a real band here. "Paukena!" She yelled and hopped.
Paukena's whole demeanor changed. She went back to normal, or I guess she stopped crying. Her face wasn't as red anymore, and she acted like a talkshow host. She was renowned for her chillness during her speeches.
The crowd roared lightly but not with a normal amount of Fayhian enthusiasm. She straightened her face and took a deep bow. Her white hair fell over her eyes and she started to list around sixty names. Her short body hid under the group of people on the balcony with her.
Currently, Paukena, Rex, Herika, Angel and I all stood on the grey blue stone balcony. We were on one of the towers surrounding the main one. A crowd was below for Paukena's address about the recent disappearances and the competitions completion.
Paukena didn't lift her head till she finished all the names. She didn't stutter or mispronounce. She didn't look at a list either. She had memorized all their names.
"All citizens of my country in which I didn't protect. A deep hatred fills my heart, not for the Hero of Horror and Sea, Baydí, but for Hero Syndrome itself."
Her head stayed lowered as she continued. Her voice was perfectly stable and lacking in her normal humor.
"There is not a single individual who is not affected by hero syndrome. Dragon or human, either way everyone loses, and I hate the games everyone loses at…"
The crowd of people look towards her. Their expressions mixed. It was too wide of a range for me to take in.
"On my life as your queen, not another tragedy like the past weeks will happen from hero syndrome again."
She looked up and stared towards the crowd. Her eyes beamed bright orange.
"No matter what, hero syndrome will be fixed within my lifetime. Whether that means I have to strike a deal with the Queen of Time herself to do so. Or even wrangle the world together."
Apparently talks between Mila and Fayha had been taking place. They agreed to help each other in regards to hero syndrome cases and sharing information gathered. Paukena was shooting for the world. That included Kalmic, Noxstave and Hiddid, for which Mila is at war with.
After that long winded part, she introduced Rex. I had told him about it and he agreed to take credit and bite a bullet for me. Well, for him it was more like a glass of water compared to a bullet for dinner. Of course I didn't mention which one of us actually did participate in killing Baydí.
Herika and Angel were both called also. They were contacted by the information we gave on the application for the competition. Angel stood straight with a nice suit. Strangely, Herika wore the same pumpkin dress as Paukena.
Paukena named Herika as third place of the competition, giving her one of those pumpkins with the magic options. Angel was named second place and given one as well. Then she named me.
"Heo Caster Estellé, an adventurer who actually snuck into this country from Mila." She turned and laughed. "Like a little rat." She giggled and continued. "So I decided to have her and her cousin help me test the pumpkins you see at night. Gave them one 'ol big riddle to solve."
She jumped and gestured with both her hands to me.
"Bang! Just like that they became some pretty sweet people."
I sat there, standing straight and getting weird look. I looked down at my body, the scar was clearly visible. Herika had gotten the dress last year, this year I was given it. I was uncomfortable in it. I never wore dresses, not since I was killed.
Thinking back to when we first met her, Jace looked funny when she handed me her socks. Knowing what I know now, it's a high honor to be given part of her outfit.
"So introducing our victor of this year's competition. One last time. Heo Caster Estellé!"
The crowd applauded. Screams rang out. Someone yelled victor and a few more followed.
That was the same thing Āpala called me. I gasped and uncontrollably my eyes watered up. My face started to burn softly.
"Victor is nice. Yeah Heo Caster Estellé, The Victor!" Paukena jumped.
The crowd followed after her and they were chanting Victor. Herika turned to me and screamed it at me. Angel smiled and called me Victor a few times. Rex clapped slowly. When they met my eye all of their bodies shivered lightly in response.
"Nice job, Victor." Rex said, recovering fast.
Is that my title now! A whole country and its Queen see me as Victor. I sniffled, tears streaming my face like Āpala. That's… that's Awsome. I jumped and raised my hands screaming out to the crowd.
"Oh yeah! The Victor, Heo Caster Estellé is glad I could challenge this competition!"
Paukena had rewarded me with the dress and four pumpkins. In reality, two were for Stella when she got up. The other two were for me, but I'd have to wait till Stella was up or she might get mad at me. I smiled more.
I'm so glad that's over and the doom of hero syndrome is finally lifted off me. God Ocky, Goddess Toky, please watch over me and never let that happen to me again. I pleaded to myself.