The moment Isola's foot touched the sandy grounds of Mistshore Village, a wave of euphoria rippled through the crowd.
A chorus of jubilant voices rose in a symphony of celebration, echoing the village's joy and relief over her safe return.
Despite the war that happened between the Umbralfiends and their kingdom, the people of the Naiadon Tribe came to learn how kind and noble the umbralfiend princess was.
They had also grown accustomed to the Umbralfiends living among them and even befriended some.
And so they also joined in celebrating the return of the Umbralfiend Princess.
The distinct melody of Naiadon Tribe's traditional instruments intermingled with the Umbralfiends' hymns, symbolizing a unity in a moment like this.
Isola was moved by such a warm greeting from her people and even those from the Naiadon Tribe.
She could see how worried they were all this time and felt overwhelmed by the happiness they were showing now.
"Princess!" A young Umbralfiend, with twinkling azure eyes, rushed to her side, barely concealing his excitement, "Can you tell us what really happened? Did you help the bloodburn consort kill Prince Agonon?"
Before Isola could reply, an older Umbralfiend stepped in, his face stern, "Hush, Linar! Speak with respect, and do not pry into matters you shouldn't."
The other adults also nodded since they didn't want trouble if anyone accused them of questioning the achievement of the bloodburn consort.
Isola crouched slightly, her fins shimmering in the daylight, and gently patted Linar's head.
Her voice was soft, soothing the palpable tension, "Nobody helped Consort Asher in that regard, little one. It was very dangerous in the end. But it was he who saved the lives of those in his group, mine included."
The crowd murmured, exchanging surprised glances. They never expected the bloodburn consort to care enough to protect their princess.
"My daughters! Your Highness, what happened to them?" A woman looking in her mid-fifties stumbled out with a pale face, tears streaming down her eyes, followed by a few other men and women around her age, their expressions pained as well, "Our sons and daughters never made it back."
A blanket of sorrow and devastation suddenly enveloped the crowd as everyone lowered their gazes.
Isola's heart clenched upon recognizing these elderly men and women were fathers and mothers of Mirena, Lyra, Elysia, Orin, Sylus, and many more who had entered the quest.
She didn't know how exactly the others died. But she knew what happened to Mirena and her group.
However, she couldn't bring themselves to say it was the Demon Rippers who killed them in a very cruel and barbaric way.
Their parents may not be able to handle such news and would only feel more pain.
And so Isola briefly closed her eyes before opening them and saying in a voice that seemed to soothe the souls of those who could hear it, "I am sorry. I do not know what happened to everyone. But we can believe that they died honorably, just like Mirena, Lyra, Elysia, Orin, and Sylus. They were brave until the end, even when faced against Hunters who were not only stronger but outnumbered them. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to them in time to save them when they needed me the most. I failed to protect them," Isola began to lower her head as she added with closed eyes, guilt evident on her face, "I am so—"
"No…" One of the elderly women stepped forward and stopped Isola from lowering her head as she said with tears that continued to trickle down her pallid face, "Your Highness has no need to ever lower your head before us because we wouldn't be alive if not for you. You are our Midnight Maiden who has always protected us and given us a future. The devils would curse us if you were to bow to us."
The others also nodded vigorously, their eyes glistening with tears.
Isola slowly raised her head and softly looked at everyone, all of them displaying their faith in her.
An elderly man stepped forward and chimed in with a somber expression, "Now that you told us they died with honor, we can at least be proud that they died valiantly. Thank you for giving us such relief," Saying so, he and everyone deeply bowed before Isola.
Isola felt her heart melting at the sight and gently said, "Please rise, everyone."
Everyone raised their heads as Isola continued and said, "I managed to get vengeance for what happened to Mirena and her friends. And I have no doubt their souls wouldn't be under torment in the Seven Hells."
The elderly had their eyes light up while the others also sighed in satisfaction and relief.
They were about to thank their princess for getting vengeance when Isola added, "But it wouldn't have been possible without Consort Asher's help. He risked his life to help me even though he stood to gain nothing but only lose, including a part of a very precious treasure."
Everyone suddenly became silent, their eyes widening as they heard such unexpected words coming from their princess.
The Bloodburn Consort helped their princess so much? Was he really that kind? Did he really care about their people?
The umbralfiends were starting to feel even more confused about the image of the bloodburn consort in their heads, especially considering how they lost the war because of him.
They could only hold in their hatred and anger all this time, even if the bloodburn consort didn't make their lives difficult after the war.
But now, after hearing their princess say it, they felt torn. In a way, the bloodburn consort went out of his way to let the souls of their fallen sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters rest in peace.
"Maybe…we should thank the bloodburn consort for his kindness," A young man meekly said from the middle of the crowd, making heads turn towards him with all sorts of gazes, making him lower his head with a wince.
He could feel most of the elderly giving him cutting, cold stares on his back.
"Yeah…he helped us through his act of kindness. Maybe he really wants to provide us all a better future," Another young woman said in a low voice.
And soon enough, voices carrying the same sentiment echoed from here and there, though those who still felt hate and anger towards the bloodburn consort could only shoot glares since speaking out against it would mean that they didn't feel good about his act.
Isola felt glad to see that the image of Asher in the eyes of her people was getting better and said with a light smile, "I am sure he will be happy to appreciate our gratitude. But for now, not only him but those who returned deserve a good rest."
"That's right! Your Highness deserves it more than any of us," An elderly man nodded with a wide smile and bowed before Isola as he added, "We also want to congratulate you and convey our heartfelt wishes for your engagement with General Vraxos."
Hearing this, everyone else bowed their heads as well,
"Congratulations, Your Highness."
"We can't wait to see the birth of such a perfect and beautiful union."
…
Isola's expression froze, and her thoughts came to a halt as her people began to congratulate her, one after the other, about an engagement she was hearing for the first time.
But before she could take a moment to process it, her eyes met two familiar, profound gazes emerging from the sea's embrace.
Moraxor, the robust figure that he was, couldn't hide the relief that coursed through him. His voice boomed, yet it quivered with emotion, "My daughter, we have been praying for your safe return, and it seems like the devils haven't ignored our prayers."
Beside him, Narissara, always the emblem of stoic grace, showed a rare flicker of softness.
Her voice was almost a whisper, the sea breeze carrying it forward, "Welcome home, Isola."
Isola's eyes welled up, "Father, Mother," she replied, her voice choked with emotion. Even though it had only been 14 months, it felt like ages since she last saw them.
As Isola gracefully approached her parents, the crowd respectfully formed a corridor, the weight of the moment reverberating through the whispers and awe-filled gazes.
Meeting her parents, Isola respectfully bowed, her long, luminous moon-white hair cascading like a waterfall, "I've returned with the victory you sought."
Moraxor, beaming with a combination of relief and pride, observed, "You've grown, not just in stature but in power. It appears you've become a mid-level Soul Devourer."
Narissara responded in her aloof yet appreciative tone, "Fourteen months and such prowess. An achievement, indeed."
Isola smiled slightly as she confessed, "I was already close to breaking through. And the strength I garnered is a reward since our group prevailed in the quest. But without Asher bringing home the Deviar, this wouldn't have been possible."
Narissara's gaze frosted over, her voice colder than the deepest ocean trenches, "That Bloodburn Consort had no right to the Deviar. You deserved it, Isola, especially after being coerced into aiding his ambitions."
Isola's lips tightened, words forming on the tip of her tongue, wanting to defend Asher. She knew her mother hated Asher the most and harbored strong resentment against him.
But before she could speak, a shadow loomed from the side.
Vraxos - bald, towering, and an undeniably imposing figure, with blue armored scales that seemed an extension of his skin - approached.
His deep, impenetrable turquoise eyes briefly locked with Isola's as he bowed slightly and said in a respectful tone, "Princess Isola, your return is most auspicious, and I am relieved to see you return safe and well."
Isola, maintaining her regal composure, nodded stiffly in return, "General Vraxos."
The thick tension was cut by Moraxor clearing his throat and saying in a regal tone, "Isola, come. We need to retreat to the waters. There's a matter of utmost importance that we need to discuss with you."
