Rei stayed still. His body ached from the last loop, even if this one hadn't ended in violence yet. But it would. He knew it. He had seen Maestro crush his friends. He'd seen the gold beams rip through everything they threw at him. Fighting now was death.
But this version of Maestro… he didn't remember. And pride pride was his weakness.
Rei lowered his sword just a little, panting. "You're really going all out for a bunch of nobodies, huh?"
Maestro blinked, caught off guard.
"You've got power," Rei said, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "I get it. You can destroy all of us. But what's the point? Where's the pride in that?"
Maestro tilted his head.
"You're aiming to be perfect, right?" Rei went on, voice strained but steady. "Fighting kids with barely a year of training? That's not perfection. That's laziness. You'd get more challenge from waiting until we're actually worth something."
A slow smirk tugged at Maestro's mouth. "Go on…"
"You could kill us now and prove nothing," Rei said, looking him in the eye. "Or you could walk away and let us grow stronger. Then, in a few years, you come back and crush us when we're at our peak. That's real victory, right? Beating strong enemies, not weak ones."
The light around Maestro's hands faded.
He brushed his perfect blond hair back with a slow, graceful sweep. "You speak with a strange kind of logic, boy. But I like it."
Rei exhaled quietly.
"You're right," Maestro said. "Killing all of you now would be... boring. It wouldn't make for a very good story, would it?"
He stepped closer, towering over Rei, who didn't move an inch.
"I'll give you time," Maestro said with a grin. "Become something worth breaking."
Then, with a flash of gold, Maestro vanished into the trees.
Rei dropped to his knees, shaking. Not from fear though it was there but from relief. He had stalled the monster.
For now.Just as Rei tried to stand, catching his breath, a sudden flash of golden light sparked behind him.
Maestro reappeared arms crossed, standing tall, eyes gleaming with smug amusement.
"Oh, and one more thing," he said, brushing his golden hair with his fingers. "I'll be taking my lovely corrupted knights elsewhere. They deserve... better opponents."
Rei didn't respond. He could barely move, but he stood still, watching as Maestro turned his back.
"No need to thank me," Maestro added, waving over his shoulder. "Think of this as a gift. A few more years to breathe. Use them well."
Then, in a blink, he was gone along with the flickering shadow of his corrupted soldiers, retreating into the distant hills.
The forest fell silent.
Rei looked around. His friends Kajala, Rika, Elyra, and Regulus were safe. They hadn't even fought this time. No one was hurt. No broken bones. No blood.
And yet... it didn't feel like a victory.
It felt like a warning.
They'd been spared, not saved.
Rei turned his gaze up to the sky, the morning light finally breaking through the trees.
A bitter taste clung to the back of his throat.
The arc was over, but something darker was coming. He could feel it.
And Maestro would be back.
After Maestro vanished, the group didn't waste time. They gathered their supplies, helped each other walk, and made their way back to the small hut near Hallin Way. Vetra was waiting.
"You're back," she said, her arms crossed, her face worried. "And you're all alive."
Rei nodded. "We ran into someone… dangerous."
Kajala stepped forward. "Real dangerous. He was strong. Stronger than anything we've seen."
Regulus rubbed the back of his neck. "He broke our stuff last time. We're lucky he left."
Vetra narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean last time?"
Rei hesitated but shook his head. "It's… hard to explain."
Vetra didn't push. Instead, she took a deep breath. "Come with me. This is bigger than I thought."
They were taken through the gates of Hallin Way, past injured soldiers and worn buildings, until they reached the castle. It wasn't huge, but it stood firm like a proud stone. Inside, they were brought to the throne room where the King of Hallin Way waited an older man with silver armor and a calm but sharp look in his eyes.
Vetra bowed. "Your Majesty. These are the ones I mentioned. They encountered a powerful force. They lived."
The King looked down at the group.
"You've seen the corrupted knights?" he asked.
"Yes," Elyra said gently, clutching her staff. "And worse."
Kajala stepped up. "We fought someone… he called himself Maestro."
The King sat straighter. "That name again."
"You've heard it?" Rika tilted her head.
The King nodded slowly. "Only whispers. Never proof. But if what you're saying is true…"
"He's real," Rei cut in, voice calm but firm. "He's behind the corruption. But for now, he's left."
The King leaned forward. "And why would a being like that just leave?"
Rei looked away. "I made him mad. But I also played to his pride."
The King was quiet. Then he gave a small nod. "That was clever. Risky. But clever."
Regulus nodded. "At least no one got hurt."
"Yeah," Kajala added. "We're just glad everyone's okay."
Vetra turned to the King. "What do we do now?"
The King stood. "You rest for now. Then I'll have a new mission for your guild. You've proven yourselves. I'll be counting on you again soon."
The guild gave a tired but unified bow.
Even in the face of pride, pain, and power they were still standing.
Together.
After meeting the King and reporting everything, the group was finally allowed to rest. They walked through the quiet, stone streets of Hallin Way, lanterns flickering above their heads as the city wind gently brushed past them.
They didn't say much on the way back. Everyone was tired body and mind. But there was a strange peace in knowing they made it out alive.
Back at the hut, Kajala instantly jumped onto Rei's bed with a loud sigh.
"Finally!" he groaned dramatically, flopping face first into the blanket. "You better not make me move."
Rei stood there, too tired to argue. "You're not even supposed to be on my bed…"
"Too late. I'm claiming it." Kajala stretched and rolled over to cling onto Rei's arm, like always.
Rei sighed but let him do it. "You're so annoying sometimes."
"I know," Kajala smiled sleepily. "And you still let me."
On the other side of the room, Regulus bumped his knee into the edge of a chair.
"Ow! Who put this here?" he grumbled, rubbing his leg.
"You did," Elyra answered calmly from her spot near the window, sipping tea. "Fifteen minutes ago."
"Oh. Right." Regulus sat down, almost knocking over a candle before catching it just in time. "I'm fine. Totally fine."
Meanwhile, Rika was… chewing a sock.
Elyra looked over with her usual calm tone. "You do know that's not food, right?"
"I was wondering why it didn't taste like cheese," Rika said with a straight face.
Rei blinked. "Why would it ever taste like cheese?!"
Rika shrugged. "One can dream."
Elyra gave a small laugh, brushing her long blond hair over her shoulder. "Well, at least you're all back in one piece. Somehow."
The hut was warm, the lights dim, and the air quiet. For the first time in a while, it felt safe. No corrupted knights. No Maestro. No missions at least not until tomorrow.
As the group drifted off one by one, Rei sat up for a moment longer, watching them. His weird, chaotic, loud little guild.
They made it. Somehow.
And tomorrow, they'd do it all again.
Together.