As the battle's intensity fades, Mixarnt finally allows himself to relax, releasing the Enigma enhancement. The black lightning surrounding his body flickers and vanishes, but the moment it does, a sharp, unbearable pain shoots through his muscles. It feels as if his entire body has been stretched to its limit.

Only now does he realize the cost of pushing himself so far. His strength fails him, and he collapses to the ground, completely drained.

"Hey, kid! You okay?" Arthur calls out, his voice laced with concern.

Around them, the Sapphire-class adventurers spread out, securing the area and ensuring no more threats remain.

Mixarnt hears Arthur’s words but can barely muster the strength to respond. Instead, he gives a weak nod, his vision blurring as exhaustion overtakes him. Arthur kneels beside him, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. "You fought well, kid," he says, his weathered face showing both admiration and worry.

As Mixarnt stood up, supported by Arthur, the little girl ran forward and hugged him tightly around the waist. "Thank you, thank you so much!" she cried, her voice filled with emotion. "You saved Mommy and me!"

Her mother, overwhelmed with relief and gratitude, approached with tears streaming down her face. In that moment, Mixarnt’s exhaustion seemed to fade, replaced by the warm feeling of having made a difference in their lives.

Arthur placed a comforting hand on Mixarnt’s shoulder, urging him to lean on him as they walked through the charred remains of the village. The surviving villagers gradually emerged from hiding, watching them with a mix of awe, gratitude, and hope. Their faces were illuminated by the flickering light of campfires as night settled over the ruined landscape.

As they walked, Mixarnt briefly explained to Arthur what had happened and how he had dealt with some of the bandits.

Later, in the carriage, Mixarnt slept soundly, his head resting on Elyssia's thigh. The Ice Mage occasionally poked his cheek, watching as he remained peacefully unaware. She couldn't help but notice how long and messy his hair was for a boy. More than that, she wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or amused. He had entered the carriage exhausted, barely acknowledging anyone before collapsing onto the seat—his head landing on her thigh without so much as a word. Now, as he slept, Elyssia sighed, torn between frustration and amusement. He was both cute and irritating at the same time.

Despite the initial shock of having a stranger claim her personal space, Elyssia can't deny the warmth that spreads through her chest as she watches Mixarnt's chest rise and fall with each peaceful breath. There's something undeniably charming about the way he trusts her completely, surrendering to sleep without a second thought.

As they arrived in Caspade Town, Arthur carried the sleeping Mixarnt on his back as they entered the Adventurer's Guild.

Mika, the receptionist, greeted them but blinked in surprise at the sight of the boy sleeping soundly on Arthur’s back. "Uh… who's the kid?" she asked, curiosity evident in her tone.

Elyssia, barely sparing them a glance, sighed. "I’ll be in my room," she said before heading toward the private quarters reserved for high-ranking adventurers.

Arthur adjusted Mixarnt slightly before responding, "This here’s Mixarnt. Kid’s been stirrin’ up trouble in all the right ways—took down some of Kaelzar’s men and saved lives in the process." 

"Oh? How did you know?" Mika asked, curious.

"Well, this kid told us about it earlier before passing out from exhaustion. And as much as I wanted to doubt him, me, Elyssia, and the other adventurers with us saw him holding his own against Kaelzar, who’s as strong as a veteran Ruby-rank adventurer. Though we only caught a glimpse of it before we stepped in to help the kid," Arthur explained with a grin. The middle-aged veteran flame magician smiled proudly.

Mika’s curiosity was instantly sparked, her eyebrows rising in disbelief at Arthur’s story. "Holding his own against Kaelzar? That’s unheard of, even for a Ruby-ranker!" she exclaimed, leaning closer to get a better look at Mixarnt, who was still asleep. "And the fact that he’s just a kid... Well, I guess we can’t rule it out. With all the rumors about the Dark Lord’s return circulating for months, anything seems possible."

Meanwhile, Elyssia, inside her room, removed her traveling gear and robes, revealing a sleek, form-fitting outfit underneath. Before settling into bed, she paused by the window, gazing out at the star-filled night sky. Her thoughts drifted to the day’s events and the annoyingly cute boy she had met—the one who had fought Kaelzar on equal footing.