After a few more days, Mixarnt finally stirred awake. "Agh... my body," he groaned, his voice hoarse from weeks of disuse. For a month, he had been in a deep sleep, and his body felt stiff and heavy, like it had forgotten how to move.

A maid was in the room, carefully tending to him, while Mika sat nearby, her cheerful presence filling the space.

Mika giggled when she saw Mixarnt’s eyes flutter open. "Looks like you finally woke up," she said, her voice brimming with happiness.

Mixarnt blinked, his vision slowly clearing as he took in the familiar faces around him. "Mika...?" he muttered, his voice weak but filled with relief.

"That’s right," Mika said, leaning closer with a warm smile. "You’ve been out for a while, but don’t worry—you’re safe now. Everyone’s been waiting for you to wake up."

Mixarnt tried to sit up, but his body protested, and he winced. The maid quickly stepped in, gently helping him adjust his position. "Take it easy," the maid said softly. "You’ve been through a lot."

Mixarnt nodded, his mind still foggy but slowly piecing together what had happened. "The battle... Kaelzar... is everyone okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Mika’s smile softened. "Everyone’s fine, thanks to you. The kingdom’s rebuilding, and the people are safe. You did it, Mixarnt."

A small smile spread across Mixarnt’s face, though it was tinged with exhaustion. "That’s good... I’m glad," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mika reached out, gently patting his hand. "Just focus on resting for now. You’ve earned it."

As Mixarnt settled back into the pillows, surrounded by the care of his friends, he felt a sense of peace. The battle was over, and though the road to recovery would be long, he knew he wasn’t alone. For now, he could rest, knowing he had made a difference.

"I want to eat... really... But I don’t like porridge... I want meat. But I also know I can’t just eat solid food right now... sigh..." Mixarnt said, his voice tinged with frustration. He remembered how the Enigma Enhancement had strained his body to its limits, how his battle with Kaelzar had left him covered in wounds and drained of blood. And then there was the ultimate attack—the moment he had unleashed all of Enigma’s power, it felt like every drop of mana in his body and the surrounding area had been sucked dry, leaving him unconscious.

"How long was I out, Mika?" Mixarnt asked innocently, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Mika chuckled softly, her expression warm. "You’ve been asleep for a whole month, Mixarnt. A whole month! We were starting to wonder if you’d ever wake up."

"A month!?" Mixarnt exclaimed, his voice cracking slightly. He tried to sit up again, but the maid gently pushed him back down.

"Easy there," the maid said with a kind smile. "Your body’s been through a lot. You need to take it slow."

Mixarnt groaned, falling back against the pillows. "A whole month... no wonder I feel so stiff. And hungry. Really, really hungry."

Mika laughed, shaking her head. "Well, you’ll have to settle for porridge for now. But don’t worry—once you’re stronger, we’ll make sure you get all the meat you can eat."

Mixarnt pouted, but there was a playful glint in his eyes. "Fine... but you better keep your promise, Mika."

"Of course," Mika said, grinning. "Now, let’s get you some porridge. You need to build up your strength if you’re going to get back to adventuring."

As Mika and the maid prepared the food, Mixarnt lay back, his mind wandering. A whole month... he had missed so much. For now, he would focus on recovering. And when he was ready, he knew there would be plenty of adventures—and meat—waiting for him.

After Mika returned with the maid, Mixarnt’s eyes lit up at the sight of the steaming bowl of porridge. Despite his usual dislike for the dish, his hunger made everything taste better. He eagerly dug in, savoring each spoonful as if it were a feast.

For the entire month he had been unconscious, sustaining magic had been cast over him—a spell designed to keep unconscious patients alive and nourished during long periods of inactivity. It was the only reason he hadn’t wasted away during his deep sleep.

Between bites, Mixarnt’s mind wandered to the aftermath of the battle. "A-anyway, what happened to Carlos? Isn’t he branded as a criminal by Naeva? That’s why he was imprisoned in the continental prison in the first place, right? I mean, if we won, it means he beat Kaelzar after I lost consciousness," Mixarnt said, careful not to move too much as even the slightest motion caused his body to ache.

"Just wondering what happened to him after the battle..." Mixarnt added, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Mika’s expression turned thoughtful as she considered his question. "Actually, there was a development regarding Carlos’ situation," she revealed, a hint of excitement in her voice. "After the victory over Kaelzar, Princess Elyssia petitioned the royal council to reconsider Carlos’ status. Given his crucial role in the battle and the revelations about Kaelzar’s past, the council decided to commute his sentence to exile."

Mika leaned in, a conspiratorial glint in her eye. "From what I heard, Carlos is expected to leave Naeva soon, bound for the eastern lands. It’s a chance for him to start anew, free from the burdens of his past."

She paused, her gaze meeting Mixarnt’s. "Of course, this decision wasn’t without controversy. Some argued that Carlos’ crimes shouldn’t be overlooked so easily, but Elyssia’s advocacy carried significant weight. She made a strong case for his redemption, and the council ultimately agreed."

Mixarnt’s eyes widened slightly, his expression filled with concern. "But... didn’t Carlos beat Kaelzar? I was expecting him to get his position as the knight leader back. From what I know, he was only imprisoned and treated as a criminal for disobeying orders to save his fiancée... So... isn’t exile a bit... extreme?" Mixarnt asked innocently, his voice tinged with sadness. He couldn’t help but feel bad for Carlos, who had risked everything to protect the kingdom.

He then recalled a conversation he had with Carlos a month ago while they were headed to the Darkwoods.

-------

"Hey, perverted old man, how did you learn to rally people like that? You actually looked like a leader back there. Aren't you just some weird guy with a chain fetish?" Mixarnt asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.

Carlos burst into laughter, and Arthur, overhearing the remark, couldn't help but chuckle as well.

"Mixarnt," Arthur said with a grin, "Carlos isn’t some pervert with a chain fetish—he’s the former Knight Captain of Naeva. The only reason he was in chains is because he was imprisoned."

Carlos let out another soft chuckle. "Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be right to keep things from you, kid. But I don’t mind if you don’t believe me or if your opinion of me change—" Before Carlos could finish, Mixarnt cut him off.

"I'll believe you!" he said confidently. "If you were a bad guy, you would've harmed the villagers instead of protecting them! Hehe!" He flashed a wide grin, his trust in Carlos unwavering.

Carlos, taken aback for a moment, soon smiled softly in return. Seeing Mixarnt place such wholehearted faith in him stirred something deep within his heart. 

And so, Carlos told him everything—his past, the betrayals, the pain, and the burdens he carried. As Mixarnt listened, he began to admire Carlos not just as a warrior but as a man of resilience, someone who had endured immense suffering yet still stood strong.

With a determined grin, Mixarnt made a silent vow to himself: he would help Carlos clear his name—no matter what it took.

--------

Mika’s face fell at Mixarnt’s words, her eyes filled with understanding. She reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from his forehead, her touch soft and comforting. "I see why you would think that, Mixarnt. Carlos did prove his worth in the end, and his motivations were pure. But the kingdom’s laws and societal norms can be harsh, especially for those outside the nobility."

She sighed, her voice tinged with regret. "Exile is often seen as a more lenient punishment for criminals, but for someone of Carlos’ standing, it still carries a significant stigma. The nobles fear his influence and the potential for him to rally support among the common folk, especially those who resent the royal family’s handling of the situation with Kaelzar."

Mika’s gaze softened as she looked at Mixarnt. "Elyssia fought hard for Carlos, but in the end, politics and tradition prevailed. The council couldn’t overlook his past actions, even if they understood his reasons. Exile was the compromise they reached—a way to give him a chance at a new life without completely overturning the kingdom’s laws."

Mixarnt frowned, his young mind struggling to grasp the complexities of politics and tradition. "It just doesn’t seem fair," he muttered, his voice low. "Carlos did so much for Naeva. He deserves better than this."

Mika nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I know, Mixarnt. But sometimes, life isn’t fair. What matters is that Carlos is alive, and he has a chance to start over. Who knows? Maybe one day, he’ll find a way to clear his name and return to Naeva as the hero he truly is."

Mixarnt sighed, leaning back against the pillows. "I hope so... I really do."

As he lay there, his mind wandered to Carlos and the future. Despite the unfairness of it all, Mixarnt knew that Carlos was strong. If anyone could turn exile into an opportunity, it was him.

For now, Mixarnt would focus on healing, knowing that one day, he might see Carlos again—not as an exile, but as the hero he had always been.