Spectacular World

Magnolia Tree

"Is it safe for us to be walking around like this?" Alexander questioned.

Claymore gave a casual shrug. "Phoenix shot up a flare near the village, so I'm going to assume they're back by now."

Alexander gave a faint nod. "They got back a lot faster than I thought they would."

"They're just that good." Claymore chuckled. "Better than me anyways."

"Hey, don't say it like that!" Evan slapped Claymore hard on the back. "You kept us all safe! I mean, no one came after us, so when you really stop to think about it, you actually didn't do anything, but still! We would have been in slightly more danger without you here with us!"

Claymore let out a dry laugh and awkwardly rubbed his neck. "I guess that's true."

It had been a little over two hours since Cinder and the others left to go battle the villainous team known as the Misfits. None of them had any way of knowing what happened, but he was confident that the good guys would come out on top like they always did. After a bit of waiting he was proven right, when a ball of greenish flame launched its way up into the air and exploded. It was caused by Phoenix, the flame-based hero signaling for them to head that way.

That's what they were currently doing now. They had ditched the cave and all walked down the forest's path, heading back toward Apple Tree Village. He walked up front, holding onto Irene's hand. Every now and then, the young girl would squeeze his hand tightly, and he'd do his best to put her panicked soul at ease. He was her knight, after all. Alexander walked behind them along with Evan, and then finally, all the way in the back were the two siblings Cinder had picked up, Cora and Nikos. It was a little scary walking around the woods like this. At least Claymore thought so. After all, if any villain were to jump out and attack, he'd be the only one who could try to fight it off.

He'd succeed though. Someway, somehow, it didn't matter who he was faced up against with. He was Claymore, a hero who would swing their sword and wipe out all threats. He was the bodyguard to Irene. He was her knight. So he wasn't scared.

Not at all...

"Cinder and the others will be alright, won't they?" Cora asked.

Nikos gave a shrug and rubbed his chin. "It's hard picturing any of them losing. They're all so strong."

Evan let out a chuckle and nodded his head. "Phoenix was my bodyguard even before all of this and he never lost a single fight. At one point he was even considered for the title of Lord of the Sun and Cosmos, because of how strange his fire was, and how strong he is. Sometimes I still think he really is a Lord."

"So you don't think Cinder is a lord?" Irene asked, looking back at Evan.

Evan just gave a casual shrug. "No, I think Cinder is the Lord. I mean, we all heard what the Victorian said during the fight with the Beast. Plus, that fire form she went into was a carbon copy of Full Monarch." The rich boy folded his arms and let out a soft hum. "I think she has his powers for sure. Cinder had the ability Full Monarch wielded, but she doesn't have the same beliefs and values. I don't see the next Full Monarch whenever I look at her. It's not like what happens when I look at Phoenix. He might not be an actual Lord, but the way he acts and the courage he wields makes me confident that if Cinder wasn't around, he'd be the Lord of the Sun and Cosmos and would be considered the next Full Monarch."

Alexander nodded. "I don't think my daughter is really interested in being the next Full Monarch. She's just... Herself."

Nikos and Cora shared a confused look. "Are these more people from your world?" Nikos asked awkwardly.

"It's nothing you have to be concerned with," Irene said in a blunt tone. "We're here."

They had made it to the edge of the forest, and already they could hear the sounds of villagers attempting to rebuild what was lost. Apple Tree came into view as they stepped past the trees, and its people were back. Many of the buildings had been turned down and destroyed, but the villagers didn't seem to be phased by that and were already getting back to work. Several men had chopped down various trees and were dragging them along, while the kids all played in the village square.