Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

"Ugh," Cleo groaned, opening her eyes.

She blinked repeatedly, her eyes suddenly widening as she stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling. She bolted upright, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she scrambled to take in her surroundings.

"Finally awake, huh?" Dion asked.

Cleo turned to find Dion sitting right beside her, holding a glass bottle filled with a pungent green plant extract designed to shock someone back to consciousness. Wearing a thoroughly confused expression, Cleo stared at Dion before shifting her gaze over to Luna, Aria, Mei, and Sheila seated around the table. Next, she spotted Gina sleeping soundly in her lap. Finally, her eyes landed on Johan, who was leaning against the doorway with his head bowed, adjusting his glasses.

"Huh... Johan? What happened to me... and where even are we?" Cleo asked.

"We’re inside Johan’s house," Luna answered.

"Yeah, you passed out cold earlier from pure terror," Sheila added.

"Glad to see you back on your feet," Mei chimed in.

"Now get up already, we’ve got work to do," Aria urged.

Cleo’s mind raced as the memories of everything right before she fainted came rushing back. Her face flushed bright red, and she buried her face in her hands out of sheer embarrassment. She then looked up at Johan, who was standing there in absolute silence.

"Hey... Johan! Don’t you ever dare summon your undead in front of me again, got that?!" Cleo shouted.

"Oh... right... sorry, Cleo," Johan replied flatly.

"Drop it, he didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t wake up throwing a fit," Dion noted casually.

"So what now? What did you guys talk about while I was out cold?" Cleo asked.

The group immediately filled Cleo in on their entire conversation. The second Minerva’s name was mentioned, Cleo’s expression darkened dramatically. She whipped her head toward Johan.

"You told them about Minerva?" Cleo pressed.

"Yeah... the woman in the tower. I’m convinced she’s Minerva, King Theobald’s daughter," Johan answered.

"I see... so all of you spilled everything to Johan, even though you just met the guy," Cleo noted.

"He’s your friend and he helped us out. We have zero reason to doubt him," Aria stated.

"Besides... the magic department was already suspecting Minerva’s involvement with the dark cult, they just lacked solid evidence. Johan laid it all out," Mei added.

"Is that true, Johan?" Cleo asked, turning back to him.

Johan didn’t say a word, simply giving a quiet nod. Cleo dropped her head, her face turning dead serious as she processed the dire turn of events. Realizing she was sitting on a stone mattress, she carefully scooped up the sleeping Gina, swung her legs off the bed, and handed the little creature to Dion. Dion cradled Gina in his arms before gently laying her back onto the bed so as not to wake her.

"So what’s the game plan now?" Cleo asked.

"According to Johan, who just checked outside, the city is on total high alert. The guards, knights, and mages are actively hunting us down. It’s way too dangerous to step out there," Luna answered.

"Right. There’s no way we can just walk out and break out of Mageford without starting a full-blown war," Sheila added.

"Actually, there’s an escape route through the crystal mine down in the ravine that leads to the surface. But it’s extremely dangerous because you have to navigate the ancient ruins. I can guide you to the entrance of those ruins, how does that sound?" Johan offered.

Dion, Aria, Cleo, Luna, Sheila, and Mei paused to think, exchanging quick glances with one another. Dion then turned his attention back to Johan.

"Where does that path let out, exactly?" Dion asked.

"Northeast of the city... right inside the forest just before entering the territory of Esterios, along the road heading toward the city of Lakewall," Johan answered.

"What do you girls think?" Dion asked, turning to the five women standing nearby.

"Hmm... Lakewall, huh? That’s where the lords hide the slaves they sell off to various kingdoms, and where they keep the kidnapped locals locked up," Luna muttered.

"Right... just like what was written in the documents we handed over to King Theobald," Sheila added.

"Looks like we have to head there. We can cross straight into Lutherias from there, right?" Aria asked.

"We can. Take the northern mountain trail leading toward where Gemmeth’s seal used to be and that massive crater Dion made," Cleo said, pondering the map in her head.

"Hey, I didn’t make that crater," Dion protested.

"Hmm... good point. That crater really is close to Northkeep and sits near the border of Minatheras’s eastern territory. That means we can slip out of the kingdom right from there," Mei noted.

"Still, Lakewall is pretty far from here. We’ll have to trek through the dense forest covering the northern stretch of the eastern region," Cleo reminded them.

They all fell into deep thought, mentally mapping out routes to avoid making the long journey on foot. Watching Luna, Aria, Cleo, Sheila, and Mei rack their brains, Dion could only let out a soft laugh and smile.

"What are you guys stressing over? We have Gina, and she can pull the flying carriage, remember?" Dion said nonchalantly.

"Grrr... if we ride Gina, won’t we just draw massive attention to ourselves all over again?" Cleo asked, annoyed.

"Come on... aren’t we already infamous across this whole kingdom anyway? Don’t forget, you guys are the reason I had to rush all the way to the capital in the first place because you got captured and were about to be executed, right?" Dion countered smoothly.

Luna, Aria, Cleo, Sheila, and Mei instantly froze. Dion’s tone was completely relaxed, yet his words landed with undeniable precision. All five immediately hung their heads, knowing Dion was speaking the absolute truth. Seeing the girls looking so utterly deflated, Dion softened up.

"Ah... sorry. I didn’t mean to rub it in," Dion apologized, feeling a sting of guilt.

"No, it’s fine... it really was our fault for just running off and leaving you behind at Northkeep back then," Luna admitted softly, keeping her gaze pinned to the floor.

"Yeah... forgive me for writing that letter to you back then," Aria added, bowing her head.

"I’m sorry too. We got captured way too easily and failed to see the king’s true motives," Cleo added quietly.

"If only we hadn’t gotten caught while investigating the king’s study... I dropped the ball on that one, even though as a former Shadow Hand member, I should have known better," Mei murmured.

"And... I failed to protect them properly. I’m sorry, Dion," Sheila said, looking down.

A heavy shadow of gloom settled over the five girls as guilt washed over them, making Dion feel thoroughly uncomfortable.

"Alright, alright... stop that. What’s done is done. Right now, we’re all going home together. Let me take the path Johan is pointing out. I just want to get back quickly because I’m worried about our home," Dion said, standing up and reassuring the group with absolute confidence.

Hearing his words, Luna, Aria, Sheila, and Mei looked up at Dion’s face. They instantly bolted up and thump! all four tackled Dion at once with explosive energy. Thud! Dion hit the ground flat on his back.

"Can’t... breathe... ugh... I told you guys not to tackle me... I’m gonna die!" Dion gasped.

"Diooon... I’m so sorry!" the four girls yelled at the top of their lungs while smothering him.

"Give me a break... I’ll tackle you later," Cleo said, shaking her head, instantly looking exhausted by the chaotic display.

Johan stood by in complete silence, adjusting his glasses with a quiet smile. Yet, a unmistakable flicker of envy toward Dion flashed across his face, even if only for a split second.

"Aaargh... get off... get off! I can’t breathe and I can’t move!" Dion yelled.

"Nope!" Luna, Aria, Mei, and Sheila shouted back in unison.

Dion finally gave up, surrendering to the embrace of the four girls who now looked immensely relieved. Once they finished mauling Dion, they helped the thoroughly drained, half-dead guy back to his feet.

"Alright... Johan, lead the way," Dion panted out.

"Oh... sure thing... but... are you really alright?" Johan asked hesitantly.

"Don’t worry about it," Dion said, waving a dismissive hand.

"Oh... okay... we can access the mine right from inside this crypt. Everyone follow me," Johan instructed, heading toward the door where the two eidolons had vanished earlier.

Dion scooped Gina up from the bed, causing the little dragon to stretch and wake up. "Kyuuu?" Gina squeaked, blinking her eyes open.

"We’re heading out. We’re going home," Dion whispered to her.

"Kyuuu... kyuuu!" Gina chirped, instantly perking up with excitement.

She floated right onto Dion’s head. With that, everyone filed into the adjacent room. It turned out to be a kitchen, where the two eidolons were busy prepping food for Johan. Passing through the kitchen, they reached a dark chamber featuring a descending staircase, the passage Johan claimed led directly into the mines via a hidden door. As they walked down, Dion noticed Cleo gripping his arm tightly.

"What’s up?" Dion whispered.

"Ugh... this place is terrifying," Cleo whispered back, deliberately averting her eyes from the floating armor.

"He’s your friend, right?" Dion whispered, gesturing toward Johan up front.

"Yeah... classmate... even if he’s weird, he’s a good guy, and his abilities are beyond question," Cleo whispered back.

"Thank goodness. Glad to know we didn’t trust the wrong guy," Dion whispered with a sigh of relief.

"Still... he’s weird... and creepy," Cleo added under her breath.

"Come on, that’s just a minor detail. I was actually thinking of inviting him to come home with us," Dion remarked casually.

"Wait... WHAT?! NO WAY!" Cleo shrieked right into Dion’s ear, making him cover his ears in agony.

Johan whipped his head around, along with Luna, Aria, Sheila, and Mei walking ahead of them.

"Nothing, nothing... I just asked her for something and she said no, hahaha," Dion reassured everyone smoothly. "Man... if Johan came back with me, at least I’d have another guy around in my domain. Unbelievable," Dion muttered in his head.

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