Capítulo 32: Heroes of the day…

Adrian and Lilith descended from the mountain with the Chimera's heads in tow, their victory clear for all to see. The lion and goat heads were gruesome trophies, dripping black blood that stained the ground as they carried them through the desolate village they had passed earlier.

The eerie silence that had greeted them before was now filled with the echoes of their footfalls and the soft crackle of flames that still smoldered in the distance.

Lilith glanced at Adrian, her expression a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" she quipped, though the weariness in her voice betrayed the toll the battle had taken on her.

Adrian snorted, shaking his head as he hefted the lion's head onto his shoulder. "You and I have very different definitions of 'not so bad,'" he replied, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

Lilith's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Maybe, but you have to admit, it was exciting. And look at us now—heroes of the day, with two heads to prove it."

Adrian couldn't argue with that. Despite the danger, there was a thrill to what they had accomplished, a sense of triumph that was hard to ignore.

They reached the outskirts of the capital city as the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon. The massive stone walls loomed ahead, their shadow stretching long and dark over the land.

As they approached the gates, the guards stationed there noticed the grisly trophies they carried and their eyes widened in shock.

"Is that… the mountain beast?" one of the guards stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Adrian nodded, dropping the lion's head at the guard's feet. "What's left of it," he replied.

The guard's eyes darted between Adrian, Lilith, and the severed heads, his expression a mix of awe and horror.

"Incredible… I thought it was impossible," he muttered, before quickly straightening up and saluting them. "Welcome back, my Lord, my Lady! The city will rejoice at this news."

Lilith flashed the guard a dazzling smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'm sure they will. Now, if you don't mind, we'd like to deliver these to the palace."

The guard nodded vigorously, signaling to his comrades to open the gates. "Of course, right away!"

As Adrian and Lilith entered the city, word of their victory spread like wildfire. It wasn't long before the streets began to fill with people, their faces alight with curiosity and excitement.

The crowd surged around them, people eager to catch a glimpse of the beast that had terrorized their lands for so long. Children pointed and whispered to each other, while adults cheered and clapped, their voices rising in a chorus of praise.

Adrian and Lilith kept their pace steady, making their way through the throngs of people with the Chimera's heads held high. The crowd trailed behind them, growing larger with each step they took toward the palace.

By the time they reached the grand courtyard in front of the palace gates, the crowd had swelled to fill the space, their cheers echoing off the palace walls.

"Did you see the way they just strolled in with those heads?" one man whispered to another, his voice filled with awe.

"It's a miracle!" an older woman exclaimed, her hands clasped in prayer. "The gods have surely blessed them!"

"Looks like we've gathered quite the audience," Lilith remarked, glancing back at the sea of faces that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Adrian barely responded to her, his gaze fixed ahead.

Lilith, ever the performer, played to the crowd. She tossed her hair back, a wicked grin on her lips as she lifted the goat's head higher for all to see. "Not so scary now, is it?" she called out, her voice carrying above the din.

The crowd roared in response, their adoration growing with every step.

Adrian, on the other hand, kept his mind on the son-to-happen conversation wwith the map maker, his expression one of grim satisfaction.

Though the cheers were welcome, he couldn't shake the sense of urgency still gnawing at him. The Chimera was dead, but their mission was far from over. The real work—the quest to find those responsible for the fall of Meridia—still lay ahead.

Lilith noticed his silence and nudged him playfully. "You're going to have to get used to this, you know," she teased in a light voice even as they navigated the crowd. "Hero's welcome and all that."

Adrian managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll celebrate when this is all over," he replied, his tone tinged with resolve. "For now, we've got bigger problems to deal with."

Lilith chuckled, shaking her head. "Always so serious," she remarked, though there was a note of affection in her voice. "But that's what I like about you, Adrian. You keep your eyes on the prize."

As they neared the palace grounds, the crowd following them had grown to a size that could easily fill a colosseum. The noise was deafening, a chaotic mix of cheers, shouts, and whistles that reverberated off the city's tall stone walls.

It wasn't long before the clamor reached the ears of the king and his council, interrupting their morning meeting.

The queen, seated beside the king at the head of a long, ornate table, looked up from the scrolls laid before them, her expression one of mild irritation. "What is the meaning of this uproar?" She demanded, her voice carrying the authority of one accustomed to being obeyed.

One of the guards, who had been stationed at the door, hurried forward and bowed low. "Your Majesty, it's the outsiders—the ones who were sent to deal with the Chimera," the guard explained, his voice hurried. "They've returned… with the beast's heads."

The king's eyes widened slightly, his stern demeanor giving way to surprise. "They've killed the Chimera?" he repeated, as if the words were difficult to believe.

The queen, who sat beside him, her hands folded elegantly in her lap, allowed a small, satisfied smile to grace her lips. "It seems they are more capable than we anticipated," she said, her tone thoughtful.

Her gaze flicked to the nearest window, where the faint sound of the crowd could still be heard. "Perhaps we should greet them ourselves."

The councilmen nodded, rising from their seats. "Very well," the king agreed. "We will see them."

The queen stood as well, moving gracefully and deliberately. "This will be most interesting," she murmured, her eyes gleaming with a strange intensity as she made her way to the door.

Outside, Adrian and Lilith had reached the palace gates. The guards, who had initially seemed uncertain about letting the crowd this close to the royal grounds, quickly recognized the gravity of the situation and stepped aside, allowing the two heroes to pass through unimpeded.

As they entered the palace courtyard, the king and queen emerged from the grand entrance, flanked by a retinue of advisors and soldiers. The royal couple descended the steps slowly, their gazes fixed on the approaching figures.

Adrian and Lilith stopped at the base of the steps, bowing their heads in deference as they presented the Chimera's heads to the king.

"Adrian, Lilith," the queen called out, her voice carrying over the noise of the crowd. "You've returned… and you've succeeded?"

Adrian stepped forward, dropping the lion's head at the king's feet. "We have, Your Majesty. The Chimera is dead. Th beast will no longer trouble your lands,"

The king's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the severed heads, his mouth opening and closing as if he were at a loss for words. "This… this is extraordinary," he finally managed, his voice tinged with awe. "You've done what so many before you could not. You have my deepest gratitude."

Lilith stepped forward, her expression playful as she tilted her head to the side. "Does that mean we've earned our favor, Your Majesty?"

The king blinked, seeming to remember himself. "Yes, of course. You have more than earned it. But first… a celebration for our heroes."

The crowd erupted into cheers at the mention of a celebration.