The next few days passed in a blur of activity as Adrian and Medea helped the village of Brenden rebuild and recover.

The damage left by the Shadow Court had taken its toll on the village's infrastructure, but the people were resilient, throwing themselves into the work with renewed purpose.

The knowledge that they were free, for now at least, gave them hope, and with Adrian's guidance, the village began to stabilize.

Ava, as expected, had been less enthusiastic about the manual labor. Instead, she busied herself with something more aligned to her talents—finding anything of value.

She scoured the village, going through old shops, storerooms, and even homes, her sharp eyes always on the lookout for treasures that the Shadow Court might have overlooked.

One afternoon, as Adrian was overseeing the repair of a village gate, Ava approached him, her expression one of mild frustration.

"Adrian," she called, drawing his attention as she sauntered over with her usual confident sway. "When are we returning to Zarpha?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Why? Getting bored with village life?"

Ava sighed dramatically. "You could say that. I miss the marketplace, the buzz of the city, and more importantly, my profits are waiting for me to collect. This place"—she waved her hand dismissively at the village—"is charming, but there's only so much value one can extract from a handful of farmers and shopkeepers."

Adrian chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You've always got your mind on business, don't you?"

"Someone has to keep an eye on the financials," Ava said with a grin. "And I'm very good at it. But seriously, we should think about heading back to Zarpha soon. We've done what we can here, and I'm sure the queen is wondering when her 'champion' will return."

Adrian's smile faded slightly at the mention of Queen Alannah. He had received word from her the day before, along with a small contingent of reinforcements she had sent to Brenden. Her message had been clear—she expected his return to Zarpha soon.

"I've been thinking about that," Adrian admitted, his gaze shifting to the horizon where the sun was beginning its slow descent. "There's more at stake here than just Brenden. The Shadow Court's influence is spreading, and if we're going to stop them, we need to get to the remaining goddesses."

Ava's expression softened slightly, a rare glimpse of her serious side showing through. "Then what's the plan?"

"I'll gather everyone tonight," Adrian said. "We'll go over our next steps."

Ava nodded, satisfied. "Good. Just don't take too long. The longer we stay here, the more money I'm losing."

Adrian smiled faintly as Ava walked away, her mind already on her profits. He admired her tenacity, even if her motivations were a bit... mercenary. But he knew she was right. Their time in Brenden was coming to an end, and it was time to plan their next move.

That evening, as the village quieted and the night air cooled, Adrian gathered the group in one of the larger homes that had been offered to them during their stay.

The room was dimly lit, the glow of a small fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. Lilith, Ava, Medea, Abyss, and Selene all sat around the table, their faces illuminated by the firelight.

Adrian stood at the head of the table with a thoughtful expression as he addressed the group. "We've done a lot here in Brenden," he began in a steady voice. "But our work isn't finished. The Shadow Court is still out there, and their influence is growing. If we're going to stop them, we need to gather the remaining goddesses."

Medea leaned forward, her sharp eyes focused on Adrian. "How far away are their temple sites from where we are?"

Adrian pulled out the map and took a quick glance at the yellow glowing lights that indicated the goddesses' position. "Our best bet will be to return to Zarpha. The location of the remaining goddesses can be accessible from there. I'll also need to speak with Queen Alannah—she's sent word that she's expecting my return."

Lilith, who had been lounging in her chair with a lazy smile, perked up at the mention of Zarpha. "Ah, the city of intrigue and pleasure. I do miss the luxuries there," she purred. "And it's been too long since I've had a proper bath."

Abyss, seated next to Lilith, shot her a cold glance, her possessive nature flaring up. "As long as you remember your place, Lilith," she said icily. "Adrian isn't just yours to play with."

Lilith laughed, clearly enjoying Abyss's obsession that's currently bordering on jealousy. "Relax, Abyss. I can't wait for when Eris joins us; let's see who will be more jealous. Anyways, I'm just looking forward to a little fun. You could use some, too, you know."

Abyss's eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, Adrian stepped in, raising a hand to diffuse the tension. "Enough. We have more important matters to discuss."

Ava, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "What about resources?" she asked. "If we're going to move against the Shadow Court, we'll need more than just our strength. We need allies, supplies, and intelligence."

"Zarpha can provide that," Adrian replied. "Plus the cash you've been gathering, we should have enough. And Queen Alannah will be willing to help."

Selene, the priestess, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "What about the people of Brenden?" she asked softly, her eyes filled with concern. "They've just begun to rebuild. Will they be safe once we leave?"

Adrian's expression softened. "They'll be safe," he assured her. "The reinforcements from Zarpha will help them fortify the village. And Roran—Calder's son—will step up as their leader. He's young, but with guidance, he'll grow into the role."

Selene nodded, though her concern remained. She had grown quite attached to the village during their time here, and the thought of leaving it behind weighed heavily on her heart.

"We can't protect everyone forever," Medea said bluntly, her voice cutting through the air. "But we can make sure they have the means to defend themselves. Brenden is stronger now than it was before. They'll survive."

Adrian nodded in agreement. "Medea's right. We've given them the tools they need to stand on their own. Now it's time for us to move on."

The group fell into a thoughtful silence for a moment, each of them processing the journey ahead. The Shadow Court was a formidable enemy, and gathering the remaining goddesses would be no small feat.

But they had faced impossible odds before, and they would do so again.

Adrian glanced around the table, his gaze lingering on each of the goddesses and Selene. These were the people he trusted most, the ones who would stand by his side no matter what. They had already been through so much together, and their bond had only grown stronger with each battle.

"We leave for Zarpha in two days," Adrian said finally "Rest up and prepare. Once we're back in the city, we'll regroup, gather information, and plan our next steps."

Lilith stretched languidly, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Finally. I was starting to get bored of village life."

Abyss shot her another cold look but remained silent, her gaze fixed on Adrian with that same possessive intensity.

Ava, ever the opportunist, leaned back in her chair, a gleam of anticipation in her eyes. "Zarpha's markets will be ripe for the taking. I can already hear the sound of coins clinking into my hands."

Medea said nothing, but the slight nod of her head signaled her approval. She had always been the most focused on the mission at hand, and she knew that their journey was far from over.

As the meeting concluded, Adrian stepped outside, taking a moment to breathe in the cool night air. The stars glittered overhead, reminding him of the vastness of the world beyond Brenden. He couldn't afford to get too comfortable here. T

here were greater battles ahead, and the Shadow Court was growing bolder with each passing day. But for now, at least, Brenden was safe. And as long as the people had hope, they would endure.

The faint sound of laughter drifted from inside the house as Lilith and Ava bantered about their return to Zarpha. Abyss remained silent, her thoughts no doubt centered on Adrian. And Medea, ever the silent warrior, stood guard over them all, her eyes scanning the horizon for threats that had yet to come.

Adrian smiled faintly to himself, knowing that whatever challenges lay ahead, he wouldn't face them alone.

Adrian had lost track of time as he stood outside, staring up at the stars, the cool night air brushing against his skin. His thoughts drifted between the looming threats of the Shadow Court and the journey that lay ahead.

The quiet was broken by the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned, seeing Ava approaching with her usual confident stride.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.

"Nothing," Adrian replied, offering a faint smile.

Ava tilted her head, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Well, I have something for you," she said, her grin widening.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.