Two more weeks passed in a steady rhythm of classes, training, and preparation. Then one afternoon, Reinhard received a message from Janus that was short and direct.

Meet me in one of the private study rooms, it's important. Also, bring Marie and Joseph.

Reinhard found Marie first in the training courtyard, where she was practicing with her spear. Sunlight caught her platinum hair as it swayed with each movement, her white uniform pristine despite the physical exertion.

He caught her attention with a wave, and her light-gold eyes immediately focused on him with curiosity.

"Janus wants to meet. Says it's important and needs privacy."

Marie's eyes shine with interest before nodding. "Let me grab Joseph. I saw him heading toward the History Institute earlier."

Twenty minutes later, the three of them stood outside a private study room on the Academy's third floor. These rooms were reserved for quiet studying or group projects.

The door was solid oak, reinforced with sound-dampening runes that made conversations inside completely private.

Marie knocked three times, their agreed signal, and her voice carried through the woods clearly. "It's us."

The lock clicked, mechanisms disengaging with a soft metallic sound. The door swung inward, revealing Janus with a smile that seemed both welcoming and slightly strained. He stepped back, gesturing them inside with a sweep of his arm.

"Come in, quickly."

The trio entered, and Reinhard's eyes immediately widened in surprise.

The study table was completely covered in stacks of letters. Dozens upon dozens of them, organized in neat piles that suggested Janus had spent considerable time sorting them.

The envelopes varied in quality. Some were fine paper with elegant seals, others were rougher material that spoke of limited resources.

Joseph stopped mid-step, staring at the sheer quantity. "Are those the letters about the secrecy agreement?"

Janus closed the door behind them, the lock engaging with a definitive click. He moved back toward the table, one hand gesturing toward the piles as he spoke. "I got these letters from the Information Institution. They've been collecting correspondence related to Eastern Hesod and forwarding what's relevant to us."

Reinhard hummed thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the various stacks. "Are these from Eastern Hesod specifically?"

Janus nodded, and something in his expression softened with a mixture of emotions that Reinhard couldn't quite identify. "Most of the letters are thank you messages from the people-"

Marie's eyes lit up like stars suddenly appearing. Before anyone could react, she practically lunged for the table, dropping into a chair and immediately reaching for the nearest pile of letters. Her enthusiasm was so genuine, so infectious, that the others couldn't help but be amused.

Reinhard chuckled, shaking his head as he moved to claim a different chair.

Joseph grinned broadly, taking his own seat. Janus settled into the remaining chair, his smile growing more as he watched Marie tear into the first envelope with barely contained excitement.

"Alright then," Marie announced cheerfully, pulling out the first letter. "Let's see what they have to say!"

And so they began reading.

Marie pulled out a letter written on slightly rough paper.

The handwriting was careful, but of someone who didn't write often but had taken great care with this message. "Dear friends who helped free our home, I am a farmer who returned to the land my grandfather once worked. I cannot express the joy of seeing clear water in the streams again… To see my children being able to jump into the lakes without a care and water my plants with it… Thank you does not seem enough, but for now, I can only thank you with all my heart. Please return soon so I can share the first harvest with you."

Reinhard felt warmth spread through his chest as Marie's voice carried the simple, heartfelt gratitude.

Joseph picked up another letter, this one on better paper with neater handwriting. He cleared his throat before reading. "To the brave souls who risked everything, my name is Elena, and I am a teacher. We have reopened schools, focusing on other studies in Pioneer Settlement. Children can learn more than just survival and fighting… They can dream of becoming authors, songwriters, and explorers, something that seemed impossible just months ago. When will you return? The students ask about you constantly, and want to meet you all."

Janus selected a letter from a different pile, unfolding it carefully. "This one's from a merchant," he noted before reading aloud. "Precursor friends, business has finally returned to Eastern Hesod! Trading is finally becoming a thing once again, and goods flow again after centuries of silence. My family lost everything to the Dark Silence three generations ago, but now my daughter will inherit what we've rebuilt. We're planning a celebration, one that is much bigger than before, when you all return. Please come back soon so we can properly thank you."

The letters continued, each one carrying its own unique voice and perspective.

A mother writing about her children playing safely outside for the first time at night. An Inquisitor describing how strange and wonderful it felt to patrol without fearing the roots around.

An elderly woman expressing joy at returning to the old cities where her grandparents lived before being forced to flee. A man talking about his extended family deciding to move back to Eastern Hesod after leaving long ago.

Each letter came wrapped in its own distinct emotion, but all of them were overwhelmingly positive. Gratitude poured from every word, hope colored every sentence, and constant questions about when they would return appeared in nearly every message.

Promises of bigger celebrations, better welcomes, and proper acknowledgment of what they'd accomplished.

As they read letter after letter, smiles gradually spread across all their faces.

Janus sighed after finishing another letter, setting it down gently on the table. "They didn't have to do all of this..." The words were quiet, almost overwhelmed.

Marie smiled, her expression soft with understanding. "But it's just their way of showing how much they care and how thankful they are." She gestured at the piles of letters surrounding them. "They truly are an amazing community."

Janus trembled slightly, his composure cracking just enough to show the depth of feeling beneath. "It just makes me miss them even more."

Joseph chuckled warmly, leaning back in his chair with a letter still in hand. "And it seems they miss you just as much, based on how many of them ask when we're coming back."

Reinhard smiled lightly, his light blue eyes distant as he processed everything they'd read. "From the tone of these letters, it seems things have been going well for them."

Janus nodded, but his expression became more complicated. "The news that's been circulating indicates that Eastern Hesod has been gradually catching up to the rest of the world. Development is accelerating rapidly." He paused before sighing. "Which I'm so thankful for, yet I can't help but worry about what the cost of all this will be."

"I wouldn't worry too much. Vlad isn't the type to let his home, which he finally freed after centuries, be abused and taken advantage of by opportunistic outsiders. He's too smart and too dedicated for that." Reinhard said with a chuckle.

Marie nodded with a grin. "Besides, they have the Luminous Knights and the Academy as backers. Those are significant political shields. They can't be pushed around easily with that kind of support."

Janus's expression softened at their reassurances. He nodded, chuckling quietly with some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "You're right. I'm probably worrying too much."

Joseph picked up another letter, and his eyebrows rose immediately. He turned the envelope over, examining the seal. "This one's from Amiya."

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