There Are No Heroes

Chapter 11

After a while, they, too, drifted into the sky, leaving behind a warmth that lingered in Tiana’s heart.

The song finally came to a stop, leaving a profound silence in the arena. Selena gazed toward the heavens, watching the spirits vanish behind the light. She held Hendrik’s hand, her voice trembling.

“Thank you... You’ve given us peace amidst this destruction.”

Hendrik nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the sky.

---

Hendrik stood before them, his face filled with hesitation.

“I want to be honest... I’m not sure I want to help you. Are you truly certain about seeking revenge after seeing all of this?”

Tiana stepped forward abruptly, eyes blazing with fury.

“Why?! Why are you saying that? If you’re afraid, then leave! We don’t need cowards like you!”

Princess Selena raised her hand to stop Tiana, then spoke gently but firmly.

“He’s right... this hero.”

She turned to Hendrik.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Hendrik,” he replied briefly.

“Yes, Hendrik... You’re right. After seeing my kingdom now covered in snow, wrapped in ice in such a short time, it shows just how powerful the Ice Hero truly is.”

Her voice began to tremble.

But Tiana refused to back down.

“But... the King, our comrades… What about them? We can’t just let this go!”

The advisor, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up.

“Calm down, Lady Tiana. What the Princess and the Hero said is true. We must reflect and think wisely before acting.”

Tiana clenched her fists, frustrated.

“Then what’s the plan? Are we just going to walk away and let the Ice Hero go unpunished after what he did to this kingdom?”

Selena took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

“We’ll think about that later... For now, we must head to the royal treasury and armory. There may be something there that can help us.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, though the tension still hung in the air.

Without delay, they mounted Tedi, the massive bear who had loyally accompanied them this far. Their next destination was clear, though their hearts remained heavy with uncertainty and hope.

After some time, they arrived at the front of the palace. They dismounted from Tedi’s back, while Hendrik floated in the air, carefully observing the surroundings.

He descended slowly and said, “It’s safe. No signs of danger around the palace.”

They entered the palace. Their footsteps echoed through the silent corridors, surrounded by frozen soldiers, nobles, and servants. Room after room passed as they moved cautiously.

“We head to the treasury first,” Princess Selena said, leading with determined strides.

They quickened their pace, even running toward their goal. Upon reaching the large door of the treasury, Selena paused for a moment, staring at the untouched door.

“The door’s still locked. Even the Ice Hero seems uninterested in the kingdom’s treasures,” Selena muttered in surprise.

“It’s still locked? Selena, you can open it, right?” Tiana asked impatiently.

Selena nodded.

“Y-yes. Just a moment.”

She stood before the door, closed her eyes, and began chanting a spell. A soft light radiated from her hands, enveloping the seal protecting the door. Slowly, the seal dissolved, and the heavy door opened with a deep rumble.

Inside, they were greeted by a stunning sight—gems, gold, and silver crafted into jewelry scattered magnificently, reflecting the dim light of the room.

“Woooow...” Hendrik’s jaw dropped at the sight.

“If I brought a single sack of this back to Earth, I’d be filthy rich... But what’s the point if my mother’s no longer there?” he muttered, sadness lacing his voice.

Old memories returned, casting a shadow over him amidst the glittering wealth.

---

Selena scanned the room with hopeful eyes.

“There it is!” she exclaimed, rushing toward a corner of the room.

Quickly, she pressed a hidden button behind one of the wall ornaments. The room began to tremble slightly, mechanical sounds humming from beneath the floor.

Soon, a large glass cabinet rose from the ground, containing gleaming armor and weapons with unique designs. Around the cabinet, magical circles began to appear, glowing softly and hovering just above the floor.

Selena turned to the others.

“These are the royal weapons. Stand inside one of the magic circles. The weapons will choose you.”

She stepped into one of the softly glowing blue circles.

Tiana and the advisor wasted no time and selected their own circles. Hendrik, however, still stood in place, hesitant and unsure. He glanced at the magical circles, uncertain.

Tiana noticed and frowned.

“Come on already! You need to stand in one too!”

Startled by her tone, Hendrik replied, “Uh, me too? Alright...”

He stepped into one of the circles awkwardly.

As they all stood in place, the circles glowed brighter, releasing a magical aura. Something extraordinary was about to happen.

Each circle began to spin faster, creating a wind of magical energy that filled the room. The weapons inside the cabinet began to shine, one by one, flying out and swirling through the air as if searching for their rightful owners.

Selena, Hendrik, Tiana, and the advisor were lifted into the air, floating within their respective circles. Their eyes widened in awe as the weapons danced around them, seemingly sentient.

A golden armor adorned with intricate carvings flew toward Selena, wrapping around her body gracefully. A large spear with a spiral drill-like tip in gold and blue hovered in front of her, resonating with her aura.

A sleek silver bow floated toward Tiana, radiating a soft glow. A pair of silver glasses followed, adjusting perfectly onto her face. Tiana held the bow with wonder in her eyes.

The advisor received a dark magical robe with golden glowing patterns, elegantly wrapping around his form. A long, intricately carved staff with a blue gemstone at its tip chose him, radiating immense magical energy.

Hendrik was stunned as two glowing chakrams circled around him, shining with silver brilliance. Then, a light blue chain suddenly coiled around his arm, fitting like an accessory but emanating an impressive aura of power.

Selena looked at them with a relieved smile.

“You’ve all been chosen by the legendary weapons. Build a bond with them, trust in them. If you succeed, unimaginable power will be yours.”

They could feel a connection forming with the weapons that had chosen them. As their feet slowly touched the ground again, awe and joy filled their faces.

Hendrik stared at his chakrams and chain with deep curiosity, while Tiana couldn’t stop

admiring her silver bow.

“I feel different,” the advisor said, gripping his staff.

“It’s as if new energy flows within me.”