There Are No Heroes

8 Selena and Hendrik’s Encounter

The guards dared not resist. They could only watch as Tiana lifted the unconscious Princess Selena into her arms. With swift movements, she mounted the massive bear alongside the advisor.

"Forgive us, but this was the king’s final command to me—the last remaining member of the elite Rangers," Tiana murmured before her familiar turned and carried them away from the kingdom, now engulfed in destruction.

The night grew deeper, the cool wind carrying the scent of damp grass. Beneath the luminous full moon, the advisor busied himself stirring a simple soup over a small campfire, while Tiana absentmindedly added more firewood, her expression heavy with thought.

Not far from them, Princess Selena lay atop the soft fur of the giant bear. Her small frame seemed at ease, though her consciousness slowly drifted back from slumber.

Gradually, her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times, taking in her unfamiliar yet oddly comforting surroundings.

"Where… am I? Eh… Tiana… Advisor… and this is so soft," Selena murmured, hugging the thick fur beneath her.

Suddenly, the bear yawned widely, making her jolt in surprise.

"This is Tiana’s familiar… which means… I really did leave the kingdom!" she realized, her eyes widening in shock.

Her words did not go unnoticed. Without turning around, Tiana spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "Yes, Princess. You did."

The advisor approached, holding out a bowl of warm soup. "Calm yourself, Princess. Please eat. This will restore your strength."

But Selena’s emotions surged uncontrollably. With trembling hands, she pushed the bowl away—not harshly, but enough to show her distress.

"How can you sit here so calmly?! We need to return to Skarvlad and save the kingdom! My father and our people need us!" she cried, her voice shaking, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Before she could continue, Tiana interrupted, her voice as cold as ice. "It’s too late, Princess. The king knew that. There’s nothing we can do now except make things worse."

Selena shot to her feet, stepping off the bear’s soft back. Her face was flushed with anger. "Cowards! You’re both cowards!" she shouted.

Tiana, who had been holding back her emotions, finally snapped. She stormed toward Selena, grabbing the front of her cloak roughly.

"You think I don’t grieve for my comrades?!" she hissed, her voice trembling with fury and pain. "But this isn’t about me or you, Princess! This is about the king’s last hope and the sacrifice of those who fought to save you. If you don’t understand that, then you don’t deserve to be the princess of this kingdom!"

Tiana’s piercing gaze cut through Selena, leaving her speechless. Her emotions boiled over, but she had no words to fight back.

The advisor quickly intervened, stepping between them in an attempt to ease the tension. "Enough… Please, Lady Tiana. Calm yourself," he urged gently.

Tiana exhaled sharply, releasing Selena from her grip before turning away. She walked toward a cluster of rocks nearby, clenching her fists as she sat down, her gaze fixed on the darkened forest.

Meanwhile, Selena stood frozen, then slowly collapsed onto the ground. She sat there, staring at the bright moon above, silent tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

"Father… I’m sorry…" she whispered hoarsely, her heart drowning in guilt and sorrow.

---

The night deepened, the silence broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind. The advisor, sensing the weight of emotions pressing down on the young princess, slowly approached her.

"Princess, that's enough. You should rest. Tomorrow, we will return to the kingdom," he said gently, his voice soothing.

Selena turned to him, her swollen eyes searching for reassurance. "Truly? We will go back?" she asked, her voice filled with both hope and exhaustion.

The advisor nodded but added in a solemn tone, "But don’t expect too much, Princess. The situation there… may no longer be the same."

His words hit Selena like a cold wind. She swallowed hard but nodded in resignation. "Yes… I understand. Alright, I’ll try to sleep," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tiana, who was sitting not far from them while gazing at the night sky, turned her face slightly. "Just sleep on Tedi again. It will keep your body warm," she said in a flat tone, though a hint of concern was hidden within her words.

Selena initially wanted to refuse, reluctant to accept such attention. However, the advisor gently suggested, "Just follow her advice, Princess. It’s for your health."

In the end, Selena approached the giant bear and lay down on its thick fur. It was warm and comfortable, but her heart remained uneasy. Before closing her eyes, her gaze landed on Tiana.

In the dim moonlight, Selena saw something that surprised her—tears. Tiana, who always seemed strong and unwavering, was silently crying, her face tilted toward the sky as if trying to hide her sorrow.

Selena wanted to go to her, to say something that might ease Tiana’s burden. But she held herself back. "My actions were too selfish earlier. I would only make things worse," she thought.

With a heavy heart, Selena closed her eyes. Although guilt still gnawed at her, she knew that tomorrow would bring a new chapter in their journey.

Meanwhile, the advisor cast protective magic around them to ward off the lurking monsters in the forest.

---

Elsewhere, Hendrik wandered through the dark forest, his body trembling from the bone-chilling cold. After hours of aimless walking, he arrived at a small valley filled with the gentle sounds of a flowing river. Fish swam freely among the rocks.

With makeshift tools, Hendrik grabbed a branch and sharpened its tip using a broken stone. Within minutes, he successfully caught a few fish and started a small fire to roast them. Thin wisps of smoke rose, mingling with the scent of burning fish.

"Luckily, my powers awakened," he muttered while staring at the fire. "Otherwise, I would’ve died in that arena. That king… he only saw me as a tool, a mere plaything."

His thoughts drifted far away until something caught his eye—a faint smoke trail in the distance. From the top of a small hill, he saw another thin plume of smoke rising.

"Hmm, smoke? Could it be adventurers? Or someone else? Ah, whatever… But maybe I can ask for directions to the nearest village," he said before lifting himself into the air, allowing his body to float effortlessly toward the smoke.

On the other side of the valley, Tiana kept watch near the campfire. The flickering flames cast shadows across her vigilant face. The advisor was busy reinforcing the magical barrier, while Princess Selena was already asleep atop her giant bear familiar.

Suddenly, Tiana sensed something unusual. The air around her shifted, making her instantly alert. She closed her eyes briefly and activated her technique, "Search."

Her energy spread, scanning the vast surroundings. Then, she snapped her eyes open wide.

"Advisor, someone is approaching. An incredible power. It seems to be that hero who escaped!" she said, her voice tense.

The advisor halted his movements, his eyes widening. "A hero? Could he be here for revenge? Quickly, protect Princess Selena!"

Tiana immediately grabbed her bow, nocking a faintly glowing wind arrow.

---

Hendrik floated closer to the source of the smoke. From above, he looked down and spotted a massive bear lying still, with someone peacefully sleeping on top of it.

"What is that? A bear that big? And… someone’s sleeping on it?" Hendrik mused, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the area.

His gaze then shifted to two other figures, one of whom was holding a bow.

"Wait… I’ve seen that person before," he murmured, his eyes narrowing further.

Before he could ponder further, a sharp whistling sound split through the air.

"Whoosh—Wungggg!"

A wind arrow shot toward him at high speed. Hendrik quickly twisted his body to the side, dodging the attack with minimal effort.

From below, Tiana shouted, "Whoever you are, do not come any closer! If you threaten Princess Selena, I won’t hesitate to attack again!"

Hendrik lowered himself slightly, his expression turning more serious. "So it’s you. Hm, what…! Are you here to capture me again?"

"We have no business with you anymore. Leave at once," Tiana said sharply, already preparing another arrow. The advisor stood near Princess Selena, ready to protect her with his life.