As he walked back through the forest toward the bar, he wondered if this is what he really wanted to do. He could ignore it. He could ignore the fact that for some odd reason Jowy was alive again and Leon Silverburg was back. He could ignore the fact that the land would probably be scorched and the people put through insurmountable suffering if the State lost these battles. He could ignore that…hey wait, what was he thinking. This wasn't the Hiro he remembered himself as. The truth was, he couldn't ignore it, any of it, any longer. He had to go back, he had to fight for the people and his friends. He didn't want to ignore it any longer. He had already caused enough suffering, he couldn't bear to cause anymore. As he walked closer to the tavern, he could see that Viktor and Flik were stepping outside into the crisp night air. He walked over concealing his weapons underneath his cloak. He knew they wouldn't wait until the morning to get the alcohol back to the castle. Some of it he knew, was going to help treat the wounded soldiers. He walked over. They looked up.

"Well…if it isn't our mysterious cloaked man," Viktor said.

"You left in a hurry, we didn't even get to talk to you," Flik said. Hiro couldn't wait. He hadn't seen them in almost three years. He was yearning just to talk to them again, to talk to his friends again. He didn't realize how much he missed them.

"Who are you anyway?" Viktor asked. Hiro couldn't wait any longer. The feeling inside him was too much. He never dreamed he would miss his friends so much.

"Viktor, Flik…I…I've waited so long," he said. They looked at him with confused looks.

"How do you know our names?" Flik asked.

"And what do you mean a long time?" Viktor asked. Hiro couldn't wait. He threw off his cloak and spun his weapons around and stood like he always did after a battle. They were in shock. Viktor almost dropped the liquor on the ground, except for Flik caught the box.

"Viktor you nut!!! You almost broke every single liquor bottle in this box, if we did that…Shu would have our heads. We can't possibly have enough money to be buying replacements. After all this fighting, we can only spare so many…" Flik started.

"Flik…look…it's…it's…" Viktor stuttered.

"It's who? It's just some kid in a cloak its…oh my god!"

"Viktor…Flik…it's been awhile," Hiro said. Flik set the box on the ground. He joined his buddy in staring in disbelief.

"It can't be…" Viktor said.

"It's not possible…you disappeared three years ago!" Flik exclaimed.

"I…I was wandering for three years. But I understand I'm needed back at the homefront. I'm not about to let my country go to waste," Hiro said. "I've been running for too long…" Viktor grabbed my right hand and looked at it. He rubbed it. The symbol of the Bright Shield Rune didn't go away.

"It…it really is you…" Viktor said quietly. Hiro nodded.

"I don't believe it…where were you all this time? Why didn't you come back?" Flik asked.

"I'm sorry…I guess I should have said something…" Hiro said quietly. Flik's face softened.

"It's just that…we missed you a lot Lord Hiro…" Flik replied. He smiled.

"I'm sorry, I should have been back earlier," he said.

"Well…now that you've decided…I guess you know what's been happening back in the State huh?" Viktor asked. Flik shook his head.

"Kind of…I heard a bit from Leknaat," Hiro answered.

"That weird lady? Well…it's pretty bad. It seems that Leon Silverburg is really alive. He ran out when he conjured up the Beast Rune and apparently he's survived. He seems to have a new trick up his sleeve. Borrowing the dead spirit of Jowy Blight…he plans to reincarnate the Black Sword Rune and reek havoc on this continent. He's not satisfied with us winning…he wants to take the whole continent down with him," Flik explained. Hiro nodded. So this was the whole story was it? He had only gotten bits and pieces of it from Leknaat. He definitely couldn't ignore it now. Not while Leon Silverburg played with spirits of the dead. He couldn't do that…no normal person could accomplish that. What had he become now? Was he a demon? A necromancer of some sort?

"Well…it's been nice meeting you again Lord Hiro…we have to get this liquor back to the castle. The tavern and Doctor Huan needs it," Viktor said. They started walking away.

"Wait," Hiro called out. They stopped and turned around. "I'm coming too." They both smiled.

"Then come along Hiro, a true hero's welcome awaits you," Flik said smiling. They headed back to the State headquarters, the three of them walking together. They walked all the way back to the castle in high spirits.