As they neared the castle, an entire world of emotions invaded Hiro's mind. It had been so long since he had been here. It had been so long since he's seen the place he loved, the people he cared for. It had been so long since he's smelt the air, tasted the sweet breath of the air around this wonderful place. As he got closer, he put his cloak back on.
"What do you need that for? You're back home," Viktor said. Hiro shook his head.
"I'm still not sure if they're ready for me yet. It is all kind of sudden…I don't want everyone running to me…for my return…it's just not the time…" Hiro explained. They nodded. They didn't ask any more questions. As they walked in the gates, the guards greeted them.
"It's good to see you're safe milords," the soldiers said.
"It's good to see you too everyone…please keep watch as you always have been," Viktor said. They nodded.
"So who's the guy in the cloak? Some vassal you picked up along the way?" the soldiers asked. Flik looked ready to slap them but I held his hand back. I didn't want to cause a big commotion. It wasn't important, everyone probably thought I was a coward anyway. Flik reluctantly held back. He never changed, he still wanted to protect me.
"If you wish, they're holding a meeting in the Great Hall right now," one soldier said. Hiro nodded. He hurried off.
"Is it okay to let him go?" a soldier asked.
"It's fine, he's a friend," Flik answered. They went to drop of the liquor in the right places. Hiro made his way up to the Great Hall. He stopped at the door. He could hear the conversation they were having.
"What do we do now? The rumor is true!" Klaus exclaimed.
"There's got to be some way we can stop it, maybe it isn't true," Camus argued.
"Some of our soldiers saw it with their own eyes, my Kobolds can't be wrong!" Gengen argued back.
"But what are we to do? Our soldiers are tired, there's no way we can possibly hold back an army of 20,000 from Leon Silverburg…he's possessed the remaining Highland soldiers…we're doomed," Miklotov argued.
"But there's got to be hope…" Apple said. Klaus backed her up.
"That's right! We've still got hope, all hope isn't lost! If only Lord Hiro was here, we could do something…he would know what to do…so we've got to hold out until then," Klaus added.
"But how long can we hold out? They're going to unleash their final attack…then the whole land would be doomed…they would scorch the towns, kill everyone in sight…" Eillie said. Hiro heard everything they had said. It's true, after all he did, they still wanted him back. He could wait no longer. He walked in. They all stopped talking and looked up.
"What? Who are you?!" Shu shouted.
"What, why are you stopping? It was a perfectly good conversation. I've heard everything, and it's true. We need a plan, the people are losing hope, and the soldiers are losing their will to fight. We need to instill that in them once again," Hiro said.
"Who are you?" Shu asked again.
"The soldiers need the will to fight again, that's the key. Once they fight, I can go in and stop Leon Silverburg. I did it once with the help of my friends…" Hiro said. He pulled off his cloak. The small group of leaders fell silent.
"It…can't…be…" Shu said.
"He's been gone for three years…it's not possible," Miklotov said.
"Is that really you Hiro?" Eillie asked.
"It is him!! He's come back! He's come back!" Klaus exclaimed excitedly.
"I…I'm sorry everyone…that I didn't come back when I should have…" Hiro apologized.
"That doesn't matter now, what matters is that we save the State. We've got to do something, I assume you've heard the details?" Shu asked. Hiro nodded.
"I was thinking up a plan on the way over here…Leon Silverburg doesn't know I'm alive…if we can keep that a secret until I face him, I may be able to think up something…" Hiro explained.
"Huh? What do you mean milord?" Camus asked.
"If I remember correctly…he's conjured up the spirit of…Jowy hasn't he? If he thinks I'm dead…then he'll try to take my spirit. If he does that…then the spell will backfire on him. It will take his spirit instead, back to the netherworld. It should work if I'm right. Then we won't have Leon Silverburg anymore…the poor restless souls can go rest in peace…" Hiro explained. They stared at him for a while speechless.
"All right then, that works. Your party milord?" Shu asked.
"If I may, I'll take Viktor, Flik, Miklotov, Camus, and Eillie," Hiro said.
"You have my sword," Miklotov said.
"Mine as well," Camus added.
"I'll always be glad to go with you," Eillie added.
"Alright then, let's march to the L'Renouville ruins. That's where he's hiding out! Gather the troops! Let's move out!" Shu ordered. Everyone in the Great Hall scrambled out. Shu stayed to talk with Hiro for just a little while.
"Lord Hiro…I'm so glad you returned. You could not have returned at a better time," he said.
"Thank you Shu…I missed you a lot too. I missed everyone, I just didn't realize how much," Hiro explained.
"We all missed you. Let's get ready for the upcoming battle…" Shu said. With that, they walked out of the Great Hall.