The Accidental Rise of a Retired Hero

The sun had long set, leaving the village bathed in a soft, cool twilight. The warmth of the day had faded, and the air was beginning to chill with the evening breeze. Kaito stood by the fire at his cottage, his thoughts still heavy with the words exchanged earlier. Althea's presence was an unsettling comfort. He hadn't seen her in so long, and yet, despite the years and the changes, she felt like the same person—the woman who had fought by his side through thick and thin.

He hadn't had time to fully look at her until now. As Althea made her way through the village, a part of him was struck by how much she had changed, how much the years had shaped her.

Her long blonde hair, which once flowed in soft waves, now had a slightly untamed quality to it. It was still the same bright shade of gold, but the strands were windswept and rougher, as though the harsh life she'd led had left its mark. Her eyes, once bright and full of idealism, were now sharp and calculating, as if she'd learned the hard way that the world wasn't as simple as she once believed. Those emerald eyes were still as piercing as ever, but there was an edge to them that hadn't been there when she was just an archer in his party.

Her face, though still youthful, had matured, and the soft roundness of her cheeks had sharpened into more defined features. Her jawline, once soft, was now more angular, giving her a hardened, yet still beautiful, appearance. She was no longer the carefree girl he remembered—this was someone who had lived through pain, loss, and hardship.

Her athletic form, lean and powerful from years of training with her bow, was the same. Her arms and legs were toned, and her movements were fluid, purposeful, betraying her continued prowess as an archer. But there was a weariness to her now, a quiet exhaustion in the way she held herself, as if she had been carrying burdens for too long.

Yet, despite the changes, Althea was still undeniably beautiful, with a quiet grace that drew attention without effort. The subtle curve of her lips, the elegant sweep of her brows, and the way her hair caught the light—she had a raw, untamed beauty, the kind that didn't need to be polished or perfect.

As Kaito watched her from across the clearing, he couldn't help but notice how out of place she seemed in this village—how foreign her presence felt in a place that had become a peaceful refuge. The sharpness in her gaze contrasted so starkly with the softness of the villagers around her. She was a warrior at heart, not someone who could easily slip into a peaceful life.

Althea approached him cautiously, as though she were still unsure of her place in this strange new world he had built for himself. She stopped just a few feet away, looking him up and down, her lips pursed as if weighing her next words carefully.

"You've built something here," she said softly, her voice still carrying the strength Kaito remembered, but tempered now with uncertainty.

Kaito shrugged, his hands buried in his pockets as he leaned against the doorframe of his cottage. "It wasn't something I planned. It just... happened."

"You've really changed, Kaito," Althea said, her tone softening for the first time. "I didn't expect this. When they told me you were gone... I thought we'd never see each other again."

Kaito didn't know how to respond. The past seemed so distant, so far removed from the quiet life he had built here. He had almost forgotten the pain of losing his friends, the way his own power had torn them apart, had driven them to make decisions that shattered everything.

"I didn't want any of it, Althea. I didn't want to be this powerful hero. I didn't want to be the one everyone relied on. And the kingdom... the kingdom never saw me for who I was. They only saw a weapon."

"You were never just a weapon," Althea replied, her voice thick with emotion. "You were... our leader. The one we trusted. But you're right. The kingdom didn't see you, Kaito. Not really."

Kaito nodded, his gaze distant as he thought back to the years he spent fighting for the kingdom, the lives he had lost, and the toll it had taken on him. The pain of that time still lingered deep inside him, but here, in this village, he had found something he never thought possible—peace.

Althea's eyes softened as she studied him, her expression a mixture of sadness and understanding. She stepped forward, her bow slung across her back, and gently placed a hand on Kaito's arm.

"I never wanted to lose you," she whispered, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his shirt. "But I understand now. I understand why you chose this."

Kaito looked down at her hand, and then into her eyes, surprised by the depth of the words she had spoken. They had always been close, but now, there was something different in the way they looked at each other—something that neither of them could ignore.

"I never thought you'd come back," Kaito said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm glad you did."

Althea gave him a small smile, her lips curving just slightly. "I couldn't stay away forever."

Kaito felt the weight of the years between them, but in that moment, as their eyes met, it felt like the distance between their hearts had shrunk.