Later that night, after settling into their rooms and finally feeling safe, the teenagers gathered in the lobby again.
Protheus decided to check the teenagers and when he enter the lobby, he spotted the teenagers gather altogether. When they spotted him, they stood up quickly.
They still looked battered and worn, but there was a new light in their eyes — a cautious but growing hope.
Rafael Mendoza, the natural leader among them, stepped forward.
He gave a small bow, rough but sincere.
"Sir," he said, "we would like to properly introduce ourselves. And… tell you about our roles and what we can do."
Protheus nodded calmly.
"You may."
One by one, the teenagers spoke — their voices filled with a mix of pride and shyness.
"I'm Rafael Mendoza," the boy said. " I wield a longsword and lead this group. Back at our stronghold, I often led scouting missions. I take my role seriously – protecting my friends is my priority."
Maria Mendoza, his younger sister, smiled and spoke up next.
"I'm Maria Mendoza. I stand by my brother. I fight with a short sword and shield – I'm better at defense, keeping the line steady."
Joshua Dela Cruz grinned as he stepped forward. "My name is Joshua Dela Cruz. I'm fast and I use dual sword. I'm the one who dives in when things get heated."
His sister, Sofia Dela Cruz, added with a playful wink, nudging him in the side.
"And I'm Sofia Dela Cruz. I can use basic healing magic – mostly to patch up the mess he leaves behind."
This earned a round of light laughter from the group, breaking the tension.
Mark Villanueva, a quieter figure, spoke next, his tone serious.
"My name's Mark. I'm an archer. I take down enemies from a distance – that's where I'm best."
Angela Reyes chimed in with a small wave, her tone bright and cheerful.
"Hii~ I'm Angela! I can use support magic – I make people faster, stronger, and just a little bit more awesome for a while."
Patricia Gomez hesitated a moment, then smiled shyly as she stepped forward.
"Hi sir, My name is Patricia Gomez. I can use fire magic. I'm… still practicing, but I can blast enemies from a distance."
Vincent Perez let out a hearty chuckle as he patted the hilt of his massive blade.
"Vincent Perez! I carry a heavy sword – when I hit something, it stays down."
Janine Soriano stepped forward, her eyes bright and energetic.
"I'm Janine, a wind mage. I can control the air, push enemies back, and support our archers from a distance."
Clarisse Padilla gave a reassuring smile as she spoke.
"I'm Clarisse Padilla. I use barrier magic – defensive spells to keep our friends safe when things get rough."
The others followed, each introducing themselves:
Carlo Ramirez —The group's scout, a quiet and observant tracker, always moving ahead to spot threats before they strike.
Liza Ramirez — A gentle healer with a caring heart, though her magic is not as strong as the others.
Miguel Santos — The shield bearer, strong and steady, always the first to hold the line.
Carla Santos — A quick, precise sword fighter, known for her speed and agility.
Bryan Torres — An earth magic user, capable of raising defensive walls and fortifications in an instant.
Daniel Cruz — A swift dagger fighter, known for his lightning-fast strikes and agility.
Erika Lim — A magic user of minor illusions, perfect for confusing and distracting the enemy.
Kevin Fajardo — Fire support with a crossbow, raining flaming bolts from a distance.
Denise Bautista —A healer in training, still finding her strength but always willing to lend a hand.
Nolan Suarez — An ice magic user, calm and collected, capable of creating basic ice barriers and projectiles.
Abby Suarez — Nolan's younger sibling, versatile with both a dagger for close combat and a light bow for ranged strikes.
They listed their strengths honestly — no boasting, no exaggerations.
They had survived because each one of them had done their part.
Protheus listened quietly, committing every name and skill to memory.
When the last teenager finished speaking, Protheus finally said:
"You are stronger than you know."
He raised a hand — and with a soft, golden pulse of magic, a healing warmth swept over them.
Scrapes vanished.
Aches disappeared.
The weight of exhaustion lifted slightly from their bodies.
Gasps of amazement filled the lobby.
He lowered his hand.
"You have fought bravely. Rest tonight. Tomorrow… we begin anew."
He gave them a final nod and turned to leave, the soft rustle of his cloak echoing in the wide halls.
The teenagers watched him go — silent, stunned. He had said little. He had promised little. And yet, they felt it deep inside: Their lives had changed. Forever.
After Protheus left them in the lobby, the teenagers were about to head back to their rooms when a soft sound caught their attention.
A group of humanoid golems entered through the wide doors, moving silently but gracefully.
They were different from the battle golems — these ones were slimmer, built more elegantly, their frames smooth and polished like silver.
Each one carried large trays filled with plates of steaming hot food.
The smell hit the teenagers instantly.
Freshly baked bread.
Steaming bowls of rich, hearty soup.
Roasted meats.
Crisp vegetables.
Even desserts — sweet, golden pastries that made their mouths water.
The teenagers stared, frozen in place.
One of the golems stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
Its glowing eyes were soft, not threatening.
It carefully set the trays down on a long coffee table at the side of the lobby.
Another golem gestured, inviting them to eat.
For a moment, no one moved.
They weren't used to this.
They were used to scavenging half-rotten food. Looting what they could. Going to sleep hungry more often than not.
Rafael took the first step.
Slowly, he picked up a plate, his hands shaking a little.
He looked back at the others and gave a small smile.
"It's okay," he said softly.
At that, the dam broke.
The teenagers rushed forward — laughing, crying, overwhelmed.
They piled their plates high and sat together at the tables, eating hungrily but gratefully.
The food was delicious — the best they had tasted in years.
Tears streamed down Maria's face as she bit into warm bread.
Mark silently fed his younger sister Liza a spoonful of soup.
Joshua and Sofia shared a plate of roasted meat, grinning like children again.
Even the quiet ones — like Nolan and Abby Suarez — smiled through mouthfuls of dessert.
The humanoid golems stood silently nearby, occasionally refilling water pitchers or bringing extra plates without needing to be asked.
It was like living inside a dream.
For the first time in so long, they weren't fighting.
They weren't running.
They were home.
Later that night, their stomachs full and their hearts lighter, the teenagers gathered in one of the larger rooms.
The beds were too soft.
The air was too clean.
They sat cross-legged on the carpet, whispering excitedly.
"Did you guys see that? He healed all of us with just one wave," Joshua whispered.
"Without chanting," Patricia said in awe.
"And without even looking tired," Sofia added.
Mark shook his head slowly.
"That's not normal magic.
Even our best mages needed minutes of chanting for basic healing."
"He's different," Rafael said simply.
"Way different," muttered Vincent.
"I bet he's some high-ranked awakened," Daniel Cruz said.
"But… he doesn't act like them," Angela Reyes said softly.
"Those S-Class people from the surviving nations we heard about? They're usually proud and arrogant."
"Yeah," Nolan agreed.
"But this guy… he's quiet. Calm."
Sofia grinned.
"And handsome."
The others laughed quietly.
"But seriously," Liza said, "did you notice his magic? It felt… different."
"It's not just power," Bryan added. "It's… pure."
They fell silent for a moment.
Erika hugged her knees.
"So what do we call him?"
Clarisse thought for a moment, then smiled.
"White Archmage."
The others nodded.
"The White Archmage," Patricia repeated.
"It fits," Joshua agreed.
They smiled, feeling safer than they had in a long, long time.
Under the soft glow of the Citadel lights, the twenty teenagers finally drifted off to sleep.
Their bellies full.
Their hearts healing.
And their dreams guarded by the mysterious, kind-hearted White Archmage.