Chapter 155: Farewell, Utopia
The final names were carved.
The final slab was placed.
The last chisel strike echoed across Dawn.
Silence followed as everyone quietly looked up. The Wall of Names stood once again, even larger than before, the names of Dawn stretching across the ancient stone. Below them an enormous blank section waited for the heroes of Utopia.
One little Goblin slowly whispered, "It’s beautiful," she said.
Another nodded. "It feels complete," he said.
Arthur smiled. "Not complete," he said.
Everyone turned.
He pointed toward the empty section. "It’ll only be complete when that part is filled too," he said.
The children immediately grinned. "Then we’ll fill it!"
The city erupted into celebration as cheers echoed throughout Dawn. Builders hugged each other. Children ran through the plaza. Even several Spectral Goblins quietly bowed toward the restored monument.
Vedas looked at the wall. "Welcome home," he said.
The atmosphere immediately became festive again. Children began running through the streets, and Builders proudly showed off everything they rebuilt.
One proudly announced, "The new school is bigger!"
Another shouted, "The forge is twice as large!"
Another immediately interrupted, "Three times!"
Arthur laughed. "By the time I come back this place might become a capital," he said.
One Builder proudly crossed his arms. "That’s the plan," he said.
Stone Guardians helped children hang banners. Goblin Statues silently fixed one crooked flag. Spectral Goblins decorated the plaza. Direwolves played with Goblin children. Stone Bears slept beside houses. Goblin adults prepared food.
The city truly felt alive.
...
Vedas found the Cronwall Tribe and smiled at them all.
Arthur smiled. "Perfect timing," he said.
Vedas walked forward, his expression warm. "Thank you," he said. "For answering my call. For protecting Dawn. For helping rebuild Utopia."
The entire Cronwall Tribe immediately shook their heads.
Gruk laughed. "You don’t thank family," he said.
Suri nodded. "We wanted to help," she said.
Another Hunter grinned. "Besides," he said, pointing toward Arthur, "he already gave us more than enough."
Several Hunters looked down at their evolved bodies.
One Goblin Rider scratched his Stone Bear. "We’ve never been stronger," he said.
Another quietly smiled. "Thank you, Arthur," he said.
Arthur rubbed the back of his head. "I only pointed everyone in the right direction," he said.
Gruk laughed. "And somehow you’re still saying things only a Prophet could," he said.
The entire tribe laughed.
Vedas eventually raised one hand. "It’s time," he said.
Silence fell.
"Arthur and I will soon leave the Secret Realm," he said.
Several Hunters nodded. "We figured," one said.
Vedas smiled. "So I’ll send you home first," he said.
The Hunters didn’t complain and simply nodded.
Vedas smiled as he looked across every member of the Cronwall Tribe, his eyes slowly moving from Gruk, to Suri, to every Hunter, Rider, and Goblin standing before him. "I have one more request," he said softly.
Everyone immediately looked toward him.
"I hope you all continue helping the village back in the Veridian Secret Realm grow."
Several Goblins blinked.
Vedas smiled. "Even though Dawn City is now our capital, that doesn’t mean we can’t have another home."
Silence.
Arthur suddenly laughed. "Don’t you mean your first home?"
Vedas froze.
For a moment he simply stared at Arthur and then he chuckled. "Yeah." His smile became warmer than ever before. "My first home."
He slowly looked toward the Cronwall Tribe again. "You all were the first Goblins to accept me. The first to become my subordinates and the first to call me Chief." His voice softened. "So, even after becoming King, the Cronwall Tribe will always be my first true home."
Silence filled the plaza.
As several Cronwall Goblins quietly lowered their heads and others smiled through trembling lips.
Suri suddenly rushed forward.
Without hesitation she threw her arms around Vedas. He blinked, then his expression completely softened and then a small smile appeared as he gently rubbed her hair. "I’ll leave the Hunters, and every combatant, in yours and Gruk’s hands."
Suri’s shoulders trembled. She bit her lip before nodding firmly. "Yes, my King!"
Vedas immediately shook his head. "Not this time." She blinked. "Just for today, call me Vedas."
Suri stared at him. Then a beautiful smile slowly spread across her face. "I will Vedas."
He smiled back. "Thank you."
Golden light slowly rose around the Cronwall Tribe once more. This time nobody cried. Nobody said goodbye. Because they all knew this wasn’t the end. It was simply the beginning of two homes growing together.
As the golden light slowly rose, Suri suddenly smiled. "One more thing," she said.
Arthur and Vedas looked over.
She chuckled. "When you all leave, don’t be too shocked," she said.
Arthur blinked. "What?"
Another Hunter laughed. "Just be glad you survived," he said.
Several others began laughing.
Gruk rubbed the back of his head. "You’ll understand," he said.
Arthur and Vedas exchanged confused looks. Before either could ask, the golden light completely surrounded the tribe.
Gruk waved. "See you soon, Chief," he said.
Suri grinned. "Safe travels," she said.
One by one the Cronwall Tribe disappeared.
Silence.
Arthur scratched his cheek. "That didn’t explain anything," he said.
Vedas smiled helplessly. "Not even a little," he said.
Arthur folded his arms. "They looked exhausted before. Whatever happened, I’m guessing it’s related," he said.
Vedas nodded. "Probably," he said.
Arthur stretched. "Guess Future Arthur can deal with Future Problems," he said.
Vedas laughed.
Arthur and Vedas found Athena, Mara, and Mithra. Vedas asked, "While I’m gone, who should oversee Utopia?"
Athena thought about it. "Only three candidates can currently withstand the King’s Authority," she said. "Raku. Raja. Luka."
Mithra tilted her head. "Why only one?" she asked.
Everyone paused.
She continued naturally. "They’ve always led together anyway. Why not keep it that way?"
Athena blinked. Mara blinked. Both slowly looked toward each other. "That actually makes sense," Athena said. She nodded. "They each represent something different. Strength. Wisdom. Experience. Together they’re probably stronger than one ruler."
Vedas smiled. "I like it," he said.
...
The three Elders were called.
Raku immediately knelt. "So, what are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Vedas gently shook his head. "Take care of Utopia," he said.
Silence.
Raja slowly looked up. "You’re leaving?"
Luka’s expression softened. "Already?"
Vedas nodded. "Our journey isn’t over," he said. "This Kingdom still needs to meet the world." He smiled warmly. "Until I return, I’m entrusting Utopia to the three of you."
The three Elders knelt without hesitation. "We accept."
Arthur looked between the three of them before smiling. "Good." He folded his arms. "Then hopefully none of you destroy the city while we’re gone."
Silence. The three Elders blinked.
Arthur continued completely seriously. "I think it’d be pretty embarrassing."
Raku tilted his head. "Embarrassing?"
Arthur nodded. "Imagine having to explain to Halburn and every ancestor that the brand-new Kingdom somehow disappeared after only a couple of weeks I’d rather avoid that conversation."
Complete silence. The three Elders slowly looked toward the city, then toward one another.
Raja immediately straightened his back. "Absolutely not."
Luka adjusted her sleeves. "We’ll protect it with everything we have."
Raku clenched his fist. "If even one stone breaks, we’ll rebuild two."
Arthur smiled brightly. "I knew I could count on you."
Athena quietly adjusted her glasses while watching the three Elders suddenly become twice as determined. "His timing really is unbelievable."
Mithra simply giggled.
...
Arthur, Vedas, Mithra, Athena, Athy, Melo, Sun, Kong, Leon, and Mephistopheles stood before the city’s entrance. Behind them lay the road leading toward the Secret Realm exit.
Arthur took one last look back. "Ready?"
Everyone nodded and they began walking.
Only a few steps.
Then, "WAIT!!"
Arthur stopped. Everyone turned.
From deep inside Dawn, thousands of footsteps echoed. The entire city came running, as nobody wanted them to leave quietly.
Arthur laughed. "You all really know how to make an exit difficult," he said.
One little Goblin immediately hugged Arthur’s leg. "Come back," he said.
Another hugged Mithra. "Take us exploring next time," she said.
A Direwolf rubbed against Leon. Builders surrounded Vedas. Children gathered around Eden.
One by one people began speaking. A Builder bowed. "Thank you," he said.
A Hunter followed. "You gave us courage," he said.
A Healer smiled. "You gave us hope," she said.
An Elder lowered his head. "You gave our Kingdom another future," he said.
Arthur quietly listened, then smiled. "You all built that future yourselves," he said. He pointed toward the city. "I only opened the door. You were the ones who walked through it."
The entire city smiled.
One child suddenly shouted, "LONG LIVE UTOPIA!"
Another immediately joined.
Then another.
Soon the entire city echoed with one voice.
"LONG LIVE UTOPIA!"
"LONG LIVE KING VEDAS!"
"LONG LIVE THE PROPHET!"
The cheers shook the entire city.
The Goblin Statues bowed with their weapons, Spectral Goblins saluted and even the Stone Guardians raised their fists.
Arthur laughed. "Looks like we’d better come back someday," he said.
Vedas smiled. "We will," he said. He turned toward the city, raised one hand. "Until then, keep growing," he said.
The Goblins all answered together. "YES!"
Vedas eyes swept across the city.
The rebuilt walls.
The palace.
The Wall of Names.
The streets are now filled with laughter.
He smiled softly. "Wait for me."
Arthur looked over. "Hm?"
Vedas chuckled. "I’ll come back next time I hope to see the city even better than before."
Melo laughed and softly say. "I have no doubt it will."
Kong nodded with a grin. "It’s the city we help rebuild."
Athy smiles faintly. "There are already plans and counter measures left behind. The only thing we can do is trust them."
"Besides, if they mess up. You will obviously come rushing back." Mephistopheles said with a roll of his eyes.
Vedas expression softened and he nodded at their words. While Arthur and the others smile grew, as they realized they didn’t need to speak up.
Arthur looked toward everyone one last time. Then turned. The group began walking toward the exit.
As Arthur and the others reached the gates, a tiny voice suddenly called out. "Arthur!"
Eden blinked as several Goblin children ran straight toward her. She barely had time to react before they surrounded her.
One little Goblin nervously held out a small flower crown woven from bright blue and golden blossoms picked from the Orchard. "For me?"
The children nodded together. "We made it! So you’ll remember us!"
Eden carefully accepted it before placing it on her head. She touched the tiny flowers, then looked back at the children, her eyes slowly becoming watery. "It’s beautiful."
One little Goblin smiled. "So, come back soon."
Eden immediately nodded. "I will!" She floated forward and wrapped her tiny arms around the children. "I promise."
The children laughed as they hugged her back.
Arthur kneels as he looks at every child. "Promise me something."
Every child immediately nods. "We promise!"
Arthur smiles. "By the time I come back I expect every single one of you to be able to wield a weapon."
Silence.
The children blink. "Every one?"
Arthur nods seriously.
"I believe you can."
Immediately—
Every child pumps their fists.
"We won’t disappoint the Prophet!"
"We’ll all have a weapon mastered!"
Arthur smiles happily. "I know you guys can do it."
Nearby, the Stone Guardians slowly stepped forward and one after another they knelt and the ground gently trembled.
No words were spoken.
They simply lowered their heads toward Arthur, Vedas, and the others.
Arthur quietly looked at them, then smiled. "Take care of everyone."
The lead Guardian slowly nodded once.
Nearby, the Spectral Goblins quietly watched the group begin walking away. One by one their transparent forms dissolved into countless tiny strands of golden light. Not disappearing, simply returning to their silent patrols throughout Utopia, watching over the peace they had protected for more than a thousand years.
Arthur waved one last time. "You all know, if you keep standing there, you’re going to make leaving really awkward."
Nobody moved.
Arthur scratched his cheek. "See? This is exactly what I was talking about."
Vedas couldn’t help laughing.
Soon the entire city laughed with him, many through tears.
Only then did Arthur finally turn around.
...
As the group disappeared beyond the road, the Goblins remained standing atop the walls, still waving, until they could no longer be seen.
Only then did Raku quietly smile. "Let’s go home."
Luka looked toward the city.
Smoke rose from the rebuilt forge. Children laughed through the streets. Direwolves raced beside Stone Bears. The restored Wall of Names stood proudly beneath the evening light. High above, the golden banner of Utopia fluttered peacefully above the palace.
She smiled. "We already are."
Above the palace
The golden banner of Utopia fluttered peacefully while beneath it, laughter and cheers echoed through the streets once more.
The Kingdom of Utopia welcomed its first peaceful day.