Ten years had passed since the Hero Pan Long slew the Demon King Avatar.
Ten years was a long time.
Chris, the Iron Knight and one of the four Heroes of old, had abdicated three years earlier, passing the throne of the Kingdom of Chris to his grandson. Now in his eighties, he spent his days reading and fishing, enjoying a peaceful retirement.
His health was steadily worsening. Doctors and priests alike were powerless to help. By their estimates, he had perhaps three to five years left.
The current president of the Mages' Association was a student of Grand Sage Lawrence, but the old Mage was in even worse health than his teacher.
Everyone knew he would retire before long, enjoy a quiet old age, and leave the work to the next generation.
Anna the Saintess had stepped down as Pontiff of the Earth Goddess Faith and now ran an orphanage. "I no longer have the strength to look after the whole world," the woman once hailed as the greatest healer said, "but I can still care for a few children."
The only one who remained full of energy was Ellu the Wind Archer, who carried the blood of a Long-Lived Species. Nine years ago, the Northlands Alliance elder had founded the Northlands' first school. With her students and their students, she had systematically compiled the hunting and medical practices and traditional knowledge of the Northlands' tribes, passing them on to young people and helping them grow.
She was now in her early sixties but looked around forty. She could probably live another century at least.
Hero School still existed, but its old principal had retired. His health was a little better than King Chris's, though not by much. He now served as the school librarian, but only gave directions;