When he returns to the kingdom, they put a crown on his head. They hold feasts in his name, carnivals in his honor, and sit him on a throne of iron and glass. The bards sing of his bravery and the strength of his sword. How he struck down the Demon King and saved the world from ruin.

He wears a smile, like any hero should, and tells them it was a wonderful adventure. He doesn’t tell them he wishes he hadn’t come back…

Read the rest of the story in Grimdark Magazine