Jack, Alette, and Riven finally arrived back at the village after completing the quest and destroying the nest. Riven handed the trinkets taken from the bodies to their families. The villagers wept for their lost loved ones and thanked him for returning the keepsakes that would preserve their memory. Seeing their sorrow firsthand filled Riven with sadness.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, Alette hovered beside Jack's head as he explained everything that had happened in the forest.
"Oh, so there were two of them, guarding their nest." Said the elderly chief. "Never could have imagined that such a terrifying pair would be bested by you alone."
"It got rough during the second fight. One of them cut my forehead open and left me with a mental injury. Good thing I had the best support on my side." Jack glanced at Alette and smiled. "Ain't that right?"
Alette hovered beside him, her eyes narrowed and her expression clearly annoyed. "Next time, watch your head."
"We're grateful for everything you've done. If it weren't for you, this entire village would've been devoured by those hideous creatures. Since all of you survived such an ordeal, I'm sure you deserve additional compensation from the Vanguard's guild."
The moment she heard that, Alette transformed into a money-loving gremlin. She clasped her hands under her chin, gold coins seemingly gleaming in her eyes, while her legs dangled and kicked excitedly.
"Ohohohohohho!"
"Thank you, chief. We'll be heading back to the guild now." Said Jack.
He then turned and walked toward his horse, with Alette following after him. Jack and Alette watched Riven's group walk toward the caravan. Tatsu had already readied the horses at the village entrance, and Bryce stayed by Kani's side as she slowly made her way to the horses with the aid of wooden crutches.
Alette noticed something large strapped to the side of Riven's horse saddle. "Huh, what's that?" She wondered aloud before flying over to take a closer look.
"Alette." Jack warned.
"What? I just wanted to see." Alette flew closer and examined it, circling until she reached its front. The moment she saw its face, she recognized it as the severed head of N'ghftnah.
"AAAAAAAHHH!!!" Alette let out a terrified scream, completely horrified by what she saw.
Jack walked up to Alette as she shuddered in fear, then glanced at N'ghftnah's lifeless face. "Oh, it's the N'ghftnah." He said casually.
"Wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-what… WHAT'S IT DOING THERE???" She shouted, pointing at N'ghftnah's severed head while looking at Jack.
"Well, we can't receive a reward unless we bring proof of completion." Riven said as he approached them. "Such as their heads." He added, pointing toward N'ghftnah's severed head.
"Their?" Alette tilted her head in confusion.
"Yeah. N'ghftnah and Ahephai." Riven said. When he said Ahephai, he gestured behind him toward its severed head, still attached to Kani's horse saddle. Showing it to Jack and Alette.
"EEEPP!"
"Yep, Kani insisted on cutting off the Ahephai's head by herself… as payback for her leg."
"I see." Said Jack.
"Anyways, now that everything is settled, let's head back to the guild."
"Yeah, you still got their tags?"
Riven pulled out the mercenary tags that Jack had taken from the nest. "Still got them with me."
"Good, then let's go."
Jack approached his horse, Jackson, and swung himself into the saddle. Alette settled on his left shoulder, while the rest of Riven's group mounted their horses behind him.
"Giddy up!" Riven shouted, his horse surged forward, and one by one, the others followed behind him as they made their way back to the guild.
As they rode out of the village, they heard the villagers shouting something behind them, causing them to look back while continuing to ride.
"Bye!"
"Bye! Bye!"
"Thank you for your service!"
"Thank you!"
"Come back again someday!"
"Goodbye!"
It turned out the villagers were bidding them farewell and thanking them for their bravery. Jack, Alette, and the rest of Riven's group smiled at them. Alette flew up into the air, waved her hand enthusiastically, and called out,
"You're welcome! Bye!"
Then she slowly descended and took her seat on Jack's left shoulder. The group turned their gaze forward and continued on their way. Knowing the villagers were safe, happy, and no longer troubled by monsters eased their minds.
For the past hour, they had ridden along the road in silence. As the journey continued, Jack reached up and tapped the bandage on his forehead.
"Hey, don't mess with that. You're going to reopen the wound." Alette warned.
Jack scoffed. "I'm not gonna reopen it. It'll heal itself once I get some nutrients."
"So, what do you think we should feast on after we get loads of coins?!" Alette asked, her eyes sparkling and drool forming at the corner of her mouth as she imagined all the delicious food they could buy.
"Don't know...I'm thinking-"
"Hey, Jack, can we talk for a moment?" Riven said, guiding his horse alongside Jack's.
Jack turned to Riven. "Yeah, sure. What's up?"
"It's a favor."
"What kind?" Added Alette.
Riven sighed. "Look, Kani and Bryce weren't sure if they could keep fighting, given their... current condition. But we've got a plan to find an artisan or artificer to craft them new limbs. It might take a while to find one."
"Right, the mercenaries would consider them a liability."
"Exactly. I'll help them find someone who can give them new limbs. With the crowns we're about to get, I'm sure we can afford it."
"Does that mean we're going to split up?"
"Sadly, yes. I hope you'll let Tatsu join your quest."
"Tatsu? Why?"
"I know, but listen, it's kind of important to him. He still has some friends to find."
"Everyone's searching for someone, as I see it."
"But this one is different, Jack, and, uh…" Riven sighed. "You might think it's strange if I say this."
"What do you mean?" Said Alette.
Riven gestured for Jack and Alette to come closer so he could whisper to them, and they leaned in toward him.
Riven leaned in and whispered. "Tatsu is from another world."
Jack and Alette exchanged confused looks, and both said at the same time. "What?"