Night had fallen. The moon had risen. Its light poured down over the celebration, and stars glittered across the sky.
Jhed and Shine were at the party. The crowd was slowly growing as people from all over the city arrived. Guildmaster Ro-Ro was there too, thoroughly enjoying his beer. Some people were already dancing after only a few drinks. Shine picked up a beer and started on it. Jhed didn't drink.
Linea, Mendriya, and Emilie stood together on the other side, drinks in hand. Everyone was in high spirits.
Luccos was there too. Nain stood beside him, not drinking either.
Luccos sat with a few merchants, sharing a drink.
"Come, all of you — sit with us." Luccos gestured for Jhed, Shine, and Jhed's family to join him at his table.
They all shared a table with the king.
"So this is how they celebrate in this world," Jhed thought to himself. Just then, a chill ran across his skin — someone was watching him.
He turned his head.
Nain was staring at him.
"I still can't believe he's the one who killed Miruth," she kept thinking.
"I can't believe we're actually sitting here eating with the king," Emilie said.
Emilie's husband sat right beside her. He said nothing — he was too busy eating.
"There's nothing strange about it. What Jhed and Shine did — no one but a hero could have done that," Luccos said.
"Wait — Jhed, you were telling the truth? You two actually killed Miruth?" Mendriya said, genuinely stunned.
Linea sat quietly, listening to everything.
"I already knew Jhed's body heals on its own. I've known since that old woman attacked him in the tent." Linea was thinking back to that moment. She knew about Jhed's power. But she didn't know he was immortal.
Only Luccos, Shine, and Nain knew that — and they likely weren't going to tell anyone.
"See — now you believe me," Jhed said.
"Okay, okay, you were right," Mendriya said.
Everyone — Emilie, Guildmaster Ro-Ro, all of them — started asking Jhed and Shine, "How did you do it?"
When the full story spread through the crowd, a large group gathered around the two of them. Everyone asking the same question: "How did you kill him?"
Jhed and Shine found themselves surrounded. But they were both happy — praise coming at them from every direction.
Then Luccos stood up.
"Everyone, listen — tonight, these two will receive their reward."
The crowd parted, and everyone listened carefully.
A guard brought forward a large sack heavy with gold coins.
"You are each awarded a hundred gold coins. I know — I know that what you did for this city is worth far more than this. But it's what we have right now. What you can be certain of is this: this city will never forget you." Luccos said.
Everyone broke into applause.
"No, there's no need for this." Jhed wasn't ready to accept it.
But Shine had already snatched both sacks from Luccos's hands.
"Come on — we freed them. A reward is only right." Shine pressed one sack into Jhed's hands.
"Here. Your reward, Jhed," Shine said.
Everyone laughed. The mood was warm all around.
"Now — everyone enjoy the celebration," Luccos said.
People went back to their drinks.
Shine walked over to Linea.
"Here. Please take this," he said, holding out his reward.
"No, that's yours," Linea said.
"I don't need it. It's more than enough for me as it is. But I have one request."
"What request?"
"Jhed and I — we want to travel the world. Would you let us go? There are others still waiting to be freed. The hero can't be everywhere at once. We want to help where he can't reach." Shine said.
The moment he finished, the whole crowd burst into applause. Even Weel stopped eating long enough to clap.
"Of course. But whenever you miss home — come back," Linea said, tears in her eyes.
"We will," Shine said.
Mendriya started crying.
"Sigh... take care of my brother. He can't even catch a rabbit," Mendriya said.
Everyone laughed.
"Oh, Mendriya..."
Everyone was so happy for them. They celebrated deep into the night. That was the story of this evening — an evening full of things neither of them had seen before. Shine couldn't keep the reward — in two months, he'd be returning to Animal. So he gave it to Linea instead.
Tonight would be a night everyone remembered.
I wish this night could last forever.