A few days later, Iserazor’s lair was bustling with activity.
“Little Star, get more meat over here! These hungry dragons can really eat! I never should’ve agreed to this damn banquet on your behalf!”
Po Kong’s voice echoed through the cavern, sounding utterly helpless.
“I know, I know. There’s plenty of ingredients, it’s just going to take a little longer.”
In the cooking area on the other side of the cave, Starlight was sweating as he frantically managed six blazing grills.
“Here, Starlight, catch!” Xia Duo skillfully tossed several cut ribs over, then turned back to shout at the crowd behind her, “Can you all be a bit quieter? You’re being way too loud!”
“Oh, let them be,” Moen said with a light chuckle, sending a wisp of breeze into the grill. The flames danced and surged upward. “Everyone’s been wound so tight these past few days. It’s rare that we get to relax like this...”
“Hmph, it’s all Po Kong’s big mouth’s fault!” Xia Duo pouted, her kitchen knife thudding heavily against the cutting board. “He’s the one who said we ‘needed to have a proper celebration,’ and now we’re the ones run off our feet!”
“But if you think about it, this is probably the most incredible mission our team has ever completed,” Starlight said, finally finishing his current task and turning to join the conversation.
Moen paused her work, resting her chin in her hand and blinking. “It really does feel that way. Four people who haven't even reached the Saint Rank somehow got caught up in a conflict between gods...”
“The most amazing part...” Starlight added softly, “is that we’re all here, alive and well, grilling meat. It’s nothing short of a miracle.”
The three of them looked toward the center of the cave. Little Gold was surrounded by a group of dragons led by Iserazor. He was currently chugging from a barrel nearly as tall as he was, while Po Kong, who was responsible for serving the food, cheered him on from the sidelines.
Several Night Elves sat around a stone table, conversing in low voices with the Saint Archer of the Tree Elves, Lions, occasionally letting out soft laughs.
But in the gaps between the laughter, a lingering shadow remained in everyone’s eyes.
“Yeah. Even though the outcome looks good now, the price paid was just too high...” Xia Duo swirled her wine glass, the amber liquid reflecting her furrowed brow.
Indeed, in this catastrophe that had simultaneously struck the humans, elves, and dragons, far too many people had vanished forever.
The Leaf-Cutter Squad, the pride of the Tree Elves, was now reduced to Captain Lions sitting alone at the table. The kidnapped elves had long since been turned into sacrifices for Salenzo to extract life energy, leaving not even a trace of their remains to be found.
As for the Night Elves, they had lost You, a semi-god powerhouse. The two Sword Saints, Liu Ye and El, had also been heavily injured during their battle with Cantia.
Though Moen had healed their external wounds, they were no longer young. It was unlikely they would ever be able to advance further in their cultivation in this lifetime.
The Dragon Race had suffered the most. Of the original four Dragon Kings, only the Rift Dragon King, Iserazor, remained. Every dragon egg in the hatching chamber had been destroyed in the disaster, and even the Dragon Nest they relied on for survival had been leveled to the ground.
The only stroke of luck was the Dragon Nest’s rotation system. Because of it, the battle hadn't affected the other adult dragons, leaving the race with some remaining strength for the future.
Just as the group was sinking into heavy thoughts, Po Kong’s signature loud voice suddenly broke the silence.
He was carrying an empty platter the size of a door, followed by Lian, who was dressed in black.
“Little Shadow, what are you three discussing?” Po Kong asked quickly, seeing their grim expressions.
“It’s nothing. we were just reflecting,” Xia Duo shook her head, stuffing a freshly grilled skewer onto Po Kong’s giant plate. “Here, take this and shut your mouth.”
Lian walked gracefully over to Starlight, her moon-like silver hair glowing softly in the light of the fire.
“Big Brother Starlight, I’ve come to say goodbye.” Her voice was soft but exceptionally clear. “After the banquet ends, we’ll be heading back to Night Lotus Valley.”
“So soon? But your injuries...” Starlight was momentarily stunned.
“Yes, I have to go back. My uncle is gone now, and I must take up my responsibilities. I am the Night Elf Princess, after all.”
Lian spoke with a smile, seemingly unaffected by the series of tragedies.
But Starlight knew she had to be hurting inside. You, her only blood relative, was gone, and the weight of all the Night Elf clan’s affairs would now fall upon this young princess.
“I understand. Safe travels.”
He didn't know how to comfort Lian, so he could only give her a small nod. Some pains cannot be smoothed over with words, just as some growth is destined to be completed alone.
Lian took a small step back, crossing her hands over her chest as she performed a solemn, ancient Night Elf salute to the four of them.
“The gates of Night Lotus Valley will always be open to you.” When she looked up, her eyes sparkled with a determined light. “Though I cannot promise more, please remember this—”
“The four of you will forever be the most honored friends of the Night Elf people.”
The words were spoken very softly, yet they carried immense weight.
Xia Duo unconsciously stood up straighter, the whirlwind in Moen’s hand stopped in mid-air, and even the usually boisterous Po Kong fell silent for a rare moment.
Under their surprised gazes, Lian suddenly took a step forward after finishing the salute and buried herself in Starlight’s embrace.
The hug was as light as falling moonlight. Starlight could even smell the faint fragrance in her hair.
But before he could respond, Lian had already let go. She turned and ran back toward the crowd without looking back, leaving only a single sentence behind.
“Remember to come visit me... next time we meet, I will fight by your side!”
The girl’s figure quickly vanished back into the noisy banquet crowd, leaving only a single, warm, wet drop on Starlight’s collar.
Starlight understood that this fleeting embrace was perhaps her final act of selfishness as the girl named “Lian.”
He instinctively looked at Moen beside him, only to find the girl looking perfectly normal, already turning back to focus on controlling the grill’s heat.
“Wow~” Po Kong suddenly leaned in with a smirk, poking Starlight’s shoulder mischievously. “Little Star, looks like our Little Crescent has a competitor. A love rival! That’s the word, right?! Ow! Ow, ow, ow!”
Before he could finish, Xia Duo grabbed him by the ear. “Keep your mouth shut! What’s all this talk about love rivals?!”
Seeing the two of them bickering, Moen burst out laughing. “Sister, stop it. Just let Po Kong go back to being a waiter.”
She turned to look at Starlight, her sapphire eyes clear and bright in the firelight.
“Some people just love to worry about nothing, don’t they?”
Starlight looked at her tranquil, smiling face, and the strange tightness in his chest suddenly vanished.
Inside the cave, the aroma of grilled meat and the laughter of his companions intertwined—this was the truest form of warmth.
...
The joyous banquet lasted all night, but eventually, it had to come to an end.
Early the next morning, Lian and the three Night Elf powerhouses bid everyone farewell and set off on their journey home.
Departing with them was the Saint Archer, Lions.
Before leaving, Lions found Xia Duo and Moen to formally ask for the sisters’ opinions.
“You two, the clan is certainly short-handed right now. Are you sure you won’t return to Star-Song Forest with us?”
“No, Captain Lions. After this battle, we want to travel across the continent for a while and see the world for ourselves. What do you think, Sister?” Xia Duo shook her head and looked at Moen.
“That’s my thought as well. I mentioned this to Aunt Angela before we left, and she gave her silent approval,” Moen said.
“Since it is the High Priestess’s wish, I won’t insist. Farewell then, everyone. May the Mother Tree guide your path.”
Without any further attempts to persuade them, the decisive Saint Archer turned and left. His dark green cloak flared in the morning breeze as he walked toward the rising sun.
Rate on N.U.
