The party spilled across three full terraces of Reaching Heaven Realm by the time anyone thought to sit down properly, lanterns strung between the white stone spires, music drifting up from somewhere below the fountains.
John found the four of them tucked into a quieter corner with drinks in hand, and dropped into the seat beside Rudra without waiting for an invitation.
"So," he said, grinning. "How did it feel? The losing thing."
"Pretty good," Rudra said, and chuckled despite himself.
"Indeed," Almond added, nodding slowly. "It was delightful."
"Yep." Lily smiled into her glass. "Like knowing there's still so much more out there that can arm us to become even stronger."
"Yeah, we get it," Ainen said, eyeing John over the rim of his own cup. "But you're grinning like a man who already knows exactly what that 'more' looks like."
John laughed, unbothered by being caught. "I do, actually."
"Go on, then," Almond said. "You've clearly been sitting on this all night."
