It was night already
The festival had reached its finale
Brilliant fireworks bloomed across the sky, painting the entire forest in countless colors
Cheers echoed from every corner of the city as everyone looked upward
"...Beautiful, isn't it?"
Sylffie smiled as another firework exploded overhead
She glanced at Auel beside her
He simply watched the sky without saying a word
"You told me I should change"
"I've been trying"
"But you don't look any different today"
Still... no reply
Sylffie puffed her cheeks before looking back at the fireworks
"...You're really difficult"
Once the fireworks ended, everyone returned to the inn
The atmosphere inside the tavern was much livelier than usual
Peoples were celebrating while mugs repeatedly clinked together
Their party gathered around one table
"Ahh..." Rikka leaned back with a mug in his hand "That was amazing"
"The best festival I've ever been to"
He took another big gulp
"...Although..."
"I seriously miss meat"
"Well, you can't complain about that, we don't serve meat here" Sylffie said
"But I really want to eat meat right now"
"Yeah, I think I really miss meat right now" Helen cut "But the food here was really great"
"I know – I know" he chugged another beer "but nothing can beat meat you know?"
Everyone couldn't help laughing
Even Sylffie smiled
Then... she quietly slid into the empty seat beside Auel
"So?" she rested her chin on one hand "Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Not really"
She blinked
"Why?"
"That dragon"
"It still bothers me"
Gramm talked after chugged the beer
"Yeah, that's also bother me"
"Where did it come from? And why did it just hover in the sky and then leave?"
Ashley tilted her head
"Maybe that just a dragon passed by, no?"
"Even if it just passed by, it almost impossible for a dragon to have that kind of behavior" Auel said
"Dragon usually made their nest in the mountain, and they won't wander far away from their nest"
"Yeah, he is right" Gramm continued
"Also, you mentioned that someone was riding it"
Erin looked surprised
"Riding it?"
"Like actually riding it? Not like being captive?"
Auel nodded
"It's clear that someone was riding it, I saw a glimpse of spear"
Gill slammed his mug onto the table
"Ahh, and don't forget about the chill from the Cardinals"
"Chill? Cardinals? What are you talking about?" Veyn asked
"Yeah, we felt someone was watching us after the dragon flied away" Gramm answered
"And somehow the direction was coming from the Cardinals"
Veyn looked genuinely confused
"Chill? But I didn't feel anything"
"That's weird, what about you guys did you feel some kind of chill?" Gramm asked toward the girls
Ashley slowly shook her head
"No"
Helen did the same
"I didn't feel anything either"
Erin quietly followed
Sylffie also shook her head
Rikka already drunk to answer the question
"Arghh… can we talk about this tomorrow"
"Aww… my head"
Everyone laughed
"Yeah, he is right" Sylffie continued
"Todays supposed to be a celebration"
"So, let's stop talking about investigations for one night"
Auel calmly answered
"It's better to finish the quest quickly"
"It's also good for you, because that means that the King will be returned or at least you got a new King"
The smile disappeared from Sylffie's face
"Why are you always in such a hurry?"
She frowned
"Does staying here bother you that much?"
Auel looked at her
"I'm an adventurer"
"Our job is to finish quests"
"So, it's wrong for adventurers to finish their quest quickly?"
"It's not like that, but can you just stop being serious for one day"
"It's the King's birthday"
"Everyone's trying to enjoy today"
"You don't have to ruin the mood by talking about the investigation every few minutes"
"I never asked for this, even from the start I already refuse to join this festival"
Everyone became quiet
"You're the one who pulled me into this"
Sylffie stared at him
"So, this is my fault"
"Why don't you blame yourself for always being gloomy?"
"I'm the one who tried to help you change that, ok!"
Auel looked at her
"I've never asked for your help, and how come my gloomy vibe annoys you?"
"I've never heard any complain about it"
"You're the one who need to change the way you see people"
"Stop looking at them as they are replacement of your friends"
Sylffie began to clench her fist
"So, it's also wrong to miss someone who is important to you?"
Her shoulders trembled slightly
"Have you ever felt that?"
Her voice became quieter
"Have you ever seen them disappear right in front of your eyes?"
"Have you ever felt like being left alone?"
"NEVER"
She bit her lip
"You didn't know anything that I ever felt"
"And you just told me to forget anything about it?"
Silence filled the table
Everyone looked between the two of them
Then... without changing his tone
"They are dead, there nothing you can do"
Her fists tightened
"W-What-"
"What did you say?"
"I said, they are dead, there is nothing you can do"
"And if you really miss them so much, why don't you just go where they are?"
In a split-second laid noise filled the entire bar
BAM
Before anyone could react
Auel crashed onto the floor
Sylffie's fist trembled
Her breathing became uneven
A direct punch right on his face
"You..."
"How dare you..."
Not giving a chance, Sylffie stepped forward for another punch
"I'll kill you!"
Before she could throw another punch
Veyn grabbed both of her arms from behind
"Sylffie!"
"Calm down!"
"Let me go!"
She struggled violently
"You said that again you bastard"
"I'll kill you for sure"
Ashley and Helen quickly helped Veyn pull her away
The bar fell completely silent
Only after they disappeared outside...
Did everyone finally breathe again
Erin hurried over to Auel
"A-Auel…"
She gently touched his bruised cheek
A soft healing light covered the wound
Gramm sighed
"Don't you think you are too harsh for her"
"Especially your last sentence"
"Yeah, it's too much" Gill followed
Auel quietly sat back up
"Just leave me alone"
Seeing he had no intention of talking, Gramm simply sighed
"Come on"
He lifted the completely drunk Rikka onto his shoulder
"Let's give him some space"
Gill nodded before following behind
Soon... only Auel and Erin remained
"H-hey" Erin finally talk
"I also think that you are too harsh for her"
She hesitated
"I don't know if you ever feel the pain of being left alone"
"Being left by someone important"
"I also cannot forget my brother, I wanted to meet him again"
Her fingers unconsciously gripped her clothes
"But… I don't know if he is still alive or no"
"I just wanted to meet him again"
"I understand why she couldn't let go"
She looked at him
"But I also didn't know anything about you"
"You must be hiding something"
"Right?"
Silence
Auel never answered
Erin forced a small smile
"Sorry"
"I shouldn't ask"
"Good night"
She quietly left the bar into her room
Leaving Auel alone
Not long after Veyn came back to the bar
He immediately noticed Auel sitting alone
Without saying anything, he sat beside him
"Hey don't you think you're too harsh to her?"
"That's the third time I heard that?"
Veyn bitterly laugh
"She still trapped in her past, if that keep happens, she couldn't do anything" Auel said
Veyn quietly spoke
"Well… you're not wrong"
"Even I think I agree with your opinion"
Auel glanced at him
"What do you mean?"
"The things you said"
"...About moving on"
"...About the dead"
"I think I get it"
He stared into his mug
"Before I worked as a librarian, I used to be adventurer like you"
"It was a long time ago, and because I'm elf, I have to watch them go away one by one"
A faint smile appeared on his face
"There was one of them who should still alive until now"
He sighed a little bit
"But I haven't seen him in years"
"I don't know where he is"
"Even I don't know if he still alive or not"
He chuckled bitterly
"I'm… really tired right now"
"…Sometimes…"
"I just want to meet them again"
"Sit around a table"
"Drink together"
"Laugh like we used to"
"I really want to have that chance again"
His smile slowly disappeared
"I understand Sylffie"
"I'm not much different"
"I'm also…"
"… still trapped in the past"
"And… hearing what you said makes me think that…"
He lowered his eyes
"Should I join my friends right now"
Veyn smiled again
"But then I remembered"
"I'm still alive"
"So, there must still be something left for me to do"
Then he looked straight at Auel
"Again, I don't think you're totally wrong"
"But the way you said it…"
"It just…"
Veyn laughed
"You're really bad at choosing your word"
"Well, Sylffie's even worse when emotions get involved"
"So please choose your words first before you talk"
"Ok?"
He patted Auel's shoulder
"Get some rest"
"We still have a king to find"
He began walking toward the exit
"Oh…"
"And for Sylffie…"
He scratched his cheek awkwardly
"Well, I've known her for quite long and she probably doesn't want to see your face for a while"
"So… yeah, hope you the best"
"See you next morning"
With one final wave Veyn left the tavern
The room fell silent once more
Auel leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh
Without another word…
He returned to his room