Azrael raised his voice, for all to hear.

“Lead the way Cairn, for there is a feast to be held!”

And what a feast it was. Though he’d been surprised at what they’d managed to create at the winter solstice festival, it could be called meagre compared to this, despite them having less than a day to prepare. Bowls and plates of roast meat and veggies ladened tables that were set up around the village square, while loaves of bread that were still warm from the oven sat in wicker bowls. Salads squeezed in between the gaps, with compotes and spreads squeezed between. There were even young cheeses. The crown of the feast though, was a whole roast Bullas, slowly cooking over the fire on a massive spit.

The smell of roast beef filled the entire village square, leaving his mouth watering.

Cairn gestured towards a raised dais, overlooking the fire pit. He smiled. They’d put the throne back there, complete with wolf pelts, pillows and crowned with two wolf skulls at the top. It was one of the most ridiculous chairs he’d ever seen and it was his. He settled in proudly, feeling very much like a tribal war chief.

James, it seemed, picked up on a similar vibe.

“Looking good, Chief.”

“Thanks.”

“Hey, if I beat you in a fight, can I be the new chief?”

“I’m not fighting you, so no.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works, Chief.”

“It does now.”

“Why?”

“Because, I’m chief.”

Thankfully, he was saved from any more of James’ attempts at a fight, by Cairn. Hugo stood beside the village chief. Cairn addressed the gathered villagers.

“Tonight, we gather here to celebrate the return of our Lord and Saviour, Lord Azrael. Many of you are new to this village, but you have no doubt heard the stories that we have shared.”

There were nods all around at this.

“The forest is our home, the forest is his domain. We stand guard in this, just as Lord Azrael stood guard for us. We were weak, but no more. We were lost, but no more. We were without purpose, but no more. We stand together now! With Strength! With Pride! And with Purpose!

There was a cheer all round and in the next instant people were flowing between tables, as the feast began.

Unfortunately, Azrael never got the chance to so much as to stand up and get some food before he was beset on all sides by familiar faces welcoming him back.

Nolan and the rest of the spear group that he had trained were the first ones to arrive. Nolan stood there, slightly aloof as the rest of the group pestered him for stories. A few new recruits had joined since he’d left and Azrael made an attempt to greet them too. A quick glance with [Lord’s Insight] showed him that everyone had gained impressive levels in [Spearman], while a few had gained [Hunter] classes as well. Three classes that stood out particularly were [Wolf Hunter], [Herbalist] and Nolan’s impressive title [Spear Captain].

As they spoke James left Azrael, heading straight for the massive roast in the center of the village. Alena also abandoned him for food, though he noticed her constantly glancing his way, as if she he were going to vanish once again. He sent a wave of reassurance down the link, before he was peppered by more questions from the quickly gathering crowd.

Thankfully, Hugh came to his rescue, along with a plate of food. Eating side by side they made small talk, just things about the village in general. The village, Azrael learnt, now had a population of 47 villagers, not including him and Alena. It was mainly fed by their harvests from their fields, as well as dairy products form the Bullas. The Spear squad – when they were not training or patrolling the forest – also went on regular hunting sessions, through which they supplemented the daily diet with some meat.

A roar of laughter momentarily drew Azrael’s attention and he found James chugging something – probably alcoholic – out of a massive mug, while surrounded by a group of dwarves. Darj and Durkov, were naturally there, while three more unfamiliar dwarves joined in in cheering James on. Their presence sparked a question Azrael had had.

“Where do all these people come from?”

Hugh looked at him and took a moment to consider an answer.

“Some come with Bartlos when he passes by; people in trouble, people that have lost everything they’ve had and have no where else to go. Some heard stories about our village and wanted a better life. Others – “

“Stories?”

“Ah. Many of them have lost homes to the actions of the Chosen. The People of the Land cannot wield magic in the same way that the Chosen do, nor do they have the same strength. We are simple people, not fighter. But, when Chosen fight…” he sighed, “There is a story of a village, hidden deep in the End Forest, a paradise guarded by a mighty and noble guardian, who rules from the shadows and who’s wrath is the heavens’ fire.”

“That’s… this village?” Azrael guessed.

“Correct”

“And I’m the mighty and noble lord guardian of the shadows?”

“Correct again.”

“Eugh...”

Azrael looked out over the village square, as the people enjoyed the feast. A safe haven for the weak and the lost. He smiled; it was almost apt in a way. When he’d first started the game, he’d felt weak and lost himself, simply looking for a way to escape reality – a second start in another world.

Now, he was sheltering those who needed help in the same way that he had. But, when he looked at the villagers, all gathered around the village square of a village they had constructed with their own hands, eating food that they had cooked for themselves, from ingredients they had grown and raised, he didn’t see the weak or the lost.

He saw the proud, the happy and the capable. He was sure that all other sentient life could vanish off the face of the earth, and life in the village would still go on. They were strong, independent people, who had weathered hardships in life and had come out stronger for it. They should be proud. He was proud, both of himself and of them.

Carried by that feeling of pride Azrael rose from his throne and raised his voice.

“People.’”

Many heads turned to him and he momentarily reconsidered his decision, but pressed through, despite his anxiety.

“People of this village, both old and new, I thank you for coming tonight.”

Azrael realised that he really didn’t have a clue how to begin this and was regretting it immensely.

“To those of you who first came to me and founded this village… when I first saw you, you were weak. You were weak, lost and without a home… and quite honestly, you were pitiful.”

Quite a few heads looked down in shame at this, while Nolan openly glared at him. Thankfully their heads raised somewhat over his next words.

“But, you did not let regret hold you back. You did not let the past stop you from having a future! You took it into your own hands. You made a new home, a new village; you learnt, you adapted. And while I was gone, you protected the village. You used your own strength to build and grow this village and look at you now.”

He swept a hand over the village, the feast and the crowd.

“You are no longer pitiful. You are no longer weak.”

He turned his gaze to another part of the crowd.

“To those of you who are new, you may have come here after losing everything. You may have come here alone, or with others. You may have come because you were escaping, or because you had heard stories of a safer place. I have seen how you have worked. I have seen how you have helped grow the village. And I am proud to welcome you to the village as people of this land!”

He paused, momentarily catching his breath.

“Each and every one of you should be proud though. Proud of yourselves, of those beside you and of everyone in this village. Because, when I look at you I see proud, happy, capable people. People who are strong and who are ready to do what they need to, to face tomorrow! As your Lord! And as guardian of this forest, I welcome you!”

Azrael finished, his arms in the same pose as the statue in the village square, feeling rather silly, but a moment later the applause started rolling in. Almost fifty people applauded him as he sat back down. As he did so, a notification popped up in his vision.

Congratulations!

For inspiring your people you have gained a level in ‘Lord’

WIS+3, END+2, STR+2.