Arriving back down on the 3rd Floor, Verana and Amariina had already finished cooking a breakfast feast for everyone to eat, and were only waiting for Drune and I to arrive to serve it in the dining room. Surprisingly enough, Mako and the others seemed to be acting strangely happy and cheerful as we ate breakfast, and I figured they must’ve agreed to put up an act so Drune wouldn’t feel down about Odelia's condition—though Drune did appear on the surface to not be bothered by the situation.

After we all finished eating, Amariina was the first to ask, “So Drune, are you going to be staying with us in the city now?”

“I can get you anything you need, you just name it!” Shurtyrr offered willingly.

“And I will personally deal with anyone that bothers you again!” Aelthar strongly added.

“We would love to have you stay again, Drune.” Verana expressed openly, “You and your apprentice.”

“We are staying, right Master? Your wife’s recovery should be our first priority!” Mako supportively stated.

“Although your enthusiasm and gestures are all appreciated, my apprentice and I have much work to do elsewhere. And with O’de being in such a heartbreaking state, this has only made clear how stagnant and weak I’ve become through these centuries of peace—as a blacksmith, and as a warrior.” Drune then announced, “With that being the case, I’ve decided my apprentice and I will be leaving for Norik right away to train our skills there.”

“Right away?!” Amariina exclaimed, “Can’t you stay for a little bit?”

“Yeah, at least stay for the festival?” Shurtyrr suggested.

“A dwarf and a human standing in front of Castle Ven’Thyl amongst all the elves gathering there tonight? No, thank you.” Drune politely declined.

“Well at least stay with us—we can just celebrate by ourselves on the roof, and watch the Twin Goddesses’ Aurora from up there.” Aelthar proposed.

For a moment Verana and Drune locked eyes, and Verana smilingly nodded, saying “Oh leave Drune be, you three. He has very many things on his mind other than wasting time frivolously celebrating the Five Heroes Festival, and as he should.”

Drune nodded back, replying “Thank you, Lady Verana. I will leave O’de’s fate to your House, as I know you all love and care for her as much as I do, and will surely do everything in your powers to bring her back to us!” He then excused himself from the table and said, “I’ll be waiting in the library when you're done, Mako.” and she simply answered him with a nod.

“Look what you two have done, Drune’s angry at us now!” Aelthar pointed out.

“What?! I didn’t say anything, obviously something you said upset him!” Amariina replied.

“It is always something you say, Ael.” Shurtyrr added.

“I am not the one brought up the festival in the first place, or about him staying with us!” Aelthar argued back. Then as the three began to bicker amongst themselves, Verana simply sighed and collected the dishes to clean, while Mako and I slipped out of the dining room before we got involved in their argument.

Admiring the entirety of the House, Mako commented “Some place you got here, Eyes.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cozy here.” Guiding her back down the floors to the library.

“Oh, and congratulations on getting first in the Overall Rankings! You really are something else, aren’t you?”

“Maybe, but you didn’t do too bad yourself—4th in the Production Rankings I believe?”

“Hm-hmph, I did get 4th. Yet the distance between myself and 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Place was unbelievable!” Mako admitted. “Speaking of which, the one who Ranked 1st and you hired to renovate Castle Creedmor, Da Vinci, she’s your friend right?”

“Yeah, you could call her that. What about her?”

“Well I don’t know if she told you, but she's been completely demolishing the entire castle into rubble ever since she got there!”

“I see, that must’ve mean she doesn't like the castle’s design at all then.”

“You’re okay with it?”

“Of course, I'm the one who gave her the authority to make any changes she saw fit in the first place. And if she’s demolishing everything, I guess she wants to change all of the castle.”

“Well as long as you're okay with it, I guess there’s no problem.” Mako shrugged her concern away.

“No problem at all, but that does remind me...” Opening my Inventory, I pulled out 4,000 Gold—leaving only a few hundred remaining from the Gold I stole from the Players I killed during the Siege Event. “Here, take this.” Handing her all the gold.

“Wh-What’s all this?!” Mako exclaimed, shocked by the sheer amount of coins.

“Well I assumed you and Drune were planning to head back to Asheton to get your blacksmithing tools, and have Gryphon teleport you to Norik, so I thought I could ask you a favour and pay my workers for me before you leave.” Detailing, “2,000 gold to Da Vinci for labour, supplies, and renovations. 1,000 gold to Gryphon for the future months of his teleportation. And 1,000 gold for you to spend on whatever you see fit.” I also handed her some spare weapons, armour, and items I thought Goblex could make use of.

“I mean I can give the others this stuff for you, but I can’t accept this gold you’re generously giving me.” Mako humbly rejected, “The amount is too great, and entirely unnecessary.”

“Oh, just take it.” I insisted, not accepting the coins back, “Call it a small investment in the growth of my personal blacksmith.”

Mako wanted to refuse, but she knew she would lose an argument with me and reluctantly said, “Alright, I humbly accept your generosity. But I hope you know, I will repay you back for all this!” Storing away all the items and Gold in her own Inventory.

“And I hope you do.” Pushing the library doors open to see Drune waiting for us in the teleportation circle, “Now go on and look after your Master for me, will you?”

“That goes without saying.” Mako smirked, “Now you just go and bring Lady Odelia back to him.”

“Don’t worry, I plan to.” Smirking back as I waved them goodbye—watching Drune use Return Home and teleporting them back to Castle Creedmor.

Finding the others still bickering amongst themselves in the dining room, I went over to Verana in the kitchen and helped her put away the dishes she cleaned. “Do you think it was alright that we just let Drune leave like that?” I asked her, “You think he’ll be fine?”

“I believe so.” Verana smiled warmly, elaborating “As from what my intuition tells me, from the brief glances we shared, Drune blames himself more than he does us. However, that does not mean he does not hold anger towards all of us for allowing this to happen, which is completely understandable and warranted.”

“Well according to the Quest, if I fail, Drune won’t only be sad, but also resentful for the rest of his life.” I thought to myself, worried about that outcome.

“Do not let it trouble you, my Lord. Drune is a Stoneheart—an old dwarven clan well known for their strong sense of responsibility, as well as for having the most unbreakable of spirits.” Verana passed me more dishes to put away as she continued, “Though heartbreakingly tragic it may be to see his beloved wife in such a state, the Drune I know would never allow this break him. But would instead use this as an opportunity to reignite the smothered forge in his heart, refining and tempering his skills, and assuredly creating items far surpassing his previous limits.”

“You sure seem to hold him in such high regard.” I happily remarked.

“Indeed I do, for out of the many dwarves who desired to be an apprentice of the Great Blacksmith Oros through the centuries, only Drune has ever been acknowledged truly worthy to be his successor.” Verana proudly stated.

“I was told Oros was a great blacksmith, but I didn’t know he was that great.” Sad at the thought of never being able to witness Oros’ greatness for myself, “He must’ve been truly amazing for even someone as remarkable as you, Verana, to acknowledge his greatness.”

“Your praise is too kind, Lord Eyes.” She humbly bowed, “And although I have heard of his sad passing from Odelia, the memories of his greatness are still spread across the lands through his creations—one of which Aelthar has had the pleasure of obtaining for himself a few decades back.” When Verana gestured to Aelthar in the dining room, we realized the others were no longer there, “Ah, it would seem they have all gone to get ready. Shall we get ready as well?”

“Get ready?”

“For tonight’s festival.”

“Oh… Umm... Right, the festival… So am I supposed to wear something specific, ‘cause I don’t think I have any clothes really fit for going to a festival?” Questioning, “And what about Odelia? Are we just gonna leave her here?”

“Odelia will be fine. I am perfectly accustomed to maintaining my magic at all times.” Verana assured me, “Though as for our attire this evening…” briefly looking me over, “It would seem you are not at all aware of our Kingdom’s culture and traditions, are you my Lord?”

“Not exactly…” I answered timidly, reasoning “Let’s just say I had a very isolated upbringing...away from this world.”

“That is nothing to be ashamed of, Lord Eyes. And besides, your inexperience only gives our House more of a reason to roam around the streets this year, which I know those three will wholeheartedly enjoy throwing their coin at every vendor we come across.” Verana shook her head at the thought.

When we finished cleaning everything upstairs, Verana escorted me down to the baths where the others were already bathing in their respective sides. Joining Aelthar and Shurtyrr on the men’s side, they both immediately fought over who could help me wash myself, but I instantly kicked them out of the baths after they shamelessly argued in front of me while nude. After I finished bathing, Aelthar and Shurtyrr handed me a long green loincloth, and informed me that was all that I needed to wear today. Noticing they were only wearing loincloths too, I reluctantly accepted and put on the loincloth. When we exited the men’s baths, Verana and Amariina were already patiently waiting for us in the hall—they also only wore loincloths, but Amariina wrapped her breasts with cloth, while Verana brazenly only let her hair cover her breasts.

“What the hell is going on?!” I questioned, “Just what kind of festival is this?!” feeling utterly clueless on what to expect.

While they all confidently left the House from the Tops entrance, only wearing loincloths and pouches full of coin, I covered myself up with a cloak before I joined them outside—hiding the crown and my Trinity Tattoo. Though as I exited the House, I was immediately greeted by the sights and sounds of a lively, bustling city. Everywhere I looked there were elves crowding the streets; from up here in the Tops, to down below in the Soil. They too only wore simple loincloths and cloth wraps, but some were currently setting up various vendor stands throughout the city, while others were decorating the streets and Sky Trees with all sorts of glowing magical decorations.

However, what I found incredibly eerie, was that Eicio’s Bloodmoon still menacingly hovered brightly in the sky, illuminating the city with its mesmerizing crimson glow. “Strange…” I thought to myself, “It should be morning now, but the sun isn’t anywhere to be seen...”

“Considering my lack of mana, I think you should have the honour of decorating the House by yourself this year, Amariina.” Verana suggested, gesturing for Amariina to do so.

“Really!? Amariina exclaimed, and Verana nodded yes. “Wow, this is gonna be my first time decorating on my own, so I better make it something truly memorable!” She cheered in excitement, “Now let’s see what I can conjure up!” Taking a moment to brainstorm an idea, Amariina quickly thought of something, and gave us quite the mischievous smile.

Without explaining her thoughts, Amariina suddenly pressed her hands against the bark of the Sky Tree, and began to rapidly gather an incredible amount of mana to her palms. An immense shockwave rippled out from the point of contact, with Amariina’s mana forcefully being spread throughout the entirety of the tree, and causing the very wood to break off and splinter out. Her mana continued to surge through every nook and cranny of the tree, traveling up the branches, and reaching all the way up to the leaves, imbuing them with a beautiful bright blue glow. But then completely unexpectedly, everything just started to combust, and the entire tree erupted up in flames.

The surprising sight rightfully shocked everyone who saw, but not my members—they simply smiled and grinned at the burning view. “Oh my, what a splendid choice, my dear! And what a display this will be!” Verana proudly remarked, “I could not have done better myself!”

“Agreed!” Aelthar joyfully chuckled, “Haha… You sure know how to draw one’s attention, Ama!” noticing everyone around immediately rushing over in concern or intrigue.

“She truly is magnificent…” Shurtyrr muttered to himself, trying to hide his feelings.

Their nonchalant reactions puzzled me, “Uhh… Am I the only sane one? You guys know our House is on fire, right? Like actually on fire!”

Amariina let out an amused giggle, “Give it a moment, Lord—I mean Eyes.” correcting herself, realizing we were now in public. And as we all watched the entire Sky Tree become engulfed in an all-encompassing blaze, something utterly astonishing occurred.

The tree’s wood turned blackened by the flames, but almost as if unaffected by the fire, there appeared to be no damage whatsoever to the many windows and balconies of the House. The flames then began to strangely die down by themselves, but in reality, I could keenly see the magic and fire being surprisingly absorbed into the very grains of the tree. And in another rippling surge of magic, the grains of the bark ignited with a fiery orange glow, traveling up to the leaves, and this time imbuing them with the appearance of beautiful ethereal flames. Embers and leaves soon began to naturally fall from the wood and branches, and everything under the reach of the tree became showered with its enchanting fiery light.

“Woah…” I became lost for words, speechless at the unquestionably sight of a Sky Tree decorated unlike any other around: wood burned black by intense flames, bark grains glowing with a fiery orange glow, leaves set ablaze in a continuous harmless flame, and embers and leaves gently falling like snow beneath the tree’s reach.

“House Ven’Thyl… “ Annihilation voiced in my head, “Whether you’re the Head of the House, or simply just another member; they are ones that naturally bring attention and trouble to themselves on their own accord, boldly standing out amongst the many, and secretly relishing their divergence from the ordinary—or so I’ve been told...”

“Yeah, I think I’m starting to learn that…” Quickly following behind them as they carelessly left our House ablaze, joyfully laughing and praising Amariina for her brilliant display, and completely ignoring all the gossiping elves that had come to gather in the area.