A Grand Entrance
The group got dressed and made their way to Igor's mansion. The grand building, as big as a royal palace, stood imposingly amidst the snow-covered landscape. They approached the front gate, marveling at the opulence of their surroundings. Alex knocked on the door, and it swung open to reveal Igor, who greeted them with a hearty laugh.
"Welcome, fellow friends!" he boomed.
"Wow, this is nice," Alex remarked, looking around.
Yuki, Thrain, and Lila went off to mingle with the other guests, while Alex wandered through the spacious rooms, taking in the sight of finely decorated walls and luxurious furnishings.
Meeting New Friends
As Alex explored the mansion, he came across a group of men and women engaged in lively conversation. He walked up to them and introduced himself. "Hello, my name's Alex."
They greeted him warmly, and one of the men spoke up. "I'm Ragnar, and this is my friend John."
"Nice to meet you," Alex said. "My last name is Johnson, by the way."
Ragnar and John exchanged looks of surprise. "That's cool," they said in unison.
The two women in the group spoke up next. "What about us?" one of them said, nudging Ragnar. "You haven't introduced us yet."
Ragnar chuckled. "Oh, my bad. This blonde one here is Tammy, and the dark-haired one is Sarah. Sarah's my girlfriend and soon-to-be wife."
Alex smiled. "Nice to meet you both. I have a girl, too. It's Yuki over there." He waved Yuki over, and she joined them.
"This is Yuki," Alex said, introducing her proudly.
Yuki smiled shyly. "Hi."
The group was intrigued. "Your girl is a snow person?" Tammy asked, amazed.
"Yeah, it's a bit unusual, but I love her," Alex replied, smiling at Yuki.
Ragnar and the group welcomed them warmly. "You're welcome at our place anytime," Ragnar said. "It's just two blocks from Igor's mansion."
"Thanks, we'll definitely visit," Alex said.
Igor's Speech
A clinking sound on a glass caught their attention. Igor stood at the center of the room, preparing to speak. "Hello, everyone! Thank you for coming to my party. I'm glad to have you all here tonight. I know we've all faced hard times, but I hope we can all be friends. I'd like to welcome four new people to our city: Alex, Yuki, Thrain, and Lila. These fine folk are welcome anytime. Now, enough talking—let's enjoy the party!"
The crowd cheered, and Alex turned to Yuki. "What a speech he gave."
"Yeah, it was good," Yuki agreed.
A Night to Remember
The group partied the night away, enjoying the music, dancing, and laughter. The mansion was filled with joy and camaraderie. As the night drew to a close, Thrain and Lila decided to head to the tavern for more drinks, while Alex and Yuki returned to their room at the inn. There, they made love, cherishing the moment of peace and happiness.
A New Morning
The next morning, Alex woke to a rumbling noise that shook the ground. He quickly woke Yuki, who panicked. They got dressed in a hurry and opened the window, peering outside.
"What's going on?" Yuki asked, her voice trembling.
Alex's eyes widened in horror. "It's Shona," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
Outside, the city was in chaos. The evil god Shona was heading straight for Nothra, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. People screamed and ran in all directions, trying to escape the impending doom.
Before they could react, the chapter ended, leaving them on the brink of a new and terrifying challenge.
This concludes Chapter Forty.