Alaric and Zanuba returned to the village of Leronica, accompanied by two large barrels of beer floating in the air, carried by Alaric's magic. Although their journey seemed lighter after defeating Tigeria, Zanuba's mood remained dark. The little girl walked beside Alaric, her face filled with sorrow. The fact that Harith, her loyal guard, was now gone, still haunted her thoughts.
Occasionally, Alaric stole glances at Zanuba. He could see the sorrow hidden behind the girl's vacant gaze. However, Alaric was not adept at handling such emotional situations. His focus remained on the floating beer barrels above him. With his characteristic silliness, Alaric tried to dispel the awkwardness in silence.
"I know this beer is going to be delicious," Alaric murmured, stroking his chin. "Maybe I should organize a beer festival in this village. What do you think, Zanuba? A beer festival, the whole village gathering, drinking, and singing... It would be fantastic!"
Zanuba did not respond. She was still too immersed in her sadness to react to Alaric's jest.
Upon reaching the village, the village chief and several residents welcomed them with enthusiasm. The chief, an old man with a thick beard, seemed very grateful to Alaric.
"Thank you, Mr. Elf!" the chief exclaimed with respect. "You have saved us from the bandit threat. We don't know how to repay your kindness."
Alaric, with a wide smile on his face, patted the chief's shoulder. "Oh, no need to be so formal. I only came here to enjoy the beer you promised. It turns out I had to do a bit of... cleanup first." He glanced at the beer barrels behind him with sparkling eyes.
"The best beer in Leronica!" he said with a laugh. "Now, where's the best place in this village to enjoy a cold beer?"
However, as Alaric was about to leave, the chief stopped him. "Mr. Alaric, before you go, may we ask one more thing? Zanuba... there's no one here who can protect her. Will you be willing to take her on your journey?"
Alaric's face instantly fell. He didn't like the idea. "Oh, wait a minute," he said, waving his hand. "I'm not a babysitter. This journey of mine... well, how should I put it? I'm a loner who prefers drinking beer while listening to the sounds of nature, not getting involved in royal politics."
The chief pleaded again, "Mr. Alaric, this village has no one capable of protecting the princess. If she stays here, sooner or later, another threat will come. We implore you, take Zanuba with you."
Alaric thought for a moment, his expression shifting from serious to silly. "Ah, I really only came for the beer... not for royal matters." He scratched his head. "Politics is such a hassle, too many problems!"
The chief then offered, "We don't have much, but we can give you 20 gold for your travel expenses."
Alaric's eyes suddenly brightened. From being gloomy, his mood changed in an instant. "Eh... 20 gold, you say?" Alaric smiled foolishly while nodding. "Alright, alright. For this little girl and... a bit of financial support... I suppose I could consider taking Zanuba. After all, I can't just turn down 20 gold!"
Zanuba, still lost in her sorrow, paid no attention to the conversation. She remained silent, staring at the ground as she remembered Harith, who had fallen while protecting her. Though her body was present, her mind was still trapped in past memories.
Seeing the mood shift, the chief decided to hold a grand feast in honor of Alaric. "Mr. Alaric, allow us to host a feast tonight to celebrate the defeat of the bandits. We will also prepare provisions for your journey and Princess Zanuba."
Alaric, never one to turn down a feast, immediately agreed. "Oh, a feast! That's a brilliant idea! Alright then, I'll stay the night. But make sure there's plenty of beer, okay!" Alaric said with a laugh.
****
Night fell, and the village feast began. Long tables were filled with food, drinks, and music played by several residents on traditional instruments. Alaric immersed himself in the festivities, standing in the midst of the crowd with one hand holding a mug of beer while the other waved around comically as he spoke with the villagers.
"Hey, hey, listen to this!" Alaric shouted to a group of villagers who laughed at his chatter. "Earlier, when I defeated Tigeria, he thought he could kill me with his hundred magic swords. Then I said, 'Kid, you need another 900 years to master that!'" Alaric laughed heartily, followed by the villagers who were entertained by his dramatic storytelling.
One villager asked curiously, "What was it like fighting with such power, Mr. Alaric?"
Alaric raised his eyebrows, his expression turning serious—though clearly forced. "Oh, you know... sometimes I just need to play around a bit," he said dramatically, striking a heroic pose. "But the beer served after the battle? That's the real victory!"
Everyone laughed, including an old woman who patted Alaric's shoulder. "You truly saved our village. We are lucky to have you here."
Meanwhile, Zanuba sat in a corner of the feast. She did not laugh or join in the celebration. Her gaze was vacant, reflecting on her time with Harith. They trained together, shared stories, and Harith was always there to protect her. Now, all of that was gone. The festive atmosphere could not dispel her sorrow.
In the midst of the feast, Alaric noticed Zanuba sitting alone. With a bit of awkwardness, he approached her, still wearing his silly grin. "Hey, Zanuba," he said as he sat beside her. "You know, Harith would be proud of you. You're strong... even stronger than you realize."
Zanuba did not respond. Only a slight nod indicated she had heard Alaric. Alaric sighed, feeling slightly uncomfortable in this serious mood, something he rarely experienced.
"But hey, tomorrow we'll start a new journey. And who knows? Maybe we'll find the best beer in the entire kingdom!" he said, trying to lighten the mood. However, Zanuba remained silent.
****
The following morning, preparations were complete. The village chief had provided ample provisions for their journey. Alaric, with dramatic flair, stood in the middle of the village, waving enthusiastically at the villagers who were bidding them farewell.
Alaric, with his usual dramatic and silly manner, waved at the villagers. "Thank you, everyone!" he exclaimed, his eyes starting to tear up. "I never expected to be treated to such a grand feast. The beer was amazing! I will miss you all!" Even as he cried, there was a comical touch to his expression, as if he were exaggerating his emotions. The villagers laughed at his antics.
Zanuba, on the other hand, kept her head bowed and followed Alaric from behind without saying a word. Her mind was still filled with memories of Harith, and she had not come to terms with the reality that she now had to continue life without her protector.
Meanwhile, Zanuba had changed into more suitable travel attire, a donation from the villagers. Despite her new clothes, her face remained gloomy. Without saying a word, she followed Alaric, leaving behind the village that had saved her twice.
With an unusual zest, Alaric set off from Leronica Village, taking Zanuba on an unexpected new adventure, accompanied by the villagers' laughter and the lingering sorrow of the little girl by his side.