Where before the fireplace bore witness to a serious conversation, it now seemed to flicker with levity, dancing to the laughter ringing through the now packed cottage. Everyone – Li, Old Thane, and Triple Threat – were sitting on rugs around the fire.

Old Thane and Li sat next to each other, both identically cross-legged and cross-armed. Li figured he was picking up some old man habits here and there from living with the geezer, but one noticeable difference was where OId Thane's smile was broad and inviting, Li's was faint and closed off.

Jeanne also sat with her legs crossed, the outline of her knees poking through her white robes. She hugged, or at least tried to hug the Lerneas's egg close to her, her head tilted sideways as she tried to hear for the little infant's heartbeat within.

Behind her, Sylvie sat with her legs tucked under her. Li could recognize the posture. It was the kind the people in dojos used when they bowed in or out of martial arts practice. She really did have a strong liking for anything eastern but considering her life's research and livelihood depended on it, it did make sense.

Azhar, on the other hand, was almost lying down, his legs stretched out as he gnawed on a chicken leg. He had brought a whole chicken, stuffed and seasoned with rare herbs, to roast as a celebration for Old Thane's first harvest.

"Azhar, I see you've yet to learn to chew properly even til' now," said Old Thane. He shook his head. "Despite how thoroughly Aine tried to teach you."

"Sorry old man, but manners just ain't my thing," said Azhar as he licked his fingers.

"Old habits do fester long." Old Thane maintained his smile and slapped his full stomach. "Who am I to jest! I was the one to tell you to let manners fly to the wind, hah! And I must admit that was a mighty fine roast. Gods, I haven't known such meat in years!"

Azhar nodded. "And it's all thanks to Sylv over here. She insisted on us preparin' to celebrate your first harvest. Spent her time buyin' the chicken instead of preparin' for the hunt, even."

"Oh please," said Sylvie. "We all wished to celebrate your harvest. I was merely the only one with enough sense to think ahead."

She glanced at Jeanne and sighed when she saw the hero completely engrossed with the egg, the world tuned out.

"Oh!" Jeanne smiled as she withdrew her face from the egg and patted it. "I hear it! The heartbeats! My, what a precious little thing it will be when it hatches."

"A precious little thing whose mother almost killed you," said Sylvie. She shook her head before looking to Li. "In that regard, was it truly right to have picked this egg up? Will the Lerneas not come looking for it? And will the crown not raise questions about it?"

"Trust me, that Lerneas is probably dead. The forest spirit hurt it quite badly, and if it isn't, I doubt it'll try to come back again knowing the forest has a protector." Li shrugged. "As for the crown, well, lord Lys seems like a generous man, so I'm sure if I asked to fill out a permit to keep this exotic pet, he'd sign it right away. He doesn't want to potentially anger a diplomat from the east, after all."

Sylvie raised a brow and Li shook his head at her, knowing her question. He could sort of read her now. She wanted to know if he was actually a diplomat, and it was the truth that he wasn't. Of course, she didn't know he wasn't human at all, but that wasn't something she ever needed to know.

"Ain't too hard to take care of a wyrm," said Azhar. "Some of my folk out west still do. All ya gotta really get taken care of is the whole imprintin' process. Make sure that the first thing that critter sees is you."

"Well…I suppose," said Sylvie. "Oh, and speaking of the crown, the duchess is to hold a ceremony in the city square tomorrow to honor Jeanne's heroism. If it is not too much to ask for, will you two be available to come?"

Li looked at Sylvie, then at Old Thane. He had already agreed beforehand, when they talked alone, to go to the ceremony. This was where she would give him her scrolls and manuals to read over. He insisted on reading them alone and at home as he didn't want to spend unnecessary time away from the farm and to wean her attachment away from him.

"Of course, lass!" Old Thane clapped his hands. "Gods, Jeanne, you're to be honored? What medal is it that you are to receive?"

Jeanne smiled shyly, hugging the egg tighter to herself as if to try and cover her face and blush. "The Crimson Flame, though truly, I feel the medal belongs to all of us."

"The Crimson Flame, eh?" Old Thane nodded. "For the heroes whose fires burn while their blood sheds, lighting the path for others behind them. Aye, a mighty poetic medal that is, and to have received it and still be whole – I daresay you are the only one to ever receive it without losing a limb of some sort."

"That ain't true, old man, there's you," said Azhar as he pointed his chicken leg – now basically just bone – at Old Thane.

Old Thane shrugged. "Not so. I may have saved my comrades by crushing the Blackhand's ambush, but in the end, the scoundrel has cost me mine eyes."

"It is only by Morrigan's will that I am still whole," said Jeanne. "Were the guardian not to have risen again, I am sure I would have passed beyond the gates of Valhul, and then I would have received no such medal. The moment I can, though my faith lies with the sun, I will burn incense for her in gratitude."

Old Thane paused. He gave Li an acknowledging nod, knowing that Li was the one to have saved Jeanne, knowing that though none would ever acknowledge him with a medal or burn incense, he could still show his appreciation. And honestly, to Li, that was the only appreciation he needed.

"Aye, lass, give the spirit your respects, but never forget that those nearest to you are the ones that have truly supported your back."

"I've never forgotten, and I never will," said Jeanne as she smiled to Sylvie and Azhar.

Li nodded. Old Thane seemed like he was giving out a piece of sage advice, and he was, but he was also honoring Li's efforts subtly, as she would never know that the being sitting so very near her had been her savior.

"If that's true, then make sure to put in a good word for us with the duchess," said Sylvie with a smile. "Now, I do believe it is time for us to be going. The ceremony is early, and though I hardly doubt you need it, it would not hurt for me to pretty you up before you stand on the square."

"Oh, is that truly necessary?" pouted Jeanne. "The last time you tried to make me presentable, it took a whole hour, and there were still these big dark smudges below my eyes."

"Because you wouldn't sit still." Sylvie sighed. "You have natural beauty, but a few touches of makeup, and you can truly shine with the gods. This time, you aren't in the presence of a lord, but the very duchess herself."

Jeanne looked at Sylvie's admonishing eyes and nodded. "I suppose you are right, as always."

"Glad I ain't a woman," said Azhar as he tossed his chicken bone into the garbage pail. "Only paint I'll ever toss on my face is war paint."

"I fear for the happiness of the woman you woo, if ever that happens," said Sylvie, shaking her head. She stood up, and Jeanne and Azhar followed her lead. "I would bid a more formal goodbye, but we are to see each other tomorrow anyway, so until then."

___________

When Triple Threat left, Old Thane retired to his room quickly. Something was on his mind, but the way his brow furrowed, Li knew there was no point in him asking about it. The old man would work it out over the night, probably.

Li himself went into sleep only after he made sure Old Thane's breathing had settled into the gentle and constant rhythm of slumber. Well, it wasn't truly sleep. Li didn't need to sleep, but he could enter into a state of inactivity similar to it. Basically, unless there was hostile stimuli, he could enter some state of stillness where time seemed to fast forward, letting him "sleep".

He could choose to wake up whenever he wanted during this quasi-sleep, as he could see the events around him moving at high speed, but in general, he just let time flow out until the mornings came.

This time, however, things were different.

Very different.

When he usually closed his eyes to enter this state, he could still sense the world around him, but that had disappeared. It felt as if he was in a void of nothingness, where sensation left him and only his consciousness floated.

Then there was light. Light that filled in a new world around him, gaining color and shape and form as it painted up a vast blue sky that was noticeably sunless, though light did seem to shine brightly all around regardless, lighting up grassy hills that stretched from horizon to horizon.

Li felt a sense of confusion, and yet, at the same time, he could feel…belonging? A similar type to that which he experienced when he used his divine powers.

"And another one joins us!" came a gravelly, booming voice.

Li turned behind him and saw the owner of that voice. A giant of a man stood there, his body covered in rippling muscles fashioned out of some ethereal bronze. His face was that of a bull's, the horns curled up like blades, the eyes beady and red like rubies. Six arms graced his sides, each holding a different weapon. Sword, shield, spear, bow, axe, and staff.

Li knew who this was. He recognized the image from the game. This was Chi-You, the god of the strength stat. And then Li realized he himself was in his true form, his human skin stripped away to reveal ethereal bark and leaves.

"Welcome to Valhul, new one!" said Chi-You, a puff of steaming breath sizzling out of his bovine nose.