Nero spent the following days near his house. He didn’t train and just helped his mother with house staff. Besides, he went hunting every day to feed his small, but always hungry, small griffon. But with each new day, the boy felt that less and less prey came into his traps. He even had to talk with his mother and help her extra for some meat just to feed his small friend.

With each new day, the youth felt how his body changed, becoming stronger. His endurance, agility, speed, and strength increased. Even his height increased a bit. Nero spent these days reading books and learning new things until a night when Collins came to him.

“Ready for the celebration?” asked the blonde boy as he looked at his young friend. Nero only nodded and followed him to take part in the celebration of summer’s end.

As soon as they arrived in the city, a loud noise, laugh and even music resounded from the square. As they approached it, Nero noticed how almost every house in the village was dark except for the one place in the village. A huge bonfire burned in the center of the square as young boys and girls danced around it. Elders and others were busy talking at the sides, sitting at their tables. A small group of men was busy grilling boars while others poured beer which waiters took to deliver to the tables.

Nero widened his eyes when he saw such a scene. He rarely saw at least ten elders at one place because they were always busy. They had to take care of their crops, hunt, or work. But now hundreds of them were gathered in the square with their children. The boy just couldn’t hold his gasp when he saw so many people. Watching how his usually serious and too mature friend reacted to an ordinary yearly celebration, a wide grin appeared on Collin’s face.

“You will get used to it,” said the blonde boy as he patted his friend. “I also felt weird when it was my first time.”

Both boys continued to move through tables and finally saw an area dedicated to youths. There were many tables with food which they could enjoy. Throwing his glance at freshly grilled boar meat, Collins smiled and turned at Nero.

“Let’s fill our stomachs first while I will answer your questions,” said the boy, noticing that his friend was near his limit and urgently needed answers to appease his curiosity. Nero only nodded when he heard him when his stomach reminded him that he wouldn’t mind against his idea.

In such a way, soon they were already eating meat, bread, cheese, and other food, drinking water and milk. There was so much food at the table that both youths and many others just couldn’t leave the tables until they filled their stomachs. Only after half an hour, Nero put away his food and turned at his friend.

“Tell me more about this celebration. Why there is so much food today when I know the village has some problems with it?” asked the boy with a pure curiosity in his eyes.

Collins, who was eating a big fat piece of meat, released a sigh before putting it away and looking at his friend. He knew he won’t let him eat calmly if he won’t answer his questions right now.

“Well,” said the blonde boy as he drank a glass of milk. “It’s one of our yearly celebrations. You know about the New year celebration when villagers celebrate at home with their families, but the Summer’s End is different. It’s a celebration when all villagers come to the square. They leave behind any tensions and problems among each other and come to this square as one whole.”

Collins took another glass of milk and finished it in a blink.

“This night is a night of friendship, unity, and heart,” said the blonde boy as he showed at the elders at the side. “Just look there. What can you see?”

Nero turned and moved his glance and looked at the direction in which his friend was pointing and widened his eyes when he saw that. At first, he didn’t believe his eyes and shook his head as if it was an illusion. Collins only widened his smile when he saw his reaction.

“Weird, right?” asked the blonde boy as drank his milk.

“How is it possible?” asked Nero as he looked at two men sitting next to each other. Even he knew about them. They were the village’s blacksmith and the carpenter, and he heard how a big grudge laid between them because of their generation's long competition for rare resources which village’s elder could buy when he left for the outside world. Each time when he planned to leave, almost a real war happened between these two, and fights between their families were a common sight to see. But now those two enemies were sitting together and drinking beer with wide smiles on their faces. They even hugged each other as they laughed.

“This is the magic of this celebration. It became our village’s tradition many years ago. It always happened on the last day of the summer, right before the fall and winter. Do you know why?” asked the blonde boy. Nero only shook his head to his question.

“Because of the hard life,” said Collins with a smile while Nero made a dumbfounded expression on his face. The blonde boy didn’t plan to make his friend continue thinking and wanted to finish with questions as soon as possible because he already noticed that many girls have already joined the dancing near the bonfire. He just couldn’t let this chance slip away from him.

“Each preparation for winter is a challenge. Villagers have to gather their crops, meat, houses, and many other things, and it’s very difficult to make it alone. Even rivals like them need to cooperate to help each other,” said Collins as he pointed at those men. “Tonight’s celebration is a reminder for everyone about incoming hardships and the need to help each other regardless of their relations.”

Nero made an understanding expression when he heard his explanation, but it did not satisfy part of him. He felt that there was something else.

“Isn’t it the only explanation?” asked the boy. Collins smiled when he heard him. He never doubted that his friend will see another reason except for the main one.

“Of course not,” said the boy as he put away his glass. “Elders use this chance to talk with each other, make deals, arrange weddings while we, youngsters use this chance when we can talk and have fun near the bonfire.”

“Regarding the bonfire, it’s high time to go dancing,” said Collins. “Or do you plan to spend all night, talking?”

Of course, Nero already realized that his friend wanted to join others at the bonfire, but he just couldn’t go with him because he didn’t know how to dance.

As if feeling his concern, Collins smiled and looked at his friend.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know how to dance?” asked the boy, watching how his friend blushed a bit.

“Don’t worry. Come with me. I will teach you,” said the boy as he patted Nero on his shoulders. “There is nothing difficult, just move with the rhythms of the music.”

Soon, both boys joined others at the bonfire and started dancing. Of course, Nero was clumsy at first, but he quickly got used to it and soon he felt comfortable while he was dancing with several girls. Collins only grinned and winked at his friend.

Because of his handsome appearance and fit body that was visible, girls were at first wary of him, but soon Nero became were popular among them and the boy didn’t notice how he ended up changing one dancing partner to another. The funny fact was that even elder girls wanted to dance with him, which made many boys jealous of him.

The celebration continued for the whole night. People drank, ate, cheered, and laughed until the dawn when most of the elders were sleeping below the tables or on them. Their wives and children woke them up and helped to go home. Nero also looked at his friend who disappeared some time ago with a girl. He was too busy to ask why when more and more girls came to dance with him.

Only after 10 minutes, Collins appeared with a satisfied expression on his face and a wide grin on his lips. He couldn’t walk a bit when he heard his father’s voice.

“Son, if you are done with fun. You better hurry and prepare the horse or I will leave without you,” said his father with a stern expression on his face, which meant that he understood where his son was and what he was doing. Collins could only look at Nero with a sorry expression on his face as he paled and rushed towards his home.

...

..

.

A short time later, when the rays of the sun have already brightened the skies and when the rooster has already informed everyone about morning, Nero stood near the entrance to the village and looked at his only friend.

His family and younger sister Kate, village’s elder, Collins’ grandfather, were also here and hugged both father and boy as they bid farewell to each other. There were also some other people, like family friends and his comrades, who came to bid farewell. Besides, there was a girl with whom Collins spent some time on the celebration.

As soon as the blonde boy finished dealing with his family and relatives, he turned and approached Nero that was standing alone nearby. He smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

“Thank you for everything, Nero. I really appreciate that we became friends. Looks like I will be the first to leave this place. Hope we will meet each other again,” said the boy as he patted Nero on the shoulder. “By the way, Nero, you are a great guy who knows so many things. Why don’t you make some more friends when I leave. Just don’t spend all your time in training. You need to relax sometimes. Friends or even a girlfriend which you can find at any moment, even among elder girls, can help you with that.”

The blonde boy quickly bent and whispered something with a grin on his lips while Nero blushed. Collins reminded him how many elder girls were glad to dance and talk with him. The handsome purple-eyed boy became the main event among girls. He transferred a bit of the experience he accumulated.

Collins laughed a bit as he watched his friend’s reaction, but suddenly he made a stern face as he looked at his friend.

“But, don’t approach Kate, you hear me. She is too small! If you choose her, I will return and kick your ass,” said the blonde boy with a warning in his eyes. Nero only smiled and shook his head.

“Don’t worry. You told me so much about things your sister can do with her jokes that I will keep a distance from her just in case because she will no longer have her target to play with,” said Nero while Collins smiled.

“True. Now when I will be gone, villagers can begin trembling in fear because of her. I don’t even want to imagine what she will do to appease her boredom to those unlucky few who would replace me,” said Collins as he widened his smile in satisfaction.

“It was a good time, my friend,” said Collins as he patted Nero on the shoulder and stretched his hand for a handshake. “See you, stay healthy,”

Nero also stretched his arm, and both boys made a handshake before Collins turned and jumped at the carriage where his father was already waiting. As soon as he jumped, his father touched the reins and horses started moving while Collins and other villagers waved each other.

Nero also waved with others and watched after the carriage until it disappeared and people started returning home. The purple-eyed boy only released a sigh before he turned and started his return journey with a small, empty feeling in his heart. Starting from today, his days in the village will change. There won’t be a good friend with whom he could always talk and relax anymore.

As the boy passed through the quiet village, Nero spent this time in thought and realized that he won’t fell asleep today just like all other villagers did. When he reached his house, he saw Gustav, who was sitting below the tree, playing on Rong-Ja. His teacher paused, playing a sad song for a moment, and nodded to his disciple before his fingers once again continued to create music.