“So let's get this straight.” Lucy said. “First, you bonded with this sword, which was thought to have a demon trapped inside of it. It turned out it was a dragon. An oversized lizard named Nut.”

“Nattura.” Kenan corrected.

“Yeah yeah. Whatever. This guy told you that you have a natural affinity. It is to, just making sure I'm getting this correct, to eat souls?”

“Kinda…”

“Pretty much what Granny said to me.” Doco interjected.

“Right. You train, then you come here. Have a battle with an orc. Pull some reaper shit and kill Roshu?”

“I’m not a reaper..” Kenan tried to correct.

“Yeah, pretty much what happened.” Doco said.

“Now you have a hero's name. Kenan Noctis of the Sorrowful Night. You said the name “Noctis” was given by a guy named Jorun. Hold on, back up. Are you going to address how you got Dion back, in wolf form.” Kenan shrugged. He didn’t know. Didn’t really care. He had his best friend back, that’s what matters. “Now you're going to be a swordsman killing dark lords left and right.”

“No…” Kenan said.

“Yeah.” Doco said.

“By the gods. What if you get seriously injured. Or worse” Lucy warned. Kenan shrugged. Focus no longer on the conversation.

The three were each on a horse leading the troupe of guardsmen and survivors. Luckily the bandits had enough steeds for everyone to ride, albeit some shared. Kenan was having a hard time with one hand trying to steer. Or he would’ve, if Jefned hadn't been a loyal and incredibly smart beast. Dion trotted along the hooves of Jefned. All of them had rode past earshot of the traveling band. Just so that they could have enough secrecy to talk about Kenan’s recent events.

Noctis constantly leaned forward and squinted his eyes. He knew he was about a mile out, yet the anticipation killed him. All he wanted to do right now is be welcomed by Herne and Sveige. Tell Jorun and Geia about his tales. Take his fake blade back. Introduce Lucy to his new found family. Have a meal with everyone, and let his body heal in the enjoyment of the ones he cared about.

“Are you even listening to me?!” Lucy exclaimed. He didn’t answer. “You..”

“Luce.” Doco interrupted her. “Go ahead.” A knowing smile on his face. Kenan looked back to his uncle. Who nodded in affirmation.

Noctis shifted his gaze towards Dion. “Can you keep up?” Dion barked. Kenan nodded, of course he could. “Sis, Uncle, I’ll see you soon.”

“Wait hold on..” Lucy began. Kenan already kicked his heels and spurred the horse to a faster pace. He heard a yell behind him, but ignored it with a smile. Jefned ran with all of his might. Dion kept the pace with a tongue out. Noctis’ long, not pulled back hair flowed in the wind behind him, and each stride made his excitement hurtle further.

In a short time he saw the gates. They opened without conversation. He briskly told the guard on duty to expect the others to arrive in a half hour or so. That and to get ready a multitude of temporary shelters. The guard wanted to know more details but Kenan cut the conversation short and rode on.

He sped through the village, probably a little too fast. Finally he came upon the blacksmith's home. With as much speed and efficiency as the current one hand could muster, he jumped off his horse, and hitched it. Walking up the steps, he didn’t see or hear Sveige working the forge. Upon getting closer to the door, he heard plenty of noise. Conversation and bustle, all muted and indecipherable through the wood.

Noctis looked at Dion. “Behave please.” The wolf pup responded with an indignant huff. Kenan rolled his eyes. Then he knocked on the door.

The noise immediately stopped. Then he heard a faint. “I’ll get it.” From a male voice. Three stomps later, the door handle latched. Sveige opened the door. The two looked at each for a few moments of silence. Noctis smiled. “Kenan!” The large man pulled him into a bear hug. Kenan felt pain radiate from his injuries, but it was overwhelmed by an overpowering warmth in his chest.

“Kenan’s here?!” Hernie rushing from whatever chore she was doing. She plugged beside her husband and wretched Noctis from the bear hug. “Oh dear boy.” She said as she too hugged him. Then she gave him a once over. “You're injured! Are you in pain, do we need…”

“The legendary Noctis returns!” Jorun and Geia appeared in between their parents. “You have to tell me everything that’s happened. You better have done something epic.”

“Jorun!” His mother slapped the back of his head.

“What's with the dog?” Geia asked.

Kenan didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He was so overwhelmed with feeling all he could do was smile. They badgered him with a hundred questions. Each one right after the other. All he could do was smile.

***

Eventually they had settled down, or at least enough to let Kenan talk. He told them a brief summary of the events, with the promise of more details at dinner. Also the oath he swore to Jorun that he would give all the gritty details later. He didn’t try to explain Dion, he just told them Dion was a new companion he met on the trip back. Also, they all seemed excited to meet his sister.

"So we're going to have to figure out where Lucy is going to sleep." Hernie said.

"I don't think you'll be able to convince her to stay. Her stubborn side vastly outweighs mine." Kenan said. "she will also be busy being mother hen to the survivors. " He suddenly thought back to his chickens. Then erased the thought.

"Now that she is back, and the bandits are…"

A knock on the door interrupted their talk. Hernie stood, but Kenan was faster. He opened the passageway to both Doco and Lucy. Once again, all he could do once again was smile.

***

They had gotten extra chairs and crushed into their table. Hernie had gone to the Market earlier to buy more food, a lot more food. Doco had given her, somewhat forcefully, some gold. Kenan was eternally grateful, because the void in his stomach was nothing compared to the abyss of Nonesthic.

They all had talked, mostly more words than food. Except for Noctis. Who finished everyone's left overs.

Jorun was jaw dropped the moment he laid eyes on Lucy, and flirted endlessly and without pause. Lucy had taken a shine to Geia. Hernie and Sveige grilled her about Kenan's and hers childhood. They somehow skirted all the negatives and strictly brought out the laughs and good times. Lucy vultured over Kenan's embarrassing stories and Doco amplified them.

"He used to roll in the mud with the pigs. Then nap while laying on them." Lucy said with a smile.

"I thought you were weird to began with." Jorun started. "But that was a cool weird now you're just wierd weird." That got a laugh from the table. After a few moments, companionable silence took over.

Sveige interrupted. "I have to ask. Kenan. Now that the bandits are gone and your sister is saved. What is your next move?"

Hernie leaned forward. "I wonder the same thing. Are you to join the guard?" Jorun began to say something before Hernie covered his mouth.

Kenan looked to Doco. The look he got in return gave him what he wanted. Not everything, but enough. "For now I will take my time to get back to optimal health. Then I'm afraid I will have to put the blade in more use."

"Why is that?" Lucy asked. She wasn't told either

"This doesn't leave this house." Doco said as both a warning and a request.

Noctis looked in the eyes of all of them, one by one. Geia she'd away from his stare. "Dark tidings. Orcs from Shrigor have come threatening both nations."

Jorun convulsed in excitement. In his eyes, he foresaw untold epics. Hernie clamped his mouth shut with practiced ease. "And you will what? Defeat them on your own?" She asked.

"No… I don’t know. I just…" involuntarily he clutched the black blade resting on his lap. "I have promised to you all that I would return. I also made the silent oath that I would protect you all with my life and sword. The orcs threaten you all. I have also said I would no longer allow for monsters to reach the survivors. I intend to honor my word. No matter the cost."

"You don't have to throw yourself at an horde of orcs." Lucy said. Hernie and Sveige nodded in agreement.

"I will if I must. Besides,” He looked at Jorun. "how will the legend of Noctis spread if I don't do anything epic?"

Jorun ripped his mother's hand from his mouth. *That's what I've been trying to say!"