Reunion

A tavern where a hero finds his family's heirloom (kitchen knife).

The dishes were all served, and a white linen tablecloth was laid on the long table. The warm firelight made the delicacies on the table look even more tempting.

The perfectly roasted ibex leg glistened with oil, accompanied by rosemary and local tubers; the long honey-glazed roasted ham shone with a rich sheen; the whole roasted fish was sprinkled with herbs; steaming broth rose from a wide bowl; freshly baked bread filled the air with the aroma of wheat; and there were also colorful vegetable salads and meat pies drizzled with sauce.

The clinking of wine glasses, the symphony of cutlery against plates, and the rising and falling sounds of laughter filled the room, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

The group sat around a table, the atmosphere relaxed, filled with the leisurely joy of a long-awaited reunion.

Ruby the roasted meat in her mouth, her eyes sparkling, her tone filled with undisguised admiration. "So, Levi really shone brightly in the war against the Demons!" She nudged Himmel beside her with her elbow, "Although he wasn't on the front lines, as far as I know, he's single-handedly killed five lone Great Demons in the last three years! Isn't that right, Himmel?"

Levi, who was carefully cutting the lamb on his plate with his fork, paused upon hearing this, a gentle, slightly shy smile appearing on his face, and gently shook his head.

"Lady Ruby flatter me. It's just my duty. With you, my master, and all the seniors and reliable companions on the front lines, that's enough. You are the key to stabilizing the battle. All I can do is clear away some obstacles to the best of my ability."

After he finished speaking, he put a small piece of mutton into his mouth and chewed it with a calm and unhurried manner.

Himmel picked up his glass, took a sip, and looked at his disciple with approval in his eyes. "Indeed. Levi is my apprentice, but I've never demanded that he completely follow my fighting style. Finding the path that suits him best and being able to genuinely protect others—that's the best." He paused, a hint of barely perceptible pride in his voice, "He's done very well."

Lowell stirred the thick soup in front of him with a spoon, looked up at the comment, and smiled, replying, "That's great, the younger generation has really grown up." His gaze then shifted to Stoltz, who was sitting next to Eisen, "Stoltz, what about you? I heard you've been quite active since you left Eisen to travel alone."

Stoltz sat upright, put down his knife and fork upon hearing this, and calmly replied, "Yes. After leaving Lord Eisen, Wirbel, along with several like-minded companions, formed a small team and have been adventuring in the border regions, participating in the extermination of the remaining Demons forces. We have achieved some success."

Upon hearing this, Lowell's lips curled into a knowing smile. He picked up his glass and gestured to him, "You rascal, saying 'some gains' means you've definitely reaped a great harvest. Come on, let's drink to your achievements."

Stoltz did not deny it, but he also raised his glass, a calm smile on his face, and clinked glasses with Lowell across the glass before taking a big gulp.

On the other side, Millialdai sat next to Frieren.

With graceful movements, she scooped up a spoonful of smooth cream pudding with a silver spoon, put it in her mouth, and squinted her eyes slightly in satisfaction. Then, she sipped the wine in her glass with elegant grace, as if lost in her own thoughts.

Frieren ate the honey-drizzled omelet from her plate with a fork, and asked softly, "How have you been lately? You seem to be enjoying your life."

Millialdai set down her glass, gently wiping the wine stains from the corner of her lips with her fingertips, a serene satisfaction on her face.

"Hmm, not bad. Watching one child after another grow from green newbies into capable individuals in just a few years, I, as a teacher, have also found some... well, a new meaning in life." She smiled gently, "Although it can be quite noisy sometimes."

Frieren blinked her emerald eyes and smiled faintly as well, "Is that so?"

She seemed to understand the feeling of watching a "seedling" grow, just as she did when she watched Fern.

At the other end of the table, Heiter, his cheeks flushed from drinking, leaned over to Fern, who was quietly eating a salad, and said, "Fern! Come on, have a drink? This ale is really good!"

Fern raised his head, his pale purple eyes calmly glancing at Heiter, his tone completely unwavering. "No, Lady Heiter. I am not yet an adult, and according to the kingdom's laws and Frieren's instructions, I cannot drink alcohol."

Heiter pursed Heiter lips, put away the wine jug, turned and clinked glasses forcefully with Eisen beside him, "Come on, Eisen, let's drink!"

Eisen, standing nearby, chuckled, picked up his glass, and clinked it against Heiter's, making a crisp sound. "Fern is still a child, don't corrupt her." With that, he downed his drink in one gulp.

Fern looked at Heiter and smiled gently.

Lowell raised an eyebrow at Heiter's appearance. "You rascal, are you at it again? Did you bring that wine jug again?"

Heiter let out a hiccup, chuckled, and said with a touch of nonchalance, "Hahaha... what can I do! Ever since that little girl Lilisa went to work for the Empire, I haven't had anyone to keep an eye on my drinking! So I've gotten her back recently!" He swirled the flask, looked at Lowell, his eyes slightly unfocused yet filled with an inexplicable expectation, "Anyway... with you here, nothing serious will happen. And besides..."

His voice lowered, tinged with a slightly tipsy sigh, "Maybe if I keep drinking like this, one day that girl will suddenly come back, see me like this, stand there with her hands on her hips, jumping up and down in anger, and insist on forcing me to quit drinking... That scene, just thinking about it, isn't pretty good, hehe..."

Sense barely touched the knife and fork in front of her, only sipping her red wine, her eyes drooping, as if all the noise and warmth around her were separated from her by an invisible film, as quiet as an exquisite statue.

But Ruby would occasionally and enthusiastically place some of the food she thought was delicious, such as a piece of the tenderest fish belly or a berry coated in syrup, on Sense's almost empty plate, watching Sense.

Frieren ate quietly, occasionally glancing at the lively conversation of the crowd, her gaze mostly lingering on Lowell's profile.

When the waiter brought out a plate of exquisitely made pastries filled with mushrooms and minced meat, her eyes lit up slightly. She carefully picked one up with her fingertips, blew on it, and took a small bite. Her cheeks puffed out slightly as she chewed slowly, her emerald eyes narrowing with satisfaction.

Fern carefully noticed her preferences, quietly pushing the plate of pastries closer to her and handing her a clean napkin.

As the conversation at the table gradually spread, everyone chatted about their experiences, sharing interesting and embarrassing stories from their travels. The clinking of cutlery produced soft sounds, and the steam from the food mingled with the aroma of wine, filling the warm room.

Frieren quietly ate her dessert, occasionally glancing up to listen to everyone's conversation. Lowell chatted with Heiter and Eisen, occasionally bursting into laughter. Fern continued to eat her food in small bites, but her eyes were much gentler than usual.

Outside the window, the night in Oysast was peaceful and serene.