That night, Firefall Fortress's banquet hall blazed with light.
Though Ye Wei'an had stolen the spotlight, Lady Selina spared no expense on the food, determined to maintain appearances.
Whole roast pigs sizzled with dripping fat, their skins crisp and their meat succulent. Pots of rich beef stew simmered until tender, filled with hearty chunks of potato and sharp pepper. There were also heaps of smoked ribs piled like little mountains, and freshly baked white bread, perfect for dipping into the stew.
Each soldier carried a large wooden mug filled to the brim with strong ale. They tore into the juicy pork legs, grease running down their chins.
But no feast, however lavish, could outshine the lively conversation around the tables.
These two days of bandit suppression were the army's only topic of conversation, and nothing had fired everyone's imagination more than the rumor of a "collective breakthrough under pressure."
"You've got to be kidding! After one battle, they all became professionals? What do you think professionals are, cabbages?"
The guards who had stayed behind were still skeptical, downing their ale as they scoffed.
But as the drinks went around, reality kept slapping the doubters in the face.
"Hey, Matthew, tell us the truth. What happened?" An old soldier grabbed a rookie who was gnawing on a pig's trotter. "I saw you unloading this afternoon. You picked up those hundred-pound crates of armor, one in each hand! You never had that kind of strength with those skinny arms of yours!"
Matthew wiped the grease from his face. His eyes still shone with the excitement of battle as he gave a bashful grin. "You bet! I don't know why, but when those smugglers charged us, I suddenly burst with strength I never knew I had. And now I'm like this!"
There were