Annan's return did not draw much attention.
Olmedo, Idelia, Faster, Francois, Evelyn... that was about it.
Well, if Evelyn knew, half of Free City knew.
Free City changed by the day. Buildings that had been unfinished when Annan left were complete, and plenty of new houses were going up. Only the Mage Tower was still rising slowly; its Second Floor probably would not be finished this year.
There were a third more residents and visitors than before, too. The broad streets were finally bustling.
Lily was the first to greet Annan. She and Silly Cat were perched on the tavern eaves. The moment she saw him, Lily jumped down and ran toward him with a long, drawn-out meow. Silly Cat vanished somewhere.
Annan carried Lily in his left arm and the Flowerpot in his right as he returned to his bedroom in the City Lord's Mansion.
Warm afternoon sunlight spilled into the room. A sense of safety washed over him, bringing a wave of weariness and the urge to take a pleasant nap.
Annan did not dare. Who knew what sort of ceremony the Demon Lord he had ignored for months had prepared to "welcome" him?
Lily reached for the Otherworld Tree's leaves, but Annan moved her away and set the Flowerpot on the windowsill.
"This is important. Make sure you watch over it," Annan told Lily.
Standing by the window, Annan leaned out to look at the Crystal Nest next door.
"Has Illymoyas woken up?"
"No," Abby answered.
Dragons were one of the Long-lived Races that slept twice a year, six months at a time. As for why Illymoyas had not slept like that on the Northern Frontier... dragons only fell into deep sleep somewhere they felt safe.
In a way, that showed how much Illymoyas trusted Free City.