The sunlight bathed the vilge in a warm, golden glow as Yuki and Lirien made their way down the winding path from the mountains. The crisp air carried the faint scent of pine and earth, a stark contrast to the stifling, acrid smell of the ant queen’s ir they had just left behind. Yuki walked steadily, her porcein features calm and detached, carrying the ant queen’s severed head in one hand. Its mandibles hung limp, the once-terrifying visage now lifeless. Beside her, Lirien moved gracefully despite her exhaustion, her auburn hair gleaming like autumn leaves under the fading sunlight. Her bow was slung over her shoulder, a testament to their shared victory.

  Their bodies bore the marks of the grueling battle. Armor scuffed, clothing torn, and dried blood smeared across their skin and weapons. Yet, there was a quiet pride in their stride. They had accomplished what many thought impossible—defeating the ant queen that had pgued the vilge and surrounding nds for months.

  As they descended, the vilge came into view, nestled snugly at the base of the mountains. The sight of it brought a fleeting warmth to Yuki’s otherwise stoic demeanor. The crooked huts of goblins and kobolds sprawled haphazardly, smoke curling zily from their chimneys. Simple wooden fences encircled the settlement, offering a meager sense of security that had done little against the relentless tide of monstrous ants. Now, with the queen gone, the threat was diminished.

  Ahead, the vilge gates stood slightly ajar, as if waiting for their return. The closer they drew, the more the sounds of the vilge reached their ears—a growing murmur of voices tinged with excitement and relief. When they were finally within sight, a lookout cried out, “They’re back! They’ve returned!”

  The gates swung open with a loud creak, and the vilge erupted into cheers. Goblins and kobolds poured out to greet them, their expressions ranging from awe to disbelief as their eyes nded on the ant queen’s head in Yuki’s grasp. Her glowing violet eyes swept over the crowd, emotionless yet commanding attention. Without a word, she strode forward, and with a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the monstrous head onto the ground before the gathered vilgers.

  A hush fell over the crowd as the head rolled to a stop, its once-mighty mandibles now utterly still. For a moment, the silence was thick, the enormity of what Yuki and Lirien had achieved sinking in. Then, the vilge elder—a wizened kobold with graying scales and a walking stick—stepped forward. His wide, yellow eyes darted between the severed head and the two warriors who stood before him.

  “By the spirits…” he whispered, his voice trembling. “You… you killed the queen. You actually did it!” His shock quickly gave way to joy as he raised his arms high. “This is cause for celebration! Tonight, we honor these heroes who have saved our home!”

  The vilgers erupted into cheers once more, their voices ringing out in a cacophony of jubition. Some wept openly, overcome with relief. Others cpped their hands, stomped their feet, and shouted praises. Goblins and kobolds surged forward, surrounding Yuki and Lirien with admiration.

  “You’re amazing!” one kobold cried, his scales glinting in the light as he gazed at Yuki with wide eyes.

  “Such strength! You must be a master monk,” a goblin chimed in, mistaking Yuki’s ck of visible weapons for evidence of martial discipline.

  Lirien chuckled softly at the misunderstanding but said nothing to correct them. She gnced at Yuki, who merely inclined her head, her expression unreadable.

  Amid the crowd, a goblin bard with a patched lute slung across his back began to mutter excitedly to himself. “A monk and an archer, battling an endless tide of ants… oh, this will make for a grand song indeed!” He looked between Yuki and Lirien, already composing verses in his head.

  “A bard’s tale, huh?” Lirien said with a smirk, catching his words.

  “Of course!” the bard excimed, his eyes shining. “It shall be a tale of courage and triumph! The monk, wielding nothing but her fists, and the archer, her arrows swift as the wind, vanquish the queen and save the nd!”

  Yuki said nothing, letting the bard’s imagination run wild. Lirien shot her a knowing gnce but decided not to intervene.

  ---

  Hours ter, the vilge square was alight with celebration. Bonfires crackled, their warm glow illuminating the joyous faces of goblins and kobolds as they sang, danced, and feasted. Rough-hewn tables groaned under the weight of roasted meats, fresh bread, and barrels of ale. The bard strummed his lute, weaving a spirited tune that had everyone cpping along.

  Lirien was at the center of it all, her emerald eyes sparkling with ughter as she joined a group of kobolds in an impromptu dance. Her auburn hair caught the firelight, making her appear almost otherworldly—a figure of grace and joy amidst the revelry.

  Yuki, however, kept her distance. She stood at the edge of the square, her violet eyes quietly observing the scene. She leaned against a tree, her expression calm but distant, as if she were a world apart from the merriment around her. The sounds of ughter and music reached her ears, but they felt muted, like echoes from a pce she couldn’t quite reach.

  The vilge elder approached her, his movements slow but deliberate. “You’re not joining the celebration?” he asked, his voice kind.

  Yuki gnced at him, her tone even. “It’s not my pce.”

  “Nonsense,” the elder said, leaning on his stick. “You and the archer—Lirien, was it?—are the reason we can celebrate at all. You should be at her side, basking in the gratitude of those you’ve saved.”

  Yuki’s gaze shifted to Lirien, who was now singing along with the bard, her ughter ringing out as she cpped in time with the music. The sight brought a faint flicker of something to Yuki’s expression—an emotion too fleeting to name.

  “She’s happy,” Yuki said softly. “That’s enough for me.”

  The elder tilted his head, studying her. “You care for her deeply.”

  Yuki didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on Lirien, her voice quiet when she finally spoke. “She’s… important.”

  The elder nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “Then let her know. Don’t let the weight you carry keep you apart from those who bring you peace.”

  Yuki’s gaze lingered on Lirien for a moment longer before she inclined her head slightly. The elder, satisfied, patted her arm gently before returning to the festivities.

  As the celebration continued, Yuki remained in her quiet corner, content to watch from afar. The firelight danced across Lirien’s features as she ughed and sang with the vilgers, her joy a beacon that stood in stark contrast to Yuki’s solitude. And yet, Yuki felt no bitterness, no longing to join in. She was at peace, simply watching the one

  person who had managed to find a pce in her heart.