After the funeral.
Silence did not linger forever.
That night, under a sky scattered with quiet stars, the village of Driftwood gathered once more.
Not to mourn…
But to remember.
Torches were lit across the village square. Long wooden tables were arranged, filled with food and barrels of freshly brewed beer. The air, once heavy with grief, now carried warmth, laughter… and something softer.
Acceptance.
At the center, standing atop a wooden platform.
Gurtrud Strage.
A mug full of beer raised high in his hand.
His voice echoed across the gathering.
"We may have lost our friend…"
The chatter slowly died down.
"But we must remember what he fought for."
His grip tightened slightly.
"So we will continue to live. To prosper."
His eyes softened.
"With his name… etched in our hearts."
He raised his mug higher.
"Let's say cheers to our dear comrade… and friend… Dorian Grey."
And in his heart, he thought...
'This is for you, my friend.'
"CHEERS!!"
The entire village roared as one.
Mugs lifted high into the night sky.
Kael and Julian joined them.
Kael glanced sideways at Julian, a smirk forming.
"This is your first time drinking beer, isn't it?"
Julian stiffened.
"N-no! Of course not!" he shot back quickly. "I've had plenty! In fact, I was the best drinker in my territory!"
Kael's smirk deepened.
"…Is that so?"
Before Julian could respond.
A shadow loomed over them.
A massive man stepped forward.
Bald, save for thick eyebrows. An X-shaped scar marked his chin. His towering frame and muscular build made him look like a juvenile ogre given human form.
He looked down at Julian.
"Is it true… that you are the best drinker in your territory, young sir?"
Julian froze.
There was no escape now.
"O-of course!" he declared, puffing his chest.
The man's grin widened.
"Then how about a competition?"
From behind him...
He lifted four entire barrels of beer.
Two on each shoulder.
As if they weighed nothing.
Julian's soul nearly left his body.
He slowly turned toward Kael.
Who was clearly enjoying this.
Then…
An idea struck.
"Y-you see," Julian said quickly, "he is my sworn blood brother! I can't possibly compete while leaving him out, can I?"
While pointing at Kael.
The man turned towards him.
Same grin.
"Then why not, sir? The joy of drinking is in drinking together."
Kael sighed.
He looked at Julian.
Who gave him the most desperate smile imaginable.
A pause.
Then Kael stood.
"…Alright."
He stepped forward.
A calm, confident smile on his face.
"Let's get started."
The crowd gathered instantly.
Benches were set.
Barrels rolled in.
Mugs filled at lightning speed.
"LET'S GO, SIR KNIGHTS!!"
"SHOW HIM WHO'S BOSS!!"
"DON'T LET THE VILLAGE DOWN, RUDUS!!"
The atmosphere ignited.
The three sat opposite each other.
Mugs in hand.
"BEGIN!!"
They drank.
One mug.
Two.
Three.
Julian slammed his third mug down,
And immediately collapsed backward.
Unconscious.
Complete defeat.
Silence…
Then...
Laughter exploded.
Rudus blinked.
"…Oh my."
He scratched his head.
"Our young sir passed out pretty quickly… perhaps there aren't many drinkers in his territory?"
Kael smirked.
"Maybe today his luck wasn't with him."
The villagers roared.
Rudus laughed loudly.
"Then what about you, sir?!"
Kael picked up another mug.
Same calm expression with the same confident smirk.
"I'm feeling quite lucky today."
The competition continued.
Mugs emptied.
Barrels drained.
Cheers echoed endlessly.
Rudus began to feel it.
His face flushed.
His movements slowed.
But Kael.
Unshaken.
Unbothered.
Every drink.
Clean.
Controlled.
Effortless.
That same smirk remained.
Rudus slammed another mug down, breathing heavier now.
"…You're a tough one, young sir."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"…You can stop if you want."
"STOP?!" Rudus barked, laughing.
"A man doesn't stop halfway through a drink!"
Kael's smirk widened.
"…Fair enough."
Another round.
Rudus lifted his mug.
His hand trembling slightly.
"…You're not normal, are you?"
Kael didn't answer.
He just drank.
Silence fell.
Rudus stared.
Then...
He burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
He dropped the mug.
"I lose!!"
The crowd ERUPTED.
"RUDUS LOST?!"
"NO WAY!!"
"THE KNIGHT WON!!"
Rudus stood .
Staggered....
Then steadied himself.
He looked at Kael.
Then bowed deeply.
"You've got my respect, young sir."
Kael stood as well.
"…It was a good match."
Rudus glanced at Julian.
Still unconscious.
"…While that young sir needs more training."
The entire village burst into laughter.
The celebration continued deep into the night.
Laughter.
Music.
Stories.
For a few hours.
Grief loosened its hold.
Later...
The crowd thinned.
The noise faded.
Only quiet remained.
Kael stood alone at the edge of the village.
Looking up at the night sky.
Stars shimmered faintly.
Firelight reflected in his eyes.
"…Old man."
A quiet whisper.
"…I hope you're doing well."
Footsteps approached.
Julian.
Holding his head.
"…I feel like I got hit by a wagon."
Kael glanced at him.
"You lost to three cups."
Julian frowned.
"I was distracted."
"…By what?"
Julian paused.
"…The alcohol."
Kael let out a quiet chuckle.
Julian rubbed his head, then asked,
"But how did you manage to endure so well?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"The Dravenheart family… has a rather strong constitution."
Julian immediately protested.
"Hey! That's not fair! that's nepotism!"
Kael chuckled.
"Well, your ancestors should've fought dragons too, then."
Julian pouted, looking away.
"…I'll tell them that when I meet them."
Silence followed.
But this time...
It was peaceful.
Julian looked up at the sky.
"…Do you think he's watching?"
Kael answered after a moment.
"…Yeah."
Above them.
The stars burned quietly.
Endless.
Unmoving.
And somewhere in that vast sky.
A promise remained.
Unbroken.
The night had grown quieter.
The laughter had faded into distant echoes.
Only the wind remained.
"…So where do we go next?" Julian asked.
Kael didn't answer immediately.
He stood still, facing the open horizon beyond the village.
The breeze passed through his hair, carrying the faint scent of ash and wood.
For a moment.
He closed his eyes.
Then...
"Ashmorg."
The word left his mouth calmly.
But it carried weight.
Julian straightened slightly.
"When?"
Kael turned back toward him.
His expression steady.
"Tomorrow."
Julian blinked.
"…That soon?"
Kael nodded.
"There is no reason to wait."
A pause.
Then, quieter.
"…He's waiting."
Julian understood.
Not fully.
But enough.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
The two stood side by side.
Looking out into the darkness beyond Driftwood.
Toward a place neither of them had seen.
But both would soon step into.
Behind them.
The last embers of the celebration flickered.
Ahead.
Only uncertainty.
Julian stretched his arms slightly, wincing.
"…Next time, I'm winning the drinking contest."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"You passed out in three cups."
Julian frowned.
"…That was a strategic retreat."
Kael let out a quiet chuckle.
Then.
Silence returned.
But it wasn't heavy anymore.
It was… focused.
Kael took one last look at the sky.
At the stars.
"…Rest well, old man."
A whisper carried by the wind.
And just like that.
A new path had been chosen.