Another Reunion

Now returning to Evona, who had fallen asleep in Yumi’s lap. Something was amiss as Evona was now gone, and Yumi was sleeping in Evona’s stead. Yumi starts to wake up from her comfortable nap.

“Oh dear, it seems I got too comfortable petting her that I fell asleep myself,” Yumi realized. “I guess I’ll probably get in trouble for this.”

Yumi undoubtedly made a mistake in letting Evona escape from her clutches, but Yumi didn’t seem to mind. Instead, she continued to hum and relax in her sitting position, enjoying the small garden she created with her powers.

On the other hand, Khrom was not in a position to relax at all. He was mid-fight against another older man, but it was completely one-sided. As the old man summoned creatures from his seemingly unlimited arsenal, Khrom did his best to withstand them.

It was clear Khrom had been withstanding the old man’s attacks for some time already. In fact, it seemed like Khrom wasn’t even fighting to win, but instead to outlast the old man.

“What’s wrong, boy?” the old man asked. “You have yet to try and attack me. Do you really plan on just letting me summon my creatures?”

Khrom responded, “I’m not the one to try and fight enemies I don’t need to make. Plus, I know that I wouldn’t stand a chance against you if I got you riled up, Hero Tatsuki.”

“Ah, I see that you do know who I am,” the old man named Tatsuki responded. “And that you are quite wise for your age. But I recommend you try your best, as I won’t let up just because you won’t fight back.”

“Thanks for the warning, but I’m playing a different game here,” Khrom confidently announced.

Just as Khrom announced he had a different strategy mind, Evona appeared from another entrance in the room they were fighting in.

“Khrom!” Evona yelled out to the very beat-up Khrom.

“Finally, one of you guys showed up,” Khrom said in relief. “I knew you’d somehow make it to me.”

“Ah, so that’s your game plan,” Tatsuki concluded as he turned towards Evona. “Though it matters not, two on one is not a difficult task for myself.”

Tatsuki summoned more monsters between him and Evona, making Evona prep herself for battle. Though before their fight could start, more people entered the room.

“How about four on one!” Kaito shouted confidently with Rina in tow as they entered from another entrance to the room.

The whole group was reunited!

“Still doable,” Tatsuki replied unfazed.

“Wait, really?” Kaito was shocked by his response.

“Doable, but unnecessary.” Tatsuki clarified. “If you’re all so adamant, you are free to leave.”

Tatsuki pointed towards a hallway that none of the group was standing in front of. His arm was shaking, bringing into reality how old he truly was.

“Take that path, and it will lead you out of this place,” Tatsuki explained.

The group was skeptical about whether Tatsuki was serious, but he somehow seemed genuine.

Rina made the decision. “Come on, we’re getting out of here.”

The group slowly followed Rina towards the exit. Partially confused, partially happy. All they knew it that their extended adventure had come to an end.

____________________________________________________________________________

In a familiar place, albeit not to Kaito, another meeting was occurring. The man, familiar to all, started the conversation.

“Okay… Can one of you four, PLEASE, tell me how you all failed to detain them, AND lost the relic!”

The man was clearly upset with the group. This man was the Hero Knight, Kouki.

He was having a meeting with the rest of his allies: the four of Kaede, Henry, Yumi, and Tatsuki. Shen, Kouki’s second in command, was also present in the meeting. It was a Hero’s party reunion.

Henry and Kaede were too embarrassed to talk, while Yumi and Tatsuki barely knew anything, so they also remained silent.

“Someone has to say something…” Shen announced.

Kaede snapped, “It was that stupid ‘Lonely Queen’ and company!”

“And, company?” Shen asked for clarification.

“The hooded thief,” Henry announced Kaito.

“The stalwart tank,” Tatsuki mentioned Khrom.

“And the cute cat girl,” Yumi joyously finished with Evona.

“That party…” Kouki started thinking out loud. “They’re the same group that discovered the lower layers of the abandoned castle dungeon. And that boy. He has been with the Lonely Queen since completing the Giora ruins dungeon.”

“Actually—”

“That boy!” Henry shouted out, interrupting Shen. “He used a skill a thief cannot use! He must be a reincarnated!”

Kouki leaned back. “Masked under a strong ally, he went under my radar.”

“Ho ho, if he truly is a reincarnated like us, then we really shouldn’t have let them escape,” Tatsuki laughed off the group’s mistake.

“We had no choice, Kaede was about to keel over,” Yumi laughed alongside Tatsuki, adding to his jokes. “I had to straighten her back out with my healing first.”

“Shut up, Yumi!” Kaede was not happy. “You just let your captive walk out on you!”

Yumi and Tatsuki continued laughing away the group’s failure, as Kaede was just about ready to jump onto the table they were discussing around, to attack Yumi.

“Calm down, everyone,” Shen neutered the group. “This can easily be remedied.”

Upon Shen finishing his sentence, the group looked towards Kouki, who seemed to have come to a conclusion.

“It’s just as Shen says. This will be dealt with accordingly,” Kouki started finalizing his decision. “Shen, gather those two assassins. The rest of you keep an eye out for the Dragon Generals.”

“Understood, Kouki,” Shen responds.

Standing up from the table, Kouki ends the meeting. “You’re all dismissed. Don’t mess up like this again.”