Chapter 20 - The Magic of a Party

A few days after the battle with the tusklings, the town thrummed with life. Lanterns swung from fresh-strung lines, glass orbs catching late sun like bottled stars. Banners of deep blue and gold were tied to garden arches; the scent of sugared pastries and roasted herbs drifted through the paths leading to the Guild Hall.

Aiden stood before a small mirror in a side room, tugging at the collar of a suit-like jacket the local tailor had insisted he borrow. The fabric was heavier than suits from his previous life, sturdier seams, a hand-stitched pattern like wind-swirls along the lapels. He adjusted the cuffs, exhaling slowly.

Since the battle…

The memories lined up, clean and bright. Evacuated families had returned, tears turning to laughter as doors opened and hearths relit. Streets once silent now hummed with vendors and musicians. Jaxson and Avery, finally reunited, had made a decision that shocked no one who knew them: they would marry today. They refused to wait. Maximus had asked if they could adjust the town’s celebration of them into a wedding reception.

Valerie’s voice had answered first, bright and sure: “A celebration of true love? Count us in!”

Aiden smiled at the thought and straightened his jacket. He stepped into the Guild Hall’s main chamber to wait, polished stone and soft gardens visible through the high windows. The low chatter of guests warmed the space.

A loud creeeak-THUNK! echoed through the hall as a door swung open and shut.

Aiden looked up.

Chloe stood at the base of the staircase with a hand to her mouth, pretending to trumpet. “Attention, attention!” She pointed up, eyes sparkling. “Behold Aiden, your lovely date for the evening.”

Valerie descended the stairs.

Her dress was a soft blue that caught the light like lakewater at dawn. The skirt flowed in gentle layers; a thin ribbon wrapped her waist. Her hair was down, as she preferred, curled at her shoulders. For a heartbeat, the chatter faded from Aiden’s ears. The world narrowed to the shape of her smile.

“Wow…” The word escaped before he could stop it.

Valerie’s lips curved. “You don’t look too bad yourself.” She caught his collar playfully, tugged him close, and kissed him. Laughter and a few exaggerated groans fluttered from nearby onlookers.

Chloe sighed, hand to forehead. “Gross. Did you time that just for me?”

“Absolutely,” Valerie said without missing a beat.

They laughed and made their way out to the gardens where the ceremony would be held. Rows of white chairs flanked a flower-strewn aisle. At the far end, an arch braided with ivy framed the sky.

Arm in arm, Aiden and Valerie took their places near the back of the line, groomsman and bridesmaid. Ahead of them, Maximus, leaning on a cane but standing tall, offered his arm to Chloe, who wore a precise grin as the Maid of Honor. Robert waited at the front beneath the arch, hands folded over a small book.

Jaxson stood beside him.

Even at a distance, Aiden saw the tremor in the man’s hands. But the smile, wide and helpless, said everything.

Aiden slipped out of line for a second and clapped a hand to Jaxson’s shoulder. “Hey. I’m really happy for you two.”

Jaxson’s eyes glossed. He pulled Aiden into a quick, tight hug. “We wouldn’t be here without you and Val.”

“Anytime, my friend. Anytime.” Aiden squeezed back and returned to his place.

The garden filled with a low, joyful roar as more townsfolk settled in. Music swelled, strings and a bright wooden flute, and the procession began.

Maximus and Chloe went first. Maximus surprised everyone with a full smile, letting the moment soften him. Aiden and Valerie followed. She squeezed his arm.

“This,” she whispered, “is what it’s all been for. Days like today.”

He nodded, heart light. If this is what our power can protect, then every hardship was worth it.

They reached the front and split to their sides, standing beside Maximus and Chloe. A little girl toddled down the aisle next, tossing flower petals in enthusiastic clumps that landed wherever fate decided. Behind her, a small boy clutching a cushion with two rings marched with exaggerated care. He stopped in front of Maximus, cheeks pink, and held the rings up.

“Good work, soldier,” Maximus said, ruffling the boy’s hair. The boy beamed and sprinted back to his seat, nearly tripping and then catching himself with a proud little hop.

The music shifted.

Everyone rose. The back doors of the Guild opened.

Avery stood framed in light, a white dress flowing like a waterfall around her. At her side was her father—gruff-faced, jaw like stone, yet smiling as if he’d just remembered the sun existed. They walked slow, the murmurs of the crowd melting into a soft hum of awe.

Jaxson’s breath hitched. Then the tears started—silent, impossible to hide.

Aiden felt a small pinch of amused envy and smothered a laugh. I didn’t even cry at my own wedding. He shook his head at himself, warmth curling in his chest.

At the arch, Avery’s father kissed her cheek and placed her hand in Jaxson’s. “Take care of my little girl,” he whispered.

“Yes, sir,” Jaxson said without a tremor. “I promise.”

Robert lifted a hand and the audience sat. His voice was clear and gentle. “Love is patient, love is fierce. It is a steady choice and a wild risk. Today, Jaxson and Avery choose both.”

He spoke of kindness and courage, of ordinary days that become sacred when shared. Then he nodded to Avery. “The couple has prepared vows.”

Avery drew a small stack of parchment from her sleeve, glanced down, and slowly let the pages fall to her side. She lifted her chin.

“I didn’t think love was for someone like me,” she said, voice steady but soft. “The way I grew up… the things I’ve seen… affection looked like a story for other people. Then you walked into the apothecary.” She smiled through sudden tears. “I prayed to The Creator that just once my hope wouldn’t be foolish. And you… you met me there. You chose me.”

She looked over at the wedding party—Aiden, Valerie, Maximus, Chloe. “When the tusklings came, I thought I’d lost my future. But our friends didn’t let that happen. I won’t waste that gift. Jaxson, for as long as I live, I’ll do what it takes to keep you safe, to make you happy, to show you you’re loved. Every day.” She laughed softly, wiping her eyes. “I love you. Forever.”

Jaxson swallowed hard, took a breath, and lifted his head. “I always noticed you,” he said. “I just… didn’t know how to speak without ruining it. Everyone says love doesn’t matter anymore. But when I brought that injured man to your counter, I had to talk to you.”

A murmur of recognition rolled through the crowd.

“That conversation was the best thing that ever happened to me...until the day you said yes.” He straightened a little. “I will keep you safe. I will make you proud of the man you chose. I will work every day to be worthy of your ‘forever.’ I love you. Always.”

Robert nodded once, solemn. “Then hear the old words. Do you, Jaxson, promise to cherish Avery, in strength and in weakness, in plenty and in want, till death parts the two of you?”

“I do.”

“And you, Avery, do you promise to cherish Jaxson, in strength and in weakness, in plenty and in want, till death parts the two of you?”

“I do.”

“The rings.”

Maximus passed them over, and the couple slid the bands onto each other’s fingers—metal gleaming with the reflection of a hundred smiling faces.

Robert’s smile deepened. “By vow and witness, I pronounce you husband and wife.”

Jaxson and Avery leaned in and kissed. Applause broke like a wave—cheers, whistles, Chloe’s delighted whoop. Petals rained from the flower girl’s hands in a final triumphant flurry.

The newlyweds turned, hand in hand, raising their joined arms high. The moment stretched—bright and clean—and then the noise swelled again, joy filling every corner of the garden.

Robert lifted a palm and the crowd settled into a playful hush. “Friends,” he called, “the reception begins immediately inside the Guild Hall. Come share food, music, and your loudest blessings with our newly married couple.”

Chairs scraped. Laughter spilled. Musicians struck up a brisk tune as people began to flow toward the hall.

Aiden glanced at Valerie. She had that look again—the soft light in her eyes that she got whenever hope came back from the dead. He offered his arm.

“Shall we?”

“We shall,” she said, looping her arm with his.

They followed the tide toward the doors, the day opening in front of them like a promise.

The reception hall was alive with warmth and laughter. Tables overflowed with food, pitchers of wine and cider sloshed as they were passed around, and every corner echoed with chatter. Aiden and Valerie took their seats at the long table near the front, beside Jaxson and Avery, with Maximus and Chloe anchoring the other side.

For a moment, they sat in silence, soaking in the sight. Townsfolk danced, clinked mugs, and traded stories, their faces lit with the glow of survival and celebration.

Valerie leaned toward Aiden, resting her elbow on the table. “Remember our wedding day?”

Aiden chuckled. “Yeah. Hard to forget.”

He let his mind wander back. “We picked that stone arch on the riverwalk—the one carved with those crazy patterns we always admired on our walks. It was a Sunday, blistering hot. We’d been stressing about the big ceremony, the cost, the guest list full of people we barely knew. Finally, we said ‘screw it.’ We just wanted to be married. So we grabbed one of our friends to officiate, had our best friends as best man and maid of honor… and my brother was the only family who made it. We told our parents at the last minute since we wanted to avoid the drama.”

Valerie laughed softly. “God, it was sweltering that day. But it was perfect.”

“One of the best decisions of my life,” Aiden agreed.

She nudged him, a teasing glint in her eyes. “You still owe me a big official ceremony, you know.”

He grinned sheepishly. “I was planning a vow renewal someday. Then…well, the crash happened. Kinda wrecked the schedule.”

Valerie rolled her eyes but smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

The guild hall fell quiet as Maximus rose, cane in one hand and a glass in the other. “If I may,” he rumbled, his voice carrying even without effort. “I’d like to say a few words as Jaxson’s best man.”

Everyone settled back into their seats.

“I’ve known Jaxson since he was small,” Maximus began. “Always brave, always kind. And when he became a town guard, I knew it suited him perfectly. Yet the boy was *very *reckless.” Laughter rippled through the hall. “Thankfully, he found Avery. A woman strong enough to rein him in.”

Avery squeezed Jaxson’s hand, smirking at him. Jaxson reddened but grinned.

Maximus’s gaze softened. “I believe, because of the example set by my parents, Robert and Gloria, that any relationship where two people keep choosing each other, keep fighting for each other, can thrive. So let us raise our glasses to Jaxson and Avery.”

“MAY THEY THRIVE!” voices roared. Glasses clinked and drinks went down.

Maximus raised his glass again, eyes twinkling. “And…with Jaxson’s blessing, I’d like to mention two others. The couple who not only helped make this wedding possible, but who saved Auravale itself. Please welcome, for a few words, Aiden and Valerie.”

The hall erupted. Applause thundered, feet stomped, whistles pierced the air. Even Jaxson and Avery stood, clapping with tears in their eyes.

Aiden and Valerie stood awkwardly, faces burning red. They waved, trying to calm the crowd. Valerie jabbed an elbow into Aiden’s side. “Go on.”

The laughter from the crowd made his ears hotter. He cleared his throat. “Uh… thank you, Maximus. And thank you all.”

He glanced at Valerie, then out at the room. “If you don’t know by now… Valerie and I came from another world and when we arrived, we obviously knew no one. But Maximus and Chloe believed in us. Helped us grow. Taught us what we needed. Not just about magic, but about trust.”

He looked at Jaxson and Avery. “Seeing you two reminds us why we were brought here. Marriage, love…the things that truly matter. We’re honored to share this day with you.” He raised his glass. “To the newlyweds!”

“To the newlyweds!” the crowd echoed, glasses lifted.

Then came a Clap. Clap. Clap.

Slow, deliberate. From the entrance.

Every head turned.

Zachary stepped into the hall. His hair was unkempt, his once-immaculate suit rumpled. A wild gleam burned in his eyes. Everly trailed behind him, hesitant, fear plain in her face.

Zachary snatched a half-empty glass from a table, lifted it lazily. “A most happy life to the newlyweds.” He drained it in one long swallow, then hurled the glass to the ground sending glass shards everywhere.

Gasps spread through the hall.

“You all are cheering for frauds!” Zachary’s voice cracked, then sharpened, spitting venom. “The only reason they beat the Alpha was luck. Nothing but luck!”

Jaxson shoved back his chair, rising. “Zachary, that’s enough. Go home. Rest.”

“Shut up!” Zachary snarled, eyes bloodshot. “I won’t be humiliated again, especially not by you. Not by a lowlife guard.”

Jaxson’s fists clenched, face darkening. But Aiden’s hand stopped him.

“Your problem’s with me, Zachary,” Aiden said evenly. “Not Jaxson. Not Avery.”

He walked around the table, calm, with no sudden movements and placed a hand lightly on Zachary’s shoulder. “Let’s take this outside. Away from the reception.”

Zachary’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “I couldn’t agree more.”

In a blur, he seized Aiden’s collar, spun him, and unleashed earth magic. The ground buckled beneath Aiden’s feet. With a violent shove of force, Zachary blasted him through the guild’s front doors.

CRASH!

Aiden tumbled across the street, body ragdolling before he skidded to a stop on the cobblestones. Groaning, he pushed to his elbows.

Zachary strode out after him, fire crackling in both hands. Everly followed reluctantly, hovering at the edge of the doorway, her eyes pleading.

Flames roared to life as Zachary spread his arms wide, crouching into a stance. His voice carried across the street, sharp as broken glass.