End

Roz woke up to a bright yellow light. The back of his head felt soft and fluffy, like he was laying on top of the clouds in the sky. His mind felt weightless, as if it was floating in the air, and his body felt all warm and tingly inside, like he was wrapped around a peaceful flame. He reached his hand out into the light.

“Is this…..the afterlife?”

Someone grabbed his hand.

“No, silly. This is Bordertown.”

Sonia snickered as she sat right beside him. Roz tried to get up, but he felt sharp pain spread out all around his body.

“Relax. Take it easy.” The elf patted his head.

Roz realized that they were riding on top of Lupa’s wolf, and this was not in fact, a cloud in the sky.

“How am I still alive?” he asked.

“Because of me, obviously!” Sonia gave him a smug grin. “You forget how good of a Restorer I am, kid. Don’t underestimate your elders.”

Roz sighed.

So I get to live another day, huh?

He looked at the horizon, and found Morri’s figure hunched over Taiga’s lifeless body, her wails audible enough to hear from this distance.

They really did love each other.

Roz felt bad about using her as a hostage, but that was the only way he could get Taiga to accept his terms.

Meanwhile Bianca and the Knights of Alexandria were standing nearby, communicating with a group of barbarians from the Crimson Desert Tribe. It looked like they agreed to some sort of settlement. The barbarians then carried Taiga’s body with them and turned their backs on Bordertown, returning to the Far Lands. Morri, who walked alongside them, stopped to look back one last time. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but he could tell that she was directing her anger towards him for killing her beloved.

Now that the barbarians have retreated, Bianca and her knights began heading back to the wall. Much to Roz’s relief, there were no casualties. Everyone was spared. Roz had taken the brunt of the battle as he wished, and he was satisfied by what he had achieved.

Once Bianca arrived, the first thing she did was approach Roz.

“Alai-” The lady hero stopped herself mid-sentenced and coughed. “Roz.”

“I survived,” Roz said. “Does that mean you’re going to kill me instead?”

He noticed that Bianca had trouble looking at him straight in the eye and fixed her gaze elsewhere.

“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to spare your life for your service. Bordertown owes you a great deal now. If it weren’t for you, the Crimson Desert Tribe would have had their way with the town, and I would have ended up becoming one of Taiga’s wives. So…..”

Bianca looked like she wanted to say something, but it was stuck on the tip of her tongue.

“Just say it already!” Lupa yelled.

She groaned. “Just give me a second!”

Bianca glanced back and forth towards Roz. “T-T……you.”

“What?” Roz scratched his head.

“Thank you.” Bianca turned her face away from him. “But this doesn’t mean I forgive you for what you did to my brother!”

I don’t really mind…..

At least now, Bianca wasn’t hellbent on killing Roz anymore. The bounty on him had been declared null and void, so he didn’t have to worry about anyone hunting for his head. He’d have to lay low for a while. News didn’t spread that fast, so it would be safer to wait for a couple of weeks.

“So what are you going to do now?” Sonia asked Roz.

He shrugged. “I honestly haven’t planned that far ahead. I genuinely believed I was going to die today.”

“Well, it’s not like life requires you to always have a plan in mind.” Sonia giggled.

Roz placed his arms behind his head.

“For starters, I could use another book at Amity’s place.”

Roz didn’t have to think very hard about his goals for the future.

I’ll just do what I’ve always done. Protecting Bordertown in Lucian’s stead.