Chapter 96: The Reunion

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Reunion

They walked toward the crowd.

The plaza was packed. Hundreds of people. Families. Children. Old men and women. They were huddled together. They were talking. They were crying. They were waiting.

Daniel scanned the crowd. His eyes moved over the faces. He was looking for someone. Someone specific.

"Where is she?" he muttered.

Fluffy tugged on his sleeve. "Master, Fluffy sees pretty lady!"

Daniel looked. He followed her pointing finger. He saw her.

Lyra was standing near the edge of the crowd. She was leaning against a broken wall. Her arms were crossed. Her face was bored. Depressed. She looked like she had been waiting for hours. She looked like she had given up.

Then she saw him.

Her face lit up. Her eyes widened. Her lips curved into a smile.

She ran.

She ran toward him. Her hair flew behind her. Her dress billowed. Her feet pounded against the stone.

Daniel opened his arms.

She crashed into him. She hugged him. She held him tight.

"Daniel!" she cried. "You’re alive!"

Daniel hugged her back. He held her close. He felt her warmth. Her heartbeat. Her breath.

And then he felt something else.

He felt her chest pressing against his. He felt the softness. The roundness. The...

Damn, he thought. Those melons are nice.

He pushed the thought away. He focused on the moment. On the hug. On the fact that she was safe.

"I’m alive," he said. "I’m here."

Lyra pulled back. She looked at him. Her eyes were wet. She was smiling.

"I was so worried," she said. "I didn’t know where you were. I didn’t know if you were okay. I didn’t know if you were..."

She trailed off. She wiped her eyes.

"I’m okay," Daniel said. "I’m fine."

"You’re covered in blood."

"It’s not my blood."

Lyra blinked. "What?"

"It’s a long story."

She looked at him. At his tired face. At his bloody clothes. At his calm expression.

"I want to hear it," she said.

"I’ll tell you later."

She nodded. She looked behind him. She saw Fluffy. She smiled.

"Fluffy," she said. "You’re okay too."

Fluffy nodded. Her tail wagged. "Fluffy is okay. Fluffy found Master."

"I see that."

Lyra looked at Cheeky. Her expression shifted. Curious. Wary.

"Who’s this?" she asked.

Daniel gestured at Cheeky. "This is Cheeky."

Cheeky flinched. She looked nervous. Scared.

"Cheeky?" Lyra repeated.

"Yeah. Cheeky."

Lyra looked at Cheeky. At her white hair. At her pointed ears. At her pale skin.

"She’s an elf," Lyra said.

"Yes."

"An elf."

"Yes."

"Like the ones who attacked us."

"Yes."

Lyra’s hand moved to her gun. "Why is she here?"

Daniel held up a hand. "It’s a long story. She’s on our side now."

Lyra stared at him. "On our side?"

"Yes."

"She’s an elf."

"I know."

"An elf."

"Yes."

"And she’s on our side."

"Yes."

Lyra didn’t look convinced. She looked at Cheeky. Her eyes were cold.

"Why?" she asked.

Daniel sighed. "Fluffy convinced me to give her a chance."

Lyra looked at Fluffy. Fluffy nodded.

"She is good," Fluffy said. "Spicy is good. Fluffy saved her."

Lyra’s eye twitched. "Spicy?"

"Fluffy named her Spicy. But Master changed it to Cheeky."

Lyra looked at Daniel. Her expression was unreadable.

"You changed her name?" she asked.

Daniel shrugged. "Spicy was weird."

"It’s her name."

"I know. But it was weird."

Lyra shook her head. She looked at Cheeky again.

"Fine," she said. "But I’m watching you."

Cheeky nodded quickly. "Understood."

Lyra lowered her hand. She didn’t draw her gun. But she didn’t relax either.

Then a voice interrupted them.

"HELLO!"

Daniel turned.

A man was running toward them. He was tall. Lean. He wore simple armor. He had a red handprint on his face. He was waving his arms.

"Greetings!" he shouted. "I am Sir Brick Head! The greatest hero in all the land!"

Daniel stared at him. His mouth fell open.

"What," he said.

Brick stopped in front of them. He puffed out his chest. He placed his hands on his hips. He struck a pose.

"I am here to help!" he said. "I have been protecting these fine citizens from danger! I have been training! I have been..."

He paused. He looked at Daniel. His eyes narrowed.

"Wait," he said. "Who are you?"

Daniel blinked. "Who am I?"

"Yes. Who are you? Are you a villain? You look like a villain."

"I’m not a villain."

"That’s what a villain would say."

"I’m not a villain."

"That’s exactly what a villain would say!"

Daniel sighed. He looked at Lyra.

"Who is this?" he asked.

Lyra rubbed her temples. "That’s Brick Head. He’s... an idiot."

Brick heard her. He turned. He looked offended.

"I am not an idiot!" he said. "I am a hero!"

"You tried to see my panties."

"That was a mistake! I was confused!"

"You asked three times."

"I was very confused!"

Lyra shook her head. She looked at Daniel.

"Ignore him," she said. "He’s harmless. Mostly."

Daniel looked at Brick. At his proud posture. At his confident smile. At his red handprint.

"Mostly harmless," Daniel repeated.

"Mostly," Lyra confirmed.

Brick walked toward Daniel. He extended his hand.

"I am Sir Brick Head," he said. "The greatest hero in all the land. And you are?"

Daniel shook his hand. "Daniel Black. I’m... also a hero."

Brick’s eyes lit up. "A fellow hero! Excellent! We shall fight evil together!"

Daniel blinked. "Sure. Together."

Brick nodded. He looked at Cheeky. His eyes widened.

"An elf!" he shouted. "A villain!"

Cheeky flinched. "I’m not a villain."

"That’s what a villain would say!"

"She’s not a villain," Daniel said. "She’s with us."

Brick looked at him. His expression was suspicious.

"With you?"

"Yes."

"She’s an elf."

"I know."

"An elf."

"Yes."

Brick thought about it. He stroked his chin.

"Fine," he said. "I will trust you. Fellow hero."

Daniel nodded. "Thank you."

Brick struck a pose. "Now! What is our next move? Where do we go? Who do we fight?"

Daniel looked at him. At his enthusiasm. At his energy. At his stupidity.

"We’re going back to the guild," Daniel said.

Brick blinked. "The guild?"

"Yes."

"Which guild?"

"The Night Owl Guild."

Brick’s eyes widened. "The Night Owl Guild? The famous one?"

"Yes."

"That’s amazing! Can I come?"

Daniel sighed. He looked at Lyra. She shrugged.

"Sure," Daniel said. "You can come."

Brick pumped his fist. "Excellent! I shall become the greatest hero in the guild! I shall rise through the ranks! I shall..."

"Later," Daniel said. "First, we go."

Brick nodded. "Right! Lead the way, fellow hero!"

Daniel turned. He looked at the crowd. At the people. At the destruction.

"We’re going to the guild," he said.

He started walking. Fluffy followed. Cheeky followed. Lyra followed. Brick followed.

They walked toward the guild. Toward safety. Toward whatever was next.