DINNER

"What now!"

Dolores swings his finger, followed by the door to the house opening. They fled from the workroom to watch the guest who seemed too enthusiastic to visit. Apparently it was not the guest who came, but the second host after the old gnome.

"Peach!" Dolores said, surprised.

A woman clad in a red velvet dress stood anxiously at the door. She had a plump stature, bright fair skin, and a crown of wavy black hair up to the nape of the neck. The woman rushed into the house, locked the door tightly, and as if unconcerned, looked straight at Dolores.

"Honey, please tell me I'm hallucinating," she said.

"What is it?" Dolores replied.

"Black magic, I saw its aura on the outskirts of Nekros. There are dirty hands that dare to touch this forest."

The news shocked everyone, especially Dolores who knew very well that Nekros was a holy place that forbids black magic, whatever its form. It was Revan who preceded the conversation. Apparently he was just as surprised.

"Hasn't Nekros been enchanted?" he said.

The woman who was in a hurry suddenly glanced at Revan. "Oh!" She spontaneously adjusted her slightly messy clothes, including wiping the beads of sweat that almost melted her thick powder. "Honey, you didn't say you were going to invite guests after all this time. Who are they?"

"Not a guest," protested Dolores. "They broke into our garden. But that's okay. They came with Grover."

"Grover?" repeated the woman.

"Aunt Peach," said Grover, who was standing at the back.

"Grover? Grover! Oh, my! No wonder I'm familiar with the handsome elf standing there, it turns out to be you, my own adopted nephew." The woman—who turned out to be Grover's foster aunt (Peach)—giggled softly.

Rio might still tolerate a gnome who raised an elf as a nephew. However, the gnome marrying a human was completely new to him. The woman, according to Rio, was around 40 years old. He understands very well that menor makeup (red lipstick, thick eyelashes, thick powder and rosy cheeks) they often use to cover wrinkles, dark spots, or other things that other adult women hate. Although Peach is indeed very beautiful for the size of a gnome's wife.

"Rio," whispered Kron. "Don't be fooled. That woman isn't human. Not at all! She's a female gnome, but very good at using transfiguration magic. Her true form might surprise you." The giant warned.

Grover on behalf of his comrades explains to Peach about their purpose and purpose in coming to Fort-End, the Konodies settlement they found on the Claide border, the destruction of the eastern Fos temple, until the plan to chase the Elves Devourer under the threat of holy armor light.

The news of the holy armor and the Elves Devourer was the most shocking for Peach, making her clutch her chest as her heart rate rose. Not to mention the addition of bad news, which will soon make the other person's heart suffer the same fate.

"In the near future there are three settlements that were destroyed, that means." Peach concluded.

"Two, My wife," Dolores corrected. "Eastern Fos Temple and the village of Konodies."

"And Civerstein!" Peach defended herself. "But this one was destroyed by the elephant trunk troll kingdom. It is said to be everywhere, even beyond Civerdell, as far as Lerion and on to the Dwarven Hills."

"By Lord Zeth and the thousand-plus troops they slaughtered! I don't know whether to call this good or bad news," Kron responded instantly. "Those anti-magic people are stubborn. However, hearing the destruction of their town is not pleasant for me in the slightest."

"The fertile land of Civerdell is again drenched in the blood of war," commented Revan. "Hopefully our trip to Limni goes well. It's less than a day from Civerstein."

"I think we've had enough of the talk tonight." Dolores tried to intervene. "Peach, tobacco and beer?"

"As you wish, Dear." Peach lifted the basket she had been carrying, filled with the tobacco rolls and the beer bottle that Dolores had ordered.

"Good. Please prepare dinner for our guests. They will spend the night today. Or maybe for the next few days," said the husband.

"With pleasure. And welcome to Fort-End. Make yourself at home."

Thus, the long conversation in Fort-End was put on hold for a while, waiting for smoked turkey and fresh wine to be served on the table. Peach is very good with a spatula and various spices. Even without magic, she can turn cabbage, cabbage, carrots and potatoes into a salad that tantalizes her guests.

Rio was amazed to see the hot steam rising from the browned turkey, lying spoiled on a shiny silver baking sheet, surrounded by a layer of fresh green cabbage. Nepheel peoples are really good at cooking turkey, especially when it comes to welcoming guests.

However, the turkey Peach cooked seemed more tempting than the one Rio had tasted at the anti-Tarnath wizard's base, though he couldn't forget how much fun he had spent there.

Dolores sat at the very end, in his wheelchair, enjoying a large tobacco, occasionally blowing a ring of smoke that flew to the ceiling. Although Peach repeatedly reprimanded the gnome not to fill the kitchen with smoke, he seemed hypnotized by the sweetness of the dwarves' tobacco. The best tobacco he couldn't even replicate with magic.

"I can create houses, trees, grass, all kinds of birds with my magic. But, tobacco and beer of the dwarves, it took me millions of years to study to create this legendary one," he muttered, closing his eyes.

The dinner menu was completely finished on the satin-lined table. Revan, Rio, Kron sat in a row, and Grover and his adoptive aunts were across from them. A graceful and unpretentious elf supposed to be, Grover knew more about table manners than Kron, who plucked a turkey thigh from its body and ate it ferociously. The elf scooped out the carrot soup (three scoops) and then sprinkled it over the plate of salad Peach had prepared.

Instead of emulating the elegant elves, Rio was more interested in plucking the other turkey thigh—like Kron—and eating as passionately as the giant. Revan could only shake his head, although after that he also cut the meat and ate voraciously. Not because he was greedy, but it took energy for a long journey.

"He cooks this better than Bean, or Finstern, even Rosa!" Kron commented before mashing the remaining meat on the turkey thigh bone, until his mouth was full. "Sweet!"

Revan laughed at his partner's behavior. "Don't rush, Kron," he said.

"Maybe you don't know. But I'm the one who holds the crown of Nepheel's annual turkey-cooking queen before the Neferty Great war. And maybe! I'm also the single longest-serving champion, because the competition hasn't been held for more than ten years." Peach joked, eliciting a number of laughs from those around her.

"If you live long, Mrs Peach, there will be four Lords to witness your cooking prowess," said Kron.

"Oh, even half of them are already here to admit that." Peach glanced at Grover and Rio with a sweet smile.

"I admit it officially!" Rio acted like a King giving a blessing.

"It has been inaugurated by the Royal Food Appraisal Council." Grover followed.

Truly a fun mid night third. Laughter and smiles colored Fort-End at that time, especially around the dining table where only plates and bones were left of the food.

A moment that will imprint in Rio's memory. Far beat the bad memories at the orphanage. Now the young man had found the right place, side by side with the people of Nefertyland.

Indeed, in the non-magical world there were no Fenrir, the pointed teeth of the Imps, or the forest whose leaves simply fell. However, Rio also found good things here, such as friendship, caring and loyal friends. Something he would never feel if he lived with Doni for the rest of his life.

After dinner, they started to move to their room (because it was late). Rio and Grover slept in the guest room, while Revan and Kron should be in the living room. However, only Kron was snoring there, while Revan was still sitting on the veranda of the house.

The man's eyes were fixated on the reverence of the moon, peeking beautifully behind the thin clouds that couldn't hide its beauty at all. According to Revan, Dolores took references that were very easy for the Nepheel people to guess. It was the night landscape that often overshadowed the hometown of the Lords.

"A silver crescent, reminding the people of Nepheel to always return to their hometown, wherever they go." The panoramic designer came to accompany Revan. The wheelchair runs on its own.

"It's been a long time," said Revan. "Nepheel has changed now."

"And it will return to the way it was if you guys manage to collect The Eight. Though I'm a bit doubtful." Dolores chirped.

Revan was in a thin knot, staring slightly down at the oak steps that bordered the veranda from the plantation soil. "Tell me, Dolores, what happened back then, at the battlefield. How did you survive and build a new world in Nekros?"

"Very long," said the gnome curtly. "Neferty Great War is the greatest battle I have ever participated in. There are nine banners pointing swords at Lord Aaron's throne. Almost the entire territory is stained with blood, and at that time I was fighting at the entrance of Nepheel. We faced the Endokos, the most ferocious orc race. They Chieftain, Karn-Omeus, are known to be good at wielding daggers. But at cursing someone, he is better.

We fought magic, I won, but he stabbed my knee with a poisoned dagger. when rumors of Tarnath's treason spread like thunder in broad daylight. We agreed to run to Nekros to survive the clutches of black magic. The forest protection spell kept me safe for more than fifteen years."

"I was with Lord Aaron at the time." Revan tells the story. "Tarnath's army attacked us from behind. The Gorgon's key had been stolen, and if we persisted in resisting the gates of the cage would surely be opened.

So Lord fled with the four selected aids to start Dianom. The three aids caught were immediately killed, while I still had a chance to escape."

"The scenario is too sly, I think." Dolores lit his favorite tobacco. "Tarnath pits us all against each other. Hiding from behind his position and prestige as a trusted advisor, but behind his mouth is busy casting demonic spells. If the betrayal hadn't happened, I wouldn't have believed he was a bad person."

"That's how it is. I used to be his subordinate. We, personal aids, worked under the direction of the royal adviser. He never showed the trait of a traitor. Very clean, very loyal. I even admired him." Revan sighed. "It turns out that the man I admired was nothing more than a liar and trapper."

Just as Dolores was about to blow tobacco smoke into the air, the magical gate guarding Fort-End suddenly creaked. The gnome almost fell from the chair if Revan didn't hold it fast. No wonder he jumped, for there was only one reason why the gate creaked so loudly. Someone's trying to break through, Dolores thought.

The two of them then inched closer to the gate. The loud thump was gone. Revan took slow steps, very carefully. His eyes were alert, his mouth was ready to cast a spell if just once that loud bang resounded again. As soon as he arrived at the gate, it was true that there was no follow-up sound. The man glanced at Dolores, signaling for the next move.

Spell. Dolores casts the spell that opened the magical gate. A transparent membrane burst out quickly, bringing Revan and Dolores to the world beyond Fort-End. They arrived at Nekros, a forest that should be worn out and littered with fallen leaves.

The darkness of the night camouflages the blues and yellows that color the dead trees and leaves. But wait! It's not just the leaves that die. The trees that became the pillars of Nekros' defense looked black withered. Young leaves are forcibly mowed, the branches are broken. Revan and Dolores gasped. Their mouths shut. This is more than just a sign of danger. Evil magic has entered Nekros.

(To be continued)