Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 91: A Feast

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: A Feast

Alistair waved back at Orion and walked toward the group.

"Good work." He said with a steady voice. "Let’s keep going."

At Alistair’s arrival, all the trainees tensed up. The shame and guilt from their earlier failure still weighed heavily on their shoulders. None of them could meet his gaze.

Relief spread across their faces when he gave a simple nod and offered to help.

They nodded back with visible delight and returned to their tasks with renewed energy. Alistair joined them. He rolled up his sleeves and helped a group of villagers lift heavy beams to reinforce a damaged stable.

He worked closely with Kallus, who had been struggling to carry a cartload of supplies. Together they distributed the materials quickly among the villagers.

Orion climbed back onto the roof he had been repairing and continued hammering shingles into place. Ivis took charge of a group of villagers and led them in clearing rubble from the pathways.

Even Aerich Ford, who usually kept his distance from others, found himself helping in the collective effort.

As the hours went by, the sun dipped below the horizon. The warm light of twilight faded into the cool darkness of night. Villagers lit torches and lanterns. Their flickering light cast a warm glow on their relieved faces.

A loud cheer suddenly erupted from the far end of the village. Morren Roneyev and Oronik Faelor appeared, carrying large sacks over their shoulders. A group of villagers followed behind them, also carrying sacks. Their faces were bright with joy.

"What is all this?" Alistair asked as he brushed dust off his hands.

"We brought supplies," Oronik said with a wide grin. "Grain, Fruits, Vegetables And hunted animals." He opened one of the sacks and revealed freshly hunted rabbits, quail, and other small animals.

"Prey?" Alistair raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Morren said with a chuckle. "The villagers want to celebrate today. A celebration without meat would not feel right. So Oronik and I hunted a few animals."

Villagers began to gather. An elderly man named Edran leaned heavily on a wooden cane as he stepped forward. His voice was strong despite his age.

"Tonight, we will feast," he declared. His words were met with cheers. "We will celebrate the death of the monster that plagued us. We will honor the knights who fought to protect us."

A bonfire was lit in the village square. Golden flames crackled and leaped into the darkening sky. The warm light spread over the gathered crowd.

Long wooden tables were set up. The villagers brought out dishes made with different grains and fresh game. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air.

Alistair and the trainees became part of the celebration. Orion and Llyris sat with a group of children. They showed them how to skewer the game on sticks and roast it over the fire.

Ivis worked alongside the villagers to prepare the dishes. Her hands moved with skill as he helped them.

The old man Edran stepped toward their group and politely asked, "Where is the gentleman from before, who killed the monster? Our village would like to thank him formally."

Alistair and everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at each other with guilt. They knew who the elderly man was asking for.

But none of them had the guts to go and find him. No one wanted to confront his anger after he had clearly told them not to follow or disturb him.

They had kept the roasted meat and delicacies aside for Leader Hayes and Keren, knowing full well they would not join the celebration. They rarely mingled like this, even in the past, and this time was no different.

They had gone to Keren, but he didn’t even respond or bother to open the door for them.

Now they didn’t know how to deny this elderly man when his eyes were practically glowing with expectation, and the villagers were also looking at them with bright, hopeful eyes.

Alistair suddenly found it hard to say the truth—that their leader was not going to come. But when he opened his mouth, the words spilled out before he could stop them.

"I will call him."

Alistair regretted his babbling mouth even more when he saw the pitying looks from the trainees and his friends, Morren Roneyev and Oronik Faelor.

But now he could not refuse. He walked away from the bonfire to find Cassian. "Huh! It would be better if I could find him, because it’s always impossible to find him when Cassian wants to be alone."

It wasn’t like they didn’t want to invite Cassian or hadn’t asked him before. But they were powerless to do anything because finding him was one of the hardest tasks.

Suddenly, his expression brightened when he spotted Keren stepping out of the small house. His grin widened, and he hurried toward him, flinging his arms around Keren.

"My dear best friend! What a lucky time to show yourself..." he said coyly.

Keren shuddered at Alistair’s overly sweet tone and tried to remove his hand from his shoulder, but Alistair’s grip was like iron and didn’t budge at all.

~~~~~~~~~~

Cassian stood at the edge of an ethereal lake. Its surface shimmered like liquid starlight. A gentle breeze tugged at his dark, flowing garments and sent ripples through the fabric.

His golden hair glowed faintly under the blood-red sky. The world around him felt surreal and vivid. It was a place steeped in power and danger.

A tall and strong figure stood before him. The man’s dark hair cascaded in loose waves and shimmered in the fading light.

He reached out with deliberate and unhurried movements. His hand was warm and calloused as it cupped Cassian’s cheek.

The touch was tender and sent a shiver down Cassian’s spine. Cassian leaned into it and closed his eyes. He seemed to savor a memory that felt both foreign and deeply familiar.

The man’s thumb brushed over Cassian’s cheekbone in slow and steady circles. His other hand moved to Cassian’s, and their fingers intertwined in a gentle but firm grip.

Cassian felt his heart quicken at the contact. A warmth spread through his chest as the man drew him closer.

They were inches apart now. Cassian placed his free hand lightly on the man’s chest. He rested it over the steady rhythm of the man’s heartbeat. It was strong and unwavering. The quiet reassurance filled the silence between them.