The laughter of the Vera Tribe slowly faded into the night.
The birthday banquet had finally begun.
Long wooden tables stretched across the central square.
Hundreds of dishes filled every corner.
Freshly roasted spirit beasts.
Warm bread.
Sweet fruits.
Large barrels of wine stood beside every table.
The people of Vera celebrated together as one family.
Above them...
Thousands of stars illuminated the valley.
It was a beautiful night.
Perhaps...
Too beautiful.
At the center of the square...
Varinder stood and raised his cup.
"My friends."
The noise gradually quieted.
His eyes swept across the countless familiar faces before him.
Some had followed him since the first day.
Some had been born after Vera was founded.
Others had joined later.
Yet every one of them...
Was family.
"Five years ago..."
"My son was born."
He looked toward Rajiv.
The little boy sat between Devika and Ananya, still refusing to let go of the mysterious white egg.
Laughter spread across the crowd.
Varinder smiled.
"Back then..."
"I believed the greatest blessing in my life had already been given."
He slowly looked around the square.
"I was wrong."
The crowd became silent.
"The greatest blessing..."
"...was all of you."
For a brief moment...
Nobody spoke.
Then an elderly hunter laughed loudly.
"Chief!"
"You'll make us old men cry!"
The entire square erupted into laughter.
Even Varinder couldn't help laughing.
He raised his cup once more.
"To Vera."
Thousands of voices answered together.
"TO VERA!"
The sound echoed through the mountains.
Standing several steps behind the celebration...
Thalorian slowly closed his eyes.
"...To Vera."
He whispered the words almost silently.
His hands trembled.
Inside his sleeve...
The small black pouch still remained.
Untouched.
A gentle breeze passed through the square.
It carried with it...
The smell of roasted meat.
Fresh bread.
Children laughing.
Music.
Everything Vera had become.
His mind slowly drifted backward.
He remembered...
The first night.
No houses.
No walls.
Only a few tents standing beneath heavy rain.
Everyone had been exhausted.
Food was nearly gone.
Several companions quietly questioned whether leaving the Varrien Tribe had been the right decision.
Only one man never doubted.
Varinder.
That night...
Instead of sleeping...
The young chief had walked alone through the valley.
The next morning...
He smiled exactly as he always did.
"This land..."
"...will become our home."
Thalorian slowly opened his eyes.
The empty valley now stood before him once again.
Except...
It wasn't empty anymore.
Children ran where wild grass had once grown.
Homes stood where rocks had once covered the ground.
Smoke rose from kitchens built by countless hardworking hands.
Every memory...
Made his chest hurt even more.
"Elder."
A familiar voice interrupted him.
Vicky.
He approached carrying two cups.
"You've been disappearing all evening."
Thalorian accepted one.
"Just enjoying the view."
Vicky looked around.
"I've known you for over twenty years."
"When you start talking like that..."
"...something is bothering you."
For a brief second...
Thalorian almost spoke.
Almost.
His lips parted.
Then...
His eyes drifted toward the western forest.
No.
He couldn't.
The hostages.
The children.
He lowered his head.
"...I'm just getting sentimental."
Vicky smiled.
"Old age."
Thalorian laughed weakly.
"...Perhaps."
The two old friends quietly watched the celebration together.
Neither realized...
It would be their final peaceful conversation.
Suddenly...
Rajiv ran over.
"Elder!"
He proudly held up the white egg.
"It became warmer again!"
Thalorian gently placed his wrinkled hand against the shell.
Warm.
Much warmer than before.
A faint smile finally appeared.
"...It likes you."
Rajiv's eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
"It chose you."
The old elder spoke softly.
"So..."
"...never abandon it."
Rajiv nodded immediately.
"I won't."
"I promised Father."
Thalorian slowly withdrew his hand.
"...Good."
His voice almost broke.
The music resumed.
Children danced around the bonfires.
Several warriors began competing to see who could lift the heaviest roasting spit.
Even Varinder joined the laughter.
For a few precious moments...
Everything felt perfect.
Then...
A shadow quietly approached Thalorian from behind.
No one noticed.
A servant carrying supplies accidentally bumped into him.
"My apologies, Elder."
Thalorian smiled politely.
"It's alright."
The servant bowed and continued walking.
Only after he disappeared into the crowd...
Did Thalorian feel something inside his sleeve.
His body froze.
He slowly reached inside.
A tiny folded piece of paper.
His breathing stopped.
He carefully opened it.
Only four words were written.
We are watching you.
Below the message...
A child's drawing.
A little girl.
Holding an old man's hand.
The same little girl.
The same grandfather.
His entire body trembled.
His vision blurred.
They knew.
Even here...
They were watching.
Far beyond the western mountains...
Hidden among the trees...
A lone man lowered his spyglass.
Raka.
His lieutenant stepped beside him.
"Chief."
"He still hasn't moved."
Raka smiled calmly.
"He will."
"He has no choice."
"What if he warns Varinder?"
Raka slowly shook his head.
"No."
"He loves Vera too much."
The lieutenant looked confused.
"...Shouldn't that make him more likely to warn them?"
Raka chuckled.
"No."
"It makes him easier to control."
He looked toward the brightly lit tribe below.
"The strongest chains..."
"...are never made of iron."
"They're made of love."
Back inside Vera...
Thalorian slowly walked toward the storage room.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
He stopped beside the wine barrels.
His hand rested upon the black pouch.
He stared at it for a very long time.
His shoulders trembled.
"...Chief..."
He whispered.
"...please forgive me."
He closed his eyes.
The pouch slowly opened.
A fine black powder slipped into a single barrel.
Colorless.
Odorless.
Silent.
The powder disappeared beneath the wine without leaving a trace.
Thalorian stood frozen.
His hand still resting on the barrel.
"...When this is over..."
"...I'll tell you everything."
"...Even if you kill me."
He gently sealed the barrel.
Then rested his forehead against the wood.
For the first time since Vera had been founded...
The old elder cried without restraint.
A knock echoed from outside.
"Elder?"
"The banquet is waiting."
Thalorian quickly wiped away his tears.
"...Bring this barrel."
The servants nodded.
"As you command."
They rolled the barrel away.
Neither servant noticed...
That they had just carried the future of the Vera Tribe upon their shoulders.
Outside...
The celebration reached its height.
Varinder laughed.
Devika smiled.
Rajiv hugged the white egg tightly.
Ananya teased him once again.
Vicky poured another cup.
The people of Vera celebrated together.
One last time.