It was precisely 2:20 PM when everyone made their way back into the village, exhausted but relieved. The village chief, clearly very pleased with how things had unfolded, stepped in front of the fighters and, in a loud voice, announced:
"Tonight, we will organize a celebration in honor of today's victory! There will be alcohol, fine food, music, and you are all invited to join in!"
However, as was customary for him, Samuel paid no attention to this announcement. Without a word, he ignored the chief and walked past him with a casual wave of his hand, murmuring:
"Thanks, but I'll pass. Relia, could you come with me, please ?"
He turned and began walking at a slow pace towards the deserted streets of Neoras. Relia, a little surprised by his response, quickly hurried to follow him, leaving the village chief speechless, visibly taken aback by this unexpected behavior. He stood there, alone, watching Samuel's retreating back, his expression confused and perplexed. This wasn't the answer he had anticipated, and he couldn't help but furrow his brow in frustration.
"A mysterious character," Yuno murmured to Rasolina, watching the interaction with a touch of curiosity. She hadn't seen enough to fully understand Samuel yet, but there was something about him that intrigued her, like an unsolved riddle.
Canon, cigarette still in his mouth, suddenly seemed energized. Upon hearing the words "alcohol" and "food" he quickly made his way toward the chief, took his hands, and with theatrical flair, declared:
"Don't worry, sir ! You can keep planning this party. I'll make sure the boss shows up, right, guys ?" He turned toward Helydia, Kai, and Dante, who all gave him a thumbs-up and a knowing smile.
"Good !" the chief exclaimed, visibly reassured. "Now I'm at ease. Everyone is free to enjoy the rest of the day, except for those on watch duty, of course. You know the drill, we never know what might happen, so stay vigilant."
The guards nodded and began to disperse in various directions, ready to take a moment of rest after the battle.
Meanwhile, Samuel and Relia walked slowly through the streets. The light breeze rustled the leaves of trees, and the sound of their footsteps echoed down the empty street. The villagers had all returned to their homes as per the chief's orders, respecting the directive to stay out of the way of the outside matters. It was the time for silence, reflection, and recovery.
"Tell me," Samuel suddenly broke the silence after a few minutes of walking. He cast a quick glance at her before asking, "Can you take me to the place where you bought your new armor ?"
Relia raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the request, but she answered calmly, as she always did:
"The village blacksmith made it for me, custom-made. It's down there." She pointed toward the end of the street, where a small blacksmith shop was located, tucked in the shadow of an alley.
Samuel, his eyes still fixed on the armor, seemed slightly intrigued but also puzzled. "Custom-made ? We arrived just yesterday… How is that possible ?"
Relia smiled and explained, "It's the blacksmith with the green hair. I think they call him 'Valar, the Soulforger.' When Helydia asked him about it, he said he had a special ability that really helped him in his work, but he didn't want to say more."
Samuel stopped for a moment, a disturbing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His gaze darkened, and Relia felt a strange, almost sinister light glint in his eyes. She had never seen Samuel smile like this before, and it sent a shiver down her spine. It was a smile that seemed to carry a weight far more serious than any words.
"Very interesting," Samuel murmured, his voice low and calm. He resumed walking without saying another word, but Relia felt a palpable tension hanging in the air between them. She couldn't understand why such a simple conversation about a blacksmith seemed to captivate him so much, but she knew that there was always more to Samuel than met the eye.