The great banquet had begun, and all members of House Sungley were present. The intense aroma of spices, freshly baked bread, and roasted meats spread throughout the main hall, filling the air with an almost intoxicating warmth. Laughter, the clinking of cups, and lively murmurs mixed beneath the golden light of the chandeliers, which cast dancing shadows upon the stone walls.

  A vast variety of dishes and drinks covered the long oak table. Each platter had been prepared with meticulous care, designed not only to satisfy hunger, but to delight the senses of every guest. The banquet was not merely a meal: it was a statement of abundance, stability, and celebration.

  Redda, standing at the head of the table, inspected the final details with an expert gaze before taking her seat.

  —Wonderful… —she said in a satisfied tone, nodding slightly—. Exceptional work, Lasan, Jacki.

  At that moment, the two main cooks of the mansion made their entrance, each carrying a steaming dish in their hands.

  Jacki, the second cook, moved naturally despite the bustle of the hall. Her steps were steady and light, belonging to someone accustomed to navigating between blazing ovens and overflowing pots without losing her composure. Her talent was not limited to cooking alone: she knew every herb and root of the nearby forest, and thanks to her, the Sungley pantry was always stocked with fresh medicinal infusions. No one matched her skill in hunting, and for that reason, the most tender and flavorful meat in the region usually came from her hands.

  Beside her walked Lasan, the head cook, impeccable in his white uniform and wearing that serene expression that only years of experience can grant. He was a man devoted to the extreme, almost obsessive in his pursuit of perfect flavor. He knew the tastes and quirks of every member of the family: from the exact level of salt Caria preferred to the soups capable of lifting Tana’s spirits when she fell ill. For him, cooking was not a simple job, but an act of devotion toward those he considered his second family.

  When both placed the final dishes on the table, the hall filled with murmurs of admiration. Expectant gazes swept across the food, and more than one guest had to restrain the urge to taste it ahead of time.

  The banquet could officially begin.

  Everyone ate and drank, enjoying every moment of the celebration… everyone, except one person.

  A small angry potato was facing one of the greatest limitations of being a baby only a few weeks old.

  Kael thought with contained fury.

  Damn it.

  They can’t do this to me… that smell of roasted meat is driving me insane.

  I want to eat too!

  But I can’t, because I don’t have teeth.

  And even if I did, my developing stomach couldn’t handle it!

  I keep saying it, this is hell.

  I can’t believe I have to suffer this much.

  Held in Enta’s arms, little Kael squirmed slightly, and the leopard-man did not take long to notice his distress.

  —My young master… —Enta said in a deep but gentle voice—. I see you are troubled… and I’m not surprised. Watching everyone eat and laugh can awaken that same desire.

  —My black cat… you do understand me… —Kael thought, frustrated.

  At that moment, approaching with firm and decisive steps, the most powerful servant of the house stood before the young master.

  —Enta —Redda said, observing the scene carefully—. From what I can see, the young master is hungry as well.

  —From my limited experience in such matters —Enta replied respectfully—, I can only make assumptions, my experienced Lady Redda. But yes… it does seem the young master is hungry. Although I do not know if it would be wise to disturb the lady of House Sungley at this moment.

  From afar, Caria could be seen talking and laughing with Tana, Holley, Jacki, and several maids, still unaware of the situation.

  —Ah, there is no need to worry, Lord Enta —Redda replied calmly—. There is always an alternative plan for a competent servant.

  An unsettling smile appeared on Redda’s face as she approached Caria.

  —Hello, Redda —Caria greeted—. You look very serious, is something wrong?

  Without asking permission, Redda took Caria by the waist and began leading her toward the private kitchen hall.

  —Redda! —Tana exclaimed, alarmed—. She looked very serious… what is she going to do to Lady Caria?

  Before anyone could respond, an imposing figure appeared from behind. It was the great lord Garbard.

  —My young maids —he said in a deep voice—, it would be best not to question what will occur. All you need to know is that Redda will spare no resources to keep all members of the house comfortable, even if that means enforcing basic responsibilities more firmly upon some of them. This already happened with my beloved and late wife.

  The words left the girls visibly shocked.

  After a few minutes, the doors of the private hall opened.

  Redda came out first, her posture firm and intact, as if nothing had happened. At her side walked Caria, visibly exhausted, her face slightly flushed and her expression seeming to say: next time I will prepare better for something like this.

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  Without wasting time, Redda approached Enta and handed him a small handcrafted baby bottle. It was carefully sealed and contained just the right amount of milk, enough to fill the young master’s stomach.

  Enta analyzed the scene, evaluating the result. Evidently, he did not even consider asking questions. He simply nodded and focused on his main task: assisting the young master.

  Carefully, he brought the bottle close to Kael.

  The little one’s expression changed dramatically the moment he received his food. All the accumulated frustration seemed to vanish in a matter of seconds.

  This…

  This really is life.

  Finally, something good in this hell.

  The child calmed almost immediately, and his body stopped tensing as he fed eagerly, completely unaware of what had happened for that bottle to reach his hands.

  After an hour of celebration had passed, on the mansion’s balcony stood Ken and Laret, enjoying the soft night breeze. From there, the distant echo of music and laughter still drifting from the hall could be heard, muffled but lively.

  —I’m sorry to take advantage of the celebration to ask you about these matters —Laret said—. But… how was the edge of the border with the forest?

  Ken tilted his head, forming a smile filled with irony.

  —Is the family man worried about possible threats that could endanger his newly formed family?

  —Of course —Laret replied without hesitation.

  —I understand —Ken laughed—. We started the crusade in a relaxed manner… but the closer we got to the border between the Indomitable Forest and the Mount of the Gods, the situation became increasingly complex.

  —Too many monsters?

  —A great many —Ken replied—. But manageable. For the most part, we faced goblins, orcs, kobolds, and animals such as large wolves and felines. The difference was that, in the case of the orcs and goblins, we dealt with what could very well have been several small armies, with relative ease.

  Laret frowned.

  —That is concerning… was some malignant entity directing them?

  Ken slowly shook his head.

  —No… something worse.

  —Worse? —Laret repeated.

  —They were fleeing.

  —Fleeing?

  —That’s right —Ken confirmed—. At the far end of the territory between Taratios and the Mount of the Gods, we discovered the reason behind the waves of lesser monsters… a fire Racatros was chasing them.

  —What!? —Laret exclaimed, his eyes opening wide—. A fire Racatros!? That’s impossible… what is a beast of that level doing near the edge of the Indomitable Forest?

  Ken took a deep breath, as if remembering it still carried the heat of that encounter.

  —A beast, Laret. Something I had never seen before.

  His gaze drifted for a moment, as if reliving the scene.

  —It was as if the mountain itself had risen in rage. Its skin was black, but it burned from within with incandescent lines, like freshly forged iron. Each breath expelled steam and fire… and wherever it passed, the forest was reduced to ashes.

  Ken lowered his voice slightly.

  —Neither arrows, nor spears, nor magic were able to stop it.

  Laret swallowed.

  —You have no idea how glad I am to know everyone returned alive… please tell me you at least did something to push that monster away from the border. Or better yet… tell me you killed it.

  —We did —Ken replied—. We killed it, with great difficulty. Everyone had to intervene. Lord Garbard unleashed all his magical power, Holley pushed her defense to the limit, I opened a path, and Enta risked his life to immobilize it. That way, the great lord’s Hammer of the Sky managed to defeat it.

  —That almost sounds like fighting one of the Demon King’s generals… —Laret murmured.

  —Something like that —Ken replied with a short laugh—, but more savage and scorching. We had to push the body into the small lake fed by the waters of the Mount of the Gods, to prevent the incandescent core from setting everything around it on fire.

  —That’s true —Laret nodded—. The core of those creatures continues releasing energy from the element that composes them…

  —Then it will benefit the nearby small town —Ken concluded with a smile—. In time, it will become a good tourist spot. Not many towns can boast hot springs.

  —You’re right… —Laret admitted.

  Meanwhile, back inside the celebration, the group of women continued their lively conversation, still surrounded by the festive atmosphere and the remnants of the banquet.

  —Now that the control crusade is over —Holley asked curiously—, what plans do we have, my lady?

  Caria hesitated for a moment before answering. She still seemed somewhat tense from what had happened earlier, and her expression became more serious.

  —Well… after what Redda just did to me and taught me —she finally said—, I think there are many things to prepare and organize. It makes me feel sad and also a bit of pain, but… when little Kael turns one year old, I will have to resume my duties as the guardian heroine of Taratios.

  Tana immediately stepped forward, her eyes shining.

  —You have nothing to worry about, my lady —she said firmly—. I will give Kael all the love and affection he needs. I will give him kisses and hugs, both yours and mine… >///<

  Jacki smiled mischievously.

  —Hey, don’t take advantage —she intervened—, because once he starts eating solid food, he will fall completely in love with my cooking… >///<

  —Do not worry, my lady —Holley added—. When we return very tired from missions, I will take care of giving my share of love to that little angry potato… >///<

  Caria opened her eyes, feigning indignation.

  —Hey, stop taking advantage of my baby! —she exclaimed—. If necessary, I’ll take him with me… >///<

  —>///< —Jacki replied.

  —>///< —Tana replied.

  —>///< —Holley replied.

  —>///< —Caria finished, unable to keep a straight face.

  At some distance, beside other servants, Enta watched the scene with a mix of concern and resignation. The energy emanating from the group of women was… dangerous.

  —Ufff… —he murmured—. These are difficult times, young master. I no longer know what could be worse… facing the entire Demon King’s army or surviving those ladies…

  As he evaluated that terrifying possibility, a deep voice rose beside him.

  —Enta —said the great lord Garbard—. You have done a great job tonight, and you even fed my grandson. Let me take care of him for a moment so you can enjoy the banquet.

  Enta inclined his head respectfully.

  —It has been a pleasure for me to share this evening with the young master —he replied—, but you are right. I will enjoy some of the food while you spend time with your grandson.

  With the utmost care, Enta handed little Kael into the great lord’s arms. Garbard walked away at a calm pace, carrying the child toward the balcony.

  The night was peaceful. The sky stretched clear above the mansion, and the stars shone with serene intensity.

  —It is a warm and beautiful night, Kael —Garbard said, gazing at the sky.

  Kael opened his eyes, amazed.

  This is the first time I’ve gone a little outside the house…

  Without a doubt, this is important…

  And it is…

  Two moons?

  Where the hell did I end up?

  —Does the sky catch your attention, little one? —Garbard continued—. And that is not the only wonderful thing. There is an immensity of things to see, and many others yet to discover. Cerantos is a world full of wonders… and also of challenges you will have to face.

  The old man lowered his voice, filling it with solemnity.

  —The day will come when I am no longer here, and it will be up to you to maintain the security and peace of this city. Remember this: family is the most important thing… it is the trigger that releases all your potential. Do not forget it. You are Kael, the Light of the Legacy, the one who inherits the strength of the fallen to light the path of the living.

  Kael felt a knot form in his chest.

  A beautiful name…

  Beautiful words…

  But for what kind of soul?

  A damaged soul like mine.

  I don’t know if I acted right or wrong.

  I was afraid and in pain.

  I didn’t want to be a burden, I didn’t want others to suffer because of me.

  That’s why I chose to walk away and carry that illness alone…

  My parents… my sister… they gave everything for me.

  And I walked away without saying anything.

  I did the same with my friends.

  What kind of ungrateful person am I?

  And now I fall into the same situation again…

  Fate is cruel.

  So many wonderful people placing expectations on me…

  Willing to give everything for me…

  I don’t deserve it.

  The celebration came to an end with everyone tired, but satisfied. One by one, the guests left, cheerful after a memorable night.

  Everyone, except one.

  The one who had traveled from another world and who, for the first time since his reincarnation, clearly felt the weight of the decisions and actions of his past life.