Leon rolled his eyes. After all this time, the old man was still calling him, 'kid.' He at least thought him saving the old man would boost his rank slightly. If not that, then maybe it would at least tempt him to start calling him by his name. Shaking his head, he kneeled close to Healin, helping them up and checking on them to make sure they were ok. It had been quite the long journey... Leon hated having friends of any nature, but unlike most, these two didn't seem to care much about his wolf-like nature, but rather, they embraced it. And even though he didn't like admitting it, Kaven really helped shape his character and fighting skills for the better.
Walking over to the girl, who he could only assume was the same girl that was forced to devour her own sister, he picked her up slowly. Blinking up at him, her body shaking like a leaf, she spoke her first words in many years. "Where... Am I?" Leon couldn't help but chuckle. "A rotting cave in the Draconi forest. Now let's get you out and back to your old man, shall we?" He asked. Her expression lit up, a smile crossing her face. "Papa... He's alive!?" He gave a nod. "Yes... And he misses you dearly."
She frowned, looking away in realization of her past sins. "My sister... I... I'm a monster..." She whimpered. Leon shook his head. "You were tricked and manipulated by a monster. Now, enough tears. I think it's time we celebrated, yeah? A big feast in your village. Word out to the rest of Adela that the litch of the labyrinth is no more. End the poverty in that miserable little hovel." He said, mostly to Healin and Kaven, who he smiled at for probably the first time. Letting the girl down, he looked for the exit of the cave, hoping that they'd be able to make their way out without issue.
As Leon and the girl, who took the lead, finally exited the cave, making their way through the wall of falling water, dawn had arrived. They were in there an entire day? Surely the village had lost hope by now... Well, a very nice surprise would be awaiting them. Leon gave a nod to her, trekking through the water until they reached the shore and cutting through the treeline to the village. As Leon and her approached the church, the priest was on the front porch, tilting a bottle of mead against his lips as he spotted them. Dropping the bottle with a stunned expression, he jumped up excitedly at the sight of his daughter, all grown up and no longer a foul wendigo. "My little girl... Thank the gods... Why did you leave!?" The priest's words were filled with both love and anger. But mostly love.
As the rest of the village came out of their homes and the inn at the sound of the commotion, they all ran over, spotting the familiar face of the priest's little girl. A huge celebration took place that day, until the early afternoon, people dancing, drinking, eating, and singing at the heroes' victory. Leon, Kaven, and Healin were all given their own special seats, watching the event happen as they were showered with gifts and praise from nearly every man, woman, and child in the village. After all, with the litch gone, the energy and life wouldn't be sapped from the populace anymore. Whenever the local baron brought his men through the streets, they would no longer have to worry about death's ugly hand residing over the village's people. It was a golden age for everyone, indeed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, listen up!" The innkeeper shouted over the commotion, standing atop the long dining table as everyone quieted down. "Today, these three have freed us from the illness, weakness, and fear that Alisha of the Falls has brought to us all! That the apparent litch hiding right under our noses has brought to us all! Today, we witness a growth of our crops! A rebuilding of the foundations that made our village great! The foul presence of evil has been snuffed by the howl of the wolf today, and much like the howl of the wolf, the howl of the wind of victory will snuff out our dark days, leaving them to rot in the past where they belong!" He raised his tankard of mead up high, some of the beverage spilling out as the others cheered at his words. "A toast, to our heroes!"
As the festivities ended, Leon handing the magnificent sword back to its rightful owner, he took his sword and shield back from Kaven and got ready to head back to his home in the Thunderblacks. Turning to the two, he put his hands on their shoulders. "In the time I've known you both... I've grown as a person. Both in character, and strength. I could have never vanquished either beast without you. And this village would still be suffering if it wasn't for you two. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart." The words he spoke were very unlike Leon. But he believed every bit of what he had said.
Turning to Kaven, he pulled something out of his rooksack. A bottle of wine, brewed by the dwarves. "The dwarves make a Hell of a wine, old man. And I know how you love your wine." He smiled. Turning to Healin, he pulled out a magical effigy, crafted from wyvern bones. "Something to suit a mage. I have no clue what it does, but I suppose you could figure it out." Beginning to walk away, he could hear the voice of the innkeeper not far off, calling his name. "Your... Your reward, sir! You nearly forgot!" In his hands rested a bag of coins. Quite heavy, from the looks of it. Leon thought to himself for a long time. Did he really need coin? After the adventure he had, with so much growth and just the feeling of being able to reunite a family and save a village from its own damnation... A reward such as this just felt unwanted.
Even though it hurt his heart to amount all of his hard work to nothing, Leon looked the man dead in the eyes and shook his head. "... Keep it." He said, his expression unreadable. And with that, he was off.
