CHAPTER 58: FROM CHEERS TO CINDERS

Five days after their arrival in Knob’s Hill, morning sun rises like a blessing, warm and golden, spilling across the fields as the team prepare to depart.

Villagers press in from every direction, offering gifts, cheers, and tearful thanks. Some even reach for Pip’s hands as though touching him might grant a miracle.

Pip stands at the center of it all, glowing softly, beeping politely, and issuing waves of peaceful gratitude with his new empathetic aura. Half the village swoons. Several elders faint. One girl proposes on the spot.

Vuvi, calm amidst the chaos, kneels beside the team’s pile of bags, checking and double-checking straps, weights, provisions, and enchanted locks.

"Rations, check. Alchemical grenades, check. Portable shower unit for Pip’s frequent oiling, check. Emergency chocolate for Penelo..."

Penelo dances past, arms full of pastries, flowers in her hair, cheeks puffed with compliments and homemade jam rolls. "I’m good on the chocolate!"

Veena stands at the edge of the crowd, poring over a parchment map. She traces their planned path with a fingertip. "We’ll curve northwest along the Fertile Belt. Three villages to visit before the road leads us to the base of the mountains. From there... the Dwarven Kingdom."

As if summoned by the name of distant lands, a familiar voice calls out from the throng.

"Wait!"

The crowd parts like rippling water as a tall, statuesque figure steps forward. Broad-shouldered, scarred, and bashful. Sera, the swordwoman, clutches her scabbard nervously.

"Um. Hi."

Penelo squeals and runs up to her. "Sera! You made it!"

Sera rubs the back of her neck. "I, uh... I was wondering if... maybe I could... tag along? Just for a little while. I’m not great with... crowds anymore, but you all seem good. And strong. And, well... I could be useful. Promise I won’t be a burden."

The team glances at each other.

Penelo’s ears wiggle with excitement. Veena nods once, businesslike. Vuvi arches a brow, then turns to Pip.

Pip steps forward, extending his hand, and gives a firm beep.

Sera takes his hand in hers, smiling shyly.

"Welcome to the team," Vuvi says, smirking. "Our family just got a little deadlier."

As the team depart Knob’s Hill, cheers and laughter echoes behind them. Children wave. Old women blow kisses. Men, still lounging uselessly, cheer from the sidelines with half-drunk cups of tea.

All was joy.

Except in the bushes.

"Are they seriously taking a cart?" Raenly groans from beneath a tangle of leaves, watching with despair as a beautifully decorated produce wagon pulls up beside the team.

Two gorgeous women, their skin glowing with sun and health, wave down the travelers and offers them a lift.

"It’s no trouble!" says one. "We’re heading west anyway, to Hanreth Hollow, the village near the green hills."

"They’ll ride in comfort," Mysa sighs, already pulling on her boots. "We’ll be darting through trees like angry squirrels."

"Life is pain," Raenly mutters, adjusting the new demonic scanning device strapped to his back.

As the team rolls down the road, nestled among wheat bales and laughing with new companions, the two siblings dart between hedgerows, grumbling with every step.

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The cart rattles smoothly along the dirt path, sun warm on their backs.

Penelo sprawled like a satisfied cat across a bale of hay, chewing sweetfruit. Sera sits stiffly beside her, slowly relaxing as Vuvi tells embellished tales of their encounters, ending with the Demon Queen’s capture of Maribelle.

"He was basically crowned savior of the centaurs," Veena chimes in.

"Oh," Penelo adds, "and we slayed a demon-kin baroness. No big deal."

Sera blinks. "That... really happened?"

Pip, glowing faintly, gives a bashful chime.

But as the cart rounds a hilltop, the mood quickly shifts.

A column of black smoke drifts into the sky in the distance.

The cart slows. The horses snort anxiously.

The driver frowns. "We were just at that village last week. It wasn’t on fire then."

As they crest the ridge, the full scope comes into view.

A small village, stone and wood huts arranged in a crescent around a well, lay just ahead. Charred rooftops smoke. Several homes stand scorched, still smoldering faintly. Ash coats the cobblestone paths.

But... people move through the streets.

Women swept porches. Farmers harvested at the edge of the fields. Children laugh and chase one another past blackened walls.

Everything looks... normal.

Besides the arson.

"What... happened here?" Vuvi mutters.

They pull into the village slowly, dismounting as curious eyes turn their way.

The usual phenomenon occurres... Pip catches a stray sunbeam, his chassis gleaming like polished gold. A few nearby women gasp. One drops her basket of apples.

"Oh gods," she whispers. "Is it—?"

"It’s him," another murmurs. "The golden one. The prince."

A younger girl screams. "He’s here! The pleasure savior is here!"

Within moments, a crowd swells.

"Please, back up! No touching!" Veena yells, stepping between them and Pip.

Penelo flutters to his side, trying to keep things calm. "He’s just one construct, please form a line!"

Sera jumps in to assist, towering over Pip and holding back women with grunts and glares.

Vuvi, frowning, stops a passing woman. "Excuse me. What happened here? Why are parts of your town on fire?"

The woman blinks at her.

"Oh, that?" she says, pointing lazily at a scorched cottage. "Dragon."

Vuvi nearly drops her bag. "Dragon?"

The woman nods casually. "Big one. Purple and Black. Claws like sickles. Shows up every week or so. Screams a bit. Torches a building. Flies off."

"And... this is normal?"

The woman shrugs. "We’re used to it. We rebuild fast."

Penelo gasps. "That’s horrible! Has anyone tried to stop it?"

"Kinda." the woman shrugs.

Veena narrows her eyes. "How long ago was the last attack?"

The woman points with her thumb. "Yesterday."

Silence.

Then a faint beep.

Pip steps forward, eyes bright. He places a hand on his chest, then gives a hopeful chime.

Vuvi groans. "You want to help them, don’t you?"

He nods solemnly.

Penelo beams. "He’s so brave."

Sera steps forward, already drawing her sword halfway from the scabbard. "I’ve always wanted to fight a dragon."

Veena rolls her eyes. "Of course you have."

Vuvi rubs her temples. "Fine. We’ll look into it."

Far across the square, behind a crate of apples, Raenly groans and slumps.

"We’re going to die chasing this lot," he whimpers.

Mysa reaches into her pouch and offers him a stolen sweet bun.

"Worth it," she grins, eyes fully locked on Pip.