You’re invited to the marriage of:

PEARL GALANODEL & BRIANNA HIGHLAND

Save the date!

—

“Aunty Yak!” Percy called out. He stuffed the rest of the letters in his bag, papers awkwardly crumbling under his hand. His fingers gently traced over the rose gold foil of the letters, beautifully curved and made with love. 

“AUNTY YAAAKKK!!” Percy hollered from the foyer. A yelp and a crash echoed through the halls. A disheveled dark skinned elf popped her head over the railing. 

“Yes, my dear?” Yekatarina smiled warmly at her nephew. Percy exhaled shortly in amusement.

“When’s our next hunt?” 

Yekatarina put a finger on her cheek and hummed in thought. “I don’t think until the next full moon. Why?” 

Percy smirked, memories of a harder but happy lifetime passed through his head. Cape swishing behind him as he turned on his heel, Percy flourished the delicate invitation in the air. 

“We’re going to a wedding!”

—

The town of Quility lied on the Horizon, the afternoon sun beating over the two hunter’s heads. It was just as cute and quaint as he remembered. Percy grinned and started jogging in his excitement. 

“C’mon Aunty Yak, it’s just ahead!” he laughed as he tugged on his Aunt’s sleeve before leaving her in the dust. Wind whipped around his ears and through his hair. The breeze pushed him forwards. His lungs expanded in and out as the air of a growing town filled them. He grinned at the concept of growing towns. 

Health, happiness, safety. That was something he and his friends helped the whole world earn eight years ago. And it was something that they earned for themselves too. 

As he ran towards the town, a sudden shadow made an appearance in the corner of his eye. 

“Percy!” Yekatarina called from behind. Percy lunged forward and tucked his body into a roll just as an odd shadow stabbed out at his form. Keeping his momentum, he pushed himself back into a sprint, whipping out his bow firmly in hand. Percy notched an arrow into the slot and waited for the next attack. The sound of rustling grass tickled his left ear.

“There!” He torqued his body and let the arrow burst from his arms. A dark shadowy figure slid out of the way, just barely getting nicked by the projectile. Percy clenched his teeth and cursed. As he turned back around, a bright light covered his vision.

“Eldritch Blast!” A beam of energy shoots towards him. Blood coursing through his body, his instincts threw him to the ground. As the beam dissipated, Percy launched himself forward and grappled the second figure. The shadowy figure dashed towards the two of them, but stopped cold. A black obsidian dagger pressed against the pale neck of Percy’s new hostage. 

“You might want to consider what your next move might be…” Percy smiled warmly. “...Celena.” 

The shadowy figure shook its head and snapped its fingers, the shadow cloak dropping from a red headed teen adorned in dark clothing with moon imagery. Furrow in her brow, Celena’s hands snappily gestured in sign language.

“How did you know it was us?” 

Percy chortled, “Please, you two may be the strongest mages I know, but that strength comes with a unique flair to it. Besides, no matter how old you get, I’ll always recognize your voice, Lani.” He slid the dagger away from Lani’s neck as he ruffled her hair with his free hand. 

“Ah, you got us,” Lani giggled. She turned on her heel and gave Percy a tight hug, Celena quickly joining. Percy laughed jovially.

“You girls got so big!” 

“You’re shrinking!” Lani jeered, “Even Celena is taller than you!”

“I’m a short king is all! Aunty Yak, it’s the girls!” Percy called to his aunt. Lani squealed before pulling Celena and running.

“Yekatarina!” she threw herself into the elven woman’s arms. 

“Hello, my dear! It’s been too long!” Yekatarina sighed joyfully. After releasing Lani, she turned to give Celena the same greeting. 

“We’ve been standing out here for too long, c’mon we’re gonna be late for our meeting!” Lani grinned, weaving her arms with Yekatarina’s and Celena’s. Percy chuckled and weaved his own arm with Celena’s. 

—

The quartet arrived at the tavern with a minute to spare. It was one of the few buildings that accommodated creatures taller than a halfling in the halfling town. The walls were made of a gentle yellowing brick with an ivory trim and a terracotta roof. A wooden sign crafted with love hung over the eggshell white door reading as “Kujo’s Spot”. The figure of a sleeping wolf gently rested beside the title.

A light tinkle of bells chattered as they strolled through the door. Scanning around, it took them virtually no time to spot three figures in the back of the room. 

Lani beamed, “It’s–”

“You’re here!” Poppy popped up from her seat, vaulting herself over the round table to dash to the group. She flew into everyone’s arms, laughing joyfully.

“You guys made it! I’m so happy you could come!”

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world, Poppy,” Yekatarina cooed. After one final squeeze, Poppy hopped down. She gestured for the rest of the group to follow her.

“We already ordered some small things, but we can make you whatever you want! Perks of being the owner’s wife,” Poppy looked over and winked at Brianna. Brianna blushed, tucking a lock of bluish iridescent hair behind her ear.

“Well, still technically your fiancè…But yeah, we can fix up whatever you want if we’ve got the ingredients!” she smiled shyly. 

“Don’t push yourself! We’ll have whatever the newlyweds want,” Yekatarina said as she sat down in the birch chair. 

“Oh please, you’re our guests.” Poppy waved her hand before turning to the third person at the table, “Paxus, what did you order again?”

“Uh…” Paxus scratched his head, “I think some sort of cucumber sandwich thing.” 

“Ooh, that sounds really good,” Lani cooed. Everyone settled into a seat, easily slipping into conversation. 

“So Paxus, what’s new in Penkurth?” Percy saddled into the seat next to Paxus, securing a spot with his back to the door. 

“Not much,” the freckled tiefling took a sip of water, “Been helping out at the orphanage, got into another fight with my neighbor.”

“The artificer?”

“That’s the one. He keeps ordering his mechanical penguin to attack my hydrangea bushes,” Paxus grumbled. Before Percy could respond, a waiter set a tall onyx bottle onto the table. A second waiter rushed in and began to place thin glasses before each member of the party. 

“What’s a celebration without some alcohol!” Brianna laughs and claps her hands together.

“I hear that!” Percy barked gleefully. 

“Well,” Lani grabbed a glass, “shall we make a toast?”

“Oh, well we’re still waiting on one more person–” Poppy is cut off by the tingle of the door. A murmur fell onto the other patrons, and the host at the front was at a loss for words.

Shit. Percy’s heart drops.

“It’s one of the High Wizards!” whispers cut through the air.

“Don’t you remember? The Head of Divination was a part of the Bad Omens!” wooden steps echoed within the tavern.

“House Gaia is famous for producing the best wizards in the land!” Percy clenched his teeth and braced himself.

“There he is!” Poppy smiled dazzlingly, popping up to hug the newcomer. Bulky arms wound around Poppy’s small frame in a brief but tight hug.

“It’s good to see you too, Poppy,” the low bass voice rumbled into Percy’s ears. As Poppy dropped from arms and back into her seat, a purple and green set of eyes met with Percy’s. 

“Hey Percy,” he greeted politely, his smile not reaching his eyes.

“Hey there,” Percy’s breath hitched, “Rein.” 

Standing before him for the first time in ages was the one and only Rein Gaia. The wizard who aided in ending the apocalypse. The talented scholar who became the youngest High Wizard at the age of 18. The boy who kept Percy Muratov’s sorry heart aflame for eight years. His ex boyfriend.