The group left the church, Lilika helping Navien walk. Outside The city guard had assembled outside along with cultists being shoved off into prison carts. Damien and the city guard ran to them and helped them down the steps. They explained all that had transpired in the church and below it. A crowd had gathered to see the commotion and when they learned what the party had done they started cheering in celebration praising them.

Navien and Lilika didn’t say much staying close to one another. As the crowd dispersed, the bodies were hauled off along with the cultists. Drinial patted their shoulders.

“Well, only one thing to do after a successful quest… Drinks Are On Me!” He shouted out.

As they laughed they headed to the Jumping Jester. Navien and Lilika couldn’t help but have smiles on their faces the whole way.

There they chatted up about themselves, They learned Drinial’s father was a half-elf, that Yorna lost her best friend to goblins, and that Makith could blow ale bubbles out his nose. They laughed merrily, with people occasionally coming up to them to thank them for saving the city.

Eventually, as the night grew old, Drinial said as Makith and Yorna decided to part to bed,

“Well, I must declare that that was one of the more, intense, adventures I’ve gone on. However, I gained a lot in that quest too, for example, new friends! And I would love to have another with you fanciful lot if you ever desire it.”

“Well, I do think I could convince my temple to help you with any quest that involves good deeds!” Makith said thoughtfully.

“Heh, someone's still gotta deal with those cliff jumper goblins! If you take that one and others count me in!” Yorna boasted.

“I think the tower will let me take a break after that fight, they’re my family I’m sure they’ll understand,” Navien smiled.

“My mom went missing adventuring some months ago. Who knows, if I go along with you guys I might find her again!” Lilika put in.

They raised their mugs, and horns and cheered as they took a round together.

Afterward, Makith and Yorna took their leave with Yorna practically dragging Makith as he needed to be slumped over her shoulders, but her being a dwarf the rest of his tall body was on the ground as she dragged him.

Lilika and Navien shared a few more stories with Drinal, laughing into the night, with him ending up performing a song about how they defeated Lord Xyrin the Light Burner. They chuckled lightly embarrassed as they received applause along with Drinial.

After a few more drinks in moderation, they too decided to retire for the night, along with some other tavern clients, leaving Drinial to drunkenly hum to himself in his seat.

As they walked back home they chatted,

“I have to say the city has been amazing, I just wish I could’ve seen the beauty of the lights and not the worst of them,” Navien mentioned.

“Actually I don’t know if anyone might still turn on their lights, but there is a good place to see all of them in their entirety,” Lilika proposed.

“I would love to,” Navien answered.

Lilika led him to the edges of the cliffs of the 3rd tier. At the edges were some suspension bridges that led out towards a platform near the giant wheel. They walked across it until they reached a box master who directed them to a box hanging off a pole. A few other people were here to be directed to boxes, even so, Navien and Lilika still got one to themselves.

The pole was pushed forward onto a slot on the wheel, and the box left the station. They sat at the seats of the back of the box as they stared into the darkness of the city.

Except it wasn’t completely dark. In an act of defiance, the people of the city had replaced and turned on as many lights as they could.

The array was like looking at a night sky.

“It’s… beautiful,” Navien said as he looked out into the city with child-like wonder.

“Yes, it is,” Lilika said, but she wasn’t looking at the view she’d grown accustomed to over her life, she was looking at the new night sky right next to her.

As he looked out Lilika touched his chin and turned him to face her, then she kissed him, slow and softly.

They parted and shared a giggle, then Navien put his head on Lilika’s shoulder and her head on his. They watched the city of lights in the slow rattling box hooked on a wheel, turning to a new story.

The End.