Chapter 34: The Farewell of the Masked Dancer...

Nox, Audrey, Tessa, and Claws were sitting outside the One-Eyed Fish Tavern. Several empty bottles lay beside them.

The village was still celebrating Adrien Hall’s downfall.

And ever since they had arrived, the atmosphere felt peaceful for the first time.

Misty was still inside the tavern.

She had said she needed to talk to the masked dancers.

Her troupe.

Her family.

So Nox decided to wait.

Audrey took a long drink of beer.

Then she looked at Nox.

"Honestly..."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I’m not surprised you’ve managed to get another woman to follow your cause."

Nox laughed.

"This again?"

"You’re a demon."

"Yes."

"And somehow we keep joining you."

Nox shrugged.

"Maybe I’m charismatic."

"Maybe you’re lucky."

"That could be true too."

Tessa let out a small laugh.

"I’m worried about something else."

Nox looked at her.

"What?"

"We’re not all going to fit on the bear’s back."

Claws immediately turned his head and growled.

"Grrrr..."

Tessa raised an eyebrow.

"See? He’s already offended."

Audrey started laughing.

"Don’t make fun of Claws."

"Or what?"

"You’re going to become his next meal."

Tessa burst out laughing.

For some reason, she found the threat amusing.

Claws growled again, louder this time.

Which only made Tessa laugh even harder.

Nox watched the inquisitor for a few moments.

Then he noticed something.

Something felt off.

Something hidden behind that smile.

A worry.

Something she was trying to conceal.

"Is something wrong?"

Tessa stopped laughing.

"What?"

"I feel like there’s something that’s actually bothering you."

Audrey scoffed.

"You shouldn’t care what’s bothering this woman."

Tessa crossed her arms.

"It’s nothing."

Nox didn’t look convinced.

"If it’s important, maybe there’s something you’re not telling us."

Audrey looked at the inquisitor with a threatening smile.

"Oh, I’m pretty sure I know what it is."

"What?"

"She’s worried none of her little inquisitor friends came to rescue her."

Tessa clenched her jaw.

"They don’t care about that."

"Of course they don’t."

Audrey took another drink.

"Just like we weren’t going to help you."

Tessa ignored her and looked away again.

Nox watched the scene for a few seconds.

Then he sighed.

"If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine."

Tessa didn’t answer.

And Nox decided not to push it.

For now.

The tavern door opened.

A familiar figure stepped outside.

Misty.

The dancer wore her usual clothes.

But she was holding her white mask in both hands.

Her fellow dancers followed behind her.

They all looked emotional.

The woman walked over to the group and smiled.

"There’s one last thing I need to do."

Nox tilted his head.

"What is it?"

Misty looked at her mask.

Then she placed it over her face.

"Say goodbye."

◇◆◇

A few minutes later.

The center of the village was packed with people.

Merchants.

Fishermen.

Entire families.

Everyone was watching the main street.

Then it happened.

A gust of wind swept through the area.

Snow rose into the air.

Hair fluttered.

And several people looked up.

A figure had appeared atop one of the rooftops.

The dancer, Misty.

Wearing her white mask.

Her black dress with golden details.

The crowd erupted into applause.

"Misty!"

"It’s Misty!"

"The best dancer!"

The woman performed an elegant bow.

Exactly the same way she always did during her performances.

Then she jumped.

A single flip.

Perfect.

She landed in the middle of the street, right at the center of the crowd.

The people automatically stepped aside.

Misty remained motionless for several seconds.

Then she raised both hands and slowly removed her mask.

The white mask fell onto the snow in the middle of the road.

The crowd fell silent.

Everyone understood what it meant.

Misty looked at the faces of the people she had entertained for years.

And smiled.

Then she leaped backward.

A current of wind formed beneath her feet.

It launched her several meters into the air.

And she landed once more atop the same rooftop.

The dancer performed one final bow.

And then the entire village began to applaud.

Not a single person remained silent.

The applause echoed through every street.

Every building.

All the way to the frozen lake.

Misty smiled.

And a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

This was her farewell.

To her stage.

To her previous life.

To the dancer she used to be.

The wind began to swirl around her.

Her hair fluttered.

Her dress billowed.

And in the next instant...

She vanished.

◇◆◇

The snowy pine forest stretched before the group.

Claws moved calmly through the snow.

Audrey sat on his back.

Tessa sat in the middle, tied up.

And Nox watched the path ahead.

For a few moments, nobody spoke.

Until a current of wind swept through the trees.

Nox smiled.

"There you are."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

"That fast?"

Nox pointed to the side.

Between the pines.

"Did you finish what you needed to do?"

The wind spiraled.

Snow-covered leaves rose into the air.

And a figure appeared, walking beside the group.

Misty.

Her eyes were still slightly wet.

But she was smiling.

"Yes."

She wiped away the last remaining tear.

"And thank you for waiting for me."

Nox shrugged.

"We couldn’t abandon our new dancer."

Misty laughed softly.

Audrey looked at the newcomer.

Then smiled.

"I think I like you more than Tessa."

Tessa immediately turned her head.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what you heard."

Misty tried to hold back her laughter.

She failed.

Nox started laughing too.

"Come on, Audrey."

"What?"

"That’s not exactly difficult."

Misty covered her mouth.

Trying not to laugh.

Tessa crossed her arms.

Very annoyed.

Which only caused even more laughter.

Even Claws seemed amused.

The inquisitor sighed.

"I hate all of you."

"We appreciate you too."

"You damned demon."

Nox smiled.

And together, they continued deeper into the snowy forest.