The laughter eventually subsided into the kind of comfortable, aching silence that only follows a true emotional release. The fire in the hearth had burned down to glowing embers, casting a soft, red light over the four friends.
Sheng wiped his eyes with the back of his glove, feeling a strange sense of lightness. The rumors hadn't gone away—they were likely still spreading through Belvart like a wildfire—but the power they had over him had vanished.
"So," Arthor said, his voice still thick with remnants of laughter. "What's the plan, 'Shadow-Stalker'?"
Sheng smirked. "First, we finish this holiday. No more tasks. No more challenges. We go south, to the coast. I hear the elves there don't care about mountain gossip."
"And the organization?" Elvric asked, leaning back and stretching his arms. "You think they'll really keep you on 'retirement'?"
"Let them," Sheng said, his eyes sharpening with a bit of his old professional confidence. "If the world thinks I'm a bumbling romantic, they won't expect the dagger when it actually comes. Maybe a ruined reputation is just the ultimate disguise."
Bob smiled, finally seeing his friends at peace, even if he didn't quite understand why. "I think that's a wonderful idea. And if you ever need a letter of recommendation for a lady, Sheng, please... ask me. Don't ask the dwarf."
"Agreed," the trio said in unison.
They sat together for another hour, sharing stories of the war—the real stories, the ones that wouldn't make it into the history books. They talked about Richard's luck, Orthox's temper, and the way the world looked when you weren't trying to save it.
As they finally stood to head to their rooms, Sheng looked out the window at the stars. The "Eternal Brilliance" of the moon was gone, replaced by the natural, shifting darkness of the night. He was a professional. He was a friend. And he was, for better or worse, the man who sent a dwarf to do a lover's job.
The task had failed, but as the four of them walked up the stairs, their footsteps echoing in sync, Sheng knew that the story was far from over. It was just getting interesting.