Chapter 32 – After the Party
Razan then looks at the crowd and says with a satisfied grin, his voice carrying the lingering echo of the world he had created with the Song Fruit:
— That's it, everyone! Thanks! This show was amazing, see you next time!
Charlie, still buzzing with pure excitement, jumps a little on her feet as she waves to the people around them:
— Thank you, everyone, for listening to me! I loved singing for all of you!
Loona crosses her arms but can't hide the tiny smirk pulling at her mouth:
— Well… it was actually pretty fun. I wouldn't mind doing it again.
With a casual motion, Razan snaps his fingers. The glowing sky, the floating lights, the echoing music — all the illusions crafted by his power collapse softly like mist fading at dawn. Everyone returns to their real surroundings, blinking as the magic dissolves. The world of the show disappears completely, leaving behind only the memories and the thrill of having been there.
Sara opens her eyes, gasps in amazement, and looks around. When she notices she's back, she immediately turns toward her mother. Her small hands grip Diana's clothes as she jumps with pure joy:
— Mom! Did you see? Mr. Dragon did a show just for us!
Diana, still overwhelmed by the surreal performance, gently places her hand on her daughter's head and smiles warmly:
— Well… it looks like your wish to be part of the celebration came true, right?
— Yes, mom! And did you see? He sang so loud it looked like the stars were falling!
Her eyes shine with childlike wonder. Diana watches her daughter's excitement, her heart softening, and silently thinks:
Thank you, Lord Dragon.
Even though the show had only existed inside Razan's conjured world, the excitement it created remained echoing through everyone's emotions. The Healing City, still returning to itself, felt charged with a kind of energetic afterglow — like the whole place was still vibrating with the leftover magic.
In the secret base, hidden beneath layers of stone and demonic technology, Dave slowly opens his eyes. His muscles loosen as the illusion fades from his mind. Around him, the other hellhounds begin waking up as well, stretching their limbs and shaking off the magical drowsiness.
Dave lets out a tired but fond smile:
— Sir… you didn't need to call us too.
Ted, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, snorts:
— Well, he didn't need to call anyone from the city either… but he still did, right? That's why everyone likes the boss so much. That's why we swore loyalty to him.
Dave nods, as if the words were obvious truth:
— Yes. Because our boss is like that, all of us follow him. Right, everyone?
The hellhounds shout in unison, their voices loud, proud, and full of energy:
— YES!
Dave lifts a hand, signaling them to move out:
— Let's get back to work. We need to make sure no trash causes trouble in our city.
Without hesitation, the hellhounds melt into the shadows, disappearing like silhouettes swallowed by darkness.
Back in the mansion, the lively atmosphere continues. Charlie practically launches herself onto Razan again, wrapping her arms around him with wild enthusiasm:
— That was SUPER fun! Seeing everyone singing and jumping with my song was incredible!
Razan looks at her like he's watching a small creature vibrating with too much energy to exist in one universe. He lifts her off him with both hands:
— Okay, calm down, or you're going to become the first demon to die of cardiac arrest.
Charlie puffs her cheeks in annoyance:
— Even if I don't look like it, I'm super strong! Human illnesses can't do anything to me!
Razan pokes her cheek with a smirk:
— I know you're powerful, but when it comes to fighting, you're as reliable as I am when I need to work in the office.?.
Charlie freezes. That one stings. Loona laughs under her breath.
Loona watches the two idiots with a long, exhausted sigh:
— Well, idiots… what are we doing now? We still have time, and we have all these sweets.
Charlie and Razan share one silent look — the kind that carries too much chaotic energy — and they say at the same time:
— Movie marathon!
Loona throws her hands up:
— Well, why not? You two dragged me on stage to sing in front of thousands of people. What's a movie marathon compared to that?
They gather the candy — piles of it, enough to feed a small demon army — and flop onto the couches.
Razan raises a hand like a professor starting a lecture:
— I suggest an action movie. My favorite: Poor Beater. It's about a boy who becomes an orphan because a thief killed his parents when they were leaving the theater. Then the boy learns several martial arts, grows up, and returns to his city to become a hero dressed as a bat who beats up the poor.
Loona stares at him.
— That is… the stupidest title I've ever heard. But I want a horror movie where all the stupid couples die. — She snickers.
Charlie, pretending to ignore both of them, scans the movie shelf. Her eyes light up and she lifts a DVD:
— How about this one? It's about a Viking boy who becomes a dragon trainer. Looks cool!
Razan squints:
— Well, it works. Even though I like Poor Beater, I like this one too.
Loona gives him a deadpan look:
— Of course you like it. It has dragons. But… fine, it's not bad to watch.
Seeing both of them reluctantly agreeing, Charlie quickly slips the movie into the player before someone changes their mind.
Razan stretches out on the couch, arms behind his head. Loona lies beside him, comfortably leaning her head against his shoulder. Charlie stands still, hesitating for a moment.
Razan looks at her with the flat tone of someone who already knows the answer:
— Come lie down already. Or are you planning to watch the movie standing up?
Charlie jumps onto the couch like an excited cat and lays down with her head on Razan's legs.
Razan rests his hand on her forehead:
— Now stay quiet. The movie is about to start.
Loona watches the scene: Razan on the couch, one girl using him as a pillow, the other leaning on him. She sighs deeply and thinks:
These two idiots have no idea how weird they look together.
But as Razan and Charlie immediately start bickering over candy — one trying to steal, the other defending the bag like treasure — Loona sighs again and thinks:
Well… looks like not.