“Fight for Lord Wulf, and not only will you have a home, but you’ll also be paid,” Aida said, “Simple as.”

“You’re not really enticing me with that offer,” the Hog said, “Aren’t you supposed to make it persuasive?”

“Is it not?” Aida asked, “If I were you I would think of this as the perfect chance to get away from all of my problems scot-free.”

“You’re making a lot of assumptions there, Viper.”

Aida shrugged, “Maybe, but even then, it’s payment to do what you do best. Is that really so bad?”

The Hog was silent for a time, “And who would we be fighting?”

“The Great Dragon of the North.”

She said it casually, like it was just an errand, and it seemed to take the Hog a moment to reconcile her tone with what was actually being said. “Are you serious?” He laughed, “You want us to replace two packs of hunting dogs with a dragon?”

“Lord Wulf is still alive, isn’t he? As is Blaidd, despite that massive dragon trying to crush us for years now,” Aida said, “I think it’s a good opportunity. Besides, it’s not like you’ll be fighting on your own.”

“‘Us?’” The Hog raised an eyebrow, “Don’t tell me you’ve assimilated completely, Viper.”

“I have,” Aida said, “And my name is Aida now.”

The Hog smirked amusedly, “Is that so, Viper? Did you beg your new master for it? Or did you lie and pretend that that had been your name all along?”

Aida ignored his provocation, “I’d like to hear your answer now.”

Once more the Hog was silent for a time, though he seemed far more amused this time. Finally, he decided, “Well, I’ll need some time to think. I’ll get back to you with an answer tomorrow. Until then, feel free to relax in the room we provide you.”

Aida knew that wasn’t a request. They weren’t going to just let her leave so easily, “…Fine.” The Hog made a gesture, and a few of his followers came up to her and led her away into one of the tunnels connected to this cavern. A little ways down, a wall and a door had been constructed of wood, and the bandits let her inside.

The room, if it could even be called that, was as barebones as it got. There wasn’t even a mattress, just a torch and a bucket. Aida made a face and thanked her past self for not having eaten too much before setting off on this journey.

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She took a seat on the hard, rocky ground, and made herself comfortable against a wall. It seemed she was going to be spending the night here.

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The final day of the year was here, and Kenric sighed as he examined himself in the mirror. A dark turquoise capelet, a long black coat underneath, and a white silk shirt. These, along with smoothened black trousers and fine shoes of the same colour, made him look wildly different from how he usually did.

The silk shirt was comfortable, but the rest of his clothes weighed him down, and he didn’t want to ruin Gerard’s efforts by wrinkling his clothes, so he walked stiffly.

Deeming himself presentable, Kenric descended the stairs and made his way out to the courtyard of his manor. The manor staff were waiting there, all straight-backed and stone-faced. They were arranged in two lines, making a corridor for him to walk through to the exit. At the end awaited Gerard, and he had not changed out of his usual sharp tailcoat, a fact that Kenric found very unfair.

Kenric heard a sudden squeak behind him, and he turned and saw Elizabeth. She’d dressed in a flowing crimson gown with even more frills and designs upon it than her usual fare, and more importantly, she had a strangely excited look on her face.

“M-my lord,” she trotted up to him with surprising ease. Her experience in wearing such burdensome clothes was serving her well, “You look so sharp!”

“As do you,” Kenric said.

Elizabeth pouted, “My lord, for a woman you must call them beautiful!”

Her expressions were usually so muted that Kenric felt he was finally seeing a hint of her true self at this moment. It was… an interesting sight.

“I see,” Kenric said, “You look very beautiful then.”

Elizabeth sighed, “It doesn’t mean much when you’re made to say it…”

“I would not have said it if I did not mean it,” Kenric said, “Come.” He held out his arm, and she stared for a moment, a small smile forming on her cherry-red lips as she looped her arm around his.

They walked to the exit, and Gerard said, looking him up and down with wet eyes, “You are a man now.”

“I became a man at fifteen,” Kenric reminded, “Every boy does.”

“And yet you’ve grown,” Gerard said. His voice got rough, “You look the part now, and act it too. I could not be more proud.”

“…I had a brilliant mentor.”

He wanted to stop speaking now. He wanted to get on with the stupid ceremony. He pulled Elizabeth along as Gerard stepped out of the way, not at all liking the way her eyes shined at him with a delighted sort of understanding.

They exited out onto the street, with Edward, in colourful robes and holding a sword up in the image of a model knight, waiting for him on the left, and Gerard taking his place on the right. Kenric heard someone step behind him and saw Noodle. He was dressed in his own set of colourful robes as well, and the three together made a sort of triangle around him.

Kenric stared at Noodle, “Why are you here?”

“I’m taking Aida’s place!” Noodle said excitedly, “I’ve never been to the ceremony from here before, this feels amazing!”

Kenric to consider that, “Though Aida served me the longest, I suppose when it comes to how long you’ve served my family, you’re second to Gerard. All right then, that spot is yours.”

Noodle clenched his hands into fists, “Yes!”

Kenric faced forward again, and, quenching his burgeoning thoughts of Aida, took his first step into the dusk of the year.