Saving The Lich Queen - Epilogue

After living in Lokora for over fifteen years, Luna was embarrassed to admit she still didn’t recognize almost any of the townsfolk sitting at the tables around her.

The loud middle-aged woman on the bar stool by the counter was Mrs. Pearl. The woman had helped her out when Luna got embarrassingly lost in Lokora’s Summer Festival two years ago. Today, Mrs. Pearl’s speech was slurred and her balance wobbled. The stool leaned on two legs, about to fall. Luna reached into her mana core, about to help out, but by some drunken instinct, the woman grabbed onto the counter for balance. She stayed put and confirmed the stool was stably back on its four legs.

Then she grabbed her beer pint and gulped it down, as if nothing had happened.

Apparently, that sort of drunkenness was acceptable and normal here, as the bartender merely chuckled.

To Luna’s right, a group of six teens competed with each other for turns to speak. They wore the academy’s seniors’ uniform, and the girls had their wide-brimmed witch’s hats on. They sat on couches around the circular table with colorful drinks accompanying their card game. The students were underage and weren’t allowed alcohol, but Luna had seen one of them sneaking booze into their drinks under the table.

The same bunch had been sophomores during Luna’s graduation year. She recognized their faces, though she didn’t know anyone by name.

The same went for the rest of the bar—from the couples enjoying dinner in the calmer corner to the older gentlemen who were somehow ordering drinks faster than anyone else. To Luna, Lokora was familiar, but only from a distance, with unnamed faces all around her, who occasionally threw curious glances in her direction.

Luna did recognize Kai by name, though, sitting across from her, wearing a new black t-shirt.

“Ahhh!” he said, thumping the empty pint glass on the table. Luna watched, concerned, as he wobbled on his seat. Not as severely as Mrs. Pearl, but he had drunk six beers in the last three hours. “Feels good to finally get drunk again.”

“Again?” Luna asked. “Didn’t you say this was your first time?”

Kai was taken aback. The grin turned sheepish. “Uh, I sneaked a few shots from mom’s cabinet when I was younger. Don’t tell her.”

Mom doesn’t drink alcohol, though? Luna thought, confused.

“Nevermind that,” Kai said. “What about you? Do you like the beer more than the cider?”

Luna glanced at the pint on her side of the table. She’d drunk half of it in the last thirty minutes. Each sip tasted worse than the last.

Most things Kai made her taste were delicious, such as pastries or juices—treats that Luna had slowly grown accustomed to.

Beer, however, was not one of those. She took a small sip and said, “It’s fine.”

Kai eyed her suspiciously. “Not to call you a liar, Luna, but you look like you’d rather taste mud.”

“It’s fine,” Luna repeated. “Nothing to complain about.” You got it for me. I wouldn’t want to talk badly about it.

“Nobody likes their first beer,” Kai said, his smile seeing right through her. “I’ll drink it if you don’t like it. There’s no need to force yourself to drink it.”

Luna’s eyes pointed awkwardly at her pint. It was her third drink, too. She felt something fuzzy in her head. Colors looked a little more vibrant, and shapes were blurry. Most notably, she seemed to get embarrassed a lot more easily. Nervously, she pushed the pint to Kai’s side of the table.

“Thank youuu,” he said with a drunken grin plastered on his face, as if he hadn’t been the one to pay for it. He took another large gulp.

Then he lifted his hand to call for the waiter.

Oh no, you’re not ordering more, are you? Luna thought, watching in concern as the waiter in his sweater and vest walked over. Mom had warned them not to drink too much. For their first time trying alcohol, it was best to try a few drinks until they got tipsy, but no more than that. It was best to test their limits first.

Was mom’s warning a suggestion or an order? Luna thought. Kai certainly took it as a suggestion. He would probably get scolded for drinking too much. And he’d probably smile it off, giving mom a hug.

“Another pint for the birthday king, is it?” the waiter asked.

“Uh, sure, one more,” Kai said, then drunkenly squinted at his coin pouch. Instead of keeping a tab, he paid upfront to make sure they didn’t order something he couldn’t afford. “And for Luna… would you happen to have something that doesn’t taste like mud? Something more appropriate for a princess?”

The waiter snorted at the joke, but didn’t seem to take offense. He turned to Luna with a smile and asked, “Are you a fan of strawberries, Miss?”

Luna had her back straight by habit. “I am a fan of strawberry jam, sir.”

“How about chocolate milk?” he asked.

“Chocolate milk is delicious,” Luna said nervously. “I think?”

Kai looked amused. Not in a mocking way—he always had the same expression when Luna ventured out from her comfort zone to try something new. Speaking with strangers was one of the things that never got easier.

“It’s one of my favourites,” Luna added, hoping not to sound weird.

“Perfect,” the waiter said. “I believe I’ve got just the drink. Would you prefer the cute or the dark and mysterious version?”

Luna wondered what he meant. She couldn’t figure it out. “The cute version?” she said.

“Ah, and is it fine if I,” Kai butted in, “uh, return tomorrow to pay a little late?”

The waiter rolled his eyes, but he was still smiling. “I’ll make this one on the house. Luna, think of this as a delayed birthday present. Congratulations to you both. You’re welcome here any day.”

“Thank you,” she said. She was about to bow, then caught herself. She definitely wasn’t supposed to bow to a waiter in a bar. “I appreciate it,” she said, as if to make up for the previous blunder. “Thanks a lot.”

Then she realized she had thanked him three times, and she said, “Sorry! I, um…”

What am I saying!?

The waiter gave a light-heated chuckle, bowed himself, then said, “Please enjoy it,” before leaving her alone.

Kai was chuckling as well. “You’re cute when you get awkward like that, Luna.”

“It’s the alcohol!” she said. “It’s making me act weird!”

“Don’t worry about it. Nobody here thinks clearly. Intoxication is known to bring out old habits.” He studied her face, then asked, “Are you feeling okay?”

“I can still think clearly,” Luna said, crossing her arms. “I haven’t been gulping beer down, unlike you.”

“Right,” Kai said. “I’d still beat you in chess, though.”

“You would not,” Luna said firmly.

That confidence dwindled, however, as the next thought flowed through her head. She added, “It’s just…”

Kai tilted his head.

“Today is your birthday,” Luna said. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be treating you… But instead, my gift is late, and you’re the one paying for my drinks…”

“Oh,” Kai said. The amused smile returned. “Don’t worry about it. I’m excited to see what your gift is, don’t get me wrong, but I’m also more than happy to have you getting drunk with me.”

I’m not even drunk, Luna thought. The alcohol just made her needlessly embarrassed. She awkwardly looked away.

Kai’s smile only widened. “Yes, just like that. You’re even cuter than Nelly when you get embarrassed.”

“Stop it!” Luna pleaded, hiding her face with her hand and lowering her head. Her heart rate started to rise again.

As she lowered down, something poked at her skin inside her pocket. The corner of an envelope. She was reminded again that she’d promised herself she’d give it to him today. It had taken her a lot of courage just to bring the letter with her, let alone give it to him.

He’s drunk, Luna thought. I can’t give it to him now! He’s not thinking clearly.

But if he’s not thinking clearly, maybe he’s more inclined to agree?

Luna saw the waiter returning with a drink platter, and her head popped back up, posture straight. The waiter placed the two drinks onto their table. “A pint for the birthday king. And for Luna, this one is called the strawberry bomb. It’s chocolate milk mixed with gin and strawberries. Let me know what you think.”

Luna eyed it. The drink looked like pink milk with bits of chocolate inside. Strawberries floated on top, and a cute, colorful twirling straw poked out. Even the glass itself was interesting, with diamond patterns lining its surface.

She took a sip. Chocolate and sweetness filled her mouth, mixed with a stronger taste of alcohol. That must have been the gin, though it was overpowered by the sweeter tastes.

She took another sip. “It’s like ice cream,” Luna said. “Thank you. It’s delicious!”

The bartender gave a warm smile, saying he was honored. Why he was the one to be honored after making her a drink for free, Luna still wasn’t quite certain.

Somehow, experiences like these, receiving kindness from others, were surprisingly common. Despite what her old home had taught her, most people didn’t scowl when Luna showed happiness.

Really, most people were like Kai. Happiness spread around people like him. If one person smiled, there was a chance another person would smile too.

The opposite group was rare, but easily separated. The type that tried to push others’ happiness down instead of embracing it. Like her mother.

Mother had tried to contact Luna from prison, though Kai didn’t let Luna read her letter. Some time after that, Mother tried to claim that Luna wasn’t her daughter, so that she wouldn’t have to pay child support.

Luna’s new family merely laughed at that. And when Luna felt nervous, they offered pancakes and hugs, and a blanket to keep her warm at night, so that she and Kai could walk to school the next day.

With Kai, she didn’t go to school to appease Mother. She went to school to study magic, and to build a life for herself. She had graduated with top scores, not because she was forced to, but because she had worked hard together with Kai.

I just need to get a job now, Luna thought. It had been a full year since graduation, and Luna still hadn’t decided which job she would accept. That was fine, according to Kai’s mom, and Luna was allowed time to think about her future. But sooner than later, she would need to move out of home. She was twenty, after all.

“Luna?” Kai asked, and she realized she’d been staring at her drink. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh, sorry,” Luna said. “I… think I’m starting to get drunk.”

Kai laughed, took another gulp of beer, and from there, the night of drunken nonsense continued. Kai told gossip from his job at the funhouse—he told her how the academy’s students had granted him the nickname of Wannabe Headmaster, or sometimes Uncle Kai, for his tendency to offer unsolicited life advice. The nickname seemed to be used in good faith, as the students next to them started yelling conversation from the table next over.

Some minutes later, as a few students left and empty seats formed, Kai decided to take their seats, joining the seniors. Gossip continued from there, though Luna struggled to keep track. She silently sipped her drink.

Luna, it seemed, was also still famous amongst the academy as a prodigy. The students asked her if she’d gotten any offers from the nobility after her graduation. She had, and a lot of them, though she hadn’t accepted any. The students asked why not, and she mumbled some sort of answer, saying she just didn’t feel like they were good offers. Everyone looked confused, but they quickly moved on to new conversations.

So loud, Luna thought, wanting to sigh. She still struggled to handle people. Usually, Kai led her away from groups, noticing that she didn’t enjoy large amounts of company. He was drunk today, laughing alongside everyone else, genuinely enjoying himself. Luna tried her best to fit in.

She did manage to talk to one of the girls, who was quieter than the rest, sitting beside Luna. A ginger girl with freckles, whose name was Alice. She mostly asked about magic and about Luna’s achievements, and she asked for advice on how to succeed. Luna could easily talk about the theory of magic, but career advice… Well, she was currently jobless.

The conversation must have continued for another forty minutes. Near the end, all the drinks were getting to her bladder. Luna struggled to keep her feet still, despite already having her legs crossed. Her need to pee was getting distracting to the point she couldn’t ignore it.

She glanced at Kai. The students had ordered him another pint as a birthday present, and it didn’t look like they would be leaving any time soon.

Luna had hoped to hold it until home. That would be impossible, it seemed. Luna stood and excused herself, moving toward the bathroom signs in the corner of the bar with hesitant steps.

On the way, she admired the pictures and plaques and the decorative staves on the walls. Lokora’s shops and bars were always pleasant. This one was nice and atmospheric.

She made it to the bathroom door. The hinges squealed as Luna nervously opened it.

Then she paused at the doorstep, freezing on the spot.

Dark. The bathroom was dark and cold, the lights off and the light switch hidden, with spilled drinks and boot marks covering the floor. A smell of sewage came from within. The toilet was one with pipes, but the seat was cut off from one of the two hinges, balancing awkwardly.

A hot wave of panic rose to her head. The feeling of a cold bathroom floor pressing against her skin, the taste of dirt in her mouth, her lips touching the uncleaned plates of a dark cold cell. She heard the lock click closed, and she was there again, in her head, crying for help.

Luna shut the door in one swift motion.

She stood frozen outside the door, lightly shaking for a long ten seconds. She took a deep breath, convincing herself that it was not real.

Then she walked back to the table.

“Kai…” she said.

He turned, and slowly, his drunken smile turned to concern. Luna stood with her hands closed in, head low.

“The bathroom…” Luna said. “It’s…”

“Oh, yeah the lock is broken,” Kai said. “Want me to guard it for you?”

“No, it’s um…”

Everyone was looking at her, sharing the concerned look. Luna’s face was red-hot. The pressure between her legs threatened to release. She suddenly felt like a total idiot for trying to hold for so long.

“Oh, right,” Kai said, finally understanding. Any hints of intoxication were gone from his voice, as if he was totally sober. He stood and quietly asked, “Want to use the one back home?”

Her face only grew redder, eyes pointing at her feet, but she nodded.

Kai returned the nod with much more confidence. He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

He smiled at the students. “That was fun, thanks for the night. Let’s meet again.”

He didn’t wait for goodbyes, leaving his half-drunk pint on the table. He exited swiftly with a quick wave for the bartender, and stepped onto Lokora’s town centre, Luna holding his hand.

The sky was still visible, and the air was warm enough that not even a summer jacket was required. The last of winter’s endless snow had melted a few weeks ago, and the buildings of the town centre began to show life, a paved path revealing itself for the duration of Lokora’s short summer.

The street was quiet with only two bar-goers out smoking pipes. It must have been beyond midnight by now. Just as the winters in Lokora were pitch-black almost all day, Lokora’s summers had a few days that didn’t get dark at all. That must have been nature’s way of apologizing for the hideous winter that came every year.

“Kai, slow down,” Luna said, speaking through a heavy breath. She felt her bladder bounce with every swift step she took after Kai.

Kai glanced back at her, only to see Luna with a hand between her legs, leaning forward. She waited for the pressure to calm, then continued forward, stepping slowly at a pace she could manage.

“It’s that bad?” Kai asked.

Luna could spare a panicked “sorry,” as a response. Her heart raced, and she cursed at her own stupidity in her head. She felt like the biggest idiot in the world. How was she, a twenty-year-old graduate, supposed to explain to anyone that she was deadly afraid of dark bathrooms to the point she’d place herself in this situation instead of even considering exploring a foreign bathroom?

With Kai, she didn’t need to explain. Even in his drunken state, he knew exactly what was happening. And he had never once made fun of her for this.

Still, she was here now, paying the price for her fears. Every step she took hurt. She winced internally as Kai watched her struggle. This was too much. She’d really not make it home.

“Get on my back,” Kai said, lowering for her to jump on. “I’ll carry you.”

“You’re drunk,” Luna reminded.

Kai still looked determined, waiting for her to get on. Luna squeezed her legs one last time, then decided to jump on. Kai grabbed her, stumbled a little, then began the walk toward home.

After the initial stumbles, he found a pace, and the walk was surprisingly smooth considering the amount of beer he’d drunk. “This turned into quite the adventure,” he said between breaths.

“Sorry…” Luna said.

“No, I’m sorry, I should have warned you,” Kai said, as if this was somehow his fault. “The roadhouse has quite the garderobe. But I hope you had fun.” After a laugh, he added, “Try not to pee on my back.”

Luna wasn’t sure if she could manage. She reached into her mana core and channeled a small amount. She directed the mana between her legs and strengthened her muscles. She’d practiced strength enhancement magic for a few months last year until she was close to mastering it. The magic was usually used for lifting boulders or punching monsters, but it worked for… odd situations as well.

She held tight onto Kai, pressing her face close to his neck. She felt each bump of his steps and listened as his breath slowly got louder from the exhausting hills. Despite that, he continued steadily forward, keeping a firm grip on Luna’s legs.

I’ll need to move out of Lokora soon, Luna thought. She was supposed to be a full-fledged mage now. Her magic was needed elsewhere. There was nothing to do in a town as mundane as Lokora, and the academy had no jobs to offer for someone as antisocial as her.

And when she moved… Kai would be left behind. She’d be all alone. Again.

She held onto him even tighter and buried her face on his back.

She stayed hugged, until Kai paused, reaching into his pockets. He kept Luna on his back, avoiding sudden movements. “We’re home,” he announced a little louder than he should have, considering the time of day.

With his shoes still on, he carried Luna to the bathroom, where the lights were permanently left on and bright and scent sticks extruded sweet strawberries, before finally placing her down. He quickly left and closed the door, and Luna let out her long sigh of relief.

***


“Kai?” mom asked with her arms crossed. “How drunk are you?”

“A couple,” I said.

She tilted her head, frowning at me.

I grinned. Her face was admittedly a little blurry. I walked over to the faucet, recently renovated to offer drinking water straight from the wall, and poured myself a cup. The manoeuvre required all of my focus, but I’d argue I managed it mostly without wobbles or overt drunkenness.

Mom sighed. “Well, if you’re sober enough to drink water, I’ll ask, have you thought about whether you want to live together with Luna for longer?”

I turned to her, immediately feeling slightly less drunk. “What’s this about?”

“She got another job offer,” mom said, holding an envelope.

I suppressed the complicated expression that tried to form. Luna had gotten a lot of those. Probably over fifteen in the last year from noble estates all across the country. Most wanted her to be a simple bodyguard, but a few more respected mages wanted to take her as an apprentice, which in itself paid a full-time wage to Luna. She was just that talented.

So far, Luna had considered them, but she had been too nervous to accept any.

“This one is sent for both Luna and Kai,” mom said, showing me the letter. “From some noble in Ainsgard.”

“Wait,” I said. “My name is on it as well?”

Mom nodded.

I nervously took it, opening the stamp. I sat down and squinted my drunken eyes to read. It was difficult, and I had to read some lines twice, but I managed to get the jist of it.

“Holy shit,” I said. “Some fucker wants to hire me as a mage.”

Mom had her arms crossed and didn’t look impressed by my use of language, but she said nothing.

“And Luna as well, of course,” I added. “She wants us both. It’s from Dianna Goodwind. An archmage of the association. And a good one as well. I know her.” As In, she had investigated lich sight in my prior life, when the power was still new to me. She had been very sympathetic to my situation. “She’s offering us to be her personal assistants!”

“You think you can keep up with her demands?” mom asked.

“No,” I said. “Magic wise, at least. Luna definitely could, but she’ll struggle with the simpler tasks.”

“You’d be good with the simpler tasks,” mom said. “And Luna can help out when your magic is lacking. You’d be a good pair.”

I glanced at her. Mom was grinning. Why did she look so smug?

“I talked a bit with Dianna. And I relayed Luna’s situation,” mom said. “Dianna knows Luna’s past and her fears. And she knows how important you are to her. She agreed that Luna isn’t ready for a real job yet. She’d panic. So she offered to take you two as her apprentices.”

My eyes opened wide, amazed, and suddenly regretting that I was drunk. “You arranged all this?”

“It wasn’t difficult,” mom said. “Luna’s talents are known. She’s wanted everywhere. Most people just expect a lot from her. Dianna was the only one who seemed like someone who could help Luna with her… more complicated side.”

I didn’t know what to say. I sat there in utter bafflement.

The only proper response was a hug. I stood and did just that.

Mom laughed awkwardly. “Go take a bath, please.”

I grinned. “Thank you, mom. You’re a savior. Again.”

She shrugged, saying that it was just her job to help us, and I headed into the bath, where my drunken head continued spinning.

***


With my bath towel on my shoulder, I stumbled only a little as I entered my room, which was now also Luna’s. Her bed was in the opposite corner of the room—so essentially next to mine with just enough space in between for two nightstands.

Luna was already in her pajamas. She lay in bed, eyes open and facing the ceiling. She looked sad, almost. As I entered, she turned sideways to the left, away from me.

“Sorry…” she said.

“For what?” I asked.

“For ruining your birthday…”

I blinked. “That was an awesome birthday, Luna. I had a lot of fun. You didn’t ruin anything.”

It didn’t look like she believed me. Or if she did believe me, she wasn’t about to forgive herself just yet. Luna could be complicated at times. She continued lying sideways, facing the wall in silence.

“I’ll tell you some good news tomorrow,” I said, while putting on my own pajamas. “When I’m not so drunk. I’ll probably sleep in, though.”

“Don’t you have work tomorrow?” Luna asked.

I paused. “Oh fuck.”

She didn’t laugh like she usually did. Maybe I should have shown her Dianna’s offer now? That would probably cheer her up. I considered fetching it.

But another part of me was still busy processing it. Accepting the letter meant I’d be living together with Luna. I wasn’t opposed to that. But I wasn’t sure what kind of life I wanted with her.

I snuck into my own bed, brooding over those thoughts. The situation between me and Luna was a bit complex. We both obviously cared a lot for each other. I would have gladly gone through another regression to save her for a second time.

But in the end, were we like siblings, or did Luna still want something more?

Did I want something more?

“Kai?” Luna said, talking quietly at the wall. “I’m a bit useless, aren’t I?”

“Why would you ever be useless?”

“I’m a burden.”

“Why would you ever be a burden?”

She took her time answering. “I mean… You’re all still taking care of me. I haven’t done anything to help. I’m just…”

“If that’s what you mean by burden,” I said, “then you are definitely allowed to be a burden, Luna.”

“But where’s the line?” Luna asked. “How useless can I be before I’m too much of a burden?”

I could feel her embarrassment in her voice. This silly little idiot… I thought.

I got up from bed and moved to hers. I lifted her blanket.

“Huh?” Luna suddenly asked. “Kai?”

I snuck under her blanket, lay down next to her, and wrapped my hands around her. For a while, I said nothing and merely hugged her. I could feel her heartbeat rise in real time, her face getting red.

This wasn’t our first time hugging ourselves asleep. I had confirmed that Luna did, in fact, enjoy nighttime hugs.

“That line is off in some field in the opposite end of the world,” I said softly. “You’ve got plenty of uselessness to spare.”

Her heartbeat was blowing up.

“You’re about to rival archmages with the amount you practice,” I said. “Everyone can see that you’re working hard. You’re trying your absolute best every day. It doesn’t matter to us that you sometimes fail, or if you’re not making any progress. As long as you continue trying your best, you’ll never be a burden to us.”

She breathed in and out, not saying anything. I kept hugging her in silence.

“Want me to head back to my own bed?” I asked quietly.

“No,” Luna said. “You can stay.”

I smiled, then took a comfortable position next to her, and felt the world still spinning from the alcohol in my head as I closed my eyes.

***


Nelly woke me up early in the morning. I heard her thrashing about in my bed, loudly asking, “Kai, where are you?”

She then found me in the bed next over and pouted at me. “That’s Luna’s bed.”

“Shhh,” I said with a finger over my mouth while getting up. “Luna is still sleeping.”

Nelly, now ten years old and already rivaling my level of intelligence, gave me a cute frown. She glanced over me, and saw Luna in the bed with me. That only made her more suspicious.

She kept her dubious frown on me as she closed the door, leaving me to get dressed in peace.

I put on some haphazard summer clothes lying around, cursing at the headache in my head.

I glanced at Luna, whose eyes were open, and said, “The good news I promised are on the kitchen table. Go have a look once you’re up.”

“Have a nice day at work,” Luna said, sounding nervous.

I smiled and headed to the kitchen, where I downed three glasses of water and quickly ate an apple before deducing that I was already late for work. I headed out.

My skin smelled vaguely of alcohol. I noticed a small stain on the side of my shirt. My hair was probably a mess as well.

In other words, I was perfectly dressed for the job. I walked under the hot summer sky to the town centre, picked up my keys, and opened the door to Bob’s Funhouse.

“Hello,” I said. The lights were on today, bright and revealing all the uncleaned dust. I looked around to see if Marcus was going to ambush me again

There was no ambush, but his figure rose from above the counter. He observed my appearance, and then grinned. “Well, well, well. My slave’s showing up to the job hungover, huh?”

“Only slightly,” I said.

“What, you didn’t get black-out drunk?” Marcus asked, somehow disappointed. “What kind of twentieth birthday is that?”

“I tried my best,” I said. “And I did get quite far, until I was reminded of this odd event today called work.”

Marcus grinned and tossed me a broom and dustpan. “Real men don’t let work dissuade them from a night of fun. They fight the hangover and show up anyway.”

“That’s kind of what I’m doing,” I said with a sigh, already picking up dust.

“I’ve got plants to help out with the headache if you’d like.”

“No, thanks,” I said. Though, looking at Marcus and taking a sniff around the room, it was obvious he’d already smoked at least one joint.

Work started from there. With summer vacation starting, the funhouse had closed for cleanup and renovations, and to prepare attractions for next semester. Marcus was setting up a new escape room and a haunted house, and he was building a new exhibit he called the fishing room.

I was mostly cleaning and helping out with the simple stuff. Marcus still liked to be the mastermind of his operation. He occasionally revealed his new creations to me like some mysterious overlord.

I probably wasn’t needed here at all, but Marcus seemed to like my company, and he liked to have someone clean up his messes, so I was hired. I had an easy day today, just wiping dust and cleaning drink spills from carpets.

After a short boring moment, Marcus broke off the silence by asking, “You went out with Luna yesterday, right?”

“To the Roadhouse, yes,” I said.

He wiped a glass like some bartender. He sent me an observant look.

Then my goddamned boss asked, “Have you two fucked yet?”

I burst into a cough, spilling the dust I’d just picked up. “What the fuck, Bob? Obviously not.”

“Obviously?” he asked. “No, not is not an obvious answer at all.”

I gave him a sideways glance and continued working.

“I mean, Luna is absolutely gorgeous,” he said. “Fucking god himself would be jealous. And she seems most definitely interested. Or did she reject you already?” He continued thinking. “Does she even know what sex is?”

“She does,” I said with another sigh. “And we aren’t dating. And even if we were, we can’t exactly start wrestling in my mom’s house.”

“Well, you’ve got keys to the funhouse,” Marcus said. “Feel free to take her here, now that it’s empty.”

“For fuck’s sake, Bob,” I said, rolling my eyes.

He grinned, and work continued for another six hours.

***


Another job offer, Luna thought, seeing the envelope on the table.

She eyed it suspiciously. Was this the good news Kai had talked about? There was nothing else on the table. If the job offer was it, there must have been something special about it. Luna wasn’t really in the mood for opening it, though…

“Lunaaa!” Nelly called from the living room. “Will you complete this today or not?”

I’ll read it later, Luna thought, turning away from the envelope. And today… I’ll give my own letter to him.

Nelly was sitting on the sofa with knitting needles and yarn, waiting for Luna. On Luna’s usual seat was her project: a white winter sweater. One of the sleeves was still unfinished. She needed to complete it today.

She sat next to Nelly and got to work. The project had taken a lot longer than intended. Mostly because, it turned out, Luna sucked at knitting. She didn’t want the sweater to fall apart if it was actually used, and she wouldn’t accept anyone laughing at Kai because he wore a sweater she made. So she had to ensure her work was good as well.

As a result… Well, she had missed his birthday. She’d need to get it done today.

Nelly had been the one to suggest knitting to Luna. Though despite that, Nelly was arguably even worse at handling the knitting needles than Luna. Nelly was clumsy, and she required constant help. Looking at her struggle to make a beanie, Luna wasn’t sure if Nelly even liked knitting.

Nelly did like talking with Luna, though. Sometimes, it felt like Nelly was an adult already. The way she talked was often more mature than Kai’s nonchalant jokes. She did well in school with aspirations to also enroll in the magic academy once she hit thirteen.

If I move out, Nelly will be left here as well, Luna thought.

No matter how she thought about it, accepting a job sounded awful. She’d need to move out and abandon her good life here for some nobles that paid her…

Luna would have preferred a simple job as Lokora’s snow plower, or something… At least, then, she wouldn’t have to move into some big city away from everything she loved.

“Are you giving your letter to Kai today?” Nelly asked.

Luna flinched, blinking at Nelly. “Uhm, what do you mean? What letter?”

“The one you hid under your bed,” Nelly said. “The one that asked if he would—”

“Nelly!” Luna said. “You’re not allowed to read letters that are not for you!”

Nelly avoided her eyes. “I didn’t mean to…”

Luna let out a long breath, suddenly feeling stupid. Gods. This was embarrassing. Nelly knew now.

“I won’t forgive you if you read one of my letters again, Nelly,” Luna said. “At least ask first!”

Nelly pouted at her now. “Sorry,” she said.

“And don’t tell Kai,” Luna said.

“I won’t,” Nelly said. “But you will, right? I think he will agree. It was a good letter.”

Luna gave Nelly a frown, then went silent as she continued her project. She needed to finish the sweater before Kai came home from work today. Delaying a birthday present by one day was already bad. Two would be a total embarrassment.

She continued working, chatting with Nelly, and lastly preparing the final surprise, until the front door finally opened.

***


“I’m home,” I said, opening the front door.

A pop welcomed me, followed by, “Happy Birthday!”

I paused as confetti sprayed on my arrival. A light spray from one of the cheap single-use confetti guns. An embarrassed Luna stood behind the show, next to Nelly, who grinned wide.

“Delayed birthday, I mean,” Luna said. She held up her arms. “The present is finally done.”

My eyes opened wide, seeing the sweater. I picked it up, admiring it. It was simple and full white, but clean and well knitted. The type of sweater I loved to wear every winter. “Did you make this? For me?”

Luna nodded. “Sorry for being late.”

“With my help!” Nelly announced, bouncing excitedly on her feet. “Try it on!”

I shared the grin and put it on. The fit was slightly loose, perhaps, but definitely manageable. It was genuinely a lovely sweater.

“Wow,” I said. “This is awesome. Thank you.”

I grinned up at Luna, only to find her even more nervous than she had been yesterday. For some reason, she struggled to look me in the eyes. Her posture was closed in, though not quite fearful. Rather, she looked like she wanted to step forward, but was too nervous to do so.

Nelly eyes her. Mischievously, my sister reached into Luna’s pocket, and pulled something out. “Are you looking for this?” she asked Luna.

Luna flinched, then froze, as if someone had found her deepest secret. Now her face really went red. “Um…” she stuttered.

She handed the letter to me in one swift motion. “Please read this!”

I took it slowly, confused.

The very moment the letter was in my hand, Luna dashed away, her footsteps rushing to our room. Nelly smirked at me before she, too, disappeared.

What’s this now? I thought, smiling awkwardly at myself. Is this why Luna has been so nervous?

I was afraid to read it. The letter was wrinkled, having probably been in her pocket for quite some time. A goodbye letter? There was a chance she had already accepted a job.

I opened it, revealing multiple paragraphs of pretty handwriting.

Still clad in the new sweater, I took a breath and began reading it. There were no greetings or hellos; Luna went straight to action, and the first sentence immediately got me nervous.

“Do you remember when I asked you a question a long time ago? We were fifteen, and I’d just learned something new in a certain book you got for me. Back then, I didn’t know how embarrassing the question was, so I asked you without hesitation. I doubt you remember what I asked, or how you responded, but I remember your answer clearly.

“You told me you’d consider it after we were both twenty years old. Before that, you would always say no.

“I was confused. In the story you gave me, the characters hugged each other whenever they wished. They shared their deepest secrets whenever they wanted, and they comforted each other when one cried. That sounded perfect. I definitely wanted more hugs, and more support. So I asked you if you’d like the same.

“When you said not yet, I was confused. Did you not think the same way? And why would you need to wait until we were twenty before you could answer?

“Then I learned that the question implied much more than just hugs. We would also have to deal with problems together. Like taxes. Or earning money. Or working. And maintaining a house together. I suddenly understood why you didn’t want to share all of that with someone as clueless as me. It would only make sense for you to find someone more competent. Not to mention, you’d need to find a new job in a foreign city, while I’m off at some noble’s place. That’s why I feel silly asking the same thing again.

“Even still, six years later, I still feel the same way. My heart still races when you look at me. I still want to hug you more. I want to spend my life with you. I want to learn how the world works outside Lokora together with you. I want to build a new home as loving as this. I want to start a new family with you.

“Now that we’re both twenty, I will ask again. Would you like to be my boyfriend?”

I stared at the letter.

A grin had slowly appeared on my face as I read the letter. Well, I thought. So that’s what she thinks of me.

This silly little girl, I thought. I wanted to laugh out loud. Like some evil scientist. Though, Luna would definitely hear it.

I headed over to our room, where I found her on her bed with her face buried in her pillow. Luna, my beautiful lich girl, who was still sometimes afraid of dark bathrooms, and skittish around groups larger than three, and to be completely honest, she was the oddest person I’d ever met.

But she was also the sweetest, cutest, and most hard-working girl in the whole world.

“Luna,” I said. “Do you want to hear something funny?”

She slowly lifted her face from the pillow. “Yes?”

“Come with me for a moment,” I said. Then I lowered my back for her to get on.

Luna looked suspicious, still borderline panicked as she waited for my answer. And I did want to give her my answer right away, to finally stop her from being so insanely nervous around me. But she trusted me, as she always did, and got on my back.

I brought her to the kitchen. “Did you read this offer yet? It’s signed for us both.”

“I was about to,” Luna said.

I handed her the letter. “We’re both being offered a job together. I won’t need to live alone in the city while you reside with some nobles. We can both work with the Mages Association together.”

Luna read the letter while still on my back. It took her less than thirty seconds. “Is this real?” she asked.

I placed her down and turned to face her. “Of course it is. And it’s a damn good job.”

Luna stared at me, eyes wide in anticipation.

“And your question…” I said. “I think I’ll answer with a question of my own, if that’s okay.”

“Yes?” Luna blurted out, voice soft and high.

“Would you like to become my girlfriend?”

The End of Saving The Lich Queen