The succulent roasted whole lamb was quickly devoured, and the leftover bones were tossed into the bonfire, sparking bursts of savory, meaty flames.
Under the clear moonlight, the bonfire cast a warm, romantic glow. Villagers gathered in the open space around it, dressed in vibrant, intricate traditional garments, inviting their dance partners and swaying to the rhythm.
On a rock by the fire, a brooding bard cradled his guitar. His eyes half-closed, he strummed the wooden instrument with long, nimble fingers, singing softly. Beside him, a beautiful girl adorned with a flower crown joined in, her voice harmonizing with his.
The tune they played was a nocturne from the era of the Eight Greed Kings, Under a Violet Moon.
The melodic notes rippled through the air by the bonfire. The girl's skirt twirled, the boy's eyes shone like stars, and every dancer's heart swayed with the music. Everyone was lost in the enchanting melody, savoring the peaceful, serene night:
"Raise your hats and your glasses too, "
"We will dance the whole night through, "
"We're going back to a time we knew, "
"Under a violet moon..."
Franco bowed slightly to EeDechi, extending his arm in a gentlemanly invitation. "Captain, may I have the honor of a grind dance?"
"Get lost. I might consider a hopak, though." For once, EeDechi didn't snap at Franco loudly, probably not wanting to ruin the blissful mood.
Franco put on a mock-regretful expression, then stepped back lightly and soon found a slender girl to be his dance partner, teaching her to dance the grind.
"Nabe, shall we dance too?" Ainz, caught up in the moment, held out his hand to Nabe, who was lingering in the corner.
"Me?" Nabe was flustered, her cheeks flushing with a delicate blush.
She wanted to take Ainz's outstretched hand but pulled back, nervous. "No way, if Albedo..." She stole a glance at EeDechi, then continued, "If the Guardian Overseer finds out, she'll have my head."
Ainz paused, realizing she had a point. If Albedo got jealous, it'd be a real mess.
In his mind, he pictured Albedo's flushed face. If he could invite her to dance under the moonlight, she'd probably be over the moon.
Truth be told, when the idea of dancing popped into Ainz's head, Albedo was the first person he thought of. But right now, only Nabe was by his side.
"Don't worry, I'll smooth things over for you. Come on." Ainz pulled Nabe to her feet, and they stepped hand-in-hand toward the bonfire, their feet moving in a lively rhythm, advancing and retreating in sync.
...
After the dance ended, the night grew deeper, with stars twinkling high above. The villagers trickled back to their homes, but EeDechi and a few others lingered by the bonfire, chatting and boasting with some elders and the bard, swapping stories from their travels.
The female dragonborn Draevor knelt before the fire, praying:
"Mighty and supreme Dragon Progenitor, let your blazing light shine upon me, banishing the darkness in my heart. Let your fierce flames purify me, cleansing my filth. Grant me the strength to soar with outstretched wings, to break free from chains and surpass my limits...
"I revere your power and beg you to ignite my bloodline. I offer my soul and life, seeking the power that surges through boiling blood!"
Unlike human deities, the Dragon Progenitor's prayers were steeped in fire and blood. After finishing her prayer, the devout follower used Wild Magic to reignite the fading bonfire.
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Roaring Heroes Battle the Overlord (Ainz) - Part 1 (Chapters 1 to 200)
Fanfiction[Note: Dear readers, according to Wattpad's rules, a single story can have a maximum of 200 chapters. Therefore, I've started a new story. Please continue reading in the new one. The new story has the same title as this one.] It borrows the world an...
