Epilogue

That night, the party settled in. Tasks finished, celebration feast sizzling on platters, beds strewn across the floor in relative luxury compared to two weeks on the road. Jasson played music from his phone and laughter flowed freely. Jasson occasionally considered trying for another kiss to cap off the night, but needed to go to empty his bladder before trying anything. 

Mew!

Jasson staggered outside, away from the laughter, and found himself in a quieter night. Jasson fumbled towards the bathroom, drunk on giddiness, and relaxed for about thirty consecutive seconds. He looked up, taking in the night sky as night sang peaceful closure to the longest month of Jasson's life.

It had been nearly four weeks since Jasson had woken up on that field of war and death. He'd walked that first day and every day since. He needed a belt for the first time in years, and was noticing considerable toning for his muscles. It felt good. Not enough to justify the workout those spiders, goblins, wyverns, rabbits, caverns, soldiers, and various giant flaming Mamals gave him. However, it was enough to know that his lazy butt was no longer built for sitting. 

He was a boy, almost a man, that could do something.

"Beautiful night," Jasson murmured as he washed his hands. He could see the glow of the city in the distance and the stars beyond. He'd have to learn some of these constellations, especially which star was north-

Mew!

"Huh?" Jasson turned his head, trying to pinpoint the sound, "What's that?"

Mew!

"A cat?" Jasson dried his hands and stepped from the bathroom, peering around the not-ruins, "Here kitty-kitty. Pspspsps. I'll get you a scrap of meat if you let me pet you."

Mew!

"Sounds small and young-ish." Jasson felt a pang across his heart, "I hope it didn't just lose its mother. Poor little kitten. I hope it's big enough to go without milk."

Mew!

Jasson made his way around the not-ruins and poked his head under the likely hiding holes, following the sound of a kitten. He supposed that this could be some kind of trap, a monster that lured people in with lost kitten noises. It would make sense. But…nah. It would be a fluffy, adorable, tiny-

Jasson froze, staring.

"Mew!" the kitten said, adorable eyes fixing on Jasson as it toddled up to him, "Mew!"

As kittens go, it had the shape of being out of the nest already. Still a bit clumsy, but with longer limbs and a grace that said it could hunt for its own prey. Barely.

But. Jasson thought, As cat's go…it's *&%$ enormous!

The size of a bear with fur a fierce orange, it nudged a basketball-sized head against Jasson's shoulder. 

"Oh *&^%," Jasson said as he was crushed against the wall, the purring kitten rubbing along his entire right side in an enveloping FLOOF, "Ah. Oh. You're too cute. No…but… I guess…"

Mew!

A second kitten launched playfully from around the corner, a gorgeous tuxedo of black and white tackling the orange kitten. Jasson just managed to avoid being flattened as the two kittens rolled around the not-ruins of what would eventually be the family room.

"&$*&%!" Jasson said, "Oh…we're in trouble. Wow… Dang it. Two of them. They really are 'two' cute. Heh."

I can't just separate them, Jasson thought. Man…I really hope Petra isn't allergic to cats.

Thus, in a world of fantasy and wonder, the cat distribution system strikes again.

***************************************************************************************************

****Jasson's First Status****

| Strength | 100

| Agility | 120

| Intelligence | 147

| Wisdom | 85

| Charisma | 90 

| Magic | 52

| Stamina | 91

| Luck | 152

****Jasson's Previous Status Update in Chapter 22****

| Strength | 106

| Agility | 133

| Intelligence | 156

| Wisdom | 98

| Charisma | 97 

| Magic | 75

| Stamina | 118

| Luck | 165

****Jasson's Current Status****

| Strength | 115

| Agility | 150

| Intelligence | 200

| Wisdom | 150

| Charisma | 120 

| Magic | 110

| Stamina | 140

| Luck | 203

End of The Smartphone Saga Book 1: A Distracted Journey of Spells and Signals

Please be patient for Book 2: A Place to Belong, Blueprints and Blunders. I am already writing it, but it will have to come out in less frequent releases. The first three chapters will be available on Patreon first, then slowly published for free.

Stay tuned!

P.S.

At some point in 2025, I will be entering the serious editing stage for self-publishing "The Smartphone Saga: A Distracted Journey" on Amazon. Between that time and the release on Amazon, I will be removing the chapters for book 1 on the free sites, as is standard practice. All of the chapters will be available on Patreon, even after the release. I am unsure of what I will be doing on the free sites after release, but I need to make money in pursuit of being sustainably poor!

Thank you!