A Toast To Pride

"What are you dogs looking at? Want some? Stop staring and hand over all the bread you're carrying."

The higher-ups didn't share the drinks with Nitin and the others. That drink was exclusively made by Eero for his friends—not for some random bastard to enjoy.

Without hesitation, Livio handed over all the food Eero had given him.

"Amazing! This tastes incredible. I never knew the army palace kitchen had food like this. Hell yeah!" The higher-up was already full, but he kept eating, throwing his anger at them to satisfy himself after the hell he had been through.

Hungry and thirsty, the group tried their best to ignore him, but the sweet aroma of the food and drink pulled at them like a magnet.

Their bellies growled, their throats were dry. There was a limit to how long a man could work without food and water. Since morning, not a single drop had touched their lips.

Sebastian found himself glancing toward the higher-up more frequently than the others. The bastard noticed.

"Hey, you. Come here!" he barked.

Sebastian hesitated, but stepped forward as commanded.

The higher-up stretched his legs. "Massage them. Quick." Then, looking at the rest of the group, he added, "The rest of you.....guard duty. Extend the perimeter."

"That bastard," Luka muttered under his breath. His hands clenched into fists. "I don't care what happens to me.....I'm going to rip him to pieces."

Nicolas was just as ready to fight.

But before they could move, Nitin stepped between them. "Don't throw your lives away. Killing him won't solve a damn thing—it'll only make things worse for us. Please, for now, just follow his orders."

Luka and Nicolas remained frozen in place as the others followed orders. Luka took a deep breath. "Damn it….... Damn it. Why? Why the fuck are we even alive?" His body trembled, but his feet felt rooted to the ground, as if he were a tree unable to move.

Nicolas placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go. Or we'll only make things worse."

Sebastian stood still, his stomach growling. The higher-up spat out a piece of cake onto the ground and eyed both the food and Sebastian.

A twisted smirk spread across his face. "I see…... You bastards are hungry. Fine, I'll throw some leftovers. If you can catch them, they're yours. If not, you'll travel back without food."

Sebastian clenched his fists. "This bastard…... I'm going to kill him."

He took a step forward, rage boiling inside him—until Nitin and Ethan's words echoed in his mind.

"From anger arises delusion. From delusion, confusion of memory. Confusion leads to loss of intelligence. And when intelligence is lost…... one is destroyed."

Sebastian exhaled sharply, swallowing his pride. "Yes, sir. Please—it would be an honor."

The higher-up grinned. "That's how a pet should behave toward his master. Hahaha....…"

One by one, he tossed half-eaten scraps, and Sebastian caught them using every ounce of his strength and precision.

"Hah…... That was entertaining." The higher-up yawned. "Wake me in thirty minutes. If I oversleep, we won't reach the kingdom on time."

He leaned back against the tree and dozed off.

Sebastian gathered the food and remaining drink, then crafted makeshift containers out of leaves to hold the liquid—something Nitin had once taught him. He moved toward Nitin, who was scanning the surroundings for potential threats.

"Hey, Nitin. Look.....the bastard actually gave us food and drinks." Sebastian forced a smile.

Nitin glanced at the broken, half-eaten pieces. He understood immediately. His eyes shimmered under the bright sunlight. The lion in his heart stirred, but instead of roaring, he let out a warm smile. He wiped his eyes with his fingers and looked away.

"Thanks, but share with the others first. I can go without food for a day—don't worry about me." He smiled as the sunlight shone even brighter on him.

"Don't worry—he called all of us together so we can eat as one," Viktor said, stepping out from the bushes with the others.

The grass rustled as they all sat down in a circle, placing the food at the center.

"Alright, let's eat before that bastard wakes up," Sebastian said, grinning.

Nitin watched them and, for a moment, the world around him faded. In the darkness, he saw his old friends—their first feast together, their broken promises.

"Hey, Nitin! Nitin!"

A sharp slap from Livio snapped him back to reality.

Light flooded in. His current companions were staring at him.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought," he muttered, touching his cheek.

"Sorry," Livio said, hands pressed together apologetically.

"Don't sweat it. I'm fine." Nitin smiled—brighter than before.

"Yes, thanks to you, Sebastian, we won't go hungry," Nicolas said, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Yeah, he's right. Thanks, Sebastian." Luka hugged him.

Their warmth spread through Sebastian like a fresh, cool stream washing away the burden in his heart—like a river carving through stone.

His eyes shone, butterflies fluttering in his stomach, but he hid his face with his elbow and grabbed a piece of cake.

One by one, the others followed, taking whatever they could. It wasn't enough to fill their stomachs, but for their hearts, it was more than enough.

"Alright, the drink's all that's left," Matteo said, lifting the bottle.

"Hey, when did you learn to make leaf containers?" Tomasz asked.

"I learned it from Nitin while training," Sebastian replied, handing them out.

"Oi, bastard, how come you never taught us?" Alaric yanked Nitin's collar.

"You idiot, he learned it just by watching me. I never actually taught him," Nitin replied.

"So you're saying I'm an idiot?" Alaric let go.

"Nah…... Just a thick-skinned idiot," Livio said, slapping the ground before bursting into laughter.

"He's got a point."

The group laughed together.

Raising their leaf containers, they toasted.

"Thanks, Eero!"

They drank.

"Wow….... This tastes amazing," Alaric murmured, lying down on the grass.

"You're right...… Damn, the grass looks comfortable," Luka mumbled, kissing the ground.

"Hey, don't fall asleep! We need to leave soon," Livio said, standing up—but his legs wobbled.

Nitin and Livio looked around. One by one, their friends were collapsing without reason.

"What's going on? Sebastian....." Nitin called, but Sebastian had already fallen.

Livio staggered. "Nitin…... something's….. up...…" His voice faded as his eyes closed and his body hit the ground.

As the last of them collapsed, figures in black cloaks emerged from the shadows.

Somewhere deep in the forest, outside a cave with a reduced Planck's constant symbol carved into its entrance, soldiers stood waiting.

"Damn that bastard…... He's really dead."

Gregor slammed his fist into the soil in frustration.