Chapter 36

                                    

                                          
Hey, guys! I'm sorry I wasn't able to update last week. Last week was kind of (who am I kidding, it was especially) special. But enough about that, anyways, happy Halloween to anyone who celebrates it! Hope you have a safe time today and get lots of awesome and tasty candy (and while you're at it, send me some too xp. Jk)! And finally, hope you enjoy this chapter and happy reading!
                          


                          
That fateful day when Jack and the others came back marked a new beginning for all of them. Since they were all so widely known for defeating the nefarious Black Dragon, many places were offering them all various quests Jack didn't even know existed. Stopping a warlock from casting spells on unsuspecting travelers? Catching an animal that had the head of a boar and the body of a bear? Compromising with the centaurs? It was all surreal. And though they didn't have to, Jack and the others all signed up for the same quests. It was like they couldn't be separated.
                          
A year passed and everyone was over the Black Dragon ordeal and things seemed to have quieted down and gone back to its usual routine. Now Jack and the others didn't have to sneak around their respective hometowns without being stopped by an awestruck passerby. They could now go on their daily business like they had used to. Things seemed quite normal now.
                          
One afternoon, Jack had invited his friends to eat out at a local pub, saying that it was mandatory for them to come.
                          
"Come on, you wouldn't let me down now, right?" Jack had said to all of them.
                          
"Well, no. But really, Jack? Mandatory? You sound like one of the teachers at the knight academy," his friends had remarked.
                          
"Aw, come on. Please?" Jack had said.
                          
"Why so needy all of a sudden?" they had teased. "Sounds like it must be something important, hm?"
                          
"Well, not really," Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "I just wanted you guys to all be there when I told you the news."
                          
A pause and a sigh of exasperation and amusement was met at the other end. "Fine, Jack," one of his friends would say. "You win. I'll come to this surprise occasion. When and where is it?"
                          
And now there they were, all seated in a cozy part of the pub, laughing and joking around like they always did when they met up with each other. Even though they often went on quests together now, things like family and personal matters would take away their time from seeing each other.
                          
"So, what's all of the big fuss, Jack?" Elsa asked. "We all know that you wouldn't call all of us here so quickly if you didn't have something exciting to tell us."
                          
"You know me so well, Els," Jack smiled smugly. He rubbed his hands together, looking at all of the expectant faces waiting for him. "Well, you already know that I have been in this knight business for quite some time now."
                          
The other nodded. "Continue."
                          
"Well," Jack rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Wow. This seemed much more important in my head...."
                          
"Come on, Jack," Elsa coaxed gently, giving him a supportive smile. "if you think it's important and deserves a reason to celebrate then it should be celebrated."
                          
Jack smiled. "Alright. Well, I've been a knight ever since the day after I turned fifteen. And since yesterday was my nineteenth birthday...."
                          
"Oh my gosh. It's your fourth anniversary of knighthood!" Anna finished, a wide happy grin on her face. "Why didn't you tell us sooner? I would have gotten a celebratory gift for you! Ooh, I wonder if there's anything I've got in here...." she started digging into her bag and mumbling to herself.