𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 [𝐣𝐢𝐦 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐱 𝐨𝐜]

Epilogue

Late into the night, an obscured figure appears from the shadows at the bottom of a once-flooded canal, far from the Arcadia Oaks Bridge. Shrouded in darkness, the figure approaches the crumbled stones of a defeated Gumm-Gumm prince, his remains scattered across the damp ground. It raises its dark perpetual hand, beckoning as a scabbard dagger rises from its former host's broken remains and into the hand of its owner.

Now within its grasp, the figure unsheathes the dagger, its pure iron blade glinting in the pale moonlight, revealing engravings, including the depressions of its metal surface filled with blood of the one it seeks.

Liz Walker

"All hail Jim, the Bular Slayer!"

Liz flinched at the loud cheer that followed, echoing throughout the Troll Pub as trolls of every size and color held their cups of mead in the air. "Hip, hip, hooray!"

Smiling at the cheerful crowd, a slight movement in the corner of her eye drew her gaze to a mechanical hand on the stone table to her left. Its fingers clenched and unfurled as if testing its dexterity.

"Hey! Who wants tacos? Who wants tacos?" Suddenly, Toby came up behind her, placing a taco in front of her and another in the giant troll's prosthetic hand. "Taco for you. Taco for you. Tacos for everybody!"

She giggled, glancing upwards to see Draal sniffing the taco curiously before plopping it into his mouth. Behind him, a troll commented in glee. "Mm! This tastes better than socks!"

With a grin, Liz shook her head before Draal's hand caught her attention, causing her lips to droop slightly. "How's the hand?"

"It feels —" Draal paused, staring at his new prosthetic limb as he contemplated his answer. "Different."

He pulls his gaze from his new limb to meet hers. "But it is nothing I cannot handle."

Slowly, she placed her hand over Draal's hand, its cold metallic touch replacing the warmth of living stone she was used to. "I'm glad that you're okay, Draal. I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

Draal's gaze softened as he carefully curled his mechanical fingers around her delicate hand. "It will take more than a little daylight to stop me."

A little daylight? He can't be serious. The girl sighs, shaking her head. "Always a daredevil, aren't you?"

"I was not called Draal the Deadly for nothing," Draal smirked, his playful banter making Liz roll her eyes at him despite the grin spreading across her lips, chuckling at his words. Her gaze glided across the pub, taking in the lively atmosphere as her chuckles faded amid the cheerful banter of the trolls. If only he were here to see this.

As Liz thought of Kanjigar, a disturbing flash of a memory of what Bular had said during the battle came to mind. "I must say if it weren't for you, Kanjigar would still be here."

She clenched her fist at the painful reminder—feelings of sadness and guilt draping over her like a mourning veil. Draal frowned, noticing the sudden change of mood. "Liz? What is it?"

Struggling against the growing lump of rising emotions in her throat, Liz shook her head. "I-It's nothing."

"Liz—" Draal started, but she did not hear the rest as a subtle voice spoke in her mind.

"Lizzie? Are you okay?"

Her gaze lifted until it settled on Jim at the end of the stone table. Upon meeting his clear blue gaze, she instantly recalls their kiss during the play—her first kiss, to be precise, with her childhood friend, who viewed her as something more, and she perhaps...may feel the same.