Life Beyond End

"Flynn, this is Elene Farthe, the girl I told you about!" Jane's voice rang out, excitement practically dripping from every syllable. She was beaming, her hands clasped like she'd just introduced me to a celebrity. "And Elene, this is Flynn. He's very powerful!"

My gaze shifted to the girl standing in front of me, and... Elene was not what I expected.

For starters, she had this sharp, almost otherworldly presence that made her stand out even in a city full of magic and nobles. Her black hair cascaded down her back like silk, its dark hue shimmering faintly in the torchlight. Her posture was confident, borderline intimidating, but her green eyes sparkled with an almost childlike energy.

Oh, and there was an owl. An actual, real-life owl perched calmly on her shoulder, its round, golden eyes unblinking as it stared straight at me. It tilted its head slightly, as if assessing me.

"..!" Before I could process the oddness of it all, Elene grabbed my hand with both of hers and started shaking it. Hard. "H-hello! I've heard that a human boy has visited the city of Ivis! So, that was you!"

Woah. Energetic. Definitely not what I expected from someone with a noble air and an owl.

"Uhh... yaeh, that's me!" I managed to choke out, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck with my free hand.

Yaeh? What in the world is yaeh? My brain short-circuited, and that's what came out? Perfect. Just perfect.

Elene's enthusiasm didn't waver. If anything, her grip on my hand tightened. "Lady Pheore has told me that you're really strong!" Her voice was filled with awe, and her eyes were practically shining.

I blinked, trying to keep up. How does news spread so fast here!?

"Oh, uh, well... I'm just a normal human boy," I said, attempting to deflect. "You know, just normal. Weak."

Both Jane and Elene froze, their expressions shifting from excitement to disbelief.

Wait. Did I say something weird?

"Stop being so modest!" they shouted in unison, their voices loud enough to make me flinch.

Elene crossed her arms, giving me a pointed look. "We both know you're a bad liar, Flynn."

I sighed, defeated. She's not wrong.

"It's just... those bandits were weak," I muttered, my gaze darting everywhere except at them. My fingers drummed nervously against my thigh as I tried to play it cool. Please let this work.

Elene's eyebrow arched in a way that made me want to shrink into the ground. "Weak?" she repeated, her tone laced with skepticism. "Flynn, those bandits were ranked 4 in both sword and magic."

My stomach sank. Damn it. She knows.

"I won't pry deeper," she said, leaning closer until her face was inches from mine. The owl on her shoulder flapped its wings briefly, like it was annoyed by the movement. "But I wouldn't be called a noble if I didn't thank the person who saved the princess, ya know?" She smirked, giving me a playful nudge with her elbow.

Haaah... this girl.

Before I could respond, a maid appeared, gliding into the courtyard with the kind of grace that only servants in these places seemed to have. Her uniform was pristine, and her expression was unreadable as she addressed us.

"Princess, Elene, and human boy," she began, her tone formal but firm, "the Queen has invited you all to eat dinner."

Human boy? Really? That's what I'm being reduced to now? My eye twitched, but I forced myself to stay calm. I'll let it slide. For now.

I glanced upward, my eyes tracing the deep blues and purples that painted the sky. Stars twinkled faintly above, and the moon hung low, its pale light casting long shadows across the stone courtyard.

When did it get so dark?

The walk to the dining hall was quiet, almost too quiet. The kind of quiet that made your own footsteps sound unnaturally loud. I kept stealing glances at Elene, who was walking beside me, her owl perched stoically on her shoulder.

It didn't move much, but its piercing gaze never left me. Was it just me, or was it judging me?

We reached the dining hall, and the sight nearly made my jaw drop. The room was massive, with ceilings so high they seemed to touch the clouds. Chandeliers hung overhead, their crystals catching the light of countless candles and scattering it across the walls.

A long table stretched out before us, covered in dishes that looked like they belonged in a museum rather than on a plate. Roasted meats, fresh fruits, golden loaves of bread—it was enough to make my stomach growl audibly.

Elene shot me a side glance, a small smirk tugging at her lips. I quickly looked away, embarrassed.

"Hehehehe." Elene leaned in closer, nudging me with her elbow again, her teasing smirk evolving into a full-blown smile.

Damn, I'm getting annoyed. This girl had been poking at me nonstop since we were introduced. And don't even get me started on that owl. Its unblinking golden eyes drilled into me like I owed it money. What's up with that bird? It looked at me like I was some sort of cosmic joke.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, but there was no escape.

As everyone settled at the massive dining table, the clinking of glasses drew my attention. Auden, a towering man with a booming voice, stood up, holding his glass of wine aloft.

"TO THE SAVIOR OF THE PRINCESS!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the high ceilings.

"TO THE SAVIOR!" the entire hall erupted in cheers, glasses raised high, faces lit with joy.

Me? Savior? The word felt... off. I just happened to be passing by! This was seriously overkill. I sank lower in my chair, hoping to disappear, but it was no use.

Across the table, Pheore, Jane, and Elene were all staring at me. Their expressions ranged from amused to outright gleeful.

Pheore's knowing smirk, Jane's wide grin, and Elene's barely restrained laugh made it clear: they were enjoying this.

Damn it. They're really liking this.

Once the formalities were out of the way, we said a quick prayer, and then... the feast began.

The moment the food was served, I didn't hold back. Grabbing whatever was closest, I tore into the meal with a vengeance. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, something that looked like roasted mushrooms but tasted divine—it didn't matter. My hands moved faster than my brain as I alternated between eating and gulping down water.

Whoo! The food was unreal. The flavors were so rich, so well-balanced, it felt like my taste buds were having their own celebration. Too delicious! This isn't normal food—this is sorcery!

As I stuffed my face, I caught Auden watching me from across the table. His lips twitched, and before I could ask what was so funny, he burst out laughing like a kid who just heard the world's best joke.

"What's wrong?" I asked through a mouthful of food, trying not to choke on my confusion.

"When was the last time you ate, Flynn?" Pheore chimed in, her tone playful but her smile genuinely curious.

"Oh yeah!" Jane jumped in, her eyes sparkling. "Flynn, I've never seen you eat—not even once during the entire three-day journey to the city!"

The table quieted slightly, all eyes now on me.

I paused, a drumstick halfway to my mouth. "Huh..." I muttered, trying to think. When was the last time I ate?

I put the chicken down, my brow furrowing as I searched my memory.

"Hmm..."

The others watched in silence, waiting.

"Hmm..."

Elene arched an eyebrow. "Flynn, you okay there?"

"Hmm...?"

Auden leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. "Any day now."

"Hmm!" My eyes widened, and I nearly jumped out of my chair.

"Wait...!"

They all straightened up, sensing something big was coming.

"EVER SINCE THE JOURNEY, I HAVEN'T EATEN! NOT EVEN ONCE!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the hall.

The silence that followed was deafening. Even the owl, which had been preening itself, froze mid-fluff.

Auden slammed his hands on the table, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "HOW DID YOU SURVIVE THREE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD!?" he shouted, his booming voice nearly shaking the walls.

"I DON'T KNOW!" I shouted back, throwing my arms in the air.

His jaw dropped, and then his face lit up with a ridiculous idea. "WHAT IF YOU'RE DEAD!?"

"AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!" I screamed, throwing my head back like I'd just realized my own death.

"AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!" Auden screamed too, clutching his head like we were reenacting some bad horror drama.

Pheore's POV:

Three days without food. Three whole days.

I leaned back in my chair, watching the scene unfold in front of me. Auden and Flynn were yelling at the top of their lungs, their over-the-top reactions bordering on absurd.

It was almost impressive, really. The sheer energy they put into screaming.

With a resigned sigh, I turned my gaze to Jane, who was laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her cheeks. Then to Elene, whose smirk was firmly in place, though her owl was starting to look like it had had enough of the noise.

"Haah..." I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. Boys are so simple.

Flynn's POV:

The screaming ritual went on for a while, with neither of us willing to back down first. Eventually, though, my throat started to hurt, and I had to call it quits. Auden sat back, grinning like he'd just won something.

I slumped in my chair, panting.

"You know," Elene said casually, "normal people would probably notice they haven't eaten before three days pass."

I shot her a look. "Yeah, well, I guess I'm not normal, huh?"

Her smirk widened, and she rested her chin in her hand, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "Clearly."

The owl let out a soft hoot, its gaze locked on me like it had just joined in on the mockery.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "I'm never gonna hear the end of this, am I?"

"Not a chance," Jane said cheerfully, her laughter still bubbling under her words.