Another six months had passed...
A full year since Ravenholt's rebuilding had truly begun.
And now...
The endless noise of construction was finally fading.
No more constant hammering.
No more wagons carrying stone through the castle gates.
No more workers rushing from one damaged section to another.
Levi noticed it immediately when he stepped out of his office that morning.
"...It's quiet."
Gaius, walking beside him, smiled.
"Because they're nearly finished."
Levi looked toward the courtyard.
Only a few workers remained.
After another six months of repairs and improvements...
The castle was finally nearing completion.
---
Levi walked through the castle halls.
The difference was almost unbelievable.
The cracks in the walls had been repaired.
The damaged stonework had been replaced.
The wooden beams had been reinforced.
Old doors and windows had been repaired.
Several rooms had been renovated.
Even parts of the castle that had been neglected for years had finally received attention.
Levi stopped beside one of the walls.
He placed his hand against the stone.
Solid.
Firm.
Strong.
Nothing like the worn-down castle he had first inherited.
Gaius looked around.
"Hard to believe."
Levi nodded.
"It took a year."
Gaius laughed.
"Because you kept adding improvements."
Levi looked at him.
"...Those were necessary."
"Of course."
Gaius smiled.
"Every single one."
Levi sighed.
"...Don't start."
---
Outside...
The final section of the castle wall was being completed.
A group of workers gathered below.
A stonemason climbed carefully toward the unfinished section.
In his hands...
Was the final piece of stone.
Levi watched from below.
The man positioned it.
Adjusted it.
Checked it one last time.
Then
THUD.
The stone settled into place.
The stonemason stepped back.
He looked down toward Levi.
"My lord..."
He smiled.
"It's finished."
For a moment...
Nobody spoke.
Then—
"We're done!"
One of the workers raised his hammer.
Another laughed.
After an entire year of rebuilding...
The construction was finally over.
Cheers spread throughout the courtyard.
Levi smiled.
"...Good."
---
Levi and Gaius walked toward the main gate.
The changes were obvious.
The gate had been reinforced.
Its hinges replaced.
Its surrounding walls strengthened.
The defensive towers stood proudly above the walls.
One every forty meters.
Each equipped with its own bell.
Levi looked up.
"Test them."
Gaius nodded.
A guard pulled the rope.
DONG!
The sound echoed across the city.
Another tower answered.
DONG!
Then another.
DONG!
The sound continued across Ravenholt.
One tower.
Then another.
Then another.
Within moments...
The entire city knew.
Levi listened carefully.
Then nodded.
"Good."
Gaius smiled.
"Hopefully we won't need them."
Levi looked toward the horizon.
"...Hopefully."
---
The workers began packing their tools.
Some prepared to return home.
Others had already decided to stay in Ravenholt.
The craftsmen from neighboring territories gathered together.
Some shook hands.
Others exchanged stories about the year they had spent working together.
The human blacksmiths approached Torgrim.
One of them bowed.
"Master Torgrim."
Torgrim looked at him.
"What?"
"It was an honor working with you."
Torgrim stared at him.
Then grunted.
"Don't get sentimental."
The blacksmith laughed.
"Yes, Master."
Torgrim turned toward Levi.
"My lord."
Levi approached.
"Torgrim."
"The castle is finished."
"And the weapons?"
"Finished."
"The guards?"
"Equipped."
Levi nodded.
"Good work."
Torgrim crossed his arms.
"Then I suppose we can finally work on something new."
Levi chuckled.
"I knew you'd say that."
---
By sunset...
Levi stood on top of the castle walls.
The workers had left.
The construction sites were empty.
For the first time in a year...
There was no construction noise.
No hammers.
No shouting.
No carts carrying stone.
Only the quiet sounds of the city.
Levi looked across Ravenholt.
The castle stood stronger than before.
The walls stretched around the city.
The towers watched over the roads.
The bells hung quietly.
New houses stood beside old ones.
The marketplace was still active.
Lights could be seen through windows.
Smoke rose from chimneys.
People walked through the streets.
Children ran through the roads.
Merchants called out from their stalls.
Guards patrolled the walls.
Ravenholt...
Was alive.
Levi stared at it all.
A year.
A whole year of rebuilding.
A whole year of watching the city slowly change.
He quietly smiled.
"...We really did it."
Gaius stood beside him.
"For now."
Levi looked at him.
Gaius shrugged.
"There will always be something else."
Levi laughed.
"Of course there will."
He looked back toward the city.
"But..."
He placed his hand against the stone wall.
"...this is a good start."
The wind passed over the walls.
The banners moved with it.
Ravenholt had changed.
Not because of one great moment...
But because of hundreds of small ones.
Every repaired stone.
Every new house.
Every merchant who decided to stay.
Every child who found a home.
Every guard who trained.
Every blacksmith who worked.
Every person who chose Ravenholt...
Had helped build it.
Levi closed his eyes for a moment.
Then opened them.
"Tomorrow..."
He looked toward the horizon.
"...we move forward."
Behind him...
The castle stood stronger than it had in years.
The final stone had been placed.
The repairs were over.
Ravenholt had been rebuilt.
But the future of the city...
Was only beginning.
"It's finished."
Levi stared at the wall for a moment.
Then...
He smiled.
"...Good."
Around him, the workers began cheering.
Some raised their tools into the air.
Others laughed.
A few simply sat down, exhausted after months of work.
Levi smiled.
"...It's changed."
"Because of everyone."
Levi nodded.
"Yeah."
He looked toward the workers.
"They did well."
---
That evening...
Levi thought the day would finally end quietly.
He was wrong.
When he stepped outside the castle...
He found the streets already filled with people.
Tables were being carried into the marketplace.
Lanterns were being hung.
Musicians were preparing their instruments.
Food was being brought out.
Levi stopped.
"...What's going on?"
Gaius stood beside him.
"The celebration."
Levi looked at him.
"What celebration?"
Gaius smiled.
"Seven days."
Levi stared.
"...Seven?"
"Seven."
Levi sighed.
"That's excessive."
Gaius laughed.
"After a year of rebuilding?"
He gestured toward the city.
"I think they've earned it."
Levi looked at the people.
Then...
He smiled.
"...Alright."
---
The first bell rang.
DONG!
Then another.
DONG!
And another.
Soon, the sound echoed across Ravenholt.
But this time...
It wasn't a warning.
It was a celebration.
The streets quickly filled.
Tables were covered with food.
Bread.
Meat.
Vegetables.
Fruits.
Pastries.
Everything the people had prepared was brought out.
Musicians began playing.
Children ran through the streets.
Merchants opened their stalls.
Workers who had spent the past year rebuilding Ravenholt were among the first to sit down.
Levi stood on the castle balcony.
The crowd below slowly became quiet.
He looked over them.
"One year ago..."
He paused.
"Ravenholt was falling apart."
The crowd listened.
"But you rebuilt it."
He looked toward the workers.
"The walls."
Then the craftsmen.
"The castle."
Then the guards.
"The city."
Levi smiled.
"You all helped build its future."
The crowd erupted.
"TO RAVENHOLT!"
Levi raised his cup.
"To Ravenholt."
The cheers became even louder.
---
The celebration continued into the next day...
And the day after that.
Every morning...
More food appeared.
Every afternoon...
The marketplace became louder.
And every night...
The streets filled with music and lanterns.
Levi often found himself simply walking through the crowds.
He'd see merchants arguing over prices...
Children chasing each other...
Guards laughing together...
Workers sharing stories about the past year.
Even the blacksmiths had joined.
One evening, Levi spotted Torgrim sitting with several of the human smiths.
One of them raised his cup.
"To Master Torgrim!"
Torgrim immediately frowned.
"Stop calling attention to me."
Everyone laughed.
Another blacksmith grinned.
"You taught us half of what we know!"
"I taught you because you were doing it wrong."
"Exactly!"
More laughter.
Torgrim sighed...
But there was a faint smile on his face.
---
The children Levi had taken in enjoyed the feast as well.
The little girl who had been learning from the maids spent much of her time wandering around the castle courtyard.
One of the maids handed her a small plate.
"Here."
The girl looked at it.
"Is this mine?"
"Of course."
Her eyes lit up.
"Thank you!"
She hurried away.
Nearby...
Her older brother, Elias, was with the other boys.
They had been given a break from training.
Though that didn't stop them from talking about it.
"I'll become a knight."
One of the boys declared.
Elias nodded.
"Me too."
"Like Lord Levi."
"And Gaius!"
The boys looked toward Gaius, who was eating nearby.
Gaius nearly choked.
"...You boys are still thinking about that?"
Elias smiled.
"Of course!"
Levi, standing nearby, laughed.
"Let them dream."
Gaius looked at him.
"They're going to make me train them twice as hard."
Levi smiled.
"Then you'll have strong knights someday."
Elias overheard him.
His eyes immediately lit up.
"We will!"
Levi looked at him.
"I'll hold you to that."
---
As the days passed...
The feast became less about the food...
And more about the people.
Neighbors sat together.
Merchants spoke with farmers.
Workers shared stories.
Guards relaxed with their families.
Children played until they were exhausted.
Even people who had only recently arrived in Ravenholt began feeling like they belonged.
And every night...
The city seemed brighter.
Lanterns hung from buildings.
Music echoed through the streets.
The castle windows glowed against the night.
Levi sometimes stood on the walls and watched.
Seven days.
Seven days of celebration...
After a year of work.
He watched Ravenholt laugh.
And for once...
He didn't think about paperwork.
He didn't think about construction.
He didn't think about the Black Church.
He simply watched his city.
Gaius eventually joined him.
"You've been quiet."
Levi smiled.
"I'm just looking."
"At what?"
Levi looked across Ravenholt.
"...Everything."
The streets.
The people.
The walls.
The castle.
The lights.
"...It's worth it."
Gaius smiled.
"Yeah."
The final night eventually came.
The music continued until late.
The last tables were slowly cleared.
The children were carried home, exhausted.
The workers said their final goodbyes.
And when midnight arrived...
The bells rang one final time.
DONG...
The sound traveled across Ravenholt.
Levi stood on the castle wall.
The city below was finally becoming quiet.
He looked at the repaired walls beneath his feet.
Then toward the castle.
Then toward the people.
A whole year...
Everything had changed.
The rebuilding was finished.
---
The seven-day celebration passed almost like a blur.
One day became another...
Then another...
The streets remained filled with music, food, laughter, and people celebrating everything Ravenholt had accomplished.
But eventually...
The final day arrived.
The castle was quieter than usual.
Most of the servants had already joined the celebrations outside.
The guards were taking turns enjoying the feast.
Even Gaius had disappeared from his usual post for a while.
And inside one particular office...
Levi was completely passed out at his desk.
His head rested on his folded arms.
Papers were scattered across the desk.
A few empty cups sat nearby.
His hair was slightly messy.
He hadn't even bothered to move the documents before giving up and falling asleep.
"...Zzz..."
The door slowly opened.
A maid peeked inside.
"My lord?"
No response.
She stepped inside.
"My lord?"
Still nothing.
She looked at the desk.
Then at Levi.
Then back at the desk.
"...He really is asleep."
Another maid appeared behind her.
"Is he alright?"
The first maid nodded.
"He's just exhausted."
She carefully picked up one of the papers before it fell to the floor.
"He probably hasn't had proper rest all week."
From outside...
The sound of the celebration could still be heard.
Music.
Laughter.
Cheers.
The final day of Ravenholt's feast was still going strong.
But Levi...
Was completely unaware of it.
He shifted slightly in his sleep.
"...Five more minutes..."
The door quietly closed behind the maids.
Levi remained completely still.
"...Zzz..."
Outside his office...
The castle continued moving.
Even on the final day of the celebration, there was still plenty happening.
---
In the courtyard...
The children had gathered around a large table.
The little sister sat beside the maids, happily eating.
Her older brother, Elias, was nearby with the other boys.
One of them pointed toward the food.
"That's the biggest piece!"
Elias looked at him.
"You've already had three."
"So?"
Elias laughed.
"You'll get sick."
"I won't!"
The little girl looked over.
"You said that yesterday."
The boy froze.
"...I did?"
The maids laughed.
---
Meanwhile...
Near the training grounds...
Gaius was finally enjoying some peace.
Or at least...
He thought he was.
"Sir Gaius!"
He looked up.
Several of the boys were standing in front of him.
Gaius sighed.
"You're supposed to be enjoying the feast."
"We are!"
"Then why are you here?"
Elias held up his wooden sword.
"We wanted to practice."
Gaius stared at him.
"...During the celebration?"
Elias nodded.
"We want to become strong."
Gaius rubbed his forehead.
"You children..."
He stood.
"Fine."
The boys immediately smiled.
"But only for a little while."
"Yes!"
Gaius pointed at them.
"And don't expect me to go easy on you."
Their smiles disappeared.
"...Yes, sir."
---
At the smithy...
Torgrim was having an entirely different problem.
A group of visiting craftsmen had surrounded him.
"Master Torgrim!"
Torgrim looked annoyed.
"What?"
"Tell us about the time you forged that great axe!"
"No."
"What about the armor you made for Lord Levi?"
"No."
"How long have you been smithing?"
Torgrim sighed.
"Long enough."
The craftsmen laughed.
One of the dwarves beside him whispered.
"They're not going to leave."
Torgrim took another bite of his food.
"...I know."
---
Across the city...
The final day continued.
Merchants called out from their stalls.
Musicians played in the streets.
Children ran around with little flags.
People shared food with their neighbors.
The guards stationed at the towers watched over the celebration.
Even the bells that had been installed around the walls were decorated.
Small ribbons had been tied around some of them.
One guard looked at the decorations.
"Who did that?"
Another guard shrugged.
"No idea."
The first guard sighed.
"...It actually looks nice."
---
Back inside the castle...
A maid carrying a tray walked past Levi's office.
She stopped.
She looked at the door.
Then continued walking.
A few moments later...
She came back.
She opened the door slightly.
Levi was still there.
Still asleep.
"...He hasn't moved."
Another maid peeked over her shoulder.
"Maybe we should wake him."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if we wake him..."
They both looked at the mountain of paperwork on his desk.
"...he'll start working again."
They quietly closed the door.
---
Hours passed.
The sun slowly moved across the sky.
The celebration continued.
And Levi...
Still hadn't moved.
Eventually...
Someone knocked on his door.
Knock. Knock.
No response.
The door opened.
Gaius stepped inside.
He looked at Levi.
Then at the papers.
Then at the cups.
He sighed.
"...So this is where you've been."
Levi didn't answer.
Gaius walked over.
He picked up one of the papers.
A half-finished report.
He looked at Levi again.
"You know..."
He placed the paper down.
"...you don't have to work during a feast."
Levi mumbled something unintelligible.
Gaius raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Levi lifted his head slightly.
"...Tomorrow."
Then his head dropped back onto his arms.
THUD.
Gaius stared.
"...Right."
He walked toward the door.
"Enjoy your day off, my lord."
He closed the door.
Levi remained asleep.
Outside...
The people of Ravenholt continued celebrating.
And for once...
Their lord wasn't there to organize everything.
He was simply letting the city celebrate without him.
And somehow...
Ravenholt continued just fine...