Twenty minutes passed before the tears finally began to subside.
And when the elders realized that Luca had sat through the entirety of their emotional display, they felt slightly embarrassed.
Agnes bowed her head with a helpless smile.
"My apologies, Hero. We did not mean to burden you with such a display."
But Luca simply shook his head.
"Don't worry about it at all. A knight like Merda deserves no less."
His words carried a warmth that revealed the depth of his own respect for the fallen elder.
The elders looked at him with renewed appreciation.
Agnes cleared her throat, composing herself.
"I must thank you for bringing her final moments back to us. And for allowing her to go the way she always wanted—protecting someone else."
She smiled warmly.
"And for all that you've done for us, you are welcome to stay in the village as our honored guest as long as you like!"
Luca blinked in surprise at the unexpected invitation.
