Chapter 147 - 142: The Village Picnic
The days in Greenhollow passed at an easy pace.
The excitement of the Founder’s Day festival had faded, and life had returned to its familiar rhythm.
For John, that rhythm no longer felt strange.
It felt... comfortable.
---
After breakfast, the group was preparing to head out for another walk when a knock came at the inn’s door.
The innkeeper answered it.
Standing outside was Elder Rowan, carrying a woven basket under one arm.
"Good morning," he greeted with his usual warm smile.
"Morning, Elder," John replied.
"What brings you here?"
The elder chuckled.
"I’ve come to borrow your friends."
John blinked.
"...Borrow us?"
---
A few minutes later, everyone gathered in the common room.
Elder Rowan explained with a smile.
"Every year, after the Founder’s Day celebrations, the villagers hold a picnic near Moonbrook Meadow."
"It’s nothing formal."
"No speeches."
"No competitions."
"Just families and friends spending the day together."
Lythriel tilted her head.
"And you want us to come?"
"Of course."
"You’ve become part of our village these past weeks."
"It wouldn’t feel right if you weren’t there."
John exchanged glances with Aerion.
Neither of them had expected that.
Sylvara smiled brightly.
"I’d love to go."
Lythriel nodded.
"Me too."
John smiled.
"Then I guess we’re going."
---
Moonbrook Meadow was only a short walk from Greenhollow.
The path wound through gentle hills covered in wildflowers before opening into a wide grassy field.
A small stream flowed through the center, its clear water sparkling beneath the morning sun.
Families had already spread blankets across the meadow.
Children chased butterflies through the flowers.
Some villagers were fishing in the stream while others prepared food over small campfires.
Unlike the festival...
Everything here was quiet.
Peaceful.
Relaxed.
John took a slow breath.
"This place is beautiful."
"It is."
Sylvara smiled.
"I’ve never seen so many flowers."
---
The group found an empty spot beneath a large oak tree.
The innkeeper and her family soon joined them, carrying baskets filled with homemade food.
Nathan waved enthusiastically.
"John!"
John laughed.
"Good morning."
"I brought my sword."
Lythriel couldn’t help smiling.
"You really bring that everywhere."
Nathan looked confused.
"...Shouldn’t I?"
"No."
"Probably not."
---
Before long, everyone settled down.
Fresh bread.
Grilled vegetables.
Roasted chicken.
Cheese.
Fruit.
Nothing extravagant.
Yet every family had brought something to share.
The meal quickly became a feast.
John looked around.
"No one’s worried about who brought more."
Elder Rowan, who had just sat down nearby, smiled.
"That’s because no one keeps count."
"If someone has less one year..."
"They’ll bring more another year."
"And if they can’t?"
The elder looked toward the families gathered across the meadow.
"Then someone else will."
John slowly nodded.
The village’s strength had never come from walls or soldiers.
It came from its people.
---
After lunch, the adults relaxed beneath the trees while the children ran off to play.
Nathan soon appeared in front of John.
"Come with us!"
John looked toward the group of children gathered by the stream.
"What are you all doing?"
"We’re building boats!"
"...Boats?"
Nathan proudly held up a handful of sticks.
"The fastest one wins!"
Lythriel nudged John’s shoulder.
"I think you’ve been recruited."
John sighed dramatically.
"I don’t think I have a choice."
"You don’t."
---
The children quickly split into teams.
Nathan immediately grabbed John’s hand.
"You’re with me!"
John looked around.
"I hope you know I’ve never built a toy boat before."
Nathan grinned.
"We’ll figure it out."
---
For the next half hour...
John forgot he was a dragon.
He forgot about ancient legacies.
Forgot about future journeys.
Instead, he sat in the grass with a group of children, trying to tie leaves onto tiny wooden boats.
His first attempt immediately fell apart.
Nathan looked at it.
"...It’s a little crooked."
"A little?"
"It might sink."
John laughed.
"It definitely might."
Together, they tried again.
This one looked much better.
Sylvara watched from nearby, unable to hide her smile.
"I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so relaxed."
Aerion nodded.
"He isn’t thinking about tomorrow."
"For once."
---
When all the boats were finished, the children lined up beside the stream.
Nathan looked at John.
"Ready?"
"I suppose."
"Three..."
"Two..."
"One!"
Tiny wooden boats were placed into the flowing water.
The children immediately ran alongside the stream, cheering for their own creations.
John and Nathan followed.
At first...
Their little boat stayed near the front.
Nathan’s eyes widened.
"We’re winning!"
Then...
The current pushed it against a rock.
It spun in circles before slowly sinking.
Nathan stared in disbelief.
"...We lost."
John watched the tiny boat disappear beneath the water.
Then he laughed.
Nathan looked up.
"Aren’t you disappointed?"
John smiled.
"Not really."
"Why?"
"Because building it was more fun than winning."
Nathan thought about that for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"...Yeah."
"I think so too."
---
As the afternoon wore on, the adults gathered beneath the oak tree once more.
Someone brought out a wooden flute.
Another villager quietly began singing an old folk song.
The melody wasn’t perfect.
Neither was the singing.
But no one seemed to care.
Everyone simply joined in.
Even Lythriel attempted to follow along.
She immediately forgot the words halfway through.
John couldn’t stop laughing.
"Don’t."
She pointed at him.
"Not a word."
"I didn’t say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"I might have been."
Sylvara covered her face, laughing quietly.
Even Aerion looked amused.
---
Later, while everyone else talked, John wandered a short distance toward a hill overlooking the meadow.
The breeze gently stirred the tall grass.
From there, he could see the entire gathering below.
Families.
Friends.
Children.
Laughter.
The village looked so small from this distance.
Yet somehow...
It felt larger than many kingdoms he had heard about.
Not in land.
But in heart.
Footsteps approached behind him.
It was Elder Rowan.
The old man stood beside him without speaking for several moments.
Finally, he asked,
"What do you see?"
John looked across the meadow.
"A home."
The answer came naturally.
It surprised him.
Elder Rowan smiled.
"I was hoping you’d say that."
John glanced at him.
"I don’t know how long we’ll stay."
"I know."
The elder nodded.
"Travelers are meant to travel."
He looked toward the people below.
"But that doesn’t mean they can’t leave a piece of themselves behind."
John quietly looked back at the village.
Maybe...
He already had.
---
As the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon, the villagers packed away the blankets and baskets.
Children yawned after spending the entire day running through the meadow.
Families began the walk back together.
Nathan walked beside John, holding his wooden sword in one hand.
"Will we do this again next year?"
John’s steps slowed.
He smiled gently.
"I don’t know."
Nathan nodded.
"...Then I hope you’re still here."
John rested a hand on the boy’s head.
"So do I."
The answer was honest.
For the first time since his rebirth...
Leaving Greenhollow no longer felt easy.
And perhaps...
That was the clearest sign that it had truly become a place he would never forget.
---
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