Chapter 99: The Gods Are Watching
Dune walked back to the inn, his steps slow and measured. As he entered the dimly lit common area of the inn, funny sight greeted him, Ned, slumped over a table, his face half-buried in his crossed arms, drooling in his sleep. The scattered bottles around him made it painfully clear he had drunk himself into oblivion.
Dune let out a quiet chuckle. "Idiot."
Shaking his head, he moved toward his brother, hoisting him onto his back with ease. Ned let out a groggy murmur but didn't wake.
Carefully, Dune carried him up the creaky wooden stairs and into their shared room. He laid Ned onto the bed with little effort before sitting on his own, exhaling as he ran a hand through his hair. His thoughts drifted.
"I wonder... What is Nely doing right now? Is she okay?"
He still couldn't fully grasp everything he had done during the trial, everything he had lost and gained. He had changed.
"I've changed. I'm new. And I want to save even more of those who are important to me... become stronger... bring the gods down."
That final thought echoed in his mind as exhaustion finally pulled him into sleep.
Dune was jolted awake by a loud, irritated voice.
"Wake up! We're late!"
His eyes shot open to see Ned standing over him, fully dressed, looking far more awake than he should have been after drinking himself unconscious. Atlas stood nearby, rubbing his temples like his head was splitting in two.