Magnifico

No such thing as happiness

“Hero Hero Hero Hero Hero Hero”

The whole people were shouting with joy, the atmosphere was tensed even as they were hailing the General, they didn't care to know that they had just fought a war. Most of the villagers came together and carried the General round the whole village, gyrating as they were calling him "Hero". Their faces were filled with happiness. Sun was super excited and was so proud of them. He understood why they were so happy and he realized that there is no such thing as sweet as FREEDOM. Freedom for these people means that they are finally free from their long time oppressors. They couldn’t just explain to the General how satisfied and happy they were and the extent to which they respect him. Jonas, Thomas, Viruz, and the old man; the tavern's owner we’re watching with joy, and Jonas's lips were curled in a smile.

When everything was over, at night, Sun and other men present at the tavern a night before went to the tavern to meet finally and discuss the war which they had fought. While they gathered at the tavern, the old man joyfully brought out the best wine stored in brown metallic jars he has in the tavern, set a roundtable inside the tavern, and provided enough chairs for everyone.

Sun, Thomas, Jonas, and Viruz were present at that meeting too even though they were among the last people that came inside the tavern.

Everyone sat comfortably on the chairs provided and the old man provided a fine golden coated goblet for everyone and poured a tasty wine into each cup and dropped the jars of wine at the middle of the table at everyone's reach. The old man filled his goblet and stood up.

“Everyone please stand up with your goblet,” the old man said. Everyone stood up as he said. He raised his goblet and said “Cheers to the General, who has saved our people today from being massacred. Cheers to this brave man who sacrificed his time, his energy and risked his life and that of his comrades to fight for us. Cheers to our guiding angel who came when we needed one.”

“Cheers!” everyone said together and raised their goblets too, the room was full of joy. There were murmurs in the room. Sun gently stood up as the old man sat down…

“People of Phox, I can’t really express how I feel now or explain how happy I am today. I’m so delighted that we survived through this perilous time together. I don’t deserve all the commendation. I wouldn’t have done anything without everyone’s cooperation. I wouldn’t have done anything if not because of the brave men and women of Phox who made the toughest decision of their lives today. If they didn't come together to fight, I don't think I could have done anything. I also want to thank Owen, I wouldn't have made it without Owen who sacrificed himself for this fight, for this liberation, for this freedom. Cheers to Owen!” Sun said.

Everyone stood up again with their goblets and said, “Cheers to Owen.” They sat down again while Sun was still standing.

“I am the happiest man today. And I am happy that we have finally achieved our aim. I’m going to drink till my stomach explodes this night” Sun grinned.

Everyone laughed. The old man poured more wine into his goblet and poured more into his. The old man drank his in one shot.

“General, let’s play a game,” the old man said...

“What game is that?” Sun smiled looking into the old man’s eyes.

“Alright, the game is, I am going to fill two goblets with wine. Then we will both make a wish and the person that finishes his first will be granted his wish by the other person.”

“That makes sense,” Sun said. Knowing fully well he seldom drinks let alone drinking two goblets in one shot. He wanted to try something new because he knew he would be living very soon.

“Alright man, what is your wish?” Sun added.

“Say yours first” the old man insisted.

"But you brought this up?" Sun insisted.

"No. No" the old man disagreed.

“Uhh! Well, if I win, you will tell me your name. Now, what’s yours? what's your wish?” Sun asked as everyone was busy drinking, laughing, and watching.

“Haha. Okay, if I win, you will agree to stay with us in Phox” the old man said.

Suddenly, every Phox men in the room started shouting “Yes yes yes” in the tavern. Sun didn’t like the agreement at all because he knows that it is a must that he must leave Phox the next day.

“No, wait. Can I recede my agreement to this game?” Sun asked.

“No-No. If you want to do that, then you must win the game” the old man said.

Sun was now sure that he has to win the game because he doesn’t want to stay in Phox. He was willing to take the risk.

“Alright. Let’s play this game then.”

“Alright. Then let’s play” said the old man as he brings two goblets, bigger than the one they used to drink from the tavern store. He filled the alcoholic wine to the brim. He also told the witnesses to count down the time for them.

“Five four three two one go” everyone shouted as they both carried their goblets and started drinking.

Their stomach could be heard sloshing rhythmically. Unluckily for the old man, Sun managed to finish the drink before him but with a price; he became controllably drunk.

“You see man... I won” Sun giggled.

“I don’t believe this. Well, you did. I don't lose this game to people though.”

“Yes. Now you owe me your name” Sun said.

“My name is Cryx, General.”

“Cryx! Nice! You have been hiding such a nice name” Sun said as he brings forward his right hand to shake the old man. They both shook hands and sat down.

“General, you could be our king if you stay behind. The whole people in Phox would love you to be our King. We could use your help in building a new and united kingdom. We need your leadership” Thomas said.

Sun laughed it off.

“No Thomas. I have got other businesses to attend to. You and a good number of people should know that. I can't stay” Sun said as he smiled again, his eyes heavy and his head flinching because of the alcohol.

“People of Phox needs a brave man like you to lead them. I’m begging you on their behalf, please stay,” Thomas added.

“No Sir. I can’t do that. There are more pressing issues I will attend to and I will be leaving Phox tomorrow morning.”

“What is it that is so important that will make you leave?” Thomas asked.

There was a slight murmuring in the room especially from the Phox men who don’t know who Sun is...

“Yes, What is so important?” they mumbled together.

“Okay. If you want to know, then I will tell you. I’m from the kingdom of Quinax, a mighty kingdom close to the northern kingdom of Zuix, and I was sent on a mission by my king to find someone who holds an important item that would be used to kill a beast called Magnifico. Rumors have it that the man that stole an item from us escaped to the kingdom of Zaphra."

Thomas interrupted “Magnifico? Who is that?” Thomas asked.

“It's a long story so I won’t be able to answer that question now. But I can tell you that Magnifico is bad news. If we don’t take care of him, this victory we are celebrating here today will be short-lived. He will dominate most of the provinces and when that happens, nothing can ever take away the power from him. This is why my King had sent me and my comrades here to find the item that was stolen from us.”

“Wow! That’s a big task ahead of you General. I am surprised you have something this big ahead of you and you still choose to help us. What an iconic decision you made. I don’t think if I were to be in your shoes, that I will do the same” Thomas said surprisingly. He picked his goblet and raised it and said “Cheers to the General!”

“Cheers to the General!” everyone responded too and raised their goblets in appreciation and admiration. The General was so happy even though he was mildly drunk, but he had to control it so he would enjoy the rest of the night with the men. Later in the night, Sun became really exhausted and he decided to go to sleep because he had a long way ahead of him the next day. He was to travel to Zaphra with Jonas and Viruz the next day so he has a long way to go.

“I must go to bed now. See you all tomorrow morning.”

“Good night General!” everyone responded too and the General left and went to the bed.