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"Yeah, that sounds pretty accurate," said Luciana.

"You forgot the part where Benjamin slays a dozen enemy servants while carrying the children to safety," said Elise.

"That definitely didn't happen," said Carlos.

"It definitely did," said Elise.

"How could he possibly have carried thirteen children at once?" said Carlos, still laughing.

"Easily," said Elise, glancing toward Hector. "A powerful enough materializer wouldn't even need to use his hands for something like that."

"Yeah, but as far as we know, he wasn't a materializer," said Carlos.

"Then, whatever, maybe he didn't physically carry them," said Luciana. "Maybe he just cleared a path while they all ran together. Doesn't stop it from being any less amazing."

"I'm not trying to say it wasn't amazing," said Carlos. "Just a bit exaggerated, perhaps. It's also quite unlikely those thirteen children were genuinely the last of all our brethren. We have reason to believe that there were a few of us scattered elsewhere across the continent at that time."

Luciana bumped shoulders with him. "Oh, shut up, Carlos," she laughed.

"Yes, stop trying to spoil such a wonderful story," added Elise.

Carlos just shook his head and popped a couple grapes in his mouth.

"I see," said King William. "So the veracity is somewhat contested, then."

"Don't listen to him!" said Luciana. "If anything, I bet the story is underselling what really happened!"

The argument continued on for a little while longer, though everyone involved remained in good cheer. Soon, Hector and the King moved on to another table, then another, followed by still more after that.

Growing up, Hector had never really understood why so many people seemed to enjoy going to parties. To him, they were always horrible, nerve-wracking affairs where the only thing he wanted to do was not draw attention to himself. Even the Gala, despite how much he'd managed to enjoy it, had ultimately felt that way for him.

But this?

This was just pure fun.