Once Jonathan gave his blessing, the rest of Burrowlane seemed determined to make certain the wedding happened whether Jax and Aurabelle were ready or not.
Five days.
That was all they needed.
Apparently.
Jax had watched military operations involving thousands of soldiers come together with less coordination.
By sunrise the morning after the Trials, people were already moving.
Tables appeared.
Lumber arrived.
Flowers were gathered.
Neighbors volunteered food.
Musicians argued over songs.
Children ran messages between houses with the seriousness of battlefield couriers.
Aurabelle stood beside Jax near the farmhouse, watching the chaos unfold.
"I told you they liked weddings."
Jax looked toward three Rabbitkin carrying an entire wooden table down the road.
"You neglected to mention that your village treats them like military campaigns."
Aurabelle smiled.
"We're very efficient."
Auron walked past carrying a bundle of lumber over one shoulder.
"Stop standing around and marry our sister."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"The wedding isn't for five days."
"Then you've already wasted one."
Aurabelle laughed.
Jax shook his head.
"I like your family."
"I knew you would."
Auron stopped.
"Don't get comfortable."
Jax looked at him.
Auron pointed two fingers toward his own eyes.
Then toward Jax.
"I'm watching you."
Jax nodded solemnly.
"I would expect nothing less."
Auron continued walking.
Aurabelle waited until he was out of earshot.
"He likes you."
"That's liking me?"
"You should've seen what he did to my first boyfriend."
Jax slowly looked toward her.
Aurabelle smiled innocently.
"...Kidding."
A pause.
"Probably."
Jax decided not to ask.
There was one problem that couldn't be solved by an enthusiastic village.
Logistics.
Aurabelle had twenty-one siblings.
Then there were spouses.
Children.
Cousins.
Aunts.
Uncles.
Friends.
Neighbors.
And somehow nearly everyone needed something before the wedding.
Clothes became the first issue.
The Vixens had already prepared their dresses in Solmere.
Most of Aurabelle's family had not.
Nyxian held up one of the dresses a sister planned to wear.
She stared at it.
Then at Aurabelle.
Then back at the dress.
"No."
The young Rabbitkin woman frowned.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing."
Nyxian smiled sweetly.
"Burn it."
"NYX!"
"What?"
Nyxian held it against herself.
"I've seen burial shrouds with more personality."
Aurabelle snatched it away.
"She's wearing it."
"Not at a wedding I'm attending."
Nyxian turned toward Jax.
"We need Solmere."
Jax nodded.
"I was already planning on it."
That got Jonathan's attention.
Aurabelle's father approached from nearby.
"Planning what?"
"A portal."
Jonathan stopped.
"A permanent one?"
"Semi-permanent, technically. But I'm not putting anything on your land without permission."
Jonathan studied him.
"Where?"
"Outskirts of the village."
Jax pointed toward a broad patch of unused land near one of the main roads.
"Preferably somewhere wagons can reach easily."
Jonathan looked toward the location.
Then toward Jax.
"You can build one?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
Jax considered it.
"If the ground is good?"
He shrugged.
"Few hours."
Jonathan stared at him.
"...A few hours."
"Approximately."
Auron had wandered close enough to hear.
"You can build a dimensional portal in a few hours?"
Jax smiled.
"I didn't say I could manufacture one in a few hours."
He tapped his dimensional storage.
"I brought the important parts."
Auron stared at him.
"You carry a portal around with you?"
"Several pieces of one."
"Why?"
Jax looked genuinely confused by the question.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Auron slowly turned toward Aurabelle.
"Belle."
"Yes?"
"Your husband is strange."
"We're not married yet."
"Your almost-husband is strange."
Aurabelle grinned.
"I know."
Jonathan eventually gave his permission.
That was all Jax needed.
Within the hour, half of Aurabelle's brothers had volunteered to help.
Jax chose a location just beyond the village proper.
Close enough to be convenient.
Far enough that future traffic wouldn't overwhelm the town.
The existing ground was solid.
That saved time.
Jax marked the dimensions.
Auron and several brothers began digging.
Stone arrived from nearby farms.
Jax reinforced the foundation.
He measured everything twice.
Then again.
Not because he doubted himself.
Because dimensional travel wasn't something he intended to build approximately.
The brothers quickly discovered something about Jax.
He worked.
Actually worked.
He didn't stand nearby giving orders.
He hauled stone.
Mixed materials.
Leveled foundations.
Placed supports.
When something needed lifting, he lifted it.
When something needed cutting, he cut it.
When someone asked why he was doing something, he explained.
Auron eventually stopped digging long enough to watch Jax adjust one of the massive portal anchors.
"You've done this before."
"Yes."
"How many times?"
Jax continued working.
"Enough."
"That's not a number."
"No."
Auron waited.
Jax didn't elaborate.
"...You do that on purpose, don't you?"
"Sometimes."
By early afternoon, the platform was finished.
Wide.
Reinforced.
Strong enough for pedestrians, livestock, freight carts, and loaded wagons.
Only then did Jax begin assembling the portal itself.
Pieces appeared from dimensional storage one at a time.
Metal.
Enchanted stone.
Runic components.
Crystalline conductors.
The joking stopped.
Even Auron watched quietly.
This wasn't farm construction.
This was something else.
Something few people in Burrowlane had ever seen up close.
Jax fitted the final component into place.
Runes illuminated around the structure.
A low hum filled the air.
Then—
Space folded.
A shimmering gateway formed above the platform.
Several Rabbitkin stepped backward.
A child peered around his father's leg.
"Does that go to Solmere?"
Jax smiled.
"Eventually."
The child blinked.
"Eventually?"
"It leads to one of my warehouses."
The boy frowned.
"Why?"
"Because portals connecting directly into cities create security problems."
Jax gestured toward the gateway.
"You enter here."
"Cross the warehouse."
"Then use the secured exit into Solmere."
The child considered this.
"So..."
He pointed.
"...there's a building between here and Solmere?"
"Essentially."
The boy nodded as though this made perfect sense.
Auron didn't.
He looked at the portal.
Then Jax.
Then the portal again.
"You own a warehouse between places?"
Jax thought about that.
"That's not entirely inaccurate."
Auron opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then finally shrugged.
"I'm going to stop asking questions."
"Probably wise."
The first shipment arrived less than an hour later.
Fabric.
Dresses.
Suits.
Shoes.
Decorations.
Wedding supplies.
Several crates of food.
And enough alcohol that Jonathan quietly pretended not to notice.
Burrowlane's seamstresses descended upon the clothing immediately.
Measurements were taken.
Seams opened.
Fabric adjusted.
Rabbit ears created several complications that Solmere's tailors had apparently failed to anticipate.
Nothing Burrowlane couldn't fix.
Jax watched another wagon of produce roll past while the work continued.
He'd been watching those wagons all morning.
Actually...
He'd been watching the fields since he arrived.
Auron noticed.
"What?"
Jax looked toward him.
"What?"
"You keep staring at our fields."
Jax returned his attention to them.
"How much land around here is unclaimed?"
Auron shrugged.
"Quite a bit."
"Good land?"
"Most of it."
"Why hasn't anyone bought it?"
Auron looked at him as though the answer were obvious.
"To do what with it?"
"Farm it."
"With who?"
Jax smiled.
There it was.
He motioned for Auron to follow.
Several of the other brothers wandered closer.
Jax pointed toward the fields.
"You have some of the best agricultural land I've seen."
Auron nodded proudly.
"We know."
"You have experienced farmers."
Another nod.
"Large families."
"Very large families," one brother added.
"And more product than you can efficiently transport to distant markets."
That earned their attention.
Jax continued.
"How much spoils before it can be sold?"
The brothers exchanged glances.
Auron answered.
"Depends on the harvest."
"How much?"
"...Sometimes a fifth."
Jax winced.
"That's unacceptable."
Auron laughed.
"Tell the vegetables."
"I'm telling you."
Jax pointed toward the portal.
"That just changed everything."
The brothers looked toward it.
"You aren't limited to nearby markets anymore."
"Solmere."
"Hairbro."
"Every major city connected to my distribution network."
"Warehouses."
"Refrigeration."
"Transportation."
He pointed toward the fields again.
"Buy the land."
Auron laughed.
Jax didn't.
The laughter slowly stopped.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
"With what money?"
"I'll help finance the expansion."
That silenced them.
Jax continued.
"I also have farming equipment that will increase what you can produce with fewer people."
Auron folded his arms.
"And what do you get?"
Jax smiled.
There was the question he respected.
"Profit."
Auron blinked.
Jax shrugged.
"I'm a merchant."
Several brothers laughed.
"I invest."
"You produce."
"We distribute."
"Everyone makes money."
Jax looked toward Auron.
"I remember what you said when I brought your father those blades."
Auron's ears shifted.
"...What did I say?"
"Sell them and never work again."
Several brothers laughed.
Auron rubbed the back of his neck.
"I might've said that."
Jax nodded.
"Keep them."
His expression became more serious.
"And trust me for five years."
Auron stopped smiling.
"Five years?"
"Buy every worthwhile piece of land around Burrowlane that isn't already owned."
"Expand production."
"Use my equipment."
"Use my transportation."
"Use my markets."
He looked across the enormous fields.
"In five years, none of you will need to work these fields again."
The brothers stared at him.
Jax smiled.
"Unless you want to."
He pointed toward Auron.
"You'll manage them."
Then another brother.
"You'll own them."
Then toward the portal.
"And you'll hire other people to do the work you're doing today."
Silence.
One brother finally scratched his ear.
"That sounds..."
He hesitated.
"...too easy."
"It won't be."
Jax looked at him.
"The next five years will probably be harder than the last five."
That wasn't the answer they expected.
"You'll expand."
"You'll make mistakes."
"Equipment will break."
"Harvests will disappoint you."
"Employees will disappoint you."
"Markets will change."
He shrugged.
"That's business."
Then he smiled.
"But if you do it correctly..."
He looked across Burrowlane.
"...your children won't inherit jobs."
"They'll inherit businesses."
Auron stared at him for several seconds.
Then slowly smiled.
"I think I understand why Belle likes you."
Jax glanced toward Aurabelle across the field.
She was watching him.
Smiling.
"No."
He smiled back.
"I think she just likes my cooking."
Five days passed quickly after that.
Burrowlane transformed.
Lanterns stretched between trees.
Wildflowers decorated fences.
Tables covered entire sections of Jonathan and Arial's property.
Neighboring families opened their homes to visitors.
Some of Aurabelle's married siblings lived only a few houses away.
Others shared larger homes with siblings, cousins, or extended family.
In Burrowlane, family rarely seemed to move very far.
They simply spread out.
The entire village felt connected.
By the morning of the wedding...
It seemed everyone had contributed something.
Flowers.
Food.
Music.
Furniture.
Decorations.
Labor.
The wedding didn't belong only to Aurabelle's family anymore.
It belonged to Burrowlane.
Jax stood beneath the simple wooden arch wearing a tailored black suit with subtle red accents.
Auron stood beside him.
Along with several of Aurabelle's brothers and cousins.
Auron leaned closer.
"Nervous?"
Jax considered it.
"No."
Auron looked disappointed.
"Not even a little?"
"Should I be?"
"Absolutely."
"Why?"
Auron nodded toward the enormous gathering.
Hundreds of Rabbitkin filled the chairs and surrounding lawn.
Family.
Friends.
Neighbors.
Children sat on parents' laps.
Others stood along fences.
Auron pointed toward one side.
"Her guests."
Then the other.
Almost nobody.
"Your guests."
Jax stared at the empty space.
Auron grinned.
"You couldn't find anyone?"
"I didn't exactly know I was getting married here until recently."
"Excuses."
Jax nodded thoughtfully.
"I should've invited the dragon."
Auron's grin disappeared.
"...You have a dragon?"
Jax looked toward him.
Auron stared back.
"You're joking."
Jax said nothing.
"...Jax?"
Music began.
"Later."
"Jax."
The crowd stood.
Auron immediately forgot the question.
So did Jax.
Aurabelle appeared.
And everything else became irrelevant.
Her white dress flowed gently around her.
Long blue hair fell behind her, woven with tiny wildflowers gathered by children throughout the village.
She looked different from the woman who carried World Breaker into battle.
Softer.
But no less powerful.
Her eyes found Jax immediately.
Her smile appeared.
And Jax forgot every clever thing he'd considered saying.
Jonathan walked beside her.
Slowly.
Proudly.
When they reached the arch, Jonathan stopped.
He looked at his daughter.
Then Jax.
He placed Aurabelle's hand into his.
"Take care of my girl."
Jax closed his fingers gently around hers.
"Always."
Jonathan nodded.
That was enough.
He stepped away.
The village elder smiled at them.
"Marriage is often described as the joining of two people."
He glanced toward the hundreds gathered around them.
"That description seems somewhat inadequate today."
Soft laughter spread through the crowd.
"Today joins families."
"Friends."
"Communities."
"And perhaps..."
His gaze briefly moved toward the distant portal.
"...even worlds that once seemed farther apart than they truly were."
Aurabelle squeezed Jax's hands.
The elder turned toward her.
"Aurabelle."
She took a breath.
Then looked directly into Jax's eyes.
"I wanted to become an adventurer so I could see the world."
Her smile softened.
"I didn't expect to find that my world was inside of you this entire time."
Jax's expression changed.
For once...
He didn't have an immediate response.
Aurabelle smiled wider.
She'd gotten him.
Jax squeezed her hands.
"My world began when I met you."
Her ears lifted slightly.
"And loving you has been the easiest decision I've ever made."
He paused.
"I will spend the entirety of my existence in pursuit of earning the love you have for me."
Aurabelle's eyes glistened.
But she smiled.
The elder cleared his throat.
"Well."
He looked between them.
"That seems simple enough."
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
He raised both hands.
"By the traditions of Burrowlane..."
"And with the blessing of your families..."
"I pronounce you husband and wife."
The elder smiled.
"You may kiss—"
Aurabelle didn't wait.
She launched herself into Jax's arms.
Her arms wrapped around his neck.
Her legs locked around his waist.
And she kissed him.
Fully.
Passionately.
Completely unconcerned with the hundreds of people watching.
The village exploded.
Cheers.
Whistles.
Laughter.
Auron cupped his hands around his mouth.
"BELLE!"
Aurabelle raised one hand without breaking the kiss.
A single finger answered him.
The cheering somehow became louder.
Nyxian nearly collapsed laughing.
Zee covered her face.
Llandra simply shook her head with an amused smile.
Eventually...
Aurabelle remembered breathing was useful.
She pulled back.
Still wrapped around Jax.
Her forehead rested against his.
"Hi, husband."
Jax smiled.
"Hi, wife."
She kissed him again.
The reception began almost immediately.
Food covered the tables.
Music filled the fields.
Children raced beneath lanterns.
Rabbitkin danced.
Families drank.
And then Jax unveiled his contribution.
Barrels.
Several of them.
Jonathan stared.
Auron stared.
Half the older Rabbitkin stared.
Arial's eyes widened.
"Is that..."
Jax smiled.
"Pixie Mead."
The celebration temporarily became considerably less organized.
By sunset...
Burrowlane was having what several residents confidently declared to be the greatest wedding in village history.
Jax was dragged into dances.
Then more dances.
Then dances he was fairly certain had been invented specifically to see if the human could keep up.
After several increasingly aggressive Rabbitkin dances, Jax stumbled dramatically toward a chair.
"No more."
Auron laughed.
"Tired?"
"Absolutely."
Aurabelle narrowed her eyes.
She knew better.
Jax caught her expression.
"Your people are monsters."
Auron slapped him on the shoulder.
"Admit defeat."
"Never."
"Then another dance."
Jax immediately stood upright.
"I suddenly remembered important husband responsibilities."
Aurabelle laughed.
"Come here."
She grabbed him.
And pulled him back toward the celebration.
Late that night...
The music softened.
Lanterns glowed above the fields.
Aurabelle rested against her husband.
Tomorrow...
They would leave.
Two days.
Just them.
That thought made her stomach flutter far more than the Raid Cave waiting afterward.
She'd shared Jax's attention for months.
Llandra.
Zee.
Nyxian.
There was almost always someone nearby.
Tomorrow...
There wouldn't be.
Two entire days.
Aurabelle was excited.
Very excited.
And perhaps...
Just slightly intimidated.
The Raid Cave?
That didn't intimidate her at all.
She was looking forward to it.
World Breaker had been improved.
She had become faster.
Stronger.
More experienced.
And she wanted to know just how much stronger.
Nobody from Burrowlane had ever cleared that cave.
Nobody who entered had ever returned.
That used to make it terrifying.
Now?
Aurabelle wanted to see what was inside.
The following morning, she and Jax prepared to leave.
A small wagon waited outside.
The rest of the Vixens would remain behind.
After the honeymoon, everyone would regroup.
Then...
They would raid.
Auron helped load the last bag.
"You two really going toward the northern hills afterward?"
Aurabelle nodded.
"Yep."
Auron hesitated.
"And the cave?"
"Yep."
"Belle..."
He lowered his voice.
"Nobody has ever cleared it."
Aurabelle looked at him.
For a moment, Auron saw something different in his twin sister.
Not arrogance.
Not recklessness.
Confidence.
The kind earned through battles he hadn't seen.
Through monsters he'd only heard about.
Through adventures that had transformed the sister who left Burrowlane into the woman standing before him.
Aurabelle smiled.
"Then we'll be the first."
Auron stared at her.
Then slowly smiled.
"...You really believe that."
"Of course I do."
She climbed into the wagon.
Jax followed.
Auron stepped backward.
"Take care of her!"
Jax nodded.
"I will."
Aurabelle leaned around him.
"He means in the cave!"
"I meant everywhere!"
The wagon started moving.
Aurabelle waved enthusiastically as her family gathered along the road.
Jax looked toward his new wife.
She watched Burrowlane disappear behind them.
No tears.
No fear.
Only a smile.
She had left this village once before as a young Rabbitkin dreaming of becoming an adventurer.
This time...
Aurabelle left as one.
A Vixen.
A wife.
And in two days...
She intended to conquer something no one in her homeland ever had.