Anastasis 21 – Anastasis 25, Imperial Year 1644
The Dwarven Hold of Ironfast – The Mountain Gates
Ironfast was not a city of spires and towers. It was a mountain with doors. The gates were twenty feet high, carved with scenes of dwarven kings and ancient battles. Torches burned in iron sconces, casting flickering light on the grey stone.
The class approached in a loose column. Elara led, her hand raised in greeting. Roderick walked beside her, his tusks hidden under a hood. Behind them walked Reinhard, Gregor, Celia, Hikari, Rosalind, Miku, Kaito, Daiki, and Corvin – the core group that had traveled from Whitecliff.
Guards stood at the gates – dwarves in heavy plate armor, their beards braided, their axes gleaming.
"State your business," one said.
"We're looking for Torvin Copperkettle," Elara said. "A brewer. He's one of us."
The guard's eyes narrowed. "One of you?"
"A friend. From a long way away."
The guards exchanged glances. Then the lead guard nodded.
"Wait here. I'll fetch him."
Anastasis 21 – Afternoon
Ironfast – The Brewery
Torvin Copperkettle was not what Elara expected. He was short, even for a dwarf, with a round belly and a red beard stained with hops. His hands were calloused, his arms thick. He wore a leather apron over a wool tunic.
He looked at the class with suspicion.
"You're the ones asking about me?"
"We're the ones who remember," Elara said. "Yuki Tanaka. Class president. You sat in the back, near the door. You always brought extra bread to share."
Torvin's eyes widened. "Yuki?"
"Yes."
He looked at the others – Roderick, Rosalind, Miku, Hikari. "Haruki? Sakura?"
Roderick nodded. "It's us."
Torvin's composure cracked. He set down a mug of ale and pulled them into a crushing hug. "I thought I was the only one. I thought I'd gone mad."
"You're not mad," Hikari said. "You're one of us."
Anastasis 22 – Anastasis 24, Imperial Year 1644
Ironfast – The Reunion
Over the next two days, the rest of the class arrived.
First came Natsuki and Rin from the north, their faces tired but their eyes bright. Then Grom, the orc freed from the Ironfast mine, walked in with Fenric the wolf beastfolk and Lyra the fox beastfolk – they had been scouting together.
Mira Stonehill, the halfling rescued from the collapsed mine, arrived with Vesper Nightshade, the elf whose curse had been broken by the dragon's heart. Both were still weak, but they walked on their own.
Kaelen Stonefist, the orc slave rescued from a war‑zone mine in a daring raid led by Grom and Roderick weeks ago, came with them. He was scarred and quiet, but his eyes were clear.
Talia Swift, the fox beastfolk held hostage, had not yet been freed. But the class had sent word to Valdria for Prince Orin to negotiate her release.
By the evening of the third day, the class had gathered. Twenty‑seven reincarnators sat around the long tables – warriors, mages, healers, tinkers, and scholars. Plus Reinhard, their teacher, and Valeria, who had traveled from Fallowfield to join the reunion.
Torvin stood, raising a mug.
"To the ones we've found," he said. "And to the ones still out there. We will find them all."
"To the lost," Elara said.
"To the lost," the class echoed.
Anastasis 25, Imperial Year 1644
Ironfast – The Planning
The class gathered in a side chamber. Maps were spread on a stone table. Names were written on parchment – the missing reincarnators still unaccounted for.
"We have found most," Reinhard said. "But there are still several out there."
He tapped the list:
Dain Ironfoot (Riku Sato) – dwarf rebel in Hesperos, leading a rebellion against giants.
Talia Swift (Mika Ito) – fox beastfolk held as a political hostage in a foreign court.
Finnian Reed (Nao Suzuki) – gnome hermit inventor in Anatole, refuses to leave.
Orin Blackwood (Kenta Yamamoto) – already a supporter in Valdria (not missing, but not traveling).
Selene Ashford (Yui Kobayashi) – archmage bound to a tower, cannot leave.
Isolde Silverleaf (Mei Nakamura) – supporter in Aelindor.
"The rest are with us or have chosen to stay as supporters," Elara said. "Now we need to prioritize."
Roderick pointed to the map. "Talia is a hostage. That's urgent. Dain is across the sea, but he's not in immediate danger. Finnian is a hermit – he's safe."
"We go to Valdria first," Reinhard said. "Negotiate for Talia's release. Then we decide."
The class nodded.
Anastasis 25, Evening
Ironfast – The Feast
The dwarves threw a feast. Ale flowed. Meat roasted. The great hall rang with laughter and song.
Grom sat with Kaelen, the two orcs speaking in low voices. Fenric and Lyra chased each other through the crowd. Mira and Vesper rested by the fire. Celia sat in a corner, watching, still learning to be around so many people.
Corvin stood by the window, looking out at the mountains.
"What are you thinking?" Celia asked, joining him.
"I'm thinking that Zero is out there, doing what we're doing. Hunting monsters. Finding his own people." He paused. "I wonder if he's as lost as we are."
Celia had no answer.
Torvin raised another toast. "To the Black Knights – may they keep the nobles honest. And to us – may we keep each other alive."
The class cheered.
End of Chapter Sixty