After a short while, Jen and the others entered the borrowed house. Apparently, the village chief paid a hefty sum for the pelt and claws. Rena was curious why the did not just store the items in their storage rings when they collected them, but apparently it was specifically so the villagers could see the spoils of victory directly as well as do a little advertising.
The village chief clearly had a fondness for his ancestor that had tad one of the twin-headed bears in the past, so it only made sense he would be interested in at least having the pelt of this one decorating his ho. It would probably make a nice rug in the center of the office they first t him in.
She and Lucius had a nice long talk before the party showed up and she felt much better after it. The plan from now on was that he would rely on her judgent calls when it was needed as it related to helping those unaffiliated with him.
From their discussion, he had no problem with going the extra mile to help people he viewed positively, like his mother, Rena, and the rest of the party to an extent.
It did make her feel a little uncomfortable because it seed like she was taking away so of his agency, but to avoid future conflict it would be for the best.
'At least this behavior will suit him well when the war starts and he…' She didn't want to think about it, but she could not help but rember that after the Grand Raid, Lucius would likely be sent off to war. It was not a guarantee, but talk of rising tensions were heard along every street and whispered around every table. It was truly only a matter of ti.
If they were really unlucky, it would happen before they could partake in the raid…
"Hey Rena, what made you guys beco adventurers anyway?" Lethen asked. He had broken a decently long and awkward silence that had fallen on the group. Paul was busy stoking the fire and preparing so dinner for them. Jen was cleaning the weapons, and Lucius said he needed so air and was ditating outside.
"Well, I have always been interested in the idea of being an adventurer since I was a real little kid, but over the last few years that interest developed into a desire." She explained.
"Also, House Petra has this thing where the most accomplished of the younger generation inherits the head of the house, so a lot of us beco adventurers since that is the easiest way to accomplish sothing…well that and war."
"Oh right, I thought I heard sothing about that." Jen interrupted. Rena guessed she was listening in, but that confird it. "You Petras are really weird. Forcing your own children to play so sort of survival ga, making them fight each other to get their inheritance…gotta say, never heard of a family like yours."
All she could do was nod along, because Jen was right. Rena's family was quite different. "You're right, but the Petra domain regularly churns out the best soldiers in Arcadios. Our house heads are also usually so of the strongest warriors and greatest tacticians…it has to co from sowhere."
"Just feels like a bit much sotis. Like the reward is not worth the cost, ya know? So of those kids who die in your trials could change and go on to be great warriors or artists." Lethen explained.
"Again, you aren't wrong. But other than those who are marked, only those who want to be warriors or mages partake. So it's not mandated…well I guess all of the Petra children have to partake too." Rena attempted to explain. However, even she knew her words were empty.
She really could not argue for it too well and all she could do was regurgitate the sa explanations the adults in her life always gave her. She never really believed in the words.
"What about Lucius?" Paul chid in finally.
Silence once again fell on the room before Rena broke it with a sad smile. "He beca an adventurer because I did. He is my bodyguard. A promise made by his father with his final breaths."
"What about the war? Its coming and even I know all the marked adventurers are tracked. He's going to be forced into it." Paul continued. His monotone voice was starting to piss her off, but she held in her frustrations…though only barely.
"Yes he will…but to put it in his words…" Rena inhaled deeply to calm her rising anger. She rembered what he had said to her on their way back ho on the day they joined the guild. "He might die in the Grand Raid…so maybe it won't be a problem."
Jen, Lethen, and Paul all looked at her with shocked faces. "You want to join the Grand Raid?"
"Yes. If I survive it, it might just be enough to take on the mantle of the heir to house Petra. Lucius will join because…if he survives the Demon's Stomach, he might be able to survive coming back to . And if he doesn't, then he won't die as a pawn in a ga of war."
With that, she killed the mood. It was not great to begin with, but now it was not only awkward, but somber. Who could bla them though? Talking about soone who has a plan for death is not a pleasant topic. It was not pleasant for her when Lucius said it, so why would it be different for them?
They did not know him for very long at all, only a handful of days at this point, but still; he was a young man who was planning for death.
"Kid may not be strong, but he's fast. Maybe he's fast enough to outrun death? Who knows…but you know what…we will co too." Jen said. Paul and Lethen sat for a mont and then nodded in agreent.
With that, the rest of their party agreed to join them on the raid to the Demon's Stomach. Jen, Paul, and Lethen absolutely already qualified for entry, but their entire party had to qualify for them to take a spot.
They would need to get at least nine more quests at Interdiate Rank or above to qualify and with the help of Lethen and Jen, who were Advanced Rank warriors, and Paul who was Interdiate himself, they could probably pull it off.
"Alright, sounds like a plan!" Rena smiled.
"We will pick another one out when we get back. Probably good to take a few lower quests just so you guys can get your sea legs. But before that…you two kids have a date around town when we get back if I rember correctly!" Jen teased with a sly grin.
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