‘Did I… let arrogance get the better of again?’
My mind drifted back to that damned cave, the one where my first party mber died.
Back then, the sudden realization of my own strength, upon dispatching those goblins with relative ease, had led to the death of my comrade, and nearly led to mine and Pinpin's end, too.
‘How, exactly, is this different? No, not just this…’
Ever since I entered this city, my actions, although not unjustified, were far more aggressive than they had to be.
There was nothing stopping from just paying those thugs a few gold. It would sting, sure, but I'd have one less powerful enemy now.
Alternatively, rather than drawing my sword, I could simply escape with my backpack strapped to my back.
I could have been far more diplomatic when talking to the trainers. Sure, I felt insulted, but a simple true interrogation would dispel their accusations, too. I didn't need to further aggravate the pair. At least, I could let them save face.
Finally, I could simply leave with Jerold- well, no. By this point, it was likely too late. I was certain the Archer was pushed to do this by his trainer.
However, I could definitely avoid leaving them with this deep of a grudge, instead of actively trying to humiliate them in return.
‘What was this even for?’
My real objective in this city wasn't even related to the Guild. And since I wasn't planning on partying up anyway, what would a little worse reputation here change?
Haaa…
Well, there was nothing left to do besides engraving the mory of my mistakes onto my mind, and altering my approach the best I could, so that I never repeat them again.
‘Anyway, it should be here.’
After moving my horse to a different stable, I made a short trip by foot.
Now, I was standing in front of an average-looking two story brick building, with a hanging sign depicting an ale mug and a silver fish above its large double door.
By the way, the structure only looked ‘average’ by Northern standards; the spotless white color of its outer walls, the precisely sized window fras and doorways, perfectly fitting their contents, even the subtle details of the tavern’s sign, such as the perfectly symtrical engravings decorating its edges – everything pointed to the establishnt being of sufficient quality to stand unashad among its neighboring buildings.
‘I haven't seen Bern since that night at the Blue Mushroom.’
Even when it ca to his companions, I only saw them again right before their departure, which was over 3 weeks ago.
‘Co to think of it, 3 weeks is over half the ti I've spent in this world.’
I shook my head, banishing irrelevant thoughts.
‘Why am I even hesitating? I just gotta tell him the truth and sincerely apologize. A debt is a debt, but unless it involves nothing outside Northern, his mission is just too much for soone in my situation.’
It was ti to go in… and face my inadequacy.
Taking a (sowhat) deep breath through my nose, I opened the door, and crossed the threshold into the moderately lively tavern.
“Welco to the Silver Trout, adventurer!”
The tavern hall was rather small compared to the building's size, but the reason for this discrepancy were the private rooms surrounding it.
What's more, while most doors were open, signifying the rooms were empty, two were seemingly occupied, yet I could hear no sound from beyond the closed doors.
‘Must be that very sa spell.’
The tavern itself had a few wooden tables, surrounded by padded armchairs that appeared quite luxurious. They stood steady atop the pristine floorboards, the subtle red hue of their shiny surface likely originating from their wax.
Two of the tables were occupied by so seemingly high-class citizens, and behind a small bar, its slightly curved front covered by the sa waxed wood as the floorboards, stood a middle-aged half-elf.
Of course, I didn’t know how elves - or half-elves, for that matter - aged, so my impression was based solely on human standards. The subtle wrinkles on his face, his long gray hair, and the faint weariness underneath his jolly gaze contributed to this impression.
“Greetings. I’m here to see Bern and his party.”
The mont the na escaped my lips, the bartender's left eye twitched, although the old man did a very good job trying to conceal that fact.
“I’m sorry. If you can't see this ‘Bern’ amongst the tables here, then I'm afraid he's either in a private room, or not here at all.”
An exasperated sigh escaped my lips.
“He’s the one who told to co here. If you continue wasting my ti, I'm going to leave.”
It's been a very long day, and I didn't feel like playing this type of ga.
Belatedly, I realized I might have just taken out my own fatigue on an innocent third party, but it was getting extrely hard to maintain my composure after a day this shitty.
The half-elf narrowed his eyes, yet after a few seconds of silently staring at , he asked a question.
“What’s your na?”
“Sebastian. You?”
“...Strandyr. Wait here for a mont.”
His face stiffened at my curt tone. He swiftly turned around, entering the backdoor behind the counter. I could hear his steps, each one filled with intent, as he ascended a set of creaky wooden stairs.
As expected of an establishnt of this level, once he passed through what was likely a door at the end of those stairs, his sounds instantly vanished.
A minute passed.
Just as I was about to sit on one of the stools and try to practice arcane manipulation, the aging half-elf returned.
“Co.”
Wasting not an extra second, I followed the man, finding myself in a small corridor. I was led to the farthest door.
“Go in. I have a bar to run.”
Under Strandyr's watchful gaze, I slowly opened the door.
The room itself was quite spacious – it had a long sofa, a few armchairs, and a low table between them.
It also had a larger table on the opposite side, leaning against a wall, with four chairs scattered around it.
On the floor - which was made of less exquisite, but still high quality dark wood - leaning against so of the furniture, laid a few travel backpacks, much like my own.
Fastened to one of them was a sheath.
While I could only see the handle, I couldn't forget the dinsions of the sword inside. After all, this was the first greatsword - besides my own - that I had seen in this world, and its graceful demonstration would be engraved in my mory for a long, long ti.
“You’ve changed.”
Beside the sword sat a tall, lean man, his curly black hair sowhat disheveled, and dark circles resting under his black, piercing eyes.
He looked sowhat strange without his armor, wearing a plain white shirt, which emphasized his subtle, yet highly refined muscles.
‘It's just the first ti I see him without his gear.’
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“There is no valor in standing. Co, have a seat.”
Bern motioned at a nearby armchair, and I, having learned a new Valorian saying, wordlessly accepted his invitation, leaning my own sheath against my seat.
“I’ve heard you lost your party mber, shortly before we left. You have my condolences.”
“...thanks.”
The emotion I felt at his words was strange, sothing I couldn't put into words. I felt a sense of emptiness – not from pain, but rather, from the lack of it.
Perhaps, after everything I went through in the last few days, I simply grew numb, at least when it ca to sothing that felt so distant.
I realized we've both been sitting silently for over a dozen seconds – lost in my thoughts, and Bern carefully observing my expression.
“Did sothing-”
“It’s fine.”
The words ca out colder than I intended.
Haaa
I took a deep breath, slowly exhaling. Perhaps it'd have been better to just go to sleep rather than coming here, tired and highly irritable.
“Sorry. It's been a long, long day.”
I no longer tried to conceal the exhaustion in my voice.
“...It's alright. If anything, I know how you feel.”
We both sat in silence for a few more seconds, before I decided to finally get to the main point.
“I have to apologize.”
“For what?”
“I might not be able to help you with.. whatever mission it is that you're on.”
Bern's face showed a glimr of surprise, but a mont later, his tired expression returned, perhaps with a tad more weight pressing down on it.
“That’s.. fine. In truth, while I held so hopes for your help, I didn't count on it in my plans.”
For so reason, this stung more than it should have.
“I’m truly sorry-”
“No, it's fine. I haven't fallen so low as to demand such insignificant favor be repaid. Not from soone who just just stepped on a Path, and-”
He swallowed his words.
“I..”
I wanted to tell him that Alia had died. However, it felt like saying this now would sound like an excuse, so my words faded before their inception.
We both sat in front of the other, our weariness evident, failing to find any more words to say.
“I would invite you to stay and greet the others, but I don't know when they'll be back.”
“That’s alright. I have to make haste, anyway.”
I stood up, grabbing my sheath. However, I didn't feel like leaving before I could at least clarify sothing.
“Just to be clear – it's not that I don't want to help you. However, certain circumstances are preventing from leaving Northern. And also… my involvent might bring you more trouble than aid.”
I paused for a mont, before adding one more thing.
“Still, if you need urgent help, and there is anything I can do for you here, let know.”
Contemplation flickered through Bern's eyes, however, he soon raised his head, giving a faint smile.
“Don’t worry. You sound like you have your own circumstances to deal with. I wouldn't want you to get entangled with ours, as well.”
The irony of his words did not escape – after all, they perfectly mirrored my thoughts.
“...Alright. If you change your mind, I'll be staying in the Sun Temple, at least for the next few days.”
Upon hearing the words “Sun Temple”, Bern's eyes shone with montary interest. However, that glimr quickly receded.
“I see. Could it be that Alia referred you there?”
“She… did.”
“Alright. Then, I wish you a peaceful stay.”
“Thank you. I hope you achieve your goal, whatever it is.”
For a few more seconds, we both stood in silence. However, it felt as if at least so of its previous heaviness had dissipated.
“Farewell, Bern. Do reach out if you change your mind.”
“Goodbye, Sebastian.”
I held a faint hope that I could still repay my debt.
However, it'd have to happen another day, if at all.
***
The road back ho - or rather, to my temporary safe haven - was uneventful. However, with constantly looking over my shoulder, it was far from relaxing.
With my mind constantly on high alert, it was much harder to filter the many, many sounds of the citylife. If this was still sowhat bearable earlier, right now, the cacophony of steps, rustling leaves and branches, doors and windows being opened and closed various distances away from , the many conversations and occasional shouts – everything was pressing down on my tired mind, as I tried to discern any signs of ambush or pursuit, despite the district being presud safe.
It was so hard to focus that I nearly collided with a passing carriage. Luckily, Storm managed to notice the danger himself, promptly stopping at the edge of the intersection, and waiting for the horse-drawn vehicle to pass.
Only after I entered the Enclave Of Faith, as I was nearing the large plaza, did I allow myself to slowly relax.
“You’re back!”
Once I passed the temple gate, soon after leaving Stormcloud at the stables, and as I started making my way to the dorms, I was greeted by a young woman with silky black hair and brown eyes, wearing the apprentice priestess robes.
This was lissa, who escorted to the temple from my cell earlier. She looked largely the sa as when we parted ways, except for the subtle signs of fatigue, hidden behind her pious expression.
The relief in her voice was evident.
“Did you.. Wait for here?”
“Of course. It was my responsibility to escort you to the temple, after all. Since I was the one who approved your leave, before you even set foot inside…”
Her words trailed off, but I had a good idea of what was left unsaid.
“Sorry. I didn’t know-”
“No, no! It’s not your fault…”
She vigorously shook her head.
“If anything, mistakes are an opportunity to grow! Especially for an apprentice.”
She tried to flash a reassuring smile, yet her clumsy attempts to shoulder the bla only made feel more guilty.
Regardless, that feeling was dwarfed by the wave of exhaustion that washed over . Right now, I only wanted to stumble into my room and throw myself onto the stiff sheets, letting the slumber wash away my thoughts.
However, there was still one thing I had to do before letting myself rest.
“Joshua. Is he.. awake?”
“Umm… He might be. I can lead you to his room.”
“Please do.”
No matter how exasperated I was, I couldn’t go to sleep without at least visiting the man who nearly lost his life trying to save mine.
***
“Co- cough! Co in.”
The voice beyond the door was closer to a grunt, the raspy tone grating on the ear. However, my feelings upon hearing it were far from annoyance.
I slowly opened the door, and stepped through the doorway, leaving lissa to quietly wait behind.
“I’m.. khh… glad.. You are alive.”
The man that lay upon the bed, much like my own, did not appear to be gravely injured - at least outwardly.
Still, although his surface wounds have been healed, and the blood washed off, two fresh scars adorned his face, going from the left side of his forehead all the way through the nose, and to the bottom-right of his chin, barely missing the eye.
A part of his curly brown hair was also torn off, revealing his scarred scalp.
His left hand and right leg were encased in wooden splints, and bandaged as well.
While his condition was definitely stable, even good by Earth standards, the healing miracles of the priests could only help so much, at least in the short period of ti that has passed since the battle.
“I’m sorry.”
“No. It was my… kha… my duty to protect you.”
Despite his obvious internal injuries, the man’s blue eyes remained clear, gazing upon with relief.
“It’s.. No. I should have… I shouldn’t have been there at all. I could have sent soone to pick up my gear…”
At my weak protests, Joshua made a gurgling sound, reminiscent of a chuckle, before coughing once more.
“We are.. the ones who.. grew arrogant.”
Neither his eyes, nor his voice, held any ounce of bla.
That only made the cold hand gripping my chest, from the inside, grow tighter.
“We all thought.. you would.. be safe. That.. they.. wouldn’t dare…”
The paladin took a deep, ragged breath.
“I’m.. rely.. paying the price.. for it.”
I raised my hand, motioning him to stop. I couldn’t bear to hear another word.
“They can’t… They can’t just get away with it!..”
How many more tis would I let others pay the price for my mistakes?
I couldn’t.. I refused to just let this go!
“If I can help… even as bait! Please, let -”
“Stop.”
The paladin’s gaze was stern.
“Hatred… only begets more hatred.”
Even through his raspy voice, I could hear his resolve.
“There is.. a difference.. between justice.. and revenge.”
The corner of his mouth twitched upwards, in a montary smile.
“Leave this… to my brothers.”
I opened my mouth, but the words I wanted to say were lost before I could utter them. Perhaps, I never even found them to begin with.
Instead, I simply nodded, and turned around, leaving the ailing man to recover in peace.
Upon my return, lissa turned her head, parting her lips as if to say sothing, but, perhaps noticing my expression, simply wished good night before departing.
With slow steps, I made my way to the second floor, where I was greeted by the cozy sight of my humble abode, faintly illuminated by a small oil lantern.
Tossing aside my sheathed blade, and pulling off my leather boots, I collapsed onto the bed.
This day has co to an end at long last.
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