Bloody Hell!

It was late evening when Chu gathered Mr Thomas, Ming and Lucy under the willow tree. The others were either in the barn studying or relaxing and walking around outside with Dyna and her wolf pack.

They sat under the willow on rough benches around a table. The others were prudent enough to stay away from this high-powered meeting. Ming was included because nothing could keep him away.

"How is it so far Mr Thomas. Are you satisfied with our progress?"

The old man let out a wry grin.

If he was not present himself he would have thought this place was run by slave-masters. He was the person who was most vocal in trying to slow down the work. He was pushing in the beginning as he felt they would fall behind in land preparation.

It was only when they started Clod explained to him that the ground needed time to release the excess water. That was the reason behind the wait and why they focused on construction at first. Sowing the seeds when the majority of water was gone gave a greater chance for all of them growing.

Chu would have told him the soil was too water-logged and it needed to drain out. Seeds planted when the soil was properly tilled and aerated had a higher chance of germinating. He knew that much from school.

"No, no. I have no complaints and I am not a thicken faced old man. I have learned some things and have understood my mistakes in the past. When I settled I should have first worked in one of the neighbors farms before striking out on my own."

Chu laughed and waved his hands in dismissal.

"No need for any apology, we are all in this together. The only reason why we can be successful is because Clod was from a farming community. We all have our strengths so we need to focus on that path."

Mr Thomas looked at him.

"Are you saying that you want me to focus on training those kids instead?"

Chu liked the fact that the man was a quick thinker.

"Yes and no. We all need to focus on helping out the general work which is running the farm. But we also need to improve the areas we specialise in. Ming needs to be a competent swordsman so we get him trained by you."

"I see. Well I have no problem with that, The stronger we all are the better. So what about this new girl. You brought me here to ask me to train her in archery too?"

Chu laughed.

"Yes and no. Before we come to that I have some questions for you. I think we have proven ourselves trustworthy. Even though we are children we still have a right to know everything about our friends and companions."

Thomas sighed and closed his eyes. He seemed to age decades in front of their eyes. When he opened them, he regressed to his normal features. Only his eyes told of some grief.

"This old man would never dare to share my troubles or life with a bunch of kids. I once trusted Simon with my life when we adventured and he did vouch and rate you highly. Because of your age I was still skeptical until I met you but you proved me wrong. I have never seen a farm run more efficiently than a Military department. As my companions you at least deserve to know everything about me.

Simon and I met up with each other in the city of Haven. We were both raised in the city and decided to strike out when we turned fifteen. We joined up with six others and formed our very own adventuring party.

Without startup money we were just a group of brats lost in our dreams. Simon was close to a merchant whom he did odd jobs. It was him who sponsored our party in the time of need. Simon and another of my comrades from back then have since returned to repay that person.

We gained nearly all our experiences in that first decade. We were robbed, ambushed conned and sometimes nearly starved to death. Like that we arrived in Frost City all the wiser.

We were now a party of five. Our experience was gained at the price of our companions lives.

Our arrival at Frost City coincided with the Military offensive against the demons from the north. Like many fresh faces in the city, we were lured with the legends of the Sersen; normal people like us who gained extraordinary abilities when they awakened a talisman.

We set out like the others to help in the Military campaign under the promise of earning such power. It was a disaster.

The Military placed a large group of adventurers in a valley to monitor any movement and report it back to command. The demon beast arrived in small groups and we had a feast. Even with such chances it was hard to gain an awakening.

Fights between different parties often broke out for lifestones, the thing needed to activate talismans. When a large group of demon boars came they wrecked havoc on the disorganised group. We sent for reinforcements from the Military but the young captain at the time refused us.

We escaped to Frost City eventually. There was now only three of us. At the cost of his life, one of our brothers managed to kill a demon boar. It was then I became a Sersen.

I joined the Military and quickly moved up the ranks with my new abilities. The Tower Mages have a general knowledge book available to the Military. It has instructions left by those ancient mages on how to awaken ones power.

I retained my brothers as mercenaries and personal aids. As a Sersen I had an equal standing to those normal noble houses. We spent our remaining time in the Military. I met my wife and we got married. Soon I even had a young daughter.

Fate was destined to be unkind to us in the latter years.

On a campaign in the north, I helped Simon kill a demon boar. He was successful in his awakening and became a Sersen. When we returned to the city I was summoned by one of the five great noble houses.

The son of that noble was part of my squad. Apparently any demon lifestones were supposed to be given to him as a priority. I raised my objections that the ones who fought tooth and nail should be given first preference.

The last mission I had in the Military made me understand how deep the powers of those houses flowed.

My troops were ambushed by a band on demon wildcats when we were sent to the front. With no reinforcements we could only retreat in despair. I ended up loosing my arm in the process.

It was then I understood the dangers and thin ice I was walking on all the time.

The commander who was supposed to send the support troop to our aid was none other than the brother of the nobleman I argued with. Worse yet, now that I lost my ability as a Sersen, they began eying my family.

Twice the servants of that family were nearly successful in abducting my daughter. The man even had the audacity to ask for my daughter to become his son's concubine. If not for my two brothers who stood by me, I would have long perished and my family destroyed.

I resigned from the Military and fled with my savings under the cover of night. My family and brothers accompanied me as we left that once great city we made home.

The young lord of that house was too much of a letcher. He tried to track us but Simon and my other brother dealt with them. Only after a year was it finally safe to settle down.

With my knowledge I choose a farm in a remote village instead of close to a large city. I simply hoped to give my family a peaceful life to live. Unfortunately my years of Military training and adventuring offered no help in farming.

Such was Mr Thomas's brief tale of his past life.

Sometime during the story someone bought a torch and placed it near the barn entrance. It cast a dim light on the surroundings barely reaching them at the other end.

Chu guessed the man faced some form of hardship but did not know it was that bad. Once again he was reminded how brutal and unpredictable things could be in this world.

'Could he safely say the same would not happen to him?'

If he walked into a city or even a town at this moment towing along his group, what would be his chances of not being accosted in some way?

He might take the chances with just him and Ming, but what about the others. When Lucy, Miki and the others grow up what would happen. He could only feel a splitting headache coming on.

"Well there you have it. In a nutshell, its my story. It is a weight of my shoulders, I can tell you that. I feel much better knowing you are aware of my situation. At least I won't put you in some trouble this far out in the middle of nowhere."

Chu stretched his back. The place was now in darkness.

"Thank you for trusting us enough to tell your tale. I think it is enough to trust you also. You might think you are facing terrible hardships, but fate in the end was still kind to you. As companions who have experienced the sufferings of poverty, it is now time for us to climb up together to better days."

Mr Thomas smiled and gave a genuine laugh. He wetted his throat with a cup of water.

"That's right, we can make this farm a success. Now that I have shared my problems we have no secrets between us. We can live here comfortably for the rest of our lives."Chu glanced at the two sitting on both sides.

"Who said we are going to stay here forever? And who said there were no more secrets?

Lucy, eyes!"

Mr Thomas smile froze on his face.

A pair of deadly yellow eyes were looking back at him.

The wooden cup tumbled to the ground.

A rough gasp followed.

"Bloody Hell!"