------------------------------------------------------

“I thought we had already discussed everything… and why do I have a feeling you already planned this all out?” he said while the three were already taking seats inside his room.

“I thought it would be wise to discuss this more privately. We did use the time to get here to gather more information, at least what Eileen could tell us.” said Therese, putting her swords down and leaning them to the table.

Riou looked at Eileen briefly as she seemed a bit embarrassed. He turned back to Therese. “So?” he was trying to understand where she was going with that.

“So we have some questions that we’d like to address with you now that we have some time.” added Therese.

Riou pondered for a moment, ‘I think there’s no harm in that’

“Well, let’s hear it. I can’t promise I will be able to answer it properly though.” said the boy getting more comfortable in the chair as well.

Therese nodded in agreement and clearly intended to go first. “Who was your master?” she questioned. Clearly master and disciple relationships were very strong between the Beast clans. Riou understood why she’d ask that.

“Oh, I see now what you mean… hmm, how can I answer that in a way you can understand.” said the boy pondering a good answer. “I think the best answer is that I didn’t have just one...”

“Was it like in the academy? Where the students have many masters throughout the week?” added Therese.

Riou wasn’t so sure, ‘It’s not all wrong. Everything I learnt came from different games, people, stories and scientific knowledge of my world. In a sense I can do all this strange stuff now because I know it can be done using mana.’

Riou nodded, partially convinced, “Yeah, I think that’s a good comparison, in a sense.”

Therese’s eyes went down, as if expecting a better answer, a name, a place, something to which she could relate to. Unfortunately the boy gave none.

Leona continued, “Where are you from?” in an attempt to fill the gap and place him amongst the lands they knew.

Riou again had to analyze how to properly answer that question. “Far away; too far actually. Far enough for the place’s name to mean nothing in your tongue.”

Leona widened her eyes. It was no secret that there were lands spread across the sea, but few knew their names or cultures as contact was very rare. It was beyond dangerous to sail in open waters.

Next was Eileen. Riou was already expecting a question from the princess.

From what he knew of her, she’d probably ask how he had got there.

Eileen seemed struggling, she was definitely wanting to ask him something. After a brief moment watching her, everyone was curious, “Your friends seemed nice. Did you meet them when joining the caravan?”

Riou seemed surprised, that question had nothing to do with him.

“Yes, they are normal mercenaries and a couple of noble sons and daughters aspiring to be adventurers. They are not that bad once you get past the first impression.”

A moment of silence enveloped the room as Therese and Leona could feel that Eileen wanted to inquire further.

“I see… that Viki seemed awfully nice with you”

Riou shook his head “That’s just how she tries to trick you. Be aware of her, she likes to mess with people and then rob them when their guards are down” explained Riou.

The princess widened her eyes quietly nodding understanding his words, somehow her mood greatly improved after hearing that.

Therese smiled faintly and steered the conversation back to what she wanted to know.

“Back when you left Allard, we were just a couple hours behind you but we couldn’t find you on the road. How did you get so quickly at Brigantium?”

Leona and Eileen curiosity were immediately sparked.

Riou went with logic. “Well, maybe we went on a similar pace, so we did not meet”

Therese shook her head. “We also know you reached Brigantium much earlier. We confirmed it when we found the room you stayed in.”

He widened his eyes with surprise.

“How?” questioned the boy.

“We found your scent on the room and the tavern owner confirmed the person staying in it had already left by the time we arrived… you left after spending two nights there” continued Therese, cornering the boy.

He smiled wryly “Well, I was probably just going a bit faster than you. In the long distance, I gained more time ahead.” It was not a lie, but still, he realized that if he told them the whole truth, it could get even more problematic than it already was.

The three didn’t like the answer, but before anyone could say anything further, Therese added, “Were you involved in the fight?”

Riou scratched his head. ‘What do I say now?’

“Before you answer, keep in mind that we spoke to Viktor, he sent a message to you” added Therese, prying the boy to get a response. She watched him with great attention.

Riou was taken by surprise.

“Oh yeah? Was he there? What did he say?” questioned the boy in an attempt to dismiss any claim.

Therese was serious, as if interrogating a suspect she knew was to blame for his crimes.

“He said you were the mage,” she said while looking briefly with stern eyes to Eileen, before she even thought of defending him.

‘Crap,’ thought the boy. ‘So he did recognize me… damn,’ Riou thought, but something was not right. The image of the mercenary leader came to his mind.

‘Wait a second… That sarcastic, sadistic, fight addict would never give a straight up answer, not even for the famous Lioness,’

Riou shook his head. “You shouldn’t bother with what he says. He just likes to mess with people. Nothing he says can be taken seriously” said the boy, relaxing in his chair, calling out the bluff.

“I was in the city, but I was tired. When I woke up with the commotion everything was already underway. I didn’t even see the fight.”

Therese wasn’t convinced.

Riou smiled to himself. ‘I knew it, that bastard. Even if he knew it was me, he still would not give a straight up answer.’

Therese nodded “I lied to see your reaction, but he did send you a message. He said: Next time you wished to jump into action, he’d be on your side again”

Riou’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard knowing all too well what that meant.

The lioness smiled squinting her eyes at Riou “Extend your arm,” said Therese out of the blue. Riou didn’t understand the request.

“What? Why? What are you going to do now?” he said in a mix of concern, fear and distrust of her intentions.

“Use your mana to protect your arm. I will squeeze it a bit to feel your mana ability level,” said the Lioness, extending her hand to him, waiting for the boy to show his arm to her.

Riou looked at her sideways. “It’s just a simple test right? You won’t hurt me or anything”.

“Don’t worry, there is no pain involved”

With a bit of apprehension, he complied. ‘I just have to do it poorly and she will be convinced... I just have to fail and let her do her thing.’

Therese grabbed his forearm with her right hand.

Once again, her eyes immediately flared at the same moment her hand touched the boy, the vertical pupils could be seen in her golden eyes.

Eileen looked surprised, it was the first time seeing such a change on Therese.

‘Will this happen every time?’ the boy thought at seeing the Lioness like that again.

Instantly his sense of danger was triggered. He felt Therese’s intense flow of mana on her fingers and pressing towards his arm. He instinctively replied in kind, he involved his arms muscles and bones at a cellular level for protection.

After the event with the stones, he realized he had to increase his control to avoid killing someone unintentionally. And thanks to his training so far, he was much better at that control now.

The boy could see her hand strained by the strength she was applying on his arm, but all he could feel was as if a leaf was gently resting on it. Clearly his understanding of anatomy was much greater than the Lioness, which allowed him to achieve better results with much less mana.

Not only could he match her power but also overcome her strength as well, very easily.

‘Shit, I overdid it. Fail, I need to fail’

He quickly adjusted his mana on the arm to the point he could feel her strong grip and pressure on his arm. He kept on balancing it as she varied the intensity of it from time to time.

Riou matched her in every sudden change, a few moments after her, deliberately delaying his response by a few moments in an attempt to display his ineptitude and convince the Lioness he was weaker than she thought, after all he was slowly reacting to her inputs.

After a while, her hand began to show signs of fatigue, her fingers began to release his arm. When her hand finally released him completely, she nodded.

“Very good, very good indeed,” she said as her eyes returned to normal.

‘Good. Finally a test that I didn’t mess up,’ he complimented himself.

Leona showed much interest in the results and seemed eager to hear from Therese. Eileen as well waited with curiosity.

Therese was silently pondering for a few moments, while everyone waited for her to speak.

“These weapons, I take you to know how to make them because you learned about it at your homeland?” said Therese, snapping out of her trance and changing the topic completely, to everyone’s disappointment.

Riou smiled at his wits, clearly he had accomplished his goal, his results were so average that she didn’t even have to talk about it.

“Well, it’s called steel and indeed is very common where I come from.”

Therese smiled, she was right after all. There was hope for her to get a weapon strong enough to match her rival.

“The weapon you mentioned before, the one that you need to beat… is it made of steel too?” questioned Riou.

Therese leaned back on her chair. “Until I’ve held these, I’d definitely thought so. But now, having used these weapons and even knowing there might be even stronger ones out there. I’m not so certain anymore. No weapon has survived more than 1 strike against that thing. So I’d say the chances are that it could be even beyond this steel.”

Riou nodded. It indeed sounded like it was a strong possibility, it sounded like a magic weapon at the very least.

Suddenly another question from Therese while he was absorbed in his thoughts. Therese seemed a bit different than her usual self, she was calmer and talking slower than she was used to. Perhaps the test was taking its toll on her..

“In Syldis’ Tavern and even now, you promptly agreed to help a stranger like myself. We have no relation, nor do you have any obligation to it… and with such an impossible request as to forge something that might not be possible, yet you never once requested any kind of reward. Why?”

Riou sighed and looked at the Lioness. Her golden eyes truly awaited eagerly for an answer. Leona and Eileen as well seemed curious, but not nearly as bothered by it as Therese.

He couldn’t hold back a smile. “Well, I’d just feel bad to ask for something when I’m not even sure if I can do it.”

Therese let out a smile and a nod “I can understand that. But still, no one does anything without a reward in mind, even if we succeed on the task, I would not be able to accept it without a proper compensation. So please name your price.”

The boy sighed and thought for a while… ‘How much could this work be worth? If I can get my hands on the metal, it should be fairly easy… heat for the melting point should not be a problem. I can always use magic to help with molding and sharpening, so it’s not that hard… probably... but how much would it actually be worth?”

Riou looked at the Lioness. “What do you say; if I can indeed make a magic sword like the one you need. And if you think it’s what you expected, then you can pay me whatever you feel is deserving. I believe your honor would not allow you to trick me, am I right?” Riou smiled wryly towards the Lioness. “How does that sound?”

Therese thought for a moment, she nodded once again. “I agree on the terms” she answered gladly.

“It’s a deal then… as for back in the Tavern, Syldis put such a good word about you, that you were good old friends and such. That’s the only reason I accepted to help you back then, because she asked me to”

Therese smiled brightly, it was the first time Eileen saw her like that. The lioness was very pleased to hear those words.

The conversation extended for a while more, in a much friendlier and chatty manner. Many subjects were brought up about his homeland and himself, but Riou’s responses were mostly vague, as he himself wasn’t able to explain it in a way that they could fully understand. He seemed to be deliberately elusive on some subjects, but still, they noticed his effort.

It was getting really late when Therese stood up. “This was a very interesting conversation. I’ve got a better understanding of your situation.” She lowered her head, giving her good night, and as she began to walk towards the door, she advised, “From tomorrow onward I’d recommend you to conceal your presence… These are old mountains we are approaching, you never know what secrets they might have, something might get drawn to you.”

Riou shrugged “I will see what I can do about it, but how can I know if it is working?”

"Wild beasts will start to appear, some will attack the caravan and not flee from it anymore" Added Therese.

"And how do you do it?" Questioned Riou

"I don’t need to do it. But it's just a matter of suppressing yourself and concealing your presence from the surroundings," explained the Lioness as it was a simple task.

Riou squinted his eyes "That was not very helpful" Therese smiled and nodded her head once again leaving the room followed by Leona. Eileen waited a moment more.

Leona walked beside Therese on the corridor moving towards the next room. “How did he fare?” questioned the wolf curiously, clearly wanting to know about the test.

“I can’t say for sure,” answered the Lioness.

Leona looked puzzled toward her master, who continued after they entered the next room.

“I put in a lot of power right from the start,” She paused for a moment. “and he looked like he didn’t even feel it. Like I wasn’t even able to pierce through his defences. I think he realized it and pulled back. He then began matching my power, just enough so I could barely pierce his mana with my power and he did it precisely, right after I changed my own power” said Therese.

Leona found it hard to believe.

Therese nodded to her disbelief. “I even tried to make it difficult for him, alternating the strength, very quickly and lower and high intensities. But he quickly caught up, lowering and increasing exactly in the same measure I did, again and again, just a tiny moment after me.”

Leona stopped walking and looked down for a moment. “That would mean he has a skill similar to…”

“My master,” completed Therese.

“With such a mana control ability like that, could he even be the mage that saved Brigantium?” questioned Leona.

“He is no Elf nor beast man. For a human this young and already proficient in mana manipulation, that alone is unheard off. For him to be at this level but also be able to cast spells like those we heard about in Brigantium. I don’t know if that’s possible, those are conflicting subjects, you saw how long it took for Eileen to just scratch the surface of it and how her previous knowledge got in the way.” She paused for a moment, raising her head and looking at Leona.

“But then there is the matter of his presence and that freakish aura. It’s far too great for just what he showed us so far. Which makes everything a possibility”

Leona nodded. “Do you think he is still hiding his true powers?”

Therese smiled and looked up as if remembering her past. “If he is, then he really is not that different from my master. She even had a saying that she loved to tell me, all the time: act weak when strong, be subtle and ever mysterious.”

Leona nodded remembering to have heard such words before “But what does that mean?” asked Leona.

Therese smiled. “That’s for us to figure it out.”

---------------------

Eileen remained in Riou’s room for a bit longer.

She stood up “It feels like a lifetime has passed since we used to train and talk in the castle.”

Riou smiled. “I bet it has been tough these past weeks. I can tell you’ve become even stronger than before… Therese sure is a good teacher.”

She nodded as she walked towards the window, “I learnt a lot from her, but I feel I still have a long way to go.”

Riou smiled wryly, the lioness training methods must have been hellish.

She looked outside, as the cold breeze caressed her hair. “Are you really stronger than her? I mean, I can’t picture you losing.” She smiled brightly turning towards the boy. “Well, maybe against Therese. I can’t see her losing either.”

Riou laughed. “Nah, nobody is stronger than her, I wouldn’t even dare to spar with the lioness. She’d get all serious and kill me.”

Eileen laughed at the precise depiction of Therese. The lioness really didn’t know how to go easy on anyone.

Riou smiled as he noticed the warm expression that the princess had now.

“You look happy. I’m glad you are enjoying yourself”

“It has been hard, but it is really fun to travel with them.” She walks back towards him.

“It’s late. They must be waiting for me, good night” while going towards the door she stopped briefly. She touched the door frame and opened her mouth a bit. But Eileen just smiled and waved, leaving the room.

Finally alone, Riou sighed ‘Time to a well-deserved rest.’ He looked down at his forearm, as he began to feel a weak tingling sensation all over it. ‘Maybe I overdid it during the test?’ thought the boy, as he closed and opened his hand many times to see if the sensation disappeared.

------------------------------------------------- Next morning

Didn’t take long for the morning to come around. Riou woke up very sleepy, after all he had little time to sleep. He was woken up by the noise of the men moving the goods and the carriages outside, right beneath his window.

The tingling sensation on his arm had spread. It took most of his body now. He stood up and shook his arms and legs. “Is this another of those events? Been weeks since I fought at Bringantiu, it can’t be that… could it because of mana manipulation from the test? Or is this just a coincidence?”

Luckily the sensation was gone after he moved around a bit in his room.

Still tired and wanting to sleep more, he went down to the main hall to grab a quick bite. Once again he was the last one to be ready.

Outside, the sun assaulted his eyes with its bright light. Riou was a bit slower than his usual self.

With surprise, he quickly found Therese commanding everyone outside, as if she was now in charge of the whole caravan now.

Everyone immediately obeyed her orders without delay or questioning. She seemed very lively, despite the few hours of sleep.

Herger quickly approached Riou when he saw the boy. The mercenary seemed very surprised. “Boy, you never told me that the one joining us was the Lioness herself!”

Riou smiled wryly. “I didn’t see the need for it.”

“You didn’t see the need? We will be famous! Everyone will want to hire us if they discover we worked with the Lioness. How come that you know her?” Herger was joyful.

“It’s a long story. We have a common friend we want to meet,” explained Riou.

Herger nodded, impressed. “Tell me lad, you really know the knight captain Bhalrom as well don’t you?” he asked curiously, remembering the boy telling them the story about the first army.

“I do know him, he is also a good friend of mine” confirmed the boy with a smile.

“Ha! I want you on my crew from now on boy! Who knows who might show next after you? Maybe the Great Magus himself! Haha,” said Herger, smacking Riou’s back and laughing at his own joke.

Riou just nodded with a wry smile as the mercenary then proceeded to help with the load of the carriages as commanded by Therese.

He approached Eileen and Leona, who watched Therese from a distance. “Does she ever tire?” questioned Rio yawning.

“No, I never saw her tired… I think it’s a trait from the Lion’s clan. Besides, as a lioness, she was raised to lead. That’s why she always does things as she sees fit,” said Leona.

Riou couldn’t help but compare her to felines of his world. Despite all, they also tended to do as they pleased regardless of the others around. And since Herger was overjoyed following orders, Riou let it be.

The Dracar Hunters, noticing the change in command, questioned Herger. The mercenary then told the young group who really was that woman giving the calls now.

Their attitude changed immediately after that. They gladly and eagerly wanted to help with whatever they could, hoping to get into the Lioness good graces. Especially Elias, who seemed euphoric when near her.

Riou began to walk towards the carriage intending to continue his sleep inside of it, it was a peaceful ride now that the others had their own horses.

Leona was quickly called by Therese to help coordinate the men while Eileen was going to her horse and prepare for the trip as well.

But she was approached without notice, startling the princess.

“Eileen, right?” said the beautiful rogue to her. The princess stopped and quickly turned towards her in surprise.

“So you are a companion of the great Lioness and also a friend of his,” she said, getting even closer to the princess. “By the daughters of Brine, I knew you were beautiful when I saw you yesterday, but now, all washed up and rested… oh my, oh my” exalted the rogue while looking and analyzing Eileen’s traces with attention.

“Thank you for the compliment,” said Eileen politely but rather indifferently.

“So, how long do you know him?” asked Viki.

“I've known him for a while now” replied Eileen bluntly.

Viki squinted her eyes and smiled while positioning herself beside Eileen to walk with her towards the horses.

“I’m sorry for the other night, I came a bit too defensive on you. I confess I got a bit jealous... It’s obvious now, looking at you in the daylight, that someone like you wouldn’t ever want anything with a young boy like him. He is poor and not that good looking… no, someone like you could marry a noble or even a king if you wanted, easily, with a beauty like that you could choose whoever you wanted”

Eileen just forced a smile. Displeased with the conversation.

Viki smirked to her reaction and continued “Did you know he killed many to save me? A group of 30 thugs came after me a few weeks back. They demanded to take me with them, threatened to kill me and everyone that tried to protect me. But he stepped up, in front of everyone, shouting that he wouldn’t allow that a single thread of my hair to be harmed… ohh and I tell you, my heart skipped a beat for him at that moment” said the rogue, with pleasant and captivating tone on her voice

“He does like to help others,” she said.

Viki smiled, noticing that Eileen wasn’t pleased with that conversation.

“You know how it is right? He may look like a boy, but he can handle himself just fine” said the rogue, looking with glaring eyes to the princess, biting her bottom lip and then glancing at her body and finding the Rapier sheathed on her belt.

As Eileen kept indifferent to that remark, the rogue continued on, “Usually I’d prefer my man to be a bit older, but I must say, he does have his charms in this age as well” She sighed wishfully.

Eileen kept silent.

Viki could see through the princess, she knew the effect that conversation was having on her. She then looked impressed at Eileen “Have you seen him in action? Ooh, it’s breathtaking.”

Eileen finally reached her limit and smiled back, faintly, without looking much at Viki, “I know him well, we used to spar and train together for a long time.”

Viki nodded even more impressed. “I see... well, I suppose when you travel with the famous Lioness, a boy like him may not look as appealing or as impressive.” She smiled before continuing.

“Yesterday I was afraid you two might have something going on, after all, you know him well” she had a mildly mocking tone. Viki looked once again at Eileen, from top to bottom “And I must say, it would be very difficult if I had to compete with you for his attention. But there is no way you are interested in such a young boy, right?”

Eileen twitched, restraining herself.

Viki smiled and squinted her eyes at the princess. “So, I came to talk to you. I was just wondering if he was taken, you know? Not many men can resist me… so when he told me someone very important to him gave him that beautiful necklace, I thought it might have been you. You understand it, right?”

Eileen averted her eyes from the rogue. Viki smirked, she knew Eileen was close to her limit again, so the rogue continued.

“Did you know he trained in the first army and knows Bhalrom? I couldn’t believe it, with swordsmanship training and that necklace… I doubt anyone can ever win against him”

Viki observed Eileen’s reactions very closely “I feel like I’m starting to know him better you know? We talk everyday now and we are getting much closer now. But I am still trying to muster the courage to ask about that necklace of his. The one he is always wearing, have you seen it?”

Eileen just sighed with a certain air of superiority.

The rogue continued “Seems like something very important to him. I’m afraid it could be from some girl he likes… maybe he has a girlfriend waiting for him in Thanes. You know?”

Eileen couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction, despite the words of the thief, she remembered Riou’s words last night and felt a certain sense of victory over the Thief. “I know him better than you think. Of course I know all about the necklace and who gave it to him” Said the princess with a certain air of superiority.

Viki knew it was the moment “Really? Was it a girlfriend? Or was it someone else? I bet it was someone important”

Eileen smirked “It was someone very important, that’s all I can tell you about it”

Viki tried to restrain herself, but a smile from ear to ear could be seen on the Rogue. “You don’t say…” she was certain now of the necklace’s worth.

A shout broke the conversation.

“Mount up people, we’re leaving!” The merchant had a big smile on his face, waving at everyone from the front carriage near Therese and Leona on their horses.

--------------------------------------

The caravan was leaving the first northern city located at the beginning of the northern territory.

Due to its proximity to Allard, the first city still resembled it in many aspects. Considerably smaller, but the only city in the Norse capable of having crops all year long.

From there, the landscape began to change, they could see the mountain range that covered the entire horizon to their left, their summits were tall and pointy, having snow covering them all year long.

The plains quickly switched from dirt and low grass to a rocky and rough terrain. The constant shaking of the carriage made the boy rethink his decision to travel inside of it.

The pleasant trip on the plains was over. He couldn’t sleep nor relax anymore on that carriage with all that shaking and bumping on the hardwood.

So he decided that at the next stop, he’d get a horse for himself.

As they moved forward the temperature began to drop fast. Riou was already preparing to wear his coat and they weren’t even halfway there.

The days were passing by and thick clouds began to be more and more common.

A tempest was brewing and was being announced by the strong winds that blew mercilessly against the caravan.

After some time, Therese finally signaled them to stop. There was a water stream nearby and a stone wall to their left. It was perfect to break the wind and allow tents to be set without much issue.

They had just enough hours of daylight left to prepare camp.

Riou observed, impressed, no matter how many times he’d seen it, everyone moved around at a fast pace, very eager to please the famous Lioness at all her commands. Especially Elias’ group, who was more than happy to comply with the same chores they argued about when Herger ordered them to do.

With so many extra eager hands, Riou felt it was fine to just watch.

As the night was growing closer, the tents were already set near the wall above some planks and wood to avoid the water that could come from the rain.

Riou thought it to be very clever, as it would provide shelter from the wet ground.

With everything set and the food being prepared. The strange tingling sensation once again began on his arms and legs as the night approached. He thought a walk would help his blood to flow and maybe help with those discomforts.

In the camp, Elias was telling one of his stories to an unimpressed and uninterested Leona, while the mercenaries were laughing at the sight. Therese and Eileen were looking at the road ahead, not too distant from the fire and the rest of the group. It seemed like the Lioness was teaching her something.

From the other side of the camp, Riou sees Viki walking with a saddened expression. She moves straight to the group around the fire, quietly sitting down there.

Curious, Riou walked in the direction she came from.

Far from the sight of the group and protected from view by the carriages, Bronach was looking at the sky with a round silver pendant in his hand and a bottle of a strong spirit in the other.

Riou noticed that the merchant’s eyes were full of melancholy and regret as the old man held tightly to the pendant.

It was the first time he saw Bronach like that. Curious, he slowly approached.

The old man scratched his nose as he noticed someone. He saw the boy and quickly looked away for a moment.

When he turned back he immediately addressed Riou. “Oh, it’s you… I didn’t have the opportunity to thank you for bringing the famous Lioness to our humble group. My merchandise will surely be looked at with new eyes now. Maybe I can even pull a 10% increase in the prices,” the old man said with a forced smile, far from his usual joyous self.

Riou gave him a short smile with a nod, trying to follow the merchant’s mood. He stood beside him and looked at the view as well..

The clouds were thick and very high, much higher than the mountains themselves. The night was moments away and daylight was slowly fading away.

“It will be getting colder from now on, and the rain will not help. It will delay our journey,” the merchant said in a sad tone with a small nod and then a sip on the bottle.

Riou sat down on a big rock beside the old man.

The merchant smiled at the boy and then looked up to the sky once again.

“Have you been to Iris?” questioned the Merchant, sitting down as well. Riou noticed he was drinking for a while now and was in the mood to talk.

Riou shook his head. “No, I’ve only heard rumors about the city. Doesn’t seemed to be a nice place though”

“You are right on that regard”

Riou nodded and looked at the merchant, waiting for him to continue.

Bronach sighed deeply.

“I used to live there with my wife and kid. We had a small clothing store, common folk clothes you know, nothing fancy. It wasn’t much, the money was always tight, we were living a day after the other, barely scraping by.”

The old man smiled as he remembered his old days.

“My wife... she was so beautiful” He smiled brightly while remembering her. “My boy was so smart. He wanted to grow up and help me with the store. Both had a heart of gold.”

Riou could feel a deep sadness in his voice.

“There were these sisters: 2 young girls, the oldest was just a bit younger than my son. And she carried her little sister everywhere she went, her arms never tired from it. They lived in the slums nearby our house. Poor things. My wife couldn’t stand the sight of them. It pained her heart and she was torn every time she saw them in their rags and bare feet, begging for food on the streets.” He took another sip on the bottle.

“One day my wife had enough. She sewed together small clothes from some spare cloth we had and put together the leftovers from our meal.” He smiled. “After that, she gave them food every night, and she thought I didn’t notice it” he laughed a bit.

“Our money was short, but I didn’t mind her helping them”

“After some time, the girls came more frequently, they were better dressed and not as thin anymore. They became friends with my boy and before I knew it, they were inside our home. I didn’t know how we would have the coin to feed so many mouths… but we managed, the girls made sure to help with the house so my wife could help with the store sometimes” He drank once again from the bottle and cleaned his beard with his hand.

A few moments passed as the old man sighed deeply, the atmosphere around him grew darker, thicker and heavier.

He was sitting down, his upper body wobbled about, the bottle was almost empty and his tone changed completely as his expression became dead serious.

“It was on an afternoon like this” He pointed towards the weather “it was getting colder, rain was coming from the horizon and I walked back home after the day at the store. Like I always did” He sniffled and took a deep breath.

“When I got home, the door was open… the house was quieter than usual”

“I entered and the first thing I saw was that damn dagger… the black rose, stuck on the table’s wood with blood all over its blade. It was then that I saw him… the poor thing, trying to hide under the table” He nodded while looking up, the old man struggled to remain still, his breathing became erratic and stronger.

The old man stroked his beard as his red eyes were now concealed by the night. “My boy was gone… and there was no sign of my wife.”

He takes a deep breath calming his nerves.

“I went to the guards.” The old man changed his voice and way of speaking, angered imitating the guards “It’s just the way the city is… they said. Those bastards.”

“Was all they said to me.” He laughed without a hint of fun. “Can you believe that? Soldiers and guards of the city, the one’s supposed to protect us... nothing but crooks and thieves... all of them, I tell you. Not a single one of them are a decent man in that den of snakes”

He sipped once again in an angry manner.

“No one disappears without a trace… after I buried my son, I kept searching for her. Every slum, tavern and forsaken corners of that city, I swear I went to all of them, one by one without rest. Broke a few bones and spilled some blood along the way, mine and theirs.”

Despair grew in the merchant’s expression.

“Days... weeks... years passed by. When I was on the brink of madness someone knocked on my door.”

Bronach forces a smile.

“It was a girl, around 10 years old now. She was wearing an old rag sewed together from many different pieces, way too small for her body. She was barefoot on the cold stone of the street.” He shook his head at himself.

“I didn’t recognize her at first... how could I?" he snuffled once again.

"On her left hand she had my wife’s pendant.” He squeezed tightly the pendant that he was holding on his hand “A gift I gave her on the day our son was born.”

“And on the girl’s right hand..." He paused nodding a few times"on her right hand she had a black rose dagger. Was only then that I noticed the red on her clothes and arms… she had blood on the dagger.”

He shook his head several times while looking at the horizon, he took a big gulp from the bottle finishing it up.

A moment passed in silence before he continued.

“Listen to me boy… if you know what’s good for you, stay away from that damned city, it’s rotten and evil. I’d burn it to the ground if I could.”

Riou knew things were bad there, but the story Bronach told him was far worse than anything he could imagine. “How can the king allow such a place to exist?” he questioned, knowing the king would never approve such things.

“Politics as they say… there are too many nobles and too much coin buying the officials silence. Nothing reaches the king if the nobles turn a blind eye to it. And to be honest with you, it wouldn't surprise me if the king himself was involved as well. Nobility… huh, they can all burn for all I care.” Replied an angered man.

Riou didn’t seem convinced. He knew the King, he didn’t seem the type to turn a blind eye on such heavy things.

‘Maybe there is more to it,’ thought Riou without pressing the subject, Bronach clearly had a reason to hate the place.

The old man tried to drink again, but the bottle was already empty. “I think I will lay down now. Sorry if I babbled too much, it happens when I drink” said the old man, patting him on the shoulder as he tried to stand up, wobbling about with some difficulty he finally managed to stand.

Riou nodded to the old man. “If you need to drink more some other time, I’m all ears”

The old man nodded smiling “I did drink a tad too much… and you’re a good kid, thanks for the help with those thugs, I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t intervene”

Bronach then slowly walked towards his tent on the other side of the camp. His steps were not steady, but his heart seemed a bit lighter after the talk.

Riou was left to his thoughts, watching the night sky and it’s high clouds.

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