Hey mom, dad. Its been almost a year now. And when you come back, if you do. I won’t be there. I am travelling trough the lands on my own quest. I don’t deliver vegetables that don’t die in the frost. But I am together with the Dragonslayer. Our quest is to go to the library to see if he is the chosen one. Do you remember the Dragonslayer? The hero who saved you in the forest a long time ago. That very one. He is much different than I had imagined, but then again, so is the world. The people are both nicer and worse than I could imagine. If you ever pass trough Greed, you just ask around and you’ll see. Right now we are in the most legendary inn of all times. I guess you know which one I mean.

I hope you are doing fine, and I hope you never have to read this letter, because we would have crossed each other somewhere. I have changed a lot in the meanwhile. And I can’t wait to tell you about all the adventures I had. I am keeping a diary of everything that happens to us. Maybe I can read you a story once, on a stormy night and we need not be scared.

I love you both,

Garvin

He folded the paper in three and placed it in his book. Garvin had just eaten his breakfast outside on the benches around the well. The trees were moving in the breeze and birds were singing their song. He felt good in these new clothes, and after taking a bath. Yokina had taken good care of him, not even once asking for payment. She had fed him and gave him a warm bed. Garvin had seen names carved in his wooden bed. Names of old kings and heroes and the likes. This place had a rich history that he wanted to uncover today. But before he could get up and return the plates to the kitchen, Yokina hobbled outside on her cane. She sat next to Garvin on the bench.

‘He is your friend you know? He just has a difficult time to express himself,’ she said with a cracked voice.

Garvin stared at her, then it dawned him.

‘You’re a witch.’

Yokina smiled. ‘Yes, I am. But not like any you had seen before, so you doubted your senses.’

Garvin nodded. ‘Though you said my name before I even introduced myself. That was weird.’

She chuckled. ‘Weird indeed. But you have encountered many weird things on your journey, haven’t you?’

Garvin stared at his book. He had written everything that had happened since Greed. He passed it to Yokina.

The witch just read the first page, then placed the book on the bench. ‘Your story begins before Greed, why start with the Dragonslayer?’

‘Because it’s his story,’ Garvin said.

Yokina laughed and shook his head. ‘It’s been your story from the beginning.’

He didn’t know what to say to that.

‘It’s time that you wrote your own story. I am sure it will be a delight to read.’

They sat there in silence for a moment, enjoying the light breeze on their face. Yokina seemed to slowly sway as the trees as she hummed a song with her eyes closed.

‘Do you know what happened to my parents?’ Garvin asked her. ‘Can you tell me they’re still alive?’

She opened her left eye and inspected him. ‘I don’t know anything about people I can’t see.’

‘Maybe that’s my quest,’ Garvin said. ‘To find them.’

‘It’s your quest, not to find your parents or the great library, but to find yourself.’ With that she got up and went inside, leaving Garvin alone with his thoughts.

Things he still did not understand was why the place was called the Knight Club. There were barely any, though the summer was the period where people travelled the most. There were merchants and shady looking people, but barely any knights. Garvin helped Yokina out in the kitchen, he washed plates and took orders. Though there were enough servants around, it felt good to help. Garvin had no idea if they would have money to pay for the lodges anyways, but this didn’t seem to bother the owner. Yokina was the opposite of the taverner in Greed, she just smiled. At the end of a long night, he washed himself. And when he placed his head on the soft cushion he immediately fell asleep.

The morning after he gave the letter to Yokina, who said she would send it to Alfred. He had no idea where his parents were so at least Alfred could give it to them when they returned. Garvin also copied a few chapters for him and wrote him a long letter. As Garvin finished up, he could see a well known face outside. It was the Dragonslayer. His clothes were torn. There was no sword in his hilt. His face was purple and swollen.

Garvin got up to see him, but Yokina blocked his path. ‘My boy, could you go downstairs and pick up some honey?’

‘But,’ Garvin stammered.

‘I need it for my tea.’

Garvin agreed and sprinted towards the basement. In front of the door, he took the oil lamp. He flew down the stairs at breakneck speed. He spun around and searched the shelves. There were roots and herbs. He charged trough the dark room, when he saw a jar of honey. He grabbed it and charged back up the stairs, went to the common room and placed it on a table.

‘Got it!’ he yelled.

Yokina was at the bottom of the stairs to the second floor. ‘Very well, but I think I forgot to mention the mint as well.’

Garvin sighed and passed the old lady and flew up the stairs.

‘Let him take a bath!’ the witch said.

Garvin ran to the one closed door. He was leaning against the door, breathing heavy.

‘Dragonslayer?’

No response.

‘Hey, everything okay? Hey!’ he banged the door with his first.

‘Dude! Chill and let me relax!’

‘You’re okay?’

‘Of course, dude! I am the freaking Dragonslayer.’

‘But your face… what happened?’

‘I lost the bet.’

‘Where is LaFleche then?’

‘She went south.’

‘Ah.’

‘Dude, can I wash myself now?’

Garvin slumped down the stairs. Where the witch still waited, leaning on her canes.

‘Let me get you your mint.’