"So, what's your name?"

"A name? I don't really have one."

Immediately the Orc, Cro, brightened up. Clapping, he declared. "Then, in that case, I will name you. Hmm, I wonder what would be a good name. Rob? Or maybe Wil?"

"Oi, oi, don't decide that by yourself."

"In any case, we can't be standing here all day long, let's go to my home. Don't worry, you'll get a warm welcome. You too, talking snake."

"I have a name! Call me Hebi."

The Orc guffawed out loud.

"Why would you welcome a stranger? Who knows maybe I've killed your kind before?"

Rubbing his chin, the Orc King gave his reply. "I know, you're the type who doesn't really cares about life. But, I don't believe you're the type who freely takes life for no reason."

"That's so vague."

"Wahahaha! Life's all about guts and gut feelings!" He laughed heartily. "Trust goes both ways you know? Plus I believe in kindness."

"Even if I were to betray you?"

"Well, if you betray us, it won't be too late to deal with it later on, will it?" His eyes glinted with a hint of murderous intent.

"So, you're the type to deal with whatever happens, happens? It might be too late then you know?"

"Nah, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't reach that way."

"Then wouldn't be better not to welcome me? You're confident you can deal with me?"

"If you never try, you could never make allies you know? And I'm not confident. I just trust my friends." He grinned toothily.

"Heh, you'll get betrayed one day."

"Hahaha, then that's fine. I rather die for living the way I want to then die not living the way I want to. "

"Ohhh! The king has returned! The king has returned!" Metals clanging resounded through the air.

In a forest clearing, an encampment stood. Surrounded by stone walls, a gate made from logs towered. Behind the walls, the Orcs proclaimed their joy at their king's safe return.

"Oh, right I forgot to mention this, but it's better if you wrap yourself completely. Your cloak apparently has a sealing ability. Just now, when a little of the cloak opened, I could feel your murderous aura. You probably have a curse or skill that scares others into submission."

-A skill? The skeleton wondered. Ah, it must be that one... The one written at the diary's last page...

Realising how cowardly that sounded, the Orc King sputtered. "O-of course, it's not as if I'm afraid or anything, but my friends can get a tad bit frightened, so it's better that you cover yourself."

"Heyyy, I'm back." Cro waved, passing through the gates. Inside, there were several cavernous entrances leading deep underground. But other than that, the land was mostly used for fields. Alternatively patterned crops neatly lined the earth, creating rows of vast arrays of vibrant colours, with green being the main one.

A lone scarecrow stood in the middle of a wheat field. Large and bulky, its body was bell-shaped, with rectangular steel slabs as arms. The two eyes and mouth were represented as three holes on a black sphere that was fused to the body. Making it seem like a bowling ball head topped with a straw hat.

-Not a single hut in sight. I wonder where they sleep. The skeleton wondered as another notification popped up.

[Innate Passive Skill: Spirit Vision]

-Isn't that the skill from back when I first got born?

"I'm back, my ass!" Out of nowhere, a dropkick landed on the Orc King. Grabbing the Orc King with one hand, the newcomer proceeded to perform a chokehold.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I give, I give, give up." Cro wheezed.

Unsatisfied, the new Orc flicked Cro's forehead. "I'll let you off with that for now. You really need to consider your position. An Orc King can't just wander aimlessly unprotected." She growled. She was a slimmer and more slender version of Cro, having the same grey-blue skin as him.

"It's fine since I'm sturdy after all," Cro muttered.

"HUh?"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry. I will humbly reflect on my ways." Cro cowered. Afterwards, though, he sneaked a whisper to both Hebi and the skeleton.

"It's best to not get married. Take it from me." He whispered with a wink.

"Hmm, oh, I apologize for my husband's inexcusable behaviour." Noticing Hebi and the cloaked figure for the first time, she addressed them. "My name is Hev. Nice to meet you."

* * * * *

Night fell. Drums pounded, drinks sloshing, bonfire crackling up to the black sky.

"Wahahaha! What are you doing here, sitting in a corner alone? Here eat something!" Cro tossed a roasted drumstick over.

Unmoving, the skeleton replied. "I can't eat."

"Huh? What do you mean? If you don't eat, you'll never grow you know?"

"I'm an undead, you idiot."

"Oh." A picture of comprehension was etched on his face.

An awkward apology wedged itself between the period of silence.

"Puhahhh!" A white triangular head popped up from behind.

"Ah, talking snake, I never knew you were there."

"It's Hebi, Hebi, get that through yourr thickk skulll." Hebi slurred, hiccuping right afterwards. "Hahh, this is the life! Good alcohol, good life!"

"Hahaha, totally right, you totally understand, my pal! Such a pity that you cannot drink it." Cro shook his head with a genuine sad look painted on his face. "Anyways tell us a bit about yourself."

"I? Well, I was born just yesterday..." By the time, it finished its tale, both Cro and Hebi were bawling their eyes out.

"I see, I see," Cro said between sniffs. "It must be tough."

"Yeah, yeah, having no one by your side. No past or future..." Hebi wept. "No home to go to..."

"Well, don't worry!" Cro thumped his chest. "This can be your hometown! Your birthplace isn't that far off from here. So might as well right? You are always welcome here!"

"Thanks?" The skeleton replied uncertainly.

"Well, what about you Hebi? Why were you wandering all by yourself?"

"In my case," Hebi sniffed. "Tis not such a dramatic, tear-jerking tale. I was just fed up being cooped up in one place. I desire to see the world. To travel to unknown places and get rich! Those two are my dreams."

"Dreams huh?" Cro muttered a bit wistfully. "Well, my dream when I was young was to be a treasure hunter. I'll go down to the deepest depths, tallest summit, all in the hope of finding a priceless relic."

"Treasure hunter, eh?" Hebi chuckled. "What happened then?"

"Well, I grew up. I took on the mantle of a king. The responsibility foisted upon me the moment I was born."

"I see." Hebi struggled to keep his tone calm as his face became downcast.

"Oh, but not before snagging one treasure though! I managed to get at least one adventure. Gahahaha!"

"Do you regret not being a treasure hunter now?" Hebi asked.

"None!"

"Is what I would like to say. But sometimes I wonder, how would I end up if I became a treasure hunter. In life, in order to gain something, one must sacrifice something else. Furthermore, because life's a big jerk, it'll force us to choose within a limited time. These days though, I've come to peace with my decision. I'm satisfied with my life. My dream right now would probably be something along the lines of for everyone to live their life without a single regret blemishing their pride."

"Do you then think its selfish to abandon everything and pursue your own dream?" Hebi questioned, a bit frantically.

"Nah, I believe everyone has a choice. The trick is to choose the decision that would bring us the least amount of regret. However, what decision we pick, we must be ready to pay the price for it. We have to take responsibility for what we choose." The flame flickered, casting a shadow on the Orc's face, making it unreadable.

"Papa!" A little grey Orc came running hugging Cro's giant leg.

"Oh? You're still awake, my sweet child? Let me introduce you, this is my beloved daughter, Rui." Clutching her by the arms, he raised her up. Giggling, Rui waved her arms energetically.

"Rui! I told you it's past your bedtime already." Another Orc came running, puffing and out of breath.

"And this is Fer, her attendant." Cro continued.

"Hmph," Like a spoilt princess, she puffed her cheeks.

"Now, now, it's time for us to go." Bending down, Fer tried to pick her up.

"No way!" Ducking, she easily avoided capture. Fer, carried by the momentum, fell forward, his bottom facing the sky. Sticking her tongue out, Rui laughed. "Fer you're sooo weak. Hahaha."

"Hmm, Rui? What did I say about causing Fer trouble?" Cro reprimanded, pulling her ear.

"Auuu!" Yelping in pain, she grabbed her ear, apologizing profusely. Secretly sticking out her tongue when she bowed in apology. When Hebi noticed this, he laughed dryly.

"What a cheeky brat huh. Hahaha..."

"Yeah, a cheeky brat indeed." The skeleton agreed.

"Who do you apologize to, Rui?"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry Fer for causing you so much trouble. Anyway, papa, can you tell me a bedtime story?" Eyes sparkling, she stared at him expectantly.

Sighing, the Orc King had an expression opposite that belied his sigh. "Wellll, it can't be helped. It can't be helped." He repeated, a hint of joy escaped his tone.

Whack! Coming from behind, a demon, no his wife appeared. Smacking him in the head. Eyes glinting, she glared. "This here is the reason why she's so spoilt."

"Come on, it's just a story?"

"Hah?"

"No, yes, I'm very sorry mam." He automatically knelt.

A tired sigh escaped her lips. "Well, if it's just one story..."

Smiling underneath his bow, he shot a wink to Rui. Which made her expression brightened up like the sun.

"What do you think, commentator Hebi? This is the true reason why she's so cheeky right?"

"Yes, yes, commentator cloaked one, I believe so. The father is the biggest problem child here, isn't he?" The skeleton and Hebi whispered to each other.

"But, just one story, got it?" Her eyes glinting once more, she continued all of the sudden. Sending shivers down both Rui and Cro's spine.

"Yes, mam." Simultaneously, both answered.

Chugging his cup down, he burped, signalling the start of his story. As he placed Rui on his lap.

"A long time ago, there lived an idiot prince who hated his responsibilities. Someone who wished to be free as the wind under the sun. Being able to go anywhere and do anything, that was his heartfelt wish. However, one friend shone through his dull days, like a ray of light cutting through the infinite darkness. His friend was also chained down. Chained down by disease and weak constitution. He could only dream of achieving their dream as well.

Both of them started sharing their fantasy. Believing that one day their moment will come. However, the village had a dumb tradition. All because of a monster that lived next door.

Every year, they would send a couple of Orc child to appease its appetite. All too afraid to fight the monster called fear in their hearts to defeat the threat looming over them. Instead of choosing to wallow over the fake peace."

"What a couple of weaklings." Rui snorted. "If it were me, I would destroy them all."

"Heh, that's totally what you would do, Rui. But the world is not so simple. You'll understand one day. In any case, his friend got chosen for the sacrificial ritual. The idiot prince did not learn until it was too late though. However, when he did find out, he got really pissed."

"I know, I know, he went to defeat the monster right?"

"Well, in the end, that's true but not after facing a lot of hardships. Really, a lot." Cro's face grew wistful in the flickering flames. "The idiot prince ran away from home. Wandering, running away from everything. Even his friend's and own dream. He could not bring himself to selfishly fulfil their dream alone. Not when his friend had no chance to."

"What happens then? What happened to cause him to finally take revenge."

"Ahhh, well, in short, I guess, a woman." Cro scratched his cheek.

"A woman?" Rui asked, totally confused.

In the background, Hev snorted, trying to camouflage it as a cough.

However, Cro heard it well enough. Seemingly to blush under the flame of the campfire.

Coughing, he continued. "Uhm, well yes, a woman. He met a woman who slapped him and blown his doubts all away. It was a long process. But he finally started. Started to finish his unfinished business from the past. First, he achieved their dream and attained a legendary weapon. Using the legendary weapon, he beat down the monster. From then on, he took the mantle of a king and abolished the foolish years-old tradition. He vowed to his dead friend to never let such a case from ever repeating itself. He also vowed to throw away their dream. This is because he still felt it was unfair for him to have fun alone."

"So basically, we must defeat any monster early on, right?" Rui proudly concluded.

"No, this story means that regrets are unavoidable. But just because you will regret does not mean you should run away from making a decision. Face it and choose a decision you will least regret. In the end, the idiot's prince greatest two regrets were being unable to save his friend and the fact that he took so long to finish it."

Cro took a long pause as he sipped his drink again.

"Well," Hev got up, clapping her hands. "It's time to sleep, come Rui. Don't sleep too late either, idiot prince." She smirked, leaving a frozen Cro behind.

Carrying Rui in his arms, Hev took her leave, followed closely behind by Fer, her attendant. Waving goodbye, Cro continued, bragging.

"You see, when my daughter was born, she was just this small, you know?" He gauged the size with his finger. "It felt miraculous to me. The birth of another life. The start of another life. You see, if I pick the life of a treasure hunter, I would never discover this joy. The joy and pains of being married, having a child, raising a child. These days, I can drink and think back and happily sigh, saying life's not that bad. I think that when we are able to do that, then our choice was by no means a mistake." Cro rubbed his nose bashfully.

Thumping his tail unto the ground in quick successions, the drunk Hebi cheered. "Not bad, not bad! Well said! Here cheers to your life!" Lifting a mug with his tail, Hebi clacked the mug against Cro's.

"What about you?" In his drunken stupor, Hebi addressed the skeleton.

"Well, me? Well, I guess my dream is to find a dream!" The skeleton shouted, getting carried away by the festive mood. Despite not having drunk a single liquor.

At this, both bawled their eyes out, thumping against the skeleton's back.

"Don't worry, you'll definitely find something!"

"Yeah, yeah, for sure!"

"As long as you're living, you'll find something. For better or worse!"

"Like I said, I'm an undead. So technically, I'm not living." The skeleton replied.

So, the festive continued till dawn. Which ended with all of them snoozing away. Sleeping under the star-filled night snores rumbling away.

All except for the skeleton. One who did not sleep.

"Oofff," The skeleton cracked some joints as it tried to get up. Wandering around aimlessly, its thoughts run freely within his mind.

"Find a dream huh? I wonder where should I go searching for such a thing." The skeleton muttered, watching the sunrise.

"As if you could find something like that." A voice crept up right next to the skeleton's non-existent ear.

Whirling around in surprise, the skeleton saw its shadow expand. Blanketing the earth in darkness, it stretched further. In the shadow's head, a white gap widened. Widening into a Chesire smile shape.

"W-who are you?" Shaken, the skeleton seemed to bite into its absent tongue.

"Well, have fun 'playing friends' for as long as you can." It sneered, disappearing. Leaving only the skeleton's shadow behind.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

An ear-splitting toll of a bell resounded through the air. Across the fields, the scarecrow moved.