The group of four walked through the forest. Lean was at the front, after him walked Michail, followed by Rex and then Tristan, who carried Arin’s destroyed body. His limbs dangled in a broken fashion, disturbing everyone present but still they insisted on taking the body to the village to bury him properly. Rex now carried only his sword, now cleaned from the gore that had covered it previously, and his quiver. He had hoped the bow would survive the encounter, but he found it in pieces on the ground.

Sans Rex, everyone had their heads down as they walked in silence for over an hour. In shame and in low spirits. Though they had killed the ogre the shadow of defeat loomed above them.

“Why...” mumbled Tristan under his breath, causing everyone to stop. In this silence even a sound like that was well audible to everyone in the group. Everyone turned to Tristan who looked at Rex. “Why didn’t you save him...? You should have been able to save him...”

Rex didn’t answer for a moment, but eventually opened his mouth “Certainly. At that point I would have been able to barely push him out of the way of that attack.”

“Then-!”

“But!” Rex interrupted before Tristan could let out his anger “if I had done that then I would have taken the attack instead. I’m sturdy, certainly. But I’m not invincible. An ogre is strong. It’s their only saving grace. Even if it was me I would have sustained heavy damage to take on a direct attack from it.”

Tristan put his head down and clenched his teeth before speaking again “But you would have survived! And then we could have-!”

“Could have what?” Rex interrupted again “Could have saved me? Could have defeated the ogre? Could have escaped? None of you are experienced in combat. Two of you are hunters and experienced enough in life. Even then would you have been able to kill this thing? I doubt it. Maybe you could have saved me. Maybe you could have ran back to the village. What if the ogre followed then?”

Tristan shut his mouth and looked down again. He thought about what would have happened if Rex was out of commission. As Arin was knocked away Rex was the only one who still had a calm mind. The only one who still had reason enough not to get distracted from the fight. If it was Rex instead... would he had been able to remain calm...?

Rex was the one this whole strategy was based around. In the end, the four of them had been nothing but supports. It was Rex that kept the beast’s attention. Rex that commanded everyone. He was the strongest, fastest, smartest and most experienced. If he had been out of commission would someone had been able to take his place? Would someone be able to take a role remotely close to what he had been? Would someone be able to remain calm and take command? Guide the escape or retaliation? Tristan bit his lip, causing a small line of blood to flow down from it. There was none. If Rex wasn’t there to command them they would at best flail around trying to escape, possibly bringing the ogre with them to the village. If not someone had to be a distraction... someone who would probably not survive...

“Look... I really am sorry for what happened to the boy. But if I had saved him... it could have ended in a lot more casualties than him.” Rex said, trying to be sympathetic. He almost added the fact that he had walked into the situation himself and that it wouldn’t be fair for others to die at his mistake, but he realised it wasn’t the most sensible thing to say in the current situation.

Tristan said nothing for a few minutes. The rest waited until they heard his voice again “Sorry...” came the single word. Rex nodded and they proceeded their silent walk. After a few more hours they had arrived back at the village. They had left in the early morning, but it was now late in the afternoon. The villagers were going about their own daily lives until someone noticed their return, immediately alerting everyone else. In no time at all there was a crowd gathered at the entrance, rejoicing their success.

It didn’t last for long that they didn’t notice the somber atmosphere of the party, before they got worried. An old man walked forward out of the group. His hair had grown mostly grey with his old age and he wore normal linen clothes like most of the rest of the village. The group stopped a distance from the crowd in silence. “Tristan... that’s...” The old man attempted to ask, unable to get the proper words out.

Tristan understood what he wanted to ask. It was obvious. He nodded. “Arin... didn’t make it.”

The old man froze up, not knowing what to say before he realised he should ask about something else “Th-the ogre? What about the o-“

“It’s dead.” Rex interrupted.

“I see...” He felt ashamed of himself to feel relieved at the news when Arin had died for it.

“Chief we...” Lean tried to say something, before giving up.

“Don’t worry, boy.” Answered the Chief, not sure what Lean was trying to say. ”Come. You must be tired. And we should prepare for the funeral.”

The crowd dispersed as the four passed through. Lean was surrounded by the rest of the guards, reassuring them that he was fine, while Michail was confronted by a worried-looking blonde woman, most likely his wife. TrIstan walked away with the chief while Rex followed. They walked over to a fenced off area which had a large number of wooden stakes stuck into the ground, with a few items, different for each one, gathered at the base.

There was a shovel by the entrance which Tristan promptly took after putting down Arin’s corpse. He walked over to an unoccupied space and began digging. Rex simply stood by and watched until the Chief addressed him.

“We could go and discuss your payment if you’d like.”

“Ten gold coins. No more, no less.” Answered Rex, without taking his eyes off the old hunter, stabbing away at the ground with his shovel.

“Ten? I’d thought you would definitely ask for more than that.”

“It’s the price me and Tristan decided on. I’ll honor it. Not to mention I let one of your villagers die. I don’t need the full reward.”

“I see…” the Chief mumbled and nodded to himself.

“Then I will go prepare some things. Tonight we mourn and we celebrate. I’ll get your reward sorted as well.”

“No need. I’ll be staying for at least the night. You can do that tomorrow.”

“You have a place to stay?”

“We’re surrounded by forest. If needed I can find a not-really-comfortable tree to sleep in.”

“Very well.” The chief said before leaving.

Tristan continued to dig. An hour passed and the hole had become a decent size, but still not deep enough so he continued. Again and again his shovel pierced the dirt and by the time the sun was setting, he had finally finished. He had taken no rests, sweating profusely and panting slightly by the time he was finished. He looked at Rex and then back down. He stood still for a moment before he walked over next to the Drakin, leaning back on the low wooden fence and resting.

While the village around was rowdy, with people running around and preparing for later in the evening, the two stood in silence. Neither knew what to say to the other, nor were they sure if they should. So they simply stayed still. Waiting for everyone to be ready as the forest darkened and the light of the setting sun was replaced by the fire of torches around the village. After two more hours most of the village had gathered at the graveyard’s entrance and Tristan felt someone pat him on the shoulder. As he altered the direction of his gaze he noticed it was the chief.

They both walked over to the grave with the chief holding a torch. Tristan gently picked up the broken body of the former Arin and let it down inside the dug hole. He picked up the shovel again and started burying him as the chief began speaking.

“Brothers and sisters, we have gathered here today to see off one of our own. Arin was a fine young man. He loved this village dearly and this village loved him back. For such a young man to lose his life is a great tragedy, but he lost it in a way to be proud of. For thanks to him, the vile monster threatening our village, our forest, is no more! Thanks to his noble sacrifice it is we who may go on living. What are we to do, but show him that his sacrifice was not in vain! Tonight we may mourn, but we must also celebrate! Let us show the departing Arin that the village he devoted himself to protect is still the village he loved and loves him!” As his speech continued, Tristan filled the grave back up with dirt. One shovel-worth at a time. Rex listened intently to the speech. He could hear a few of the villagers sob. Some more openly than others. Mainly he could hear the sound of a few children doing so. Arin must’ve been liked by them. The scaled young boy wondered if someday the people in his world would feel as connected to each other as the ones from this village do. If they’ll be kind enough to offer the slightest bit of condolence for those who die. He doubted it. The number of people dying each day in his world had surely desensitised them and he didn’t have any right to complain. He was the same.

As the Chief finished his speech a few villagers walked over and one by one left some items by the graves. First a freshly-baked blueberry pie. They must’ve made it in a rush after they’d learned his fate. The villagers were probably used to losing people. Blueberry pie was apparently Arin’s favourite food. The next to approach was a man who left a crudely carved wooden statuette of a family of three. Apparently it was Arin’s hobby to sculpt wood to pass the time. As he saw Michail walking up next and what he was holding Rex straightened himself and walked over to him before he could leave Arin’s old sword at the grave.

“Is it possible you leave this instead?” he handed his own sword to the man “I was thinking the boy’d rest easier with the sword that killed that monster in the end.”

Michail was speechless. He stood still for a moment, thinking the offer over and without answering he nodded and backed off. Rex was surprised for a moment. He hadn’t intended on leaving it himself, but he nodded back. Walking over to the grave, he left the sword, still in its hilt resting on the stake that marked the grave. Finishing that he walked back again. A few more people left something at the grave. A bottle of ale, which he’d wanted to try, but was too strict to himself to do so and a large fang from a wolf that one of the villagers had previously worn as a necklace.

The Chief nodded as they finished “Thank you everyone for leaving something. Hopefully with all of this, even in death Arin won’t forget himself, and won’t forget how much he meant to all of us.” As the funeral ended and the villagers walked away, gathering in the center of the village, Tristan and Rex were left alone. Michail and Leon stopped to look back at them. They waited a few moments with nothing happening before Michail shouted out.

“Come on Tristan! Everyone’s already starting!”

“Now let us celebrate!” Rex heard the chief say from where everyone had gathered followed by a loud concessive agreement from the rest of the village. While the others might have not made it out as accurately, they most definitely also heard it. Tristan sighed and began moving towards the exit, stopping at the small missing part of the fence and looking at Rex. The Drakin repeated the hunter’s sighing gesture and followed, going to the celebration together with Tristan and the other two.

There were a few tables set up around the bonfire. A few having a number of different simple foods while the last served as a temporary bar. Rex unhesitantly walked over and sat at the bar.

“Ale.” He said before the old man behind the counter took out a wooden mug and filled it up. Rex took the mug and stared at it for a bit before sighing.

“Rex…” he heard from the side.

“Huh?” he turned to see Tristan sitting in the seat next to his.

“Look… I’m sorry for earlier.” The old man said while the bartender filled up a mug for him as well.

“Don’t worry about it. I understand.”

“Yeah… I just wanted to thank you. If it wasn’t for you… it might have been worse… much worse.”

“Well that depends. If a normal adventuring party had come you might have had better luck if they were at least at C-rank. They might’ve been able to handle that ogre better. And more importantly. Without your help.”

Tristan shook his head “Arin wouldn’t have accepted that. He would have insisted on helping no matter what.”

“… I see. Stubborn sort… any family…?”

“No… his parents died in a wolf attack seven years ago. He was an only child.”

“…” Rex had a moment of silence before raising his mug and downing half of the mug in one go followed by a big sigh. He looked at the rest of the ale in his mug.

“Not the best ale ever, eh? But it’s all we’ve got.” Said Tristan, knowing exactly what Rex was thinking.

“I take it ya don’ need any more then.” Interjected the bartender

“Ah wait no! I still like it!” Tristan answered in a bit of a panic, the rest of the men at the bar having a laugh, even Rex smiled lightly at the exchange. He looked around at the rest of the people. Michail was eating with his wife. Leon was surrounded by a group of friends and telling the tale of the ogre-slaying. Indeed…it was obvious that the people here were used to loss. A few of the children were also still awake though most seemed to have been put to bed. Just as he was observing their group one of them suddenly turned to him and ran over.

“Hey!” the boy greeted “You’re the one that killed the big monster right?” he asked Rex excitedly.

“Huh? I… Well yeah. But I couldn’t have done it without the help of the others.” ‘Not as easily’ he added on mentally.

“Wow! I should become an adventurer too!”

“Kid… don’t waste your life.”

“Huh? But aren’t you an adventurer?”

“I’m fine. I won’t die easily.”

“Then I won’t either!” the child answered excitedly

“Wait no that’s not what I…” he stopped his sentence there and sighed, followed by the laughter of the guys at the bar.

“Joshua. If you become as good a swordsman as him then you can become an adventurer.” Said one of the other villagers.

“Really?!”

“Of course! But just so you know it won’t be easy. You’ll have to practice a lot.” Answered the same villager again.

“I got it! I’ll practice a ton!” for the last time said the child before running off back to his friends happily.

“Not very good with kids are you?” Teased Tristan. Rex only sighed defeatedly at the comment before a wave of laughter washed over him again.

The night progressed with much of the same, but slowly the fires of the celebration burnt out as person after person returned to their homes. Eventually even Tristan had gotten too drunk to go on, causing Rex to have to drag him back to his house and throw him into bed. He then left his room and lied down on the floor of the main one. It was uncomfortable, but to him it didn’t matter. Having gone four days with no sleep again, he had snoozed off as soon as he laid on the floor.

Morning came once again and Rex woke up. Hearing Tristan’s, still sleeping breaths from the other room he decided to take a walk. He left the house and wandered around the village, getting waved at by some people that had already woken up. As he passed by a particular house for the second time the door opened revealing the chief.

“Good morning.” He greeted

“Yeah. Good morning.”

The Chief approached the young Drakin and put his hand forward, revealing the gold coins in it.

“Ten gold coins. No more, no less. Correct?”

Rex nodded and took the money, adding it to his puuch.

“I feel like I should give you some more, considering you even left such a wonderful gift for Arin, but unfortunately I don’t have the coin to buy a quality blade like that one. Not any coin that we can spare at least…”

“That’s fine. I gifted that of my own accord. I don’t need the money for it.”

“If nothing else… maybe you could take the sword Arin left behind?”

Rex stopped to think at that offer. The swords the villagers used were nothing amazing, but they weren’t bad either. The problem was they were made of iron rather than steel, making them much weaker. As much as he wished to accept the sword for what it’s emotionally worth, he shaked his head, deciding not to burden himself with a sword he could neither make good use of, nor replace.

“I’d rather you give it to someone who will inherit Arin’s will to protect the village.”

“I see… yes. That would certainly be good. Thank you again.”

Rex nodded and walked away, stopping by Tristan’s house again, hearing some pained moans from within. He opened the door to see Tristan clutching his head as he sat at the table.

“I definitely drank too much last night…” he mumbled.

“Tristan… will you… be able to travel like that today?”

“Huh? Rex! Yeah, yeah. Of course. Don’t worry about me.”

Of course Tristan would have to come with him to confirm the quest had been complete.

“Oh yeah.” Rex suddenly remembered. He took his quiver off the ground and lifted up for him to see. “Is it fine if you keep this? I don’t need it anymore. My bow got destroyed anyway.”

“Huh? Can’t you just buy another one?”

“Nah. That’d cost too much. And to be completely honest traveling with so much on my back is incredibly uncomfortable”

“But then… now you’re left with nothing but a dagger.”

“It’s fine. So is it okay that I leave it here?”

“I… Alright. I’ll take it.” He agreed, defeated.

“Great. Anyway just tell me when you’re ready to set off.”

“Ugh… Just… give me another hour.”

Rex grinned and agreed. After an hour they both equipped themselves and left to travel back to Fyric.