As soon as Edward had received a piece of cloth from the constables of Rockham, he was able to wrap the remains of the orcish warlock's staff in it. With that matter settled, came the time to head back to Creedwood.
After waving off the constables of Rockham, the adventurers of the Guild got on their horses, ready to head back to their city. Furthermore, Edward loaded the staff on his own horse. And so, the five departed.
As he rode, Fergus let out a bitter sigh. It had been trying, for him, to fight with the race he had often been associated with. That association, that part of the blood in his veins, was the reason he had been hated by so many, and was abandoned by the world, until he found Kain and his friends, and a new home in the Guild they worked for. Alba and Kain were quick to notice his anguish.
It took them roughly the same time in which they had reached Rockham to return home. Once they were at the gates of the capital, their first destination was the city staples, where they got off of their horses, leaving them where they belonged. Then, they headed to the Guild Office to report to the Guild Master.
It was decided that Edward, Fergus and Alba would have walked up the flight of stairs to meet Wildham, while Kain and Mina would have simply waited in the main hall. It wasn't long before the three adventurers were in front of Guild Master Wildham.
"Welcome back, Crowley, Leavayne, Rukhsher." Wildham greeted "What news do you bring from Rockham?"
"The bandits heading yonder have been crushed, sir." Rukhsher replied, tiredness still audible in his voice.
"Among their ranks, there were an ettin and a warlock." Edward added "The latter, in particular, was found in possession of a rather... unusual staff for an orcish warlock to have." The spellcaster then laid the snapped staff on Wildham's desk and unwrapped the cloth containing it. Wildham and his men let out a slight gasp at the sight of the staff pieces.
"Hmmm, I see..." the aging Guild Master mused, before stating "We shall look into this, and inform you as soon as we come across any critical information." Edward nodded in agreement to the preposition.
"The local militia had suffered some losses while protecting the borders of the town until our arrival..." Alba then stated "But none of the raiders managed to cross those borders."
"I see. Excellent." Wildham then stated "The sacrifice of those brave men and women was not in vain." The Guild Master the walked towards some workers and gave them instructions, to which they nodded, before heading to the treasury.
"Your completion of this assignment has earned you 40 golden coins each." Wildham then stated as he came back to the adventurers. "We're collecting your payment as we speak." Shortly after, the workers came back with five pouches of golden coins.
"Thank you, sir." Edward replied, on behalf of all of his companions, as he took his pouch, while Fergus and Alba took their own pouches, as well as Kain's and Mina's.
"Thank you for your services." Wildham replied "You may go, now."
As the three walked down the flight of stairs, heading back to their comrades, Fergus's gaze was low, as thoughts of melancholy were still filling his mind.
"I know what you're thinking, Fergus." Alba said, catching the half-orc's attention. "You're not like those bloody crooks."
"But I could turn out to be like that..." Fergus murmured "Were it not for ya guys, I wouldn't know where I would be right now... Six feet under, maybe..."
"You chose a different path, a path upon which the sun shines." Edward replied, seriously "And that's what matters."
Fergus stood silent.
"I know what'll make you feel better." Alba then stated, with a smile.
...
While their comrades were discussing, Kain and Mina were next to one another, waiting. None of them said a word. The hunter had attempted to glance at his fellow adventurer, but had immediately felt the need to turn his eyes away and blush brightly, much to the amusement of a certain young girl, dressed in refined clothes, who had been observing the scene while sitting at a table with her servants, and was smiling in glee...
However, Catherine's smile faded, once she could hear Mina break the silence.
"Hey Kain..." she murmured "You've noticed how Fergus was feeling down, yes?" All embarrassment left the hunter's visage as he nodded.
"Yeah..." he replied "In a way, those orcs we just killed were his like, after all..."
"I think he still has the fear of becoming like them..." Mina mused.
"Mhm." Kain could only agree with her statement "But that won't be happening. I mean, he has us... Now that he knows what it means to have a home and friends, it's not like he'll just give it all up like that."
"That's true..." Mina replied. As she heard them speaking, the young lady Darlington lowered her gaze, slightly biting her thumb. She regretted her argument with Fergus Rukhsher, and felt pity for the half-orc of whom she didn't even fathom the struggles. Her two servants looked at her with understanding eyes.
It was then that they could see their three companions as they walked down the stairs, back to the lounge. Edward, Alba and Rukhsher rejoined them and handed them their pouches of money.
"Alright, guys, listen..." the halfling rogue spoke up "Since there's still some time left before lunch, I was thinking I could bring you guys around town. The part where my people live, to be exact. What do you guys think?" Her four companions looked at one another and then, eventually, expressed their acceptance of the proposal with a nod, albeit with some hesitation, in the case of Fergus.
"It's set, then." Alba gleefully stated, clasping her hands together in delight "Let's take our necklaces and head out right away!" The adventurers couldn't help but smile at the halfling's enthusiasm, as they went to the waiting desks and, upon request, were given their necklaces: golden, with a diamond shaped pendant bearing a glistening azure gem in its center. Of course, Alba took her own necklace, as well. And so, the five were ready to leave the office and depart for the outskirts of Creedwood, to the district in which the community where the rogue was born dwelled. Catherine, along with her two servants, had observed the scene.
"I can see what they hope to achieve." Vincent commented "Hope... 'Tis exactly what we seek to give to our fellow citizens. We, adventurers of the Guild. Such is our burden..."
"Yet, to give hope is to receive hope in return." Alfred remarked, in reply "Perhaps none knows this more than Mr. Rukhsher, who found hope in the adventurer's life, in fighting for the hope of others... Wouldn't you agree, Milady?"
...However, upon looking at his side, the servant noticed that his mistress was gone from her seat.
"M-Milady?!" he exclaimed in shock, as he and his fellow bolted from their seats.
"Dastardly girl..." Vincent remarked, a tinge of annoyance in his voice "We are to find her, yet again."
...
"Are you sure it's a good idea, guys?" Fergus wondered, feeling doubtful over the way he would have been received there. He was still mindful of the times in which he had lived on the road, despised and regarded as garbage by people around him. Kain and Mina were quick to perceive his discomfort, and could easily guess the reason behind it.
"Come on, Fergus, drop the long face!" Kain said, with a chuckle "You're nothing like them, and we know it."
"They do, too." Mina added "I'm sure of it. Your nature has long stopped being a burden, hasn't it?" Fergus's eyes widened at the trust exhibited by his comrades, but still, he stood silent, uncertainty still clouding his heart.
"Say, Teach..." Kain asked "How's Fickelsmore Chocolates going?"
"Oh, splendidly, Kain!" Alba cheerfully replied. Edward could only smile at that.
"Ah, how long has it been, now, since the last time I've tried one of their chocolates...?" he mused "Three weeks or so, was it?"
"Well, there's no need to worry, Edward!" the halfling stated, with glee "You'll have the chance to have a taste!!" The young mage chuckled at that.
"That is something to look forward to." he replied, to which Kain playfully rolled his eyes.
"I swear, Edward..." he said "The only other person I know who likes that chocolate as much as you do, if not more so, is the little lady!"
"Make sure not to tell that to her face, though." Edward replied.
It wasn't long before the five friends finally reached their destination: the residential area known as Midhill, in the outskirts of Creedwood, where a large population of halfling lived. While there were houses owned by humans and even half-elves, the densest population there was the joyful, yet wise local community of halflings, in which Alba Leavayne was born. They could see halflings chatting between one another, or even with a human, sometimes; halflings intent on painting, and even a group of halflings singing and dancing to the sound of lutes and timbrels. The five adventurers couldn't help but smile at the sight of life overflowing in such a way.
It was then that the inhabitants of the district began noticing them, smiling at their sight.
"Alba's back, everyone! Alba's back!" a halfling man exclaimed.
"She's brought friends, too!" a woman added, Immediately, a group of halfling men, women and children came to greet Alba Leavayne, daughter of Midhill, and her fellow adventurers. Some of them even recognized the young mage walking beside her.
"Ah, may lightning strike me if it isn't young lord Crowley!" a man exclaimed "Welcome to Midhill, my lord!"
"Many thanks, good sir." the red-haired spellcaster replied, with a slight bow and a warm smile "'Tis nice to meet you."
Kain and Mina waved happily at the halflings who were excitedly greeting them as friends of their fellow citizen.
As for Fergus, however, he looked around, and could see that two children were staring at him with frightened eyes. However, another halfling, whom appeared to be their father, put his hands on their shoulders. He was smiling at the half-orc.
"You're Alba's friend, too, right?" he said, to which Fergus nodded.
"Yes." he replied "These guys are me best friends!" The father's smile widened, and so did the children's eyes, in utter surprise. Alba looked at Fergus and at the halfling father speaking with him and nodded.
"Be kind to him." she said "He's kinda stressed out, today."
"Don't ya worry, Alba!" the halfling replied, with a wave of his hand, as the children looked on at Fergus in utter bewilderment.
"But... Don't half-orcs eat children, and burn towns to the ground?" the male child stated, to which the female child let out a scared yelp, whilst beginning to shiver, a reaction which elicited a smirk in her brother and a sad laughter from the half-orc.
"Yeah, some guys of me kind are like that..." he replied "...But I have friends to fight with. I have a home of me own. I work for the Guild, now, and I beat up the bloody bastards who still do that!" The children let out an elongated gasp, as their dimples began curving upwards.
"You're really lucky, aren't ya?" the halfling father asked.
"Oh, trust me, sir." the half-orc replied, with a brush of his hand "I know full well how lucky I've been. Would be a real idiot to let it go to waste."
"So... You fight bad people, now?" the little halfling girl timidly suggested, to which Fergus smiled brightly and nodded.
"That's right!" he replied, confidently, eliciting a chuckle from their father.
"Mister, can you put us on your shoulders?" the halfling boy asked, much to the fright of his sister.
"Sure thing!" The half-orc replied, with a chuckle. "Turn around, will ya?" The two children nodded and turned their backs on him. Fergus then crouched at their level and slowly wrapped his arms around them, his grip not too strong. The halfling girl shut her eyes as she was being grabbed, but she then began slowly opening them upon feeling herself sitting on the half-orc's sturdy shoulder, and hearing her brother giggling in utter glee.
"Here we are, kids." Fergus said "Quite the sight from up above, eh?"
"It's amazing!!" the halfling boy shouted out in joy, as his sister looked at the half-orc holding her in bewilderment.
"Don't ya worry, girlie." he told her, with a confident smile "I'm holding ya." Slowly, a smile began on the child's face, under the gleeful gaze of her father. Some other halflings, including Alba, along with her father, mother and little sister, were looking at Fergus with approving eyes, as well. Mina couldn't help but laugh sweetly at the scene.
"See?" Kain stated, with a grin "We told you so, Fergus!"
"And here he thought he would have been ill received here because of his ilk..." Edward mused, with a smile, tapping his cane on the floor.
"All of Alba's friends are friends of ours, my good lord." Alba's father, an halfling with short brown hair, a short beard of the same color and sparkling green eyes, dressed in a white shirt and long green pants, with bare feet, stated, while standing beside his wife, a woman with chin-length, slightly wavy fair hair and brown eyes, clothed in a beige shirt and a long skirt of the same color, her feet bare as well.
"You can say that again, Pa." Alba replied. Edward greeted his fellow adventurer's parents with a smile and a slight bow.
"Mr. Leavayne, Mrs. Leavayne."
Alba's little sister, an halfling child with shoulder-length fair hair and brown eyes, was hiding behind her mother, of which she was almost the spitting image. She was dressed in a pink dress with puffy shoulders, her feet bare, like her parents.
"Come on, lil' Susie." the woman said "He's not scary." Fergus chuckled at the little girl, as she peeked from behind her mother.
"Tell me if someone's scaring you, me dear." He stated, good-naturedly "I'll give 'em a lesson!" Susie smiled as well.
"Ah, you're back in town, I see, Alba..." Another halfling man, with short white hair, sparse beard of the same hue, brown eyes, one of which was screened by a monocle, and a wide smile, spoke up. He was dressed in a brown shirt, a jacket in a darker shade of brown, a white tie-like scarf around his neck, dark brown pants and black boots. A professional attire, which showed not only his passion for his business, but also his love of simplicity and the joys of life, typical of every member of his kind. "You've brought friends with you, I see."
"It's been a while, Mr. Fickelsmore!" Alba exclaimed, brightly. Susie's smile widened greatly as she saw the man, and began clapping her hands excitedly.
"Mr. Chocolate!" she called him, to which the aging man let out a good-hearted laugh.
"To make your wishes of sweetness come true, little Susie!" he replied, before turning to the young spellcaster fighting alongside the child's older sister. "And well, if it isn't young lord Crowley! What good wind brings you here, pray tell?"
"We have returned from a quest, sir." Edward replied, smiling in kind "Alba thought of paying a visit to her birthplace, and we all agreed to follow her. Also..." The spellcaster's eyes turned to his half-orc comrade "Our friend needed some much needed respite. Peace. Thankfully, he was quick to find it."
"He chose to fight for us, and will always have our gratitude for it." Fickelsmore stated "You know what I always say, my lord. Every good thought and deed in our lives, done or received, is a cube of sugar placed in the cup of coffee that is our life." Kain, Mina and Alba, along with Edward himself, let out a chuckle.
"An analogy that I can't help but love." the halfling rogue remarked.
"Oh, right!" The chocolate maker then exclaimed, before taking out a tablet of dark chocolate from his pocket. "Your safe return is to be celebrated!" He broke pieces of chocolate, only to hand one to each of the adventurers "'It's on the house."
"If I may, Mr. Fickelsmore..." Edward spoke up, after receiving his piece "I would like to buy one more chocolate, a gift for a friend of mine who is not here... A plain chocolate, possibly."
"Ah, yes, my lord, of course!" Fickelsmore replied, overjoyed, "It's 60 silver sterlings, please."
"May I give a golden coin and receive change?" the young mage asked.
"Of course, that can be arranged." the aging chocolate maker replied, with a nod. And so, once the amount was paid and the appropriate change received, Edward was given a small chocolate, already wrapped in paper.
"Thank you kindly, my lord." he stated, smiling brightly.
"Oh, thank you, mr. Ficklesmore." the spellcaster replied, smiling in kind.