Like a thorn, this old wooden house emerges in between the immaculate buildings. They are of wood that the town spares no expense to care for, unlike the old man's house, where negligence is visible.
As if it stands still through the passaging time, it remains unaffected by its surroundings. Buildings get taller, roads connect whilst they shun the old house.
The only ones who care for it are a small family that, according to the rest of the town, are committing an unforgivable crime. The old house doesn't mind, as long as it provides shelter.
It doesn't mind, as long as someone calls it home. As long as someone looks at it as a place to return to and seek refuge. So, what if the town doesn't provide the funds needed? It can proudly stand and protect those that still need it.
At the moment, inside the house, Nox and company bring each other up to speed.
The old man starts first by taking a comfortable position on his chair and urges Nox to do the same with a kind look. "Rodena Town used to be a peaceful and friendly place for all"
Mirena does the same and sits in silence, listening to their conversation.
"About sixteen years ago, this old man found Mirena crying at my doorsteps. I wanted to give her up, but my stubborn daughter insisted on raising her"
A warm smile forms on Mirena's lips,
The old man continues and in amazement looks toward the silver-haired girl. "The seasons would come and go and Mirena would exhibit extraordinary affinity towards magic and spell casting."
"Her non-human characteristics started appearing as well. One, the most obvious, being her ears with the slightly pointy tips. She isn't a pure Elf, therefore she doesn't share the same long pointy ears as her race."
With embarrassment, she covers her ears with her hair. A light pink appears on her otherwise pale cheeks.
After letting out a long sigh, the old man utters in a sorrowful voice. "To this day, we don't know who her biological family is or where to find them since the race of the Elves is rather mysterious and rarely interferes with humans."
The unknown, regarding the girl's family, have Nox reminiscing about his own. He brings his hand close to his heart and closes his eyes. He imagines their faces that fade out of his memory.
Abruptly, the old man bangs his hand on the table, interrupting Nox's daydream. With veins popping out on his forehead, he utters. "In the last few years, we got close to discovering who they were but the so-called Heroes found the Elves and forced them to sign a treaty, to not meddle with the humans."
He clenches his old scrawny fists as rage escapes his mouth. "This started a chain reaction. Gradually, around the world, groups of people formed, abolishing all non-human creatures and sympathizers."
His eyes narrow, and his muscles relax. His voice becomes softer. "The people that abducted my family are like that!"
Nox looks at him. His frustration builds up. He clenches his fists hard enough for his nails to drill into his flesh.
Meanwhile, to a dark place of Rodena Town, a woman with ropes tying her hands behind her back sits on a chair with a cloth on her mouth as a gag.
A group of people surrounding the woman ignore her anguish as the tight ropes peel off her flesh.
Her eyes remain vibrant as she stares at them and lets out groans of displeasure. She maintains her firm composure without letting the cries of her heart surface.
One person in the group with a scar over his left eye approaches the red-haired woman. He smirks while placing his foot on her lap and leans putting his weight on her. "Hey, that rant you call daughter, came back!"
Her stoic posture collapses as soon as she hears that. Her eyes water non-stop and her muffles escape the cloth. Tear droplets wet the man's shoe.
"What the hell?"
He removes his foot from her lap and slaps the woman with the back of his hand. The force throws her backward onto the floor.
Ignoring what's happening in front of them, the others continue chatting and laughing.
Another one approaches. "Did she find the treasure?"
Hearing the question he poses, the others quiet down and look at them with anticipation.
The man with a scar shrugs his shoulders and clicks his tongue. He pulls the woman back up and returns to his corner. "How should I know?"
They soon lose interest and return to their chatter.
Back at the small run-down cabin, Nox stares at the girl's grandfather and listens to his story. After letting him finish, he stands up and brings out the wooden chest. "It wasn't a fool's errand"
Finishing his sentence, he drops the chest. The gold coins inside rattle, making a chinking sound whilst the chest itself makes a heavy thud, shaking the wooden floor beneath it.
The old man jumps from his chair. He looks at the smiling young man with curiosity. "There was actually a treasure?"
Nox, not wanting to go too much into detail, changes the subject. "When can we pay and get your family back?"
Mirena's grandfather, ecstatic, runs to the door. "I'll make the arrangements for tomorrow morning!"
Nox in a hurry utter. "Make sure the exchange is here!"
Without fully understanding the young man's intention, he agrees and walks out the door.
Nox nudges Mirena's shoulder. "We better get some rest!"
The girl nods and shows him the room he will stay in.
For the first time in a while, Nox has some time alone. He uses this chance to catch up with the Beastiary and explore Karma.
The next morning, the knocking on Nox's door wakes him up. His room has a small window for enough light to shine through and lighten the room. It's with a single bed and a vase with one fresh white flower.
It's not much, but more than what he had since coming to this unfamiliar and threatening world. Sleeping inside after so long has him hugging his comfortable bed and burying his face in the fluffy pillow.
The rhythmic knocking on the door once more shakes him off from his slumber. "I'm Coming…"
During breakfast, the old man utters. "Do you have a plan to ask for the meeting to be held here?"
Nox smiles and shakes his head. "Not really. But I don't want to walk to a place I have no information!"
After sipping some tea, he continues. "Besides, it's not like we can hide Umbra!"
The beast howls and wags his tail.
With Nox's directions, Umbra leaves and lurks around the town's borders.
The old man, unsure, exclaims. "How can you be sure, they'll bring my daughter?"
"I'm not, but you know where she is, right? Besides, I don't think they know about me yet, so that's a plus."
After forming some kind of plan, Nox stays inside the house. Umbra stays out of sight and Mirena is waiting outside with the chest full of Gold Coins.
The town of Rodena is the furthest one from the center of the continent, guarding it against outside sources of invasion, a fact that at the moment is lacking because of failure to rule.
According to Mirena's grandfather, the walls were always with guards on patrol, protecting the continent and the townsfolk.
After the Hero took over, overconfidence in her strength led her to dismantle the town's guard force.
Using this information, Nox takes advantage of the terrain and general lack of patrol.
The group of people led by a man with a scar over his left eye arrives in front of the old house, standing before Mirena.
"Where's my mom?"
The man with a scar smirks. "Where's my treasure?"
The girl opens the chest, revealing the golden glow. "Here it is. Where's my mom?!"
With greed painted all over their faces, they glare at the girl with venomous stares.
The leader snaps his fingers, and a person comes out of hiding. He drags with him a red-haired woman. Her ankles and wrists are bloody, but she doesn't let the pain hold her back.
He releases the woman and gives a light push. She walks towards Mirena at a steady pace. She holds her tears in as to not show weakness in front of her daughter.
Mirena walks away from the chest and stands in front of her mother with open arms and a smile. Like a stream, her tears flow, seeing her mother after so long.
Embracing one other weakens the knees. In each other's arms, they fall to the ground, crying.
The group of people like a pack of wild animals storm the chest, pushing and fighting one another.
The man with a scar stays back. "Happy ending!"
He turns to the two women and smirks.