15 Years Later
Afternoon
Fifteen long years have passed since those eventful days that unfolded in the quiet forest home. Time has woven its tapestry of change, reshaping lives, relationships and the world itself. Everything has changed for all this time. Dwarves which were once a cause of PTSD and terror for Reden and Mary can no longer be called a threat.
About a lovely family of three. Reden which is now 39 years old and Mary which is now 37 years old. Their love is still visible however it's not shining such light as it did fifteen years ago. Meanwhile Gah-Hal, has grown up as some really promising teen.
Reden sits on the chair outside of the house making some wooden figurines that were recently sold for quite a price. Except of good physique he also got a very good carving skills.
He sits on a chair carving the wood with a bit of tiredness on his face. While he does it the door to the house open and someone leaves it. It's a teen with beautiful and a bit fluffy white hair. It's nobody else than precious Gah-Hal.
"Mom wants you to come eat a dinner." Gah-Hal says.
Reden looks up from his carving, he sets aside the wooden figurine. His tired expression eases at the sight of his son.
"I will come in a moment." Reden responds, his voice carrying a weariness. He runs a hand through his hair, brushing away some wood shavings.
Gah-Hal nods.
"Don't be late. You know what she does when food is cold. She counts it as wasting food even though it's not." Gah-Hal says.
"Yeah. Just give me a moment. I will come okay?" Reden says.
Gah-Hal goes back to home closing the door behind him.
Reden takes a while to take few breaths outside before he actually heads back home. Reden enters the house and takes off his jacket and throwing it on floor before going to kitchen. As he enters the kitchen he sees that Mary is eating dinner alone.
He takes the last portion of the cooked ribs and sits by the table near Mary and starts eating. When Mary finishes eating her portion she breaks the silence in kitchen by making a loud sigh.
"Gahes! Can you come here for a moment?" Mary yells.
After few seconds Gah-Hal comes to kitchen and closes the door. He leans his hand on the counter and looks at his parents.
"Tell your dad what you had in mind for a while." Mary asks while looking at Gah-Hal.
Reden takes a bite of ribs and turns with his chair to his son.
"Since I'm 15 now, it means I can be independent from you now. It also means I can legally work in Glazes and Empire of Singard. So I've been thinking about moving out for a while to get some life experience. You know. It's not like I want to run away from you. I just want to learn how to life by myself. I don't need your permission, I just want to know what you think about it." Gah-Hal explains.
Reden looks at Gah-Hal with a little shocked eyes then at Mary and then back at Gah-Hal.
Reden sets down his ribs and leans back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Gah-Hal. There's a mixture of surprise and a touch of melancholy in his eyes as he processes his son's words. He glances briefly at Mary, as if seeking some sort of confirmation or shared sentiment.
"I already agreed with his idea. What about you?" Mary asks Reden.
"You already talked about it without me? Why-" Reden says while Mary cuts his words.
"I asked you to come few times already. You didn't came so I had to lure you with dinner. Blame yourself." Mary answers.
"Whatever." Reden says and looks back at Gah-Hal.
"If you don't need our permission then why are you asking?" Reden asks.
"I will go even if you don't agree. I just want to know if you have something to say about that." Gah-Hal replies with grin and confidence.
Reden was silenced by what his son said. He sees how brave his son became by saying it so confidently.
"Well. I'm not gonna stop you. You learn very quickly. You very quickly learned how to use two elements and your martial skills... All I can say is that you are better than me when I was looking for shelter like coward. Yea, I was a coward back then because I was weak and I didn't want to die or especially causing death of any of you." Reden says.
"And?" Gah-Hal says expecting something else from his father.
"And. Hm. I will say that you are easily fit for a kingdom's knight if you wish to become one. I will also say that I will be proud of whoever you become." Reden says slowly trying to sort out words in his head.
"Fair enough." Gah-Hal says while smiling.
Gah-Hal stops leaning and instead changes his pose to crossing arms.
"So I take it as yes." Gah-Hal says.
"That's a yes." Reden replies.
Reden stops crossing his arm and claps his hands.
"Good! Then I think about going to capital of Glazes. I know it might be a bad idea for a start, but I will manage to figure things out there." Gah-Hal says confidently awaiting his parents response.
"Capital? Right away? Do you know how expensive this town is?" Mary asks.
"I waited for this question. I know how expensive that is. I figured it out myself. I also figured out myself how will I live there... Easily." Gah-Hal says lightly squinting his eyes still with confidence in his voice.
Reden raises an eyebrow, a mixture of curiosity and concern evident on his face.
"Are you sure that what you are thinking will be enough?" Reden asks.
Gah-Hal nods, his expression unwavering.
"Yeah, I have. I gathered enough money for that." Gah-Hal says proudly.
Mary leans forward, her voice tinged with a mother's worry.
"But it's not just about money, Gahes. It's a big city. Except of strict law and abusive occupying authorities there, money will only be one of the few things that will have to be kept in mind." Mary warns.
Gah-Hal leans against the counter, his face still showing confidence. He leans and doesn't say anything.
"I'm just worried that you will get into the bad company who will sell you if you accidentally end up doing something bad." Mary says trying to convice her son.
Gah-Hal keeps looking at his parents with grin.
"You are so paranoid. I love you for such worry, but it also upsets me that you underestimate me like that." Gah-Hal replies.
"We don't underestimate you at all. We both know you are better than us in both magic and in overall physical things. We just don't want you to somehow end up as target for occupants of Singard." Reden replies.
Gah-Hal keeps looking at them with confidence and grin.
Reden sighs, a mix of concern and exasperation in his expression.
"Gahes, it's not about underestimating you. It's about being realistic. The city can be dangerous, and you're still young. Your quick learning isn't enough for what's deeper." Reden says.
Gah-Hal rolls his eyes playfully, leaning back off the counter.
"If this is that dangerous then maybe I should never leave this house hm? With what you've taught me, I can confidently say, that I can handle myself. Even if it was capital of Empire itself." Gah-Hal says with his arms crossed.
Mary's worry doesn't seem to abate.
"It's not just about handling yourself physically. It's about making the right choices, knowing who to trust and understanding the complexities of reality." Mary says.
Gah-Hal takes a step forward and stops in front of his mom.
"You are probably forgetting that you taught me about these things. I've been taught by the best." Gah-Hal replies.
Reden's expression softens, his gaze fixed on his son.
"Fair point. But sometimes experience can teach you things that lessons can't." Reden says.
"Fine. Do as you wish. You are an adult. Just don't say you weren't warned if you go." Mary says showing that she gave up with this conversation seeing how stubborn their son is.
"Thank you for being worried. I appreciate that. But I don't want to be held back like that. I also want to prove myself starting from the harder things." Gah-Hal says with care in his voice.
Mary stands from the chair and steps closer to Gah-Hal, her hand gently resting on his cheek. Her eyes are soft, filled with a mother's love and concern.
"We know you'll do your best, Gahes. Just promise us you'll stay safe and make wise decisions." Mary says, her voice gentle.
Gah-Hal nods, his own hand covering Mary's on his cheek.
"I promise, Mom and Dad." Gah-Hal says with a caring smile.
After a while kindness between family members, Gah-Hal leaves the kitchen and prepares himself for a long way. He takes a pouch with 3 silver coins, big empty sack that could fit 4 rabbits inside and his black clothes and white robe.
Gah-Hal approaches the exit door and turns around to see his parents again.
"Anything else you want to tell me?" Gah-Hal asks.
"Yes. Good luck." Reden says while Mary hold her hand on Reden's shoulder.
Gah-Hal smiles.
"That will always motivate more." Gah-Hal says and opens the door.
Once he opens the door, he waves to his parents with one hand for few seconds and leaves the house. Once he closes the door he continues his trip not looking behind confidently walking forward.
Once he is now far enough with his house out of his sight he picks the pouch that has 3 silver coins in it.
"When I said it will be easy..." Gah-Hal says to himself.
He tosses the pouch a bit in his hand, opens it and takes out one coin. But instead of it being one silver coin it's actually a one Golden Coin.
"...it means it wil be easy." Gah-Hal says to himself again with a grin.
He then hides a golden coin back to the pouch which doesn't look like it has only 3 coins in it. Instead it looks so full it becomes harder to tie the pouch. Once Gah-Hal ties his pouch and put it back into his robe he continues walking forward with his hands behind his back.
"Capital is hard for start they said. True, but not for me. For me it's actually the best start I can have. I will take my time with my adventure and do things step by step until..." Gah-Hal says to himself.
"Well. I can just say it's going to be more fun than stressful." Gah-Hal says to himself still with confidence.
Gah-Hal walks for a good while before he finally reaches the main road where caravans, merchants and travelers pass by. He looks left and right before getting on a road and going right. He heads straight to capital of Glazes which is called Glazes itself. He knows it will take around a week for him to reach his destination on foot, but he doesn't seem to mind it. He just looks chill and totally confident with this thought.
As he walks on the road with his hands behind his back, he sees a caravan in the distance. A traveling merchant who seems to be already on his way from capital to another town in Glazes. Gah-Hal keeps walking while looking at the approaching merchant. Once the merchant is around 35 feet away from Gah-Hal, he waves showing that he is interested in trading.
Caravan stops next to Gah-Hal and merchants looks at him with forced smile. He clearly looks tired.
"Good day, young sir. Looking for some supplies, are you?" The merchant asks, his voice friendly but tinged with a hint of weariness.
Gah-Hal nods, returning the smile.
"Indeed, sir. Just passing by and thought I might find something interesting." Gah-Hal says.
"Wise decision. What can I get for you? I have honey, mangoes, butter, cheese, bread, a lot. Just say what are you looking for." Merchant says while going to the back of caravan showing Gah-Hal what he has.
"I will take two sweet loaves. Im in a little need of sweetness. How much would you like? I guess 7 copper for one?" Gah-Hal says with smile.
"Sweet loaves? Sure. Yes, 7 copper. Let me get them for you." Merchants goes into the caravan looking for the loaves.
Gah-Hal meanwhile somehow takes out 20 copper coins from the pocket in his robe and holds them in his hand. After a moment merchants comes back to Gah-Hal from his caravan ready to hand him his order.
Gah-Hal hands merchants 20 copper coins and takes two sweet loaves with him.
"Keep the change." Gah-Hal says while continuing his trip.
"Thank you very much! Have a nice day!" Merchants says happily and waves to walking away Gah-Hal.
Gah-Hal continues on his journey, one out of two sweet loaves now carefully placed in his sack while the second one is still in his hand. He walks with a sense of purpose, his steps steady and confident. As he leaves the caravan behind, the merchant watches him go with a genuine smile on his face, clearly appreciative of the fair deal and the unexpected tip.
Every few steps Gah-Hal takes a bite out of sweet loaf enjoying it's taste and sweetness. As he walks he thinks that his sack is a bit empty. He thinks that since he has so much money he could without a problem fill it hundrets of times with treats.
He takes his time to think of what he could fill the sack with and once he takes the last bite of the sweet loaf, he got an idea.
"Mhm. I will fill it with food. I will overpay for that so I can later get a bit of reputation on the way by giving it away. I don't really mind spending some money." He says to himself with grin.
"Well. I got time so I dont need to overthink about it. I also doubt there will be much opportunities for that anyway." He says to himself again.
Gah-Hal shakes his hands to gets rid of some pieces of sweet loaf from his hands and continues walking with his hands behind his back showing confidence.
Gah-Hal's journey continues along the road, the sun casting warm rays on the path ahead. Gah-Hal's black clothes and robe look not very wisely for such shining sun. It should normally be too hot in such clothes for normal person, but Gah-Hal doesn't even show any sweat probably from all his training with his father.
With the second sweet loaf in his sack, he walks with a sense of tranquility and purpose. As he covers more ground, his thoughts wander between his goals and the experiences that await him in the capital city of Glazes.
The road stretches on, occasionally accompanied by fellow travelers, merchants and the occasional caravan. Gah-Hal finds himself in a rhythm, his steps steady and his mind both focused and open to the possibilities ahead.
4 Hours Later, Evening
With sun slowly starting to set, Gah-Hal doesn't feel tired at all. He feels total opposite. He feels happy from the trip so far. He is also shocked by the fact that for all this time, going alone and looking like a wealthy fella, there wasn't a single attempt to rob him. Maybe the roads aren't actually that bad, or he didn't met such people yet. Whatever that is he just continues his trip with nothing else in mind but his journey.
As the sun begins its descent on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape, Gah-Hal continues his journey with a contented heart. The road ahead seems to stretch endlessly, yet he doesn't mind. The rhythmic sound of his own footsteps and the soft rustling of leaves and grass in the gentle breeze create a serene backdrop to his thoughts.
The world around him gradually shifts as evening approaches. The shadows grow longer and the colors of the sky deepen into shades of red and purple. Gah-Hal takes a moment to appreciate the beauty of the changing scenery, feeling a sense of connection to the world around him.
Despite the weariness that would typically accompany such a long journey, Gah-Hal remains energized and motivated. The confidence he exudes is not simply a facade. It's a reflection of his determination and the training he has done. His father's teachings, his mother's wisdom and his own growing experiences have all contributed to shaping the capable and confident young man he has become.
As the sun finally dips below the horizon, Gah-Hal takes a moment to rest by the side of the road below the trees. He retrieves the second sweet loaf from his sack and takes another bite, savoring the flavor as he gazes at the starlit sky.
The stars and moon above twinkle like distant lanterns, casting a gentle light over the landscape. The night is calm and quiet, interrupted only by the occasional sound of a nocturnal creature and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. The air carries a sense of serenity and Gah-Hal takes a deep breath, allowing the tranquility to wash over him.
As he sits beneath the trees, he lets his thoughts wander. He thinks about things he could do once he finally reaches his destination and skills that he has learned from his parents and by himself alone. The capital is still a good distance away, but he's in no hurry. For Gah-Hal, the whole adventure including the walking is enough fun for him.
He finishes his sweet loaf and leans back against the trunk of a tree, feeling a sense of contentment settle within him. He's knows that the road ahead will have its troubles, but he's prepared and excited about such thought. The experiences, the people he will meet, and the lessons he will learn, all of these are part of his adventure and his fun.
Gah-Hal closes his eyes for a moment, letting the sounds of the night envelop him. The soft whisper of the wind through the leaves and the distant chirping of crickets create a soothing symphony. In this tranquil moment, he feels a deep connection to the world around him, as if the very earth beneath him is a part of his journey.
After a while, Gah-Hal opens his eyes and glances up at the stars once more. With a gentle smile, he stands up and dusts off his robe. He slings his sack over his shoulder and resumes his journey, his steps light and purposeful.
Although the time should already give a sign that it's time to take a rest, Gah-Hal totally ignores that and continues with his trip like it's still just a nice morning walk.
The night advances, the stars continuing their watch as Gah-Hal journeys onward with confidence. He is awfully brave walking so confidently on such road in the darkness. The road, illuminated by the soft moonlight, stretches out before him like a path to endless possibilities. He walks through the night, his steps carrying him just a bit closer to his destination.
Suddenly Gah-Hal stops in the middle of the road and turns to the left going into the small forest he was passing through. He walks a bit into it until he is in a middle of the forest. Then he lays his sack on the ground, rolls it to make a pillow out of it and lies on it with his head lying on both of his hands. He looks up between the leaves of the coniferous forest to see the stars.
He doesn't make a shelter, nor finds anything where he could sleep safely. He just lies on the pillow made from his big sack totally uncovered. It's almost like he's asking to be attacked. Whatever it is he seems to be doing it on purpose.
He lies on the ground calm, picks the 3 next to him and sits. He looks at the stones for a second and starts juggling them while looking around.
Gah-Hal's juggling is surprisingly skillful, the stones moving through the air in a graceful dance. He effortlessly tosses them from one hand to the other, his movements fluid and precise. It's clear that he has practiced this skill extensively.
After a while of juggling, Gah-Hal lets the stones fall gently to the ground, his hands coming to rest on his chest with fingers interwined. He looks up at the stars once more, his eyes tracing the constellations. It's a moment of calm reflection, a chance to connect with the universe in a way that only the open night sky can provide.
With a contented sigh, Gah-Hal shifts his position and lies down again, his hands behind his head. He continues to gaze up at the stars, allowing the serenity of the night to wash over him. He doesn't mind that he's sleeping in the open forest. He's embracing the possible challenges, proving to himself that he's capable of facing whatever comes his way... Probably...
As the night deepens, Gah-Hal's eyes slowly close, his breathing steady and calm. His thoughts continue to drift, a gentle current carrying him towards the land of dreams. And so, in the embrace of the forest and under the watchful eyes of the stars, he succumbs to a peaceful sleep.
Early Morning, Sunrise
Once sun is visible rising from the horizon, Gah-Hal immediately opens his eyes and stands up from the ground. He takes the sack he was lying on and places it back on him. He dusts himself off from a bit of dirt and some coniferous leaves, then goes back from where he entered the forest.
Around a minute passed and he is now back on the main road. Sun barely raised so he might not see anyone approaching for the closest hour. Still he continues walking to his destination. So far he has nothing else to do than just walking until he eventually meets someone or something.
On his way he plays with his bag spinning it around, throwing it around and catching it and some other things while still walking. The boredom is indescribable, but for the boy it doesn't look like a problem. He might be just a bit bored, but he still shows the signs of confidence on his daily trip to his destination.
After few minutes of playing with his bag he rolls it so it can fit into his robe pocket. Instead he takes out his pouch and looks inside. He then slowly start counting all the coins that he has.
"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve." Gah-Hal counts taking golden coins one by one.
With his hand partially filled with 12 coins he temporarily puts it into his another robe pocket and continues counting.
"Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-One. Twenty-Two. Twenty-Three. Twenty-Four." Gah-Hal keeps counting and puts another 12 coins into the same pocket.
"Twenty-Three... Fifty golden coins." Gah-Hal skips counting from twenty-three and right away said the total amount of coins he owns in pouch.
Once he finished counting he took the coins out of his pocket and back to the pouch. The pouch filled with 50 golden coins then becomes pinned back to his belt. He then continues walking with his hands behind his back.
2.5 Hours Later, Morning
Boy keeps walking forward and nothing else until eventually he decided that he wants to flex on someone with what he has. Money, skills, knowledge or anything else. Suddenly after a while he actually gets an opportunity to do it.
He sees a group of travelers coming and talking from behind a hill. There are 3 of them and all of them have leather armor on them and sword. They look like actual adventurers. But that doesn't matter for him.
Gah-Hal and group of adventurers dont stop walking and once they are close to eachother, Gah-Hal performs a graceful somersault, landing softly on his feet a few feet away from the startled travelers then goes past them with a little smile.
Travelers a bit startled then chuckle a bit and keep going their way. Gah-Hal does the same. He isn't shy to do something so random in front of strangers, especially strangers who look like quite experienced fighters.
It was funny for a moment, but after both sides disappeared from each sights the boredom hits again. Guess all that is left is just going forward until actually reaching the town he wants to go to. Unless he manages to see something on the way.
After a while he actually sees something that could be fun. Village in the distance. Maybe there will be something to do to make this journey a bit more fun. He smiles and goes there still following the designated path with his hands behind his back.
After around 10 minutes of walking he reached the village. It's medium sized village with around 200 people living in it. He looks around while walking on it's streets being the only wealthy looking fella here. He relaxes his hands and walks normally now to not look like he came here to mock less fortunate people while being the fortunate looking one. His smile also kind of disappeared to not show too much pride.
Though he is looking for fun, he isn't type of person to brag to left and right unlike most nobles. He has empathy to other people and isn't here to show his greed and pride. He just wants to have something to do to make his adventure less boring.
He takes in the sights and sounds around him. The village is peaceful and busy, with people going about their daily tasks and interactions. Gah-Hal makes an effort to blend in, walking casually and observing the villagers as he strolls through the streets.
He notices a marketplace in the center of the village, where vendors are selling various goods like fruits, vegetables, textiles, and crafts. Gah-Hal's eyes light up with curiosity. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to engage in a bit of interaction and maybe even some fun.
He approaches one of the vendor stalls, where a friendly-looking middle-aged woman is arranging colorful fabrics. Gah-Hal smiles warmly and greets her.
"Good day, ma'am. Lovely selection you have here." He says, his tone polite and friendly.
The woman looks up from her work and smiles back at Gah-Hal.
"Thank you. Are you interested in purchasing some fabric?" She asks.
Gah-Hal glances at the fabrics on display and then back at the woman.
"Yea. I think I actually want some. Do you recommend something? Silk or cotton? Wool?" Gah-Hal asks.
The woman gestures to the fabrics on display.
"I have a variety to choose from. Silk is known for its luxurious feel and sheen, while cotton is comfortable and versatile. Wool is great for colder weather. It depends on what you're looking for." She explains.
"It's quite impressive you sell silk here. I suppose this is quite visited by merchants?" Gah-Hal asks kindly.
"Yes. There is one or sometimes even two buyers a week. I pray it never happens but I'm shocked that nobody tried to steal or destroy the silkworms and their cocoons so far." Woman replies.
"Very good. Well then I will take the silk. All of it." Gah-Hal says while taking out his sack from his robe's pocket.
The woman's eyes widen in surprise at Gah-Hal's request. She quickly recovers, though, and nods with a smile.
"All of it? That's quite a purchase! But I'm glad to provide what you need." She says, gesturing for her assistants to help gather the silk.
Gah-Hal opens his sack and the woman and her assistants carefully start folding and placing the silk into the sack. The vibrant colors of the silk create a mesmerizing display as it's packed away.
Once all the silk is carefully packed, the woman securely hands the sack to Gah-Hal with a friendly smile.
"Thank you very much." Gah-Hal says it and places 3 golden coins for 5 10x10ft colorful silks.
Woman's eyes once again widen in surprise as he casually pays 3 golden coins.
"3 gold? That' a bit too much. Let me give you a change." Woman says.
"No need. Keep the change." Gah-Hal says with smile as he takes the sack and walks away.
This is incredible feeling being able to buy something so luxurious so casually and even overpaying for that. Gah-Hal is satisfied with purchase and happy with the tip he left to woman. This is what he likes. Showcasing himself as someone rich or strong the way others will also like it.
With his purchased silk in his sack, he leaves the village and continutes the journey with fun idea of what he will do with his recently bought expensive fabric.