"Tsk, we're about to fight a war, and you're worried about hurting someone's feelings?" Jezabel clicks her tongue at me as she notices my disposition.
"Sorry." She rolls her eyes at my response.
"Well, while you're busy being depressed, I need you to do something for me." Jezabel doesn't wait for me to respond before explaining the task. "The Duke is planning an expedition into the forest; the goal is to establish a forward operating base. Given that he doesn't know much about it, he's planning to hire an adventurer as a guide. That's where you come in. I want you to bring them to the destroyed stone fort where Inari and the rest of her fairies will ambush them."
"Won't it be obvious I led them into a trap?" I ask.
"The ambush won't occur immediately. We want them to settle down and get comfortable before springing the trap."
"Then why the fort?"
"The fairies made a hole from that cave you hide in and cleared out a large volume of dirt. Once the ambush begins, Inari will collapse the roof of the cavern, which will bury the soldiers alive."
"Harsh."
"Don't tell me you're feeling bad for them too." Jezabel chastises me.
"I mean, yeah, a little bit. Most of them are probably just kids that got conscripted. They likely don't even know what the Duke's plans are."
"Well, it's either those kids or my kids, and honestly, it's not much of a decision."
"I understand."
"So you'll help me?" she asks quizzically.
"Sure, but you can't stop me from feeling bad about it."
"Whatever," she says as she waves me out of her office. "Get dressed. They should be here in an hour or so."
[I knew the situation would eventually reach this point, but it's only now starting to hit me. I'm going to be responsible for a lot of people dying.]
A weight presses down on my chest as I consider the consequences of my upcoming actions. The war that seemed so far away is already upon us.
I find myself back at the house. Down the stairs to the basement, I open the door to our room. I am hoping that I can talk to someone to dispel the creeping emptiness, but they're all still asleep. I quietly get dressed and head back to the guild.
"What happened to you?" Like a concerned mother, Shelly anxiously looks over my dirtied armor. "Didn't you just get this?"
The equipment in question is covered in blood and dirt from the previous day's exploration. I haven't had the chance to clean it yet.
"Yeah, sorry, yesterday was pretty rough." My body still aches all over, but at least I can move. It may be unpleasant, but I shouldn't have any problems guiding some people into the forest.
"Come with me. We need to get you cleaned up." I allow myself to be brought to the back rooms of the guild hall. I'm unceremoniously shoved into a dimly lit room. "Wash yourself, and I'll go clean your armor."
I strip down to my undergarments and push the dirty armor out the door. I can hear her picking up my equipment and scurrying down the hallway. I'm left alone in a room, mostly naked.
[I really hope this is a shower.]
Sure enough, a nozzle extends out from one of the walls directly above a drain. I pull down on the lever next to the spout, and warm water comes pouring out. The sensation is so overwhelming that tears stream down my face. All my stress is washed away, and for a brief moment, I return to a much kinder world. A world where I never had to take the life of another human being. Time stands still as the water rains down on my shoulders.
"Hey, hurry up!" A gruff voice pounds at the door to the room. "Leave some hot water for the rest of us."
[I guess it makes sense that there's a limit.]
I turn the water off and move to the door, only to realize I have no clothes on save for my underwear. There's not even a towel to dry myself. Unsure of what to do, I stand frozen in front of the door.
'Bang, bang, bang!'
The knocking becomes more aggressive.
"Can you hear me? Open up!" Panic rises through me as I think of what to do.
"Hey! Knock it off!"
"But Shelly, I've been standing here forever while they're hogging all the–"
"Shew, go away. We'll call you when the washroom is available."
"I was just told that it's my turn."
"Leave. Now!" Shelly drives the assailant away with a stern voice. She then knocks on the door with a much softer voice. "Nick? Are you okay in there?"
"Um, yeah. I'm fine. I just realized I don't have a change of clothes, though."
"That's okay. Here's a towel. Your armor should be clean in just a few minutes so hang tight." Shelly cracks open the door and slides in a towel. I take my time and wipe myself off. A bench at one side of the room looks enticing, so I wrap the towel around myself and take a seat. My mind wanders while I wait in the dimly lit room. I allow each thought to glide by without engaging it. My eyes are threatening to close due to the warm, humid air. I struggle to stay awake as I lean back on the bench. The heat of the water helps to soothe my aching muscles, making it more difficult to remain conscious. Just as I'm fading into the twilight of sleep, Shelly knocks at the door.
"Nick? I have your armor here. I talked with our appraiser, and he says you should have it looked at. You need to maintain your equipment if you want it to last." She reminds me. I grab the armor she's passing through the partially opened door. It's spotless. I don't know what was done to clean it this fast, but I can't complain. Even a modern washer and dryer would take a couple of hours to do the same.
"Thanks." I quickly get dressed and step out of the room.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you." I look up at the woman staring at me with worried eyes.
"Do you have any kids?" I ask.