As they finished collecting everything of value from the village, Drogan gathered everyone together for a quick discussion. "We were planning on staying here for a couple of days to trade and rest, but with what we've seen, I don't see any point in staying any longer. It's best if we move on and put some distance between us and whoever did this."
Lith nodded in agreement, still reeling from the senseless violence they had witnessed. "Yeah, I don't want to be around when whoever did this comes back," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. "But where do we go from here?"
Drogan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Our next stop is Stonewall," he said. "It's about a week's journey from here.
The mercenaries seemed to be in a somber mood, and Drogan could sense that something was bothering them.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
One of the mercenaries spoke up. "We wanted to remind you that our contract will end once we reach Stonewall," he said. "We'll be looking for a healer for our brother with the missing arm, and then we'll gather some more people and we will be heading back to this foggy forest to search for our missing members."
Drogan nodded understandingly. "I wish you luck in your search," he said. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"
The mercenaries exchanged a glance before one of them spoke up again. "Actually, there is something," he said. "We were wondering if you knew of any healers or other skilled individuals who might be able to assist us in our search."
Drogan thought for a moment before replying. "I don't know anyone specifically," he said. "But I hear priests from the Order of Living Light are the go-to for any serious injuries "
The mercenaries nodded their thanks, and the conversation turned to other topics.
As they began to make their way out of the village, Lith couldn't help but reflect on the cruelty of the world they lived in. One day, you could be living a peaceful life in a village, and the next day, everything could be taken away from you in an instant. Accidents, bandits, or monsters could strike at any moment, and there was no guarantee that anyone would be there to help you.
It was a harsh reality, but one that Lith knew he needed to face. He couldn't rely on others forever, and eventually, he would need to be able to protect himself, his belongings and his friends.
Lith was determined to become stronger and more capable of protecting himself and those he cared about. So, he decided to ask Arin, who was sitting on a cart next to him, for advice on the best way to achieve this.
Arin looked up from the tankard of ale he was nursing and regarded Lith with a raised eyebrow. "Advice?" he repeated. "What kind of advice?"
Lith hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain his predicament. "Well," he said at last, "I've been training to become stronger, but I feel like I'm not making any progress. I was hoping you could tell me what the best way to become stronger is."
Arin smiled wryly, revealing a set of crooked teeth. " Ye've come to the right person," he said. "Listen here, laddie. I may be small in stature, but I've been around the mines a few times, and me know a thing or two about getting tough as an anvil."
Lith felt a surge of hope at Arin's words. "So, what should I do?" he asked eagerly.
"Aye," Arin said, leaning back in his chair and stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Now, there's a few ways ye could go about it. Ye could join a warriors guild or sorcerers guild, if ye've got a few coins to spare. They'll teach ye all sorts of fighting techniques, and ye'll get to spar with other fighters who'll help ye hone yer skills."
Lith nodded, listening intently. "And then what?" he asked.
"Once ye're feeling confident enough," Arin continued with a gruff tone, "ye can apply to join an Adventurers guild. They'll put ye through the wringer to see if you're worth yer salt, but if you make the cut, ye'll be taking on quests and missions that'll make ye as strong as an ox."
Lith felt a surge of excitement at the idea of joining an Adventurers guild. "That sounds amazing," he said. "But how do I know if I'm ready to join?"
"You'll know," Arin said with a grin. "Trust me, though. Ye can't let yer guard down for a second. Get too cocky, and ye'll be as good as buried."
Lith nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed by all of the information Arin had just given him. "Thanks for the advice," he said. "I really appreciate it."
"Anytime," Arin replied, taking another swig of ale. "But mark my words, lad. Nobody's going to hand ye strength on a silver platter. It takes sweat and toil to learn a new move or incantation, and ye've got to be willing to put in the effort if ye want to come out the other side stronger than ever."
Lith nodded, feeling more determined than ever to become stronger.