The next day: Cusnir Residence
The family of three had just gotten back to their home after enjoying a breakfast together. Due to it being the weekend, Dawn took it upon himself to begin studying for the exam. This exam is a deciding factor of his future. As Dawn was studying, he heard a knock on the front door and decided to check who it was.
10:31am: Saturday morning
Dawn opened the door to a familiar face, one that he would have never expected.
Dusan: "Hey Dawn... can we talk for a minute?" He seemed off, not his usual assertive and confident demeanor.
Dawn: "Sure..." He was uncertain about this situation, questioning if he was being set up. Nevertheless, he stepped out and closed the door.
Dusan: "Follow me. I don't want anyone to hear this." He started walking off.
Dawn: "Why should I follow you? This is really weird, Dusan."
Dusan: "Just follow me. Trust me, this is not what I planned on doing with myself today."
Dawn sighed as he followed after Dusan. After a few minutes of walking, the two were now away from the dense part of town. Away from where people could hear what they were talking about.
Dawn: "I really need to be studying for our exam."
Dusan: "Just forget about it. What I am about to tell you is much more important than the stupid exam, Dawn." He now faced Dawn with a serious look on his face.
Dawn: "Look, the exam might not mean anything to you, but it is pretty important for my future." He glared at Dusan.
Dusan: "I know that I am not your favorite person in the city, but I am just asking you to listen. I have absolutely no reason to talk to you, so I'm sure you can grasp how important this has to be for me to go out of my way to have a conversation with you." He seemed more like he was pleading, rather than being arrogant.
Dawn: "Fine, just hurry up. My parents will get worried if I just disappear from the house."
Dusan: "I know the Cusnirs are not your real parents, Dawn.."
Dawn perked an eyebrow.
Dusan: "I know that it has been hard living without your real parents for ten years-"
Dawn: "Please just... spit it out man."
Dusan: "The raider group that came through and killed your parents... my dad was behind it."
Dawn took a step back, taking in what he had just heard.
Dusan: "I know that what I've just said is a lot to take in, but I am not lying. I also have no part in it before you come to false conclusions."
Dawn: "No I... I don't doubt you. I'm just shocked. Why would you tell me that? Why would your father even be involved in that?" He sounded confused, and rightfully so.
Dusan: "My father's reasoning is because it helped him gain power. With your parents and the farm out of the picture, my father can completely monopolize the farming industry in Solart. And my reasoning for telling you... I don't want to protect my dad anymore." He had a look of guilt on his face, a painful guilt.
Dawn: "You know what I'm going to have to do now, right?"
Dusan: "Yes. I will help you. My father needs to pay for his crimes."
Dawn was shocked, and completely overwhelmed with emotion. The "Golden Boy", the guy who constantly picked on him and his friends, just told him that the Chief of the city he lived in, was behind the death of his parents. A murderer.
Dusan: "I would like to help you directly, but I understand if you do not wish for that. I have mistreated you, and it was not right of me. I just thought that if I belittled you and your friends, that maybe the guilt of not saying anything would just go away." Dusan shook his head. "It only got worse."
Dawn: "Your thought process is not hard to understand, and I would rather you work with me on this. I just know that this is bigger than the two of us, so we will need my friends to help. And I am not sure of how keen they would be to work with you."
Dusan: "I would like to apologize to them anyway, and if they turn me away, so be it. I at least want to try."
Dawn: "I think that they definitely deserve an apology. I will take you to them, but first I need to gather them so it's easier to get all of this across. This will be a lot for them as well."
Dusan: "I understand. I will follow you, and you can do whatever you need to do."
Dawn: "Okay. Before we do this, tell me something, Golden Boy. What do you really think your father deserves?"
Dusan: "Murderers deserve to die." He said, his eyes watering.
Dawn: "I agree."
After their conversation, the two made their way to a spot by the river in the city. Dawn told Dusan to wait and hide while he gathered his friends. First, Dawn went to get Warin, who hesitated before tagging along. Next they gathered Elias, who was a little hesitant since Dawn was being mysterious, but decided to tag along anyways. Lastly, they collected Rhys and Margit, who followed without any hesitation.
11:15am: By the river
Rhys: "Okay Dawn, why did you need all of us to come here?" He said as he adjusted his stance.
Elias: "Yeah, you are being shady as hell."
Warin stood next to Margit, trying to get her attention, but Margit was focused on Dawn.
Dawn: "Before I say what I want to say, can I ask that you all just try to hear me out?"
Margit: "Of course, right guys?"
Warin: "Absolutely Margit!"
Elias: "Yeah, why wouldn't we?"
Rhys stared at Dawn for a moment before nodding.
Dawn: "Before anything is said, someone wants to apologize to you all."
Dusan took this as his que to come out of his hiding spot.
Rhys: "What the hell is dickhead doing here?"
Elias: "Yeah, I thought this was a group meeting?"
Warin: "Guys!" He said in a loud voice to get everyone to focus.
Margit looked at Rhys, studying her brother's upset look.
Dusan: "Dawn brought us all together to discuss something important, so I hope you all stay to at least listen to him, but I do want to apologize. I know I have acted like a jerk to you all-"
Rhys: "A dickhead."
Dusan: "Y-yeah... a dickhead. I just wanted to say that I am sorry. I will let Dawn explain why."
Margit: "Why is he sorry, Dawn?" She looked genuinely confused as well as concerned.
Rhys: "Yes Dawn, why?" He was irritated.
Dawn: "He was belittling us to ease the guilt he has for not telling us that his father was involved with the murder plot against my parents."