The Elderly woman smiled a soft, warm smile. She took Ralond's hand, holding it in both of hers. "I've been with my husband for a time now. Even though I may yet live another day. A day is the most I have. So… Won't you let us go together, in peace?" She explained, sending a small amount of mana through her hands and into Ralond's hand. "Take this and get them to safety. I'm sure Lady Eternia's teachings have been passed down to her daughters. They will take in and protect the faithful." She added, seemingly becoming even less lively, now that her mana was depleted.
"I… I see. Thank you… For everything. I wish you a peaceful journey. And may Lady Eternia embrace you both warmly." Ralond said, trembling as he pulled out a couple pills and put them on the table.
"Good, now go on and get those young ones out through the chaos out there." The Elderly Woman replied, slumping down in a chair next to her husband, the Elderly man.
Ralond, not needing any more words nodded and wiped the tears from his eyes. Then turned around to leave. As he walked towards the door the Elderly man called out.
"They are in your care now, Ralond! You're the head." The Elderly man unwaveringly said.
"I'll take care of them. You… you two watch over us." Ralond said, as his shoulders quivering. As he remembered from a time long past.
…
So too, did the elderly man…
~ The elderly man's memory ~
"Hey get back here you brat!" A man yelled, running down the street.
Ahead of the man was a boy about the age of 6, maybe 7. He was covered in dirt and wore rags. Yet in his mouth was a fruit, juice spilling out of it as he ran. And in his arms were a few more fruits.
"I have to lose him. And quickly!" The boy thought, then ducked into an alley.
The man, a fruit vendor, wasn't very good at running, so not only did he fail to catch up but he lost the boy and his fruits along with the boy.
"Damn, he got away again today. Seriously, what is wrong with that boy?" The fruit vendor sighed, as he got back to his stall.
"Ahahaha, lost him again today?" A young man, a regular of the stall laughed, as he walked up seeing the vendor's face all flushed from running.
"Yeah, that little brat, he keeps stealing my fruits. If he steals anymore I might just have to hire an adventurer or two just to catch him." The vendor chuckled his annoyance away, looking up to the top of his stall's tent cover.
"Hmm, a child able to run away from a full grown adult. Are you sure you aren't just letting him get away?" The young man chuckled.
"Who knows, maybe I am." The vendor sighed, with a half smile. "But what I do know is that boy is smart. He never tries to steal more than he can reasonably carry. And he takes a different, seemingly random exit every day he comes to steal fruit." He explained, crossing his arms.
"I see, perhaps I'll come and purchase my order a little earlier next time. Maybe I can catch the boy before he runs off. Just, don't hit him. I think there might be something more than this to the situation." The Young man said.
"Well, if you're offering, then fine. That boy usually comes once a day for three days and then takes a break once a week. And I'm not the only vendor that he steals from." The Vendor said.
"Hmm, perhaps he is stealing not for himself but for someone else. I wonder? Is he an orphan? That last monster tide took quite a large number of lives. If not for those Magus and High Magus that had been passing through… I doubt even I'd be standing here today." The young man said, placing his hand gently on the hilt of his sword, his off-hand of course. No swordsman worth their salt would place their ready hand on the hilt unless they planned to draw that blade.
"Hmmm, even someone as skilled as you? You're one of the top swordsmen in the city. And even you can say that with a trembling look… It must have been really bad." The vendor sighed.
"It was, but it taught me some valuable lessons…" The young man said, exhaling a relaxed breath.
"What? That a magus is worth a thousand knights or something stupid like that?" The vendor joked, half heartedly.
"Well, from what I saw it was close to 3 thousand for most of those magus. As for the High Magus… HA! Even a million wouldn't even phase them. That is, unless you could catch them off guard and completely unawares with a fatal blow all in one go." The Young man chuckled. "No, but in all seriousness I learned quite a bit. And that is why the first thing I did when I came back, was to marry the love of my life and start a family. I… I refuse to leave without passing my memory along." He explained.
"Ahahaha! Good on you young man! Make that woman a happy one ya hear." The vendor laughed. Handing over the regular order.
"I intend to do that very thing." The young man smiled, paying for the order with one hand, and accepting it with another.
The order was a cubic meter crate, filled with various fruits. All of them are fresh and ready to be turned into delicious baked goods. And the young man was just holding it with one hand. A shocking feat to say the least. But not for someone who was said to fight monsters on their own from time to time.
"Good, I'll see you tomorrow. If you capture that little brat stealing my fruits I'll give you and that new wife of yours a free order." The vendor said loud and proud, waving the young swordsman off.
"Thanks, I'm sure she will love it. Baking goods is the thing she loves the most. See you tomorrow!" The Young swordsman said, waving his hand with a cool smile on his face.
"Damn, that young swordsman is cool. So collected and kind. Tomorrow is going to have a good show." Another vendor said, slightly jealous. Though it wasn't out of envy, it was admiration.