Above the snow stained village, the night sky stretches out like a vast canvas adorned with shimmering stars. Each pinprick of light twinkles with a serene brilliance, casting a soft glow over the tranquil landscape below. The moon hangs like a luminous pearl, bathing the village in its gentle silver light.
Within the marketplace of the village, a large house with a sign holding a symbol of a beer bottle next to its entrance emits a bright light and the sound of cheering from within the house. The house is alive with energy as villagers fill the space, their laughter mingling with the lively music that fills the air. The room is bathed in the warm glow of flickering lanterns and hearth fires, casting a cosy ambiance. Tables are pushed aside to make room for the impromptu dance floor, where couples twirl and spin to the rhythm of the music. The air is filled with the sound of clinking glasses and cheerful chatter as friends and neighbours come together to celebrate.
Perched at a table, Elara and the elderly Dwarf engage in lively conversation, their voices blending with the ambient hum of the alehouse. The Dwarf is encircled by a constellation of empty beer mugs, remarkably, he remained composed and coherent.
Elara: You sure do drink a lot.
Elara said, her gaze fixated on the empty beer mugs on the table.
Old man: I can't help it
The Dwarf man, sporting a wide grin, raises his arm in a gesture to the waiter, signalling for another mug with unabashed enthusiasm.
Old man: An old man's got to get a bit lively when he's celebrating, especially in front of a beautiful lady.
Elara maintains a stoic silence in response to the old man's comment. With a hint of resignation, the old man lowers his head as a waitress approaches, handing him a fresh mug of beer.
Old man: I could not be more happy after what you and those boys did
Old man: Those darn Glacier beasts have been causing trouble for this village ever since I was little lad.
Old man: One day, the village was attacked by one of those beasts. The beast was attacking the villagers and I was one of its targets. Then my grandson sacrificed his life to protect me from the beast until a group of adventurers passing by killed it.
The old man takes a sip of the beer from the mug and lets out a light chuckle.
Old man: Ever since, I always hated those beasts and kept hiring travellers to help get rid of them but all of them refused until you and those boys came and defeated all of them.
Elara's ears twitched at the sight of the old man's face as he lifted his head to meet her gaze.
Old man: It's all thanks to you that my grandson can finally rest in peace.
The old man's eyes shine brightly with life, expressing his deep gratitude to Elara.
Old man:That little bag of 7,000 gold crowns is nothing compared to the debt I owe, your price, you name it, I'll get you anything you want.
Elara turns her head, her gaze drifting past the villagers dancing in the centre of the tavern, toward the corner of the room where Nico, Rico, and Banko can be spotted engaged in conversation with female villagers at a nearby table.
Elara: I believe you've done more than enough by providing them with their new equipment.
The old man turns his head to face the boys at the corner of the tavern.
Old man: Oh really?
At the table, the boys are adorned in new, more advanced attire compared to their previous outfits. Banko is dressed in a level 8 blue hooded robe known as a silk robe, crafted from enchanted silk, offering enhanced water elemental resistance. Rico wears a level 5 Plate armour crafted from enchanted earth materials, providing +2 durability and earth elemental resistance. Finally, Nico is clad in a level 15 heavy armour called the Ironclad Armor, offering superior protection and adding +8 points to his durability stat.
The female villagers cluster around the boys at the table, peppering them with questions about their recent skirmish with the Glacier bears.
Banko: It was light work, no big deal
With a smug look on his face, Banko leans back in his chair and adopts a husky voice in an attempt to sound cool.
The girls: Wooow
As a waitress delivers three plates filled with curry soup-like dishes, one of the girls inquires if they were scared during their battle with the bears.
Rico: Nah, even though we almost died like 10 times, those bears were nothing against these muscle.
Rico raised his arm and flexed his biceps in an attempt to impress the girls. The girls collectively look at his arm in awe.
Rico:(Hell yeah, I'm going to get laid tonight)
Rico's voice echoed with excitement in his mind.
Nico's thoughts drift back to the aftermath of their battle, remembering how Elara initially pretended to forget her promise of a kiss. However, their disappointment quickly turned to excitement when a blue screen appeared, announcing their level-up to level 16.
One of the girls compliments Nico's armour, drawing his attention. As he glances at her, he notices her ample "assets" and can't help but chuckle. Putting on a husky voice, he attempts to flirt with her, adding a playful charm to the conversation.
Nico: Yep, it's nice isn't it, it cost me 20,000 gold crowns but it's no big deal.
While conversing with the girl, Nico casually dips his fingers into the bowl of soup instead of using a fork, picking up a piece of meat before bringing it to his mouth.
Nico:I've*chewing*got plenty of*chewing* of expensive*chewing* Armour back at my place.
Nico: Maybe you and I should check it out someti-
Nico abruptly halts his speech, sensing the collective gaze of the table upon him. Their furrowed brows and gaping mouths convey their evident disgust at his unconventional method of eating soup with his bare hands.
???: Oh, would you look at the time I've got to go
???: Um…my boyfriends calling me so…bye
???: I just realised I'm gay so…bye
All the girls hastily make excuses to leave the table, leaving the boys alone. Rico and Banko fix Nico with a stern thousand-yard stare. Banko seizes Nico by his shirt beneath the iron chest plate, while both he and Rico furrow their brows and narrow their eyes, raising their voices in admonishment.
Banko: LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE YOU INSIGNIFICANT FOOL, WE ALMOST HAD BI###ES!!
Rico: HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO GET LAID NOW!!
Old man:Those boys are a wild bunch.
The old man's voice lowered as he spoke, while Elara covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. The tips of her ears turn as red as a tomato, revealing her profound feelings of embarrassment towards the boys' behaviour.
Old man: I'd hate to say this but they remind me of the orcs that used to live here.
Elara's eyes light up with realisation as she reflects on their time in the village, noting that they've encountered a diverse array of races except for orcs.
Elara: Now that you mention it, why aren't there any orcs here?
The Dwarf man takes a sip of his mug of beer before letting out a deep groan.
Old man: This is something I and the villagers have agreed to never speak about but I can make an exception for you.
The old man proceeds to explain to Elara that the absence of orcs in the village stems from a tumultuous past. He recounts how orcs, once known for their barbaric tendencies and frequent chaos, nearly razed the entire village to the ground with their fire bloodline affinity. In response to their destructive behavior, the orcs were banished from the village and forbidden from ever returning.
Elara:(The orcs from where I come from behave very differently)
The old man took a huge sip of his beer.
Old man: Those damn orcs, they behaved like unsupervised children.
Rico's body flinched as he was eavesdropping on Elara and the Dwarf man's conversation while Banko and Nico were busy arguing over how Nico scared away the girls by expressing his African background.
Rico: OH SHOOT, THE KIDS!!
Rico slams his hands against the table, startling everyone in the tavern. Without hesitation, he swiftly orders multiple bags of food from the tavern before sprinting through the entrance, carrying a bundle of brown bags filled with food.
Old man: Wait *burp* That boy's a father?
Elara:(he's finally drunk)
Elara let out a light chuckle to the old Dwarf man finally entering a drunken state as a blue four winged bird entered the tavern and laid on Elara's shoulder, noticing the bird on Elara's shoulder. Banko screamed in fear and immediately ran to the darkest corner of the tavern. Everyone in the tavern laughed at Banko's reaction causing him to cover his face with his hood out of embarrassment.
Nico:(At least I'm not the only weirdo in the group)
Elara fixes a stern gaze on Banko, her eyes narrowed and eyebrows furrowed, conveying her disappointment at his behavior. Meanwhile, she notices the blue, four-winged bird carrying a wrapped piece of paper in its beak.
Elara:( What's this?)
Elara took the paper from the bird's beak and unwrapped it to unfold the hidden message within the paper. Elara 's eyes widened from shock.
Elara: This is-
…
In the heart of the snowy streets of Harmony Grove, Rico dashes past the village houses with the speed of an old man attempting to outrun a cheetah, always lagging behind.
Unbeknownst to Rico, within the shadows of one of the village houses he passed, a figure cloaked in long black robes, with green skin, lurks, stealthily stalking him from behind.
Cloaked figure:The time is near
…
In the heart of the snow-covered landscape, nestled between the village and the snowy Woodlands, stands a small, weathered shack. Rico approaches the door cautiously, his eyebrows furrowed, his upper eyelid lowered in apprehension, while a few droplets of sweat trickle down his peach-coloured face.
Rico:(Their kids, maybe they forgot about my promise)
Rico forced an awkward chuckle.
Rico:(I hope)
Rico's throat tightens with a gulp as he extends his hand toward the dark wooden door in front of him, his movements slow and deliberate. Before his hand can make contact, however, the door slides open of its own accord, revealing three figures leaping toward Rico's waist.
The kids: BROTHER!!
Rico: Brother?
Gabriella, Maximo, and Romeo cling tightly to Rico's waist, their small forms enveloped by the protective cover of his earth plate armor. They emit high-pitched whimpering noises, reminiscent of whimpering puppies, as they cling desperately to Rico.
Gabriella: You meanie!
Maximo: You forgot about us!
Romeo: You're just like our older brother!
Rico kneels down to one knee as the kids release their grip on his waist. With gentle care, he raises his right arm and brushes his hand against their sapphire blue hair, eliciting pouts from each of them.
Rico: I'm sorry guys but look I brought food.
Rico reveals the multiple bags containing food held in his left hand. The children's eyes sparkle with excitement at the sight, their mouths watering and stomachs rumbling in hunger.
Like rabid monkeys, the children eagerly reach for the bags of food, but Rico swiftly places his palm in front of their faces, preventing them from getting too close. With a firm but gentle touch, he redirects them into the shack.
As Rico closes the door behind them, he gives a command, akin to training obedient dogs, signalling them to settle down and await their meal.
Rico: Sit
The children tilt their heads in response to Rico's command. Rico proceeds to raise the bag of food on his hand and shake them lightly causing the children to instantly sit on the floor.
Rico: Good
Rico hands each of the children the bags of food, guiding their hands to cup the bags in a manner reminiscent of drinking water from one's hands. However, just as the children are about to open the bags, Rico gives them another command.
Rico: What do you say when someone gives you something?
The children look at Rico with visibly confused expressions, their fingers pressing against their chins as they ponder his question, searching for the answer.
Maximo: You're awesome
Rico chuckles at Maximo's answer.
Rico: That's nice but wrong.
Romeo: The food smells delicious
Rico: also wrong.
The kids' brains began to explode(metaphorically) as they couldn't seem to find the answer to the question until Gabriella spoke up.
Gabriella: Thank you!
Rico: Correct and for that you get an extra bag.
Gabriella's eyes light up with joy as she takes another bag from Rico, her excitement palpable. Meanwhile, her brothers accuse Rico of being unfair, to which Gabriella responds by mockingly sticking out her tongue at their protest.
Rico crosses his legs as he sits on the floor with the children, joining them in their meal. They munch on their food eagerly, devouring it like wild animals and leaving pieces scattered on the floor in their enthusiasm.
Rico: What do you guys want to be when you grow up?
Gabriella stands on her two feet with a face full of excitement, as if she had been eagerly anticipating the day someone would ask her that question.
Gabriella: When I grow I want to be a princess and get rescued by a strong handsome knight in shining Armour on a pink horse.
The two brothers eagerly jump into Gabriella's speech, adding their own aspirations for the future, their voices filled with enthusiasm and determination.
Maximo: And I'll be her right hand man to protect her!
Romeo: No, I'll be her right hand, you'll be her left!
Romeo retorted to Maximo's declaration.
Maximo: What no way, you be left and I'll be her right!
Romeo: No, I want to be her right!
The brothers' banter quickly escalates into a fistfight, as they pull each other's hair and stretch each other's cheeks. Rico watches the situation unfold with confusion, unsure of how to intervene.
Rico: What's wrong with being left?, it's the same thing either way.
Rico shifts his gaze on the rumbling brothers onto Gabriella after she let out a loud sigh with a displeased expression.
Gabriella: Why do boy's like to fight all the time, its so stupid.
Rico turns his gaze to the brothers as he replies to Gabriella's question.
Rico: That's just how we are, it's in our nature to compete against each other even for stupid reasons.
Rico: After all that is how we become better…kinda.
A loud sound of thumping emits from the wooden door behind Rico. The sound resonated with Rico as it sounded similar to the Christmas theme.
Rico slowly opened the door, revealing 3 figures behind the door to be Nico,Banko and Elara.
Elara: You look like you're having fun.
Elara stated as she gazed at the brothers holding onto each other's hair and the pieces of food staining the floor.
Rico: I guess you could say that but what brought you here?
Elara shows the pieces of paper that were given to her by the four winged blue bird.
Elara: This is a letter from the carriage driver, he says he will be here the next morning.
Elara: We need to pack up our stuff and get ready to leave tomorrow.
The children's eyes widen with despair, their eyebrows curling up and their smiles turning upside down upon hearing Elara's words.
Chapter 10 ends.