Chapter 14 - Duty Calls, But My Will is My Own

The accumulated fatigue had won the battle. I couldn't remember the exact moment I fell asleep, but when I opened my eyes, the fire in the hearth was still crackling softly.I was in the armchair, and surprisingly, I had managed to get some rest.Slowly, I sat up, rubbing my eyes. There was no trace of Nayris. When I turned my head, I noticed a small note on the table beside the armchair. I picked it up and read, "I went to work, though I'm not sure if the place will be safe. Take all the time you need to recover, see you soon!"I smiled, grateful for her gesture. Every muscle still felt tense, as if I were still carrying the weight of the battle, but I knew I couldn't stay here much longer. I didn't want to overstay my welcome.Leaving the note on the table, I added a small "Thank you" written by hand below. I got up from the armchair with effort, my legs still a bit wobbly, and gathered my belongings before stepping out of the house. As I opened the door, a gust of fresh air hit me, reminding me that the world kept turning, even though I was exhausted.Outside, the scale of the disaster became evident. Nethria was still buried in the destruction left by the gargoyles.The townspeople worked tirelessly, clearing debris and trying to restore what they had lost. I walked through the streets, observing the people in silence. Even though they had suffered, they didn't give up. They kept going despite everything.My plan was to head to the inn and rest a bit more, but that idea was soon interrupted. I felt a presence behind me before I heard a raspy voice that made me stop dead in my tracks."Grimmor is expecting you." It was the last thing I wanted to hear right now.I turned and saw one of Grimmor's lizards. His scales were smeared with blood, and his armor looked like it had taken multiple hits, but he kept going, standing firm as if his wounds were mere scratches. The resilience of these creatures never ceased to amaze me. Even after facing the gargoyles, the lizards demonstrated undeniable superiority."The tower?" I asked, trying not to show the exhaustion that still weighed on me.The lizard nodded, his gaze piercing and his voice chilling. There was no respect in his tone, only the need to convey an order."You have to go now."I had no choice. If Grimmor had summoned me, it wasn't to waste time. I took a deep breath, feeling how the stiffness in my muscles still lingered, though the potion from Nayris had done its job. I felt much better than the day before.I walked toward the tower in silence, closely followed by the lizard. As we approached, the voices in my head kept echoing. What could that idiot Grimmor possibly want now?My thoughts were interrupted when we reached the tower's entrance. The lizard opened the door, and I climbed the stairs with difficulty. Just before entering the room, I heard voices coming from inside."...we must increase security in Nethria. We can't let this happen again," said a voice I recognized as Loran's."Make sure the budget is managed properly," responded Grimmor in his cold and imposing tone.The lizard beside me nodded, indicating with a tilt of his head that I should enter. I obeyed, bracing myself for whatever awaited me inside. The echo of their voices on the other side of the door made me hesitate for a second.I knew nothing good could come of this, but I also couldn't afford to fail. The lizard's hand on the door snapped me out of my thoughts, and I took the first step toward the inevitable.Grimmor stared at me as I entered the room, accompanied by the lizard. His expression was serious, even more so than usual. There was a cold glint in his eyes, a mix of frustration and something else, harder to decipher.Beside him, Loran was looking over some papers, seemingly related to the budget they were discussing. He barely glanced at me when I entered, giving me a quick, dismissive look that made me feel even smaller."I warned you," Grimmor began without preamble. "I told you not to meddle with the gargoyles." His tone was cold, almost contemptuous, and I felt the weight of the situation start to press down on me.I didn't get a chance to respond. Grimmor raised a hand, signaling that he didn't want to hear any excuses. With a simple look, Grimmor ordered the lizard to hit me. The lizard landed a heavy blow to my stomach, knocking the breath out of me and sending me to the ground immediately."Despite your disobedience, I don't have time to punish you now. There are more important matters at hand."As I struggled to catch my breath, the pain was intense, like the air had been ripped from my lungs in one blow. The strike had been merciless.I thought bitterly, wincing in pain, "Punishment? Wasn't that punch enough?" What a perfect time to feel this, struggling to get up. But I knew this wasn't over. Grimmor never missed an opportunity to reaffirm his authority."Kael informed me that you fought well against the gargoyles," he continued with a mix of approval and disdain in his voice. "And that's why I want you to join a mission to eliminate them. I cannot allow this attack to happen again."I looked at him in surprise, still gasping for air. I had assumed he'd reprimand me, but I didn't expect him to involve me in such a crucial mission. Before I could fully process the order, Grimmor leaned slightly forward, his eyes fixed on mine. His tone shifted, becoming more threatening."If you're so eager to help, this is your chance to prove it. But listen carefully, Darius… I won't tolerate failure or any further disobedience. Don't think you're special just because you've seen that being from the mountains."A chill ran down my spine."We're preparing the warriors who will go with you. You'll need to be ready when they call you." His disdainful tone returned at the end, as if he already assumed I had no choice.I stood firm, though internally, doubts started to surface. It wasn't fear I felt but the pressure of knowing that my life depended on not failing.I wanted to say something, to respond in some way, but Grimmor waved his hand, signaling for me to leave the room."Get out. Out of my sight," he said with disdain, without looking at me again.I obeyed and turned around, followed by the lizard. I walked toward the exit, trying to process what Grimmor had said.Eliminating the gargoyles seemed necessary, but how could I pull it off? I had no choice; my participation was mandatory. As I stepped out of the tower, the sun was setting, painting the sky with shades of orange and red. The fatigue still weighed on me, and now I was sore from the hit. Can I ever have a day of rest?The people of Nethria continued working, clearing the rubble. I took a deep breath; Nayris's potion had helped.As I wandered aimlessly, still processing Grimmor's words, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. I turned, prepared for anything, but found Loran, who quickly caught up to me. His face, unlike the cold expression he had shown in the room, looked more relaxed."Sorry for not greeting you in the tower," he said cautiously, "but with Grimmor present, I have to be careful." He added, "By the way, that hit was unnecessary. Are you alright?" with a sincere look of concern.I nodded, understanding his situation. "I get it, don't worry. And yes, I think I'm alright."Before the conversation could drift toward what had happened the day before, Loran reached into his bag and pulled out a small leather pouch. "This is for you. Your first payment from Grimmor."I looked at him in surprise. What an irony! They punish me and pay me on the same day. I hadn't expected a payment so soon. I took the pouch and nodded in thanks. "Thanks, Loran. I didn't expect this."I opened the pouch and saw some coins inside. They were engraved with symbols I didn't recognize, and I had no idea of their value. Seeing the confusion on my face, Loran let out a small laugh."It's normal that you don't recognize them. This is the currency we use here. With these coins, you can live well for a while," he explained. "Grimmor may be a tyrant, but when it comes to paying his workers, he's always fair."I nodded, pocketing the pouch. I was grateful to at least have a way to get by in this strange place. "I understand. But before using this money, I want to help the villagers clear the rubble."Loran looked at me, surprised by my response. The surprise on his face was unmistakable. Maybe he wasn't used to seeing someone prioritize others before themselves in such a ruthless world."That's... admirable. Of course, Darius." We held each other's gaze for a second longer than necessary, as if there was something Loran wanted to say, but he chose to remain silent. Finally, he gave me a small, respectful bow before taking his leave.As he walked away, I could hear the murmurs of exhaustion from the villagers as they lifted more debris. I knew that, although I couldn't change what had happened, I could still do something to ease their burden.I took a deep breath and began walking toward them, determined to help. As I approached, I spoke with some of the villagers, and to my surprise, I realized that the people here weren't so different from those in my world. Most of them were honest, hard-working people, and not just the humans.The various races inhabiting Nethria worked hard to move forward, fighting every day for their welfare and the prosperity of the town.As I listened to their stories, I couldn't help but wonder if Grimmor was really as bad as I thought. Despite his lack of ethics and questionable methods, the people of Nethria seemed to live relatively well, something I hadn't expected under his control.Sure, the gargoyles had wreaked havoc, but I was still surprised to see that the people's morale remained intact and that they kept their will to move forward. It was truly admirable.