As Aiden sat on the rough wooden chair in the guard post, he noticed the two guards exchanging glances. His stomach rumbled again, louder this time, and he shifted uncomfortably, trying to suppress the sound. The older guard seemed to take note of this, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
"Poor lad," the guard muttered to his partner.
"Looks like he's been through more than just a brush with the undead."
Aiden kept his gaze down, not wanting to betray any emotion. It was true; his thin frame and the dark shadows under his eyes probably made him look even more pitiful than he'd intended. Still, he hadn't expected the guard's next words.
"Well, lad," the older guard said, his voice softening,
"how about you come home with me? You look like you could use a place to rest, and it's clear you don't have anyone to turn to."
Aiden glanced up in surprise, a mix of emotions flickering across his face. He'd been so focused on survival and gathering information that he hadn't considered anyone might actually care about his well-being. The guard—whose name he'd learned was Gareth—was looking at him with a mix of fatherly concern and sadness.
"It's just me these days," Gareth explained, his voice softening.
"My boy left the village a few years back to make a better life for himself in the city. I reckon it's quiet in that house of mine—wouldn't mind the company."
Aiden hesitated, his mind racing.
'A place to stay, even temporarily, would make things easier.'
He'd have a safe space to plan his next moves, maybe even gather more information in comfort. He gave a small nod, trying to look grateful rather than calculating.
"Thank you," he murmured, keeping his voice soft and subdued.
"That… that would help a lot."
Gareth smiled, his face lighting up with unexpected warmth.
"Come on, then, let's get you home."
The walk to Gareth's house was short, the modest cottage nestled on the outskirts of the village. The wooden walls were worn but sturdy, and the thatched roof gave the place a cozy, lived-in feel.
Gareth opened the door, gesturing for Aiden to follow, and Aiden stepped inside, taking in the simple furnishings and the faint smell of herbs hanging in the air.
"You can rest here," Gareth said, guiding Aiden to a small cot near the fireplace.
"I'll get some food going, and then we can figure out what you'll need."
As Aiden sank onto the cot, he glanced around the room, noting the little touches of a life spent in solitude. There was a half-finished carving on a small table, a few dusty books on a shelf, and a faded, framed drawing of a younger boy who looked a bit like Gareth. It was clear this was a home, worn and quiet but filled with memories.
As Gareth busied himself preparing a simple meal, Aiden's mind raced with cautious thoughts. He wasn't used to kindness for kindness's sake, and the idea that a guard—a stranger—would take him home so easily seemed too good to be true.
His gaze flicked between Gareth's back and the framed picture on the wall, his mind circling with suspicion.
'What if he's trying to observe me?' Aiden wondered.
'Maybe he thinks I'm hiding something, or he's hoping to catch me in a lie.'
Aiden shifted in his seat, watching the guard closely, wary of every move. Gareth seemed relaxed, almost humming as he stirred a pot of stew. But to Aiden, this could just be a tactic to lower his guard.
'It wouldn't be hard to pretend to be a friendly villager, keeping an eye on me while I'm vulnerable,' he thought, feeling a flicker of resentment mixed with unease.
His mind flashed back to his previous life, to the naive trust that had ultimately led to his capture and imprisonment in the lab.
'I let myself trust people once,' he thought bitterly, a cold resolve settling within him.
'And look where that got me.' He clenched his jaw, reminded of his last mistake and the price he'd paid for it.
'This time, I'll be careful. No one will ever put me in that position again.'
He reminded himself not to trust too quickly, not even in this strange, new world.
Whatever Gareth's true motives were, Aiden wouldn't let himself forget the lesson he'd learned in his previous life.
Still, the stew's aroma filled the room, making his stomach rumble despite himself. He'd been running on crumbs and cold rations for too long, and the smell of a real meal was hard to resist.
Gareth turned, catching his eye and giving a gentle smile.
"Almost ready," he said, his voice warm.
Aiden forced a small smile in return, nodding politely.
'Let him think I'm grateful,' he thought, keeping his own expression mild.
The more he could blend in, the less suspicious he'd seem. He needed to bide his time, learn more about this village and the people who lived in it, and then move on when he was ready.
Finally, Gareth set a steaming bowl of stew in front of him, and Aiden hesitated only a second.
"Eat up," Gareth said with a chuckle.
"You look like you haven't had a proper meal in a while."
Aiden took the bowl, feeling his stomach rumble with hunger, but a sliver of doubt lingered.
'What if the food's drugged?' He didn't want to seem overly cautious or rude, though, especially if Gareth's intentions were genuine.
So he forced a polite smile and spoke with as much sincerity as he could muster.
"I know it may sound rude to you," he began,
"but when I'm happy or grateful, I like to share with my friends. So, if you don't mind, may I offer you the first bite from my food? I'd really appreciate it if you would—it's my way of showing gratitude, after all."
Gareth's eyes widened for a second, then softened with understanding. A gentle smile crossed his face as he took the spoon Aiden held out to him.
"Well, aren't you a thoughtful young lad?" he said warmly, taking a spoonful of stew and tasting it.
"Not every day you see such kindness. Reminds me of my own son."
Aiden watched him closely, noting the genuine affection in Gareth's tone.
'So he knew,' Aiden thought, a little embarrassed but also relieved.
If Gareth had sensed his suspicion, he didn't show it, taking another bite to put Aiden at ease.
"Thank you, lad," Gareth said, patting Aiden's head.
"You're a good boy. Now go on and eat. I've had plenty already."
Aiden allowed himself a small, grateful smile, the tension easing a little. If the food was safe and Gareth was genuine, then maybe—just maybe—he could let his guard down. For tonight, at least.
--------
In another part of the village, two guards were on patrol, their heavy boots thudding softly against the cobbled path as they made their way down the main street. One of them, a burly man with a self-assured grin, spoke loudly, his voice carrying through the quiet evening air.
"Did you hear about that kid?" he said, puffing out his chest a bit.
"Came running into the village, practically with the undead nipping at his heels! Me and the lads took care of those monsters without breaking a sweat." He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The other guard nodded along, though his expression was more amused than impressed.
"Oh yeah, you made it sound like a real battle back there," he replied, his tone teasing.
"Could've sworn I saw you tripping over yourself to reach that 'monster.' "
The boastful guard waved him off, unbothered.
"Ah, you wouldn't understand, my friend. You see, it takes courage to face down the undead like that. Those poor villagers were probably terrified, and I was there to keep them safe. That kid looked at me like I was some kind of hero."
"His face was almost crying while looking up at me," he added, voice swelling with pride. "This is why I became a guard. To protect them with my life. I don't mind dying if it means I can save even a single person."
A few villagers passing by nodded approvingly, murmuring among themselves, clearly impressed by his words. The other guard smirked, barely managing to stifle his laughter, but the boastful guard continued unabated, basking in the attention.
After the boastful guard finished his grand story, standing tall with his chest slightly puffed out, clearly enjoying the attention of a few passing villagers, his companion couldn't resist the chance to mock him. The other guard scoffed, giving his friend a playful shove on the shoulder.
"Oh, so you're a hero now, huh? The kid was almost crying looking up at you?" he sneered, grinning.
"Didn't know we had a legendary undead slayer in our midst."
The boastful guard waved him off, unfazed.
"You wouldn't understand—it takes courage to be a protector, to put your life on the line for others."
"Courage, huh?" the other guard chuckled.
"Pretty sure I saw you tripping over yourself while you 'protected' everyone from that 'terrifying' undead."
The boastful guard's face flushed slightly.
"Me? Tripping? Are you sure? I would never make such a silly mistake. Probably your eyes playing tricks on you," he said, huffing with exaggerated pride.
"I tell ya, of all the guards here, I'm the one who will never trip over nothing."
The other guard burst into laughter, slapping his knee as he laughed even louder, clearly amused by his friend's endless boasting. A few passing villagers overheard and chuckled, knowing all too well that this guard's tales were often larger than life.
The boastful guard's face turned red, but he raised his chin, determined. "Laugh all you want, but these villagers are safe because of me."
His companion just kept laughing, strolling ahead with a smirk, still amused by his friend's "heroic" tale.