When the gatehouse came into view I resisted the urge to run toward it. I think it was only how exhaustion seeped into my bones that I didn’t. When we reached the walls, the gate was open. Wesley and Mr. Lowe were there to greet us, their faces worn with concern. But it was Hanna who took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to share the horrifying details of what had happened.

Hanna's voice quivered, "Wesley, Mr. Lowe... We were ambushed by Mark Wilson. He attacked Cade, tried to kill him."

Wesley's eyes widened with shock, his voice strained, "What? Are you serious? Cade, are you okay?"

I don’t know why I didn’t respond, but Hanna nodded, her voice filled with relief, "Cade fought back, defended himself. He managed to shoot Mark, and killed the son of a bitch."

The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. I could sense the weight of the news sinking in, the magnitude of what I had done becoming all too real. Wesley broke the silence, his voice filled with a mix of worry and support.

"Cade, are you alright? Is there anything you need?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice, "I... I'm okay, Wesley. It happened so fast, I didn't have time to even think. He left me no other option. But still, it's hard to shake off the feeling... the weight of what happened."

Mr. Lowe stepped forward, his eyes filled with understanding, "Son, sometimes, things happen that we wish didn't. You did what you had to do to protect yourself."

I appreciated his words, but the enormity of what I’d done still gnawed at me. I’d killed dozens, maybe even hundreds of monsters the System had thrown at me. Yet, there was something entirely different about killing a man. A part of me felt changed in a way nothing else had done to me.

As I walked toward the tavern with everyone, I fell into step beside Hanna, searching for some kind of reassurance. "Hanna, do you... do you think I could have done something differently? Could I have found a way to resolve it without... without taking his life?"

Hanna's voice was soft but firm, "Cade, I've known you since you were a little kid. You're the last person who would willingly harm someone. But in that moment, it was a matter of survival. You did what you had to do to protect yourself. Don't let the weight of what you had to do get to you."

I nodded, feeling a glimmer of acceptance and understanding. Jayden stepped forward, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and concern. "You did what you had to do, man. We're here for you, no matter what."

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Later that evening, I sat alone at a corner table in the tavern, my plate of dinner before me yet uneaten. The weight of the day's events still lingered in my mind. Emily, holding a plate from the kitchen, came over and took a seat next to me.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice soft and comforting.

I looked up, a flicker of gratitude crossing my face. "Not at all, Emily. I could use some company."

A gentle smile creased her lips. Our eyes met, and I could see the empathy shining in her gaze. "It's been a rough day, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, it's been... intense," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't shake the feeling of what happened."

Nodding, Emily leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a comforting tone. "I understand, Cade. I can’t begin to know what you’re feeling, but I imagine it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed after something like that.”

I sighed, my shoulders slumping as I looked down at my uneaten meal. "I never wanted things to turn out this way. I never wanted to take someone's life."

Emily reached out and placed her hand gently on mine, offering a comforting touch. "Cade, you did what you had to do to protect yourself. Mark made his choice, and you defended yourself. It's not your fault."

The tavern door swung open with a bang, and an enraged Penny stormed in, her eyes blazing with anger and grief. Without hesitation, she made a beeline towards our table, her fury palpable in the air.

"What the fuck, Cade?!" Penny's voice reverberated through the room, drawing the attention of everyone present. "You killed Mark! You took him away from me!"

I felt my heart sink as her words pierced through me, the weight of guilt returning in full force. Emily's grip on my hand tightened.

Emily wasn’t one to back down and rose to her feet, her voice firm and steady. "Penny, I understand you're hurting, but Mark was no saint. He was a freeloader and an asshole. Cade defended himself."

Penny's eyes flashed with anger, her voice filled with venom. "You don't know anything! Don't you dare say anything about him!"

I watched the confrontation unfold, torn between sympathy for Penny's grief and the reality of Mark's actions. But as Penny crawled across the table, her fist swinging towards Emily, something snapped inside me.

"Stop!" I shouted, pushing myself up from the table, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and frustration. "This won’t bring Mark back."

From his place at our normal table, Jayden rose and quickly crossed the taproom and grabbed Penny, pulling her away from Emily with more force than necessary. Hanna, never one to back down from a fight, approached Penny with a fierce determination.

"You want to start something, Penny?" Hanna's voice carried a warning tone, her hand resting on the hilt of one of her knives. "Think again."

Penny's anger dissolved into tears, her resolve crumbling under the weight of her emotions. She ran toward the staircase leading to the Inn, seeking refuge from the overwhelming intensity of the situation.

I stood there, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within me. Guilt, anger, and a profound sadness filled my heart. This was not the outcome I had hoped for, but I couldn't deny the truth of Mark's actions and the necessity of my own self-defense.

Jayden's voice broke through the silence. "Cade, I think it's best if you keep an eye out and lock your door tonight."