As we are approaching the log house I can see the bear (Roloth) chopping wood. I call out to him, but he doesn’t hear me. I’m trying to get his attention when a deafening roar comes from beside me

“DAAAAAAAAAD” {Of}

A high pitch noise is ringing in my ears. I think my ears have just been obliterated. I never liked music or the sound of birds anyway, who needs to hear, written communication is the future anyway. As I am holding my ears in a confused state Ofni is saying something to me but I can’t hear.

“…Prudan” {Of}

“I SAID ARE YOU OKAY PRUDAN?” {Of}

“YES PERFECTLY FINE” {Pr}

Before long the ringing in my ears stopped and I’m able to regain my precious sense of sound. Phew I was getting scared. Ofni has a powerful voice; a lion’s roar would sound like a kitty asking for milk in comparison. Roloth was now in front of me laughing heartily.

“Looks like you met my daughter, isn’t she the most beautiful and deadly there is?” {Ro}

“Yeah my ears testify to her deadliness” {Pr}

I feel an ominous presence behind me; the temperature seems to be falling drastically. Is that my breath turning into smoke? Out of the corner of my eye I see Ofni going for her sword, rage showing on her face.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding” {Pr}

She lifts her hand from the sword. My spirit returns to my body as time begins to turn again. I would much rather fight the gods and demons at the same time than anger her.

“hahaha, It’s good to see you value your life. Keep that instinct it won’t lead you astray” {Ro}

Well Roloth it was nice knowing you. I will send flowers to your family. Well it’s his family the one doing the killing so I guess I should only send flowers to the widow.

While I’m preparing the speech I will give in his funeral a shadow appears at his back, two red glowing dots filled with a murderous gaze shone in it.

BONK!

A clean hit to his head. The sound traveled to the deep reaches of the world. surprisingly he was still alive. His daughter the one who delivered the blow was walking away angrily.

While holding his head with both hands he says.

“There’s an unspoken rule in this house: never anger the women of this family!” {Ro}

“I will engrave that in my soul” {Pr}

“Looks like my girl isn’t a baby anymore. That hit really put the hurt on me, could you please finish chopping the wood?” {Ro}

Without answering I grab the axe and start lining up a wood block. After a few hours had passed the sky has been dyed red.

“Roro are you here?” {xxx}

I hear the sound of a woman calling for someone. Soon a mature lady appears. She is the picture of the model housewife; she has a warm atmosphere around her that seems calming to me. Yet one could feel danger if one incurred her anger.

“Oh Prudan, I heard someone chopping wood and I thought it was my Roro. I’m Agnis, Roloth’s wife. I’ve heard from my husband that you lost your memory; I’m sorry to hear that. Also have you seen my husband?” {Ag}

“Don’t worry about it I didn’t like my past self either, if I did how could I forget me” {Pr}

I say while laughing loudly. She responds making an awkward smile, looks like she isn’t used to this kind of humor if it can be called that.

“Anyway your husband is sitting by those logs. He is recovering from incurring your daughter’s fury.” {Pr}

“He never learns does he?” {Ag}

As Agnis is helping Roloth into the house I resume my log chopping labor. Before night fall I finish with the pile. The aroma of soup mesmerizes me and forces me to walk to the house. Now that I think about it I haven’t eaten anything since I woke up at noon.

When I entered the cottage I see Ofni setting the table, the tableware is rough but what do you expect from a family living on the edge of a forest. Agnis is by the fire cooking what I can only describe as soul medicine. When Roloth sees me he points at me and says.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Looks like your cooking has attracted a starving wolf” {Ro}

“With such a perfume even the king might come” {Pr}

“You flatter me, but it works. Your portion will be bigger!” {Ag}

As we take our seats around the table the family prays to some god I don’t recognize. Fortunately they don’t seem to mind that I don’t worship that god. The meal, which started with the soup, washed away all my wariness and soothed my soul. Without fail I tell Agnis that she must be the goddess of healing. Once everyone finished their meal we start talking about current events. After some small talk they prepare a bed for me in a shed outside the house. The bed was essentially a hay pile with a blanket on top; these people are too nice if they ever need me for something I will be there unwavering.

“Hey wake up, its morning already” {Ro}

A bear was poking me, eat me already don’t play with your food. I turned around and tried to keep sleeping.

“If you don’t wake up I’ll call my daughter and tell her you are muttering her name” {Ro}

I stood up as fast as lightning in an attention pose.

“Private Prudan is wide awake, Sir!” {Pr}

“Good! As promised after breakfast I’ll take you to the town. The walk to town isn’t too long just 2 hours” {Ro}

Once we walked outside the shed Roloth points to the east.

“You see over there, that’s the town of Tisnar. It doesn’t have a guard post but you can ask Tito the merchant for a ride towards the city. He will always welcome a new guard for free” {Ro}

I could see the town in the distance; it didn’t seem so big maybe 100 – 120 people were living there. After we had a breakfast that filled both my stomach and soul, we started packing pelts and firewood to be sold at the town onto a hand pulled cart.

We set off towards the town, I’m pulling the cart but since it isn’t too heavy so I’m seeing it as a workout. Also Roloth promised me some small amount of money in for pulling the cart so it works out. I didn’t mention it before but besides what I’m wearing and my mace I’m penniless.

Before long we reach the town, I can two thugs trying to do something to an elderly person. I hand the cart to Roloth and dash in the direction of what I assume are bandits.

“You were late with your payment two weeks in a row, so you must pay with your family or your property.” {Bandit 1}

“But this year’s harvest was bad; I’ve already given you all I can.” {Elderly}

The bandits are reaching for their weapons the elderly man is looking around calling for help with his eyes. When the bandit was getting ready to strike the old man I decide to intervene, it wouldn’t be good for my sleeping time if I let an innocent old man get murdered in front of me. I launch an ice bolt at the bandit that’s closest to me. The bolt catching him completely by surprise buries itself in his neck. The other bandit is in a state of confusion, taking advantage of that I close the distance and let’s just say tomato sauce was spread generously around.

The old man looks around confused; he doesn’t understand what just happened. I properly check these two are dead, they are no doubt about it. I turn to the old man he seems ok, in shock but fine. Once the old man regains himself he says in a grim tone.

“Thank you, but in saving me you have killed the town.” {Old man}

I think I might, and this is just an idea, gotten myself involved in something big. Well for now I’ll ask for details maybe this old man is blowing things out of proportion.

“What do you mean?” {Pr}

“Those two you’ve just killed are part of a band of marauders that have their base somewhere in that direction. They’ve been extorting this town for protection money.”

He pointed west, well I get the picture. Now the town can expect the marauders to try and raze the place in vengeance for the death of just two of their men. I guess I have no other option than to protect the town, hell I might even be able to get some money out of it. Whatever the case given that I put them in this position I must defend the town, but how would I do such a thing.