Now it began a joyous and harmonious day for the people of Greenville, where it revealed a montage of villagers working diligently to restore their homes to a peaceful state, returning to their daily routines.
Villagers gathered wood from the forest, fetched water and food from the river, and repaired their farms and homes. Despite the lingering scars of the recent attack, the community worked joyously together. A few individuals still struggled to forgive the bandits, but the majority embraced the opportunity to rebuild, setting aside past grievances.
Everyone was working together alongisde the adventurers and former bandits, for how it happened began all the way back to the previous day. The sun setting casting it's orange hues throughout the land
It was the same day the being had saved them. The village gathered in somber silence outside, mourning those who had died. Their bodies rested on wooden platforms and haystacks, awaiting cremation.
Initially, many villagers resisted the idea of working alongside the bandits. The wounds were still fresh, with some having lost homes, belongings, or loved ones to them.
The bandits, too, bore their own marks of remorse and weariness.
They worked alongside the villagers, their faces lined with exhaustion and regret. Some had their heads bowed, silently laboring as a form of penance, while others exchanged glances filled with shame and sorrow. The once-feared bandits now seemed like mere shadows of their former selves, each carrying the weight of their past actions. They moved carefully, avoiding eye contact with the villagers who still harbored resentment, trying to prove their commitment to the task at hand. Despite their efforts, the guilt they felt was palpable, and their attempts at redemption were met with mixed feelings.
The adventurers, feeling deep sympathy for the villagers, decided to pause their expedition to assist with the reconstruction. They also kept a vigilant eye on the bandits to prevent any potential betrayal.
As the funeral pyres burned, emotions ran high. The loss of their beloved elder, a figure who had cared for them like a father, alongside the other bodies of their loved ones who had lost their lives during the invasion, as it had weighed heavily on everyone.
“If only I had looked back,” Andrith lamented. “The elder… no, our father, would still be here.”
One villager asked, “Could we ask the being to bring them back?”
Baldwin replied, “We could, but it would seem ungrateful after all we’ve been given,”
Andrith responded as he wiped his tears off with his wrist “yeah.." as he stiffened his expression masking his grieve, "And I don’t think the elder would have wanted to return.”
“I agree,” Baldwin said. “We should be grateful for the chance to start anew. We shouldn’t ask for more.”
Apologies and reassurances followed, leading Baldwin to address the crowd.
“It’s natural to grieve,” Baldwin said, “but we’ve been given a rare gift. Both villagers and bandits alike have been granted a second chance. It is our duty to honor those who sacrificed themselves by taking responsibility and working together to build a better future. We alone can shape our destiny.”
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Turning to the bandits, Baldwin continued
“Bandits, since you are now a part of our village, you will be given an opportunity to make up for what you’ve done. Now I ask of you, please take responsibility and help us rebuild our village!”
A momentary silence followed as Baldwin added, with a serious tone
“But if you ever decide to turn against us and betray our trust, I will have no choice but to either imprison you or execute you, depending on the severity of your crimes. Will that be alright? I may not look like it, but I am a gold-ranked adventurer after all.”
The bandits, despite their unease, nodded in agreement. They were still cheerful, seeing this as a chance for redemption. The villagers' doubts were somewhat alleviated, and whispers of Baldwin’s gold rank spread among the crowd.
The adventurers who overheard Baldwin’s warning murmured in amazement. A gold-ranked adventurer was indeed a rare and significant presence, and his authority was a reassuring factor in the village’s new order.
“Thank you for this chance,” one bandit said, his voice thick with emotion.
“We’ll work hard to prove ourselves,” another vowed.
"Let’s make this a new beginning for all of us!” someone else exclaimed.
Cheers of agreement and encouragement filled the air, blending with the villagers' support.
With the elder gone, the question arose: who would succeed him? Andrith spoke up, his voice carrying conviction.
“Baldwin! He saved us before, orchestrated our escape, and sacrificed himself fighting the bandit leader. He’s the only one fit to lead us.”
“Thank you, Andrith,” Baldwin replied, touched by the support.
“If Baldwin is willing, I’m on board!” declared by a Villager amongst the crowd.
“Me too!” added another.
“Everyone…” Baldwin began softly.
Anticipation filled the air as the villagers looked to Baldwin, their hopes resting on him to guide them to a brighter future.
“Sigh, I guess I’ll take responsibility then,” Baldwin said. “But you all better not slack off!”
“Yeah!” came the enthusiastic response.
“Hahaha!” Baldwin’s laughter mixed with the villagers’ cheers.
The mood lightened as plans were made to celebrate Baldwin’s appointment as the new village chief.
“Let’s celebrate Baldwin’s promotion!” Andrith proposed.
“Hoorah!” the crowd cheered.
Despite their differences, the villagers, bandits and adventurers came together to celebrate. They shared drinks and stories of their adventures, remembered those who had passed, and relived the moments of divine intervention that had changed their lives. For it was the topic mostly discussed among the crowd, which is now known to be called "The god and his holy sword", which refers to his knight.
As the festivities continued, a shadowy figure observed from above. The being who had saved them watched over the celebration.
Ralf looked up, catching a glimpse of the being before it vanished.
The celebration carried on throughout the night, marking the beginning of their new chapter. A new dawn