Ethanial heard the footsteps were drawing near as the man was coming to take a piss. He did not have time to run or a place to hide behind the hut. Surely he could not pretend like a passerby at this late night. They would immediately suspect him as a thief trying to steal their gold. Ethanial decided it was best to hide in the reeds where he was. But because of the lantern planted on the wall over the window, everyone could see a person between those reeds. Ethanial had no choice but to immediately blow out the light from the lantern and swiftly enter the reeds.

By the split of hair, Ethanial managed to hide. The guy was too drunk that he did not notice the light of the lantern to be out right in front of him. He pulled down his pants and took a leak on the reeds.

The smell was horrifying, it made Ethanial nearly vomit. But he could not do anything other than swear at him all the curses he knew in his mind while covering his nose. After a while, the guy moaned satisfyingly and returned to his drinking mate. Ethanial stood up hurriedly and scanned the room again. It was the same. There were no signs of the other four to come and sleep soon. They were still celebrating hard on their gold.

Ethanial swiftly entered through the window and went straight to the crate. He uncovered the cloth and saw chunks of gold ores, each nearly the size of a fist.

As soon as he entered the room, he also heard the conversation between the two in the next room.

"So the captain takes three, you take three and we get one each?"

"Exactly."

"Sergeant, you must be thrilled getting the same amount as the captain."

"What can I say but my luck? He is too scared to take a lot. He doesn't want the administration on his tail."

Their conversation made Ethanial think for a lot. If he was too scared, he should have let the old man keep the gold. There won't even be any issues then.

"What a bunch of despicable shitheads."

Ethanial looked at the gold. There were nine of them. He could take one for the old man and maybe another one for himself too. But one is justice, two is stealing. Surely lord Mordu' would not like this. But taking only one would raise suspicion as the captain and Sergeant would not get the same amount. Taking two will make it two-two between them and these drunkards might not remember it was three-three. Then again, it would be stealing and they might recognise their loot becoming too light.

After contemplating much, he decided to take two. Ethanial was sure that the sergeant would remember that he and the captain got the same amount.

Ethanial put the gold in his pocket and swiftly went back to the inn. On the way, he dropped two pieces of gold inside the tent where the old man stayed.

When Ethanial reached back to the inn, the owner was about to close the door. He said good night to the owner and rushed back to his room. As he passed by the owner, he noticed the owner covered his nose. He decided it was better not to explain this foul smell so he quickly entered the room. Leila was already in bed. He quietly searched the bucket to wash off the stench.

"Where did you even go to come back with such a fouling smell?" Leila whom Ethanial thought to be asleep complained after smelling something bad from him.

"You were awake."

"Of course. I am waiting for you. You better wash it off fast. Or I won't let you in my bed."

"I am about to."

Ethanial found her words cute and lovingly. He had this horrible smell yet she still wanted to cuddle with him. He took the water from the bucket Leila pointed to and cleaned himself, and his clothes thoroughly. It was very cold to wash at night, his hair was standing from the chill. He left his clothes to dry and entered the bed to his love. There he quickly fell asleep on her warmth like a baby in his mother's embrace.

"Rise and shine honey. The breakfast is here."

On Leila's voice, Ethanial woke up. He stretched his arms and legs on the bed before getting up. Yesterday night was terrible but a warm sleep fully recharged him.

"You sleepyhead, the sun was already out long ago."

"Really? Then, we are late."

"No, no. Finish your breakfast first. I will get your clothes. I hanged them outside to dry under the sun."

Ethanial finished his meal fast and they continued their journey. When they rode past the hut Ethanial visited last night, he heard some argument.

"Hey, don't you think our gold is lesser?"

"What? There are seven of them, right?"

"Exactly. Isn't there more yesterday?"

"I ...er not sure sir. One thing that I remember is you and I get the same amount. They each get one. Isn't it right?"

"Yes. I remember it too sir."

"I see. Then we are good. ...let's start the party again."

Ethanial chuckled and shook his head. These idiots would never live better he concluded. The two rode to the entrance of the camp where he saw the sick old man from last night standing on the path near the fork road. When the old man saw them, he approached them with a smile. Ethanial shook his head again and sighed.

"Leila, wait here for a moment. There is something I need to take care of."

"Okay. Don't take too long though."

He got down from the horse and walked up to the old man.

"What is it, old man?"

"I just want to say thank you to my saviour."

"Okay, I get it. So forget about last night. Forget you met me. Forget like it didn't happen. Understand."

"Yes sir. I will. But here. I needed only one, so take one sir." The innocent old man took out a chunk of gold from his pocket and handed it over to Ethanial out in the open. It frightened Ethanial and quickly gave the gold back to the old man.

"The heck!? Don't pull them out like they are nothing. What if someone sees? What if those Duke's men see?"

"Sorry sir. But I want to give this back. I only need one. If my bag looks too heavy, it will attract unwanted attention."

"Fine. I will take it."

"And I have a favour to ask sir."

"Another one? Really?"

"Can I tag along with you, sir?"

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"No."

He flatly declined. Ethanial decided it was best not to associate with the old man again. Just being together might raise suspicion and theft was something this camp did not tolerate. Also by any slim chance, this was known by an ambitious person and used to his advantage, another tragic incident like the one 13years years ago might happen again. Back then a small fight between a Templer and a commander resulted in the clash between the crown and the Temple which nearly changed the era. Ethanial surely did not want to risk it happening again.

"But I can't go alone, sir. The bandits will get me,.."

"Use the conveyor route. It is safer. And my horse can't carry three adults anyway."

"I can walk."

"I don't have time to keep your pace. My wife needs to be home by this evening before the moon is out."

"I can give you some gold. Small ones."

"I don't want your gold and I don't owe you anything. Don't expect a fucking stranger to solve all your problems." Ethanial yelled impatiently.

After hearing harsh words from Ethanial, his head fell. The old man thought Ethanial was God-sent saviour.

"I understand sir. I will gratefully tell the Temple your benevolence that you helped save my family."

"Oh, I will also be grateful to you then."

"I shall also tell how you took one for yourself."

"Sure...wait. What did you say? Did you just threaten me?"

"No sir. But how can I, a mere man, keep a secret in front of the Lord and God? I must speak the truth." the old man acted fool after subtly threatening Ethanial of corruption.

"You fucking backstabbing old man." Ethanial cursed the old man by grabbing the collar.

The unexpected words from the old man got him off guard. He could not believe what he just heard. Usually such passive-aggressive was used only among the rich and aristocrats. Ethanial thought he would never deal with such a thing in his life.

Ethanial checked at the old man. His persistence was something. He was even glaring at Ethanial as if he had no fear. But Ethanial could see into the deeper part of the mind. It was no courage nor fear. No. It was desperation.

The old man truly believed that Ethanial was his saviour and that his family would be saved only by him. Without Ethanial, his mission of saving his family would fail. That's what the old man believed. He even planned to go to the Temple with Ethanial.

Finally, Ethanial gave in. "I see. You come along. But you need to know I am taking the adventurer road and at one point, the bandits may get you. Even if they didn't, ...sigh* I will fucking chop your head off myself and dump it on the road. So come with me. Or use that gold to buy a donkey and fucking take the conveyor road."

Ethanial threw the harshest words he could at the old man. It made the old man tremble in disbelief and turned pale. Ethanial buried the old man's fantasy to the ground.

"What?... You... How can you ...?" the old man lost for words to say.

Ethanial continued, "I am not the saviour of your family. I am a stranger you know nothing about. So stop daydreaming and get a donkey. The Duke's convoy leaves soon. Ride in front of them with a candle time difference."

After giving a piece of advice, he left the old man without looking back. It was the best Ethanial could do. In this harsh and chaotic world, a man's true friend is his own strength. Help can be found only in oneself. The poor had no luxury of relying on others. If this poor old man kept relying on a 'God-sent saviour' fantasy, he would drag his poor family to death along with him.

"Who is he? You don't look too friendly to each other." Leila asked Ethanial after she saw the fight from afar.

"An acquaintance."

"From last night?"

Ethanial nodded his head. Then he quietly got on his mount and steered toward the adventurer road. Leila also got quiet for a while, lost in thoughts. Then, she chuckled suddenly and teased Ethanial.

"Don't tell me that stinky smell last night was that old man's piss."

Ethan flustered so much that he choked on his spit and coughed.

"No. It was not that man's."

"So it was piss. Yuck."

She got him the second time. He was so flustered, that he forgot how to ride the horse.

"No, it wasn't. I... Can we not talk about it?"

Ethanial was not comfortable with the conversation. But it made Leila want to tease him more.

"We should talk. I am really curious about how someone's piss got on your clothes. It is really intriguing for me."

Ethanial knew she was teasing him. But it still made him dizzy. He knew she would not end if he kept silent so he decided to make up a story.

"I was taking a dump in the bushes. Suddenly that old man took a leak toward the bushes where I happened to be there. It was dark and his eyes are shitty poor. That's the story."

Ethanial ended his stupid story. He was disappointed in himself. It was so lame. He had no hope of her buying it. Luckily she did so. She clapped and laughed so hard, that Ethanial had to hold her so as not to fall off the mount.

"So what did you do when he was pissing on you?"

"I shouted of course. 'hey there is a man here. Leak your stinks elsewhere'. But his sphincter isn't as good as it used to be. So it didn't stop. Hell, I even forgot why I was there. Everything went back in."

"Oh my God. That was hilarious. You must have been startled. My poor Ethan. I wish I could kiss you right now to make you feel better, " said Leila to make her dear Ethan feel better after she teased him.

"You could let me kiss you on your neck." Ethanial quickly smooched her beautiful neck not to miss his chance.

"Hahaha. Not there. Hahaha. Please. No! I am sensitive to my neck. You are tickling me."

"Okay. Just the last one then." He gave a quick kiss on her neck and retreated. He was so happy, he forgot the nuisance a moment ago.

Then what Leila suddenly said flustered him, "You naughty man. Keep your little brother to yourself. It is too early."

"What?"

He touched himself and found a big hump near his waist touching her.

"Oh," He took out the hump, "don't get me wrong. It is just a chunk of gold touching you."

"Gold!?" Leila was surprised so he showed it to her.

"Yes. I got it yesterday from the stream."

"I got excited for nothing then," Leila said shyly. It made him laugh. She was so cute, he concluded.

The adventurer road, as its name insisted, was the road for adventurers. It was a shortcut from the camp to a farming village called Ronstead but many bandits camped inside the forest usually came here and robbed the travellers, earning its title adventurer road, where only adventurers would dare to pass.

However, that day, as if the goddess of love were protecting them, the two lovebirds rode along the path like a stroll in a park.