Ezhno was so proud of Odilia's feat of heroism the previous day that he could not hide his excitement. He tried as fast as possible to finish up all of his duties so he could rush throughout the village and tell everyone about what Odilia had done.

On his way around the village to see if anyone had anything for him to do, and with a grin that went from ear to ear, he would recite the tale to anyone that was willing to listen to him. Ezhno retold the tale of heroism with the utmost enthusiasm. He would explain how the brave Miss Odilia Redfield had slain a viscous wild beast by bashing its head in with a thrown rock.

Ezhno would embellish a little each time and add a few more little fibs around the truth but with a good heart and the best intentions, to make Odilia sound braver and stronger, but everyone that heard the story would laugh at him as if they were being tickled to death with a 1000 tail feathers.

The villagers would say things like, "You may be a worthless piece of shit, but your story telling skills are truly amazing, You should be working as a storyteller, not a "pooper-scooper" your tall tales are stuff of legends."

Or things like, "What audacity!, Poor people like yourself are always trying to seek attention. To make stuff up about the village head's granddaughter!? Do you have no shame!? Watch your tongue, I should go report this to the village head, Watching you get stoned to death in the middle of the village would be more entertaining than your atrocious lies.

Some were even full of joyful tears and laughter and even tipped him a copper coin or two and thanked him for such an amusing story.

Ezhno never understood what was so funny. He did not understand why someone would laugh, scold or even give him money. Shaking his head with a sour expression he wondered why they would say the things they said about someone that was able to victoriously slay a wild beast. Every time one of the strong people of the village would slay a wild beast they were all full of praises, but when Odilia slays a wild beast, instead of cheers, she is laughed at.

Ezhno would grow angry and repulsed on the inside, but he would just walk away with a smile on his face as if they were fools. Even if they did not believe him, he knew the truth.

After the days of laughing villagers, Ezhno decided he could not be bothered to tell the story anymore.

Ezhno said to himself, "If they only want to laugh and ridicule me, then there is no point to it. I don't care what any of them think, Odilia is one of the bravest and strongest in the village and when she slays another beast you all will remember how you laughed and ridiculed me, and will be slapping yourselves in the face."

While walking home with a smile on his face, every now and then he would laugh out loud as if he had gone crazy. The villagers who saw this would be startled and shaking their heads. They would walk around, far away from him, as if he had gone mad and might lunge at them and do something crazy, so they wanted nothing to do with it.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Minutes later, when nearing his home, while still slightly absent-minded due to the grandeur scene of face slapping and laughing, Ezhno was awakened by what felt to be someone punching him in the arm. He looked around to see who it was, only to see a copper kettle lying on the ground next to him. He heard a bunch of yelling and mischievous laughter in the direction of the house that the kettle came from.

The comical scene had 2 children in their early teens running and dodging with sporadic movements. Their mother was trying her best to land anything she could lay her hands on to stop them from running away. These obnoxious children were laughing and patting their behinds, while sticking their tongues out and giving raspberries sounds. The angry and annoyed woman would grit her teeth, only getting more riled up by the behavior of her children. She would continuously yell at the 2 teens in an indistinguishable language,

The middle aged woman furiously shakes her fist in the air and yells, "You brats get your asses back in here and finish fetching the water you were suppose to get this morning."

As they were running away, the taller of the 2 kids yelled back, "Hahaha who wants to do that boring stuff, we are going to go see what the hunters have brought back from the latest hunt. I hear it was the biggest beast that anyone has ever seen!"

"You lazy brats, wait till your father gets home tonight, I will have him discipline you with the greatest of care!", the woman warned.

The 2 kids looked at each other with scared sour faces and continued running away.

Ezhno was dumbfounded, as he watched the scene unfold He did not know if he should be scared for the boys or laugh at their plight. Ezhno lets out an envious sigh, and stares into the heavens, he wonders to himself, "If my parents were still around would that be me, getting yelled at by mom for running off to gawk at the beast the hunters brought back and would I get a good lesson as well when I returned from father?"

With these kinds of thoughts running though Ezhno's head, he continued on his way home, only to hear the middle aged woman shout at him, "Hey kid, you look like a strong boy, come help me fetch this water and I shall reward you handsomely with a gift that someone of your stature would not be able to afford."

The middle aged woman walks in the house, looks around and grabs an object from the table comes out and opens her hand in front of Ezhno.

Ezhno stares with wide eyes and an open mouth and enthusiastically agrees to help her with the water. Without hesitation, he immediately rolled up his sleeves, picked up the bucket and got to work.

He thought to himself.."It's just some water, what is the worst that could happen?"

Later that night, while lying on his bed exhausted he opened his hand to stare at the treasure he just acquired.

It sparkled and glistened in the candle light, as if he was holding the most precious of gems.

That damn lady, if I knew I had to go fetch 500 gallons of water I would of asked for more than one!

Well, I guess she was right with one thing, even if I could save enough money, I could not justify spending what little I work hard for to splurge on such luxuries.

I am exhausted but this was worth it in the end. With a large tired smile he found a safe place to put his treasure. He would be damned if someone came in while he was working and stole his precious treasure.

Ezhno blew out his candle, lay down in his bed, and fell asleep instantly.