The sun rose over the field as Norbert turned around, no longer needing to be so attentive to his flock of children. The town finally woke up as people passed by, pausing as they saw Norbert before quickly rushing off.
Norbert’s hand was always half held up in a wave that was never given back. Looking at the vampire on his side, completely wrapped up now that the sun was starting to poke its head up signalling a new day, Norbert wondered if the townspeople were more concerned about the number of people now camping in the field or the vampire sitting next to the scout.
With the sun shining on their faces, the kids started to wake up, and Norbert heard grumbling stomachs from the many kids around him. No longer able to put off getting a place for these kids, hoping a skipped meal or two wouldn’t impact their health much.
Kicking off the fence, Norbert leans on to stand up. The sound echoed around the empty field, all the kid's eyes turning their attention to him. Seeing who the person they followed to a strange town far away from what they ever called home was doing.
Waving to them that they weren’t needed for anything, Norbert stood up and turned around, looking at the town as he tried to pick his brain about who the leader of the town could be. He was trying to remember who had talked or given a presentation that night.
Standing at the entrance to the field, Count von Count is by his side, asking Norbert a question: “Do you know who the leader of this little town is?”
Norbert remained in silence as he tried to pick over in his mind. Knowing that Helga was somewhat high on the food chain over here, assuming she wasn’t a leader with where her house resided, so far away, assuming it wouldn’t be her.
“Is the plan just to stand here and wait for someone to come?” The vampire prodded Norbert.
Sighing in defeat, Norbert turned to the kids, shouting out so even those in the town could hear, hoping that one of them would spread the word and do part of the work for him. “I’m off to barter residency for you guys here. Sit tight, I’ll be back in a short time.”
And with that, Norbert walked away from the field, feeling the hundreds of eyes staring into him, their hopes and dreams locked in on him.
Count von Count followed him as the two walked to the town centre, where the portal gate was. Norbert hoped to locate someone who could point him in the right direction.
Coming to the portal frame in the centre of town, Norbert saw two people standing there, waiting for someone.
Stepping closer, Norbert realised one of them was Martitia, the other person Norbert still couldn’t make out. Standing behind the scout leader and currently hidden.
Waving to Martitia, Norbert shouts, “Who do you have there?”
The other person standing out from the other side was the familiar face of a mother who had raised someone else for a time like one of her own.
Norbert is rooted in place. Count von Count took a step, not realising that his partner hadn’t moved. Stopping, the vampire turned to Norbert and back again to the pair standing near the portal. Count von Count took a step back to join his partner as Norbert remained motionless.
A single tear came down Norbert’s face as everything he had been through—the people and creatures he had killed. The family was left behind. The secrets he had made. How close to death he had been several times only to be saved by sheer luck or the power that now resided in his veins that propelled him to this strange world.
All of it came back as he looked to one of the first faces that gave him a place to stay. He remembered waking up, never expecting to see once again a clear sky or the warmth of the sun on his face.
Feeling his knees want to collapse, Norbert locked them out, took a deep breath, and wiped the tear that was halfway down his cheek.
“Hello, Helga; what brings you here this fine morning?” He asked the mother.
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“You’re a lot cheekier now that you can talk, I see,” Helga responded, smiling as she nodded behind him to the field of kids there.
Norbert nodded as he looked about, stepping forward and going to the portal to stand before the pair of women.
“How much has Martitia told you?” Norbert asked.
“Not a lot, not that you told her much anyway.” Helga gave him.
Norbert felt slightly annoyed. He now held all the cards in hand for them. Nodding his head, Norbert quickly recounted his story: “Walking around the city of Libitina, I found them. I felt bad for them. I healed them up with godly help, and now I'm hoping to leave them here so they can live a somewhat peaceful life.” Norbert told her.
Count von Count leaned forward. “That really was a quick explanation of the facts,” he says, giving it to Norbert.
Shrugging his shoulders, Norbert turned back to Helga.
“Will do. Do you know how many there are?” Helga asked, looking over the field, a calculating look on her face as she started to move them about in her head into
“A hundred and seventy or so,” Norbert responded to her, turning around to look over the field where he came. The children there looked to Norbert and wondered what would happen would happen to them.
“It's going to be a little tight for some time, but we can manage,” Helga said before turning to Norbert. Now, onto more important topics: Why haven’t you come home yet, young man?”
Norbert gave a quizzical look to Helga on the tightness.
“Tight?” Norbert asked.
“Well, a scout cannot provide much; the fact that you organised this many people is a miracle in itself,” Helga told Norbert.
Norbert looked to Martitia, the scout leader, with a smile on her face, the same as that now plastered Count von Count and Norbert’s own.
Helga looked at them all weirdly, staring at their smiles. “Well, they don’t unless there are major changes since Cossan was there.” Helga gave them.
Norbert reached into his pouch, rummaging around until finally feeling out the gold coin, flicking it into the air as it sailed across. All eyes were on it as it landed in front of Helga, the woman catching it in both hands before holding it up to her face.
Mouth open wide as she stared at Norbert, quickly looking around before pocketing it. Stepping closer, she went over, grabbing Norbert by the collar of his shirt and whispering into his ear while looking at the vampire by his side, “Thank you for the kids and coin, but we cannot accept it. The kids will be taken by charity, but keep the coin. And I hope you never return. Either of you.” Looking between Norbert and Count von Count.
With a shove, Norbert was pushed back. The woman looked stormy at him, and Norbert just stared at her, surprised by her reaction.
Turning to Count von Count by his side, his friend leaning towards him, “She thinks you got it doing some shady shit and doesn’t want any of your blood money.” The vampire whispered loudly so all four people could hear.
Norbert was quiet as he turned to Helga, seeing the woman’s consent in a slight nod. The smile once more turned on his face as he shook his head. “Sadly, nothing that interesting, just a bit lucky with gambling. All above board and legal.” Norbert quickly told the woman, handing the coin back to her.
His mind now rambling on, “Not that I even know where to contact those sorts of people or things,” he says off handily.
Count von Count laughed out loud. “You are so close to it; I’m surprised the stench of the work hasn’t sent your nose off and made your eyes water yet,” the vampire said before walking off, leaving the trio where they were. Obsius chirped from them on the portal frame, and the bird decided to make its home for the moment.
Norbert looked up at the bird, wondering why it was talking about Norbert's lack of awareness of how the world worked.
Turning to Helga in front of him, Norbert threw the coin back. Catching it out of the air, Norbert stepped to her, arms out, and threw the coin back. Norbert needed to lean down slightly to have a proper hug between them. Helga rubbed on Norbert's back as she softly cooed in his ear. Norbert held her tight, careful not to squeeze her too tight.
Patting her on the back, Norbert pulled back from her, Helga smiling up at him. "How long will you be staying?" Her quivering voice broached the question.
"The Traveller will be coming back tonight for a pickup," Norbert told her, turning his head slightly and looking at the unlit portal. "The tournament isn't stopping just because I want to have a small break."
"Yes, and congratulations on that. Everyone was surprised when we saw your name on the list. How is it going?" She asked him.
Norbert smiled. "Rough, but still in the running."
"Rough is a light way to put it. Calling the Kreevss lizards and getting yourself decapitated is more accurate!" Norbert heard Count von Count's voice echo from somewhere; the vampire could not be seen but obviously could still hear Norbert and the conversation he was having.
"WHAT!" Came Helga’s panicked voice. Instantly, she put her hands on Norbert's neck, checking to make sure it was still intact. Norbert smiled at her as he let her check before moving her hands off it.
Regaining her breath, she looked to Norbert. "And the Kreevss to boot. You're lucky that you're still alive."
"It-"
"Enough of that. I much preferred you, who was quiet and pulled a cart. Now, where are these kids you imposed on us?" Helga asked, already walking away to the field, as she could easily see where the kids were. The children looked at the conversation, only able to hear snippets apart from the shouting. Norbert looked over to Martitia, who followed across, wondering how the scout could find her of all people.