It was all happening so fast. Micky knew that Jimmy was rich, but… And we won the battle! The raid went great. Nobody even got hurt! Why are people getting executed? What’s going on?!

These were the thoughts that flowed through Micky’s mind in an intermittent mix. He was scared, happy, terrified, relieved, angry, and sad in an epileptic rainbow of emotions mixing and churning. Some would stand out more than others, maybe mix, then float back down into the roiling sea of his emotions.

Micky always knew that Jimmy was rick. He should have known that Jimmy was a [Count]’s Son, but it still hit him. A man so far above him would want to be his best friend. It was something so strange to Micky. He knew that this [Village] was basically Jimmy’s getaway. But it still didn’t feel real to him when it hit. Micky always thought he was smart enough to see the obvious but why couldn’t he see it? I mean he was a [Merchant] of all things… Why wasn’t he a Merchant’s Son?

“This is where we part ways...” Jimmy said

“Oh, I guess I will see you later Jim. I have stuff to do as well, those bodies won’t clean themselves.” Micky said, the [Village] really had its work cut out for it.

“No, you won’t.” Jimmy said.

“What?” Micky asked incredulously.

“You are a commoner peasant Micky. We will never see each other again. I am high and above your station.” Jimmy said.

“That’s fine, I mean I could just work for you, couldn’t I? It’s not like I have any prospects in the village. Then we could see each other every day.” Micky said.

“No, you can not. I do not want it like this. I do not want you to be like this. I do not want our friendship to be tainted like this. So it’s best to end it and put it out of its misery.” Jimmy said.

“Wha-” Micky said.

“We are done Mic. Done. I do not want to see you again, ever.” Jimmy said.

“So what? Because you’re rich I can’t see you again? I’m just supposed to stay out of YOUR way?” Micky said

“You are right. I will not see you again. You are just a village boy from the sticks Mic. It was fun, but I do not want this to change. So it has to die.” Jimmy said. And he walked away.

Micky tried to follow but thee guards stopped him. Micky wasn’t confident that Jimmy wouldn’t order them to stop ‘Him’ and Micky still wanted to live. “Jimmy!” he yelled as his friends departing back. His village had changed. His home had changed. His cat had changed. Even his best friend was abandoning him. His whole life was changing on him and there was nothing he could do about it.

Eight of Jimmy’s guards left with him, two however, stayed with giant sneers on their faces. They were looking down at them. As Micky could do nothing but watch his friend for years walk away.

“I have something for you from the Madam. A gift.” The first guard said. He handed over a folded scroll in leather binging and a protective leather case. “It is a scholarship to the [Kingdom Acadamy Of Earn], the academy the young master will be attending when he goes to school.” The guard said.

“I have something for you from the Master. A gift as well.” The second guard said. The two guards looked at each other and laughed. “Now it is a good thing to note that refusing a [Noble]s gift could get you killed young Micky.” They said with all seriousness, but it quickly broke.

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“But I must tell you that these can both be used, together. It was not as the masters intended but it is the way of things non the less. In addition, since you own two scholarships you can sponsor a talented commoner to be your servant in the academy.” Said the first guard.

“And that’s not all, they also come with a stipend and an investment. Originally that was supposed to be just a little bit of money to get you started and some pocket change. Though pocket change for a [Noble] would be enough for several families in this village to live on for a year.” Said the second, his smile back as he looked at Micky.

“So you can use them both to give you the money you would have used, and sponsor three more commoners besides. Two per scholarship.” The two said and chuckled.

“This is of course in addition to any [Tamed] pets you might have as well free of charge. The [Noble]s aren’t going to begrudge you for some pets, and will treat them with the highest standard of course.” The first guard said.

“I guess I shall now deliver the message from the Master, that means I win-” The second said.

“ ‘The Madam wishes that you continue your friendship with Jimmy. Your friendship has been good to and for him. She does not want his status to take that away from him. There has been much that has been taken from him.’ ” Said the first, interrupting the second. The second just glared.

“Are you done? Unlike some, uncouth people, I will wait.” The second said.

“Maybe, let me think.” The first said.

“Sigh, as I was saying the master-” the second said

“Oh yes, now I’m done.” said the first, the heat from the gaze was a physical thing.

“ ‘The master… would like you to be friends with his son. The master has taken much from Jimmy that was rightfully his. His joy, and his innocents, and his right to be a child of privilege and all that entails. He would like for you to be Jimmy’s friend and confidant. Something that is in short supply in the [Nobility]. But I doubt that he knew that his wife was going to do this, or he would have saved himself some coin.’ So make sure to stick it to them, ya? And use both together, while also not snubbing the gift of either.” The second guard said.

Micky took the two valuable pieces of parchment. He did not know what to do with them. He didn’t even know what to do with himself. He was just a village kid, sure he would have liked to be a servant of Jimmy’s, but he was a peasant that was going nowhere. He didn’t think he would get to use these. Even though he loved Jimmy like a brother, he didn’t have the station or the pull, or even the [Class] to leave here.

Micky looked over at Pinky “Nope, nope, not going to happen. And no I won’t tell anybody about this-” he said and pointed at the notes. “-So don’t even ask. I think I’m going to do some adventuring. There is a new dungeon in the area.” He said with a little bit of chagrin.

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Micky then decided it would be good if he avoided the village, or any civilization until the Baron’s Son cooled off. Jimmy had proclaimed them [Guiltless] but it wasn’t above the Baron’s son to trump up some charges just for them. So he went to a hidden bend of the creek and Pinky joined him. They made hooks and line and fishing poles. Then they sat there and fished for a few hours.

When it was finally time to head back Micky and Pinky parted ways. Micky headed back to the Village center to see if he couldn’t find out what was going on. Micky couldn’t believe what was happening. All the elders were being executed? Ridiculous. He needed to find out what was going on before his curiosity killed him.

Micky found Susan wandering around one of the shops and decided to ask. She was with Littlefoot shopping. The girl seemed distressed.

“What the heck is happening?” Micky asked.

“You! This is all your fault!” She said.

“Hey, now that’s going to far!” Susan said.

“I know, it’s just...” Littlefoot started to break down into tears and sobs. “Mrs. Marcia is going to be executed. And now that Bob is like this. It’s just too much.”

“This, I mean I thought we won. I thought [Treason] is only if you lost?” Micky said.

“No, that isn’t the reason. Don’t beat yourself up over this. It’s because the elders did not do their jobs. They knew they were supposed to manage the slime pits, they knew the [Dungeon] was dangerous and that they should work to have it cleared out when it first burst. But they didn’t. Instead some of them had even embezzled the funds of the village for themselves. Others had more reasons like not wanting our own villagers to get hurt. They would risk the lives of the adventurers so that none of our own would be harmed. It was why the [Kingsmen] did what they did.” Susan said.

“It isn’t your fault. I know it, they know it, Bob knows it. It’s just, people are scared Micky. I would recommend you stay out of sight until the execution tomorrow.”

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Micky made his way home after that. No reason to stick around. He got the information he needed out or Susan and Littlefoot.

He comforted himself with the imperial fluffy that was Pepperoni’s fur as he contemplated what to do. His world was changing around him. In just a few hours the village he grew up in wasn’t his village. It was something else, somewhere else that didn’t have his best friend in it.