I had been so tired that I don't even remember how exactly I slept. I just woke up a few hours later already under my blankets and stripped of my armor, after hearing a strange sound.

I lived alone in a wooden house that was a mile away from the local shops, so we didn't have much noise around here.

After I warily stood up, the sound reached my ears once again. But I still didn't know its origin.

As soon as my senses were completely back after the good sleep that I had, I realized that the noise was coming from my own body. It was the sound of an empty stomach.

Damn, I totally forgot to eat the other night.

I looked for some scraps of food in the house, but without a surprise, I found none. A sign that I should buy some.

After carefully examing my surroundings to make sure nobody was around, I lifted the mattress to check on my reserves.

Six bronze coins. I had six bronze coins to my name.

Well, folks wouldn't be calling me a rich man, but it was enough to buy a piece of meat.

So I put my savings in my front pocket and headed outside, determined to have something good to eat.

But before I could leave, I noticed a little rat waiting for the door to be opened, right next to my right foot. Looking at the little fellow, I could see he was abnormally slim, anxious to get out.

Only God knows for how long the poor animal had been trapped here looking for something to eat.

'You are not the only one disappointed, little friend.'

After opening the door and watching the rat run away as quickly as one's eyes could follow, I went outside.

My neighborhood was filled with houses similar to mine. Wooden cabins in the center of a terrain surrounded by fences.

I could see none of my neighbors with the same animal infestation problem, something that was starting to bother me.

So I went to the next house to my right.

- Mr. Berk, are you home?. - I knocked on his door and began to wait for an answer.

- Honeypie, it's him. - I heard a man's voice, almost whispering.

- For God's sake, be a man and talk to him, Berk. Don't you dare to back down this time. - A woman replied, in a not so low tone.

Were they talking about me?

The door was then opened.

- Ahem... Good afternoon, Mr. Brum. How may I help you today? - Berk cleared his throat and spoke.

- Mr. Berk, these last few days I noticed that many insects and small animals started to appear over my place, so I would appreciate it if you could take a look into this later. - I honestly told him.

This fellow Berk was my landlord. He was supposed to take care of problems like this.

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- Will take care of it, Mr. Brum. - He replied.

- But also, I noticed that the payment for the rent of this month is still due, so I demand... I wish to know if you could pay it by next week, perhaps? - The man kept talking, while small droplets of sweat started to fall from his forehead.

Shit! I knew there was something I was forgetting.

- I apologize, had been working so hard lately that I forgot such matters. But yeah, definitely by the next week it will be settled. - I told him.

We just stared at each other for the next few seconds. I was a little embarrassed to speak any further and he appeared to be nervous about something.

- I will take my leave then, Mr. Berk. Talk to you in a future opportunity. - I decided to end it quickly and leave.

He just nodded and went back inside.

- Did you see it, woman? Did you witness how your man dealt with the situation? He didn't even have the courage to stay longer. - I could faintly hear Berk's voice as I walked away.

I wasn't sure what they were talking about, but I had bigger problems to wrap my head around.

My rent was ninety bronze coins and all the money that I had was inside of my pocket.

Where did my last salary even go to?

How can a man such as myself get ninety pieces of bronze in one week?

I started to picture some side jobs that were within what I knew how to do.

More precisely, two came to mind.

Beg on the street or work as private security.

Soon enough a familiar shop came to my sight, lost in thoughts I didn't realize that I had been walking for quite some time by this point.

- Good afternoon, Butcher. - I entered the place.

- Not with you here. - He exchanged greetings.

- Always kind as a father. An alcoholic, abusive and violent father. - I told him.

He looked at me, annoyed.

- Just speak what you want. - Butcher said.

- Give me the usual for one bronze. - I sat on a chair inside of the place.

- My cheapest is two bronzes now. - He answered and put a piece of meat in his mouth.

- What? How come? It's always been one coin. - It just couldn't be true.

- Inflation. - He spoke while chewing something.

- Inflation? What is even that? - I asked.

- Do you want to eat or learn economics? Either way, the price is two bronze pieces. - Butcher questioned me.

- ...give me the meat, then. - I unwillingly answered.

The man started to cut some bones and pour seasoning on what was left from all of his chopping, after it was done, he placed the meat inside of leather bag.

- Butcher, aren't you in need of a strong pair of hands to help to guard your shop? - I got up from the seat and asked him.

- This year the tournament will be happening in our town, you know? More folks walking around can also mean more trouble. We never know the kind of lunatic bastard who will show up to watch these fights. - Taking my chance, I offered my services to the man.

- Strong pair of hands? - He said while looking at me from head to toes.

- Do you plan to grow new arms, then? - The old butcher chuckled.

- You're lucky there isn't another place to buy meat here. - I grabbed my bag and turned to leave.

- Kid, try your luck with the old witch. I heard that she is having troubles with some pissed men lately. - I heard him saying before I could step out of the shop.

'The witch, uh?'

So I went through the same usual way, going down the cobble street.

After a few minutes, I caught sight of the witch's shop.

Getting closer, I saw the old woman getting out of the shop and coming my way.

- Young man, I can see something different within you. - She whispered in a weird tone.

- Come inside, I feel there are things which must be spoken. - The woman pointed towards the door of her shop.

She didn't remember me. She never does.

So I went along with her.

It was a place you wouldn't expect to be so big. but it was. It surely didn't look like it from the outside.

There were shelves filled with books and sculptures, different types of candles spread across the room and even bones could eventually be seen.

She really put some effort into the decoration of this place.

While my eyes were still running wild trying to identify all that I was seeing, a hand approached and touched my forehead.

- Actually, I didn't come to see my future, instead... - I started to talk.

- There is no need to waste words in His house. Words formed by the tongue can't convey a speech which He would care to hear. - She spoke, while her thumb was being pressed against my forehead's skin.

I could feel the atmosphere changing. The room was getting colder by the second and suddenly no sound could slip out of my mouth nor my body obeyed when I tried to move.

The light inside the place also died down, as if the candles were no longer lit. And then, a voice reached my ears like lightning in a calm night.

- Go outside now. If offering your service to me was the reason why you came, then I require proof of your work. -