We followed the road to Mirfield instead of taking the straight path through the hills. It is not that much of a detour and it will give Marcy and Helen peace of mind, so it is worth the wait.

"Kochuraerc, you will remain here in this clearing with the others. I will take the girls to visit some important people and tomorrow we will finish our journey."

"The tribe will be safe, chief."

I retreat to a place out of sight and transform once more into Beowulf. No damage was done. 700 points spent. The cost-reduction skill also alleviates the stress the skill causes as it draws energy from the other to work. 'Not properly attached' means someone or something messed it up. Maybe that floating head guy.

After preparing everything I met with the girls and Zahariel. They are returning to the town they fled under the orc siege. I wonder how is everyone. We leave the cover of the trees to the open area around the town. There is not much work to be done during winter, but there are some people here and there tending the fields.

"The big tree is gone," I notice.

"I thought they would have cut the tree, but it still hurts. I would not have escaped if it weren't for that tree."

There is no sight of the big tree Helen animated during her escape. They probably cut it down to use as firewood or to just clear the view once they found out it wouldn't rampage and attack again. I think they believe that the tree would attract monsters. How many people know the truth of civilization? Too little, I guess.

"They fixed the wall near the garrison too," Marcy points out. You can see that the stone wall near that point is newer. It is not aged or worn down.

After a few minutes, we reach the gate. There are two guards posted but they don't bat an eye at our traveler setup. Zahariel is wearing a boiled leather backpack that had its back cut off. It hides his wings perfectly and is not uncomfortable. Helen gets cold feet right before crossing the gate. She puts on her hood and hides her hair.

"There is not a single person in this town that would dare to hurt you with me here. Walk with pride and a raised head."

We step into Mirfield. A cycle ends for these girls. The streets are emptier than I remember. I guess a lot of people fled the town after the orc horde left.

"Hey! Isn't that guy the Hero Beowulf! Beowulf, over here!"

"Marcy the midwife's daughter is alive! She was missing!"

And some of the remaining people in the streets recognize us. I think only those with a strong attachment remained behind. Nobody speaks a word about the shrunk Helen that is walking with her hood on.

We go across town and reach the central square. There is one guy in a pillory, but being out in the cold of winter is punishment enough. Nobody would waste food throwing stuff at him.

"Do you know this guy?" They deny. It is none of our business anyway.

A few minutes later we reach Marcy's house. She looks very nervous.

"Mom! Mom, are you home?" She yells from the outside. It is strange she was unwilling to just step in.

Sounds of heavy steps come from inside as if someone was running. The door opens and Mercy jumps out to hug her daughter, "Marcy! My daughter is back!"

It is amazing how the two redheads can hug each other with all this volume between... scratch that. The mother and daughter reunion is touching. Mercy fires a barrage of questions. If she is hurt, Marcy answers no. If she is starving, also no. If she needs money, no. If she is pregnant, Marcy looks at me. What? Can't you just say no!

Mercy follows her daughter's gaze and finds me. "It's Beowulf! Beowulf and my daughter are together! Marcy, you scored a hero for yourself! How is that! Wait! Is that Hilde's little girl by his side?" She takes a step to stand in front of us, "It is little Helen! How wonderful you are alive and healthy!" She says with a big smile and a loud voice. Helen clutches my arm tightly.

"Hello, aunt Mercy. I am alive and healthy, thank you. I still cherish the kindness you showed me," She answers in a very timid and low voice.

Mercy yanks Helen from me and hugs her so hard her feet lose contact with the ground, "It is so good to see you again, my dear! We were so worried about you when you were wasting away in that forsaken dungeon! We feared the worst when the place was destroyed! Lose this hood, let me take a good look at your face! Rosy cheeks, silky hair, you are so beautiful my little Helen! Oh, what a gift to see you, two girls, back home! Beowulf! My boy, come here too!"

"Hello, Mrs. Mercy!"

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She lets go of Helen and pulls me into her dangerously soft embrace. "My hero, thank you! You went and brought my girls to me! But please, come inside! I was just going to brew hot tea for you! You two timid boy, come in."

"Mrs. Mercy, this is Zarr, a companion and member of our party."

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Mercy! I can now see from whom Marcy inherited her beauty."

"Little boy, you are my new favorite!" She also hugs and messes with Zahariel's hair, "Beowulf take care, he is going to steal your girls away once he grows a little! Now come inside!"

We all are ushered into the kitchen and she indeed had a kettle in the stove that doubles as a fireplace for the small home of the midwife.

She brews the tea and serves it to us in some clay cups. We take a sip. It is bitter but tasty.

"Miss Mercy, please accept these gifts from all of us," I take a one-gallon jug of honey from the storage, " This honey is from a dungeon the girls and I explored. It is the best honey ever and it will never go bad."

"Thank you, is it fine for me to have this much?"

"There is more! Here, we want you to have this amethyst necklace too." It is a white chain with a five-carat amethyst with an oval cut in a bezel setting. It looks like silver at a glance but is actually white gold. She made me put the necklace on her and I hope I don't get scolded for this.

We make some small talk and tell her some stories from our adventures, and Mercy gets on the offensive all of a sudden, "Beowulf, you really scored both girls for yourself! Remember to not play favorites! And give me lots of grandsons and granddaughters fast! This is winter, it is a great season for that! They are both ready and Marcy inherited my hips! Hi hi hi!" Yeah, almost half the population is born in the autumn, right.

"I'll try my best, Mrs. Mercy," is the only answer that I can think of.

"Oh, what an earnest boy. If only I was a bit younger!" She glances at a really annoyed and embarrassed Marcy.

I need to try to change the subject. "What about here in Mirfield, what happened after I left?"

"Things were hectic this autumn. A lot of people migrated away, we have lots of empty houses to tell the story. The wall was fixed, the crops harvested and the king sent one of his men to take over as mayor."

"Is Alvus fine?" I am worried he was dragged into some power struggle.

"Alvus is back at his herb garden, he was not bothered for being forced to step down as mayor."

"It is good to hear that. We have to pay him a visit."

Helen grabs my hand, "Why don't we go now? I am sure Marcy and Mercy have a lot of things they want to talk about... right, Marcy?"

Marcy nods with her head. She doesn't seem annoyed. "Sure, go ahead."

I don't know what I should say so I'll just go with the flow. Helen gently pushes us to the door but I tell Marcy, "Once you want to join back with us, just go around town for a while." I can pick her sideways movement in the tactical map.

"Sure, have fun." Those short dismissive answers are not Marcy's style.

Back on the streets and away from Mercy's house, I face Helen. "Why you had us out of Marcy's house this fast?"

"Mercy is going to chide Marcy. And the longer it simmers the worse she gets. It was just like when we broke..." She was cut off by a passerby.

"HELEN! I can't believe my eyes, it is really Helen! You are alive!" A wild Cloude appeared! Cloude used blow cover! It is super effective!

"C-c-c-c-c Cloude! Fancy seeing you around!" She literally takes cover behind my back. A lot of people are staring.

"Whoa! Hero Beowulf! You are back!" Seriously, can I punch this loudmouth into a shining star in the sky just like an anime? Please? He'll die? Should I care? Yes. Oww.

It is almost like a flash crowd forms around us. "The Hero!" "Beowulf the Orc Slayer!" "The father of my baby!" "Bah! Heroes are trouble! There must be a monster horde right out of town for this troublemaker-hero to be here!"

In my defense, I am not the father of your baby. I am not even nine months old. But that old geezer's pinpoint prophetic abilities are wasted on me. Go predict the second advent of Lucifer! Damn flags. I hope the sky doesn't suddenly turn purple.

"Hey, Cloude! Good seeing you healthy! I take you to know Helen, my fiancée?" With big moves, I lock my arms with Helen. The lady at the left as it should be.

"You are engaged to Helen! How small is this world? Congratulations then, Helen is a very sweet girl!" His smile is honest.

"And you, how are you doing? Fighting many orcs?"

"No, the remaining orcs fled back east, we thankfully never met them again. Actually, the number of monsters to the east reduced by a lot." I hope it is over-hunting by Shraaizar and the monkeys.

"It is good to hear the town is safe. How is your training?"

"I am a magician now! Soon I will be the new shining blade! I heard the king will hold a selection for the successor of Helmholtz soon. You need to be proficient with both the sword and the spell to apply!"

"Nice, go for it. I hope you pass. Best of luck."

"Say, Helen. Marcy went north with you, didn't she? Would you know where she is?" A mix of fear, hope, and embarrassment clouds Cloude. Do I crush his dreams now? Better to not give out too much information. Marcy can take care of herself. No, I am not jealous and I don't want to punch the guy's face.

Helen grasps my arm tighter and slightly pulls me back. "I do. She was with us but we left her home. She is there 'talking' to her mom now. I wouldn't barge in if I were you. You know what happened last time." I bet there were at least two pages of conversation compacted in those few sentences.

"Is Marcy in the hero's party? And this boy here?" He finally notices Zahariel. It is impressive how the seraph is being stealthy today.

"This is Zarr, he is Beowulf's apprentice," Helen rushes to introduce him.

"The Hero's apprentice, this young." I almost laughed. Work hard, Cloude!

"Cloude, I hope you earn that spot in the new Shining Blades! Keep training! We are a bit short on time, there is a lot we want to do today so we will be seeing each other around. Bye."

"Stop by the guild later, I'll buy you a pint!" And Cloude goes in the direction of Mercy's house. I have to trust Marcy at least this much.

"Helen, if it's too much for you, please tell me. We didn't come here to make you suffer. And I will stay with you always. It is fine to rely on me a little more!"

We go hand in hand until Alvus' apothecary clinic. There is a long line of people outside. It is almost as bad as the time of the orc invasion. Some people recognize me. I had to greet some of them but soon after we gained entry to the building. It is the same as I remember. A lot of people in need of treatment, but at least this time there is way less blood on the floorboards.

A very young girl that looks like a nurse passes by us and I stop her, "Is Alvus around? We came to talk to him, but it seems like a bad timing... Is something wrong with this many people sick?"