Chapter 102 – Not everyone can be brave
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Peronell opens her eyes slowly. She saw the ceiling and thought of how she was back at her village again. It has been a long time since she left for the dungeon continent to seek out fortunes. And now after having enough of the dungeoneering life, she finally returned.
Though in return she, learn that her house was so sold to a dead-eyed man who frets near the fireplace. She was quite pissed at Pablo for selling her house. Pablo offered her a free room, and she hesitantly took it. Now she is laying on one of the rooms of Pablo’s Inn. It is located at the top of his Inn, a place where Pablo calls as the top prized room.
Peronell knew enough that this was the room where most of the merchants usually stay if they ever found themselves in the village. It was good enough for Peronell, but even so, she still wanted her house back. Today she would convince the man to give her house back.
That house held a lot of meaning to her. It was there where from a young lass, she became a fine woman brave enough to trek a dangerous dungeon continent. She left with a few acquaintances from her village, but most of them are either retired in the continent or lying dead on the dungeon floors.
Peronell didn’t want to continue that dangerous life anymore. Instead, she wants to settle back to this village. Return to the peaceful life she wanted the most. It wasn’t until seeing vicious monsters, or having a few men and abominations almost having her way towards her body made Peronell decided she wants no more of the dungeon life.
The soft light caresses Peronell’s face. She like the familiar heat of the sun, the way the ocean breeze that had a mix of salt and fish enter her nostrils was quite the feeling, at least to her. Peronell’s sat cross-legged on her bed, she watches the scenery outside and took a glimpse of the fisherman’s in the beach.
She also saw some familiar face that has blossomed with age. She noticed that most of the people she met since arriving have changed. Peronell also changed a lot since her adventuring day, and now she saw herself as a ruthless magick archer.
She learned that vocation through arduous training. She can now at least conjure up to the ninth-ranked where most of the skills of a magic archer can be used. The tenth rank is something that she still hesitates to take the last prayer to the tenth.
The Great Sacrifice...
The three words that correspond to the tenth rank, but no one ever takes the tenth rank. Since the tenth rank means having that sinful ability within you.
Peronell never took that rank because of fear. She thought that such move was against the will of others. Hence, she can only discard it, like the rest of the others who manage who reach the level of her prowess.
What am I doing here?
Peronell asks herself. Her hair is unkempt and she could feel that being lazy in the bed would do her no good. She manages to learn how to stay awake early during her time in the dungeon continent. So she doesn’t want to lose that habit.
So she stood up and started dressing in her usual outfit. She tied her hair into a ponytail, and since her hair was quite long it took her time. After she was done dressing herself up in her old robe and tunic, Peronell went down the Inn and greeted Pablo with a bit of sneer.
“Good Morning Pablo...tsk.”
‘Cos...It seems you are still mad?”
“Gee, I wonder about that cousin Pablo? Could I possibly still mad that you sold my house to a wanderer?”
“Gah...come on cousin, I mean most of those who go to the dungeon continent never returns back home. So I thought you would stay there.”
“And drop dead? Cousin, you should go to the dungeon continent maybe it would make you realize how I feel.”
“What does that mean?”Pablo tilted his head.
“Never mind that, I am going to see that man again. I am going to take back what’s mine.
”
“About that cousin...” said Pablo. “Do you think you can be lenient to Ser Healer?”
“Why?” Peronell folded her arms.
“He seems to having a hard time. Also, it would be best if you somehow managed to convince him to stay in our village. The guards quite liked him for his healing abilities.”
“So he is a healer then?
”
“Yes, so please keep your temper in control cos. It will be bad if you somehow threw him out just like that. Honestly, it would be best if you don’t anger the new guards that are fond of the healer.”
“I see. So I am guessing that the old folks are retired or passed away?”
“They are passed away,” Pablo said sadly. “Most of them died protecting the village from the hobgoblins that tried to pillage the village. I dare say it was luck that the king’s men arrive just in time from the encampment from here. If they didn’t then we would haven’t lived and most of the women probably used as wombs for those beasts.
“It seems that there are things that indeed change here,” Peronell said with a trace of discomfort.
“Indeed...so please cousin do you best to make it peaceful?”
“I know...” Peronell walked to the door of the inn. She stopped right at the edge of the door, tilted her back at Pablo and said. “But still you haven’t change Pablo, in fact, you are getting greedier the moment I see you.”
“Good luck to you Cousin...” Pablo ignored her words and sent her off.
Peronell shrugged her shoulders as she walked out of the Inn. Stretching her arms first, Peronell looked up to the sky and saw the silver kinds of cotton rising up to the sky. Behind those is the sun gleaming up to the sky, making the village of Sardis.
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The smell of the sea, the piercing sun, the salty breeze, and the cool wind coming from the woods made Peronell delighted.
...
Peronell went to her former house to convince the man that lives there to give it back to her. She readied herself but the smell of tobacco and alcohol still flooded her nostrils. She endured it and went to see the guy who when she saw, was still near the fireplace as if he never moved.
He noticed Peronell’s presence before long.
“It is you again...like I said, Miss. I won’t be giving up this room. I like this room. It is dark, you can see the beach, and the fireplace is sweet. Not to mention I can call the Inn owner to refill my ale here.”
“That Pablo...” Peronell snarled silently. “Still it won’t stop me from wanting this house back.”
“Stubborn...” the man said. “I know that this is your house. Pablo told me about it when you left. And honestly, I don’t want to take someone’s home away from them, but as you can see Miss, I have nothing to go.”
“I understand what you feel Ser, but this house is from my pa and ma, and even though it sounds like harsh but I am willing to fight for this house.”
The man looked at Peronell with a sleepy look. His eyes were abyss-like as usual and there was no trace of light or even joy in his expression.
“That must be nice.” the man said. “It must be nice wanting to live back at your parent’s home. I am envious of you...almost to the point I want to give this house back.” the man said honestly.
“Then you will!?”
“Sadly, like I said Miss, I have nowhere else to go. I have no place in this world, and there is no homeland I can ever return...I am lost wanderer who somehow ended up in this faraway near village because of circumstances. Honestly, as someone who lost everything, I would like to give you back your home kindly. But with how things are, this house is all I have right now, and with how ill I am these days, I don’t think I can search for another place to live.”
“That’s...” Peronell bit her lip in frustration. She knows that she is being forceful and just by looking she can understand that the man wasn’t lying to her. He indeed looked ill, and there was no life to him. Not to mention that the man had a bad looking leg that seems to be hurting a lot. She also noticed the bruised like parts on his throat, the side of his face and his swelling wrist.
Looking at it she felt that she is doing him an injustice. But even so, she wanted this house for herself. And even though the thought of just kicking the man out came to mind, he remembered Pablo’s words and kept her calm.
“How troublesome this is.” She said that straightly.
“I can understand that.” the man said. “I mean if someone returns back to their home and saw some drunkard piece of shit living on it, and not planning on returning it back would be frustrating.”
“You bet...” Peronell could only sigh in agreement, at least the man before her, understands his current position.
“I am sorry that I have to usurp your house miss. I rather prefer not taking someone’s home. I hate it the most. But with how am I these days, I just don’t have the courage to ever leave this room or this village.”
“Well, you did look like you didn’t leave this room for weeks now. I assume that is because of your leg?
”
“Yes, I can barely walk now. And I have troubles resting at night so here I am, sitting on the fireplace, trying to calm myself.”
“I see...” Peronell said, not knowing what else to say to this miserable man. “You look like you have quite a hard time ser.”
“Maybe...I think if it wasn’t’ for the alcohol I would be moping around...” the man said.
“You do drink a lot as I can see,” Peronell said.
“It makes the worries go...by the way, I haven’t caught your name, Miss.”
“Peronell...and you are?”
The man looked at Peronell or a while before saying, “I am Ramiel...that is my name.”
“Is that so...Ramiel, I know that you liked this house but if I somehow find you a place to live here in the village. Would that be great?”
“Maybe?” Ramiel said. “I have no idea...as long as it is as comfy as this place, then maybe I will consider. But at the moment, I really don’t want to give up this place.” Ramiel took a sip of his gourd.
“It is okay...I never thought it would be easy to kick someone out.”
“Pablo said you came from the dungeon continent. I bet you can kick my ass...I am quite afraid of you Miss. I am barely holding here.”
“You don’t look like it? To me, you look like you are calm and brave about this.”Peronell commented.
“That is because of alcohol Miss Peronell. Not everyone can be brave. At least not me...”
“I see...then I shall go for now...Maybe I will return when I have something I can offer.” Peronell said, walking out of the house.
“Adieu milady,” Ramiel said.
“?”
Peronell was taken a step back. She really didn’t understand what Ramiel said. It was not like the usual language of the land, and it confused her.
Maybe it is a language of his homeland? Though I don’t remember any place that has that kind of language...maybe it is a lost kingdom?
Peronell thought about it. She shook her head and put it aside off her mine. She can’t understand what he said anyway, and because of that, she is just going to assume it’s as a drunk rambling.
“I should go.”Saying that Peronell left her former house and went to her former friend’s house. It has been a long time and seeing that the negotiation will take long. She rather spends her time with her old friends, rather than get frustrated.