The reddish glow of the setting sun illuminated the area as Drystan approached the small village, the smell of freshly baked bread and various stews filling the air. He smiled to himself as waves of memories came rushing back during his time at Halcen. Running through the fields with Rowan and Thalia, coming back home to his mother’s house to gorge himself on bread, freshly picked fruits, and venison stew, then being lulled to sleep by his mother humming a nameless tune. He had attempted to prevent such memories from resurfacing the past three years, but upon noticing the calm serenity of the village, he was willing to make an exception just this once.

Entering the village, a few children playing hide and seek stopped and stared at Drystan, cocking their heads in both curiosity and wariness. An elderly woman, sitting on a wooden chair in front of her cabin, stood up and glared at Drystan as he glanced around. Others stopped what they were doing and stared, their glares boring holes into him. “This is exactly what I envision a warm welcome to be like…” He whispered to himself as he approached the least hostile-looking person he could find: a middle-aged man who was carrying logs into his cabin. “Could you please tell me where your elder is? I need to speak with him.”

The man nodded, leading Drystan through the glares and stares of the villagers before arriving at an unassuming cabin. The man knocked on the door. “Gideon, there’s an outsider here to see you.”

“Let him in. I’ve been expecting him.”

The man gave Drystan a shocked expression before opening the door, allowing Drystan to enter. Gideon watched as Drystan walked into the room, smiling at him. “Thank you for bringing him to me, Lewan. You may go, and let the others know that he’s a guest of mine and not to be treated with hostility. He’s no threat to Mathis.”

Lewan nodded and shut the door behind him. Gideon, who was bald with dark spots on his head and no facial hair, walked towards Drystan. “I welcome you to our village, the new hero of Serephea. It is an honor to be in your presence.”

Drystan waved his hands, shaking his head. “P-Please…none of this formality. I’m just…nothing more than a rogue who has no idea what to do…”

“Yet the goddess has deemed you worthy of your title. Keep your head up high, Drystan. I may not have been shown your past or what you’ve been forced to endure, but I know that the goddess wouldn’t have chosen you if you weren’t capable of handling the trials ahead of you. She wouldn’t have chosen you if you had evil rooted in your heart.”

“I…you have my gratitude…Gideon, correct?”

Gideon nodded. “Yes, you’re correct. I do apologize if your welcoming wasn’t as…pleasant as it could have been. Currently, we’re harboring a fugitive of the church, someone I believe to be the one the goddess has chosen to accompany you.”

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“Oh? What can you tell me about this fugitive?”

“His name is Mathis, and he was previously a priest in the city of Erith. It may be the smallest of the major cities, but it has its own cathedral and order of knights that report to the high priest. He had grown disillusioned with the changes in the church and spoke out against the pope, as well as the Eldar’s. He openly preached in the streets, claiming that the worship of the goddess had been tarnished and corrupted, worshipping the Eldar’s rather than the goddess. Mathis spake of the Eldar’s acting more like the tyrants they themselves were supposed to defend the people from. He’s now been branded a heretic and is in hiding.”

“Why harbor him in the village?”

“He was born here…as he’s my grandson. Mathis always had a special connection with the goddess from when he was a lad, always in prayer as soon as he was old enough to understand scripture.” Gideon smiled. “I fondly remember his first sermon at the young age of eight, his understanding of scripture already rivaling that of monks after years of study in a monastery. The entire village was filled with pride when he set off to Erith with his mother, my daughter. The sight of his return…dejected and defeated…it shook the entire village to its core.

“Is his mother still in the city or did she return to the village with Mathis?”

“Regretfully, she is still in the city, though not for much longer. Mathis attempted to bring her with him, but she responded to him by stating she needed to warn her friends in the city about what’s to come and would return posthaste afterwards. I’m hoping to receive some good news tomorrow.”

“So do I…though that does explain why I was treated with such…caution so to speak. Felt like I was trespassing on some sacred ground.”

Gideon laughed. “I apologize again. Mathis is very well-loved here and spotting an outsider just a day after he returned…they must have assumed the worst, that you were there to arrest him.”

“Well…I do want to speak with him. Do you know where he is now? Does he know about…well…”

“Mathis should be returning from the fields with the others as we speak. He’s staying in my cabin for the time being, so if you wait here, you shall be able to speak with him. He also does not know that you’re the new hero. I’ve told no one about the dream I had this past night. How you want to announce it, even if you want to announce it, is in your–”

A series of loud bangs against the cabin door interrupted Gideon. “Elder Gideon! There’s an emergency! The wolves–they’re back!”

Gideon’s eyes widened as he rushed to the door and opened it. “What do you mean?! We planted gredil herbs all around the fields and the village. That’s prevented them from coming back for years!”

“We don’t know why they’ve suddenly ignored the scent, but their howls and cries are quickly approaching the village! The men are still returning from the fields, so we have few to defend the village!”

Gideon’s face paled. “Gather those who are in the village and form a perimeter. Grab anything you can use as a weapon!” Turning to Drystan, Gideon bowed slightly. “Drystan, please, can you join the others in defense of our homes?”

Drystan quickly nodded. “You can count on me.”