Karkas couldn’t dissuade the man he saved from surrendering himself alongside Maril. He assured Karkas that he would not let other Crocs talk him down, and that he owed Maril more than he owed Karkas. Respecting his choice, the Croc let him go and joined his allies in exiting Macksten and to the town outside the walls. Since Macksten was too industrial, Raine did not like it. He preferred something more jovial, so he decided to take them to one of the restaurants outside the walls, one that accepted Fa’ars. They never had a chance to eat there since they were always on the job.

The restaurant was as good as many other places to eat. Much like the meals Raine and Jacques cooked when they set up camp, the food was well-prepared and hearty. It also reminded Narati that it was almost a month since his freedom, and within that month, a lot had happened to him, both good and bad. While one of those bad things happened to be his first meeting with Karkas, the ratfolk had forgiven the Croc, this time with his own, raspy voice instead of gestures. Karkas, on his part, was glad that the first Fa’ar he cared for was forgiving and kind.

This made Karkas even more baffled that he could also be as unforgiving to those he deemed a threat, not to mention his choice of weapon. Narati may be the first Fa’ar he tolerated, but that did not change the fact that he, too, had a mischievous side of him. Good thing he was aware of Narati’s past; otherwise, he would make yet another shallow judgement.

Like Raine, after dealing with the Church of Nihilo and being responsible with yet another one of their downfall, hopefully, for the last time, Karkas and Narati had no idea what to do next. They could go their separate ways, with Karkas resuming his hunt for Asran and Narati accompanying Raine and be a bounty hunter. Yet, part of him had made peace with his own vengeance after seeing that it only led to a depressing, possibly even suicidal, life of suspicions and death. But then, he no longer had a purpose. With him being tribeless and no longer a devout of Sobek despite his garb, he had no other place to go. He could go back to Sil and…help around with her practice. He could even return to the rivers and began a new life there.

Fortunately for him, Raine made his choice for him.

“Y’know,” started Raine. “I have something in mind, if you’re willing to listen.”

Both Narati and Karkas looked towards him.

“This…might come out of the left field,” continued Raine. “But I don’t want to die young.”

“Aren’t everyone?” added Karkas.

“Not everyone,” clarified Raine. “I have been thinking about Jacques. I know you lost every respect you had towards him, Karkas, so…”

“I may not be able to forgive his grave sin, but I understand his pain,” said Karkas. “It all died with him, so it’s no longer our cause.”

“Glad you’re okay with that. Y’see, Jacques once told me about himself when we managed to properly talk after our first fight. I know most of it are nothing but lies now, but he told me one thing that made me interested. He said he regretted his life choices and could not go on fighting. All he wanted was to live as a hermit, in isolation…away from all the pain he caused. But then…he continued and told me that he wished to establish a town.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“That doesn’t sound like him at all,” said Narati. “Then again, I can’t say I know him at all at this point.”

“So, how about if we put that as our mission? We can start a village where everyone is welcome, be it humans, elves, beast races, and even Dark Races. We can avoid stories like you two happening all over again. It can be a fresh start for everyone.”

“Too bad everyone will see your idea as a free town,” said Karkas. “If a haven like Pescita can fail, what guarantee you have that your idea will work?”

“Oh, don’t be so pessimistic, Karkas.”

“Everyone said that at the start. When you are finally jaded with how the world runs, you’ll end up thinking like me. This is an evil world, Raine. You can’t deny that fact.”

“Of course, It’s evil. Who the fuck cares?” said Raine with a shrug. “Besides, if this world is a utopia, we won’t get problems like cannibals, mutated beasts, Aether, or even discrimination. I have accepted that there is nothing perfect, so why don’t we make use of it? Not in a bad way, of course. I’m not as naïve as I sound. Not everyone in this world is like the lost people of the Seaside Region and the Desert Wasteland, you know.”

“You can say that because you came from a much less contentious land. Both of us don’t have that kind of luxury.”

“Exactly my point. You need someone who can see the brighter side of life. Call it an insult to what you believe in. At least I don’t kill people in the name of nihilism or because you think it’s right to live as a king among slaves. I know about it, and I understand why. That doesn’t mean I have to accept it.”

“And how exactly are you going to convince others to follow you?”

“You answered that question yourself. You could’ve just walk away.”

Karkas, amused by Raine’s relentless optimism, let out a chuckle. Even Narati was amused. Raine was such a ray of hope that both needed, but not to the point of being annoyingly optimistic that he sounded like a preacher. He understood that they lived in a messy and broken world. He rejected the hardened, and chose to trust himself, and maybe others, too, if they had a good idea.

“Well said,” declared Karkas. “So, what’s your plan, then?”

Raine let out a smile and unfurled a piece of paper. “Let’s start with this one.”

It was a wanted poster with the sketch of a Vulpin man. From the start, it was apparent that there were some obvious fur pattern and face structure that differentiate the Vulpin with many other fox people living in the desert, with him belonging to the red fox subrace being a start.

What quickly drew their attention, however, was the number right under the sketch. The bounty was high, though not as high as some other bounties Raine and Karkas had seen. Raine took Jacques’s advice, understanding that a high bounty did not mean straightforward bounty hunting. Granted, Jacques only said so because he wanted to disguise the fact that he was hunting specific people, but it ended up helping Raine to understand how the bounty hunting business work, and to prevent pitfalls that could lead to them walking a path they would not like.

Even if it was not a noble occupation, at least they were not dirtying their hands and got involved with problematic individuals. He chose the target well. His crime was heinous and confirmed by the Macksten police. They needed help from unaffiliated bounty hunters because the target expected police force. There was also a bonus for those who assisted him. It was an official business.

“The first of many,” said Raine. “Come on. Let’s not keep this fox waiting.”

Raine and Karkas nodded in agreement before the stood from their benches and paid for the food, leaving the restaurant behind for their own journey. Life without Jacques would feel different for those who fondly remembered him. Yet, he left behind a lesson for those who wished to be better in the unforgiving, harsh world.

There was always hope among the darkness, and among those who were cursed by their past. What mattered was their choice. Their choice would determine the future of the broken world…and their own.