"Uncle?"

Franny's voice held a note of disbelief as he laid eyes on the man who had just arrived. Talax, curious, set aside what he was doing to get a better look.

Behind Vesperine, approaching them was an older man, and any resemblance he shared with Franny seemed limited to their shared blond hair. Beyond that, they appeared to be worlds apart. While Franny was the epitome of elegance and aristocracy, the newcomer had an unkempt appearance that stood in stark contrast. His hair was tangled and disheveled, and his overall demeanor exuded a sense of raw purpose rather than cultured refinement.

What caught Talax's attention even more was the intimidating aura surrounding the man. The savage scar that left the left side of his head hairless, paired with his wild beard, gave him a fearsome presence. He moved with a purposeful stride, clad in formidable heavy armor that bore the marks of numerous battles. Talax couldn't help but feel a sense of unease in the presence of the formidable warrior.

The older man was armed to the teeth, with a massive broadsword hanging behind his shoulder, a weapon that demanded both strength and skill to wield effectively. The man was nothing like Talax had imagined. He had expected a dashing noble, similar to Franny, instead he found grizzled warrior with cold eyes that looked ready to rip the head of anyone in his path.

Ferdinand emitted a startled, chicken-like sound before sprinting towards his uncle.

The man frowned for a moment at seeing his nephew but then gave a small, guarded smile. Ferdinand, seemingly oblivious to his uncle's initial reluctance, reacted with an enthusiastic embrace that resulted in a loud clang as their armors collided. However, the older man quickly placed his hands on Ferdinand's shoulders, creating some space between them, a placid expression on his face.

"My lord, it brings me immense pleasure to lay eyes upon your countenance once more. We had feared your loss," the older man declared with a measured and formal tone, as if addressing a stranger. Talax had anticipated a long-awaited reunion filled with emotion and tears, but it felt quite the opposite. It resembled more of a business transaction than the heartwarming reunion of two family members who had endured perils and obstacles together.

Ferdinand, on the other hand, radiated joy, as if he had been dying of thirst and had just stumbled upon a bountiful oasis to quench his parched soul. After an awkward couple of minutes where Franny simply stared starstruck at his uncle, he seemed to snap out of it and cleared his throat in an attempt to dispel the uncomfortable silence.

"Uncle, I can't believe I've finally found you! It feels like a dream. I was wrestling with the thought that we might never reunite. I can't wait to tell you about all my adventures. I've fought against bandits, gnolls, beasts..." Ferdinand's excited recounting of his adventures was abruptly cut off by his uncle's sharp gesture, his sharp features were already pinched by impatience.

"We'll have time to talk later. I'm eager to hear about your adventures," the older man said with a condescending smile, dismissing Ferdinand's tales as if they were the inane bubbling of a child. Talax, who had been observing the exchange in silence, grew increasingly uneasy. Hearing Franny speak about his uncle during their journey, he had crafted an image of a noble and benevolent hero who would go to great lengths to protect his family. The reality unfolding before him was a stark contrast to his expectations.

Now, Talax wasn't so sure about his earlier impressions. Despite the older man's formidable appearance and undeniable combat prowess, he didn't exude the aura of nobility or benevolence. Instead, he seemed annoyed and inconvenienced about having to deal with Franny, and this gave Talax the distinct feeling that their journey was about to take a turn for the worse.

The lord cast his eyes over the salamander nest, his gaze briefly lingering on the deceased creatures, before settling on Talax. Qalo was noticeably absent; the last time Talax had seen him, the half-orc was squeezed among the boulders behind the rock formation, presumably searching for something to eat.

Summoned by the armored man's beckoning finger and feeling an almost automatic compulsion to obey, Talax approached the group. The lord scrutinized him with a critical eye, his expression openly unimpressed by what he saw.

"Vesperine here," he began, nodding towards the masked woman who seemed utterly disinterested in the proceedings, "told me that you accompanied my nephew and helped ensure his safety." With that, he produced a pouch heavy with coins and continued, "Take it and be on your way. My nephew no longer requires your services."

The people present had varying reactions to the lord's words.

Franny's protestations rang out in the cavern, filled with displeasure as he tried to reason with his uncle. "Uncle, that's preposterous! We can't abandon them in the dungeon! They'll surely perish! I refuse to concede to your proposal, I absolutely refuse! Do you hear me?" Franny's words, rather than helping his cause, seemed to only further aggravate the already irate lord. His behavior wasn't much better; the young noble stomped his feet like a petulant child and raised his fists in a fit of frustration.

Vesperine's reaction, on the other hand, took a more comical turn. Her hands flew to her mouth in exaggerated shock before proceeding to fan herself, muttering like a deranged person. "My puppy... My poor puppy... I want to play with him... I have to play with him..." She glanced around as if expecting everyone to share in her absurd distress over the situation. Then, she dramatically clutched her chest and exclaimed, "Oh, the injustice of it all! The dungeon will be so lonely without my precious puppy's company. How will he survive without my wit and charm?"

Talax, for his part, paid no heed to the spectacle, instead staring dumbfounded at the pouch brimming with coins.

Summoning a deep breath, he locked eyes with the formidable older noble. The man appeared even more imposing up close, but Talax felt his temper surge. This time, he did not try to suppress his emotions. He welcomed the invigorating surge, fully aware that this battle of wills would not be resolved with pleasantries.

"You mean that after enduring the depths of hell, saving and safeguarding your nephew – which, as far as I'm aware, my lord..." He emphasized the title, underscoring his disdain. "...was your duty, a task you failed miserably at," Franny whispered to him fiercely, urging him to stop speaking. A vein bulged on the lord's forehead, foretelling an impending eruption, but Talax refused to be deterred. His anger boiled within him, ready to erupt from his lips regardless of the consequences.

"We traversed half the dungeon, brimming with bloodthirsty beasts and lethal traps. And we finally found your group of supposedly seasoned fighters," he mimicked Franny's tone, always filled with wonder and adoration when discussing his uncle's band of adventurers. "They were decimated, with only four members remaining! Tell me, my lord, can you afford to turn away any help you can get?" His passionate outburst left him breathless, panting as if he had just run a marathon.

The noble regarded him with a stoic expression, with only the pulsating vein on his forehead betraying the seething anger beneath. The awkward standoff was disrupted by Vesperine's boisterous applause.

"Oh, puppy! You're positively alluring when you bark! I can't wait to see you bite as well!" Talax rolled his eyes at her words but maintained unwavering eye contact with the noble. After a brief moment of silence, the lord decided to speak.

The controlled violence in his tone sent a shiver down his spine, but he stood his ground. "Do you know what I do to insolent peasants on my lands?" The noble didn't wait for a response and opened his mouth to speak. However, Talax couldn't restrain his impulsive nature and retorted in a mocking tone, "Oh, I don't know... You kill them or something equally gruesome." He casually shrugged his shoulders before continuing, disregarding Franny's scandalized expression. "Because lords have the privilege of determining the fate of those around them. Lowly peasants, on the other hand, must bow their heads and accept the decisions of some dimwitted ruler." He scoffed with disdain and shook his head.

When he turned to face the noble again, he witnessed a man so infuriated that his face had turned a shade of crimson rivaling that of a ripe tomato. The noble's clenched fists trembled, his lips quivered with unrestrained fury, and his stony facade crumbled like fragile glass.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

With a voice that crackled with wrath, the noble seethed, "You insolent cur! How dare you speak with such insolence in my presence? You shall pay dearly for this affront!"

The tension in the air became palpable as the two men faced off, emotions simmering like a brewing storm. What had started as an awkward standoff had now escalated into a full-blown confrontation, fueled by Talax's provocative words.

Franny, caught in the middle, glanced nervously between the two, clearly worried about the impending clash. The older noble's eyes blazed with a dangerous mixture of rage and humiliation, while Talax's gaze remained unwavering, a cocktail of defiance and a hint of amusement playing across his features.

The silence hung heavy in the air, like a charged atmosphere before a storm's eruption. Finally, Ferdinand, realizing the dire situation, decided to step in and defuse the escalating conflict. “Uncle, I apologize for my friend’s words. He is still affected by the injury he sustained during his battle with the beasts.” Talax was about to speak up, ready to reassure the older man that he meant every word he had said, but Franny shot him a vicious glare and, in a harsh tone, warned, "And you, Talax, must be careful with your words! My uncle is a respected general, deserving of respect. You have no right to speak ill of him or belittle his position!"

Talax, understanding that further antagonizing the man would lead to disaster, nodded in acquiescence to Franny's admonishment. He took a step back, showing that he accepted the reprimand. Franny, seeing Talax calm down, returned to his uncle's side and continued to reason with him.

"However unfounded and callous some of Talax's statements may have been, one thing remains true, we need all the help we can get. Talax has an uncanny understanding of the inner workings of the dungeon, which has repeatedly aided us in navigating this perilous labyrinth. Qalo is a formidable warrior despite his lack of levels; his presence has been a protective force against the countless threats we've encountered."

The older noble appeared to ponder Franny's words before inquiring, "Qalo, the creature Vesperine mentioned?". Franny winced at hearing Qalo referred to as a "creature," but he nodded without contradicting his uncle.

"Where is he?" the noble demanded, causing Talax to feel his anger surge once more. Realizing that staying near the noble would only lead to more reckless words, he volunteered to find the half-orc.

He discovered the tusked man huddled behind a small rock formation, on all fours and covered in mud. Talax surveyed the area, noticing the half-eaten remnants of various animals and forming an unpleasant idea of what was going on.

"What are you doing?" he demanded loudly, causing Qalo to jump up with a guilty expression. The half-orc quickly hid his hands behind his back and attempted to act casually. "I was just..."

Talax, observing what the big man was trying to conceal, pointed a finger and spoke sternly. "We won't be taking any of those half-eaten corpses with us. Seriously, how do you even eat those things?" He wondered aloud, closing his nose with his fingers to ward off the stench.

He heard a flop as the dead, furry creature Qalo had been clutching fell from his grasp. "Come on, Franny's uncle is looking for you. And just a heads up, he's not the most pleasant person..." He muttered irritably.

Qalo nodded as though he had anticipated the news. Instead of following Talax, however, he went over to a small rock.

"What are you doing?" Talax asked in confusion. The half-orc responded by giving him the finger and saying, "Hold on, I've got something to show you." Talax gritted his teeth and admonished him for what felt like the hundredth time, "That's not how you use it!"

Ignoring him, Qalo scooped up some peculiar stones that were perched on the small rock and presented them to Talax. "Here, take these. While I was searching the nest for..." He coughed awkwardly and continued, "Anyway, I found these things. I don't exactly know what they are, but they give off a strange aura."

Talax picked one up. It was a small rock that fit perfectly in his palm and had rough edges, making it almost rectangular. His eyebrows shot up in surprise as he felt faint traces of dark magic. Almost instinctively, he infused mana into the inconspicuous rock, and a pinprick of magic began to appear at its center. The more mana he poured in, the brighter the light became.

As the light started peeking through his fingers, Qalo grimaced and hastily stepped back. "What happened?" Talax inquired, noticing his friend's discomfort. The half-orc wore a constipated expression, a sign of his confusion.

"I don't know. I don't like it. It makes me feel... weird," Qalo replied, twirling his head as if he were feeling nauseous. Talax rolled his eyes and retorted, "That was very helpful. Thanks." His sarcasm went unnoticed as Qalo grunted in acknowledgment.

Before he could conduct further experiments, the small rock emitted a final burst of light and then crumbled to dust. With a furrowed brow, Talax picked up another rock. He repeated the process, and this time, the small rock began to glow. He sensed a different sensation, one associated with life magic.

With wonder, he watched as the small scratches and scuffs he had earned during his battle with the salamanders began to heal themselves. After a few seconds, the second rock turned to dust, just like the first one. The process was slower than using a healing potion, but having options was valuable, especially considering that Franny's stock was nearly depleted.

Counting the small marbles in Qalo's hands, Talax found four that emitted light mana, two with life magic, and one with death and dark mana. Surprisingly, Qalo offered all the small marbles to Talax, a gesture quite unlike the typically greedy orc, stating that he wanted nothing to do with magic. Talax shrugged and pocketed the offered loot.

They returned to Ferdinand and his uncle, though Qalo followed with reluctance and drooping shoulders. When the lord spotted the half-orc, he appraised him, just as he had done with Talax. After a nod, he declared, "You may accompany us, but you must follow my orders to the letter." His glare focused solely on Talax. "The slightest disobedience will be severely punished!" Talax couldn't help but roll his eyes, and a deep growl reverberated in his bones.

"Sir, yes, sir!" Talax responded with a salute, earning a giggle from Vesperine and a scolding from Franny. "What's gotten into you?" Franny demanded. "Do you have no common sense? I barely convinced him to let you join us!" He chastised Talax with a furious whisper.

Talax shot his friend a furious glare that made the noble take a step back, as if he had been scalded. After a brief discussion between Franny's uncle and Vesperine, the group set out to find the camp where the rest of the adventurers awaited.

Ferdinand walked alongside his uncle, recounting his adventures and feats of valour, which were greatly embellished, while his uncle nodded absentmindedly every so often, not truly hearing a word. At some point, Talax once again felt the uncomfortable twinge in his head, eliciting a faint groan from his lips.

Hearing the sound, Vesperine decided to join him and attempted to alleviate his discomfort. Unfortunately, her efforts only seemed to make things worse. For the rest of the journey, she clung to him as if she feared he would flee at the first opportunity. Where he would go was unclear, but her behavior resembled that of an infatuated teenager, which was beginning to grate on his nerves.

Qalo hung back, evidently preferring to remain invisible and inconspicuous to the newest members of their group. Talax couldn't blame him for that. The lord continued to shoot the half-orc with glares dripping with barely restrained animosity, although, to be fair, Talax received his fair share of such glares as well. Vesperine acted as if the half-orc didn't exist, and on the few occasions she acknowledged him, it was as though she were addressing a mere beast of burden.

Talax strained to hear the conversation between Ferdinand and his uncle when he caught the name "Bryan" being mentioned. Unfortunately, he missed the quiet words as Vesperine decided to whisper obscenities in his ear, prompting Talax to dislodge her with a firm push.

The only words he managed to hear were when the lord expressed his deep regret at not being able to rescue Franny from the bandits. However, once again, he couldn't make out anything more because another twinge of discomfort flared up. By this point, he had grown concerned about the persistent annoyance and was about to ask Franny for his opinion.

Vesperine moved closer to him, her voice dripping with a sassy tone, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere surrounding them.

"Darling," she purred, "I couldn't help but notice how you handled Lord Edward back there. Quite the fiery spirit you've got. You certainly know how to stir the pot, don't you?"

Talax shot her an exasperated look, his patience already tested by the events of the day. "Stirring the pot is one way to put it," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

Vesperine leaned in even closer, her mask hiding her expression but not her mischievous intent. "You know, I like a man who's not afraid to speak his mind, especially in the face of authority. It's quite alluring, really."

Talax couldn't help but roll his eyes at her flirtatious banter. "You have a peculiar way of finding amusement in these situations," he remarked, trying to steer the conversation away from her antics. "What's your angle here, Vesperine? You seem to be enjoying this whole situation a bit too much."

She chuckled softly, a hint of derangement in her tone. "Oh, Talax, dear, I'm just here for the entertainment. Life's too short to take everything so seriously, don't you think?"

Talax couldn't argue with that logic, though he still found it difficult to fully trust Vesperine's intentions. He glanced around at the cavern's towering walls, feeling the weight of their precarious situation. "I have a feeling that you will have plenty of entertainment, if the lord doesn’t start acting like a decent human being."

Vesperine's laughter echoed through the cavern, sending shivers down Talax's spine. "My dear puppy, I cannot wait to be entertained..." Her tone made it clear that she wasn’t strictly speaking about his future squabbles with the older noble.

He was about to respond when he noticed massive stone pillars rise from the ground, supporting the cavern's ceiling high above. The air was filled with a musty, earthy smell, and the distant echoes of water dripping into underground pools added to the eerie ambiance.

Ferdinand's uncle led the way, his heavy armor clinking with each step as he moved through the chamber with an air of authority. Franny, ever the dutiful nephew, followed closely behind, still attempting to regale his uncle with tales of his adventures. The older lord shooshed Franny with an irritated expression and with a clear voice announced.

“We have arrived.”