Back to the present

"So, you're sure you want to sell this to us?" A young blonde man, the one who was fighting right next to the chief during the troll attack, asked Jeremy.

"We're sure, Carwyn. We're not walking with all of that equipment to Brightgate, too much attention. With this, the money we have should be enough to buy a cheap house and sustain ourselves for a few weeks, that's more than enough."

"Hmm, doesn't seem like it to me, but I doubt you two would starve to death if thrown in the desert, a city shouldn't be a problem… as long as you don't leave James alone." He chuckled.

As they walked to the village entrance, a few dozen carriages were being filled with goods and personal items, with James there helping to move the heavier things.

"Hey, James! Ready for Brightgate?" Carwyn asked him "Is there anything you two plan on doing there? I heard a lot of stuff about the city, I wonder if it truly has 3 magic academies, even the city we're going to only has 1…"

"Those academies are more combat-focused, with Brightgate being Brightgate, so they're technically 1 entity split in 3 to cover the city better. Giant magic formations or something." James said, "I sure do want to see it, but I'm more excited about the firing range…" His eyes almost sparkled from excitement.

Jeremy looked down as he held his forehead in frustration "Please don't tell me you will…"

"I will try to tank a cannon shell, yes. I want to see how strong those things are…"

"...Well, good luck on, uh, surviving. " Carwyn said him, a happy but confused expression on his face. "What about you Jeremy?" He turned to the brother.

"Not sure, probably going to see what the guild has, and the library of course. Not the greatest in the kingdom but it does focus on prophetic studies."

"That's…" Carwyn trailed off

"The dinging thing, 'God-link', you know the prophet story." Jeremy completed.

"Hey, in my defense, we don't really use more than 'that thing' when talking about it, at most we mention the Prophet and that's that." He shrugged.

"It is a pretty lame name." James intervened.

"Shut up, it makes sense in the lore." Jeremy said.

"...lore?..."

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"Yea, no way that story is true. Like, what kind of gods would agree to the god-link just because some random dude's village was facing a famine? And why would they also give it to the monsters? And why did they make the prophet immortal, and…"

"Yea yea, we got it. And you think the true story of the Prophet is in that library?" Carwyn asked him.

"Hard to say, if it is it's probably in some old scroll forgotten to time, that even if you read it you would just think it's fake. The story we are told is clearly the one the prophet wants us to believe, so any rumor or book would have low chances of lasting." Jeremy explained, just as James finished loading the last of the carriages.

"Well, it was good talking with you two, we're probably not going to see each other for a while." Carwyn said "Now I gotta go talk with the others about the guard duty, it's gonna be pretty interesting to see how guarding a moving target works…"

"It won't be long, don't you worry. We plan on visiting in the summer, that's enough time for everyone to settle down." James said "I hope next time we see you we can have more of an even fight." he ended as he punched him lightly in the chest.

"Hmph, worst comes, I'll just rent a ballista, but for now, goodbye!" Carwyn said as he gave them one last wave before walking away.

"Sight, I'm gonna miss them all, at least in Brightgate we'll have people to spar with, so I guess you win some you lose some." James talked with his brother.

"You'll feel better once you enter the arena." Jeremy replied.

"Wait, you told me they didn't actually have an arena… prophet damn it, Jeremy, I would have patiently waited even if I knew the truth." James turned around, refusing to look at his brother "Now as payback I get to carry the armor and weapons while you hunt for food."

"...about that…"

"...no… you did not…I'm getting it back." James started walking towards where Carwyn and the group of guards were located.

"Oh! James, Jeremy!" The chief, Row, suddenly appeared from somewhere between the carriages.

'Thank you…' Jeremy mouthed to him, the chief simply giving him a smile in reply.

"Oh, mister Row, I thought you were talking with the merchants? Are you done already?" James asked him as he was stopped from advancing by the old man.

"Oh, yes, yes. They move very fast when it comes to money… Now, I must talk with you two about something. Jeremy, come here." Row gestured for them to follow him as he walked away from the ready-to-go caravan.

"Is there anything wrong?" Jeremy asked him "If you need help with something or…"

"No. This is about you two." His expression turned serious as the brothers silently waited for him to continue "I know that you two feel the need to follow your father's footsteps and become adventurers, and more than likely avenge him and Carwyn's parents. As much as you might not think it as revenge I know what's truly in your hearts." He looked at Jeremy, who slightly tensed up "But I want you to promise me you won't do this out of want, not guilt or shame."

"Ha, ha." James started laughing as he simply grinned at the man "Don't you worry about that. While I can't say I wouldn't like to avenge dad, beating up monsters and clashing steel is more than enough of a reason for me."

"...Jeremy?" Row looked at him.

"..." Jeremy didn't say anything, only looked down as he clenched his fists.

"Brother…" James looked worried, seeing his brother in this state.

The chief stared at Jeremy for a few more seconds before hearing someone call for him "...sight…I can't stop you, Jeremy, and even if I could it wouldn't be my call, but… just think about what he would have wanted." The chief advised before leaving them "I will see you in the summer!"

"...are you ok?" James asked as he put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"...I am, it's just…" He stopped for a second, looking around, before continuing "I simply can't forget that day, when he..."

His brother hugged him "Neither can I, but… at least I know he died protecting us and the village. And it helps that the thing that killed him probably died. They did kill every monster in that fight."

Jeremy stared right ahead, looking straight at the forest where the cabin was. "...I hope so…"

As the sun was close to noon, the caravan started moving, and the villagers left finally this dying place. The brothers, each with a backpack on their back and a sword at their hip, started walking towards Brightgate. The city that protects the kingdom, and that shall be the spear to pierce the darkness that is the land of monsters.

May the Prophet bless them.