Kalus closely examines the billboard filled with posters; everything from requests for hard-labor, to aid someone with preventing wild animals from damaging someone’s property. And then there was the desperate ones, the ones with a bounty on someone’s head. The reward offers a substantial amount of gold, but the probability of getting the reward in a town like this is very unlikely.
“You’re looking for work, young man?”
“Y-Yes, but there’s no work that pays well. I really need the gold right now.”
“Lately I got wild animals destroying my crops and I need someone to get rid of the animals.”
“I-I don’t know–”
“I’ll pay you 10 gold coins! Please!”
Kalus exhales and nods “Alright alright. I’ll do it.”
“Oh thank you, young man!”
The old lady walks back to home with Kalus, showing him a destroyed patch of crops. The crops were stomped and forcibly pulled out from the soil.
“It looks to be done by direwolves... possibly rotomonds.”
“Yes, I see the rotomonds pulling out my cabbage and carrots from my window, but I’m too afraid to scare them away on my own! I haven’t been able to get the food I’ve worked so hard for!”
“I’ll make sure they won’t ruin your crops anymore.”
Kalus then waited till nighttime for the wild animals to appear. The direwolves were the first to approach the patch of crops, the sudden encounter with him made the direwolves hesitant. They growled at him before one of them attempted to attack Kalus, with no avail as he swayed with his scythe in front of them. One of them then ferociously charged Kalus, shutting it down by slamming its nose against the ground with the help of the scythe. The direwolves got scared and ran away. The night went on without any signs of wild animals and morning arrived early and he went back home after being payed 10 gold.
“Did you make any money?” Anava asks him as soon as he enters the door, coughing a lot.
“I made 10 gold last night.”
“That’s good.” She coughed, “I went out and sold items I found in the house; I got two gold.”
“Looks like we got around a hundred gold. That should be enough to pay a percentage of the debt.”
Anava nodded.
“Anava?”
“Yes?”
“You told me uncle never showed up.”
“Yeah, he didn’t even send a letter explaining why he never showed up. It makes you question if we even are a part of a family now when they are gone.”
“I understand where you're coming from, but we can't have thoughts like that for the time being. We got a solid economy now!” Kalus tightens his fist as he states “We have a chance to pay the debt and be free from it! For good!” His eyes were glowing from sheer aspiration.
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Anava sighs before she admits “I got to say, when you put your mind on something you'll never get rid of that thought until you've achieved your end goal – there’s something about that side of you is what makes me believe that it's worth being curious of the future, even after what has happened to us.” She coughs “You inspire me, Kalus"
Kalus, surprised by her speech, draws closer to her and hugs her. He doesn't let go of her before he says “Thank you, Anava… for those kind words. You've been so strong without me… I'm proud of you.”
Her smile grows bigger as Kalus stays in her grasp, she enjoyed the silent moment of his little brother in her arms. It's like the old days.
The day went on, and more and more townsfolk went outside, enjoying themselves before it grew too dark. The time before everyone retracted back to their homes were one of the most beautiful occasions on the day. People putting on the nicest clothes they got and just enjoying themselves with their loved ones – it was very pleasing for the soul to see. The day were special after all; it was The Night of The Righteous Ones. It was a night, celebrating the group of Crows that saved the town from certain catastrophe. It was that night they sacrificed themselves for the greater good. It's this night people show their respect to the group by living, cherishing the life they gave them and their generations to come.
A knock on the door could be heard. Kalus opened up the door to a pair of guards, dressed in a more festive attire then usual.
“We know it's a night to celebrate and cherish life, but we need you to pay for your debt.”
“Of course.”
Kalus opened up his coin pouch and handed the guards 40 gold. The guards put down the gold in their' pouches and left after thanking him and leaving right after.
“A night to cherish...” Kalus muttered to himself.
Anava already fell asleep, snoring loudly as she rolled around on the sofa. Her well-being good better ever since Kalus came back from the Crow camp. His presence made her smile more then what she has ever done before. He was filled with pride as he knew that he was able to make her feel happier. As the night kept on crawling to the surface, he thought “Being back home is… quite something. I don't know what to feel when I'm here. Sure, I'm happy and proud of what I've accomplished for my sister, but… I've already been in a fight. I don't wanna disappoint her, I don't wanna do it ever again! I'll show her that I can be righteous too, just like my grandpa that night!”
Kalus shook himself from his thought and looked through the window. The people were laughing, loving each other. Kalus looked at them a little longer before he looked back at Anava. His face clearly showed the struggle he had, thinking of how his image as a brother and a hero, smiling through the malice thoughts tormenting his mind. He thinks to himself “I'll be a hero too… no matter what happens, one day I'll be remembered for being a hero… witness me, world!”