The festivities were almost deafening.
Every street from the slums to the governor's office was filled to the brim with people as merchants made money hand over fist. Though people were slightly disturbed by my initial proclamation that I was a knight and kept their children at a distance from me, when it was revealed that I was summoned from another world where the title meant honorable warrior, the populace simply shook it off with a laugh.
A difference in culture, they must've thought. It wasn't the outcome I was looking for, but it would have to do for now.
I wasn't made who I am today instantly. Such things must be learnt, and the concepts surrounding them must be overturned.
It would take time. Especially when I have only a barebones understanding of how they came to this conclusion.
Nonetheless, for a moment I allowed myself to join the celebration. Why you ask? I want to be remembered by people. To stick in their mind as the grand figure who faced down forty Ogres. As the day passed I visited bars and inns, passing by numerous bards. I spent most of my time with the bards telling stories of battles long past. It was tedious but conducive to my goals. The bards here would take a coin or two, and tell my tale elsewhere. And the fact that I was summoned by Firmina had them eager to hear my tales to recite as songs.
A knight's glory was his name and master. To bring glory to his name would be to have feats to tell. And an errant blade like myself needed as many as he could get.
But as evening turnt to night and the festivities raged on, the guard began to come out to regulate activities and make sure things didn't get out of hand. The streets were now a self sustaining party filled with Alcohol and money that circulated faster than even a dwarf could handle.
I myself had finally managed to find my way to the steakhouse where the rescued party was describing their experiences to a large crowd.
"And then I slipped and fell! Right in front of the Ogre! She really thought she had me, but then Nancy cast heal on her eyes and blinded her! It was ingenious!"
Nancy, the priestess in training, blushed as the crowded bar began to chant her name
"NANCY! NANCY! NANCY!"
Turning my attention away from the four members of the party that had been discharged, I returned my attention to the small group in front of me.
Rita, her son kent, Rose's party, and Mark along with his wife all sat with me at a long table.
"And then she throws two big punches! And he dodge's em both!"
Rose, red in the face from copious amounts of alcohol, was retelling the events of my duel with Yaril. She had attracted quite a crowd with others intently listening in from different tables.
A woman with green hair that smoothly faded to blue then tapped her shoulder.
"Your missing the part where he punch in the stomach so hard her eyes bulged!"
"Oh yeah! He hit her in the eight pack so hard that she only had seven and a bulging bruise!"
Laughter broke out at the drunk womans exaggerated telling of the story as the story continued on.
"Acros!"
A voice barely managed to reach my ears over the hubbub as I turnt to see Rita motioning me to follow her into the upstairs of the restaurant.
"I'm sorry Mark, Lana, you'll have to excuse me."
"No problem Sir knight!"
"Mark honey, don't be rude just because you drank a little! Thank you for taking care of my husband Acros."
"The pleasure was mine."
Leaving the happy couple behind, I managed to slowly slip through the crowd and up the stairs unnoticed by the partygoers.
I arrived upstairs to an open-layout floor, complete with a bathing area sectioned off by a curtain and a little bedroom section which held two small beds and a shelf of a few old wrinkly papers and lots of baubles.
Sitting on a chair beside her bed, Rita motioned me to take a seat in front of her.
"I just need to talk to you for a moment. It'll be quick."
"Alright."
Taking a seat in front of the solemn woman, I waited for her to gather herself before speaking. She was staring at the floor, her eyes rimmed with darkened circles that had been hidden by the lighting of the candlelit party below. Sitting here, I could feel her age before me as though time passed in a whirlwind. For a moment, all I could see was a strained, tired old woman.
Someone who's life was coming to an end.
"Sir Acros, I want to thank you for saving my son."
"I don't have anything to offer you in return for his safe return, but believe me when I say I am so, so thankful."
Her chest began to heave as her eyes began to slowly water. Tears streamed down her face, wiping away the makeup she used to hide the strains that were slowly pulling her apart.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm supposed to be thanking you and-"
"It's fine."
Reaching into the armor on my waist, I pulled out a simple handkerchief. It was plain, and a little old, but enough to wipe her tears.
"Let them flow."
And just like that, the woman broke down. Leaning into me, her sobs were muffled by my embrace. It was likely uncomfortable given my armor, but at that point she didn't care. She was tired. Worried sick that the last vestiges of her family would be ripped away from her.
"I *hick* was so *hick scared!"
For a moment, I sensed a presence, but I decided to deal with it later. This was far more important.
"I *hick* thought h-he was gone!"
And for about seven minutes, I held her. She poured out her fears, her sadness, and everything else. Regrets, wishes, guilt, things she had wished she had said and others that she wished she didn't.
I heard them all.
Finally, puffy eyed and relieved of her tears, she managed to look me in the eyes.
"I'm sorry… I jus-"
"It's fine. Holding onto all of that would've been far worse."
Silence pervaded the room as she took shaky breaths. Then, I noticed something. She had fallen asleep in my arms. Despite the cold hard silver being her only cushion, expelling all of her emotions had taken quite the toll.
Lifting her carefully, like a father would with his child, I placed her to rest on the bed. She needed to sleep. And I needed to deal with the boy at the door.
"Kent, come here."
"Urk!"
A quiet cry of surprise confirmed my suspicions. From around the corner came Kent, slowly making his way over to the both of us. I then motioned him to sit as I let out a deep sigh.
"Kent, I have a question for you."
The boys emerald eyes bounced from the floor to my helm in less than a second, anxiety and guilt hiding in the depths of his pupils.
"Yes Acr- I mean uh!"
"Calm down for a moment, are you trying to wake up your mother?"
The boy gulped before returning his gaze to the floor.
"...No…"
"Good. Now then, getting back to what I was saying. I'm here to ask you why you're an adventurer."
"Why-huh, why am I an adventurer?"
"Indeed, because I want to know your resolve."
The boy looked confused as he contemplated my words.
"I don't think I really understand…"
"I'm wondering how far you're willing to go in this profession. What does adventuring mean to you? Is it a path to vengeance? A way to fight for what you believe in? Or is it just a way to get a rush?"
"Its not- I mean I-"
"Stop for a moment. Take a moment and look at your mother. The weight of knowing she may never see you again was breaking her slowly. Did you even know?"
"I mean I kind of-"
"Yes or no?"
"No…"
I knew I was overreaching my usual boundaries, but this time I felt it was necessary. This boy was high on pride and relief. Checking this now could curb a lot of future problems that his mother just couldn't deal with right now.
"Now then, answer me. Why did you choose to adventure?"
"..."
I waited a minute, then two, then five, before finally I received an answer.
"I did it to take care of my mom, and to protect her if the time ever came that things ever went wrong."
"I see...
Well it seems like that method isn't really working."
"What do you mean? I-"
"You seemed to be placing a powerful burden on her instead of caring for her."
Stepping I gestured at her face, the residual gaunt nature now showing as her fatigue overruled her need to hide it.
"Not only that, you couldn't even protect yourself when the time came to make your stand."
"So I'm asking you once again, why are you an adventurer?"
This time, Kent's answer never came.