My mouth was thick with steam, and my body felt cold, as if a point of ice had pierced every cell. The vast winter wasteland stretched around us, and the thought that we could all freeze to death gave me resolve. We had to get to the city quickly.
- Let's hurry," Zenaris said, and was the first to step through the snow.
The snow beneath his feet crunched loudly, a sound that signaled the others. All of us, determined, bravely stepped on the cold white surface, and soon we were following Zenaris. However, he soon hissed in pain and stopped. It seemed that his exertions were not without consequence.
- What's wrong? - Michael asked, stopping beside him.
- I think I broke my arm," Zenaris said hoarsely, trying to keep a joking tone, though his face was showing pain. He was holding his left arm, and I knew it wasn't just a joke.
- The snow had covered all the paths, so it was hard to know which way to go. But I think I remember the path, so follow me," Michael said confidently, taking responsibility.
The whole group followed Michael. He had recovered during his time in the dungeon, and I was to my credit. When everyone was sleeping peacefully and snoring, I would sneak up on Michael and circulate his mana to the sore areas. Thus, in two weeks, he had almost completely recovered from his injuries. My own wounds still hadn't healed properly, but I knew I'd be ready for new assignments in a little while.
Helen slept peacefully in the arms of Goliath, who carried her with care, while the winter scenery of the forest swept around us. I had never seen such beautiful vistas. Before, during the winter months in the village, we usually holed up at home, hiding from the cold. Now it occurred to me that it might be worth checking out my village. The thought that the commanders might notice that their troops were missing and send a new group kept me on my toes.
We walked for hours, shivering from the cold, until we reached the main road, where there were already trampled paths from wagons and feet. Michael led us confidently down the main road. I could no longer feel my feet, and my ears and hands were "burning" from the cold, as if they had been scorched.
- The first thing I'll do when I get back to the city is drink a whole bottle of wine! - Goliath broke the silence, his voice tinged with thirst and hope.
- You're a big drinker, even if you don't get drunk on it, big guy! - Zenaris quipped, trying to break the tension.
- I'm sick of these sandwiches and chowder! I want to eat something normal," Goliath added, his voice sounding wistful.
- I was so sick of our rations that I even tried the moss from the walls, and I had a stomachache for three days..." Roland said, sadness in his voice.
- When we get to the nearest town, I'll give you all a treat! - Zenaris said enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling with hope.
- Although wait a minute... Oh no... I left all the money in my backpack..." Zenaris said with horror, and his face changed.
- WHAT? There was a whole 50 gold pieces in there, wasn't there? I hope you're joking? - Goliath shouted, his voice full of panic.
- Well, should I keep them on my belt when I'm fighting a Golem? - Zenaris replied with slight irritation.
- Shit! What are we going to do now? - Goliath exclaimed, his anxiety contagious.
- We'll definitely figure something out..." said Zenaris, trying to remain optimistic.
Suddenly we saw houses in the distance and ran towards them as if to escape the frost. It was a small village not far from the main road. Zenaris, without wasting time, tried to negotiate with the innkeeper to warm and feed us for free. The argument was long and formidable.
- Why would I give you free service here? Am I some kind of a sucker to you? - The innkeeper said with displeasure, his face expressing his displeasure.
- Please! My men are wounded, cold and hungry. When we get our reward, we will surely come back and repay you! - Zenaris replied insistently, his voice full of sincerity.
- Your big man over there would eat up half the inn in one go! It's not profitable for me! - He crossed his arms across his chest.
- How about we pay you back some other way? - Zenaris suggested, his negotiating skills evident in every word.
- Hmmm, how about that guy's crossbow? - said the host, pointing at Michael.
- My crossbow? No way! - Michael answered sharply, his voice full of determination.
Zenaris nudged him under his side and said in a whisper, "Do it! Or we'll die out here in the cold.
- Okay, but then you'll pay me back the money from the group's budget! - Michael said wistfully, and, with a sigh, handed over his crossbow.
We finally found a place to sleep, and as we were led to our table, I felt the tension of the long hours of wandering begin to dissipate. The table was lavishly laden with various dishes: fragrant meat delicacies, fresh bread, sumptuous pies, and many other delicacies that beckoned. Everyone, including me, began to devour the food greedily. Every bite was like a balm to my soul, and the taste was insanely enchanting. My cold hands finally warmed up and came alive right before my eyes, as if life was returning to me. I felt the heavy feeling of hopelessness and despair that had haunted me in the dungeon begin to fade. I felt the "taste" of life again, and it was incredible.
Zenaris, our leader, stayed in one of our rooms with Helen, taking some food with him. As I finished my meal, I felt drowsy and tired, like a warm blanket over me. I really needed a good rest. The oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon kept me awake; sometimes I sat up late, suffering from insomnia. Roland didn't sleep all day long, and only fell asleep when he was exhausted.
I went into my room, about to undress and go to bed, when suddenly someone knocked on the door.
- Hey, Alex, let's take a bath! - came Michael's voice.
I took off the protective layer of my gear and smelled my body and instantly wrinkled my face in disgust. I smelled awful, as if I'd smelled a corpse. Still, I hadn't bathed in over two weeks. I quickly left the room where Michael and Goliath were waiting for me. We headed to the bathhouse together. We were assigned a separate room, apparently for mercenaries and stinkers like us. The hostess was disgusted by our odor, but that didn't stop us.
In the bathhouse we washed off all the dirt and unpleasant odor, and in a special room we washed our clothes. We were given temporary clothes, which, though not very comfortable, seemed to be a real blessing. The bathhouse was part of the inn, and the hostess was the innkeeper's wife. We bathed for free, though Michael gave his crossbow to the innkeeper as payment.
Clean and fed, I returned to my room and finally got into my bed. The long-awaited softness of the mattress seemed like heaven after the agonizing "nights" in the dungeon, where I had broken my back on the hard stone floor, even softened by the sleeping bag. I didn't notice that I had fallen asleep.
I had a strange dream, scary and distant at the same time. I was running through a forest, dressed in ragged rags. The trees whizzed around me, and then I was in a large ruined city. The picture changed to slums. I wandered through the streets of ruined neighborhoods, and I was scared to be among the uninhabited remains of the places where I had once lived. Finally, I reached my house, which thankfully looked intact. I went inside, and to my surprise, the house was not the same as the outside. It was bigger, and everything around it was covered in something black.
I walked through the house, which looked remarkably like my apartment from my previous life. I stopped in front of a door that sounded oddly like a whisper. My heart was pounding and my hands were shaking, but I opened the door despite my fear.
That was the end of my dream. I woke up with a pounding heart and a cold sweat as it was just starting to get light outside. The sun was slowly rising over the horizon, and I sat on the edge of the bed, wiping the sweat from my face, trying to recover from the nightmare.
I left the room and sat down at a table in a tavern that was practically empty of people. The atmosphere slowly came alive, and time passed slowly around me as I sat and recalled the scenes of my dream, wondering what they could mean. Suddenly, Zenaris called out to me:
- Alex, Ale-ee-ex, Alex! What are you doing up? Did you hear me? Pack your things, we're leaving!
Zenaris' words brought me back to reality. I returned to the room where my clothes, dried overnight, were already laid out. I put them on, put my gear on top of them, and went downstairs. In the tavern I saw Helen. She appeared to be awake and feeling better, though she was still weakened. There were several bruises on her swollen face, and it was quite a sight.
We set out on the road. We met a wagon on the way, heading for Mortheim, where we were going. We agreed with the coachman that he would give us a ride in exchange for protection. The coachman was going to take the side roads, as he had heard news that gangs of bandits had been discovered on the main roads. With us, however, he was not afraid of them, and his journey was shortened.
Most of us got into the wagon that held the goods, and I was put in the next seat with the driver. This made me feel a little aloof, even though I had the responsibility of scouting the area.
We reached Mortheim a few days later, and the coachman didn't need our help in the end. We didn't encounter any bandits, which was fortunate, for we were not a band of mercenaries at this point, but a bunch of guys who had been beaten by a huge golem. We went straight into the guild we knew. The familiar smells and places put me back on track, and I felt like a mercenary again, not a scared boy.
Zenaris went to get the award and soon beckoned us over. We approached the counter and a female employee announced to us:
- We are pleased to announce that your group rank has reached the "Professional" level! Your personal ranks have also been upgraded. Zenaris and Goliath, you get the "Professional" level and Alex gets the "Mercenary" level. You are now a full member of the guild! Come back for your tokens in a week, and by the way, here's your reward.
Zenaris took several large bags of gold and began dividing up the loot. The entire guild gathered to watch this. Each member of the group received a sack, and upon opening my sack, I counted 150 coins. Not a bad loot considering I hardly fought at all. But it didn't bring me joy. Although I was afraid, I also wanted to fight. I didn't want to be unwanted and useless, I wanted to stop feeling like an extra in the group. Those 150 coins seemed undeserved to me, as if Zenaris and Goliath should have gotten more than me. But everyone got an equal amount.
- What are the tokens? - I asked Michael.
- Tokens are the symbol of the guild, proving that you are a mercenary and your rank. Without it, they won't believe you're a member of the guild," Michael replied.
I was now a true mercenary. I had gotten much stronger during this time, after all, and perhaps I did deserve the name.