In the village, a lot of the youths dream of becoming more than just farmers. Because of the common fantasy brought upon by the occupation known as being adventurers, many of them yearn to walk in the same glory filled path.
Their ambitions were so magnanimous, there were times when some of the children would just vanish the next day and they would leave a note by their beds, telling their parents that they were going out to become great adventurers, but…at least a week passes by and they would be found back at the doorstep of their own home, wearing nothing but a ragged shirt and a few bloodstained pants.
In their return, they would always say the same thing.
"I was wrong." and after that, their parents accepted them back into the family and the life of being a farmer begins.
It was common to find children who overestimate themselves and try to find their identity out in the open world, most being wanting to become an adventurer. But they simply don't realize the horrible truth of becoming an adventurer.
The one thing that is mainly needed when walking this sort of path was the capacity to not care for one's own life to a certain extent. Adventurers were driven to face death at a daily basis…and although it may seem glorious to the people who watch from the sidelines, they simply can't comprehend the truth that lies behind the facade.
This occupation played with a person's life.
In the village, when one person comes back from realizing the truth that comes with being an adventurer, the other younger children who had the same intentions as they did would mock the person who returned. Those children who mock were just as blind…
They would say things like…
"Ha! He's probably came back because he got too scared!"
"That coward, compared to him, I'll be sure to come back with an actual achievement."
"I'm sure he ran away at the sight of a slime. Hahaha!"
These children were young, so the old people can't blame them for being arrogant. But in time, these children will also grow up to experience the same horrors of being an adventurer.
Yet in rare cases, there are those that don't return to become a farmer. Some villagers turn out to be more willing in living such a frugal lifestyle. Yet in all the cases of these people walking in this sort of path, some simply don't last long.
In the end, they return home not with their own two feet but inside a coffin instead.
The life of an adventurer was tragic for people who don't have the talent for it.
Yet one day…something happened that broke this cycle of ambition.
One day, when a dragon came and attacked the village, a lot of the people who witnessed this event realized that there was no way of escaping such a tragedy. There was no one in the village capable of turning the tides of the situation…or at least, that was what is commonly thought of.
All of a sudden, a young boy came about and slayed the dragon in great display.
At the sight of this wonder, many came to uncover the truth of who slayed the dragon. It was none other than the eldest son of the Cicial family.
A boy who was known to be so incompetent in being a smith, some were afraid of the future brought upon by this boy's talent. Yet one day, he revealed his strengths in one magnanimous show.
The people were in awe of his strength in slaying the dragon.
Many wanted to cheer for him…many came to admire him.
And soon, many saw him to be a pillar that could be leaned on.
But not everyone saw it that way.
Some people denied the idea that someone who was once so weak, so talentless at their occupation, that they would just show up one day and slay a dragon? It was unbelievable.
It couldn't be true.
The group who thought of this were known to be the delinquents of the village.
The bastards known to simply drink all day in the tavern, and try to pick on women as a past-time. The ones who dream big but never do anything at all that would make the village shine.
They didn't believe it to be true that a boy like Thill Cicial would be capable of such.
At one point, because of their petty thoughts, they tried to confront Thill alone, but once they saw him from afar, picking materials at the market, they realized that something did change about him.
Not only has he grown taller and more muscular, but his eyes have become more sharper…more mature. And his simple presence alone made them feel somewhat afraid.
Watching his presence from afar, they felt envious that it might be true.
The leader of that group was none other than a man who was twenty years old, and his name was Astin. His family grew majority of the onion farms in the village. They provide about 60 percent of the onions that gets sold to the merchants and markets. With such great success, it was hard not to feel a bit of pride in the village. Even still, he doesn't dream of working on a farm all his life. Instead, he dreams of becoming an adventurer just like everybody else.
Astin was a prideful bastard. His personality doesn't even stray far from that of a bandit. When he was young, he would get into fights with most of the kids in the village all for the sake of feeling like a winner. Problematic as he was, he was one of the people who took care with the majority of the monsters that lurk around the village to steal crops and chickens.
At the age of fifteen, he encountered a monster known as a goblin, and by sheer luck…he killed it with his own hands. At that moment, he felt like he could do anything…and he did.
Because of this, most of the people in the village despise his problematic personality. But not many could go against him because he was confident in his skill to fight monsters.
He planned to one day leave this village and make a name for himself as an adventurer, and he was about to leave on a certain day, but on that certain day…a dragon came before his village.
And at the sight of it, he lost all of his confidence in becoming an adventurer.
Without turning back, he ran as fast as he could and hid himself in the basement of his own home. He hid like a coward…
When he finally came out of the basement, he realized that the dragon was killed, and hearing who killed it, he couldn't believe it to be true.
He hated Thill Cicial…
Out of his own pride and own hypocrisy, he hated Thill.
But now…Thill was by the marketplace. It was chance to confront him.
The marketplace buzzed with its usual noise. Merchants calling out prices, villagers bartering over vegetables, children weaving between stalls. But among the ordinary movement, one group stood frozen, watching.
Astin stood by the well, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed like a hawk's fixed on prey. His usual cocky grin was gone, replaced by a twisted expression — somewhere between disbelief and rage.
The three men who usually followed him like dogs stood at his back, uncertain.
Thill Cicial was just a few meters away, kneeling beside a cart of ore and inspecting a lump of darkened iron. His sleeves were rolled, the scar on his forearm catching the light. He was broader than they remembered. Quieter too.
Astin clicked his tongue.
"Hey, dragon slayer."
The words echoed louder than they should have. The crowd paused, a few heads turned. Thill didn't.
He simply picked up the iron, flipped it in his hand, then placed it back down. Calm.
"Didn't you hear me?" Astin growled. "Or does killing one dragon make you deaf to us common folk?"
Only then did Thill stand. Slowly. Deliberately. He turned, and when their eyes met, the weight of his presence struck Astin like a cold wave. No anger. No challenge. Just... steadiness.
"What do you want?" he asked with an uncertain expression.
Astin felt his chest tighten. That voice wasn't the voice of the boy he used to pick fights with. It was deeper now — older, restrained.
"Just wanted to see if it was true." Astin said. "The whole 'Thill the Dragonslayer' story everyone keeps yapping about. Couldn't believe it myself." he said as he sounded smug.
But Thill said nothing.
"You? Of all people?" Astin chuckled bitterly. "You used to swing a hammer like it weighed more than your pride. Couldn't even temper a blade right. And now people are saying you saved the village? Hah! What kind of joke is that?"
Thill's eyes narrowed slightly — not out of offense, but disappointment.
"...Are you done?" he asked in a tone that didn't show the impression that he cared for the conversation at all.
Astin flinched. The silence between them spoke volumes.
"I don't think its true that you killed that dragon! Everyone saw a man wearing a helmet that day, and you claimed to be that person?! Ridiculous! You are nothing but a incompetent blacksmith! And worse of all, because of your father dying, your family is going to fall because he left such an incompetent son!"
That last line…
That shouldn't have been said.
Astin should have been careful with his words…
In his smirking demeanor, he felt that he made Thill uneasy in a way. Expecting that everything would go in his favor the moment he reveals his opinion on the matter, that revealing the truth behind who actually saved the village, he could corner Thill for his lies.
But instead, Thill remained silent.
And his silence spoke volumes.
"..."
"..."
The entire market place was silent in that moment. A lot of them were curious as to what would happen next.
And moments of silence later, Thill finally spoke.
"...I don't really remember you, but I want you to apologize for what you said."
"What? Apologize? I have nothing to say to someone like you!" he said.
He felt confident…to him, what was standing before him was just a boy. Someone younger than him. He didn't have anything to fear since to him, everything was a lie in his perspective.
"...You have until sun down to find me and apologize to me in person. If you don't, please don't blame me for breaking one of your arms the next day." said Thill.
"Hah? Is that a threat?" he said in his particular smug voice.
But the next thing he knew, Thill suddenly disappeared from his sight like a ghost.
Astin could not comprehend where Thill went off to, but as soon as he took a step back, he felt a sharp edge around the back of his neck.
"!?"
Standing behind him, Thill was casually reaching out his open hand and one of his nails was touching the back of Astin's neck.
"I don't take insults very well from some douchebag like you." with his threat in place, Astin could not move his body out of fear. The sheer speed that Thill displayed made all of Astin's confidence drain away in just that.
And seeing that Astin was afraid, Thill lowered his hand and he turned around and started walking away from the market.
Astin was stuck in place for about five minutes then before he could finally gain back the courage to speak again.
By then, he was left with a pale face.
"...A-Astin, are you okay?" asked one of his followers.
"S-shut up!" he said angrily.
This shouldn't be the case…it should have been a lie, but seeing the truth being put before him, he had to accept it.
So he gritted his teeth angrily…and he accepted the truth.
Thill Cicial…was the hero of the village.
That afternoon, he went to find Thill on his own to apologize. One thing lead to another and Thill accepted his apology…ever since then, not a lot has happened.
His plans to become an adventurer was instead delayed. He sees himself to have the potential to become a true adventurer, but because of the dragon incident, he realized that he was lacking in many things. He wasn't yet prepared to live the life of an adventurer.
So instead of just lurking around the village, drinking all day and wasting his time with flirting with women, he decided to actually hone his skill.
At every chance he got, he would kill monsters that would invade certain farms. Using those opportunities, he tried his best to improve in anything he lacked as a warrior.
Then, one day…the bandits came and invaded the village.
While he was off training and killing monsters, bandits came about and took many hostages, including his sister. Just as he returned, he saw that the bandits were dragging his sister away.
"!!" as quick as he could, he tried to save his sister.
But in all his efforts, he was easily defeated by a bandit who developed a pure core at the first stage. Against someone who had a pure core and someone who didn't, it was like fighting ten men all at once.
The sheer difference in strength and speed was larger than a canyon.
So in the end, he lost his sister to the bandits…and he was left gravely injured. He saw the panic in his sister's eyes as rough hands dragged her away — her scream was the last thing he remembered before pain swallowed him.
For the past two days, he was unconscious through it all. And when he woke up, he found it miraculous…but his sister was by his side, tending to his wounds.
"H-how?" he asked.
But his sister only smiled and treated him in his bed. She explained everything. About how Thill had saved everyone yet again…
And hearing the explanation, Astin couldn't help but feel angry about himself.
'All that training…for two months, I've done nothing but train, and still I fail to protect even my family.'
Before long, he lost the strength to wield his sword again.
Yet one day, something exciting happened across the village that made every man turn their heads.
A message was put up on the board.
[Village Notice:]
-CALL FOR RECRUITS-
In light of the recent bandit attack and the continued threats facing our village, the Council of Elders announces the formation of a Village Defense Company. We are seeking able-bodied men between the ages of 17 and 30 who are willing to stand and protect their home.
Selected recruits will receive weapons training and tactical instruction under the direct guidance of Thill Cicial, the Dragonslayer, hero of our village.
Benefits include:
- Weekly pay for active service
- Food and Lodgings
- Honor
Sign-ups will be held at the Council Hall between sunrise and midday, starting tomorrow.
For inquiries, see the Vice Elder.
Stand strong. Stand united. Protect our village.
— By order of the Village Council