The walk to the Thullford Guild Hall is longer than Hythesion remembers, because the morning crowds slow them down – merchants shouting over each other about spices and cloth, kids darting between legs chasing a scruffy street cat, and a group of dwarves laughing loud enough to make the stone walls shake a little. Hythesion keeps his eyes on the ground more than ahead, shoving his hands deep in his vest pockets like he's trying to hide from the whole city. Osmedious plows through the crowd like a blue-skinned statue, nodding at familiar faces as he goes.
Inside the guild hall, the usual roar hits them – contracts being yelled across tables, maps rustling, coins clinking as deals get sealed. A few mercenaries glance their way and quiet down a bit; it's not every day you see the guild's toughest manager walking with the elf who used to be Silverlake Member.
They duck down a narrow corridor that smells like old paper and dust, stopping at a small meeting room at the back. The old man's already there, hunched over the table – his robes are torn in spots but clean, and his hands are folded neatly in front of him. When the door clicks shut, his eyes lift to Hythesion, looking at him down and then up.
"This is the one?" The old man said to Osmedious. "He seems a little bit-" He looked at Hythesion from head to toe, "...frail."
Osmedious laughs, "Well he ate a lot of healthy foods for sure-" Osmedious jokes.
"HA-HA-HA..." Hythesion laughs sarcastically.
"My name is Hythesion," he says, stepping closer. "and I always lose to everyone's first impression, but I'm only here to read the ancient texts Osmedious told me about."
The Old man sighs, as he pull out the box from inside his robes. Osmedious leans against the wall as the old man slides the ornate wooden box onto the table. When Hythesion reaches out and his fingertips brush the surface, the letters carved into it light up like warm gold embers. The ancient texts began to twist and shift until they spell out words into modern language;
"Inside lies both chaos and peace,
Bring it to its rightful place and it will grant one' greatest wish."
All three of them shocked in disbelief as the glow fades as quick as it came, and with a soft click the lid pops open by itself. Inside is a silver pendant shaped like a Diamond, with a milky white stone in the middle – it looks almost plain and normal, like something you'd buy at a market stall, but knowing what the words said makes it feel heavy, like it's an item that is so dangerous it could destroy the world if it breaks.
Hythesion's hand jerks back like he's been burned. "I've done my part... Goodluck to you sir." Hythesion quickly stood up and took a step back.
The Old man looks at Hythesion and says, "The Box opened when you touched it, after you decipher the ancient texts. It chooses you to be its carrier towards Morea."
Osmedious looks so proud and claps for Hythesion. But Hythesion stared at the box, with a look so intense as he curls his hand into a fist.
He stays silent for awhile.
"Then it picked the wrong person." Hythesion said finally turns toward the door, his chest tight.
"But-" The old man stutters
Hythesion stopped right at the door. "I got out of this life three years ago. No more... " Hythesion then walked out the room.
Osmedious follows him outside and grabs his arm, his big hand gentle even though it's strong enough to crush wood. "Hey Man, hold up! You know what this could mean – for everyone. Why won't you even think about it? Is there anything you have to tell me? "
Hythesion then stops.
* FLASHBACK – THREE YEARS AGO*
The Thayan stronghold reeks of smoke and blood. Silverlake Mercenaries are yelling, steel is clashing against dark magic, and Hythesion's standing at their command spot with maps spread all over a wooden crate, trying to keep track of everything at once.
"Left flank – fall back toward the eastern tower! You there, you take point at the gate!" he shouts, his voice already hoarse from barking orders for an hour straight.
Then all of the sudden, he sees her – a little girl, maybe eight years old, with dirt in her hair and tears streaming down her face, huddled in a corner while a Thayan moves toward her with his hands carrying a Thayan knife.
Every part of his training, his battle core screams to just stay here – your job is to keep everyone coordinated and alive. But looking at the girl shaking shoulders… he can't.
"Someone cover me!" he yells, and takes off running.
He hits the thayan with a wave of Electric arcane energy that sends him flying into a wall, scoops the girl up in his arms, and books it out of the stronghold to hide her behind a pile of crates.
The girl thanked him, and her family behind her.
By the time he gets back inside, everything's gone to hell – Ten of his friends are still on the floor, dead, and the others are scrambling to hold their positions without his directions.
After the Battle, they won but the rest of the Silverlake Mercenaries, mourn their fallen comrades as Kaylla, the group leader, called Hythesion to her tent. Inside, the air is thick enough to cut with a knife. She's sitting at a wooden table, her dark hair pulled back tight, and even though she's not yelling, her eyes are blazing like hot coals.
"Where were you?" she asked and her voice is so quiet it's scarier than shouting.
"I know I made mistake, I-," Hythesion says,
"Where were you? " She asked again, but this time her voice got a little bit louder.
"I took full responsibility about what happe-" Hythesion trying to reason.
"Where Were You!!!" Kaylla yells with a commanding loud voice.
"There- there's a girl needed saving.." His hands shaking a little even though he's trying to keep them steady. "I- I had to get her out."
"You abandoned your post, Hythesion!" She slams her fist on the table hard enough to make cups rattle. "Ten of ours are gone because you couldn't do what you were supposed to do. They trust you to guide them– to make the hard calls – and you chose one stranger over your own family."
"She's a kid, Kaylla!" he snaps back, his throat tight. "I couldn't just leave her there to die!"
"Our job isn't to save every single person we see, We are not heroes. We are mercenaries, we do the job and to make sure we come home, make sure we ALL come home!" She stops for a second, and he can see the hurt under her anger. "I can't have someone on this team who'd risk all of us for one life. I'm sorry… but you're out of Silverlake."
Hythesion shocked in disbelief but He didn't argue. He removed his Silverlake Pin, and put it on the table, and just picks up his pack and walks out. After that, he never touched his spellbook again, and decided to not be a mercenary or do any adventures ever again.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Hythesion's knuckles are white from clenching his fists. "That's why. I won't be the reason more people get hurt because I couldn't focus on what matters."
Osmedious's face drops – he looks like he's just been punched in the gut. He lets go of Hythesion's arm and claps him on the shoulder instead. "I had no idea, man. I'm sorry. I won't push you – we'll.. We'll find someone else to take it."
He heads back into the meeting room and shuts the door soft behind him. Hythesion stays out in the corridor, staring at the floor like it holds all the answers he needs, when he hears footsteps he'd recognize anywhere.
"It would seem you're still the same guy you were once was." A familiar voice said.
Then he saw Kaylla standing at the end of the hall, just like she used to when she'd catch him slacking off during training. She walks over slow, her eyes taking him in – the worn vest, the scarf he still wears even in warm weather, the way he holds himself like he's carrying something heavy on his back.
"Heard you were here. " she says.
"Should've known Os would pull you into his messes. You know shouldn't be here, Hythesion. You don't belong here."
Hythesion stared at her for awhile and then grins, "You know what? You're right... Just got so excited to see an old friend. Don't worry, you will never see my face again." Hythesion said as he walks pass through her.
"Yup, the same Selfish man. " she shoots back.
Hythesion spins around, his face hot with anger and something that feels a lot like shame. "Selfish? I left so I wouldn't put anyone else in danger! That's what you wanted!"
"You made a mistake Hythesion. You are Selfish because you chose to be hero. You chose to be someone you're not! You left your comrades, let them suffer and die while you were out there playing white knight, is that ain't being selfish to you?" Kaylla answers with anger.
"I- I saved a life." Hythesion replied softly.
"Well congrats! You saved one, for the cost of ten. Ten people with families. " Kaylla replied. "Stop being a fckng hero! We can't save everyone! Stop believing you can save everyone!"
Kaylla yells at Hythesion, and pressed her finger into his chest, "You are not a Hero, You will never be.. a Hero!"
Hythesion remained silent after what Kaylla said.
"Then I'll figure out how to do both," he says, his voice steady now.
"What?!" Kaylla ask in confusion.
"I may not be a hero, And you're right I will never be one. Heck, I never even wanted to be one. But I'm not the type of person who just simply watch people dying. I'll save everyone if I can." Hythesion said firmly.
He doesn't wait for her to say anything else. He just turns and pushes open the meeting room door. Osmedious and the old man look up, surprised.
"I'll do it," Hythesion says, and he can feel the weight lifting off his chest for the first time in years. "I'll take the pendant to Morea."
Osmedious grins so wide his face almost splits. "Didn't even doubt you a second, Brother! ."