Dreisterne

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Nathan and Keith found an unexpected sense of fulfillment in performing mundane tasks around town. As they tilled the fields under the hot sun, their hands buried in the rich, warm soil, there was a quiet satisfaction in knowing they were helping to nurture life from the earth. The repetitive rhythm of clearing out barns and scrubbing away cow pies became almost meditative, a stark but welcome contrast to the chaos of battle. Dusting off the shelves of a neglected library and sweeping the town streets clean felt like small yet meaningful contributions to the community, restoring a sense of order and care. Even washing dishes in a bustling kitchen brought its own kind of joy as they worked in tandem, exchanging easy banter and light-hearted jabs. And when they reunited a lost pet with a tearfully happy little girl, the genuine smiles on their faces spoke volumes. For Nathan and Keith, these simple moments were a reminder of life beyond conflict—one where small acts of kindness and hard work forged bonds and brought peace in ways that clashing swords never could.

On the other hand, Harald's discomfort was palpable throughout the tasks. He gritted his teeth, his face contorted in a mix of frustration and suppressed annoyance, though he did his best to maintain a veneer of patience. He witnessed Nathan and Keith's almost blissful contentment as they carried out each chore, and he felt incredibly concerned if something during their first job had affected them in their heads.

After a particularly gruelling day, the trio slumped into their usual spot at a local tavern one evening. Harald could only stare at his meal, feeling exhausted, while Nathan and Keith quietly savoured theirs, bite after bite.

Unable to contain his frustration any longer, Harald broke the silence. "This, meine Freunde, is the last straw," he said, his voice tinged with both fatigue and desperation. "I implore you both, let us pick a task from the freelancer guild's job board that involves actual fighting and adventuring. I mean, are we freelancers, or are we glorified handymen?"

Keith, chewing slowly on a piece of bread, looked over at Harald with a wry smile. "H, me good guv, a glorified handyman is what a freelancer is. Just take a gander at the job board, and you'll see all kinds of jobs for all sorts of people, even those who don't go adventuring like us." Keith took a grateful swig from his tankard of ale before he continued, "Anyway, we're making a decent haul doing the boring work, while most other adventuring types skip 'em and always risk their heads for gold and glory. Didn't work so well for us the last time, innit?"

Harald cringed at the reminder of their previous failure. "Ah, yes, the kobold den. I can still feel the crossbow bolts in my knee."

Nathan, who had been quietly listening, nodded thoughtfully. "We were lucky that Keith had the foresight to scavenge money from the dead bandits. Thanks to that, we managed to cover the job's incompletion fine, our room and board, repairs to our equipment, and our medical expenses."

Keith's eyes twinkled with a hint of pride. "We even managed to save a bit extra after paying for all that. Ain't nothing like looking ahead."

Nathan gave Harald a reassuring smile. "Anyway, we've been getting our footing, and the guild board is full of opportunities. There's bound to be a job that suits our skills and gives us the adventure we're looking for." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "You know, speaking of skills, where did you learn to fight like the way you did against those brigands? I've never seen anyone throwing punches like yours before."

Keith chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, mate. It's like watching you float around like a butterfly before you sting 'em like a bee or something. Even I could see that you weren't just brawling yourself out of trouble."

Harald, slightly caught off guard, shrugged with a sheepish grin. "Oh, that? I used to learn Olympian fist fighting when I was younger. You see, the house I served believed that mages should always be armed in more ways than one, especially in situations where using magic would prove disadvantageous. Since my old family used to put so much importance into martial training, I naturally went in the opposite direction and focused on my pyromancy, thinking that would be all I needed to defend myself." The pyromancer looked wistful as he chuckled, saying, "Now, I feel as if the universe had rebuked me for being an obstinate little brat."