On the second floor of the village head's house, in a small room at the end of the corridor, sits Ruppert on a chair reading a book titled "Known Races of Eleanor", written by Kairo Raiger. The early evening sunlight dimming ever so slowly, and the candles in various houses lighting up. Besides him lays Ashley, still sleeping peacefully since this afternoon. Ruppert stands up and puts the book he was reading down on the chair, then heads over to the bedside cabinet and starts to light a candle.
"I won't let them get you killed. You're too precious to me." Ruppert mumbles to himself whilst looking over at Ashley.
Suddenly her eyes pop open, her gaze looking intently at Ruppert.
"Did you say something just now, Ruppert?" Ashley asks.
"Nothing important, just talking to myself. Moving on, I'm sure you're very curious about everything that has happened?" Ruppert answers, and Ashley nods her head.
"Those mercenaries, they want to take you, Nele, and Mia with them." Ruppert starts as he sits back down on the chair and holds his book in one hand, "Something about Nele and Mia showing potential, and there's a big risk of you using mana without being trained will get you killed."
"Take us where?"
"I do not know, but I do not trust them one bit! That big dog guy, called the Iron Warrior or something like that, I definitely feel like he's hiding something. Also, yo-" Ruppert rambles on, but is cut-off mid-sentence by Ashley.
"What's this Iron Warriors name?"
"Huh? He said his name is Ren, but he didn't even give us his surname! Who doesn't have a surname!? Have you heard of him before?" Ruppert's voice has tints of anger in it, and Ashley's face shows a moment of surprise before going back into a neutral expression.
"Just passing rumours. Did my dad come visit me?"
"No... He's probably fallen asleep in some corner of the village after drinking all day again."
Ashley looks towards the other wall, before turning her head back to Ruppert.
"I'm going with them, Ruppert."
"What!? Why!? That's absurd! Do you know what dangers they could get you into?"
"I know, Ruppert, but I have to. They are right, I am unable to control my mana. Come here, let me touch your face."
Ruppert blushes slightly, but shuffles his chair closer to Ashleys bedside and leans forward. Ashley reaches her hand out and gently touches his face.
"Your touch, it's so cold, Ashley." Ruppert says in surprise.
"That's right. Even though I didn't use much mana, I used more than I'm capable of controlling. This is why I need to go with them, otherwise it really will be the death of me."
Ruppert grabs a hold of Ashleys hand places it on the bed as he looks down, hiding his gaze from her.
"I understand." he mumbles softly, "I want to come with you guys. Aren't the five of us a team?"
"We are, and that's why I know you'll find a solution to coming with us. Use that brain of yours, you're more than capable after all the books you've read."
A knock on the door disturbs their talk, followed by the door opening and a middle-aged woman with similar facial features to Mia walks in.
"I brought Ashley her dinner, you should also head home to your family now, Ruppert. I'm sure they're worried about you."
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YOU ARE READING
The Tale of a Mercenary
ActionThis story is about a young lad called Nele who wishes to go out on adventures just like his father once did. However, not everything will go as he hoped. The title and description is still subject to change, and a cover will come in the future. Pl...
