Two months ago, for the first time in a long time, news about the village had arrived: A soldier of the Kingdom's Guard came knocking at your door and read a royal decree that announced the complete purging of the thieves that infested the village, that a new lord would be designated soon and until then the Council of the Inhabitants of the Village would be responsible for keeping the order. You and Irene celebrated the good news, as much as there weren't plans to go back living in the village, the decree symbolized that there was no more need to fear so much for your and your family's safety.

 Back to the present, noticing to have wasted too much time thinking about the past, you arrive to your destination. The new iron gates and stone walls are a great improvement to the wooden ones that were used before, many of the houses that were consumed by the fire, now stand tall and pretty, people seem to be a lot happier and everywhere you look there are soldiers from the Kingdom's Guard. As you walk towards the old market, passing in front of the tavern, an old friend of yours comes to greet you:

- Haha! Look who's back from the dead.

- It's good to see you too Jean. (You answer along with a handshake).

- Back to take a look at the new, rebuilt village? Maybe even considering to come back living here?

- Haha, not this time but I must admit, it's impressive how they managed to rebuilt it after what happened...

- It's crazy, right?! Wait until you see the new tavern, it opened last week and has one of the best ale in the world.

- I wonder how you know that...

- What can I say... Hunting and ale, the two best things in the world.

- And what about women?

- They fit into hunting... If you know what I mean. (He smiles pervertedly).

- Ha! If you are as good “hunting” women as you are hunting animals then the name of your family dies with you.

- Ha. ha. ha. Very funny...(He speaks in a tone of sarcasm). But what about you? Ever since your marriage, you went to a war and now you're working as a farmer?! I don't know which is worst... It's almost like you gave up on life.

- Hey, I was going to hunt The Great Frayed Spirit Of The Orient, that was why I travelled beyond the Eastern Kingdoms, it's just that more “purposeful” matters appeared half way there...

- Well, I respect this whole war deal and so, although I've never herd of the Golden Empire or this Dracul character. But really? Farming?!

- Haha one day you'll get it my friend, the work is nowhere near as fun as hunting but if it makes Irene happy then I'm happy.

- Man... I feel sorry for you.

- That's called marriage, Jean. And as your friend, I honestly hope for you too to find a woman one day. I need to go now, we 'll talk latter. (you start walking).

- Go? Go where?! Ok... but whatever you do, don't tell me you're going to participate of the dance at tonight's fair, this marriage deal is going to be your ruin! (He adds jokingly).

 As you head towards the market, you start questioning yourself about what Jean meant with “tonight's fair”, you weren't aware that there was going to be a fair tonight, although if such is to be true then it would explain all the decorations scattered all over the square and the people carrying boxes here and there. Having finally reached the market, you buy the salt Irene asked along with some other supplies, there you hear two guards talking:

- Have you heard what the captain said? Is it true that other villages in the region were attacked as well?

- I think so, a friend of mine said that the whole battalion of his brother was decimated while checking the woods around a village not far from here... He said that the battalion was literally shredded to pieces as if some sort of animal had attacked them.

- That's disturbing! Do you think it was the same demon people saw here during the fire?

- Demon, what?! I bet it was probably some lunatic trying to get attention.

- I don't know man... I've seen some weird shit in my time.

- Anyway, you heard the captain, keep your eyes open for anything suspicious, as far as we know, it could've been that group of thieves again... Damn bastards!

 Although this kind of conversation isn't of much interest to you, the tone in which the guards spoke is enough to get you worried, since you never learned who or what caused the fire and although the village is safe now, the idea of thieves roaming around freely is quite concerning.

 During the entirety of the walk back home you can't shake off the though that there is something suspicious in regards to the royal help. Ever since the fall of the Conqueror, the royalty and the Kingdom's Guard haven't been very present towards the smaller villages, in a certain way, all of their attention has been directed to the capitals leaving the rest to their own mercy. Therefore, unless the fire was caused by something they don't want people to know about, their help is quite strange, specially considering that there will be a fair tonight. It's as if they're trying to cover up something.

 Once you reach home lost in thoughts, Irene asks:

- You've returned. Did you get the salt that I asked?

- Yes babe, it's here.

- Great! The food is almost ready, could you set the table in the meantime?

After placing the salt bag on the kitchen table and take some plates, you head towards the dinning room and start setting the table, throughout the whole action you remain quiet sinking deeper and deeper in your thoughts, moments latter Irene enters the room bringing the food: There's meats, vegetables, cheese, bread and so on. It all smells so good that you mind can no longer focus on anything but eat. Upon sitting down, she looks at you and asks:

- Orion, are you alright? You seem worried...

Not wanting to worry her with nothing, you answer:

- Yes, umm... I was just confused about all the decorations at the village.

- Well, it's because of the fair that I've been telling you about since last week... It will be tonight. (She responds in a excited tone).

- You didn't forget, did you?

- What, me?! No, no, I had it in my mind all along... So where's the baby? (You try to change the subject of the conversation so she won't notice you had forgotten about the fair).

- He's sleeping right now, he's a sleepyhead just like you. Oh, and don't worry, I talked to my sister and she agreed to look after him tonight.

 The conversation never seemed to end, just like the food (making you quite happy). Latter, after helping Irene with the dishes, you decide to take a nap until the time of the fair. Lying in bed almost falling asleep your mind once again begins to drift in thoughts however, this time, they're good ones: You miss the hunt and the places you had been to, but life now isn't so bad after all, you have a farm, a table always full of food and a family that loves you, things are going quite well and maybe, all that situation which the guards were talking about is just an exaggeration. Ever since the ascension and fall of the Conqueror, the world has changed and, maybe, the royal help towards the village is one of those changes.