He hesitated for a moment, clearing his throat and glancing away for a second. This short moment felt like an eternity to Yori, but it gave him an idea of what was to come.

“Dear boy, we’re afraid that nothing remained. The village, every single building, had been burned to the ground. There were no bodies to be found either. Perhaps the others also fled like you did-“

Yori launched his face forward, leaning heavily and clenched the edge of the couch. This could not be true. It made no sense. The world around Yori began to spin and get even more confused than it already was.

“What about my parents?! My sister! Where are their bodies?!”

He shouted in frustration at the man’s optimistic words. It was as if he was trying to tell Yori that the worst day of his life had never happened, like he had imagined or dreamed it all. Forgetting the difference in the strength between him and the Guild Master, one of the strongest people in the land, he lashed out with misdirected anger.

“This is impossible! I saw them kill my family, I saw them kill others, too! Bodies don’t just disappear!”

“As I said, maybe the rest escaped as well? There are many scavengers in the area, they could have taken the bodies to their dens.”

The Guild Master attempted to keep the energy in the room calm. The elderly man held the boy’s gaze without wavering as he spoke, but his words were quickly shot down as Yori relived that night for him. The young man described how he was woken abruptly by the disturbances and smoke wafting into his room, saw people and houses burning outside, and ran to aid his family, only to see them slaughtered right in front of him. He also relayed his failure to save his sister, the subsequent miraculous victory over the green-skinned creature and finally his marathon run to the city for help. Tears welled in the old man’s eyes as Yori told his story, a man that had survived countless battles and had lost many friends and family of his own. Yori’s eyes also overflowed as he could not contain his overwhelming emotions. Anger, fear, frustration, confusion, everything welling up and weighing on his mind.

“I’m… so sorry… that this happened to you and your loved ones.”

The Guild Master was barely able to keep his composure himself in order to speak to the distraught boy.

“I promise on my life, I will find out what happened to your family’s bodies and your people, and why this tragedy has struck. There must be a reason the crystal in Oseford failed to keep the creatures out. That barrier should have been impassible.”

His voice dropped and became more gravelly than before. The Guild Master’s grief and anger were apparent. Yori could see the man’s hands were clenched tightly now. A flash of fear crossed Yori’s mind, intimidated by the fury and destruction he knew this man was capable of.

“In the meantime, Kana will take care of you and the rest of your wounds. I have reserved a room at the inn you woke up in. You can stay there for the time being until you get back on your feet. I have also arranged for you to work as a labourer for a farmer just outside of the city walls that I know could use a hand. He’s very willing to hire you on, he needs all the help he can get with the growing season coming to an end. Both are good friends of mine and will surely treat you well. I hope you have no objections to this arrangement.”

The Guild Master rested his hand on Yori’s shoulder, gently clenching the small boy. The man stood and nodded towards Elina. She stepped forward and stood next to where Yori was seated on the couch.

“If you would follow me, Yori sir, I will take you to meet the innkeeper. Once you are settled in, we can go see your new place of work.”

“WAIT!”

Yori interjected, leaning over, his head in his hands, carrying the weight of everything he had just heard. He stared at the floor for a moment in reprieve. A few final tears fell to the ground below him as they prepared his new life for him. The image of his sister’s lifeless body falling to the ground burned in his mind. Slowly, Yori tilted his head up and met the Guild Master’s surprised stare.

“I want to be strong, strong enough to never lose someone again! I want to protect everyone around me, everyone that’s important to me. Let me become an adventurer, let me learn how to fight!”

Yori continued staring at the Guild Master, showing no signs of hesitation this time. He was done being weak and helpless. He wanted to be the one that protected others. He would learn to be strong enough to never lose anyone ever again. The old man shook his head slow and deliberately, letting out a sigh.

“I’m afraid that’s impossible, little lad. There are certain requirements to become an Adventurer, and you being graced with the Villager Blessing means it simply can’t be done.”