We were sitting next to a lake. Sir Kael wanted to take in the scenery for a bit. I picked the bread he packed for our trip. “Where are we heading?” I ask. He hummed softly, leaning into the grass. “I don’t know.” He responds.

I choke on the bread, which causes me to cough violently. “You don’t know!?” my voice cracked. He closes his eyes with a soft smile. “I know every inch of this region. I know where I want to go, but taking you with me isn’t going to be good for your bakery.” He says. 

I stare at him. He looks peaceful for a moment before he opens his eyes. “How successful do you wish for your bakery to be?” He asks. I think for a moment. I always believed to be modest, but it hit me that I don't actually know how to be in this situation. 

“Fairly… enough to pay rent and put food on the table.” I mumble. He nods a little as he sits up. “Then we will head to Wesrid.” He says. “Wesrid?” I question. He stands up, grabbing the bag of food. “The West City. It is named that because it is the only city in the West.” 

“Why is it the only city in the west?” I ask. He chuckles a little. “Because no other city is crazy enough to live near the starlight isles.” He says. My blood ran cold. “Why would you take me to a city near The Starlight Isles?! The witch-” He cuts me off. “Is not evil to her neighbors.” He says. 

I pause for a moment. “What?” I ask, my voice in a whisper. “The only reason she is considered evil to the region is because of Mardic.” He mumbles. He starts walking back to the main path. 

“What did Mardic do?” I ask. He sides eyes me for a moment before chuckling. “You have a lot of questions.” He says. My eyebrows narrow a bit. “You give answers that don't give the full story.” I retorted. 

He lets out a hearty laugh at that. “Fair point, child.” He grins. “I guess the story starts when Mardic decided he wanted to make love to an immortal woman. He did everything to get her to do it and the price of that was her losing her status in the celestial realm. He didn’t stop seeing her until she got pregnant. He did everything to avoid responsibility for his actions.” 

He stops speaking when we come to a tree that blocked the path. He approached it before lifting it up with ease, moving it out of the path. “About 15 years later, an elf girl named Seraphine was trying to kill him. This went on for four months before we learned that Sera was his daughter. Mardic tried to not be a father to the girl, but without realizing it, he became the goddamn best father. The immortal woman found out her child did not kill the man that hurt them both, so she wanted to do the job herself. She wanted Mardic to feel the pain she had when her status of immortality was taken from her. We did not know at the time the woman was dying from a terrible curse that was eating her soul from the inside out… she found a way to pass it on. She wanted him to take it… to die instead of the pain she was dying from… but sera stopped it. Sera got cursed instead and Mardic began searching for a cure. Eventually, He did find one, but it cost a high amount of gold…” he finished.

I listened to Kael's story in stunned silence, my mind reeling with the weight of his words. The tale he spun painted a picture of betrayal, love, and sacrifice, each thread weaving together to form a tapestry of tragedy.

As Kael finished speaking, I found myself at a loss for words, my thoughts swirling with a mix of awe and disbelief. The revelation of Mardic's past sins shook me to the core, casting a shadow of doubt over everything I thought I knew about the world around me.

“Why were you friends with a man like that?” I asked. He shrugs a little. “Not many want an Orc on their team unless they are cold-hearted killers.” he responds. His face began to scowl. “I don’t care how many people try to paint me out to be a cold-blooded killer throughout my life… I will never kill someone for the pleasure of it.” He mumbles.

I think for a moment before looking up at him. “Have you killed before?” I asked. He glances at me before looking away. “Yes… but I promise my reasons were not because I could… When I was younger anger used to consume me when people would hurt my mother… I would lash out, forgetting my strength and accidently killing people… and those I did have to kill for my missions were people who would have killed thousands if I didn’t…” He bites his lip for a moment.

“I haven’t eaten meat in years.” He says. I blink for a moment and raise an eyebrow. He smiles a little. “I don’t know why, but when I started adventuring, I met a goddess who told me if I want to redeem my sins of those who were killed unfairly, I must give up eating the meat of animals.” He says.

“That is very righteous of you.” I say. He nods a little at me. “Cade.” He says. I looked at him, surprised he used my name. “Yes, Sir Kael?” I responded.

His eyes narrowed a bit. “Just Kael… Where is your family?” He asks. I pause for a moment and avoid his eyes. “They disowned me when I came out…” I say. I felt his energy darken for a moment. “They… they disowned you?” He asks. 

I nod as I notice his snarl. “I do not understand those who do not love their families unconditionally.” He speaks with bitterness. I fold my hands together hoping to lighten the mood, “where is your family?”

Kael stops walking completely. His skin looked pale, like he saw a ghost. “Dead… well, besides my brother… but he is in the Ironhelm region…” He says. I felt the air leave my lungs as I tried to meet his eyes. He refused to meet my eyes. “My wife and children are dead. My parents are dead…” He mutters.

As Kael's words hung heavy in the air, a somber silence settled between us, punctuated only by the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. I felt a pang of guilt gnaw at my conscience, realizing the depth of the pain he carried within him. How could I have been so blind to the suffering of others, so wrapped up in my own troubles?

I opened my mouth to speak, to offer some semblance of comfort or solace, but the words caught in my throat, choked by the weight of my own inadequacy. What could I possibly say to ease the burden of a man who had endured such unimaginable loss?

As we continued on our journey, the silence stretched on, each step weighed down by the heavy mantle of grief that enveloped us both. I stole glances at Kael from the corner of my eye, but his expression remained unreadable, his thoughts shrouded in a veil of secrecy.

Eventually, the sound of raucous laughter and clinking glasses reached our ears, drawing our attention to a rustic tavern nestled at the edge of the forest. Its weathered wooden facade exuded an inviting warmth, beckoning weary travelers to seek refuge within its walls.

Without a word, Kael and I made our way inside, the scent of ale and hearth fire enveloping us as we crossed the threshold. The interior was cozy and dimly lit, with rough-hewn tables and chairs scattered about, and a crackling fire roaring in the hearth.

I approached the innkeeper, a stout man with a grizzled beard, and secured us a pair of rooms. Kael remained silent beside me, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the flickering flames.

As we made our way to our respective rooms, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at my insides. Kael's pain was palpable, a tangible presence that hung heavy in the air. And yet I had been so preoccupied with my own troubles that I had failed to see it.

Entering my room, I took a moment to survey my surroundings. The space was small but cozy, with a simple bed adorned with a worn quilt and a small window that offered a glimpse of the surrounding forest.

With a heavy heart, I sank onto the bed, burying my face in the soft embrace of the pillow. The events of the day weighed heavily on my mind, each thought tinged with a sense of remorse and regret.

As exhaustion washed over me like a tidal wave, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the darkness, hoping that sleep would offer some respite from the turmoil that churned within me.