Morning sunlight filtered through the narrow streets of Therandil, glinting off shop signs and stone walls as the city slowly awakened. The previous night's discovery lingered heavily in Kael's mind—the recruitment notice, the rising tension in the air, and the unspoken truth that peace never lasted long.
Kael and Draven stood in front of the restaurant once more, reading the parchment nailed beside the door.
"So…" Draven said, crossing his arms. "A manservant job."
Kael let out a breath. "It's honest work. And we need the money."
Draven smirked. "Didn't think I'd trade monsters for plates."
The sign read:
NOW HIRING: MAID OR MANSERVANT Inquire within.
Above it hung the wooden board bearing the restaurant's name:
🍲 The Ember Hearth 🍲
They entered the restaurant the following morning. The interior was warm and welcoming—wooden tables polished smooth by years of use, soft orange lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and the comforting scent of simmering broth and baked bread.
A middle-aged man stood behind the counter, broad-shouldered with streaks of gray in his beard. His sharp eyes softened as he noticed them.
"Yes?" he asked. "Can I help you?"
"We saw the notice," Kael said politely. "We're here about the manservant position."
The man studied them carefully. "Adventurers?"
Draven raised an eyebrow. "That obvious?"
The man chuckled. "Name's Garrick Stonewell. Owner of The Ember Hearth. I could use strong arms."
After a brief discussion, Garrick nodded."Afternoon shift. Twelve noon to ten at night. You'll serve tables, clean, carry supplies. Pay's modest."
Kael bowed slightly. "We'll take it."
"Good," Garrick said. "Report today at noon."
Balancing Dreams and Duty
Outside, Draven exhaled deeply. "So… we're really doing this."
Kael nodded. "I still want to train under my father. And this way, I can earn money too."
Draven paused. "Training under Rorik isn't free."
Kael smiled. "It is if you're my friend."
Draven laughed. "Alright. Free training and a break from adventuring? I'm in."
Meeting Rorik
It was 9:00 AM when they set out toward the training grounds outside the city. The clang of steel echoed as soldiers sparred under the watchful eye of a towering figure.
Rorik Ironvein stood like a mountain—scarred, stern, and immovable.
"Father," Kael called.
Rorik turned, his eyes narrowing before softening slightly. "You're back."
They told him everything—the orcs, the injuries, the escort mission.
Rorik's jaw tightened. "You survived. That's good. But survival isn't victory."
..... A moment of silence.
He crossed his arms. "I'll train you both. And mind you it is not going to be a walk in the park."
Draven swallowed. "How hard?"
Rorik smirked. "You'll find out."
First Day on the Job
After an hour of brutal drills, aching muscles carried them back to The Ember Hearth just in time.
Their first day as waiters was chaos.
"Table three needs water!""Order up!""Careful with that tray!"
Kael nearly dropped a bowl of stew, while Draven struggled to remember orders.
"Why are there so many spoons?" Draven whispered.
Kael groaned. "Focus!"
By 10:00 PM, they dragged themselves home, exhausted beyond words. After washing up and eating leftovers from the restaurant, they collapsed into bed.
A Month of Change
Days turned into weeks.
Mornings were filled with Rorik's training—endurance drills, weapon practice, tactical lessons. He pushed them relentlessly.
"You hesitate, you die," Rorik barked.
They trained alongside soldiers, slowly earning respect.
Afternoons belonged to The Ember Hearth. Their dedication transformed the restaurant. Word spread of the two hardworking youths.
Customers increased. Laughter returned.
The staff became family.
The Market's Warning
One afternoon, Garrick Stonewell sent them to the market to buy some ingrediants.
But unexpectedly, the prices had doubled.
"What's going on?" Kael demanded to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper sighed. "If you want to blame someone, then blame the Lizard-men. They're blocking trade routes. None of the good are reaching here on time and date. We have no other choice, sorry kids."
Draven clenched his fists. "Again…"
Worried, Kael adjusted the purchases to fit their budget.
Ripples Through the City
Back at the restaurant, Garrick's face darkened upon hearing the news.
"I'll have to raise prices of the dishes," he said reluctantly.
He raised the prices of the dishes. But the customers complained about the same. Some of them left without ordering. Some of them started to settle for small dishes. The number of customers decreased day by day.
One night, while going back to their home, Kael and Draven noticed tension everywhere around the streets—merchants arguing with the customers, soldiers making a fuss in the smith-shops, adventurers walking aimlessly with starving stomachs, some beggars searching the garbage for small pieces of bread etc.
"This isn't just us," Draven muttered.
Kael nodded. "It's time to go for an adventure."
The Truth Revealed
Next morning, they went to find Rorik.
But they run into another soldier "He's been deployed in the Borders. Thanks to all those Lizard-men, Sylvalis is under attack too. Your father will be busy with all the defense. I saw you boys train with him everyday, so why don't you go and help around. I mean you can make use of all that training. "
The words hit hard. Kael and Draven looked at each other.
"So it's that serious," Kael whispered. After thanking the soldier they went back to the restaurant.
Choosing the Path Forward
At the restaurant, Garrick sat slumped. The atmosphere was gloomy. The other workers were looking sad as well.
Draven " What happened sir?"
A moment of silence.
Garrick let out a sign " The problem is your wages. As you all know our business is running dry now. All thanks to that stupid Lizard-men, now we can't even afford the ingredients at all. I am really sorry boys, I can't pay your wages right now," he admitted.
A moment of silence.
Kael shook his head. "Please don't worry about it sir, You can pay us later when we get through this crises."
Garrick looked shocked. "Thank you boys, I really owe you one."
Return to the Guild
That day, Kael and Draven donned their adventurer gear once more.
Weapons secured. Resolve hardened.
They walked toward the Adventurers' Guild, where their true path awaited.