"Do you see my dad?"
The voice was small.
Close.
I looked down.
A little girl stood in front of me.
She was about the same age as Pritha. Black hair. Thin clothes. Her hands were clenched together like she was holding something invisible.
I didn't answer.
"My dad works as a guard," she continued.
Her voice was hopeful.
Like she expected something good.
"…where?" I asked quietly.
"At the gambling house," she said.
She smiled a little.
"It's not a noble job… but we never get hungry."
My throat felt dry.
My chest tightened.
She looked past me.
Searching.
Waiting.
Then her expression changed.
Her eyes started to shake.
"…he's late."
Her voice cracked.
"He always comes back."
Tears formed.
"I waited… but he didn't…"
She started crying.
Soft at first.
Then louder.
I stood there.
I didn't know what to do.
My hands felt heavy.
My body didn't move.
Then…
A figure appeared behind her.
Walking slowly.
Dragging his feet.
The guard.
The one from last night.
His body was burned.
His clothes torn.
Blood covered his chest.
His head tilted slightly…
like it wasn't attached properly.
"…sorry…"
His voice was broken.
"…I was killed… by this kid…"
He raised his hand.
Pointing at me.
"…my little girl…"
The girl turned.
Her eyes widened.
"Dad…?"
Then…
Fire.
It appeared suddenly.
All around us.
The room was burning.
Walls melting.
Air screaming.
The girl started burning too.
Her skin blackened.
Her voice broke into a scream.
"WHY DID YOU KILL MY FATHER?!"
I couldn't move.
The guard stared at me.
The girl screamed.
The fire closed in.
I…
Woke up.
My breathing was heavy.
The room was dark.
Cold.
Silent.
I stared at the ceiling.
For a moment, I didn't move.
Then I sat up slowly.
My chest still felt tight.
My throat is still dry.
I looked at my hands.
They were shaking.
Just a little.
We had returned safely to our inn.
Everything should have been normal.
I was tired.
Exhausted.
I thought sleep would be easy.
But the memory came back.
Not the fight.
Not the mission.
Just his voice.
"My daughter…"
I stood up.
I couldn't sleep.
Not like this.
If I closed my eyes…
I would see them again.
So I picked up my sword.
And left the room.
***
Outside, the air was freezing.
Snow covered the ground.
Thin layers at first, then thicker near the edges of the field.
The cold bit into my skin immediately.
But it felt better than the room.
Cleaner.
Quieter.
I stepped into the field…
And stopped.
Someone was already there.
Theo.
He was swinging his sword.
Slow.
Unfocused.
He noticed me and forced a smile.
"…can't sleep?" he asked.
I didn't answer.
He scratched his head.
"Yeah… me too."
He looked away.
"It seems I can't sleep, so I followed Robert's advice… hehehe."
His laugh sounded awkward.
Forced.
He usually mocked us.
Said training until collapse was stupid.
Now he was here.
Alone.
In the cold.
I walked past him and took position.
Then started swinging.
Theo watched for a moment.
Then spoke again.
"You know… this is their fault."
I didn't respond.
"He should just try to attack me, not kneeling and begging…"
I ignored him.
He sighed.
"…Bad jokes"
We kept swinging.
Steel cutting cold air.
Again.
And again.
Theo kept talking.
Not because I responded.
But because silence was worse.
"You think gamblers go to heaven?" he asked.
No answer.
"…no, that's a stupid question."
He swung again.
"Maybe they reincarnate as coins."
Silence.
"…okay, that one was worse."
I kept swinging.
My body moved automatically.
Step.
Swing.
Breathe.
Repeat.
Theo's voice became quieter.
Slower.
"…that guy…"
He didn't finish.
I didn't ask.
We kept swinging.
Time passed.
The sky slowly changed.
Dark blue to gray.
Gray to pale light.
My arms started to hurt.
Then burn.
Then feel heavy.
But I didn't stop.
If I stopped…
I would think.
If I thought…
I would remember.
So I kept going.
Theo's voice disappeared at some point.
I glanced to the side.
He was lying on the ground.
Breathing heavily.
Not moving.
I looked forward again.
And kept swinging.
My hands were numb.
My shoulders stiff.
My vision started to blur.
The world felt distant.
Like I was moving inside water.
But I kept swinging.
Until…
My body gave up.
The sword slipped from my hand.
I fell.
The ground was cold.
But I didn't feel it.
Good.
I can sleep now.
Without dreams.
Without voices.
…
"…sorry…"
A voice.
It belongs to Spiro.
"…you guys shouldn't have to experience this…"
I felt something lift me.
My body moved.
But I didn't open my eyes.
Darkness came.
And this time…
Nothing followed.
***
When I woke up, the sun was already high.
Light filled the room.
Warm.
Quiet.
I sat up slowly.
My body still hurts.
But my chest felt… lighter.
Not empty.
But quieter.
I looked outside.
The snow had melted slightly.
But the cold remained.
The room was empty.
I stood up and went downstairs.
The hall was quiet.
Only the bartender was there.
Cleaning a glass.
"It's a rest day," he said without looking at me.
"Your group went sightseeing."
He tossed a small pouch toward me.
I caught it.
"Go out. Eat something."
I opened the pouch.
Gold coins.
Twenty.
More than enough.
"Thank you," I said.
He nodded.
"Good job last night."
I didn't respond.
Then I left.
***
The city felt different during the day.
It was Loud, bright, and alive.
People moved everywhere.
Merchants shouted.
Children ran through the streets.
The smell of food filled the air.
I walked through the market slowly.
Bought sweet bread.
Then more.
Something warm.
Something sweet.
Something simple.
I ate while walking.
Watching.
Listening.
Looking at everything that could attack me and planning my escape.
Then…
"Rick!"
Margaretha waved at me from across the street.
She was smiling again.
Bright.
Like before.
Pritha stood beside her, holding a small bag of food.
Agni leaned against a wall nearby.
Arms crossed.
Expression blank.
Theo sat on a crate, talking to Robert.
As usual.
Too much talking while Robert is just giving him some nodd.
"There he is," Theo said when he saw me.
I walked closer.
Margaretha smiled.
"You finally came out."
Pritha looked at the bread in my hand.
"You bought food already?"
I nodded. She looks relieved.
Agni glanced at me briefly.
Then looked away.
Robert gave a small nod.
Theo pointed at my bread.
"Sharing is caring."
"No."
Theo sighed.
"Stingy."
Margaretha laughed.
Pritha smiled.
Theo started talking again. It seems he was normal now.
Something about food.
About people in the market.
About how cold the weather is.
I didn't listen fully.
But I stayed.
For a while.
It was… quiet.
Not outside.
But inside.
***
We returned to the inn near evening.
The sky was already turning dark.
Spiro was inside.
Food already prepared.
Waiting.
We sat.
Ate.
Like usual.
No one talked about last night.
Not directly.
But the silence felt different.
Heavier.
Then Spiro spoke.
"Tomorrow, we hit the next target."
No surprise.
No reaction.
Just nods.
Routine.
Scout.
Attack.
Repeat.
Dinner ended.
I stood up.
Robert was already moving.
Theo hesitated.
Then followed.
Margaretha laughed.
"Looks like Theo learned his lesson."
Theo groaned.
"This is punishment."
"Your karma," Margaretha said.
Pritha smiled slightly.
I didn't say anything.
I picked up my sword.
And followed them outside.
Because stopping…
Still wasn't an option.