Good guy Thomas

After leaving the Doc's home, he wandered through the streets, making his way towards Thomas.

'I did not even repaid him with the money I earned." he thought depressed.

Other than just to see this friendly bear, he also want to ask to use his forge and some materials to craft a new, simple shield.

'Without one I feel somehow naked.'

Arriving by the familiar house, which felt like a home to him, Leo hesitated.

'Should I really depend on him again? After his family did so much for me.'

Standing before the wooden door, unsure what to do, it suddenly opened.

"Pa, I leave for the mission! If you need anything, ask Keith for help!"

A muffled respond came from the back, followed by a heavy cough.

Sam gazed worried in the house, and took the steps out slowly.

Both distracted, Leo came to his senses first.

"Careful Sam!" he warned.

Sam stopped abruptly, making a half circle while evading Leo. He put his hand on his heart, exhaleing loud.

"You scared the shit out of me, Leo. What leads you here?"

Not expecting seeing him, Leo was slow to answer. So Sam took the initiative to talk:

"Good timing though. Pa is not in the best condition right now, so you would do me a massive favor to see after him once in a while. Can you help me out with this?"

Leo saw Sam's worry in his face. Feeling close to them, it was no question he would help.

"Of course, where-" Leo began.

"Where I'm going when he's not healthy? Someone has to keep the money flowing, and it ain't Pa right now."

Sam said this quieter, and very serious.

"I have to leave for a couple of days. The mission is well paid and not too long, so after that I can care for him after that.

I need someone for this time. You are a live saver."

He went past Leo, shouldering his full packed backpack and his weapon.

He turned around one last time, adding:

"If you need help with something, you can ask Keith. Pa told me you met him. He may not like me, but he will help him out. That is safe."

He left, leaving a dizzied Leo and a sick person behind.

'O...K, should I go in first?' he organized himself.

Entering the house, the well-known smell of the wood and the heat from the smithy outside coat him. If made him feel comfortable and cozy.

His moment was interrupted by a coughing attack, coming from another room.

Leo stood in the frame, seeing Thomas lying in his bed, a wet towel on his forehead and a jug of water on the side.

Despite slightly red and deepened bags under his eyes, he looked quite normal.

Thomas turned his head in Leo's direction, the small eyes of him glistening slightly when seeing him.

"Hello Leo, why are you visiting us?" he coughed some more, and before Leo could answer, he asked:

"Sorry, but can you give me the water please. And maybe get a bucket."

Leo did as asked, and when he gave Thomas the items, Thomas eyes widened.

Grabbing Leo's arm, he pushed up his sleeve, showing the bandages he had yet to change. They were a bit dirty, and stains of blood were seen.

Thomas grew careworn. He said with a heavy voice:

"What were you doing? Do you have more injuries like that?"

Feeling bad that Thomas is so concerned about him, he told him the story of his first dangerous mission. He also showed him the spots where he was bandaged and the now already closed wound on his leg.

"I'm alright now, no lasting damage done and I learned a lot." he tried to comfort Thomas.

That guy only sighed, shaking his head.

"Why are guys your age just so careless. Sam as well, jumping directly into trouble in his first missions."

Sternly looking at Leo, he continued:

"You were lucky that nice merchant pair picked you up, or else there could have been a much worse outcome."

Leo nodded, aware he was fortunate this time. He talked about his reason for his visit, thinking it was a good opportunity.

"My shield saved me that time, but is now destroyed. Can I borrow your smithy and some materials to make a new one?"

"Sure, grab what you need, can always pay me later." Thomas nonchalantly said.

"I'm a bit tired, you know where everything is, right?"

He closed his eyes, ready to get some rest. His breathing was rugged, and sometimes he coughed a bit.

'Thank you, old man.' Leo only thought. The gratitude in him growing numerous times to before.

He left the room, going out to the smithy.

He used some leftover wood, cut it in shape of a oval and made it smaller than before. He oriented it after the practice shield he used at Sophie's house, adjusting it to fit his proportions better.

Using some heated nails and leather bands, he fastened a already finished handle to the wood.

The rough shield is then coated in a thin edge of iron. Additionally he attached a round piece of cheap metal at the center.

'This will help me redirecting some strikes.' hoped Leo.

Not thinking the shield needed any decorations or color, he left it as natural as possible.

Although crude and shabby looking, Leo knew in the right situations this will save him.

And it was much cheaper than buying a professional made one, even if they are sturdier.

Unknown to him, Thomas was listening his every strikes, or how he searched for materials and assembled them.

He repressed his coughing and laid there: eyes closed and ears open. A smile on his face he found sleep in Leo's sounds of making his equipment.

Leo wore his shield, making slight adjustments and emended some parts of the wood. Looking at his shield, a deep sense of accomplishment filled his body.

'Can't leave without paying anything.' thought Leo.

He took out his purse, shaking the remaining contents on a table.

A lonely silver coin and some copper coins rolled around. Leo took the silver, showed the coppers back into the purse and went back inside.

He left the silver on the shelf, and searched around the house.

He found some vegetables, enough of them to make a simple stew.

'He got to be hungry, and this is the right kind of meal. Not too heavy and easily digestible.

Leo began cutting the vegetables, gathered fresh water from the well and cooked it through.

After plating the table for three, as he did not knew when Bron would come home, Thomas walked out from his room, looking less feverish.

"Smells good, did you make that?" he asked, sniffing in the scent of the stew.

"Who else? Saw you making it often enough, so I tried it myself."

Sitting down at the table, they began to eat, Leo sharing some details of the mission he was in, as well as his encounter with the bounty hunters.

At some point Bron joined, leaving after eating his fill, saying another friend needed his help.

After that, Thomas came to speak about that duo.

"These guys are somewhat famous around here, and dangerous." Thomas warned.

"They may be good in their field, but can be your greatest foe one day, if you get on their bad side.

But from the reputation I heard, they make a good job, doing their missions cleanly and in order."

Leo could only agree, as he saw the aftermath of their fight and how they dealt with the captives.

He remembered the notice left in his pocket, fishing it out and showing it Thomas.

"What's that?" Thomas asked, taking it with a skeptic look.

"A letter to me? Don't know, the letters are total foreign to me. It was left with a bag containing some money."

Thomas read through the letter, nodding in understanding.

"Here is written the Bounty Hunters you mentioned are giving you a share of the money, as without you they may not have caught them. Also here is mentioned they will soon continue their journey, and you should remember to train."

He gave Leo back the letter, adding:

"A shame you cannot read, many people may scam you like this, and getting missions is unnecessarily complicated."

He thought for a moment, and hammered his fist on the table, startling Leo.

"I know, how about I teach you a bit. Although not a teacher, I can at least show you how to read simple words and important notices."

Looking expectant at Leo, he waited for his answer.

'What a fast development.' Leo deliberated.

'Wait, was this not something I wanted ever since Sam said it is important, and most people are literate in the future?'

Not grasping this chance would be stupid.

Leo smiled, and said from his heart:

"There is barely one I would like to learn from aside from you."

"Then it's decided." Thomas said happy. He feared to have nothing to do over the time he was sick.

Laying around doing nothing is not his type. So the chance to teach Leo came to the right moment.

Leo, too, thought that would be a great opportunity. Not only would he receive teachings, but could also fulfill Sam's request to look after Thomas.

"When do we begin?" he asked excited. He was very eager to acquire this knowledge. As they say, knowledge is power.

Clearing his throat, Thomas suggested the next day.

"I'm feeling a tad too sick today. After a good rest I will be on better heights."

Another thing bothered Leo: He saw Mary nowhere. And as Sam is out on a mission, she should be either with him or back at the guild, which is less likely.

He decided to ask Thomas.

"Mary? She is currently with Leah, and the four made a temporarily party. To get her thoughts somewhere else, she asked Sam."

Thomas smirked.

"The first night she slept here, Sam could not get a wink of sleep. He was so nervous with being under the same roof as her, her being the same. They were so sleepy the next day, it was hilarious."

As if the laughter of him was not enough, he had to cough, so the two parts mixed, letting him grasp for air.

Then, agreeing to meet tomorrow, Leo left the house. On his back his new shield, he also cleaned his weapon more throughout.

With new armor and shield, he felt like he reached a new stand as a adventurer, ready to take another quest.

But his body protested, telling him it was time to rest.

'I'm so tired.'

Going towards the guild, he walked by the merchants. He checked them, hoping to see Laurence and Holo, but was disappointed.

'Guess they are still on the Main Road, selling the expensive goods first.'

He walked in the Guild, the aroma of freshly cooked stew, meat and booze filling his nostrils.

He liked this lively atmosphere, the bards singing or playing on the stage and the busy staff.

He sat down by a corner, observing this bustling scene.

Time passed, Leo just sitting there, looking at different people.

Some were good looking, with shining equipment and new gear. Other had scars, telling the tale of fierce battles or dangerous adventures. Some came back with faces full of happiness, and others with sadness, burying it in alcohol.

'That could be me.' he thought when looking at the people.

'Depending how I decide my future path, I will either end up as a victor, telling my tale of success, or be the loser, leaving nothing behind other than a corpse.'

The hefty enlightenment made him once again clear: this here is not a game. He has no second chances, no backup or net to catch him.

Daydreaming in his corner of the room, someone sat down beside him. Leo first did not care, as everyone can sit wherever he wants, and he did not want to draw unwanted attention.

But the stranger next to him, with a mantle and hood over the head said to him, loud enough only for him to hear:

"I'm sorry."

It was a female tone, raspy, as if she shouted a lot and lost her voice.

Confused by the apologize, he turned to the person.