Chapter 4: Farewell

"Oh, what a disgusting carrier is that. What the hell have you done to it, old man?" asks Someone, looking at the carrier in disdain, addressing the shopkeeper.

"Miss, I just carried some pigs last week. The smell will be gone soon, I promise," says the Shopkeeper, trying to assure her.

"If it doesn't, I will take my money back, alright?" Someone asks, attempting to bargain with him.

"Miss, I need money. I don't believe I can give you all of that," says the Shopkeeper, pleading his case.

"Well, I will go somewhere else then," Someone threatens the shopkeeper, trying to pressure him into selling the carrier at a lower price.

"Alright, miss, I want 80 silver, not a gold. Is that alright?" the Shopkeeper proposes, willing to negotiate.

"More than alright, it is delightful," Someone replies with satisfaction.

"I will remove my stuff from it and be back in a few minutes, miss," says the old shopkeeper, heading towards his building.

"Alright, I'll be here," says Someone, waiting patiently.

After the shopkeeper goes into his building, Someone overhears him and confronts him on the rooftop.

"So, you are a bargainer and a Swordswoman," the Dragon-Kinght comments.

"Yeah, I am. And what the hell are you doing on top of this building?" Someone retorts.

"Waiting for you," the Dragon-Knight admits.

"Aww, what a cute hero you are," Someone mocks him, teasingly.

"Quit messing around. I'll wait at the road's end," the Dragon-Knight demands, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Someone chuckles and says, "Alright, grumpy. Go and wait there."

As Dragon-Knight leaves, the shopkeeper shouts from the building, "Are you asking something, miss?"

Someone shouts back, "No, I wasn't talking to you. Don't worry and be quick."

"Okay, I'm coming," the shopkeeper responds.

The shopkeeper comes out from his building with two horses and a carrier.

"Miss, these are Red and Blue," says the shopkeeper, showing her the horses.

"They're beautiful, old man. Here's your payment," says Someone as she hands him a golden coin

The shopkeeper looks through his pocket, finds 2 silver, and gives it to her.

"It was nice doing business with you, old man. Take care," says Someone.

The old shopkeeper mumbles something and replies, "Yeah, take care, miss."

Someone gets on the carrier and starts heading towards the end of the road where Dragon-Knight waits. As she travels, she hears a familiar sound.

"Hey, wait for me!" calls out a familiar voice.

Someone stops the carrier and sees the bard named Jesse.

"Hi there, bard. What can I do for you?" asks Someone politely.

"Well, can I hop in?" asks Jesse.

"Sure, hop on," Someone replies.

Jesse gets on the carrier. They travel for a while but he breaks the silence .

"Alright, miss. I don't know you, but you're the only person who can do something right now," says the bard.

"What do you mean?" asks Someone, confused.

"Well, our common friend seems invincible, but he's not. And if he gets closer to death, things will not be alright. So, don't trust just his skills. Protect him, please," explains Jesse.

"Well, I've never thought he's invincible, but what do you mean by things will not be alright?" asks Someone.

"If I know something about his kind, it's that they shouldn't hold on for that long," says the bard.

"Look, Jesse, I know you're worried about him, but I don't understand a word of what you just said," Someone exhales and continues, "Anyway, I won't let him die. This place needs him, I see that."

"Beware of the beast, miss," says the bard as he hops out of the carrier.

"Farewell, beautiful Swordswoman. I will sing about you!" shouts Jesse.

Someone chuckles and replies, "I hope you do, bard."

Someone rides for only a few minutes until she spots the man in armor, the Dragon-Knight.

"Hop in, Knight," she says.

"I'll be in the back. This thing is too small for both of us," responds Dragon-Knight.

"Or maybe you're just too big for it, Knight," Someone chuckles.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Dragon-Knight murmurs.

"Hey, is something wrong?" Someone asks.

"Yeah, I made them a promise," Dragon-Knight replies.

"A blood promise?" Someone inquires.

"Well, you heard as well as I did," Dragon-Knight chuckles.

"Well, my ears couldn't handle it, sorry, Knight," Someone chuckles in response.

"Hey, I've made promises too, and I know how you feel. I've disappointed people," Someone says.

"I didn't want to make those promises because I wasn't sure of myself, but they needed it. So, I have to be what they think of me," Dragon-Knight says.

"Listen to me, whatever your name is. No one but you decides who you are. Don't be the Knight who fights the evil of Hara if you don't want to. You don't owe anything to these people. No one will blame you if you don't wear that armor," Someone advises.

"I don't owe anything to these people, but I do owe something to people from my home, and I can't ignore my debts. They are long overdue," Dragon-Knight confesses.

"It doesn't matter. What's done is done. The future is yet to be lived. Accept the present, and don't deny it. The man who didn't keep his promises is long gone. Be whoever you want to be," Someone encourages.

"Unfortunately, he's not gone. The mistakes I made continue to haunt me every second of my existence," Dragon-Knight admits.

"I don't want to hurt you, but what happened to you?" asks Someone.

"It is still happening," says the Dragon-Knight.

"What is?" asks Someone.

"I am becoming what they think of me," the Dragon-Knight replies.

"Do you want to be that?" asks Someone.

"I would like to be a hero, but the cost is too much," says the Dragon-Knight.

"Does it matter? After seeing their smiles, does it matter how much you lose?" asks Someone.

"It doesn't," answers the Dragon-Knight.

"Then stop being scared of yourself. Be the Dragon-Knight," says Someone.

The man in armor, the vigilante named the Dragon-Knight, doesn't answer her as they arrive at the brothel where they will stay until morning.

"Sleep until sunset. I will keep watch over the brothel," says the Dragon-Knight.

"I will take the first watch. You can rest, grumpy," says Someone.

"Please, I know you need to rest, but I dont need to. Tomorrow will be long," says the Dragon-Knight.

"Alright then, I will sleep. If anything happens, wake me up," says Someone.

The Dragon-Knight chuckles, "Alright, now go to sleep."

As Someone falls asleep, she says, "Hey, you are not invincible. Don't forget that, alright?"

The Dragon-Knight smiles under his helmet and replies, "Alright."

Swordswoman named Someone falls asleep, and the man in armor, the Dragon-Knight, begins his long and alone watch.

The night passes cold and harshly eventhough days are warm and suny night of hara are too cruel. In the small basement room of the brothel, most of the boys are asleep, except for the youngest boy named Billy. He tightly holds the handle of the knife given to him by Dragon-Knight.

Fredie, Billy's older brother, wakes up and notices his little brother's worry. "Hey, Golden," Fredie calls out to his brother.

Billy doesn't hear his brother's call; he is lost in his thoughts, contemplating what might happen to them, and staring at the dark sky through his small window.

Fredie gets up from his bed and approaches Billy. "Hey, what's wrong, little one? Why are you awake?" asks Fredie.

"I'm scared, Fredie," Billy says, trying to hold back his tears.

"Billy, listen to me. I will always be with you. No matter what happens, we will be together. Someday, we will build our own house, maybe a tavern like the one the bard works in, and we will be happy. No one will upset or scare us," Fredie says, attempting to give his brother hope.

"I don't know, Fredie. What if he dies and they sell us?" says Billy.

"Look, brother, I don't trust Dragon-Knight completely, but he is our only chance. I have to believe in him. And if he doesn't keep his promise, we will return this knife to him," Fredie explains.

"I hope he keeps his promise," says Billy.

Fredie hugs his brother and says, "Yeah, I hope so too. Now, let's get some sleep, alright, Golden?"

Billy hugs him back and replies, "Alright."

All the boys were fast asleep when the wooden door swung open, revealing the presence of the house's master.

"Everyone, wake up," Silvie's voice carried a cold tone.

Fredie was the first to be awaken, responding to the command, "Are they here?"

"No, they're not," Silvie replied. "Katie thought you should have a proper breakfast before their arrival."

Fredie get up from his bed and said, "We'll be in the kitchen in 5 minutes, if you'll excuse us."

Silvie turned away, stating, "You will dine upstairs. Be there in 5 minutes."

Fredie was surprised by the unexpected invitation since they were never allowed upstairs, as it was reserved for the Nobels, Silvie, and Katie. "We'll be there," Fredie confirmed.

Silvie left the basement and went to the upstairs. Opening the door, she was greeted by a beautifully set table adorned with delicious meals.

Katie looked up at Silvie and asked, "Do you think that's enough?"

Silvie approached her beloved and replied, "I believe it will be enough."

Katie moved away briefly and retrieved something from her pocket. "Look, I need to tell you something. Before you and I, there was someone," Katie began.

Silvie appeared puzzled and questioned, "Yes, Ethan. Why are you bringing this up now?"

Katie turned to face Silvie and explained, "There's nothing to worry about, love. But there's something I haven't told you for a long time."

Silvie inquired, "What is it?"

"Almost 9 years ago, he arrived at the brothel with a child in his arms. He wanted me to take the child in. When I asked if the child was his, he said no, but he said that this child was the closest thing he had to a son," Katie revealed.

Silvie took a seat in a chair, processing the information. "So, Billy isn't the bastard of our girls?"

"No, he's not. I'm sorry, love, but he wanted him to be kept safe. That's why I didn't tell you," Katie pleaded for forgiveness.

"It's okay. I understand," Silvie reassured her.

"I know I can't care for him any longer, so I should give him what he has to have," Katie expressed.

Silvie turned to her and asked, "What were you keeping?"

Katie revealed a golden ring that she had been holding in her hand. "Ethan told me that this ring should belong to Billy. This may be the last time I see this child, so he should have it."

Silvie took a sip of wine from a glass and responded, "After the meal, give it to him, but don't mention Ethan. We shouldn't give false hope to this child."

Katie nodded and said, "You're right. I won't talk about Ethan."

While Katie and Silvie were having their conversation, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Katie said.

Fredie opened the door and asked, "Can we come in, Master?"

Katie was hurt by those words. She didn't want them to think of her as their master; she didn't see them as slaves. Silvie noticed this and decided to take on the motherly role.

"Come in, boys. We have something prepared for you. I hope you'll enjoy it," Silvie said warmly.

The boys sat at the table and started their first and last meal in that room.

"When will they arrive?" Billy asked.

"We don't know, son, but they will be here soon," Katie replied.

Fredie felt strange hearing her words. He never thought of her as their mother, and after everything that had happened, he knew he would never see her as one.

The young boys had their final meal at the brothel and anxiously waited to see what would happen. None of them dared to speak up; after all, they were just scared kids. Katie locked eyes with Silvie, who nodded to show understanding.

"Hey, Billy, can you come here for a sec? I need to tell you something," Katie said.

Freddie held his brother's arm and said, "You can say whatever you want to say right here, master."

Katie felt a pang of sadness because the boy she considered as a son called her "Master." But she pushed those thoughts aside and said, "It's personal, Fredie. I need to talk to him alone."

Freddie turned to his brother and asked, "You want to talk to her?"

"I don't know, I guess so," Billy answered and went to Katie's side.

Together, they entered another room, and Katie closed the door. She knelt down, took Billy's hands, and said, "Look, Billy, I have something of yours. I kept it safe until you were old enough. I guess I can't wait any longer."

Katie retrieved the ring, showed it to him, and said, "This ring belongs to your family, and it's meant for you."

Billy was surprised and asked, "Who gave it to you?"

Katie recalled their previous conversations with Silvie and replied, "Your family left you at our doors with this ring. We didn't see them, but the ring was in your pocket, along with a note saying it should be yours."

Billy's wonder turned to disappointment upon hearing the story that Katie made up. Katie placed the ring in his hand and said, "So, take care of this, Billy. I never had my mom or dad, and your brothers won't have anything either. Take care of this memory, alright?"

Billy took the ring, looked at it, and asked, "Why is there a horseshoe on it?"

Katie was surprised by his question and inquired, "What horseshoe are you talking about?" She took the ring back.

For a brief moment, she saw the horseshoe he mentioned—it was the letter "C." But it vanished as soon as she touched it.

"Hold the ring again, Billy," she said and handed it back to him.

The ring glowed once more, revealing a yellow "C" on it. Katie couldn't believe what she saw. "This can't be a craft. It's not cobalt," she whispered.

Billy felt scared and asked, "What are you talking about, Katie? What is that?"

Katie regained her composure and reassured him, "Oh, don't worry, son. I was talking about something else."

Billy asked with a frightened voice, "Are you sure?"

Katie smiled at the child, gently stroking his golden hair, and replied, "I'm sure. Now, let's go back inside. Say goodbye to Silvie. She loves you just as much as I do."

Billy smiled back and said, "I will."

Billy and Katie got out from the room. Katie noticed Silvie packing bottles into a bag. She realized that the Rogues had arrived.

"Where are they?" she asked her beloved.

"Downstairs," Silvie replied, her anger evident.

Katie knelt down in front of the boys, ready for a final conversation with all of them.

"Listen, kids. I know you might be mad at me, but please know that I love each of you more than words can say. I didn't want to give you to those bad people, but I had no choice. I will always regret it. I wish I could do something, but I can't. I hope you can forgive me one day," she said, tears in her eyes.

Silvie couldn't hold back and came to their side, saying, "I was born with nothing, but I fought for everything I have now. It doesn't matter who owns you. Be free, my children. Build your own lives and protect each other."

Katie wiped her tears and added, "When you get a chance, run away as fast as you can and find a safe place. Leave this place if you can. Join the Hunters in Contasia. They can't reach you there."

Billy exclaimed, "But they kill your kind!"

Katie smiled and replied, "My child, my kind has killed more than yours ever did."

Just then, a servant knocked on the door and said, "They want them right now."

"Tell them we're coming," Silvie said.

The servant nodded and left the room. The boys, Katie, and Silvie followed him downstairs. As they approached the Rogues, Billy turned back and said, "I forgive you."

Katie tightly held Silvie's hand and said to Billy, "I love you, my son."

Freddie didn't turn away but said, "Let's go, boys," in a cold tone.