Chapter 14: The Nostalgia of a Dream.

Three days had passed since the massacre in the Wailing Wetlands. Two days since Liam was gone. Two days since he decided to return to Besen. Now alone, he waited by the dusty roadside near Gothia's south gate for the departure of the next caravan heading for Besen.

The activity there was intense, but Leo remained absorbed in his thoughts, oblivious to the bustle around him. He gripped the two new sheathed swords hanging from his waist, posthumous gifts from Liam. "Smiling" and "Absolution" were engraved on the blades, one on each. He could still feel their weight, the cold metal against his palm, a constant reminder of his promise.

As he waited, a crumpled letter in his pocket caught his attention. He carefully unfolded it, reading the words written in Roland's firm handwriting. He had received it via carrier pigeon delivered to the Guild House. It was a brief message, but laden with meaning:

> "Lad,

> I received an update letter from the Gothia Guild House and know you are going through a difficult time. Losing a friend is never easy. But I ask you to be careful. There is something strange happening, something that goes beyond the gnolls and the Leirions. If you feel you are being watched, do not hesitate to seek help from the guild or find an ally you trust. The situation at the Royal Palace is complicated, and I cannot go into details now. Just trust your instincts and protect yourself.

> – Roland"

>

Leo frowned, confused. What did Roland mean by "something strange"? And why was he being warned? He folded the letter and put it back in his pocket, the feeling of foreboding intensifying. What did he mean by "I cannot go into details now"? What was happening at the palace? And why did he care so much about him?

The arrival of the caravan roused him from his reverie. A few mule-drawn carts were escorted by rough-looking mercenaries. Leo joined the convoy, his heart heavy but his determination unwavering.

The cart rattled along the dirt road, kicking up dust and stirring Leonard's thoughts. With every turn, the landscape transformed, but the image of Besen village, destroyed and abandoned, persisted in his mind.

Two days. Two long days of travel separated Leonard from Besen Village, the place that held the most precious and painful memories of his childhood.

Leonard immersed himself in a sea of thoughts as the monotonous landscape unfolded before his eyes. His conscience was still burdened by Liam's death, an unhealed wound. However, there was an additional element at play—a profound unease that unsettled him, a sense that crucial components of his life's narrative were absent.

Memories of his childhood in Besen, of the Leirion attack, and of his parents' deaths all seemed shrouded in a thick, confusing fog. And at the center of that fog was the face of his mother, Leah.

He thought of her with warmth, a gentle and caring woman with brown hair and blue eyes, always there to offer him a hug and a smile. Yet, there was an element that felt out of place—a discordance that troubled him.

Leonard touched the pendant he wore around his neck, the only object that remained of his mother. Carefully opening it, he observed the small portrait inside. The woman in the image exuded beauty and grace, her delicate features complemented by a calm and serene gaze. Her hair was a rich black, and her eyes, a profound white blue, appeared to gaze at him with a lingering sadness.

"Who are you?" whispered Leonard, his voice laden with doubt and anguish. "Are you really my mother?"

The image in the pendant was so different from the Leah he knew that he wondered if he had really known her. Was it possible that his memories were wrong? That he had created an idealized image of his mother, distorted by the pain of loss and the confusion of trauma?

Doubts gnawed at him, fueling the feeling that something was wrong, something he couldn't understand. Who were his real parents? What was his story? And why did he feel so lost, so disconnected from himself?

Lost in his reverie, Leonard barely noticed the passage of time. When the wagon finally came to a halt at a trading post village, he felt a wave of relief wash over him as he stepped away, grateful for a moment of respite from those painful thoughts.

Once he stepped off the wagon, he headed to a nearby tavern, hoping to find a cold ale and a cozy spot to relax. The tavern, featuring its rich wooden walls and robust tables, created a warm and inviting atmosphere, where the scent of ale and roasted meat lingered, accompanied by the soft hum of conversations and laughter that filled the space.

Leonard sat in a quieter corner, ordering a mug of ale and a bowl of stew. As he waited for his order, he observed the other patrons of the tavern: adventurers with worn armor, merchants in their fine robes, and "brave" peasants in their simple clothes.

A middle-aged man sat alone at a nearby table, catching his attention. He stood tall and slender, his black hair framing dark eyes that held a certain depth. Dressed in unassuming travel attire, he carried a beautifully carved wooden staff topped with sapphire, a clear sign of his magical prowess.

As Leonard prepared to enjoy his meal, the waitress brought his order to the table. He expressed his gratitude, but just as he was about to dig in, someone interrupted him.

"Excuse me," the man said, approaching the young man. "Would you mind if I joined you?"

The mage looked at him with a curious gaze but didn't seem to mind approaching Leonard. "Feel free," Leo replied with a slight smile.

The man sat down at the table, starting a conversation with Leonard.

"I saw you staring at me just now; have you never seen a mage before?" the man asked. "You looked so intently that I decided to come and ask..." The man smiled.

"Actually, never...errhh…" Leo replied with an awkward smile. "Where are you headed?" he asked, curious.

"Returning from the Magic Tower in the capital," replied the mage. "My name is Kaleb, and I am a mage from the tower, two-circle ranking. I was in search of new knowledge and challenges."

"Nice to meet you, Kaleb," said Leonard. "My name is Leonard, and I am a Neumond Equalizer. I am on my way to Besen Village."

"Besen?" repeated Kaleb with a look of surprise. "What brings you to such a remote place?"

Leonard hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should share his reasons. But something in Kaleb's kind expression encouraged him to open up.

"I'm going there in search of answers about my past," he confessed. "I have many questions about my history, about my parents..."

"Are you from Besen?" Kaleb jumped slightly from his chair.

"Yes, why?" Leonard raised an eyebrow.

"Everyone from Besen died many years ago..." Kaleb said with regret.

"It seems not everyone..." Leonard lowered his head, sighing.

"But, sorry to ask, how...?" Kaleb was confused.

"My mother gave her life to save me, and here I am," Leo replied.

"Look, there's a reason for all of this, so please tell me, who were your parents?" Kaleb clenched his fists, his hands sweating.

"Leah and Noah." Leonard gave a sad smile.

"Oh my God..." Kaleb was incredulous. "Noah Winston?"

"Yes, that's him. Did you know my father?" Leo's eyes were filled with tears, waiting for Kaleb's answer.

"Your father was a good friend; we used to meet right here in this tavern, sometimes to drink when he would come with the caravan to sell the harvest in Gothia." Kaleb had an expression of satisfaction on his face.

"Ah, yes, he was a simple farmer in Besen." Leonard concluded.

"But he wasn't always a farmer." Kaleb winked at Leonard, smiling.

"What do you mean, Mr. Kaleb?" Leo was very curious.

"Your father was a boy from the capital; that's where I met him." He took a sip of his ale. "When I went to the capital to study magic, that's when I met your father for the first time; we bumped into each other in a tavern after a glass of Justa."

Leonard's eyes were shining. "And then?"

"Then we cheered for the same knight and drank until dawn; we couldn't stand up straight together! Hahahaha," Kaleb let out a laugh. "But of course, I, as one of the best, helped your father."

"After a while, I never saw him again." Kaleb shrugged.

"Lost contact?" Leo asked.

"Everything leads me to believe so, but after two years, I returned to my home here in the area and met your father again in this tavern." Kaleb's eyes betrayed his nostalgia.

"Coincidence?" Leo said.

"Perhaps? Who knows? Irony of fate? Or maybe I'm just too good to my friends." Kaleb clearly displayed false arrogance.

Leo then told him about his parents.

Kaleb listened attentively without interrupting. When Leonard finished speaking, he nodded understandingly.

"I understand," Kaleb said. "The past can be a heavy burden, full of mysteries and pain. But it can also be a source of strength and wisdom. I, for example, didn't know much about your father's personal life; he always evaded telling me."

"I didn't understand my old man myself," Leonard said.

Kaleb, looking at his empty beer glass, paused thoughtfully. "If you'll allow me some advice, Leonard, don't let the past dominate you. Confront it directly, pursue the truths you desire, but be careful not to wander into its darkness. The future awaits you, full of new possibilities and adventures."

Leonard thanked him for the advice, feeling comforted by Kaleb's wise words. They continued talking for a while longer, sharing stories of their journeys and experiences.

Leonard recounted his difficulties as a Neumond and how he had come close to death several times. On the other hand, Kaleb raised his nose and claimed to be the best mage in the Duchy of Gothia, that there were none better. Leo always handled it with ease.

Kaleb, despite his apparent arrogance and self-confidence, proved to be a good listener and insightful advisor. Leonard realized that behind that facade of superiority was an insecure man who used arrogance as a shield to protect his vulnerabilities.

When the sun set, they said goodbye, each going their own way. Leonard, renewed by the conversation with Kaleb, rented a room; he needed to rest, as the caravan would leave early the next day. He needed to be ready to face the challenges that awaited him in Besen.

Doubts about his past still troubled him, but now he felt stronger, more confident. He knew that with courage and determination, he would find the answers he sought and build his own future.

A long night stretched out in that tavern room for Leonard. The light of the four moons illuminated the plains of the duchy like lit lamps; he could see the bright eyes of Leirions several meters away from the small window of his room.

"I wonder which creature those eyes belong to..." Leonard sighed and then turned and lay down on his bed of dry straw, which was relatively comfortable. It was a simple, small room with a bed and a nightstand, on which rested a small lamp.

Leo lost himself in thought about his conversation earlier with Kaleb. Why was his father in the capital when he was younger? Was he a native of there? He had never known any of this before. Who was Noah before he was a farmer in Besen? Did this have anything to do with his mother's necklace?

There were endless unanswered questions that kept hammering at Leonard's conscience until, finally tired, he drifted off into a deep sleep.

That night, Leo found himself lost in a dream of his father, the two of them casting lines into the serene waters of Lake Zafir. He could almost see his mother bustling about, preparing the beloved grilled fish meal that had always brought their family together by the lakeside, wrapping him in a warm embrace of nostalgia and belonging to home.