Chapter Nine: "Family"

Nevalis headed to the inn and rented a room for a month. The innkeeper was surprised by such a long time, as he was not accustomed to such demands. At the end of the transaction, Nevales climbed to his room in slow and heavy steps, as if carrying the burdens of the world on his shoulders.

When the door opened, he was shocked by what he saw. You're exasperating, "What the hell, that shit!"

The room was so small, it could barely accommodate one person. Its walls are pale, covered in a layer of cracks that tell the history of this miserable place. The ceiling is low, dangling an old light that emits barely enough light to dispel darkness.

At one corner stood a narrow wooden bed, furnished with a coarse, worn but clean lid, beside a small table with a melted candle and a cracked glass cup. The floor, which was made of wooden planks, was full of scratches and made muffled noises when you walked on it.

A small window overlooking a narrow alley was the only source of air, but its faint curtains did not completely block outside noise. On the other hand, an old wooden cabinet, slightly tilted, almost completely unlocked.

The room had a sense of simplicity, humility, or perhaps misery, ideal for someone who looked for a place to spend a night without much expectation.

BUT FOR NEVALIS, IT WAS TRULY CATASTROPHIC. He entered the room with a somewhat awe face, but soon calmed himself that this was necessary. Sighed and closed the door behind him, heading to the bed. After a moment of hesitation, he sat on it and began to organize his thoughts.

AFTER AN HOUR OF THINKING, NEVALIS HAS DEVELOPED A CLEAR PLAN. He decided he would stay there for six months in training, after which he would go to Meras under cover to advance as a soldier in the army of the Baron Redmoor family. He saw in this plan a chance to get to the inner city out of this wretched world, and to start to rebuild his future.

....

The next morning, Nevales awoke to a loud knock on the door. He opened his eyes slowly, rattling from the interrupt. He got up from his bed and violently opened the door, only to find the boy whom he had saved yesterday standing before him.

The boy reluctantly said, "My grandfather wants to thank you for the gold, and invites you to eat with us."

Nevalis stared at the boy for a moment before he satirized: "Food? Aren't you afraid to spend all your supplies in this Thanksgiving feast?"

The boy's face blushed but said: "Please, agree. If you don't come with me, my older brother will beat me because I haven't brought the one with the grandfather better."

Nevalis looked at the boy with narrow eyes, questioning the seriousness of the situation. He was about to say no, but the boy seemed pretty honest. Remind him, begging the kid for something from his past... Of his childhood which was a mixture of weakness and need. After a moment of hesitation, Nevales said, "Well, I'll go with you. But don't expect any compliments from me."

.....

On the way to the boy's house, the two walked in silence for a while, until Nevales broke the silence saying:

"Tell me about your grandfather and your older brother."The boy paused briefly, as if thinking about how to answer, and then said in a warm voice: "Grandpa... He's the greatest person I know. He brought me and my brothers together under one roof. We're not a real family, but he made us feel like one. He was always there to feed us when we were hungry, and to comfort us when we were afraid. I don't know what we would have done without him."

He stopped for a moment and continued with a thankful tone: "He raised me to love, even when I made mistakes. I never felt like he was blaming me, but he always treated me like I was the most important thing in his life." Nevalis felt the boy's words echo inside his heart. Such heartfelt feelings were rare in the world he knew.

Then the boy raised his eyes, and he seemed excited talking about his older brother:

"My older brother... He is my role model. He's strong, brave, and knows how to act in every situation. When you get in trouble, he's there before you ask for his help. He protects us like a second father, and sometimes I feel like he understands us without talking. I don't remember ever feeling scared as long as he was by my side."

A small smile appeared on the boy's face, full of pride:

"My brother is not only the one who takes care of us, but he makes us believe that we can face anything, no matter how difficult. Even when he is angry with us, I do not feel that his anger stems from cruelty, but from fear of us."

The boy looked at Nevales for a moment, then quietly added:

"I don't know how he gives us all this love, but he does... I want to be like him someday.

"The boy's words were filled with deep feelings, love and respect for a grandfather and a brother not only part of his life, but also two essential pillars of his small world, which, despite its difficulties, seems to be full of warmth because of their existence.

It wasn't long before they got home. It was a modest old two-story building with its facade overlooking a narrow dirt road. Nevalis stood for a moment on the doorstep, looking at the humble building in front of him. It looked like a house of the past that had been neglected over time, It shows recurring traces of restoration with a hand that is trying to keep it going against time.

The exterior walls were painted with a faint paint that indicated that they were very old, and in some places small cracks began to appear. It was clear that the paint had recently been renovated, although the layer that covered the walls was rather thin, leaving some flaws in them. However, it appeared that care had been taken by the occupant.

The roof was made of ancient slanted wooden planks, and it showed traces of time and pressure. But at certain angles, there was an extra wooden support, showing a clear effort to keep it in place. The family may have spent a great deal of time restoring and preserving it in order not to collapse on their heads.

The doors and Windows were made of sturdy wood, but they bore traces of time: some of the doors were tilted, while others avoided wear by layers of renewed paint. But Windows were the most visible element in the house; The glass was old and dirty , But every window had been treated by the old curtains, which were closed tightly To keep the cold wind from sneaking in.

What made the house different, despite this obvious corrosion, Is the feeling of constant effort and striving to preserve it. All the elements in this house bore the impact of hard work and ongoing reform. Here it wasn't about perfection, it was survival.

"They put a lot of effort into keeping this place." Noting the efforts made in every corner, Nevales muttered to himself. Despite the harsh conditions of life, the family held on to all the possible clues of hope to keep them together.

The boy smiled at the inspecting looks of Nevales and said, "We are working together to fix him. Everything here has value, even if it's not at its best. It's our home."

Nevalis nodded silently, appreciating the effort exerted in building this small house, which, though simple, had a certain determination to continue, regardless of all the difficulties it might encounter.

Nevalis appreciated that effort, and admired it greatly

This was not just an old house, but a testament to the steadfastness and persistence of a family, which has resisted time with all its might.