Chapter:24-Gratitude and The Rumoured Count

Chapter [Number]: Gratitude and Rumors

Barely an hour had passed since Edwin left Liana's room, her broken voice and trembling figure still haunting his thoughts. His chest felt heavy, guilt coiling itself around his ribs like iron chains.

He was in the hallway, contemplating whether to leave or stay a little longer when heavy footsteps approached. Bartholomew appeared, his eyes red-rimmed, his cheeks stained with fresh tears. The man's usual firm, disciplined demeanor was nowhere to be found. Instead, he looked hollowed out, like someone who had been fighting a losing battle with despair.

Bartholomew stumbled forward, and before Edwin could react, the man fell to his knees, his hands clasped together in a gesture of desperate gratitude.

"Thank you," Bartholomew choked out, his voice strained and trembling. "Thank you... for helping her. For giving her something I couldn't."

Edwin's eyes widened. "Stand up. You don't need to—"

"No," Bartholomew interrupted, his voice breaking under the weight of his emotions. "You don't understand. I... I couldn't reach her. I tried everything. Talking, waiting, comforting her... But it was like she was slipping away from me, from this world. And then you—" His voice cracked, and he let out a half-sob, half-laugh. "I heard her crying. Truly crying. Not the silence, not the deadness. You brought something back. A piece of her I thought was lost forever."

Edwin felt a lump in his throat. He had seen gratitude before, but this was something deeper. Something raw. It was the kind of pain that only a parent could feel.

"I just... spoke with her," Edwin said, his voice soft, uncertain. "She's still hurting. She'll be hurting for a long time. But she's trying to be strong."

"She's alive." Bartholomew's voice steadied, his eyes shimmering with fresh tears. "That's enough. That's more than I could ever ask for."

Edwin looked away, unable to meet the man's gaze. "I didn't do much. If anything, I failed her. I failed everyone in that cave. If only I wasn't afraid...."

Bartholomew rose shakily to his feet. "No, Edwin. You did more than I could ever hope to do. And if there's anything you need—anything at all—come to me. I owe you more than I can repay."

Edwin swallowed, his fingers trembling slightly. "I... I'll remember that."

The man nodded, giving Edwin one last, searching look before he turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped but his steps steadier than before.

Edwin let out a shaky breath. His chest still felt tight, but the crushing weight of guilt felt just a little lighter.

__________________________

After the encounter with Bartholomew, Edwin made his way through the bustling streets of Lekri. The city was alive with the noise of traders, craftsmen, and children running through the alleys. It was a chaotic symphony that somehow managed to soothe his mind, distracting him from the heaviness still clinging to his chest.

He arrived at the adventurers' guild, its grand wooden doors creaking as he pushed them open. The scent of sweat, ale, and parchment hit him all at once. Conversations mingled in the air, tales of beasts slain and treasures claimed. But Edwin was here for something else.

The copper-rank division's quest board was a chaotic mess of hastily written notes and scrolls pinned haphazardly to a wide wooden board. Edwin's eyes skimmed over the requests.

Most of them were dangerous but doable.

Eliminate a pack of wild boars attacking farms to the south.

Escort a merchant's caravan through the Shadowpine Woods.

Retrieve medicinal herbs from the Valley of Thorns.

The usual fare. Hard work with decent rewards. Edwin wasn't planning to take one today, just browsing to familiarize himself with the kind of work available. He committed a few of the quests to memory before stepping away from the board.

His stomach rumbled, a painful reminder that he hadn't eaten anything since morning. The coins he had were sparse, but he figured a decent meal would be worth the expense. His legs carried him to a nearby tavern, a place called The Rusted Flask.

The air inside was thick with the smell of roasted meat and ale, the kind of place where laughter and fistfights were equally common. Edwin found a seat at the far end of the room and ordered some stew and bread. Cheap, but filling.

He was halfway through his meal when the door swung open, and Eliza walked in. Her bow was slung over her shoulder, and her hair was slightly disheveled from what must have been a recent hunt. She wore full armour from the neck down.Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on him, a smirk forming on her lips as she approached.

"Well, look who's here," Eliza said, dropping onto the bench across from him. "Didn't expect to find you hiding out in a tavern."

"Not hiding," Edwin replied. "Just eating."

She raised an eyebrow. "Mhm. What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, I'd guess. Food's cheap and not completely terrible."

Eliza chuckled. "Yeah,probably." She ordered her own meal, and soon enough, the two of them were eating in companionable silence.

A few benches away, a group of men were talking animatedly. The loudest of them, a burly man with a thick beard, was waving his tankard around as he spoke. "I'm telling you, the rumors are true! The Count's a damn vampire's whelp!"

"Shut it, you drunken fool," another man grumbled. "Even if he is, what's it matter? Nobles are all monsters anyway."

"But did you hear what they're saying?" the first man continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper Edwin could still hear clearly. "The Count's got himself a new division of soldiers. They're torching villages, leaving nothing but ashes. Some say it's to sate his thirst."

The words made Edwin choke on his food.

After all,this damned fate started with soldiers burning down his village.

He remembered all times he died at the soldiers rotten blade. Under burning debris. His flesh melting so slowly it reminded him of the tales of the underworld that Gabriel read to him.

Eliza shot him a curious glance. "You alright there?"

He cleared his throat, trying to act like the words hadn't sent a chill down his spine. "Yeah. Just... My mind drifting away...."

Her gaze lingered on him, suspicious but not pressing. "You heard what they said, right? About the Count?"

"Yeah. Sounds like a load of bullshit." Edwin tried to keep his tone steady.

Eliza leaned back, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. "Maybe. But rumors always come from somewhere. Wouldn't be the first time nobles did unspeakable things just because they could."

He didn't respond. His hands were clenched into fists under the table. He could hear the crackle of fire, feel the heat against his skin, smell the stench of burning wood and flesh.

Eliza's voice pulled him back to the present. "Hey, want to take on a quest together? I was planning to hunt some horned spiders out in The Valley of Thorns a bit away from Lekri. Nothing too crazy, but the pay's decent."

Edwin hesitated. It wasn't a terrible idea. His skills needed sharpening, and having someone with Eliza's experience by his side would make things easier.

[You should take the offer.]

Elora's voice was as serene as ever, the system's words nudging him forward.

Edwin glanced at Eliza and nodded. "Alright. I'll join you."

"Great. We can head out tomorrow morning. Make sure you're well-rested."

They spent a little longer eating, the conversation shifting to easier topics. But the words from the tavern patrons kept echoing in Edwin's mind. Could the Count truly be a vampire's child? Could his village truly have been burned by that man's soldiers?

The thought made him feel sick.

——

That night, as Edwin returned to his small, rented room, he finally let himself think about the rumors. His hands shook slightly as he took out his sword from his inventory. The weapon's black, single-edged blade gleamed in the dim light, golden symbols etched along the steel glowing faintly. It was a masterpiece, elegant and deadly. That damned blacksmith calls this just a piece of useless iron?.

Edwin

[You should name it]

[It would make your connection stronger and much better]

"I will... eventually," Edwin replied, his voice low.

He pulled the sword back into his storage and watched as it turned into small blue lights and became nothing.

He sighed and layed down.

"Elora". He called.

[Yes?]

"Was my village burning down,related to me getting these powers?"

[I cannot say]

"Why did I gain these powers?"

[I cannot say]

"Do you not know or are you not allowed to?"

[I cannot say]

"Fine..I get it" Edwin said as he closed his eyes.

The system was truly a bizzare thing.

It felt so unnatural and out of this world.

But at the same time sometimes nade him feel as though he was born with it. As if it has been with him his whole life.

End of Chapter