A Gold Coin in the Dirt

A long time ago, the world had been divided into two great powers: the Light World and the Demon World.

These two sides had fought for control, dragging every race into their war. Humans, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and demons had all joined the fight, each hoping to come out on top.

The battles had lasted for centuries, covering the land in blood. The Demon King had led his armies intending to conquer the Light World and cover it in darkness.

Standing against him had been the Hero of Humanity, a warrior blessed by the gods. He had united many races to push back against the demons. Their final battle had been so huge it had left permanent scars on the world.

After many years of war, the Hero and his allies had finally won. The Demon Lord had been defeated, his army sealed in the Underworld.

But the peace had only been temporary. The seal had been tied to the Hero's life, and while he lived, the demons had remained trapped.

Knowing this, the Hero had taken it upon himself to find and prepare the next hero, ensuring that when the time came, the world would have a new champion ready to face the darkness.

With the Demon Lord gone, peace had returned to the Light World. Humanity had become the most powerful race, ruling over others.

Kingdoms had grown, cities had thrived, and the world had enjoyed prosperity. The other races, though uneasy about humanity's power, had accepted the new order since the demons were gone.

But peace had never lasted forever. Fifty years had passed, and the Hero who had saved the world was now at the twilight of his life.

With his life coming to an end, the seal keeping the Demon World locked away had weakened, and soon, the demons would return.

Fear spread across the land as people prepared for war. Old alliances had been rebuilt, armies had been trained, and leaders had searched for a new Hero, someone who could fight against the darkness just like before.

The world was once again on the brink of war.

On the far edge of civilization, where the land was stubborn and the people even more so, lay the barony of Eldric.

The estate sat on the outskirts of Thornmere, a village that had seen better days, if anyone even remembered when those were.

Once a place of modest prosperity, time and neglect had reduced the village to a collection of sagging cottages and barren fields.

The manor itself, perched atop a small hill loomed in disrepair. Crumbling stonework and overgrown courtyards whispered of better days long past.

Few ventured near unless duty required it, for the baron seldom left its cold, empty halls.

Down the hill, past the worn paths and struggling farms, sat the stables. The scent of hay and damp wood filled the air, mingling with the musk of horses.

Though detached from the manor, the stable had its own quiet rhythm, the soft shuffle of hooves, the creak of aged beams, and the occasional call of stable hands going about their work. It was a place of routine, but never of peace.

Bel sat crouched near the stable door, his long, messy black hair falling over his face as he stared at a spider spinning its web between two wooden beams. The creature moved with delicate precision, its legs working in perfect harmony as it wove its trap.

"Smart little thing," he muttered to himself, watching as the web grew more intricate. It had a purpose, at least, unlike him.

The barony was poor, too poor to matter. No one cared about this place, not the nobles in their fine estates nor the merchants who barely stopped by. And yet, here he was, trapped in this stable, expected to toil for a lord who probably never even set foot in his own barns.

"Bel!" A sharp voice cut through his thoughts.

He flinched, glancing up to see Master Harvin, the stablehand overseer, storming toward him. The older man had thick arms and a permanent scowl, the kind of face that looked like it had never once entertained the idea of a smile.

"What in the blasted hells are ya doin' squattin' there like some useless stray?!" Harvin bellowed, his boots crunching against the dirt as he stomped toward Bel.

Bel sighed, pushing himself up.

"Just catching my breath."

"Catching your breath?!" Harvin roared, his face turning red. "You ain't paid to stand around gaspin' like some winded mule! If I catch ya slackin' off again, I'll tan your hide so bad you'll wish you were muckin' stalls in the dead of winter!"

Bel dusted off his tunic, his expression unimpressed.

"It's not like anyone cares what happens here anyway. Even the nobles were saying last week that this barony's too poor to bother with."

Harvin's glare darkened, and before Bel could react, the man grabbed him by the collar and shoved him hard, sending him sprawling against a wooden post.

"Big talk for a lazy whelp! You think this place don't matter? Then maybe I oughta teach ya what happens to mouthy brats who don't respect their keep!"

Bel winced but held back any retort. He wasn't foolish enough to push further, not when Harvin had a temper as short as his patience.

"I don't give a damn what them highborn bastards say. You live here, you work here, or I'll give ya a beatin' that'll make ya wish you were shovelin' dung in the dead of winter. Now move your ass and clean them stalls!"

Bel gritted his teeth but grabbed the nearby shovel, muttering under his breath.

"Not me who said it, anyway."

"What was that?!" Harvin snapped.

"Nothing," Bel replied quickly, already moving toward the nearest stall.

With a sigh, he plunged the shovel into the dirty straw, cursing his luck. The spider above him kept spinning, undisturbed, as if mocking him.

"Lucky little thing," he muttered, and got to work.

People talked badly about the barony all the time, it was normal. The estate sat far south, close to an old, dark forest wrapped in legends.

Long ago, they said the hero Agiel had first stepped foot here after sealing away the demons, emerging from the shadows as humanity's savior.

The first lord of the land thought that would make it a famous spot, a place for travelers and pilgrims to visit. He bought the land, hoping to turn it into a thriving landmark.

But his plan failed. Instead of drawing admirers, it filled people with fear. If Agiel had come from here, then surely, this must be where the seal lay, the barrier keeping demons locked away.

No one wanted to live near a place tied to such danger. Over time, the barony faded into obscurity, barely scraping by.

Bel dragged the shovel across the stable floor, the sound of straw and dirt shifting breaking the silence. His arms ached, but stopping wasn't an option. If Harvin caught him slacking, there'd be hell to pay.

The wind whistled outside, slipping through the cracks in the wooden walls. It smelled of damp earth and rotting leaves, a warning that colder days were coming.

He sighed and leaned on the shovel, his gaze drifting back to the spider from earlier. It had finished its web, the delicate strands swaying in the draft.

"At least you've got something to show for your work," he muttered.

Right then, the stable doors creaked open. A gust of wind sent loose straw flying. Bel lifted an arm to shield his face and turned toward the entrance, expecting Harvin with another round of yelling.

But it wasn't Harvin.

A sharp click of heels echoed in the quiet space. A woman stepped inside, her long, dark hair flowing like silk over her shoulders, framing a face both striking and unsettling.

Her eyes glimmered with amusement as she scanned her surroundings, lips curving into a teasing smile.

"Oh my, what an... earthy aroma," she mused, her voice smooth and honeyed, a stark contrast to the rough, musty stable. "Such a charming little place. So full of character."

Bel tightened his grip on the shovel. He had expected Harvin or another stablehand, not someone like her. She didn't belong here. Everything about her, the way she moved, the sharp look in her eyes, felt out of place.

She stepped closer, her gaze settling on him with quiet amusement.

"And you," she murmured, tilting her head. "What a lovely little thing. Such delicate features... you would make a fine son. Or perhaps, a daughter?"

Bel blinked, startled. His face scrunched in confusion. Daughter? His body tensed as a wave of unease crept over him. He had no idea how to respond.

"Who... who are you?" he asked, forcing himself to meet her gaze.

She chuckled lightly, brushing a bit of dust from her coat as if it personally offended her.

"Just a traveler passing through," she said with an airy wave. "I come from very far, and I find myself in need of a place to rest."

Bel hesitated.

"A place to rest? I... I could ask my master..."

"Oh no, that won't do," she interrupted, her laugh soft. "A stable is no place for a leaving being. It feels more like a punishment, don't you think?"

She walked further inside, her fingers lightly tracing the wooden beams as if she admired their craftsmanship. Then, she turned back to him, her smile never fading.

"No," she continued. "I think I need something... more appropriate. Something refined. Like a gold coin hidden in the dirt."

Her eyes shimmered.

"Something like... the landlord's mansion."