Dressed in the same attire of the common villagers, the nobles bombarded me with yet another multitude of questions.

  “Are you alright?”

  “Can you move?”

  “Are you still hurt?”

  “It’s hard for me to move around, but I can still feel my limbs. I can’t get up fully just yet, but I can kind of move my arms. Besides that, I feel normal.”

  The elders filled in the nobles on everything, such as the “theory” of my fast recovery.

  They’ve been waiting for you.

  I looked at Sys, who was now hovering over Roland.

  The elders tried to send them back to their estate on the village’s wagon, but they refused and chose to stay. They wanted to make sure that you’d be alright.

  I looked at the three. Roland held Elara’s hand as he closed his eyes and murmured a short prayer of thanks. Elara was profusely apologizing to Mom and Dad for something, but I couldn’t really make it out. Selene stayed close to me and hugged my torso tightly.

  Very nice people, aren’t they?

  …….I thought you were gone.

  Well, as long as you continue to live, I’ll continue to stay.

  What do you want?

  Look at them. So elegant and heartwarming to observe. Such beautiful smiling faces as they thank whatever god they worship for the miracle that’s transpired………An ugly miracle, that is. For you to still be alive.

  Yeah?

  It’s detestable, and you know why. You know why it’s infuriating to see such powerful people be thankful for the saved life of an insignificant commoner. You know why it’s so annoying to think of them as the truly good people they appear to be. You know why it’s difficult to fully like them.

  Because the people above are the source of your problems.

  Selene tugged at the blanket covering me, her small fingers shaking slightly as she looked down at me with a mixture of relief and guilt. “I’m happy, so happy!” She whispered, her voice quiet.

  I reached over and patted her head gently, the gesture soothing both her and I. “I’m happy too.”

  Her face twisted as she blinked back tears. “But I’m also sorry.”

  My heart squeezed at the sorrow in her voice. “For what?” I asked softly, though I already had an idea.

  Her eyes dropped to the floor, her words stumbling over themselves. “If I... if I didn’t trip... you wouldn’t have had to—” She choked on a sob, her small body trembling with guilt.

  I felt the weight of that moment rush back to me, memories flashing of her falling, slowing us down, that horrible crushing thought that had crossed my mind in the heat of battle—no, his thoughts, not mine. The sense of frustration, of blame, of anger at her. I winced inwardly, the memory feeling foreign, like something I couldn’t quite own.

  “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.” I said, reaching out to console her despite the storm in my own mind.

  Her voice faltered as she tried again, her heart breaking with every word. “But... now you can’t... can’t get out of bed... and you...”

  It is her fault.

  I turned my gaze to Selene’s face. The color had started to return to her cheeks since the last time I saw her. It was no longer the pale, terrified shade she wore while still in the bandits' grasp. Now it was a deeper, warmer tan, more like her real skin tone. But her hazel eyes couldn’t meet mine. They shrank away, fixed on the ground as if trying to draw strength from it. Her small fingers clutched one another, trembling, like a child waiting in silence for the shouting to stop in the other room.

  She’s only seven. Seven, and she’s already carrying the weight of something no child should ever have to bear. Why should this fall on her shoulders? Why is it suddenly her fault? Shouldn’t it be her parents’? They’re supposed to protect her. They’re supposed to catch her when she stumbles, to shield her from things like this……….…No. It’s mine too. If I hadn’t been so weak, if I had just been stronger, we could’ve escaped sooner. I could’ve been fine.

  It’s everyone’s fault. That’s the truth of it. This world is broken, and no one gets to be innocent. Not really. But that doesn’t mean she should get a pass. Age doesn’t make you blameless. Sometimes the naivety of a child can do more damage than the cruelty of an adult. I've seen how a child’s presence can split a home in two.

  You know that too, don’t you?

  Still, even if she's part of it, she’s not the one who built this cruel world. That blame lies with the ones who had the power to make it better and chose not to. The ones who looked away. The ones who used power for themselves, never for others. Just because she comes from that same place of privilege doesn’t mean she had a hand in shaping it. She’s too young.

  But then again, you’re right. In some way, it is her fault.

  But it’s also mine. And theirs. And everyone else’s. We all play a part in the ugliness of the world, whether we mean to or not. We all make mistakes that ripple out further than we can see.

  And you know what? It’s precisely because of that, that it’s no one’s fault specifically.

  I forced myself to sit up a little, feeling the strain in my body but ignoring it for the moment. “If I was so weak, would I be able to pinch you like this?” I leaned forward, and with a playful smile, I pinched Selene’s cheek lightly.

  She let out a small, surprised cry of protest, her cheeks reddening under my touch.

  “I’m super strong, and I’ll be able to walk again real soon. So don’t blame yourself for this. I’ll get back up! I promise.”

  Her tear-filled eyes searched mine, still full of doubt but slowly softening. Her nose was red, a little swollen, but there was something different in the way she looked at me now. There was a flicker of hope behind the sorrow. “.......Really?”

  “Yeah,” I said, my voice steadier now. “And I want you to promise me something too.”

  She wiped her nose with the back of her hand, a bit embarrassed but eager. “What is it?”

  She reminded me of myself, and for some reason, I felt like I was Grandpa. This whole situation was all too familiar.........but it won't be the same. I refuse for it to end in a tragedy as well.

  I extended my pinky toward Selene. “I want you to get stronger too. So that something like this never happens again, and so you can protect everyone you care about. And I want you to stop blaming yourself for this. Focus on getting stronger, okay?”

  She stared at my pinky, her eyes slowly becoming clearer and now shone with sparks of determination. Slowly, she raised her pinky to mine, her hands trembling just slightly but steady enough to lock our pinkies together. “I promise.” She said it with newfound confidence, her voice clear and resolute.

  “Good!” I smiled. “And you know what? Someone else is super happy to see you!”

  Selene’s eyes went wide with surprise, just as Rogue climbed out from the folds of my shirt, his tiny form shaking itself off and adjusting to the light.

  “The things I do…..” Rogue grumbled, his fur still ruffled as he looked at us with a half-amused, half-annoyed expression.

  Selene squealed in delight, her face lighting up. “Hi, Mr. Rat!” she exclaimed, her earlier tears forgotten as she waved at him with childlike glee.

  Rogue rolled his eyes dramatically but gave her a quick, almost affectionate flick of his tail. Then, with a low grunt, he turned back to me. “Good to see you again, Boss.”

  “You too.”

  Selene and Rogue then dashed out of the room to play. They were then joined by Elaine and Arthur, their laughter echoing down the hallway. I couldn’t help but notice that my parents almost urged them to leave. They must have sensed what was coming.

  Roland slowly knelt down beside my bed, his face a mask of regret and guilt. His broad shoulders seemed to carry an unbearable weight as he looked at me, eyes shadowed with sorrow. “I wish to apologize too.” His voice was low, heavy with unspoken words.

  Elara, kneeling beside him, mirrored his sentiment. “I wish the same.” Her voice was soft but firm, filled with an honesty that cut through the air.

  I tried to shake my head, wanting to stop them before they went further. “Woah, you don’t need to—” I started, but Roland silenced me with a steady gaze, his eyes not leaving mine.

  He took a long, deep breath before speaking again, his voice tinged with an almost painful honesty. “I thought I was prepared to die for my family, for my people.” His words were slow, deliberate. “I told you to flee my family, believing it was the best course of action. That it was better for me to give my life for all of yours, to be the sacrifice.” He shook his head slightly, as if he couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. “I felt that I could do this...…” His voice faltered, and I saw the anguish on his face. “And yet, when you disobeyed me, when you began accusing me of being selfish, it stirred something in me, something I didn’t understand.” He clenched his jaw, his eyes hardening for a brief moment. “I wondered if I was being selfish, but I knew that if I truly was, I would’ve fled right then and there……..and it was because of that, I began to harbor a sense of hate, but not at you.”

  Roland placed his right hand over his chest as he closed his eyes. “I hated how weak and pitiful I was, to rely on a young boy to save my family. I despised how I was going to let an orc separate me from my family, from my people.” His voice broke slightly, the emotion thickening in the air. “I detested the fact that I pretended to be fine with it, that I convinced myself I was okay. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t.” He opened his eyes and looked directly at me, his gaze raw and vulnerable. “It was my own forced selfishness of the responsibility of a noble, that I considered dying to pay for my wrongdoings.”

  “What I hated most of all-” His voice trailed off as he seemed to wrestle with his words, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his confession. “Was what I felt on your wolves when we fled to your village. I didn’t know what to do. Whether to return to you, to help you escape as well, or to stay and continue fleeing. I couldn’t decide. And it felt like an eternity, weighing my choices, torn between my family and you.”

  He turned his face away, his eyes looking lost in thought, as if the memory haunted him. “In the end, I chose to stay. I justified it, told myself it was because of my legs, that I couldn’t help. That if I tried to return, I’d only hinder your escape. But I knew it wasn’t my legs. It was me.”

  Roland’s voice lowered. “If I was a better ruler, I would have paid more attention to the small villages, to the dangers lurking in the forests. I would have stationed more soldiers, done everything I could to protect them from beasts like the orc. I would have stopped the bandits from attacking. I should have been smarter, stronger, more capable. I should have protected my family so that no one, no young child like you, would’ve had to face such dangers in the first place.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Tears fell from his eyes then, dropping silently onto the floor, each one a testament to the guilt that had gnawed at him for days. “If I was a stronger ruler, you wouldn’t be lying here, Beric. You wouldn’t be in this bed, recovering from a wound that should never have happened. I’m sorry for not being the leader I should’ve been. I’m sorry for not being truthful with myself, for not saying how much I just wanted to stay with my family. I’m sorry for so selfishly forcing you to help us……. And…….I’m sorry for leaving you behind.”

  No one spoke out of respect for his words. The only sounds that existed were the quiet sniffles of those affected by his heart-felt confession.

  I looked at him. I couldn’t refute his words. They weren’t entirely wrong, and most of this was a result of his incompetence as a noble.

  Of course.

  ………and yet, I couldn’t hate him.

  What?

  I already know what type of person he truly is.

  Tch. Whatever.

  “I’m sorry as well, Beric.” Elara’s voice trembled as she began, her gaze faltering for a moment before she met my eyes. Her expression was filled with a quiet sorrow, but it was clear there was more she needed to say. “When I woke up in the village, the elders were already gone to rescue you. As for your family, they were devastated, rightfully so, considering everything you had been through.”

  She paused, her breath hitching slightly as she bit her bottom lip. “But as for me……I wasn’t thinking about you at all. I was relieved. I was relieved that my husband and child were safe, that they made it through the ordeal.” Her voice wavered as the emotion started to take hold of her. She cleared her throat, blinking rapidly to hold back tears. “Rather than worrying about your safety, I was so thankful that Roland and Selene were alright. So much so that I didn’t stop to think about what you had sacrificed, what your family had lost.”

  Her eyes flitted over to my mother. “It wasn’t until I saw the pain in your mother’s face, the devastation in her eyes, that I realized how selfish I had been. I was so caught up in my own family’s safety that I failed to consider the pain my actions had caused you, or the consequences for your loved ones.” Her voice cracked, as if a sob was caught somewhere deep in her chest. “Sure, I was grateful for your sacrifice, but I never thought of those who were hurt by it. It was only when I looked at your family that I saw them for what they truly were. They weren’t the proud family of a hero. No…..they were the grieving family of a lost young boy. A boy who, in all likelihood, died because of the inadequacies of his count and countess, of us.”

  Elara’s shoulders slumped, the weight of her guilt pressing down on her. She bowed her head deeply, her dark hair falling forward, hiding the tears that had begun to fall. “I know this sounds selfish, but please, please forgive us.” Her voice broke. “Forgive us for forcing you into a position where you had to save us. Forgive us for not being the leaders you deserve.”

  The two nobles bowed low, their heads nearly touching the floor, as if the weight of their apologies had physically bowed them down. A silence, thick and heavy, settled over the room. Everyone seemed too stunned to speak, each person being lost in the gravity of the moment. Even Sys was silent, his face frozen in a wide-eyed emoji of surprise.

  I sat there, feeling the aftermath of it all. I remembered the pain of the fight, the inevitability of my end, the dreams I’d almost lost, the connections I almost didn’t get to keep. I let the silence stretch for a moment longer, giving me the time I needed to process, to think through what I wanted to say next. It was their fault. I shouldn’t have needed to offer my life for theirs. I shouldn’t even be in this bed.

  But is that really what I want to say?.........No, it’s not.

  How could I ease their burdens? How could I offer forgiveness in a way that didn’t diminish their responsibility but also didn’t let their guilt consume them entirely?

  I exhaled, steadying myself. “Raise your heads.”

  Roland and Elara both hesitated, but slowly, they lifted their gazes to meet mine, their eyes still filled with sorrow and regret.

  “You’re not wrong to think like this,” I began. “If I may say so, I do consider you two to not be the most fit for the profession of nobles.”

  They nodded solemnly, neither one attempting to defend themselves, as if they already knew what I was about to say.

  “If you had taken better care of this land, there wouldn’t be orcs rampaging through it. We wouldn’t have faced that danger at all.”

  Roland nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line, eyes closed in shame. “Yes.”

  “If this land were safer, families wouldn’t be torn apart like this. The danger of separation wouldn’t even exist.” I paused, my heart aching with the memory of leaving my family behind. “It’s not just the orcs. It’s the lack of foresight. It’s the neglect of the small villages, the people who get caught in the crossfire. It’s your job to protect them.”

  Elara’s voice was soft but steady as she spoke. “Of course.”

  I shifted my gaze between them, looking at their bowed heads, their expressions full of regret. They were young and brilliant. They would end up doing amazing things, but they would also end up making the wrong choices. How can I help them mature as leaders?

  “So, I want you two to make me a promise as well.” I stretched out my hand, showing them my pinky, and a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

  Roland and Elara looked at each other, their eyes wide with surprise. “A promise?” Roland asked, his voice shaky.

  I nodded. “Yes. I want both of you to acknowledge your part in this, not just now, but in the mistakes you’ll make in the future too. Owning your faults isn’t weakness. It’s not wrong to admit when you’re wrong. What is wrong is getting stuck there, wasting your energy on self-loathing. You’re human. You’re going to stumble. Life is hard, brutally hard, for everyone, no matter their status or title.” (Usually.) “We’re all just trying to figure it out as we go, thrown headfirst into a world far bigger than we ever imagined.” (Not for me.) “But no one gains anything from shutting others down over simple missteps. What does matter is learning from them. If we can value the lessons in our failures, we can start changing things, for ourselves and for everyone else.” I leaned forward, the sincerity in my voice mirrored in my expression. “What matters most is that you grow from your mistakes. That you don’t let them define you, but use them, build from them, to become wiser, stronger, more just. Not just for your own sake, but for the people and land you’ve sworn to protect.”

  I extended my pinky, my voice softening with purpose. “And I want you to help Selene grow, too. She’s going to face a storm of opposition simply for the place she holds in this world. And when that time comes, she’ll need you, both of you, as her anchors. As her light when things darken. Stand tall beside her. Guide her the way you learned to walk your own path, after all your missteps, after all the pain. Lead her not just as nobles preparing the next generation, but as parents. That’s the promise I’m asking for. If you swear to me now—to keep striving, to keep improving, to become better rulers, better parents—then I’ll forgive you.” A small smile tugged at my lips. “You got that?”

  For a moment, Roland just stared at me, his eyes brimming with emotion, his lips trembling as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Elara, too, seemed unsure, but her hand moved slowly, as if guided by something deep inside her. Then, they both raised their hands. Trembling slightly, they linked their pinkies with mine, sealing the promise between us. “We promise.” They said it in unison, their voices choked but determined.

  I grinned. “Then, it’s a promise.”

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The nobles eventually departed, their gratitude sincere but a bit overbearing, offering whatever resources they could muster to aid my recovery. Yet, they were gently ushered out by the elders, who seemed to sense that my parents needed a private moment with me.

  Yeah, I can genuinely feel the tension in the air.

  “You kind of are in the air.”

  Mom sat down beside me, her fingers gently weaving through my hair. Her voice was soft, yet heavy with emotion. “Well, aren't you a philosopher? I felt I was listening to a wise scholar talk about the meaning of life.”

  “I just said what I was thinking. Some of them were inspired by the books in Ms. Lonnie’s class.”

  “Oh, yeah?” She tried to smile, but her eyes did the opposite. “........Beric, I know you felt that it was right to save them.” She paused, her lips tightening. “But even so, was it really necessary for you to risk your life like that?”

  Dad crossed his arms, leaning against the corner of the room with a quiet patience, waiting for my response.

  I took a deep breath before answering. “Three wolves were my limit. Shade was on cooldown because I recalled him earlier. I figured it was best to get the nobles to safety first and try to distract the orc long enough to summon Shade again.”

  Mom sighed, her gaze distant for a moment as she processed my words. Then, with surprising tenderness, she tugged lightly on my right ear. "We were worried sick about you," she murmured, her grip easing. "You were gone for so long, and I had this terrible feeling in my gut." She trailed off, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Then…...when those wolves came and Count Velmont’s news—” She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before pulling me into a tight hug.

  And for the first time, the pain of it all seemed to fade away. It didn’t hurt anymore.

  “I don’t blame you,” she said softly, “but I’m not completely forgiving you either. I know we treat you like an adult sometimes, but you need to remember that you’re still a kid. You don’t have to be the hero every time. You can run away, too. You have people waiting for you.” She let go of me and looked me in the eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “But, with that being said……I can’t stop you, can I? This is who you are, after all. Saving people, defeating monsters, isn’t that what being an adventurer is?”

  I swallowed. “.......Yeah.”

  “Then, make me a promise as well,” she continued, her voice firm yet affectionate. “Promise me you’ll train with the elders. Promise me you’ll get stronger. Be the best adventurer you can be. Go out into the world and see everything it has to offer. Help all those you come across. If you’re going to be a hero, then be the best at it.”

  I looked down at my hands, unsure. “Do you really think I can be a hero?”

  She paused, studying me carefully, before answering. “Well, baby, what do you think a hero is?”

  A hero, huh? Simple answer: the complete opposite of me.

  “Someone who’s kind and strong. Someone who can defeat any monster or villain and save everyone, no exceptions.”

  She smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. “I see. So, that’s what you think a hero is?”

  “Yeah.”

  She raised my chin gently, her eyes glimmering with pride. “Then why are you asking me that? I’m looking at one right now.”

  I blinked in surprise. Then, without meaning to, I snickered.

  Even Dad let out a quiet chuckle, the tension in the room easing ever so slightly.

  Mom’s face flushed red. “Even if it sounds cheesy, it’s the truth,” she said, regaining her composure. “Now, can you keep that promise with me?”

  I looked right at her eyes. I remembered the last time I did this…….No. That was before. Things are different now.

  I nodded, feeling the warmth of her belief in me. Slowly, I extended my pinky. She mirrored my gesture, her smile returning.

  “I promise.” I declared.

  Then, without warning, she pulled me into another crushing hug. “Oh, I can’t stay mad at you. Can I?”

  Dad, of course, had to step in and drag her off me, both of them chuckling softly.

  Dad looked at me, his face holding that familiar, rare softness that only surfaced in moments like these. He hesitated, before wrapping his arms around me in a careful embrace. “You did well,” he whispered.

  “Thank you.” I whispered back.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  “Are you sure you’re fine with staying here?” Mom asked for the tenth time.

  “Yes, Mom.”

  “And you’re positive that you don’t want anything to eat? I can get you some mushroom stew still. Besides, just look at you! You’ve lost so much weight since then. You need to eat all that you can!” Mom exasperated.

  “He’ll be fine. Ms. Lonnie’s been doing great.” Dad said while dragging Mom to the door.

  “I know she has, but still-”

  “Uh-uh. That’s enough.”

  “Oh, fine.” Mom turned to leave, but not before adding one more thing. “Ring that bell if you need anything. Ms. Lonnie will help you with whatever you ask.”

  “Okay, I got it.”

  “Oh, and also-”

  Dad closed the door before she could finish.

  Wooh, finally. I know they had a lot to say, but you’re still weak. They should have waited for you to get better. Am I right, Ber-Oh……..I’ll leave you alone for now.

  I shivered as I tried my best to maintain myself.

  It’s okay, Beric.

  You did it.

  You saved the nobles.

  You returned to your family.

  You’re still alive.

  So, no need to cry………..

  Sorry, friend, if I can still call you that.

  I know it was dangerously close, almost down to the wire with how this story almost ended. But even so, even if this story isn’t as entertaining, or as exciting as the others, and with a horrible narrator like me, I don’t want it to end yet. I want to keep going.

  So until then, please, bear it with me.

  I’m trying my best here………..

  Damn.

  I felt a single tear fall down.

  I really hate crying in front of others.