Iverna and Sassa were outside doing laundry as they hung their clothing out on a line to dry. They smile and giggle as they talked about how their day was and anything eventful that has happened. Meanwhile inside, Roth was sitting at the dinner table with Iverna's husband. He had thick, rough scales with a deep red coloring. way darker than Sassa's colors. He also had a plume of feathers that ran down from the top of his head down his spine. It made him look almost like a walking dinosaur. The look in his eyes made Roth feel uneasy but he was surprisingly friendly.

  "It is a pleasure to meet you, young man. I am sorry to hear what has happened to you. I am pleased that you are recovering very nicely. I am Gorm It is a pleasure to meet you finally."

  "Thank you for allowing us to stay in your home. I do apologize that we intruded so suddenly."

  "Nonsense, to tell you the truth, this has been the most exciting thing that has happened here in forever hahaha."

  He laughs as he leans back in his chair.

  "Besides, anyone who works in the guild is a friend in my book. Afterall, I use to be an adventure once before."

  Roth's eyes perked up slightly surprised about this new information.

  "You were? I had now idea. Your family never mentioned anything about you once being an adventurer."

  "Well yes, my wife does know. However, my daughter... I tried to sway from such things from... personal experience."

  He slides his leg off to the side and lifts his pant leg revealing Roth a wooden peg leg attached to Gorm. Roth stares but breaks his trance and apologize for what happened to him.

  "No need to apologize young man. I knew the dangers of the job as a profession. That's why I always told my daughter I lost my leg in a mining accident. She's a good kid, but she can be stubborn. Hehehe I know exactly where she got that attitude from. So whenever I hear her talking about joining and becoming one, I always see a lot of myself in her. When I lost my leg, it was during my wife's pregnancy that made me realize that my life and her life... were all but too precious. So I decided to retire early and try my hand at becoming a farmer. Turns out I have a natural green thumb, who would have guessed hahaha."

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Roth smiled at his optimism as his laughter filled the kitchen area.

  "But I know she won't be my little girl forever. Eventually she will go off and join if her heart truly desires to become an adventure still."

  "She did mention to me that she has light magic capacity and was unsure if a person of her talents would ever be worthy."

  "Oh did she? What did you say to her?"

  "I told her only she can decide that for herself."

  Gorm face was serious for a moment only to softly smile as he looks down at the table.

  "So she still hasn't let go of that dream then, I guess it can't be helped. Plus seeing you all three brought her dream back to life hahaha."

  "I uhh... sorry about that..."

  "Like I said before, there's no need to apologize. It was bound to happen sooner or later. By the way, that letter you asked to be delivered. I received a message through a carrier pigeon later that same night saying their sending someone right away. I have no idea what you said to them in that letter, but it must have been gravely important if they responded that quickly."

  "They did? When will they be arriving?"

  "Actually today, they should be arriving soon so in the meantime let us relax."

  Gorm stands up and grabs a bottle of ale and pours it for Roth and himself. Time has passed and everyone waits for whoever was picking up Roth and his companions from this friendly homestead. Gorm and Iverna tells stories on how they meet and became a couple. Other times about embarrassing stories about their daughter Sassa as a young child. Mina, to no surprise, tells how amazing her big brother was as a person. Even Amaya joined in the praise as well, to which now Roth blushes. After countless of telling stories, they heard the neigh of a horse right outside their home. Roth quickly looked out the window and saw a coach with a strange looking emblem flag flying over it. They all went outside while the homeowners stayed inside and allowed them to talk in private first. They stepped out of the home and heard a familiar friendly voice shout towards them.

  "Well if it isn't my crazy friend. How the hell are ya kid!"

  "Tobias?! You're the one they send?"

  Roth was surprised to see them again. The other eccentric trio made their way following their leader just behind. Mina waved with surprised joy to see their friends again.

  "It's good to see ya kid. You should be thanking Aufnier for this wonderful reunion. When he received your letter, he quickly dispatched us to help escort you back to town."

  "Did he now..., well I'm grateful he sent an escort so quickly. It's good to see you again Tobias." He shook his hand, and Tobias shook back and gave a big smile in return as well.

  "Always happy to help a friend in need."

  He looks next to Roth to see Amaya standing patiently.

  "Oh? And who might this be?"

  "My name is Amaya sir, and I serve under my master as his personal guard."

  Tobias looks at her in great confusion until he bursts out laughing.

  "Oh man kid, you never cease to amaze me! Let's get you all squared away here before we head out, master, oh man that's a good one!"

  "It's good to see ya kid. You should be thanking Aufnier for this wonderful reunion. When he received your letter, he quickly dispatched us to help escort you back to town."

  "Did he now..., well I'm grateful he sent an escort so quickly. It's good to see you again Tobias." He shook his hand, and Tobias shook back and gave a big smile in return as well.

  "Always happy to help a friend in need."

  The emblem of The Fox Fang Mercenary company run and lead by their leader Tobias