Two days later, Kollam accepted a delivery quest to bring wood to a merchant named Joe in Ques Village. Thinking it over, he figured, *This should take half a day, maybe less if I cut through the woods. Better bring my axe and sword just in case.*

  He also took on two extra quests, hoping to earn a bit more for Esha and the kids before winter set in, when jobs would be scarcer and travel more challenging.

  With his coin pouch a bit fuller from today’s earnings, he made his way home.

  As he arrived, he found the family busy serving their usual crowd of customers. Seeing them together brought him happiness —not only were they doing good to people, but they also were making profits. The people of Brunnenheim never forgot a kind gesture.

  Entering the house, Kollam greeted Iga, who flashed him a smile while juggling plates. He spotted Gor and Houn unloading crates of vegetables in the kitchen, where Jina was the chef of the day. The three looked over and waved, and he waved back with a grin.

  “Welcome home, Kollam!” Jina called.

  He nodded and headed upstairs. At the far end of the hallway, he noticed the children playing. They cheered and waved, “Uncle Kollam!”

  Smiling, he waved back, then walked to his room. Knocking gently, he asked, “Can I come in?”

  Esha opened the door with a piece of bread in her mouth and instantly hugged him. Kollam hugged her back, smiling. Nearby, the kids giggled and teased, “Auntie Esha is fat!”

  Esha shot them a grin. “Oh, hush!”

  The children burst into laughter as Kollam and Esha went into their room.

  Later that night, after a long day, Kollam lay beside Esha as she slept. He stayed awake, gazing at the ceiling, then turned to watch her peaceful face, gently touching her cheek with a soft smile.

  His thoughts drifted to Iga and Gor, knowing he could rest easy with them around to protect Esha. He recalled Jina and Rona at Esha’s wedding, showering her with gifts—even some of their own treasured items—to make sure she had everything she needed.

  Jina, pregnant then, had pointed a finger at him and said, “Look, Kollam! If you ever hurt my sister, I’ll break your face. Got that?”

  He chuckled at the memory, his thoughts moving to Houn. He remembered their first meeting, when Houn had gripped his hand and said, “Take care of my sister, Kollam. You’re a good man, and I like you.”

  Lastly, he remembered the kids’ curious faces when they first met him. He had stood there, not sure what to say, until one of them pointed and exclaimed, “Granny Iga! He isn’t a ghoul!”

  Iga had smiled and replied, “Then? Isn’t he handsome enough?”

  The kids had looked at him thoughtfully, until one little girl called out, “No, Granny, he looks ugly.”

  The kids ran off laughing, teasing him as he sat down next to Iga, who was knitting him a coat. Without looking up, she had said, “Be a gentle, loving husband, Kollam. She’s my sunshine, and I want her happy, alright?”

  “Yes, Mother,” he replied, and she playfully patted his shoulder. “That’s what I like to hear!”

  Returning to the present, Kollam stood and said to himself, *If I leave now, I might finish early and pick up another quest before the day’s over.*

  As he prepared to leave, he heard Esha's voice call out softly, “Kollam?”

  He walked over to her side of the bed. “Yes? Do you need something?”

  Esha, still half-asleep, reached out and touched his face, smiling gently. “Work? It’s still dark.”

  “I know,” he replied with a smile. “I need to get an early start, but I’ll be back before nightfall.”

  She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Jina mentioned the elf at the magic shop got some new books in stock. I hope they have the second volume of that one I liked.”

  Kollam thought for a moment. “The romantic comedy?”

  But Esha had already drifted back to sleep. Smiling, he covered her with a blanket before quietly leaving the room.

  Outside, as he was preparing his cart, he heard a voice call out behind him.

  “Good morning… or is it good night?” Houn teased.

  Startled, Kollam turned, then chuckled. “Good morning. Up a bit early, aren’t you?”

  Houn shook his head. “Actually, I’ve got a whole week off.”

  “A week?” Kollam replied, surprised. “Your workplace must be generous.”

  Houn gave a wry smile. “Not exactly. I forced their hand a bit. If they had their way, I’d be working to death.”

  Kollam smiled, continuing to load the cart. “Then go back to bed—it’s barely past midnight.”

  Houn shrugged. “You’re delivering wood to a merchant, right? I’ll give you a hand.”

  Kollam paused. “Houn, you already work all day in the mines…”

  Houn interrupted, “Do you think I want to be up hauling wood on my vacation? I’d rather be with my wife and kids. But you’re family, Kollam.”

  Kollam watched as Houn stepped closer. “My brother is a good man—a man of God and of his word—qualities I respect. I’m not here because I have to be, but because of one thing: family.”

  Kollam chuckled. “Hope you’re ready for some wood splinters because we’ll get plenty.”

  Houn grinned. “Worse than the mines?”

  Together, they headed to the merchant to buy the wood for delivery to Ques Village. An hour later, after loading the cart, they were on their way.

  As they travelled, Houn checked his hands for splinters. Kollam glanced over and said, “Thanks for the help.”

  Houn laughed. “You know, if Esha weren’t eating so much and the family hadn’t opened that tavern, we’d still be in bed right now. So really, it’s also my family’s fault.”

  Kollam smiled. "They work hard and help people, so I’m okay with that."

  Houn nodded, his tone earnest. "I hope God protects them."

  Kollam whispered softly, "God, please keep Esha safe."

  They soon reached a fork in the road, and Kollam guided the cart onto a forest path. Houn grinned. "This way’s quicker—we’ll finish in no time."

  Half an hour later, with night still heavy around them, Houn began to drift off. Kollam kept his focus on the road, though he noticed a thick fog creeping in. "The path’s straightforward; a little fog won’t be a problem," he muttered to himself.

  Not far off, a man moved silently among the trees, watching their cart with a predatory focus. He wore an ugly executioner's mask and carried a crossbow, a quiver of arrows slung over his shoulder. It was Joe, signalling for his hellhounds to follow as he trailed them.

  The cart bumped along the forest path, and Houn stirred awake, still a bit groggy. He glanced around, murmuring, "Funny how even this damn cart feels comfortable when you’re tired."

  Kollam chuckled. "Glad you got some rest."

  "But... it’s still night?" Houn mumbled, frowning. "When did we even leave the house?"

  "Just after midnight," Kollam replied. "I couldn’t sleep, so I figured we might as well start early. We still have about two hours before dawn if you want more rest."

  Houn shook his head. "No, I’m fine. But you didn’t sleep well because of that condition you have?"

  Kollam shook his head. "Not this time—just couldn’t settle down."

  Houn nodded thoughtfully. "When you have kids, like me, you’ll be lucky to get a few hours’ sleep. Think of this as good practice."

  Kollam smiled. "Got any fatherly advice, then?"

  Houn laughed. "Prepare for endless headaches from the little monsters. They’ll eat you alive."

  Kollam chuckled. "Is that supposed to encourage me?"

  "It’s the truth," Houn replied, and they both laughed............

  BAAAAAAAAM!

  Suddenly, something massive struck the side of the carriage with brutal force, flipping it off the road and into the undergrowth.

  The impact was brutal. Houn’s vision blurred as he crawled a few feet away, the world spinning around him. Through the haze, he saw blood pooling beneath the horse, its lower body crushed by the weight of the cart as it thrashed and screamed in pain.

  Houn touched his head and felt warm blood trickling down. His scalp was torn open. He shouted, "Kollam! Where are you?!"

  On the other side, Kollam slowly stood up, dazed and clutching his head. Though uninjured, he felt a deep disorientation.

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  He heard Houn’s voice and called back, "Houn! I’m coming!"

  Houn staggered over to the horse, which was still writhing in agony. Kollam joined him, handing over his sword. With a heavy heart, Houn took the blade and swiftly ended the horse's suffering.

  Before they could catch their breath, something invisible struck Kollam, knocking him flat to the ground. Houn turned to see him being dragged by an unseen force. Without a second thought, Houn swung his sword, but his blows seemed to hit only air.

  Kollam managed to scramble up, his voice tight. "Hellhounds! What are they doing here?"

  Houn dove into the overturned cart and grabbed an axe, tossing it to Kollam, who caught it with a grimace. He glanced down at his leg, where bite marks were bleeding freely.

  Houn shouted, "Let's head for the road!"

  They moved quickly, but Kollam cautioned, "Don’t sprint. We’ll need our strength for fighting and dodging."

  Houn nodded, matching Kollam's pace as he scanned the shadows. Although they could hear the hellhounds' monstrous growls, nothing was visible in the foggy haze around them.

  *SHHHH—TAK!*

  An arrow pierced Kollam’s shoulder, and he staggered, pulling Houn behind a cluster of trees. Houn looked at him, whispering, "What’s going on?"

  Kollam grimaced as he yanked the arrow out. "We’re under attack..."

  Another arrow thudded into the tree next to Houn. Quickly shifting his position, Houn replied, "A bandit? We need to take them out!"

  Kollam suddenly remembered a haunting scene—a little girl sobbing by her mother’s lifeless body while Dan coldly remarked, "If she’d given me what I asked for, she’d still be alive."

  In desperation, Kollam shouted, "WE HAVE MONEY! YOU CAN TAKE IT!"

  Hidden among the trees, Joe smirked as he reloaded, signalling the hellhounds to shift their positions.

  Kollam muttered to Houn, "This isn’t about the money. He’s here for blood."

  Houn nodded grimly, glancing out toward the road. It was only a short distance away, but each second felt like an eternity under siege.

  At that moment, Joe spotted Houn trying to make a break for it. He tightened his grip on the crossbow, eyes narrowing as he tracked Houn’s movements, wondering to himself, *Where is Dan?*

  Just then, a blast of wind magic sliced through the air, striking the tree Joe hid behind. The tree splintered, and Joe winced as cuts appeared on his face and shoulders. Dazed, he thought, *Can he see me? Where is he?*

  On the other side, Kollam stayed low, his mind racing. *Did I hit him? Even if he’s a professional, he’s gotta be on edge now... I hope Houn made it to safety.*

  Suddenly, Kollam noticed disturbed undergrowth, as if something had slipped through the brush. He swung his axe without hesitation, feeling it connect. A hellhound yelped in pain, staggering away, leaving a trail of blood.

  "Just a big wolf... just!" Kollam whispered to himself, steadying his nerves.

  WHIZZ!

  An arrow grazed his ear, slicing through the skin. Kollam gasped, pressing a hand to the fresh wound as his pulse quickened.

  Nearby, Houn crouched by the road, watching as a hellhound blocked the path. He raised his sword, shouting, "You’ll never get us!"

  With a fierce cry, Houn lunged at the hellhound. His blade met only air, and he had to step back quickly as the beast pounced. Houn dropped his sword but immediately grabbed the hellhound by its snapping jaws, slamming it into a tree. The creature collapsed, stunned, and Houn didn’t waste a second, grabbing it again and smashing its head against the trunk until it fell still.

  He glanced at the road, thinking, *It’ll take time to get help from Ques Village... Kollam!*

  Without another thought, Houn dashed back into the forest.

  Meanwhile, Kollam crouched, clutching his bleeding ear, as Joe closed in, his daggers drawn and eyes fixed on the tree Kollam hid behind.

  As Joe approached, he taunted, "Scared? Terrified? Desperate?"

  Kollam held his breath, staying silent. Joe pulled out a scroll and asked, "Dan?"

  Kollam’s eyes widened in terror, his breathing growing ragged as though he might collapse from fear.

  Joe’s laughter, edged with madness, echoed. "Show me your face, Dan."

  Suddenly, an arrow struck Joe's right shoulder, sending a spray of blood as he dashed into the woods. Kollam looked up to see Houn with a crossbow, who yelled, "Let’s run!"

  Kollam and Houn sprinted toward the exit as the hellhounds’ screams grew louder, spurring them to run faster as the murderous intent became palpable. Ahead, trees toppled across the road, and a massive wall materialized, blocking their path.

  Houn quickly turned, aiming his crossbow at the advancing hellhounds, while Kollam readied his sword. "I hit his shoulder; he should be retreating. We need to deal with these monsters!" Houn said.

  Breathless, Kollam replied, "He was out to kill us. I don't think he's gone. And who put up this wall? Does he have a backup?"

  In an instant, Joe appeared beside Houn and drove a knife into his stomach. Houn’s eyes widened in shock as he clutched his wound.

  Joe shoved him aside, then turned to Kollam, slashing at his neck. Kollam dodged, but Joe's blade nicked his cheek, drawing blood.

  Kollam countered, grabbing Joe and delivering a fierce headbutt. Joe staggered back, giving Kollam a chance to raise his axe, but before he could strike, Joe lunged with a knife and held up his scroll.

  Wind magic! A blast of wind sent Kollam and Houn tumbling sideways. Kollam hit the ground hard, his head throbbing. Dazed, he touched the wound on his head and looked up to see Joe, breathing slowly while brandishing his daggers.

  Before Kollam could react, a hellhound leapt at him, sinking its teeth into his shoulder. Kollam stabbed the beast, tossing it aside in a spray of blood.

  Just then, Joe stabbed Kollam in the left shoulder. Kollam responded by grabbing Joe and smashing his head against a nearby tree. Blood seeped from beneath Joe's mask, but he retaliated with a kick that sent Kollam reeling.

  Joe lunged at Kollam, but Houn intervened, landing a punch to Joe’s head. "Kollam! Get to the guards! I’ll hold him off!" Houn shouted.

  Kollam shook his head, refusing to retreat, but a hellhound clamped down on his shoulder, tearing at his flesh.

  Shouting in anger, Houn swiftly decapitated the beast. Kollam clutched his injured shoulder as Houn helped him to his feet. With fierce resolve, Kollam locked his gaze on Joe.

  *Fire magic!* A surge of blue flames erupted, engulfing Joe in a scorching inferno. Joe’s screams pierced the night as he writhed on the ground, his mask melting away in the intense heat.

  Houn and Kollam sprinted toward the exit with every ounce of strength they had......

  Suddenly, Houn was yanked backwards by an unseen force. Kollam spun around to see Joe, his face scorched and his mask reduced to ashes, standing behind Houn. Breathing heavily and with a twisted grin, Joe sneered, "Run, and I’ll kill this damn ghoul!"

  Kollam’s eyes darted between the exit and Houn, desperation etched on his face. "Please! Let him go!"

  Joe’s grin widened as he jeered, "Come here!"

  Kollam tossed his axe aside and approached, watching helplessly as Joe pressed his foot onto Houn’s chest, a dagger poised at his neck. Houn, writhing in pain, cried out, "Brother, no! No!"

  Kollam shook his head, pleading, "Please, let him go."

  Joe’s eyes locked on Kollam, his voice taunting, "You care for him? Family? Want him safe? Your brother?"

  Kollam remained silent, and Joe’s voice rose, mocking, "YOU WANT HIM ALIVE!?"

  Desperation surged in Kollam. "Yes! Let him go!"

  With a smirk, Joe raised his scroll and whispered a spell. A gust of wind shot forward, slicing through Kollam's knees, cutting through flesh and bone. Kollam collapsed, screaming in agony.

  Houn’s eyes widened in horror. "NO!!!"

  Driven by fury and desperation, Houn struggled against Joe’s magic, dragging himself toward Kollam with outstretched arms. Tears streamed down Kollam’s face as he whispered, "Go, Houn... please, brother..."

  Houn clasped Kollam’s hands, his expression a mix of pain and despair. Kollam shivered, his voice breaking, "Please... just go..."

  Houn cried out in rage, trying to stand despite the weight of Joe’s gravity spell. Joe, shocked, thought: *He’s fighting the gravity spell? How?*

  Joe aimed his scroll at Houn, ready to knock him unconscious. But Houn’s screams grew louder, filled with raw fury. Before Joe could act, Houn lunged, grabbing Joe’s arm and pulling him down. Joe’s head smacked against the ground, scattering ash from his burned skin.

  With a guttural roar, Houn struck back, shoving Joe’s arm aside and landing a punch to his face.

  Joe staggered, stunned, but quickly recovered and drove a knife into Houn’s leg, making him howl in pain. Yet Houn retaliated, delivering a powerful blow that sent Joe reeling.

  Panting, Joe slashed at Houn’s other leg, but Houn remained standing. Fueled by sheer will, Houn grabbed Joe, lifting him off the ground, his face twisted into a fierce snarl.

  Joe’s head smashed into the tree, teeth scattering as Houn struck him over and over. Blood splattered across the trunk until Joe collapsed, barely conscious, his body slumping to the ground.

  Breathing heavily, Houn staggered over to Kollam, gently helping him up. Kollam’s eyes shifted to a small elf girl standing nearby, her face twisted with fierce, tearful anger. She met his gaze and said, "I hope God burns you."

  Kollam’s expression was solemn. "I didn’t touch your village, did I?" he replied, voice cold.

  The girl’s voice trembled. "You took everything. People will starve and die before winter ends, and no one will know what happened to us."

  Dan sighed, his tone edged with disdain. "The powerful take. You should learn that."

  The girl’s eyes blazed with defiance. "You will pay. Someday, you’ll cross the wrong person. When I join my parents in heaven, I’ll be glad knowing people like you won’t be there."

  Kollam looked at the bloodied, broken Houn beside him and nodded. "Brother, let’s go."

  Houn nodded, trying to support Kollam as they limped away. Suddenly, a powerful force slammed Houn to the ground. His knees shattered, bones jutting grotesquely from broken skin as he screamed in agony.

  Kollam turned, only to see Joe plunging a knife into his stomach. Kollam fell, clutching his wound, blood pooling around him as he looked up at Joe in pain and confusion.

  Joe smiled coldly. "Dan, welcome to hell."

  Dan’s breathing grew shallow, his body trembling. Joe’s gaze shifted to Houn, who was crawling weakly, his legs crushed, bones exposed. Houn cried out, "Bro... ther! Brother!"

  Joe whistled, and two hellhounds that had fled earlier returned. Sneering, he muttered, "I paid a lot for these useless filth!"

  Turning back to Dan, Joe said, "Goven Village. That night. Do you remember, Dan?"

  Tears welled in Dan’s eyes, but he stayed silent, the weight of his past sins pressing on him. Joe laughed bitterly. "You burned so many villages; of course, you wouldn’t remember. But try. It was your last mission as a bandit."

  Dan struggled to breathe as Joe went on, "I didn’t stab you deeply; you’ve got maybe ten minutes left. Think about it. When you killed those people—including my mother and a great person who didn’t deserve to die. Did you think no one would come after you?"

  Tears streamed down Dan’s face as he shook his head. Houn looked at Kollam and cried out. Joe glanced at Houn, sneering. "Yes, he was a bandit and a leader—a fine leader, too. Go on, good man Kollam, the cart driver. Tell him some stories."

  Kollam fell silent as Joe knelt in front of him, his burned face twisted in a grimace. “I searched everywhere for you,” Joe hissed, voice thick with rage. “Dammit, I lost everything to hunt you down, to finally rid myself of this thorn in my heart!”

  Grabbing Kollam by the beard, Joe continued, “I tried to forget, to move on, to let go of what happened to my mother. But I couldn’t. You know why? Because it wasn’t me. I’m vengeful, cruel—my rage flares up and fades after I hurt someone. But with you, Dan, it’s different. I wanted to kill you slowly. I wanted to destroy everything you loved—to burn your home with your wife inside. But I couldn’t. I’m not a monster; I just push back against those who hurt me... and I take it further.”

  Joe reached into his pockets, pulling out metal tags and tossing them in front of Kollam. Kollam’s eyes widened as he recognized them—they belonged to his fallen comrades. “They’re all dead, Dan. You’re the last one,” Joe sneered.

  Letting go of his beard, he added, “Beg for your life. Make this at least a little entertaining.”

  Kollam shook his head, desperation etched across his face, but he said nothing. Joe leaned down beside Houn, taunting, “What’s this? Pride? Going out like a warrior?”

  With a resigned tone, Kollam replied, “I killed people who begged for God’s mercy... good people. Do you think God would save me? I’ve used up all my prayers. My only wish is that my family is safe.”

  Hearing the hellhounds’ approach, he looked at Joe, desperation tightening his voice. “If you have any humanity left... don’t harm my family. Let Houn go. I beg you.”

  Joe’s gaze flicked to Houn, then back to Kollam. “Like any executioner, any last words?”

  Kollam closed his eyes as tears streaked down his face, memories of his life flashing before him—the good, the bad, and everything in between. His heart pounded like temple bells. He opened his eyes, staring straight at Joe. “Give me a dagger. I want to die fighting.”

  Joe threw him a dagger, then turned toward Houn, whose tears had soaked the ground. Houn choked out, “Bro...ther!”

  Kollam felt the hellhounds closing in. He managed a faint smile and said to Houn, “Tell Esha... to let me go.”

  In an instant, the first hellhound’s teeth sank into Kollam’s leg, dragging him backwards. Gritting his teeth, he twisted around and drove his dagger into its mouth. The second hound, wounded from Houn’s earlier strike, bit into Kollam’s hand, crushing bone as blood sprayed. Kollam punched the beast before stabbing it in the eyes, finally killing it.

  But before he could catch his breath, the remaining hound slashed his stomach, sending blood flying. Kollam screamed, plunging his dagger into its eye. The hound retaliated, sinking its teeth into his neck as blood gushed from the wound. Fueled by desperate strength, Kollam grasped the hound, driving his dagger into it repeatedly until it fell lifeless beside him.

  As he lay in a pool of his own blood, his neck torn open, Kollam gazed up at the first light of dawn. A faint smile crossed his lips as he closed his eyes, whispering, “Esha…”