Gabriel lay on his back, staring at the wooden ceiling above him.
The room was quiet. Even the storm outside had softened into a low murmur, but in his head, everything was loud.
The occasional flash of lightning lit up the room for the briefest of moments.
He replayed the moment with the Chief again and again.
Tess kicking the door.
Him standing like a sentry, staring out into the village.
The instant everything clicked and he had to run in, half-injured.
His blade cutting through the Chief's hands.
It was reckless. We didn't observe. We didn't plan.
She rushed in.
I let her rush in.
I wanted to rush in.
He could still hear the wet snap as the Chief's hands spun through the air, the blood spraying from the stumps, Tess's gasp, the boy wailing behind his mother.
The crowd exploding into admiration behind him.
"The Demon who saved Blackhaven."
His lips curled up slightly at the thought.
The smile vanished as quickly as the lightning.
I didn't save this village. I got lucky.
He rolled onto his side, forgetting Tess was lying next to him.
His eyes widened, and he immediately shifted back onto his back.
"That thing that comes out of you… It made claws," she said quietly, still facing away from him.
"How?"
The sudden voice startled the former Paladin
Gabriel lay there for a moment, debating whether he should answer at all.
"In Eldenreach…" he exhaled slowly. "I pictured the smoke turning into hands."
He paused, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"It started to, before my body gave out. In the temple, I pictured the same thing."
Tess turned to him, a flash of lightning, lighting her face as she moved.
Her long brown hair swept through the air, almost in slow motion.
Gabriel had never looked at her like that before.
He knew she was pretty, anyone with eyes could see that. But to him, she'd always just been another adventurer.
He turned away, "We need to get some sleep," he muttered. "We have to head back tomorrow and report everything to the guild."
Tess sighed softly, "One more question, why did Hanitz send only us to take on a nest?"
"Hanitz saved me when I first came to Eldenreach," Gabriel said quietly.
"He knows everything about me." He paused, the words stuck in his throat. "He didn't send others because he didn't want people to see what I could do."
"He sent me, because I'm the only one who matches him in strength, even injured."
Tess's brows began furrowing, "You're only strong because you were trained by Paladins."
She rolled back over, "I trained myself." A proud look crept on her face.
Gabriel closed his eyes.
Master Arthur's face surfaced in his mind as he drifted towards sleep.
…
Shhhk…. Shhhk…. Shhhk.
A high, rhythmic hiss echoed throughout the house.
A Paladin's blade must never be dull.
The mantra looped through Gabriel's mind as he sharpened his sword.
He sat at the table in front of the fire, clothes still dripping from the morning ocean swim he had taken.
Shhhk, Shhhk.
His eyes fixated onto the edge of the blade as he ran the whetstone along it faster.
A Paladin's blade must never dull.
Righteousness begets cruelty
The two phrases began clashing in his mind, grinding against one another until they formed an inaudible screech only he could hear.
He closed his eyes.
His face tightened as he dragged the whetstone faster and faster, as if trying to keep up with the warring words.
A loud thud shook the ceiling.
Then another.
And another.
Heavy, hurried steps pounded down the narrow staircase, each one shaking the table he was sitting at.
Gabriel froze, whetstone hovering above the blade.
Tess burst into view, her hair messy, trousers nowhere to be seen, tunic half-unlaced, just covering her undergarments.
Her eyes burning with fury.
"Are you trying to wake the whole village up?" she snapped, planting her hands on her hips.
Her gaze flickered to the blade, then to the drenched clothes still clinging to his skin.
"And why," she demanded, "are you sharpening your sword soaking wet at this hour?"
Gabriel stared at her, his face unchanging.
She turned back around, walking up the stairs.
The silence in the room was deafening.
Even the burning logs in the fire muted their crackling.
Tess turned around, stomping back up the stairs.
"Get some supplies for the trip sorted, we will leave in a minute."
Gabriel didn't move at first.
The fire popped once, quietly, as if remembering it was supposed to make noise.
He set his whetstone down, wiped the blade with a cloth and stood, placing the blades in their sheath.
He reached for the hooded robe that was neatly folded on the chair next to him.
His clothes were still dripping, each step leaving a faint trail across the wooden floor.
By the time he reached the door, Tess was already halfway down the stairs again, now fully dressed, hair tied back, sword belted around her hip. Her earlier fury had condensed into that tight, impatient look she always wore.
"Finally," she muttered. As Gabriel was opening the door.
A confused look crept on his face.
"Let's go," she spoke again whilst using her arms to usher him.
He stepped out into the icy morning air. The storm clouds still lingered, hanging low over Blackhaven, but the village itself was already alive.
Word had travelled fast of their departure, the slave woman they had rescued could be thanked for that.
The moment the pair left the square heading to the eastern path, people began emerging from their houses. Men, women even a few children peeking from behind the wooden structures.
Gabriel slowed instinctively, his hand ready to clasp the hilt of his blade.
Tess, too busy looking around, bumped into his back, knocking him slightly off balance.
Two villagers hurried forward, one carrying reins, the other leading a pair of sturdy Northern horses, thick-furred and broad-shouldered.
"For your travels Master and Miss, we have no silver, so this is the least we can do.
Tess smiled awkwardly.
Gabriel took the reins, hesitantly.
"Thank you," they said simultaneously
The mares didn't flinch as the pair approached them.
The villager continued, "They're sure-footed and calm. Won't outrun a wolf, but they will get you back to Eldenreach."
Tess mounted first, trying not to show how pleased she was to no longer be walking
The crowd watched with wide eyes as Gabriel began mounting the other.
Tess thanked the gathering villagers.
Gabriel nodded slightly in appreciation.
She leaned over to him, whispering under her breath. "Let's get out of here before they change their minds.
Gabriel nudged his horse forward.
Snow crunched beneath hooves as the pair rode out of Blackhaven.
A villager stood on top of one of the wooden houses, let out a final cheer. "To the demon who saved Blackhaven."
The pair looked over their shoulders as the gathered people cheered.
"What about me?" Tess whispered as the horses began galloping over the hill.