Rouen's arrived at the farmhouse at lunch's time. The kid's gather in the big table together and having lunch together, chitty chatty hapily, they welcomed Lisa's group warmly, the girl constantly in tears, still cant believed how fortunate they are now compared to their harsh life in the streets.
When Midnight's gallopings can be heard from outside, they swarm out from the house to greets their saviour.
"Mister is back!" Kora's shout.
"That's right, he's back!"
"Let's go outside guys!"
The kids swarmed Rouen before he even gets down the horse. It makes Midnight jumps up a little, the stallion still nervous to meet the new residents.
"Ow...careful, careful."
"Wait you rascals, you'll scare Midnight!" Noel's nag them.
When Rouen's get down, Noel hold Midnight's reins. "I'll bring him to the stable sir!" He said, showing full initiative.
What a good lad...
"Where you from mister?"
"Where you spend the night?"
"You meet bad guys out there?"
Well...i cant tell them i spent the whole night in the Brothel, and fucking all nights with a whore...
Shame on you!
Whaaaat...?
"I'am fine! There's just works to be done." Rouen pats the kids heads one by one. Shows the gesture of kindness as their guardian. Before he go inside, he spots Lisa and her groups, when their eyes meet contact, Lisa and her friends bow their heads. Showing gratitude.
Ahh...there they are...
Rouen's nod back. "I wish you find this place comfortly enough for you and your friends."
"Sir!? This is more than enough sir! We're all happy because of you." She said thankfully.
"Good then...if you're happy, so do i"..."well then...shall we have lunch now?"
"Yeah! Mister i made chicken broth and stew! You must taste it!" Shout Kora's excitedly.
"Really? I cant wait then, come!"
Little by little Rouen's getting better at mending with the kids. It's his duty after all.
.....
It's twilight, Rouen sit in terrace's chair, Noel besides him. All chores is done, the kids is now playing, they run here and there, it's playing 'tag' isn't it?
"So...have you made the decision as to who going to stay at Toby's farmhouse?" Rouen asked Noel. The boy's been deep in his thoughts.
"Yes...i think it's going to be Lisa and her friends plus Liam."
"Ah...so you put your brother keeping them in check?"
"Cant be help, it's a group of only three boys and two girls, Lisa is thirteen, but not quite dependable." Damn boy! You dont hold back do you?
"I see..."
"The truth is...the number of the kids is still low. A farm as big as this and Toby's can easily accommodate more than ten kids...the mucher the residents the manier the jobs that can be done in one farm, and easier to maintained. It'll increase the farms profits and the number of kids that can be saved from the streets." Look at this boy! Who's ten years old as wise as this one!
""That's a good thoughts." Rouen pat Noel's head. "I too planed on having all the kids here for some moment, if not for uncle Toby's departures is close."
And it's not like i can let Noel go to recruits more children, while some asshole who likes to kidnaped children, runing free out there! The sight of a ten years old boy riding a carriage full of foods, clothes, and other supplies, with a pouch of hundreds of Karlings in his belt...yeah that would be a prioritize targets of those maniacs!
"Dont worry sir...Liam will do a good job!" Noel said confidently.
"Ofcourse..." Rouen's smiled
"Oh...and i do some searching too when i was in the market's of Ravenhold."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I've meet this man, who's also an owner of a farmhouse! He's name is Rick...he said he's planing on moving to city of Brion, far north's of here, the man said, he wants to take his entire families there, and start a new life there with the help of his relatives in Brion. He needs to sell his farmhouse first thought, and he's willing to make a good discount too!"
"Really? How much?"
"He said he's willing to sell for seventy thousand of Karlings."
"That's a good price...and i might have just the amount."
"Really!? You still have seventy thousand even after buying Toby's farmhouse?"
Rouen remember he got fifty five thousand in the bank. It's minus fifteen thousand to reach seventy thousand, the exact numbers the quest's rewards offer.
Well what do you called it...? Fate?
Your head is mine asshole!
"Yeah...just the exact numbers!" Rouen said confidently.
"Should we go there tommorow then?"
Noel ask excitedly. Well...not exactly now thought...
"No need to rush...after all we need more kids like you said right?"
"Oh, right...about the kidnapers huh?"
"Dont worry about it boy...i already got plan to get rid of him...you'll soon be able to go and recruits more children."
"Really!? Then you already know where to find him?"
"Let's just said...i got a tip off, and soon i'll pay that maniac a visit."
"Great! Cut his balls, mister!"
I think i've heard that before...
"You shouldn't said such thing boy..."
"He deserve it right!? Anyway...you should becareful mister."
"I know...i'll do my best."
.....
Tonight's diner is more merrier, tomorrow Liam and Lisa's group will go to Toby's farmhouse. Somehow tonight also served as farewell party, even thought Toby's land wasn't so far from here.
"Bring everything you kids need from here, i dont know if you'll find it there anyway."
"Dont worry Mister Rouen, i've already prepared everything we need." Liam said.
"You take care of them there okay? Comunicate with Lisa on matters of working, and if anything happen, you can come straight here for help."
"Understand sir!" Liam take this job seriously. He got his brother talent on leading the kids. Perhaps he feel like he finally got the chance do to what his brother's do.
"Me...me too sir! I'll promise that we'll do good there...and we'll working hard!"
"Thank you Lisa...but dont push yourselfs too hard, okay..."
"Yes sir."
After diner's done, the kids go to their rooms, Rouen put Lisa's group up stairs in his room, he sleep in Mark's room now. Somehow he felt it's just fiting now, sleeping in his uncle's room, made him felt more 'matured', after all he's the kids guardian now, he must act more mature, think more mature. Is he now, matured?
Did doing those things with Luna that night make me more matured now...?
Damn...it was so good! I want to do it with her again...damn i miss her already!
Before Rouen's go to sleep, he stared at Mark's chest. Shall he open it now?
I suppose it's about time...
And i need 'that' too...to kill Victor Ash!
Rouen open the chest finally, it's a slim and long chest. Inside he found some papers, some accessories, and things that he doesn't really need after all. There's only two things inside the big chest that actualy useful for Rouen. Another smaller chest inside the big chest, and a long pointy thing, that covered tidily with a black leathet clothe. He open the smaler chest first, inside is money! Roughly about a little bit more than thirty thousands Karlings, Rouen doesn't bother to counts his uncle's money. Hr knew he would find this money here, after all Mark's doesn't believed the whole thing about banks. He's an oldschool who keeps his hard earned money in his old chest inside his bedroom.
Though, Rouen must admit, he doesn't think it would be this much, he first expect it would be aroun ten to fifteen thousands, this here is double that amounts!
Thirty thousands!?
Damn uncle...you never really need that retiring money after all dont you?
Now with this amount, i have more than enough to buy Rick's farmhouse...
I dont need the quest's reward?
Suddenly Rouen's remembered about what Luna's said to him...does it worth the risk?
With all the money and assets he have...he can just relax and live happily...
No! Why this kind of thinking!?
Why this kind of mentality!?
The pleasure of the flesh...after tasting it, did i become a changed persons?
I mustn't be like this!
I have ambitions i must reach!
And for that...Victor Ash must DIE!
Rouen look fast to the covered thing. He opens it carefuly. A swordstaff! His uncle's 'Treasure'. If Rowan's Treasure is his Platinum armour, then this swordstaff is definitely Mark's Treasure! It was so bright and shining, full with beautifull sculptures. It was also made from really rare and expensive metals, called Starsteel, it's shining even more than a silver and harder than the normal steel. Truely a remarkable weapon! It's heavier than his swordstaff, since everything of it maded by the Starsteel, including the long handle. What's more interesting, is that the blacksmith who's making this master piece, is the same one who made Rowan's armour too. The master blacksmith in Leonier city, the best blacksmits in all Confederation! Mark's even give a name for his treasured weapon, he called it 'Silveredge'...although, there's no silver in it at all. But it does shine brightly like a silver.
"Outstanding!"
It's heavy...but i can wield this!
Let's try it!
Rouen is excited, he go outside quitely, dont want to wake the kids. Infront the house's terrace, he stands holding the weapon straight. He then remember the move's his uncle taught him, and starts to practice it, slowly at first and geting sharper and faster by the time. He moves excellently, agile and deadly. Beneath the moonlight his moves looks like a dance, gracefully and precise! The Silveredge shine brightly even in the cover of darkness. By the end of his practice's moves, Rouen's shocked, he heard hands claping, and cheering from the house's windows. The kids were yet to sleep, they cheered on Rouen's moves, they were awe by his performance.
"Waa...that's so cool mister!"
"Awesome...!"
"Move so fast and beautiful!"
"Alright...alright, sleep now kids."
That's right...this kids...
It was for them...i swear i protect them!
And i will hold that swear no matter what!
No matter what the chalanges...
I'll face it all...!
.....
In the morning, everyone having breakfast together. After that, Liam's group prepared to go, Rouen steer the carriage, they said their farewell to one another.
"Becarefull there!"
"Come here any time you need help!"
"Good bye then!"
"See you!"
The carriage's moved, only about one and a half hours, they arrived at Toby's farm. There they see, Toby's carriage is already there, he's been waiting.
"I'am sorry, i'am late uncle Toby!"
"Nah...it's fine! I too want at least some moment here, before i go."
"I see..." That's right...this probably his last time seeing his home.
"I'am proud of what you doing here boy...Thank you for puting this farmhouse for a good use!" He said teary, he gets sentimental, maybe because he wont ever see this farmhouse again.
"And as for you children...i wish all the best for you, make this place your home!"
"Thank you sir!" The kids nods together.
Toby step inside the carriage, his men is ready to go.
"Good bye then Rouen, son's of Mark, my friend...i wish you achieved your goals!"
"Thank you again sir! Save travel!"
Toby's carriage moved, Rouen and the kids stare at it until it's gone from the horizon.
"Alright then kids...you know what to do right?"
"Yes sir! Dont worry...we can manage from here on our own!" Liam said proudly.
"Good! But always remember, you are not alone, come whenever you need help!"
"Okay sir...we will!"
"Good then, i'll leave you now, take care!"
"Take care sir!"
Rouen's leave Liam's group, he must prepare back home, tonight he will start the 'wanderer' life again!
.....
At the diner's tonight, Rouen wait for everyone to finish their meal before he tell them something.
"Alright kids, there something i want to tell you." Rouen starts.
"What is it mister?" Kora asked.
"I'll be leaving you for some days...there's a quest that i must complete."
"Realy!? For how long?"
"Roughly three days...i hope it can ends sooner."
"Becareful then mister...please return unharmed."
"I will...you kids too, please becareful when i'am away, alright?"
"Yes sir!" They answered together.
"Dont worry sir! I'll keep us all safe when you're not around." Noel said seriously.
"Alright then...i'll be leaving tonight."
"Tonight!? Not in the morning?"
"There's a reasons for that..."
"I see...take care then sir!"
.....
Rouen's take Midnight from the stable, interestingly, the stalion seems to notice about the new changed of weapons in Rouen's back. "Yes my friend...this is uncle's Silveredge...i'll be using it from now on!" Rouen said excitedly. "Hyaahh...he steer Midnight's reins and start galloping, in the cover of darkness. Rouen's armour, cloak, scarf, pretty much his entire equipments is all dark colored, mending perfectly together with his all black colored Stallion. The only contrast is his weapon, the Silveredge, that still shine ever brightly because of the moonlight. For that, Rouen use the black leather clothe it was once wear, when it still in the chest. That make him really hard to seen in the night, and he has reasons for this...