Oren returns to Shorm safely

I tumble out of the woods, stumbling on the border between the trees and fields. The blonde girl clutches my shirt tight, burying her face deep into it. I trudge on, with the sun nearly faded from eyesight and basking the wheat fields in the beginning of night.

As I climb one of the wheat fields hills, I see. group of red fire in the distance. Dozens of villagers from Shorm running to me and the blonde girl, with a burning torch in one hand and either a sword, axes or pitchfork in other. At the helm was someone I'd only ever met once before and vowed to never see again.

The debt collector who killed my mother.

As I meet the group of villagers, the debt collector stumbles towards us. He drops his sword and his sunken, tired eyes meet mine. There's a hint of recognition there and perhaps something else? But his gaze doesn't linger for long, drifting to the blond girl in my arms, as she lifts her head to the distraught man.

"Daddy!" She cries, leaping out of my arms.

The girl jumps into her father's arms, bursting into another round of tears. The debt collector falls to his knees, cradling the girl in his embrace.

"My girl, my sweet little Abby..." He sobs.

The debt collector looks up to me. "Thank you, Oren. Thank you..."

I don't respond. Just my luck, to have saved the daughter of my mother's killer. I remember Ishi's repeated words, telling me the debt collectors were just following the law and not to blame them. Even though my mother had made bad decisions, it wasn't exactly simple to forgive the one who brought down the knife.

The group of villagers parted as I continued on to the farmhouse. I heard the debt collector murmur something else, but I ignored him. After a full days work, the events in the forest and facing the debt collector again, I was completely exhausted.

That night, I had dreams for the first time in years. Shadows gathering from the trees in the woods, whispering unknown words to me. The shadows then snaking along the forest floor, reaching the hideous goblin. The shadows coiled around it's throat, strangling it. The goblin collapsed, its black blood pouring out from its green body. But then the shadows flickered, showing the body of my mother in its place, calling for me as red blood pooled from her stomach wound-

"Get up, Oren. C'mon, lad!"

I groaned and turned in my blanket. The sun had just begun to filter into the farmhouse, brightening my corner away from the animals. I looked up to Ishi staring back at me. His broad, strong frame, long black beard and kind expression always something of a comfort to me. And after that dream, he was a welcome sight.

"You won't believe who just payed me a visit." He whispered excitedly.

I sat up, brushing off a few loose hay and wheat off my body. "King Aldur himself?"

"Something much better, actually. The debt collectors came by this morning to inform me that they've cleared your mother's debt! Oren, you're a free man!" He cheered.

My heart both sank and leaped. I imagined that man, with his sunken eyes staring into mine as he plunged the knife into my mother. But now, a strange feeling of gratitude for what seemed to be a reward for saving his daughter. Despite my hatred for him, he had granted me something incredible.

A chance to be free.

"Oren, I've never seen that man so high spirited! He said you saved his daughter Abby yesterday. Is that true?" Ishi inquired.

My face must've given something away, as Ishi lowered his tone. "Are you alright? What happened, lad?"

I paused, weighing up my next words carefully.

"Ishi, I need to tell you something..."

I proceeded to inform Ishi about yesterday's events - from the shrieks I heard, to the goblin and my strange experience with the shadows. After I finished, Ishi sat in silence pondering deeply.

"So these shadows, they surrounded you? Then you were able to command this goblin to kill itself?" He pressed.

I nodded. "It was exactly like that. But he was still sane, me and Abby both watched his body struggle against himself as he...you know."

"And Abby, she remained unharmed?"

"Well, I only really focused on the goblin when I said those things..."

Ishi suddenly stood up, grinning widely. I watched as he began to fit his two horses with saddles before turning to me with clear joy.

"Oren, I think it's time we take a little visit to someone."

I stood up as Ishi mounted his horse, saying "Are you sure? I thought we had more crops to collect before the market opened this morning."

He waved his hand. "Screw the market, lad. We got a lot more on our plate right now."

He then leaned in close, pointing. "'Let's go find out what exactly is happening to you..."