Land of Mirriam

The underground training grounds were silent. It was mid-day. The scene was military-like fashioned, the young ones standing straight and an old man inspecting them.

“Hmm… I love that look on your faces… you learned well unlike this stupid brat,” it was the 5th day, and the 7 were aligned in a military fashion.

“After breakfast, we will go into the market to buy things and tomorrow we head to the dungeon south… if you survive a night there you will be full-time adventurers!! Now!!! Let’s go to the cafeteria!!!” the old man declared.

The 7 finally breathed a sigh of relief, Simon was the happiest of all of them and rushed steadfastly into the cafeteria part of the adventurer’s guild. Their breakfast now was lunch.

…

A staff member handed over a piece of letter while they were eating in the cafeteria, the old man received it and opened it up.

“Also… the guild master is asking for your time alone,” The old man remembered that the guild master wanted to talk with him just the 2 of them… and he promised sirloin and wine to him.

“I understand… I’ll come by,” the old man smiled. It seemed his plan was on the go in regard to the relic, the letter of reply said so.

<--->

In the afternoon after their trip to the market. The old man personally brought some wine and sirloin using the credit of the adventurer’s guild of course. The old man knocks on the door. And the guild master spoke, “Come in!!” He went straight to the guild master’s desk and presented the receipts to the guild master.

“Buying me something means getting it out from your pocket, you cheapskate buffoon,” Orera scratched his head.

The old man knew where he kept his wares and took glasses, plates, forks, and knives all in pairs.

The sirloin was packed with banana leaves, its smell wafting up the room as the old man unpacked it after placing it onto the plate.

“Hmm… I’m working up an appetite,” the guild master said upon smelling the steak.

“This is mad bull steak, seared 15 minutes ago, I had to make sure it was packed tightly, the boy almost ate it… let’s eat,” the old man said as he sat down.

The guild master using only his hands opened up the wine.“Oh!! Beautiful, really beautiful” he said and he started pouring.

“Where are the boys now? Can you still wolf it down?” the guild master asked as he poured wine into the old man’s glass.

“I’m still raring to go actually, thanks for the letter we will be leaving after 2 or 3 more days,” the old man said.

“... Remember before you visited us-” the guild master began talking, it was the topic he wanted to discuss even before. “-We found something and the results came out already, it's also verified by the magic tower’s research institute,” the guild master added, he then put a slice of the steak on his mouth and savored it, then dropped his fork and knife looking at the old man’s eyes.

“8 to 10 more years, judging from the magic scan we did to you…” the guild master said.

“I don’t understand… tell it to me properly,” the old man said and he gulped down a sip of wine.

“You only probably have 8 to 10 more years to live,” the guild master spoke it fluently. He had been on the job for a long time, being a herald of bad news was nothing new.

The old man stopped for a while and looked at the guild master “I see… what’s the cause again?” the old man asked.

“The Pam that healed you when you brought Simon found something when he scanned you using magic…” the guild master said as he resumed dining.

“A magic stone in my head right?” and the old man finished his sentence and threw a look at the guild master.

The guild master Orera was keen on his observation “You knew?” the guild master asked to make sure, the 2 were dining in properly like there was no problem at all.

“Why did you think I went in the eastern frontier,” the old man threw him a clue, it was not a question.

The old man visited the guild of Pharsha years back when he arrived at the eastern frontier. Orera can remember that the old man was asking for a Dungeon that hadn’t been culled.

“You were looking for a place to die,” the guild master declared his conclusion and nodded.

It totally made sense, only that when the old man arrived it was still too early for any dungeon culling.

“At first I actually wanted to die in a dungeon, fighting hordes and hordes of enemies until I fall,” the old man was speaking from his heart. “But now… I want to live longer, I want to see what would become of the stupid little shit,” but he cursed Simon for changing how he thinks.

“Does the boy know?” the guild master asked. The old man calmly shook his head saying no.

“Let’s keep it that way, and I already promised that I will be with him until I die,” the old man added.

“It's been a good run huh?” the guild master poured another into the old man’s glass, it was not even empty.

“Yeah…” There was no hint of worry from the old man.

<--->

2 days later.

Gust never tasted food so good… but he was sure it was just a slice of normal dried meat; seared on both sides, a normal way to prepare food in the town. He was chewing it like it was the greatest thing he ever had in his life. They survived the old man’s training, and they could now proudly say that they were adventurers.

They are now eating back at the guild along with Simon and the old man.

“Boys we will be leaving tomorrow, Dawi… guide your brothers well!!” the old man suddenly began speaking.

“Sir… thank you… thank you very much!!” Dawi said and tears started dwelling in his eyes.

“The hell? Are you little shit crying!!! You should be proud!!! You survived my training!!!” the old man smiled. “We will feast tonight!!!” and declared.

Simon happily clapped.

“Simon… sorry for everything…” Dawi said he said it like it was everyone’s words.

“It's okay… I enjoyed it too!” Simon's answers made Dawi and the rest of his party feel guilty and sorry for Simon. The way the old man trained them was the only way they could have survived.

They heard the old man and Simon went to the Tugak’s Dungeon and conquered it. They stayed there for months. The boys only stayed there for 2 days and it was terrifying but they have adjusted to it now. Even the old man approved of their growth.

The staff members who knew them started clapping, they had seen how the old man trained them, it was brutal but too effective.

The priest and Gabriel arrived, and it seemed one of the staff had informed them “Boys!! You look so strong now!!! I like the look on your faces!!!” the priest said.

Gabriel happily clapped as the boys hugged their comrade(The priest).

“Father you should have been there!!” Gust said as he was the main tank and was always in front of the enemy.

“Father!! I learned a new spell!!!” Al said crying, the lives of his party were in his hands, and he had to fire his spells precisely, this birthed a new spell he invented all along their ordeal.

Winar just closed his eyes and covered his face, he was crying a bit, he was not tired but he was happy that he didn’t have to use healing, well he only knew 2 spells of detox and healing.

Law and Tint were already blushing as the old man forced them to drink alcohol, Law was tired as hell as he was the sentry and the scout of the party and Tint was just muttering “Forward, back… left… right… flank” as he was under the influence of the alcohol.

Simon smiled as he watched the scene. Suddenly Law landed a pint in front of Simon, the smell of the alcohol wafts on his nose, he was interested in the drink the old man kept on chugging.

As he placed his hands the old man took the pint and chugged it down “Simon… alcohol downgrades the mind… and your mind is already so low so please never ever drink it… promise me,” The old man was already a bit drunk, he was alternating between the heavy hitters and the light ones (Alcohols).

“... I will never drink it,” Simon said.

“Good!” the old man nodded, and their celebration continued into the night.

…

In the morning only the priest and Dawi were awake, they were saying goodbyes to the old man and Simon. The Guild Master came out of his office still wearing his pajamas.

“This is the official quest paper, you forgot it,” the guild master said. The guild master should have given it to them yesterday when they arrived in the noon but they just began celebrating.

The quest paper was not that important but if they didn’t bring it with them, it would take time before they could receive the rewards for the quest because it still needed to be verified.

“Thanks, Orera… I’ll never forget this,” the old man said.

The old man checked the paper rolled in. It was a job to deliver the core shard to the East Mouth village where a contact of the Sen-ran clan would meet them. The old man never left the dungeon shard and always brought it along with him, since it was covered with Tar Silk it was not emitting any magic, it was safe to bring around.

After some words, the 2 began to depart. Simon looked back one more time. Maybe he would see them again someday?

“Boy just this time we will be going through the main roads, you have to at least be familiar with it,” the old man suddenly said disrupting Simon’s thoughts.

“The paved ground?” Simon confirmed.

“Yes!” the old man answered along with a nod. They will be heading west to the small village of East Mouth. The old man also passed through here to get to the edge of the frontiers.

It was sad that they were leaving a place where Simon was starting to get comfortable but the people they would meet and the adventures they would be experiencing put a smile on the old man’s face. When he was young, he thought that life was too long, too boring, or sometimes too hard.

Now he just wants to enjoy life to its fullest. Not thinking about the future nor remembering the past, just what was in front of him, the present. The old man looked at Simon and muttered in a low voice “This little shit...”