Nevalis headed to the inn and rented a room for a month. The innkeeper was surprised by such a long stay, as he wasn't used to such requests. After finishing the transaction, Nevalis slowly climbed the stairs to his room, his steps heavy as though he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
When he opened the door, he was shocked by what he saw. He muttered angrily, "By hell, what is this mess!"
The room was tiny, barely enough for one person. The walls were dull, covered in cracks that told the story of this miserable place. The ceiling was low, with an old light hanging from it, casting a faint light that barely dispelled the darkness.
In one corner stood a narrow wooden bed, covered with a rough, worn-out blanket, but it was clean. Beside it was a small table with a melted candle and a cracked glass. The wooden floor was marked with scratches and creaked quietly underfoot.
A small window overlooked a narrow alley and was the only source of air, though its faded curtains couldn't block out the noise from outside completely. On the opposite side, an old wooden wardrobe stood, slightly tilted, with doors that barely closed.
The room exuded simplicity and modesty, or perhaps misery—perfect for someone looking for a place to spend the night without expecting much.
But for Nevalis, it was a catastrophe in every sense of the word. He entered the room with a look of disgust but quickly calmed himself, thinking this was necessary. He sighed and closed the door behind him, making his way to the bed. After a moment of hesitation, he sat down and began organizing his thoughts.
After an hour of contemplation, Nevalis formulated a clear plan. He decided he would stay in this place for six months to train, and then he would travel undercover to the city of Miraz to enlist as a soldier in the army of Baron Redmore's family. He saw this plan as an opportunity to reach the inner city, far from this miserable world, and begin building his future anew.
The next morning, Nevalis was woken by a loud knock at the door. He slowly opened his eyes, annoyed by the interruption. He got up from his bed and opened the door with force, finding the boy he had saved the night before standing in front of him.
The boy spoke hesitantly, "My grandfather wants to thank you for the gold coin and invites you to have a meal with us."
Nevalis stared at the boy for a moment before speaking sarcastically, "A meal? Don't you fear you'll spend all your provisions on this thank-you feast?"
The boy's face turned red with embarrassment, but he replied, "Please, agree. If you don't come with me, my older brother will beat me for not bringing the person who helped Grandpa."
Nevalis looked at the boy with narrowed eyes, questioning the seriousness of the situation. He was about to refuse, but the boy seemed sincere. The child's pleading reminded him of something from his own past... his childhood, which was a blend of weakness and need.
After a moment of hesitation, Nevalis said, "Fine, I'll come with you. But don't expect any pleasantries from me."
On the way to the boy's house, the two walked in silence for a while, until Nevalis broke the silence, asking:
"Tell me about your grandfather and your older brother."
The boy paused for a moment, as if thinking of how to answer, then spoke warmly, "My grandfather... he's the greatest person I know. He's the one who brought me and my siblings together under one roof. We're not a real family, but he made us feel like we were. He was always there to feed us when we were hungry, and to comfort us when we were scared. I don't know what we would have done without him."
He paused for a moment before continuing in a tone of gratitude, "He raised me on love, even when I made mistakes. I never felt like he blamed me. He always treated me like I was the most important thing in his life."
Nevalis felt the boy's words resonate deeply in his heart. Such sincere emotions were rare in the world he knew.
The boy then raised his eyes, looking excited as he spoke of his older
brother:
"As for my older brother... he's my role model. He's strong, brave, and knows what to do in every situation. Whenever you're in trouble, he's there before you even ask for help. He protects us like a second father, and sometimes I feel like he understands us without us even speaking. I can't remember a time when I felt scared as long as he was by my side."
A small, proud smile appeared on the boy's face as he spoke:
"My brother doesn't just take care of us, he makes us believe we can face anything, no matter how hard. Even when he gets mad at us, I never feel like his anger comes from cruelty, but from concern for us."
The boy looked at Nevalis for a moment, then added quietly:
"I don't know how he gives us all this love, but he does... and I want to be like him one day."
The boy's words were filled with deep emotions, love, and respect for a grandfather and brother who were not only parts of his life but the pillars of his small world—one that, despite its hardships, seemed full of warmth because of their presence.
It wasn't long before they reached the house. It was a modest, two-story building, facing a narrow dirt road. Nevalis paused for a moment at the doorstep, staring at the humble building before him. It looked like one of the old houses that had been neglected over time, showing signs of frequent repairs, struggling to remain standing against the passage of time.
The exterior walls were painted with a faded coat of paint, indicating its age, and some places had small cracks starting to appear. It was clear the paint had been renewed recently, though the layer was thin, leaving some imperfections visible. Still, it was evident that care had been taken by those who lived here.
The roof was made of old, slanted wooden planks, showing signs of time and pressure. In certain corners, there was additional wooden support, showing clear effort to keep it in place. Perhaps the family had spent a long time repairing it, trying to prevent it from collapsing on their heads.
The doors and windows were made of sturdy wood, though they bore the marks of age: some doors were crooked, while others had avoided wear thanks to fresh coats of paint. The windows were the most notable feature of the house; their glass was old and dirty, but each window had been treated with old curtains that were tightly closed to prevent the cold winds from seeping in.
What made the house different, despite the clear wear and tear, was the sense of continuous effort and the ongoing attempts to maintain it. Every element in this home carried the mark of hard work and constant repairs. It wasn't about perfection here, but about survival.
"They've put a lot of effort into keeping this place intact," Nevalis muttered to himself, noticing the work that had gone into every corner. Despite the harshness of life, this family held onto every thread of hope possible to keep it together.
The boy smiled as he saw Nevalis inspecting the house and said, "We work together to fix it. Everything here has value, even if it's not in the best condition. It's our home."
Nevalis nodded silently, appreciating the effort put into building this small home, which, despite its simplicity, held the essence of
determination to endure, no matter the difficulties it faced.
Nevalis admired the effort and was deeply impressed by it.
This was not just an old house; it was a testament to the resilience and determination of a family fighting against time.