Chapter 2: Whispers of the Past

With each passing day, Soren sorted more and more books, and Wilmont's actions became clear. He diligently searched for weaknesses in every monster that could potentially arrive in a monster wave, marking and documenting them. He analyzed their behavior and studied the history of attacks to predict when the next one would come. Frustrated by the lack of aid from the Voradin of Windmere, he took it upon himself to stop the monsters. After sorting books for half a day, they continued producing lumber and slowly began repairing the houses.

By the end of the week, they had restored and repaired all seven houses that were salvageable. Ronan and Kìsì stood proudly in front of the village, admiring their work. Ronan turned to Kìsì and spoke, "I will serve you till the day I die, Nirathor Kìsì. You have brought me more happiness than I have known since the day my wife passed away. You have given hope to this forgotten and destroyed village. I pledge my allegiance to you, Nirathor Kìsì Dilou'kalera de Odenfilisar."

Kìsì was taken aback by Ronan's words. He had considered Ronan a friend in the past week, he did not desire a subordinate. Reluctantly, he refused Ronan's pledge. Ronan accepted the refusal, but deep inside, he would willingly give his life for Kìsì. As night fell upon the village, both men made their way home, knowing that another arduous day of work had come to an end, marked by their sweat and toil.

The following day, Ronan was overcome with happiness as he received word that the villagers were returning. He hurriedly made his way to Kìsì, who had been residing in Althorin's residence. Ronan knocked on the door with an uncharacteristic urgency. Kìsì appeared visibly surprised by Ronan's unusual behavior, but Ronan assured him that it was a joyous day. He eagerly anticipated the reaction of the other villagers, a testament to the transformation that had occurred because of Kìsì.

Expressing his excitement, Ronan enveloped Kìsì in a warm and heartfelt hug, agressivly pulling him towards the city entrance in his nightgown. Kìsì found himself unable to break free or halt the force with which Ronan pulled him. He marveled at the old man's unexpected strength, which seemed to emanate from his very bones and muscles.

After waiting for an hour, Ronan began to realize that the villagers' arrival might be delayed. He chuckled sheepishly and suggested to Kìsì that they had more time to spare for dressing than he initially thought. Kìsì joined in the laughter and went to change into proper attire. Soon, he returned with two stools for them to sit on while they awaited the arrival of the villagers. In the meantime, the two of them engaged in a conversation about their respective pasts.

Kìsì opened up to Ronan, sharing the story of how he had lost his noble status. Ronan, in turn, recounted his journey of becoming a hunter and briefly serving as a soldier in the Army of the Voradin, even if it was for a brief period.

But the conversation was abruptly interrupted as the villagers finally arrived. Leading the way was a young girl, running ahead of the caravan, calling out for old Ronan. His face lit up as he noticed her, and he rose from his stool, eagerly walking towards the little girl with his arms outstretched, ready to lift her up. As she came within Ronan's reach, he scooped her up by the waist, raising her high in the air. The little girl's joy was palpable, and Ronan was overjoyed to see her. After their heartwarming reunion, he carried her on his arm back to Kìsì, introducing her as Elara. Kìsì extended a warm welcome to Elara, introducing himself as a wandering worker.

Elara, being an innocent and playful girl, wholeheartedly embraced the warm welcome and displayed her adorable childlike behavior. Ronan felt a twinge of embarrassment for her conduct in the presence of a fallen noble, but he chose to remain silent as he noticed that Kìsì was genuinely enjoying the company of the little girl.

After a few minutes, the rest of the villagers returned, a total of seven individuals, including Elara. None of them seemed to recognize Kìsì, and likewise, he couldn't recall any of their faces from his past.

Kìsì introduced himself to the villagers one by one, taking the time to learn their names. He met Alarìel and Seraphìna, the two women, along with their husbands Allstaìr and Thorìan. He also met two men named Mìdhaì and Wosìan. All the men seemed to be in good shape, but the same couldn't be said for the women. It was evident that the journey back had taken a toll on them. However, despite their physical condition, they were all happy to be reunited with Ronan.

Although he didn't show it, Ronan felt a mixture of embarrassment and sadness upon seeing that only seven villagers had returned. He couldn't help but wonder how so many had chosen to abandon their homes and start anew, leaving behind cherished memories. These thoughts troubled his mind, but he decided to keep them to himself, not wanting to burden the others with his concerns.

After Ronan and Kìsì took charge of the wagons and began pulling them into the village, the villagers couldn't help but notice the miraculous transformation of their once-dilapidated houses. Their curious gazes turned towards Ronan, seeking an explanation, but he simply shook his head, indicating that it wasn't his doing alone. Intrigue now surrounded Kìsì, as the villagers wondered about his role in the village's revitalization.

As they reached the heart of the village, the unloading of the wagons commenced. A plethora of essential supplies such as food, clothing, tools, and resources were carefully unpacked and stored in the newly repaired storage house. With the roof and walls now impervious to rain, there was no concern about these valuable provisions getting soaked or damaged. The villagers, though not yet expressing their gratitude openly, were deeply impressed and filled with a sense of appreciation. They eagerly joined in, lending a hand in the unloading process, happy to contribute to the collective effort.

After finally unloading the wagons, it was already afternoon. The villagers gathered in the center of the village, sitting on stools around a campfire. As the returning villagers shared their experiences and the challenges they faced on the journey, Ronan stood up from his stool, taking a deep breath before addressing them.

"My dear friends, or rather, my family," Ronan began, "I must reveal the truth about Kìsì, or more specifically, Nirathor Kìsì. He comes from the fallen noble dynasty de Odenfilisar, and his full name is Kìsì Dilou'kalera de Odenfilisar. He and I have been working together..."

Before Ronan could finish his sentence, Alarìel, Elara's mother, interrupted, apologizing for her daughter's earlier behavior and attempting to physically discipline her. However, Kìsì gently held Alarìel's hand, assuring her, "Do not worry, Eldathara Alarìel. I am just a fallen noble. There is no need to be afraid. Besides I am not as you might think."

Ronan quickly stepped in front of Elara, shouting at Alarìel, "How could you willingly hit your child before even letting me finish? Mìdhaì, how did you educate your wife?" Both Alarìel and Mìdhaì looked down in shame, realizing their mistake.

Ronan sighed deeply and cleared his throat. "Now, let me continue. Kìsì and I have repaired your roofs and walls. He was invited by the old Wilmont and he wants to help us in any way he can, as he has no other place to stay due to his fallen noble title."

The villagers, one by one, expressed their gratitude to Kìsì for repairing their houses. However, he couldn't help but sense that their thanks now felt forced, lacking the sincerity they once held. It became evident to Kìsì that with the knowledge of his fallen noble title, the villagers had grown afraid of him, maintaining a distance to avoid potential punishment.

Ronan, sitting beside Kìsì that night after the other villagers had left, deeply regretted revealing the truth. He worried about the unintended consequences it had brought upon Kìsì. Sensing Ronan's distress, Kìsì placed a comforting hand on the old man's back and spoke reassuringly, "Do not worry, my friend. Remember, you were wary of me too in the beginning." He chuckled softly and continued, "With time, I will show them that they can trust me. This place will regain its former shine. Trust me, Ronan, believe me."

Ronan looked at Kìsì with a hopeful and calming expression. "I wanted to pledge my life to you, Kìsì. Of course, I trust you. I trust you more than I trust myself."

After regaining his composure, both Ronan and Kìsì went their separate ways to their homes. However, Kìsì couldn't bring himself to sleep just yet. He reached for a book that he had kept hidden from Ronan. It wasn't exactly a book, but rather a bundle of papers addressed to Kìsì. With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, he began to read.

In those papers, Wilmont detailed the dire situation in Windmere. He spoke of their desperate need for aid and how their requests for assistance had been denied by the Voradin. Wilmont had intentionally kept the lack of response from Kìsì to himself, fearing it would anger the old man. The tone of the writings grew increasingly desperate, revealing the worsening financial state after Kìsì's father's passing and the gradual decline of Wilmont's strength with each passing day.

Unbeknownst to Ronan, Wilmont had pleaded with the villagers not to return, understanding that Windmere would struggle to sustain them. He expressed his plans to confront the monsters and seek the favor of the Angshire-Gods, hoping to regain their respect and restore the land that had been rendered barren.

As Kìsì delved deeper into the heartfelt words penned by Wilmont, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of sadness, guilt, and determination. The weight of the responsibility he had unwittingly assumed settled heavily on his shoulders, fueling his resolve to bring hope and prosperity back to Windmere.

Kìsì chose to close the bundle of papers, not yet ready to shoulder the full weight of Wilmont's burden. He recognized the gravity of the situation but understood that it was a weight he couldn't bear alone at this moment. There would come a time when he would confront the challenges described in those pages, but for now, he needed to gather his strength, seek guidance, and strategize how best to address Windmere's predicament. With a deep breath, Kìsì set the papers aside, knowing that they would be there when he was ready to face the truths they held.

Then, Kìsì ascended the stairs, changed into his comfortable nightgown, and settled into bed, ready to embrace the tranquility of the night. As he closed his eyes, his thoughts drifted, filled with hopes and aspirations for the future of the village and the challenges that lay ahead. With a sense of determination and a serene smile on his face, Kìsì peacefully surrendered to the embrace of sleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new opportunities and possibilities.