Half A Hero

9

The morning was unusually cold as Ghwyr opened his eyes. To his surprise, he was welcomed by a very familiar ceiling. The crisscrossing patterns of the dried and weaved river reeds was a staple ceiling in his hometown.

He closed his eyes once again, trying to dream about the saga of his short-lived life as a hero.

“One stab at the heart…” He thought. “That’s all it needed to put me down.” He sighed in disappointment.

He really wanted to become a great hero. That was his very reason why he left home and struggled in the capital. He left his post as a townsguard because of that same reason. He cleaned toilets, scrubbed floors, feed horses, and other mundane stuff that the Guild would request of him, if that was what it took him to get a higher-ranking badge.

Wait a second! He should still be in the capital, right?!

Ghwyr opened his eyes and realized that after a few minutes of contemplation. He sat up on his bed and looked around the room. He was at his room, but it was a little different than when he left. The place was full of weird baubles, trinkets, and some weird animal bones displayed all over the place. Not to mention, his room seemed to be bigger than when he left.

He stood up and stealthily made his way onto the door. He opened it slightly, just enough for his eyes to fit the slit. He looked around the outside of his room. It seemed to be the same place he had lived from before.

His uncle’s favorite rocking chair was still beside the hearth, and the huge oaken study table was still lying beneath the window, overlooking the view of Gahayam from the hill their house was located.

He closed the doors once again and roamed around his room. He checked for the baubles and other things neatly stacked in a huge shelf just beside his window. He took one of the glass containers and realized there was something glowing inside. There was also an inscription of what it was, though his handwriting could really use some work and even he, had a difficult time deciphering his own scribble.

“T-the… the….” He squinted even more. “The faeries’ breath?” He uttered.

All of the sudden, a strange purple light glowed inside the glass bauble. He almost dropped it in surprise. Ghwyr immediately got it back to the shelf and checked on the other things inside his room.

There was a big chuck on bone at the right far side of his room. He went into it, charmed by its unusual shape and weird glittering effect as a thin ray of sunshine struck its surface. He slowly went closer to it and read the sign he supposedly wrote. Good thing about this sign was it was a little bigger, so it took him no time to read what was written.

“Crystal dragon’s cheek.” He said. “Struck by the Silver Wings and killed by yours truly.” He could feel a snicker in his writing.

It was that thing along with a wonderful, pale steel sword leaned beside his headrest when he realized what was going on.

“I… I am… a hero now?” He was confused and ecstatic at the same time.

While he pondered on his discovery, the door swung open.

“Good morning, hero!” The booming voice of his aging uncle blasted throughout his room. “Oh… why you looked so confused?” The old man asked seeing his reaction.

“H-hero? Me?” He pointed at himself.

“Why, indeed!” His uncle approached him, gut punched him, before messing with his hair. “You still hadn’t woken up, have you?” His uncle chuckled as he knelt on the ground, guarding his stomach.

His stomach cramped and he was getting out of breath, but at the same time, he was happy. It was indeed his uncle’s greeting punch. He slowly stood up while his uncle laughed. He couldn’t help but laugh through the pain.

“H-h…how… long have I been here?” Ghwyr asked.

“W-what do you mean?” His uncle raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been here since last week… have you hit your head or something? The bard told me you could get forgetful by that!” He added.

“Of course not!” Ghwyr shook his head. “I’m just… just… well… hungry, I guess.” He answered.

“Ah! That might be so.” He uncle nodded. “Come on then, eat your breakfast. The town’s waiting for you.” He added.

“The town?” Ghwyr was confused. “Why is the town getting ready for me? I am going back to my post as townsguard?” He asked.

Ghwyr didn’t mind becoming a townsguard once again, but as far as his concerned, people usually treat famous heroes like that. They would often parade their heroes and worship them second to gods. Not that he wanted himself to be in those boots, but it would be spectacular if it did.

After a heartful breakfast, Ghwyr went into the town with his uncle. From the distance, their small humble town remained unchanged. However, as he got closer, he realized the stark improvement of their town.

The streets were a little livelier and most of the roads were now paved with cobbled stones, something he hadn’t seen form before. The town was bustling. The townspeople were complete focused on their crafts, like tanning leathers, weaving river reeds, and smithing?

“Smithing?” Ghwyr uttered. “Why do we have halfling smiths here?!” He was amazed and confused to see them becoming a metal artisan.

“Yeah, well… ever since you became a hero, the capital and neighboring cities have now accepted our kin to be part of their curriculum for smiths.” His uncle answered.

“I… did… I did this?” Ghwyr fumbled for words.

“Yeah.” His uncle nodded. “Because of you, the world has now seen us differently. So, keep up your good work!” His uncle nudged his shoulder.

Ghwyr couldn’t held the welling tears in his eyes. His adventure of becoming a hero had made a huge impact on their town. They walked towards the square, and when the people started to finally notice him, they cheered and applauded for him. Some even approached him and had their baby rubbed in the forehead for good luck.

People were swarming on them. They were calling out his name, cheering fervently, and throwing charms at him. It was beginning to make him feel uncomfortable. He tried to slip out of them, but it was getting too tight to even slip away.

Ghwyr and his uncle was swamped by people, that they were unable to move anymore. Then as he turned around, his uncle was already having difficulty breathing. He tried to approach his uncle, but unfortunately, the crowd had dragged him away from him.

“Uncle!” He tried to raise his arm, but he was unable to. “Uncle, no!” His uncle drowned in the massive crowd.

“UNCLE!” He opened his eyes and was welcomed by a sharp pain in the gut. He looked around and realized he was at an unfamiliar place, lying on an unfamiliar bed. “W-what?!” He was disorientated with the sudden change.

Then he heard a voice, nearly beside him.

“Oh good!” It was awfully familiar. He turned around and saw the elf sitting on a bed beside him, peeling an apple with his knife. “You’re finally awake.” He smiled.