21 It's Forty What—?!

Han walked past the fireflies glowing around Becky's farm and travelled the trail back towards the village. Once again he was met with the sight of his statue on a pedestal, the firelit lanterns around the village hung and provided a peaceful evening atmosphere—he rubbed the back of his neck as he made his way to the saloon.

People were still inside the bar, but they had lessened in number.

The others perhaps have already returned to their homes.

"Oh, look who took their merry time heading back here." Granda Moe shook their head, sitting on one of the wooden chairs. Instead of the tankard, they were enjoying a bowl of mashed potatoes and corn. 

"Hey, big brother Han!" Tom nodded at him, busy mopping up the floor. "What have you been up to?"

"Nothing much… I talked with uh, someone." Han grinned sheepishly, trying to find excuses until his stomach growled.

The old woman shook their head, "Not only that old fool huh? Take a seat, I think we need to talk and I suppose you're hungry as well."

He received his own serving of cooked potatoes with gravy. "Thanks, Grandma. I'm starving." He started scooping it up, enjoying the hearty, warm and mouthful food. He eyed the saloon some more, noticing the fireplace crackling and the otherwise rustic nature of the place. And there was somebody on the floor. "Er… is that Becky?"

"She drank her ass like any old sailor brokenhearted." Grandma Moe tsked at him, barely batting an eye at the woman slumped over the floor.

Han winced but nodded instead. "I… haven't somebody tried to get her home?"

"Oh, Big Brother Timothy tried to but received an elbow in the eye—if you know what I mean." Tom chuckled.

Was Becky really that pretty that the grouch would risk his face in getting her home?

"She'll be fine, lad. She's a fighter." Grandma Moe nodded, "But I'm already expecting something to happen with you after that talk with that old man."

Han didn't try to point out that she was around Old Man Joe Light's age, instead he cleared his throat. "Well, he wanted to train me, but unfortunately he can't."

"So he decided to send you to the Capital?" Grandma Moe suddenly had a tankard in her hand, a knowing look in their eyes. "And I suppose he wants me to fund it huh? I'm not some treasure chest that spits out gold coins whenever he asks me to."

He didn't really think otherwise, "Well, yeah… and I uh, I don't mind working when I get to the Capital to pay for the expenses and reimburse it."

"That's quite thoughtful of you, sonny." The older lady nodded, "And I don't actually mind doing it, it'll bring a little honor to this small village of ours—and of course the protection when you return. That is, if you plan to return."

Han raised a brow, a spoonful of potato halfway in his mouth.

Grandma Moe chuckled, "You might get entranced with the allure of the Capital and the workings around it, called to serve the King and his people or perhaps you are lured beyond the kingdom of Yegarian—through the Endless Passes, past the Great Divide and beyond the Veil itself."

Han paused and placed his spoon down for a moment, "...I could?" 

"Steady boy, you look like you're going to faint at that thought—you could, if you prove yourself capable enough. You have years ahead of you, sonny. Ah, now it seems like I'm holding you back by putting on demands on your shoulders." Grandma Moe sighed and took a sip. "Perhaps it's only me fussing over you, you've been here since you were a wee baby. Of course all of you would grow on me."

"I'll be fine, depending on how far the travel is and the schedule, I can visit, send letters and even gifts!"

The old lady downed her drink, "Now that you mention it, you could get me some fine ol' drink when you get there. Whisky or aged wine, that'd do—it's hard to produce your own drinks, especially as I don't have any skills on it."

He didn't know that Grandma Moe was such a heavy drinker , perhaps as much as Becky right now. "Well, if that's what you want, I'll send in a crate—heavens know I used up a lot of beers during the Gargoyle mishap."

"Damn right, you did! What a waste that had been—but you saved lives, so I can't begrudge it." Grandma Moe moped. "I guess you'll be able to get more money when you graduate from the Academy."

"Thank you! I'll make sure you get them!" Han bowed his head, preparing for his next lines. "And I'll make you guys proud!"

"We wouldn't have constructed you a statue if we weren't already proud."

"...Well, didn't you guys think I was dead?"

"And that too I suppose." Grandma Moe chuckled. "You still haven't revealed what happened sonny, when the men rushed to the cliffs—everything was gone. We were expecting your remains and even some broken stones, but everything was wiped clean except for your hut."

"It was amazing luck, I fell in the waters and ended up washed away in a nearby beach."

"And the Gargoyles ended up poofing away once you did?" Grandma Moe raised a brow, her lips in a thin line. Her voice lowered. "It sounds like a… [Hero's Protection] if you asked me. Now be upfront with this old lady, I've seen a lot of things in my age."

"They fell into the water?" That was technically true. What would happen if he was upfront and told them the truth about the game? Would there be a glitch? 

"Blocks of stone they may be, but you and I both know that they have wings."

"Er...I'm not sure, could be Divine Providence or Temporary Favor?" Or it could be a Chut squid humanoid saving you like a little mermaid. "...I'm not so sure honestly, it could be a fluke."

Grandma Moe stared at him for a moment before she relented. "Alright, I'll let you keep this to yourself. But I have a feeling that you still need to tell me something."

"Eheheh..now that you mentioned it," Han scratched his head. "I may have asked Timothy to accompany me to the Capital and the Academy. That wouldn't be much of a problem would it?"

Grandma Moe narrowed her eyes at him. "It's expensive, son. The Academy does not simply accept any students for free, I expect a minimum of twenty gold coins to be schooled for one month."

Han's jaw dropped. "What? That much?" He didn't know the conversion rate from copper to silver and to gold, but when he arrived here—he only had three coppers to his name! "Having two of us means that's forty gold coins?!"

The few people in the saloon stared at him, clearly caught by his outburst. Grandma Moe sighed. "I expect a letter from that old fool to manage to get you in by his word. But that clearly won't apply for your friend here." 

Han felt a weight on his shoulders, he had already told Timothy that they'd adventure together—and they were now Companions! "Are you sure? Isn't there anything I can do?"