I Need Your Help II
Damien trudged into the Mercenary office, his steps slow and heavy. Exhaustion weighed on him like a boulder, and though he tried to maintain his usual stoic demeanor, his battered body betrayed him.
Half the town lay in ruins, a proof of the destruction wrought by his battle with the Grade Two demon. Among the casualties was his rented cottage, leaving him with nowhere to rest.
"On second thought," he said, stepping inside, "I need your help."
His silver hair clung to his damp forehead, and his chest rose and fell unevenly as he struggled to catch his breath.
Arielle blinked, caught off guard by his sudden change of heart. "What kind of help?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"My cottage is gone," he muttered, barely lifting his head. "Destroyed in the fight. I need somewhere to stay, but half the town's in ruins. There's nowhere else."