Chapter 1: A Night in Saintsbridge

It was a bustling night at Saintsbridge's local tavern. The sounds of mugs clinking together, men laughing, women gossiping and drunkards singing filled the evening air. A large hand slammed down an equally large and now empty mug as a horde of cheers erupted from nearby tavern goers.

"Another!" shouted a tall, stern-faced warrior donned in a cobalt tinted robe. A confident smile plays at his lips as he stared across the table.

"Olberic, seriously, take it easy on them, would ya?" snickered a grinning Therion as a soft hic escaped from his mouth.

The eyes of two grumbling, half sober, half nauseous mercenaries across the table narrowed down at the giant knight and the smaller thief. The onlooking crowd's whistles and laughter only heightened as they watched the showdown unfold.

Alfyn's shook his head, smiling wryly at the extremely one-sided battle waging at the tavern's heart. It was the group's last day in Saintsbridge tonight before a long journey due east to the merchant metropolis of Goldshore. Earlier that day Primrose had the idea of celebrating at the local tavern for a few drinks before the big trek; however, upon arriving, two mercenaries took it upon themselves to express a vivid liking to the exotic dancer and the innocent cleric beside her. When Olberic and Therion inserted themselves in the midst of the four, the two ego-driven dastards insisted that they settle things with a fight using their most proficient weapon of choice - booze.

First one to have his eyes roll back into his head loses, mates!

Or so they thought would've been an easy victory against the traveling strangers. Unfortunately, Olberic and Therion were no newcomers to taverns or liquor. Another laugh erupted from the crowd of onlookers when one of the two mercenaries comically fell off his chair in a drunken stupor, as the other frantically shouted at him to get up.

Alfyn's smile faded as he gazed solemnly back into his drink, still filled to the brim. He closed his eyes and heaved a deep sigh.

"Not feeling it today? You've barely touched your drink."

He looked up to see Primrose wearing a sympathetic smile as she slid into the seat next to him, staring at the uncharacteristically silent apothecary.

"Nah….guess I'm just not feeling it tonight after all…" Alfyn smiled glumly as he pushed the mug a little further from him.

Primrose frowned at the inanimate tone of his voice and his action. Softly, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and tilted her head; attempting to get a better look at his expression.

"...I was hoping a good night at the tavern would get you back on your feet, but it seems I was mistaken."

Alfyn chuckled at her words as he rose from the bar stool and turned to face the brunette beauty. He let out a forced, complacent smile; before grabbing his satchel and lunging it over his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it and besides wouldn't wanna be a damper on anyone else's parade so... I think I'll clock in early today. See ya tomorrow, Prim."

Primrose stared at Alfyn's retreating figure as he quietly pushed past the merry tavern goers on his way to the entrance. She sighed. On a regular day, Alfyn would've been the life of any party; no doubt, by Olberic and Therion's side at the very moment, drinking merrily and laughing cheerfully. But cheerful and merry were the last words that could be used to describe him these past couple of days.

"A curious case that one, aye?" Primrose turned to see the barkeep had strolled over to Alfyn's mug and was now cleaning it out. His eyes turned to follow the direction Alfyn left.

"I remember the first day you lot ventured into town. He was the loudest one of ye. Always cheerin up a storm in 'ere and telling other folks to smile and what not." He muttered as he placed the now clean and empty mug back on the bar.

"Now look at 'im. Someone's gone 'an clipped his wings."

The cool, fresh night air provided a comforting relief to the tavern's condensed stench of alcohol. Alfyn stared at the long unwinding river before him, appreciating the gentle breeze that flowed through his hair. He leaned over the edge of Saintsbridge's famous wooden overpass to stare at the streaming water underneath. His reflection stared back at him; momentarily foreign to his own senses was the face of a listless man with no vigor in his eyes.

So that's what I look like now, huh?

Alfyn grabbed a nearby pebble and dropped it from above, as he watched the ripples distort the somber reflection. He sighed; lifting his gaze upward at the night sky and choosing to let his thoughts roam freely.

After the incident with Miguel, Alfyn felt he had lost a part of himself. The concept that he had put an innocent child's life in danger, by merely choosing to save that of another, had left him hollowed from the inside out. Despite all that happened and Ogen's parting words to him - he couldn't form a stance on if his actions were truly erred. The idea of helping someone in need had never once, in his entire life, struck him as something he should think twice about before coming to Saintsbridge. But now...he was merely left with more questions than he could answer.

For all its name and glory, Saintsbridge had brought many of his companions one step closer to their goals; Ophilia performed her Kindling, H'aanit found more clues to her lost master's whereabouts, the rest of the party had each grown more formidable and resolute in their own journeys from their past two weeks stay at the Riverlands boondock; yet for him, it had turned everything he ever knew and everything he ever thought to be true, upside down.

Now, he couldn't even bring himself to smile. How could he? Knowing a child grazed death's cold hands because of him. He's an apothecary, for Alfric's sake. His purpose is to save lives, not put them in danger.

Alfyn closed his eyes and bit his lip; a wretched feeling beginning to churn in his gut.

Or should I even call myself an apothecary anymore?

"Alfyn!"

"Woah!" Alfyn cried as the nearby voice jostled him back to reality. He looked over to see a concerned looking H'aanit and Linde standing nearby.

"Forgiven me. I did not mean to frighten thee... Thou must've been surely lost in thought if thee did not heed my previous calls."

Alfyn looked down to see Linde who came forward to nuzzle his leg. He let out a small smile as he bent down to pet the burly snow leopard.

"Sorry about that. Is everything alright? You seem…err...s-sweaty?" Alfyn stuttered as he watched H'aanit toss her messy rose colored braid over her shoulder and wiped newly forming sweat from her brow. Dirt and various colored leaves also made their home all over her face and fur coat.

"Linde and I weren training. Tis imperative to honen one's skills before a hunt. Lest shoulde I become dull before I encounter the Redeye."

H'aanit looked over the bridge's view. Passing clouds had now dispersed to reveal a full moon shining brightly and casting its reflection on the river's surface. It's soft white glow accompanied nearby fireflies that floated around the plant life along the water's edge, making for quite a pleasant spectacle.

"Wouldst thou allow me to accompany thee for a moment?"

Alfyn stood up and looked over at the reflection of the moonlit water.

"Sure, but I...doubt I'll be much fun today though...haha…"

Silence ensued. For a few minutes, all that was heard was the sound of the river's water and the nearby crickets. As the scenery and H'aanit's company served as a mental block to his previous ruminations; Alfyn finally felt a sense of relief from the tension he had garnered. Feeling the breeze pick up again, he slowly inhaled a few deep breaths before closing his eyes and deciding to forget his plaguing worries for the night.

"Tellen me...doth that man…still haunt thee so?"