Chapter 20 — We’re not animals


    <span ss="userText">The winter storm raged outside the unremarkable cave, cutting visibility to almost zero. The wind howled through the trees, bending branches and sending snow flying through the air. It was a fierce storm that hade unexpectedly, catching the group off guard as they walked in search of Haldor''s missing wife. They made good progress; the tracks they had been following grew more distinct with each passing hour, and it was just a matter of time before they would find her. But as the snowstorm began, the tracks vanished into the white nothingness.


    <span ss="userText">Unfortunately, the group was forced to seek shelter instead. They were quite lucky to have found the cave on their way, as there was no time to set up the tents, and it provided great protection from the snowstorm. The cave was cold and damp, and the wind whistled through the narrow entrance, causing the small fire they had built to flicker and dance. Although the fire provided a bit of warmth and light, it struggled against the darkness of the ce.


    <span ss="userText">Haldor paced back and forth, nervously ncing at the cave''s entrance every few seconds, hoping that the storm would subside. But it didn''t look like it would stop anytime soon. Hours passed by agonizingly slow as they waited out the storm.


    <span ss="userText">Eirik tried tofort Haldor, but it was evident that he, too, was just as anxious. "We will find her. I''m sure of it," he reassured, cing a hand on his friend''s shoulder. But the tension and anxiety were palpable in the cave. The wind howled outside, raging against the stone walls, and the fire flickered weakly in the darkness. The air grew thick, and the silence was almost unbearable.


    <span ss="userText">Without giving any answer, Haldor sat by the entrance, his eyes fixed on the storm outside. The wind whistled through the narrow opening of the cave, sending a chill down their spines. Odar shifted ufortably, his fingers drumming on his bow. Argo huddled against the wall, his knees pulled tightly to his chest.


    <span ss="userText">Odar cleared his throat, breaking the silence with a heavy sigh. "How long do you think the storm willst?" he asked Eirik. The question hung heavily in the air, and each person knew that the answer was uncertain. His question was merely an attempt to dispel the ufortable silence.


    <span ss="userText">Eirik sighed wearily, rubbing his face as if trying to gather his thoughts. "It''s hard to say," he admitted. "We could be stuck here for hours, maybe even days."


    <span ss="userText">Argo shivered, wrapping his cloak tighter around himself. The biting cold seemed to seep into every corner of his body, making it increasingly difficult to stay warm. "I hope it doesn''tst too long. I''m freezing," he grumbled, his breath visible in the frigid air.


    <span ss="userText">Odar let out a frustrated sigh and shot Argo a look. "You''re always cold, Argo."


    <span ss="userText">Argo red back at Odar, his toneced with sarcasm. "Well, forgive me for being human," he said. "It''s not my fault that I don''t have bulging muscles like you, Odar."


    <span ss="userText">Odar chuckled, flexing his muscles yfully. "Oh, my apologies. I didn''t realize you were jealous. Perhaps you should spend some time working out, and I can give you some tips."


    <span ss="userText">Argo rolled his eyes, crossing his arms defensively. "Screw you, Odar," he muttered.


    <span ss="userText">Eirikughed, shaking his head at their banter. "You two argue like an old married couple," he teased.


    <span ss="userText">Odar and Argo exchanged a nce before bursting intoughter. The once tense atmosphere in the cave now felt more rxed and lighthearted.


    <span ss="userText">To pass the time, the group shared stories and jokes, trying to keep their spirits up well into the night. Unfortunately, the snowstorm showed no signs of relenting, forcing them to ept that they would have to spend the night there. They decided that one person would keep watch while the others slept, ensuring the group''s safety.


    <span ss="userText">Odar, Argo, and the rest of the group made themselves asfortable as possible inside the cave. Eirik volunteered to take the first shift, settling down beside the fire<span ss="aiText">. He kept his sword close, resting it next to him.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="userText">As the night passed, the storm finally subsided, giving way to a peaceful morning. The small cave slowly filled with a warm orange glow as the sun''s rays found their way through the entrance. The watchman, one of the locals, decided it was time to wake everyone up. Haldor was the first to wake up, his body aching from the ufortable night spent on the hard, cold ground. With a groan, he stretched his stiff limbs, trying to shake off the stiffness. One by one, the others began to awaken, their yawns and stretches echoing within the cave.


    <span ss="aiText">"Morning," Haldor greeted them.<span ss="userText"> "Looks like the storm has passed," Haldor stated while peeking outside. "It''s time to get moving, everyone."


    <span ss="userText">With a collective agreement, the group quickly packed their belongings and ventured out into the fresh snow. Each step they took caused a satisfying crunch beneath their boots. The air felt crisp and refreshing while the sun''s radiant rays illuminated the sky, painting it with a vivid shade of blue.


    <span ss="userText">Eirik, growing understandably frustrated, voiced his concern to Haldor. "How do we find the tracks now, Haldor?" he asked.


    <span ss="userText">Haldor went silent for a few minutes, considering the best course of action.


    <span ss="userText">"They can''t have gone too far," he replied, his voice filled with determination. "Let''s split into small groups, with two men in each. Since we know the general direction she went, someone will eventually find something. Look out for any fresh sled tracks. They should be quite noticeable. And during the night, keep an eye out for any signs of a fire she might have made. Let''s all meet back here in two days. Whoever group finds a lead will send one man back to guide the others to the tracks."


    <span ss="userText">Eirik''s face brightened with hope as he nodded. "That sounds like a solid n," he said.


    <span ss="userText">And so the group divided into smaller groups, each venturing in different directions. Haldor and Eirik went towards the northeast, following the path they believed Nivalis had taken. Meanwhile, the other three groups set off towards the east-southeast, spreading out to cover arger search area.


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Argo]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">The hours seemed to stretch on endlessly as Argo and Odar trudged through the thick snow, their weary eyes scanning the pristine white ground for any glimpse of fresh tracks. Weariness crept into Argo''s voice as he broke the silence, his uncertainty palpable.— "Do you think we''ll actually find them?" he questioned, his tone filled with a mix of anxiety and doubt.


    <span ss="userText">Odar, usually quick with a response, remained silent, his intense gaze focused on the surroundings. After a brief pause, he exhaled deeply and shrugged his shoulders. "I don''t know, Argo. I hope so."


    <span ss="userText">Nodding in understanding, Argo adjusted the straps of his backpack, readjusting the weight on his shoulders. Fatigue crept into their bones as they had been walking for hours.— "We''ve been walking half of the day, and there''s still no sign of anything," he remarked with a touch of frustration in his voice.


    <span ss="userText">Odar, too, couldn''t hide his disappointment. "Yeah, this is going to take a lot longer than we thought."


    <span ss="userText">Continuing their journey through the snow-covered terrain, Odar''s eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement. Turning his gaze towards Argo, he couldn''t contain his eagerness. "Oh, by the way, Eirik told me something quite interesting yesterday," he began, a mischievous grin forming on his face. "It turns out that Nivalis, Haldor''s wife, is actually a former elven princess. Can you believe it?"


    <span ss="userText">Argo''s eyes widened in surprise, his mouth agape.— "What!? No way," he eximed with disbelief.


    <span ss="userText">Odar couldn''t help but chuckle, nodding in affirmation. "Yep<span ss="aiText">, she''s real-life royalty. Crazy, isn''t it?<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="userText">Argo couldn''t hide his surprise.— "Wow, that''s insane. How did a princess end up in such a remote ce? It just doesn''t make any sense."


    <span ss="userText">Odar shrugged and shook his head. "I have no idea. But it seems like she''s a bit of a runaway."


    <span ss="userText">A momentary silence settled between them as they continued their tireless search through the winter wilderness. Intrigued by his own thoughts, Odar''s voice carried a sense of curiosity, "I wonder..." he pondered but didn''t finish the sentence.


    <span ss="userText">— "Hm? Wonder what?" <span ss="userText">Argo asked, curious about Odar''s unfinished thought.


    <span ss="userText">"You know... I know a guy who bought a ve-elf, a girl, for 250 golden coins."


    <span ss="userText">— <span ss="userText">"Oh?" Argo<span ss="aiText"> replied and then added. "That''s a lot of money, <span ss="editText">I guess<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="userText">"And she was just an ordinary farm girl," Odar continued. "We are chasing the princess right now, that no one cares about, except this husband of hers. She''d be worth at least ten times the amount. I mean, they''re rare."


    <span ss="userText">Confusion colored Argo''s face.— "So...?" Argo said, puzzled.


    <span ss="userText">The mischievous grin remained on Odar''s face as he exined, "If we find her, maybe we could catch her for ourselves and sell her at..."


    <span ss="userText">Argo''s eyes widened in shock as he interrupted, his voice filled with disbelief.— "Odar! You can''t be serious."


    <span ss="userText">Odarughed, his tone dismissive. "Come on, Argo. Think about it. It''s a pretty good idea, isn''t it? We could sell her for a fortune, and then we''d never have to worry about money again."


    <span ss="userText">Argo shook his head, his expression uneasy.— "But what about the kids? Aren''t you worried about the kids?" Argo asked, concerned.


    <span ss="userText">Odar smiled, shaking his head. "Nah. On the contrary, they might be worth something as well. Besides, they''re young, and they''ll be easy to sell. Imagine how much we could make, what Blessing Stones we could buy with that money?"


    <span ss="userText">Argo considered.— "I... I don''t know, Odar," he replied hesitantly. "It just doesn''t sit right with me. It feels wrong."


    <span ss="userText">"Why not?" Odar questioned, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Look around us, Argo. We''re in a forest, in the middle of nowhere. There''s no one else here. We can do whatever we want, and no one will ever know."


    <span ss="userText">— "But... But..." Argo stammered, struggling to find the words.


    <span ss="userText">Odar''s expression twisted with rage as frustration overtook him. "For fuck''s sake, Argo!" he spat. "You''re a fucking low-tier cleric, not even a priest. For how long do you want to stay in the lower ranks?"


    <span ss="userText">Argo swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.— "I-I don''t know... I never really thought about it."


    <span ss="userText">"Then start thinking!" Odar snapped, his voice rising. "You don''t have any offensive Blessings. All you can do is heal light wounds, which is pretty much useless. What can you do if a monster attacks us, huh? Do you want to cower behind me like a little girl? Is that what you want? How long do you think you can survive as an adventurer with your skillset? A year? Two years? With current pace, It will take you at least a decade to buy something decent."


    <span ss="userText">Argo flinched at Odar''s words. He fell silent, his gaze dropped to the ground, his cheeks flushed with shame.


    <span ss="userText">Odar''s voice softened, filled with concern. "Look, I''m not trying to be an asshole." He sighed, "I''m just saying that we have a rare opportunity here. Do you want to pass it up because of your stupid morality?"


    <span ss="userText">— "It''s not stupid," Argo whispered, his voice barely audible.


    <span ss="userText">"Fine," Odar conceded. "consider this: What''s more important to you, your morals or the prospects of a better life? What are you willing to sacrifice for your future and your survival?"


    <span ss="userText">Argo swallowed hard, uncertainty clouding his thoughts.— "I... I don''t know," he repeated, his voice barely a whisper.


    <span ss="userText">"Look," Odar reasoned. "There''s nothing wrong with what we''re doing. It''s not like we''re going to kill anyone. We''ll catch her, sell her, and be done with it."


    <span ss="userText">Argo hesitated, his mind wrestling with conflicting thoughts.— "I... It still doesn''t feel right," he murmured, his voice tinged with doubt.


    <span ss="userText">"Alright..." Odar sighed. "We can discuss thister. Let''s just focus on finding the tracks."


    <span ss="userText">Reluctantly, Argo nodded, and the two friends continued their search in silence. The hours dragged on, and the evening <span ss="editText">slowly <span ss="aiText">approached. Their feet carried them through the endless, snow-coveredndscape.


    <span ss="userText">Suddenly, Argo''s voice rang out with excitement.— "Odar! Over here! I think I found the tracks!" he shouted.


    <span ss="userText">Odar ran over to the spot where Argo was standing. Sure enough, the tracks were unmistakable, the distinctive imprint of a sled''s runners.


    <span ss="userText">"Holy shit, we did it! Ha-ha!" Odar eximed, his voice filled with relief. "We fucking did it!"


    <span ss="userText">Argo beamed with pride.— "Yes, we did. Now, we need to get the others. Should I go, or..."


    <span ss="userText">"Not so fast," Odar said, his tone somber. "Remember our talk earlier? About the n?"


    <span ss="userText">Argo''s smile faded.— "You mean..."


    <span ss="userText">Odar nodded. "Yes. This is our chance to make some real money, and we can''t let it slip through our fingers. We''ll sell her and be rich."


    <span ss="userText">Argo shook his head furiously.— "No. No way."


    <span ss="userText">Odar let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Look, Argo. I get it. You''re a good person. But think about it. You could buy all the best equipment, the strongest Blessing Stones. You could even buy a house in the city, anything you want. And I''ll do the same. We could go from being no-name adventurers to being fucking legends. Isn''t that what we''ve always dreamt of?"


    <span ss="userText">A hint of doubt flickered across Argo''s face. He bit his lip, his mind racing.— "It does sound good," he admitted reluctantly.


    <span ss="userText">"And remember, she''s an elf after all. It''s not like she''s a human or something. She''s an elf," Odar reminded.


    <span ss="userText">— "But that doesn''t make it right." Argo insisted.


    <span ss="userText">"Maybe not," Odar agreed. "But that''s the world we live in, and if we want to seed, we have to y by the rules."


    <span ss="userText">Argo hesitated, his thoughts caught between the yearning for a better future and the nagging voice of his conscience.— "I-I... I still don''t know."


    <span ss="userText">"Argo, please," Odar pleaded, his eyes filled with desperation. "I can''t do this without you. You''re my best friend. Please, just trust me."


    <span ss="userText">Argo shifted his gaze to the ground. He was silent for a long moment before lifting his gaze to meet Odar''s.— "Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Let''s do it."


    <span ss="userText">Odar grinned and patted Argo on the shoulder. "Atta boy! That''s what I''m talking about."


    <span ss="userText">Odar''s face instantly turned serious. "Now, listen carefully. We''ll follow the tracks until nightfall and then ambush her at night. She''ll probably stop somewhere for the night, and when she does, we''ll catch her."


    <span ss="userText">— "Odar..." Argo''s voice trembled with doubt as he spoke up, attempting to voice his concerns once more.


    <span ss="userText">Odar quickly interrupted his friend, "It''s okay. Trust me. We''ll just capture her, tie her up, and then take her to the nearest city and, from there - straight to the Valemor Kingdom border. It''ll be a piece of cake," Odar assured, his voice brimming with confidence. "Don''t worry, though. It''s not like we will hurt her or do anything weird. We''re not animals. After all, we need to maintain our reputation as adventurers."


    <span ss="userText">Argo sighed, his shoulders slumping.— "Alright, I guess." he agreed, his voice hesitant.


    <span ss="userText">"Now, let''s go," Odar said, his tone eager.


    <span ss="aiText">The air grew colder, and the light of the setting sun began to fade, casting long and eerie shadows throughout the forest. Their footsteps follow<span ss="editText">ed<span ss="aiText"> the faint tracks<span ss="editText"> on the snow<span ss="aiText">. Each step they took echoed through the silence<span ss="editText">. Both<span ss="userText"> men knew that their lives were about to change forever.