Convictions and Premonitions

Another day in this village has ended, another day that I’m reminded of the past. Here I stand, Jeb the village chief of Norn and instead of focusing on the village’s future I focus on myself. I had a family once: a wife, a son, a daughter in law, and even a newborn grandchild on the way. Each day was happier than the last, until winter claimed my wife. After that, as the days grew warmer, so did my son’s irritation with this place. He hated that his mother had to die in a place like this, and swore to me that this place wouldn’t become his tomb either. He took his wife, who was due soon, and left the village. However, things didn’t end well.

My son tried to move with his family to the frontier close to the capital. After a two week journey, the city of commerce, Belkrant was in sight. Sadly that’s when things took a turn for the worst, there was a monster stampede at that time. Their caravan driver abandoned them and climbed the wall to safety. My son used the sword the driver had for self defense, he tried to protect our family. In the end, he met a grizzly fate and as for my daughter in law. Knowing the horrors that occurred to her brings a tear to my eye. Monsters tore them to shreds, amongst my Daughter in law’s remains was a dead fetus. It was a baby boy, my precious grandson! My poor boy, why did he have to suffer? I know this story because the caravan driver came back to tell me, begging for forgiveness. All I’ll say is that he wasn’t walking straight after the beating I gave him. With my family gone, I entered a state where I was practically dead myself.

Everyone tried to help, but I shooed them away. How could they ever understand? One day I was wandering around the village, hoping the gods would take me, and that’s where it happened. A boy walked up to the gate, he was severely malnourished and looked like he saw death itself. Seeing the boy I ran up to him, and held the child. Out of his mouth came a phrase I didn’t think I would hear.

“...Grandpa…”

Grandpa, this child called me grandpa! My prayers were answered, the gods returned my grandson to me! I know he’s my grandson, I just know he is! He looks like how my son did when he was a boy, and his hair is silver. They say those with silver hair are connected to spirits and the dead, add the fact that he called me grandpa and the answer is plain to see! I couldn’t tell the villagers this though, they would think I’m crazy. As much as it pained me, when the boy awoke I was forced to ask where he came from. So he lead us to his village, and I dreaded the thought of him leaving. Then me and the search team discovered his village was completely destroyed, between you and me I was overjoyed! I got to keep my grandson, it was a blessing from the gods!

However, that didn’t stop these damn villagers! They spoke ill of the boy, telling me to cast him out! Telling me he was cursed! Telling me for the sake of the village and others that we should kill him! I shut it all down, I will let no harm come to my grandson. For those who mentioned killing him, I secretly plotted their demise. However I decided against it, this is a small town. My plan would never work, so instead I prepared the perfect life for my grandson. I gave him everything he would need: a home, gifts, love! Despite that the boy was closed off, it was like his heart was in a gilded cage.

My poor precious grandson, what I wouldn’t do for you. All you must do is ask, and I your beloved grandpa will-

*Creak*

“Ah, Ein welcome hom-”

My beloved grandson seemed different, of course he did. He was covered in scraps and bruises, and bandages no less! Who did this, who hurt my grandson! Forget my refrain, I kill tonight!

“Grandpa…”

“Ah!”

Grandpa, my beloved grandson called me grandpa! I looked at the boy with tears in my eyes. That’s when I noticed the look on his face and the new clarity in his eyes. My boy has grown, he’s stronger now!

“Grandpa, I have a favor I’d like to ask of you!”

“Anything for you my boy.”

“Thank you Grandpa! I need to become stronger, strong enough to protect my new friend!”

A friend, thank the gods, my grandson has made his first friend. Whoever you are child, you have my blessing. For my grandson’s sake, I shall protect you as well!

****

It was a few days after the village chief’s declaration, while the hunters were in the forest they found something strange. There were goblin corpses throughout the forest, and each body had a hole in it. The hunters knew not what was to come, but this moment was merely a warning sign of what was to come.