A Warlock's Ascent

That night was very lucky for all of them, no monster spotted the big pillar of fire, most likely monsters were too afraid to go near it. Dave, on the other hand, was very happy, not only monsters but Angela also didn\'t spot the pillar and didn\'t come for his head.

Hamel was able to make the antidote safely. After pouring the antidote little by little into his mouth, Ricardo\'s complexion gained back its original color. Hamel was so happy to see that night that he volunteered to stay up first and be on lookout duty, because of which Grump and he was able to get some sleep.

The next morning, he woke up to his stomach growling, he had not eaten anything from the past day, and it was time to eat now. He looked around, Grump and Ricardo didn\'t show any sign of waking up, while Hamel was awake, sitting idly by a nearby tree. He didn\'t pay attention to the old man and started a fire.

His salted fish stew tasted great that morning, partially because he was hungry and was tired to complain about it. The smell of food woke Grump up, and soon Ricardo, which made them both climb out of their bed.

Ricardo looked pale, but he was happy to see him stand on his two feet. While cooking everyone breakfast, he came to him and thanked him for his service. He started chessy lines as he owned his life,  which he dismissed it, he did this because he wanted to do this, not out of some superhero complex

They ate breakfast in silence, after everyone had eaten their share, Grump called a group meeting. He wanted to talk to everyone about what their next step should be…

They all sat down in a circle, with Grump and Hamel facing each other, trying to intimidate each other. "First and foremost, Hamel, do you have something to say to us. Those barallels, are they what I think they are?" Hamel simply nodded his head.

"What are they?" Ricardo asked.

"Nothing that you need to concern yourself with." Hamel declared.

But it is then, Dave chimed in. "No, he must know. Your actions have put not only our life at risk but also your grandson\'s. At least he should know what you have done."

A vein popped on Hamel\'s head. "He is just a kid! He doesn\'t need to know."

Dave sighed with frustration. "Look Hamel, I dont want to give you a parenting lecture, but by not telling him, you are putting him in danger. If he knows the truth, it will only help in the future. Him not knowing the truth, will not help in any way.

Grump nodded his head. "The kid is right. The boy must know."

After some back-and-forth arguments. Hamel then caved in. "The additional two trunks, that I had when we left Ravenshade contained Ingredients stashed from the city. I have stolen all of it."

Ricardo eyes widened with shock. "WHAT! But why? Why the hell would you do that?" he exclaimed.

"We were going to Infragillis, we were supposed to settle in a foreign city. I thought we would need money. And when Grego told me that one Earthian would be joining us, I thought it would be a good idea to steal everything."

With his mouth wide open, he didn\'t know how to respond, but after taking a deep breath, he lit it rip. "Grandpa! Do you understand what you have done? You just have signed off our death warrants. Carlin would not stop at nothing to get our heads."

Hamel showed some regret on his face. "It was a very impulsive and stupid decision… I am sorry Ricardo."

"Grandpa…" It is then Grump chimed in.

"Anyway… Now, everything out in the open, Hamel, the prize of our deal just went up a lot. Carlin will be coming after our head because of you. So either, you come up with a plan that could compensate us, or we are leaving you here to die." Grump said.

This took Dave by surprise. "We are?" he questioned. "Yes, we will," Grump said while glaring at him.

He just broke a rule, never to question his decision, but he didn\'t care. How could the old man think of leaving these two behind? They would definitely die for sure, if they were in their shoes, then… then…\'

His internal monologue gave him the answer. If they were in their shoes, would these guys do the same for them? Grump came back for him when he was fighting the tribal chief, which is why he is still alive today, but he couldn\'t help but wonder whether Hamel would have come for him.

He knew Ricardo had a soft heart and if he was in charge, then there was a possibility that they would have come for them, but with Hamel in charge, they would not have come to save him.

Hamel looked at Grump, angry. "You are going to leave us here?"

"Yes, we would."

"We have a deal. You cannot just back away from the deal like this Gilbert." Hamel snarled.

A vein popped on Grump\'s head "It is Grump for you fucker. Only people that are close to me call me Gilbert."

"We had a deal. You agreed on escorting us, even when you realized who I am. How is this any different?"

"It is different IDIOT! You just robbed a great city of its most valuable resource at the moment… If you can\'t remember, then let me remind you, Ravenshade is in shambles, and now it can\'t produce more potions, because you got greedy. AND if Carlin, somehow makes it through this weird shit storm, she would come for all of us."

"She would have come after us anyway, I dont see why this makes things any different." Everyone present at the bonfire, including Ricardo, stared at Hamel with contempt.

"Grandpa, have you gone insane!" Ricardo suddenly exclaimed.

Hearing his grandson raise his voice against him, Hamel glared at him, but in return, his grandson stared at him back, he was not backing out of this one. "Stay away from this Ricardo."

"NO! You listen to me now. These guys saved my life, and have saved our lives out there. And you are not even showing any sort of consideration of their efforts. This has gone to the next level now grandpa, and I dont want to be part of it."

"Well, what do you want me to do? Give them more money? I dont have it. I dont what could I even do to pay them back. I am drowning in debt right now! I promised Helian Rtoss, that I would sell him all these materials, to him. But guess what, out of 60 ingredients, I have opened 11 of them. The barrels that I have opened, cannot be shrunk back, nor they could be stored again. So I am in deep shit as it is. So what would you have me do, Ricardo?"

Ricardo was too stunned to know what to say, while Grump on the other hand his mouth wide open. "You made a deal with Helian Rtoss? Are you fucking insane?"

Hamel turned towards him. "He offered me a lot of money to do this. So I accepted his offer, it is as simple as that."

Dave on the other hand was confused. "Who is Helian guy?"

"He is the City Lord of Barcelma. He is one of the very strongest people of Midgard." Ricardo explained

Hearing this he couldn\'t help but exclaim "Great!"

So I am being pursued by, Carlin, Angela, and the way things are going, I will be pursued by this Helian fellow as well. What kinds of bad things did I do, to deserve three city lords coming after my ass, he thought.

"I am having the feeling to kill you here right now, and let this nightmare be over," Grump said.

"You know what I am such feeling as well. Why dont you get up we will see what happens." Hamel yelled.

"You know what, maybe I should." Grump pushed himself up.

Ricardo got between them, while he, on the other hand, wanted to get in there as well, and beat the shit out of Hamel, that old man was the sole reason that he will have 3 city lords coming for his ass. But he knew, beating the old man would do him no good, for now, he needed to come up with a plan, to save himself.

It is then the wheels of mind rotated, and he came up with an idea…

"WAIT WAIT wait wait… I have something to say!" He exclaimed. Three turned towards him.

"What?" Grump asked.

"First of all, killing Hamel, although makes sense and would probably satisfy you, but it won\'t solve our problem, and may even make it worse."

"Oh! I see." Grump said while slapping his hand, showing sarcasm in his voice. "Can you explain it to me why Davvy?"

"Think about it, if we kill him, not only our assignment would be incomplete, but will also tarnish our reputation."

"So?" Grump asked.

"Well, if we do get him to his destination, we would get paid, and in the times like this, we could use some money."

Grump was not convinced, not even a little bit. "Is there anything else?"

"Also, if someone has to die, it should be me."

Hearing his words, all three of them looked at him weirdly, they didn\'t understand what he was talking about, but he had already made a decision, he had to die, to make this nightmare over…