As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Alaric approached the humble cottage he called home. A sense of anticipation filled him as he thought about what he was carrying. Inside his pouch were the hundred gold coins he had received from the guild master—enough money to change the lives of his family forever.
He pushed open the wooden door to find his parents seated at the modest wooden table, sharing a simple meal of bread and soup. His mother, Elena, looked up with a warm smile.
"Alaric! You're back," she said, her tone filled with relief. "Did everything go well at the guild?"
His father, Richard, nodded in acknowledgment. "You were gone longer than usual. Did something happen?"
Alaric grinned, pulling the pouch from his belt and placing it on the table with a satisfying clink. His parents' expressions shifted to confusion, then shock, as he opened the pouch to reveal its glittering contents.
"Is that… gold?" Elena asked, her voice trembling.
"A hundred gold coins," Alaric confirmed. "I sold the core of the Fenrir I defeated."
Silence hung in the air as his parents processed his words. Richard was the first to speak. "You… defeated a Fenrir? Alaric, that's an A-rank monster. How did you—"
Alaric raised a hand to calm him. "It wasn't easy. But I managed, with a bit of luck and a lot of effort."
Elena looked between her son and the gold coins, her eyes brimming with tears. "This is more money than we've ever seen in our lives… Alaric, this will change everything."
Dreams for the Future
As the family sat together, Alaric explained how the guild master had praised his efforts and promoted him to rank C. His parents listened with a mix of pride and worry.
"You need to be careful," Richard said, his brow furrowed. "The higher your rank, the more dangerous the missions will be."
"I understand," Alaric replied. "But this is a chance for us. With this money, we can improve the farm, buy better tools, and maybe even afford a proper education for me and the others in the village."
Elena placed a hand on his. "You've already done so much, Alaric. Just promise me you won't take unnecessary risks."
Alaric nodded. "I promise."
A New Beginning
Later that evening, as Alaric lay on his bed, Freya's voice echoed in his mind. "You've made them very happy, Master Alaric."
He smiled, gazing at the wooden ceiling of his room. "It's not just about the money. It's about giving them hope. For the first time, I feel like I can truly make a difference."
Freya's voice softened. "And you will. This is only the beginning."
With those words, Alaric closed his eyes, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.