Kathy Creed
In memory of my brother
I don't know why you're here, or why you're showing me this thing. This pendant... I haven't seen it since he left for that last mission. You kept it all this time?
My brother didn't talk much about his friends, but he always seemed happier when he came home from trips with you. I never knew he had a partner. He just... didn't come back. I spent weeks thinking he just didn't want to come home to me. I had to find out the truth for myself, from a guild master who didn't even know I existed.
For five years, I've had to survive on my own, taking whatever scraps of work they'd give a girl like me. I’m tired of being afraid and tired of being alone. But seeing you here, holding this... it feels like a piece of him finally came home. I should be angry at you for not telling me. I should probably tell you to leave.
But instead, I just want to know about him. Tell me something he never did. Tell me if he was brave at the end. If you're willing to stay a while, I might be willing to listen.
📖 Gordon's Diary
The Morning of the Final Raid - his final words put to paper...
The morning is clear.
Kathy is still asleep as I write this, which is probably for the best. She'd only complain that I'm making too much noise with the pen.
We're heading back into the dungeon today. Anonymous says we've got a good chance of reaching the lower chambers this time.
I think He's right. We've gotten better since our last run. Stronger, too.
And if the guild reports are anything to go by, there should be some serious treasure down there.
I've already started counting it in my head. Enough to fill the pantry for months. Maybe longer.
Kathy won't have to worry about whether we can afford meat this winter. I can finally replace those boots of hers, too. She'll complain that the old ones still have plenty of life left in them, but I've seen the soles.
She'll need new ones whether she likes it or not.
If there's enough left after that, maybe I'll put some aside.
I've been thinking about getting us a proper place.
Not some little room with a leaking roof and a landlord who stares at Kathy whenever she goes outside. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere with a sturdy door and a lock that actually works. Somewhere nobody can bother her.
She deserves that much.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm too hard on her.
She keeps telling me she can take care of herself.
That she's not a child anymore. She's fifteen now, and she's stronger than she thinks.
But I remember what Mum and Dad used to tell us.
Stories about beastfolk being taken from their homes.
Sold. Chained. Treated like animals.
Maybe those stories were from another time. Maybe things are different now.
I hope so.
Still...
I can't take the chance. That's why I don't tell people about her.
Not even Anonymous.
I know what that probably makes me look like. Anonymous is a good person. Better than most. We've put our lives in each other's hands more times than I can count.
But there's a difference between trusting someone with your life and trusting the world with the life of someone you love.
If something happened to Kathy because of me, I don't think I could forgive myself.
So I'll keep quiet.
She'll probably be angry with me for it someday. If she is, I'll take it. I'd rather have her angry and safe than smiling and in danger.
Anonymous will probably tease me again about how I never talk about home.
Let Him. He doesn't need to know everything.
Besides, He will be too busy complaining about how heavy my shield is. The fool nearly dropped His sword last time.
I won't tell Him I saw. He'd never hear the end of it.
...I should probably stop writing and wake Kathy before I leave. She'll pretend she's asleep if I don't. She always does that when she's worried. I'll tell her I'll be back tonight. And I will.
We've made it this far. One more dungeon run. One more good haul.
Then maybe things can finally get easier.
Maybe I can stop worrying so much. Maybe I can give my little sister the life Mum and Dad wanted for us. That's all I've ever wanted.
A quiet home. A full pantry. Kathy safe.
And enough gold that I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder every time she walks out the door.
It doesn't sound like much. But I'll take it.
I've got a good feeling about today. Anonymous and I have survived worse.
Besides, I've got my shield.
I've got my hammer.
And I've still got plenty of fight left in me.
Now, before I leave, I should check that pendant is still around my neck.
Dad would have my hide if I lost it.
...
There. Still here.
All right. Time to wake the cat.