The sun was low on the horizon as Dikun Silver stood outside the Boar's Head Inn, the town of Sasau bustling with the hum of evening activity. The Silver Company's first victory had earned them both silver and recognition, but now came the inevitable aftermath — the decision of who would stay and who would walk away.
Dikun gathered his warband beneath the inn's wooden eaves, their expressions a mixture of pride and uncertainty. The air was heavy with the knowledge that the path ahead would only grow more dangerous.
"We faced death together," Dikun began, his voice steady. "You fought with courage, and because of that, we stand here today — not as survivors, but as victors."
His eyes passed over each face, lingering on the younger men like Lorin, who still bore the weight of his first kill, and the hardened veterans like Rudric, who stood with stoic pride.
"But I won't ask anyone to stay who does not wish to," Dikun continued. "The roads ahead will lead to more blood and hardship. For some of you, the silver in your hand is enough."
He paused. "If you wish to leave, do so now. No shame will follow you."
The silence that followed was thick. Some shifted uneasily, while others stared at the dirt, contemplating. Then, at last, a voice broke the stillness.
---
The First to Leave
"I've seen enough."
It was Ogar who spoke first. The burly man, who had been so eager for battle, now seemed wearier. The bloodshed had hardened something in him, but not in the way he had hoped.
"I joined for silver," Ogar admitted, his voice low. "And I have it. But that fight…" He shook his head. "I'm no soldier. I'll find work at the docks or as a guard. Fighting for my life day after day — it's not the path for me."
Dikun gave a respectful nod. "You fought well. You earned your pay and your name among us. Go with your head high, Ogar."
The man grunted in acknowledgment before stepping back. Others soon followed. A wiry man named Cren — ever the opportunist — chose the safety of town life over uncertain battles. Another, Jarik, spoke of returning to his family.
Seven left in total. Seven souls who had seen their fill of death.
---
The Ones Who Stayed
But as those who left faded into the streets of Sasau, others remained.
"I'll not leave my blade unused," Rudric growled, his axe resting on his shoulder. "There's gold yet to be earned, and I'll see it in my hands."
"I'm not done fighting," Saria declared, her voice firm. "There's no peace for me, not until I've carved out something worth living for."
Lorin hesitated, but then stepped forward, clutching his spear. "I'm afraid," he admitted, his voice trembling. "But I'll never stop being afraid if I run now."
Dikun clasped the young spearman's shoulder. "Courage is not the absence of fear. It's standing despite it."
Bran, the archer, offered only a curt nod. "My arrows are yours. For as long as this company stands, I'll stand with it."
And finally, Elira — ever watchful, ever loyal — spoke softly. "You still have much to learn, Dikun. And I'll be damned if I don't see where this path leads."
---
The Silver Company is Born
With the decisions made, Dikun drew his sword. Its polished steel gleamed in the fading light, bearing no noble crest nor family name. But from this day forward, it would carry something more.
"Kneel," Dikun commanded.
Those who remained obeyed, lowering themselves onto one knee. They were not peasants, nor mere mercenaries. They were a band of fighters bound by choice.
"We are no longer wandering blades without a banner," Dikun declared, his voice ringing through the quiet street. "We are the Silver Company. Not for the silver we earn, but for the legacy we will forge."
He lowered his sword, touching it to each shoulder of those before him. A symbolic gesture, not one of knighthood, but of brotherhood.
"Rise, warriors of the Silver Company."
And they did.
A cheer echoed from the onlookers — townsfolk who had gathered to witness the formation of something new. Word would spread. The name Silver Company would soon reach the ears of merchants, lords, and perhaps even kings.
But for now, Dikun Silver stood among his comrades, not as a boy seeking coin, but as a leader who had chosen his path.
"Tomorrow," he said, his voice calm, "we ride. Contracts await, and the world will learn the name of the Silver Company."