Rasir pondered over a matter for some time, then he spoke up.
"There's an empty house you can use," he said, rising from his seat. "It's a little outside the village, but nothing strong wanders there."
"Oh?" Victor perked up. "Free housing?"
Rasir nodded. "The owner passed away a few months ago. No family left behind. It's been sitting unused."
Raul scratched the back of his head. "That's… a bit grim."
Rasir waved it off gently. "Death happens everywhere. Life goes on. The house is solid, the walls are thick, and it's close enough to the village that guards can reach it quickly."
Arin bowed his head. "Thank you, Sir Rasir."
Raul and Victor followed immediately. "Yeah, thanks."
"No need for thanks, kiddos," Rasir said with a smile. "You're guests here. Stay as long as you like." He paused, then snapped his fingers. "Ah, almost forgot. You must be starving. Come to my house after you freshen up. We'll eat together."
"That's really not necessary," Arin began politely. "We don't want to trouble—"
"Nonsense," Rasir interrupted cheerfully. "I insist."
Victor leaned closer, voice low. "Turning down a Captain rank's invitation would seem rude."
Raul exhaled slowly. "And I'm starving."
Arin was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded. "Then… we'd be honored."
The hut Rasir assigned them was modest but sturdy. Thick clay walls kept the heat out surprisingly well, and the roof had been repaired recently. Inside, there were four bedframes, a low table, a storage chest, and even a small water basin.
Victor took his time walking around the room, inspecting the corners, the doorframe, and the lone shuttered window. These were just old routines. After discovering everything in order, he paused.
"…It's clear," he said. His voice was low, almost reluctant to break the quiet.
Raul flopped onto a bed and groaned. "I could cry."
Arin set his pack down near the wall. The sound of it hitting the floor felt louder than it should have. He waited, listening.
Nothing answered.
No distant howls.
No pressure in the air.
No sense of being watched.
Just… stillness.
After washing off layers of sweat, dust, and dried blood, they headed to Rasir's home.
Dinner was far better than any of them expected.
Thick cuts of roasted desert monster meat, seasoned heavily and grilled until tender. Stewed vegetables grown from hardy desert crops. Flatbread is warm enough to steam when torn apart. And clean water, cool, precious, and plentiful.
Victor nearly cried when he took his first bite.
"This is illegal," he said hoarsely. "There's no way food this good exists in a desert."
Raul nodded with his mouth full. "I take back every bad thing I thought about deserts."
Rasir laughed quietly, watching them eat like starving animals. "Strength isn't just forged through combat," he said. "A body that eats well and rests well survives longer."
Arin listened carefully, committing the words to memory.
By the time they returned to their hut, the exhaustion hit all at once.
Raul collapsed face-first onto his bed and didn't move again.
Victor kicked off his boots, muttered something about "can't eat anymore," and passed out mid-sentence.
Arin lay down last.
For the first time in longer than he could remember, he let his guard down completely.
And slept.
Morning came gently.
Sunlight filtered through the small window, warm but not harsh. Outside, voices drifted in, villagers greeting one another, tools clinking, distant laughter.
Raul was snoring.
Victor was sprawled halfway off his bed, one arm dangling dramatically.
Arin stared at the ceiling for a while before sitting up.
"We need to decide something," he said quietly.
Raul groaned. "Can it wait?"
"Yeah," Victor muttered. "Let us sleep a bit more."
Arin sighed. "We can't leave yet."
Silence followed.
Raul sat up slowly. "Yeah, Captain-rank monsters," he said. "Plural."
Victor nodded. "Commander, if we're unlucky."
Arin clenched his hands. "So we stay. We train. Until we're strong enough."
Raul stretched and grinned. "I'm close anyway."
Victor smirked. "Same."
They both looked at Arin.
He met their gaze calmly. "I'm quite far."
Raul shrugged. "So what?"
Victor nodded. "Yeah. We just work harder."
Arin blinked.
Raul grinned wider. "We didn't come this far to quit because one of us needs more time."
Victor crossed his arms. "Besides, you're the one keeping us alive half the time."
Warmth spread quietly through Arin's chest.
"…Alright," he said. "We'll do our best."
A knock came at the door.
Victor groaned without opening his eyes. "Too early for assassins."
Raul snorted from his bed. "Assassins don't knock, idiot."
Arin opened it.
Kel stood outside, waving cheerfully. "Morning, kiddos!"
"Oh, hey," Victor said. "What's up, Kel?"
"The village head asked me to introduce you properly to everyone," Kel said. "Since you'll be staying with us."
"That's fine with us," Arin replied.
As Kel walked ahead, Arin activated Lord's Eyes discreetly.
___________________________
Name: Kel
Core Talent: Farming
Rank: Soldier
Potential: Low
___________________________
As expected.
The tour took most of the morning.
Arin quietly checked every villager above fifteen. Most were ordinary farmers or craftsmen. The few with combat-related talents were guards and hunters, their skills practical rather than flashy.
No hidden threats.
No strange anomalies.
Just ordinary people.
And they were… overwhelmingly kind.
One old woman shoved a bowl of stew into Raul's hands without warning.
A baker forced Victor to taste-test bread "just in case."
A group of kids followed Arin around, asking what the world outside the desert is like.
By the end of it, all three of them were completely full.
Painfully full.
Victor walked stiffly. "I think I've been adopted by six grandmothers."
Raul patted his stomach. "If I roll, I might not stop."
Arin rubbed his temples. "I'm going to explode."
Kel laughed. "That's the hospitality of our village, kiddos."
They finally reached the edge of the village.
"That's everyone," Kel said.
Arin hesitated. "Um… what about that hut out there?"
Kel's smile faded.
He glanced at the distant structure, half-buried in sand, standing alone.
"…We don't talk about that one," he said quietly. "If you're curious, ask Rasir."
The air felt a little heavier.
Arin nodded slowly.
"Alright," he said.