After parting ways with William a few minutes ago, Osric entered the inn he now called his home.
As he was about to sit down at an empty small table to eat something, someone caught his eye.
It was a man sitting alone near the bar with a beer in his hand.
Osric recognised the average looking man, who was just a few years older than him.
'Paul?'
'I haven't seen him in almost a decade.'
Paul was someone from the same orphanage as him and used to be like a big brother when they were kids.
But like most kids, Paul left at 16 to find work and life just got in the way, so they never saw each other again.
'He was the only older kid that was nice to me. And I was also bullied a lot less with him around.'
Even though it was unlike him, Osric decided to approach the old acquaintance.
The tired looking and slightly tipsy 26 year old saw someone approaching him.
He looked up at the young and handsome man, as his rough hand brushed against his stubbled face.
"You look like you've aged a few decades instead of the one, since I last saw you." Osric said.
Paul frowned.
He was clearly in a bad mood.
"Who are you?" He asked as he looked him up and down.
His eyes lingered on Osric's armor and sword.
"It's me, Osric."
Paul's eyes widened.
Osric wasn't a common name, so it didn't take him long to realize.
"Osric? From Backmill Orphanage?"
"That's right."
Osric smiled faintly.
"Wow. Can't believe that cute brat grew up so much."
"And that gear…"
A realisation came to Paul.
"I heard about a new impressive rookie adventurer and that his name was Osric, but even though I don't know anyone else with your name, I didn't expect it to actually be you."
"Yeah. It just kind of happened, but I am quite serious about it."
"What about you?"
Paul sighed.
"I was just fired from my porter job. The head merchant's wife had a thing for me, but I rejected her and she told the boss that I came on to her."
Osric was in shock.
Not because of why he was fired, although he felt bad, but because of what the job was.
'Is this really just a coincidence?' Osric thought.
"That's tough. Do you have any plans?"
Paul grunted.
"Nope. And the worst thing is that I still haven't told my wife."
Osric blinked a couple times.
"You're married?"
"Oh yeah."
"I got married last year to my beautiful wife. She is the best thing that's ever happened to me."
A smile appeared on Paul's face again.
"Haa. I don't know how to tell her. We have been trying to have a kid, because I was finally starting to earn enough money."
Osric saw this as his opportunity.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?"
Paul was confused but answered.
"Yes. I had to learn it for my job. I also started out as a stable boy before becoming a porter with the same merchant."
Osric smiled.
"I just started my own party. It's just me and one member, but we are both pretty capable E-Ranks."
"And we've actually started thinking about hiring a permanent porter who we can trust."
"We don't have a lot of money, but with your help, we could get a lot more jobs done more easily and therefore earn a lot more."
"What do you think Paul?"
Paul was very surprised.
He also had mixed feelings about it.
It made him happy to be offered a job so fast, but working with adventurers wasn't the same as with merchants.
It carried more risk and a lot of times earned less money.
"Can I think about it? I need to clear my head and also talk to my wife about all of it."
Osric was neither surprised nor disappointed.
"Sure. Take as long as you need."
"I haven't forgotten about all the times you helped me out when we were kids."
Paul smiled.
"I remember you saying stupid things like wanting to become the lord of Ashbrook when you were a kid haha."
Osric was embarrassed for the first time in a very long time.
He coughed.
"No need to mention such things."
Paul laughed.
"Yeah it was weird, because you were always the smartest kid, yet you still spouted the most unrealistic nonsense with such determination!"
Osric and Paul kept talking about the past while drinking together until Paul left the inn and headed home.
It had been a long time since Osric laughed so much.
Many things had changed in all those years.
But one thing had never fully disappeared.
His hunger for power.