Captain Velagros could only grin and bear Lith’s attitude, and not only because of his orders. The more he looked at the youth, the more wrong everything felt. The cold and dead eyes, the detached attitude, were all things he had seen plenty of times, but never in kids.

They were traits found either in battle hardened veterans or in madmen with an agenda. Last but not least, back when he had stepped forward with an intimidating manner, his body had started screaming for danger.

A member of the corps didn’t manage to reach his age without developing a keen instinct, and in that moment his own was telling him to back off and avoid sudden movements.

“How much do you want?” He asked.

“You say it like I’m extorting money. Before being a healer, I was a hunter. And the first thing I learned, is that hunters don’t do favours, we cut deals. Here is my offer. I do the job, and if I succeed, I get a safe house for my family.

I don’t care if it’s because the civil war breaks out, we get invaded or there’s a sudden drought. The second something goes wrong; I want them safe and out of the Kingdom. Deal?”

Lith extended his hand and Velagros shook it without hesitation. For a moment, Velagros had feared the kid would ask for a ridiculous sum of money or an artifact. Instead he had demanded something simple and reasonable, albeit expensive, leaving no space for bargain.