"Wake up. Or I'm leaving you."
"Please just 5 more minutes… the sun just came up, have mercy on me."
When the sun rose, Josiah tried to wake his strange companion. But it seemed the creature was quite fond of its sleep.
"Sleep all you want then. I'm still leaving."
"Okay okay! I'm getting up jeez!! You're heartless man." Jack sat up with his eyes still closed. Yawning and stretching theatrically before finally getting up.
Josiah did a quick once over of his equipment before nodding and walking north. Jack quickly running after him.
"Okay listen, I get you don't like me. But we have a common enemy! The least we can do is get along."
"No." Josiah picking up his pace slightly as to not have to look at Jack. He trusted none of it. Regardless of reason Jack was evil in his eyes. And having the crones approval made him trust the situation even less. Worst of all he couldn't think right with these damn whispers in his head all the time.
Jack suddenly grabbed Josiah's shoulder stopping him. As Josiah was about to step back he noticed the facial expression Jack was making. Since his first encounter Jack had been a loose carefree guy. But his face was one of full seriousness and conviction.
"Listen. I know you don't trust me. And I get it, because of me. Even if my presence was a indirect factor, you lost someone very precious to you. But my problem was never with you. The only reason I took the gig was to get closer to that corrupt tyrant they call a duke in the north. Let me help you. You have my word I will help you kill him at the very least."
Josiah listened carefully assessing what he was hearing. Jack didn't seem to be lying, the way his hand trembled when he spoke about it. The way his eyes became filled with bloodlust. It all seemed to honest for him to be deceiving Josiah.
Thinking back to a conversation he had with Nyx, Josiah relented. She once told him,
'You can't hold a grudge against the messenger. Instead challenge the sender.'
Sighing, Josiah looked Jack in the eyes.
"I don't trust you, and I'm not sure if I ever will. However you are my companion now. And that is deserving of some respect. I apologize."
Josiah deeply bowed forward to Jack. As a show of good faith. He felt nothing at the moment, his body had turned numb so such and act wouldn't-
"Pfffftt- Ha! Ha, ahhhh" Jack started laughing hysterically. "Holy Gods! I have a king bowing before me! Did I die? Is this Heaven?"
Feeling irritation build up, Josiah quickly stood straight and walked away.
"Oh cmon! It was funny to me at least! You have to think a guy like me wouldn't even be able to dream of meeting the king."
Jack dashed to catch up and walked by Josiah's side.
"A man like you. And what kind of man are you Jack. What's your background?"
Jack gazed up at the sky. "What kind of guy am I huh? Well, I'm from the slums. Was an orphan at first before I became a mercenary. Now I just go gig to gig to survive. At least, that's how I used to live. Now I'm traveling with you."
Josiah looked at Jack, who was still gazing at the clouds with a smile.
"So, why do you hate Duke Thalorin. My reason is obvious enough, yours is a bit more obscure."
Jacks smile faded, turning into a slight frown. "Some evils of this world, shouldn't be spoken. I believe if someone asked you exactly what happened to your wife you would give a similar answer."
Josiah nodded to that response. The salt in the wound at the mention of his wife made his chest hurt more. It was a cut so deep in his soul he doubted he would ever heal from its pain. But he had to learn to live with the reality. Turn that pain into rage, and that rage into strength. The strength to get revenge.
"But! Enough about the sad stuff! We got some losers high in power to kill! Should be fun enough no?"
"You have a strange perception of fun. Personally I train my sword for fun."
Jack turned and grinned, "It's the same really, just these targets fight back a little harder."
Josiah also smilled slightly, maybe. This wasn't so bad after all…
"Josiah and Jack continued on their journey, they were about 4 months on foot from the northern capital of Wolfhaven. The duo was ambushed a number of times, but Jack proved himself capable. And Josiah was what you'd expect from the descendant of the Sword Saint. The journey north made them closer, from indifferent companions. To actual party members. Friends even. One might say."
The man paused his story telling. Making the boy question why he stopped. The man looked up, muttering something. Before addressing the boy.
"This, is when our story truly starts. There is much to discuss, and much for me to tell you. So let me ask you again, would you like to know a story?"
The boy tilted his head to the side. Has the old man finally gone senile? He already agreed to listening to his story. What's the point in repeating himself.
"Yes, I'd like to here how this story ends."
The man nodded, "Very good. Our story continues 4 months after the death of Nyx. Josiah, and Jack had just arrived at Wolfhaven. Home of Warriors…"