Chapter 01 - A fatal misstake

Wakfu
The Sword art of a kind Iop.
Chapter 01 - A fatal misstake.

''Damnit!'' ... Only one small Boowolf all week ... sigh ... It's worse then I had ever dared to hope for, and even worse if I don't get together enough money to pay this week's rent for my room ... I will pray to all the gods that I just suddenly happen upon a large sack of kamas who someone don't mind me taking.''
Said the Iop with a tired voice, exhausted and tired, he began walking back to the village, while draging the recently dead Boowolf after himself in the snow back to the small village only trader that would agree to trade with him, to either buy or sell various goods.

As the sun starts to go down for the day, and it's small warmth disappear, the dark cold night began to sweep in and swallow up all that sun for hours cast it's light upon, and with the dark night followed of course by a more frosty and stinging cold than the one during sunlight.
However, All light wouldn't disappear, during auroran light the sky would never completely remain as dark as ink, a small comfort to the Iop since he was not really fond of venturing through the dark night without even seeing the tip of his nose.

After passing through one of the main gates of the city, he would walk a few steps more and stop in front of the shop.
The Iopen took a last few breath in front of the door to the shop, and tried to gather that little energy he had left in his body after the whole day, and tried to radiate a somewhat positive temper and good smile on his face to a positive start with the merchant.

The bell sounded as he opened the door and steps through in to the shop, his face meet with a most pleasant warmth, unlike the freezing cold and the darkness that was over his shoulder outside the door, the warmth of the fire made it possible for his hands, ears and toes to regain some sense and stop feeling numb, which hurt a little at first but was still very pleasant none the less.

''Close the door! As if it wasn't cold enough as it is, would you so kindly, Fiddee ...So good to see you. ''
Fiddee closed the door behind him to shut out the cold, the young trader wasn't more then a few years older than Fiddee himself, and they had always had good conversations between one another, she would welcome him and usual give him a kind heartwarming smile, the shop keepers voice sounded sweet a usual but a bit tired today, she was probably looking forward to close down her shop for the day, a stroke of good luck he thought for himself, glad that he made it back when he did and didn't miss her.

'' Good evening, Elvira, nice to finally get inside the door and get some warmth and heat back in the fingers again. '' Said Fiddee with a grateful but still exhausted voice.
''I understand you, sigh, the snow and the northern lights here are beautiful, but to be outside like you are doing is nothing but pure madness, I would never be able to make it... I take it you are here to sell me today's 'catch', right?...Sigh let's see it then. ''

Elvira's normally cheerful and warm smile disappeared fast when iopen yet again pulled out the poor Boowolf who had been unlucky enough to get caught today, she drew a deep sigh and walk behind her counter.
''There has been many Boowolf's these last few weeks, isn't that so Fiddee? ''
As Elvira spook she also took the opportunity to pick up a small bag of Kamas and got back up again from under the counter.
''I'm afraid so yes, sorry ... the Boowolf's have either become fewer or they have started to outsmart me. ''
Fiddee tried his best to get Elvira in a better mood, if she was happy or laughing a bit, maybe she might give him something extra ... which he by this point actually desperately needed.

''hihi, perhaps they are organizing themselves against you...Sigh..I'm sorry Fiddee, but this is all I can offer you for the pelt. ''
As she put forward a small pouch with kamas over the counter to Fiddee, as he consequently was quick to look how much was inside the tiniest pouch he ever had seen.
''Only...Only 15 Kamas ... how has it come to be this bad? Just a few months back, I got over a 100 Kamas for one only? ... What happened, Elvira? ''
That little amount he had hoped for his hard day's work proved to be even less then he dared to believe, he thought it would at least be twice the amount.
''I understand your frustration, I to wish the pelts would give more ... but, if I must be honest and sincere with you...I have personally paid you over price for the pelt you have brought me... Boowolf fur fashion is no longer demanded and asked for in either Bonta or Amakna. ..I know that things are already difficult as it is for you, but I can't help you more than this, I can barely hold my own these days. ''
''Elvira, it's okay, I understand that you must look to yourself first ... but this? I cannot pay my room if I can't gather anymore then this ... I might be forced to leave ... but, where would I go ... I don't know.''
'' Home? Go home to the city you grew up in, your 'home'. ''
Elvira watched with an almost delicate glance back at Fiddee, who instead of looking back avoided looking her in the eyes.
''I've  already told you about what happened there, and I know of a fact that even my father will do his utmost if not everything in his power to throw me out... or to do away with me on something else more permanent way. ''
''Dammit, your mother and sister would never stand for it if something like that to happen to yo- ''
Elvira put her hands to her mouth and became silent.
''Forgive me, Fiddee .... I only mean well, I hope that you know that... But, what will you do now? ''
''I don't know ... I'm still thinking ... and hopes, but right now, there is onyl two thinks on my mind...how to get the last kamas...and how amazing my bed will feel when i drop on it and fall asleep. ''
Fiddee gave a faint but tierd smile as he took the little bag of Kamas and walked out from the store.
'' Bye, Elvira, and good night. ''

Elvira waved back and wish him a good night sleep as well, as Fiddee left the shop.
With slow and weary steps the iop went back to his humble abode a little further into the village to the villages inn, where he had for a long time rented a small room to sleep and stay in.
But there was also a an old thought back in his head, what would he actually do? He had only spent a few years in school to learn the basics, the rest of his short live more or less had been about to survive from day to day, to have Kamas to pay the rent and to not go hungry, even if it now seemed to sing the last verse of it all.

After a bit of wandering he would shortly see the inn, and from afar  he heard people inside laughing and speaking loudly from the inside, and as Fiddee came closer he would would also meet the three young men who had just left inn for the night and was on their way back home ... but those who left the inn were three who were familiar to Fiddee, and not in the good way in anyway slightest.
'' Wine from Sadida is absolutely wonderfully, it makes these cold days bearable, thank the gods that you do not have to sit out there in this huge pile of snow and -... oh my, look here boys, if it isn't the living snow man with his frozen carrot hair coming back to us? hahaha! ''

There was only one man who had such indecency to insult everyone that he meet in this village, Farkes the Crâ, the one and only son of the village mayor, everyone knew how his father and mother pampered with him as if he were still a little children, and consequently, instead of taking after his mother and father good intentions, he instead decided to look down on everyone else who didn't have what he himself had ... in other words Fiddee.
He and Fiddee had previously come together and fought with each other, and a few years ago their fight ended with Farkes getting a really hit to the nose, and since then it never looked quite straight, but when his father found out about that it was Fiddee's hand which had robbed his son of his perfecta exterior he assured Fiddee that if he bent one hair of his boy's head one more time he would be locked up for a long time on the water and dry bread.
Which was something that Fiddee at all costs wanted to avoid, and therefore tried to ignore all Farkes insults when they had the misfortune to meet, luckily Farkes didn't get any physical either, perhaps too scared to make a move.

'' So .... Carrot? have you found anything today? or do you plan on begging among table guests today? ''
Fiddee felt ashamed ... there was a truth in his insult, these past weeks had been really hard and bad for him, so bad that he some days had stolen food, he felt ashamed every time he did it, but those few occasions, he had been so hungry that it just didn't matter whether it was right or wrong, he was starving and just wanted a piece of bread to eat.
The little income he made disappeared immediately to pay the rent and village taxes, he chose to have a roof over his head and go hungry, than vice versa, because out here you won't survive for long without it.

As usual, he didn't allow himself to absorb the insults Farkes made of him, even though it hurt to hear them, but instead of arguing and trying to talk sense to the drunk Crâ, Fiddee would instead pass him by and his colleagues standing behind him and lauging.
'' Now, if you are so poor, why do not you just sell that sword on your back, huh? I can buy it, I have probably one or two kamas left to give you.''
Farkes began to fiddling with his bag of Kamas, but drunk as he was, it was apparently a challenge for him to do even that.
''Hey, you know what, I'll take that headband of yours instead. ''
The drunk Farkes extends to grab hold on Fidddes headband, but it was something that Fiddee didn't allow, as he struck Farkes hands away with his arm.
'' What in the name of Shukrute do you think you are doing! You ought to have a punch in the face ! ''
''Knock it of Fakes, you are drunk, go home! Life is bitter as it is, and I do not need you on top of it all to make it a living hell, go home. ''
Fiddee turns around and continued toward inn, all he wanted was for this day to come to an end and crawl down under the furry blankets and get some rest .

However, Farkes, stubborn and drunk as he was, did not choose to go home as well, but would instead run up to Fiddee and grab hold of his shoulder.
''Dammit Farkes cut it o- ''
Fiddee had hardly turnd around and said two words before a fist came flying towards him and hitting him hard on the cheek as he falls a bit shaken and dizzy down into the white snow.
It hurt, but lucky enough it wasn't a hard blow, since Farkes was that kind of person who sent others to do his dirty work, all Fiddee's teeth were still in place and his jaw were sore but otherwise it was not much more, but this had made their little reunion increasingly more nasty that it actually ever needed to be.
While Farkes proudly received the admiration of his two friends, Fiddee would take the chance to get back up on his feet again, and spat out a little splash of blood.

''You didn't see that one now, did ya?! That's why they call me 'lightning Farkes' because I'm quick and accurate! ''
Behind him his friends would keep cheering him on like never before, given that they also had taken one to many, but Fiddee began to giggle as he wanted to make something a bit more clear to the overly refreshed Crâ.
''First of all, Farkes...They don't call you by that silly name you half assed made up, they call you 'the brat', because as soon as you find something you struggle with, you hind under your mothers skirt, and that little slap you did was the work of an armature....only people like me can make noses like yours look the way they do.''
Fiddee smiled as he knew he just hit a very sore spot, and was now waiting for the Crâ to do his expected move.
''You redheaded freak! I'll have your head!''
Farkes began charging in against Fiddee to make a new hit, although this time, Fiddee was more than prepared for Farkes's incoming blow, as Fiddee dodge it and instead manage to strike Farkes a clear hit, once more against his nose.

As Farkes fell to the ground turning from side to side in pain, his two friends would run to his side and help him up on his drunk feet, and with a some a nose was overflowing with blood he would with a muffled voice shout.
''You basterd of a whore! Wait until my father hears of this! It's the end for you! You hear me!'' Farkes and his friends began running down the main road, back to his father's home and office.

At first Fiddee felt proud and a bit glad over what he had done, but after a while a thought finally dawned on him, the thought and fact over what might happen to him if the town guards got hold of him after Farkes probably over dramatic story, and that when captured he would probably spend the rest of his day locked up like a Piwi in a cold cage, that though made him panic and freak out, he couldn't remain in this village any longer, he had to go now.
He quickly walked in to the inn, said his hi to those few who were there as he passed the inn keeper.

''Hey kid, time to pay rent! Or that room of yours isn't longer yours!''
With a tierd and swollen cheek he turnd to the inn keeper, threw the small pouch of kama he got from Elvira.
''Okay, fin, I'll get my stuff and leave then!''
He ran up to his room, to collect what little clothes, supplies, items and things of importance to him, and stuffed it down in to his backpack as fast as he could.
After a will of force to shut the small backpack it would finally close, as Fiddee took a last look at the room and walked out from it, he locked it and ran down to the inn keeper and threw the key down on the inn counter, as he manage to steal one final piece of bread as he left, and he could hear the angry ranting from the inn keeper.

Fiddee and the inn keeper weren't exactly close, in fact he had made Fiddee pay a bit more for his room the other guest, so in that sense he was glad he finally get away from it.
But as he had walked out from the inn and walked with a fast pace down the street he stopped, he's mind finally clicked...Where would he go now?
Fiddee shook his head as he realized he had become stuck in his own thoughts, this was not the time to think of such, what was important was to get out of the village while he still could, and pray that the guards wouldn't be aware of anything.
Fiddee slowly began to jog down the snow-covered street as best as he could, and as he keept on going he would meet up with someone he least expected come running towards him in the middle of the night.

''Elvira!'' the Iop felt that he couldn't just run past her, without at least saying 'goodbye' to the lovely shop keeper who had almost cared for him this whole time. ''Elvira, look I have to-''.
''Yes I know, I past Farkes just a few minuts ago, his nose was bleeding and he would stop cursing your name, Fiddee what happend?''
''I can't explain, Farkes was drunk he hit me i hit him, look I just need to leave before the guards catch me, or worse, I need to-'' The iop suddenly began to panicking, he was a bit afraid, he didn't want to fight guards who were only doing their job, that much of a sense the iop had in that head of his .
''Fiddee, wait! I ran back to my store and I got you something's.'' Elvira tog of her backpack and opened it, she pulled out and extra scarf made out of a Boowolf fur, a map of the region, as well as a satchel of Kamas.
''Elvira, I-..I can't.'' The satchel was filled with a good amount of kamas, almost as much as he usually got some months back for a Boowolf fur.
''Please, don't argue with me this time, take them! And take this!'' Elvira held forth a small little item, Fiddee couldn't recall that he had ever seen one as such before when he looked closer at it.
''It's a portal potion, they are not cheap, but they will activate a portal for you to go through in the second village south from ours, it will help you get to Amakna.''
Fiddee looked at the shop keeper a bit puzzled and holding back some of his tear, she had brought all of this for him.
''Elvira, I-...Thank you...So much...For everything.'' the iop gave her a big hug as a small tear ran down his cheek, as Elvira hugged him back.
''It's okay, I have been saving them for your pelts anyway, and I think you need those kamas now more than ever, now run, just run! Before the guards catch you.''
''Thank you, Elvira, and goodbye.'' Fiddee began to run down the street to the southern gate as he looked over his shoulder to caught the last few glimpse of the shop keeper in the snowy wind.
''Goodbye Fiddee...and good luck.''

Fiddee ran as fast as he could, hopping that the guards were still unaware of what had happen between him and Farkes just some moments ago.
And as he past the gates none of the guards would stop him or ask any question as he past infront of them, they would simply node and yawn towards him, as they were to tired and most likely waiting for their replacements for the night watch.

A stroke of good luck in Fiddee's mind, he however shared their warm thoughts of a warm cozy bed and some sleep as he would try to get to the next village under the cover of night, and hopfully rest a bit in the village between his own and the one with a portal.
And as a stroke of further luck there would only be a small wind in the air to gently blow up some of the snow around him, as well as some small strips of Northern Lights to partially light up the surrounding of the road, making it a bit easier in comparison to walking in complete darkness.
Although he was already tired when he came back from his daily hunt, and he hadn't eat yet, but the option to stop, sleep, eat and risk getting caught wasn't a thought that he was too fond of at this point, as he started to chew on the almost rubbery bread he manage to steal with him from the inn, and kept walking as he chewed it.
Nope, getting to the next town, find some food there, rest a bit, perhaps sleep if it the weather became too bad to travel, then try to get to the next village and the portal as soon as first light of the day came around, that was the plan....So far.

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After traveling the whole night by foot, Fiddee would finally arrive at the first village.
As he walked in he noticed that this one wasn't as big as his old village, but it was better than nothing at this point.
He was exhausted and hungry, Fiddee's whole body ached and he had almost no energy left to take another step, going straight to the next village without stopping was surly to fail, as he keept walking through the little village he managed to notice a sign hanging and squeaking over his head.
'' 'The frozen iop brain'....Charming name.''
At this point he was to tired to even bother over the sign silly name, and decided to head in to sit down and perhaps even eat a bit.  

Once inside the inn, Fiddee decided to take a seat at the bar counter, he picked up his bag of Kamas he got from Elvira some hours ago, it was a generous amount she had given him, Fiddee smiled thankfully over the amount as he picked up a handful of them topaying for a mug of Cawwot juice and a good sandwich.
As he waited to for the food to arrive he closed his eyes a bit, just sitting on the bar chair was enough comfort to almost put him to sleep, and he probably could sleep on the counter if he would let himself.
Although, the thought of waking up to find Farkes and a good handful of well armored guard wasn't something he was looking forward to wake up to, and there was something more bugging him.

As his food arrived, he would take a few bits of his sandwich and try to focus on what was happening behind him, he felt as if two eyes carefully peered out from behind one of pillars inside the inn.
It felt a bit uncomfortable, having his thoughts about Farkes and that he probably would not let him go that easy after he manage to make his nose even more crooked then it was before, so it felt uncomfortable having them there, staring at him while he tried to get in his meal.
Without any notice Fiddee, turned around to the direction he felt the staring eyes came from, he didn't manage to meet the eyes of the one who stares at him from behind, as he hid quickly behind the pillar... after making a new attempt to catch sight of the person staring at him from behind the piller to no avail Fiddee decided to let the mysterious person look as much as he wanted, Fiddee wanted to eat his food as quick as possible and get away, not waste anymore time unnecessarily on this nonsense.

As he would take another bite of his now half-eaten sandwich, so someone would grab hold of the side of his pants, Fiddee was a bit jumpy at the time as he quickly put his hand to his sword on the back, ready to lunge toward the one now grabbing his trousers.
But Instead of meeting the eyes of the thief or other troublemaker who sought to either steal from him or create trouble for Fiddee.
He would instead meet a pale little eniripsa face, who by the looks wasn't more than just a few years old, with her wings hanging exhausting down her back, and with her small hazy crystal blue eyes looking back up at Fiddee.
? "H-hi ... '' stammered the little girl, while she still held a light grip around Fiddee's trousers and looked down at the floorboards as soon as their eyes meet for a short second.
''Hi ... '' Fiddee didn't really know what to answer the little girl, was this little girl the one who had hid and watched him from piller? if so, what would she want from him? he had never seen the child before.

''Mister iop, sir ... I-I wonder if I...if I...Could get a piece of your sandwich? I'm..So hungry...Please.'' The girl stammered as she asked Fiddee, and with her eyes still focused on the floorboards instead of looking Fiddee straight in his eyes, it was almost as if she were afraid of him.
Fiddee took a quick look out over the Inn, to see if anyone was missing their child, their daughter, but no one came forward or made the slightest peep of themselves ... Fiddee took one final look at the little girl, which in appearance had some worn clothing on her.
He turn to the bar counter again, grabbed his sandwich and split it as best he could in half and gave one half of the sandwich to the little girl.
''Here you go...Eat up. '' he said to the little girl, as sweet and tenderly as he could, she would immediately looked up towards the piece of food Fiddee held in his hand, her eyes seemed to almost sparkle as she smile back to him, while she almost tore the sandwich out of his hand and started to eat it.
At first, Fiddee had to admit that he didn't expect such a close similarity with a BooWolf as they caught their pray.
But as he watch the little girl wolf down the piece of the sandwich, he was struck by a thought, perhaps it was so that the poor girl might not have had any food at all for a very long time.
It made him remember and think back, back to the time when he had nothing to eat for the day as a little iop boy, and how good the food tasted when he finally got enough kama to buy something to sink his teeth in to.

''I assume that the sandwich was living up to its expectations? '' Said the Iop with a tender smile as the little girl had eaten up the whole piece of the sandwich she got, and proceeded to even lick her fingers clean of any crumbs that were still left, but after a while she would looked back up toward Fiddee again.
''The little lady doesn't happen to have a name too perhaps? '' The girl could help to chew a little on her thumbnail, the hop that it would still hold some more flavor of the cheese and ham that was put between the sandwich layer.
''N-Noel ... My name is Noel ... what's your name? ''
''You can call me Fiddee, nice to meet you, Noel, what wonderful names you have, Noel. '' Fiddee felt that the girl was still a little afraid of him, which he did not understand ... he wasn't at all dangerous, the fact was that he wanted to help the poor girl, although, he thought that the girl was smart for her age not to blindly trust strangers.

'' Look, Noel, are you still hungry? ... If you want, you can get a normal size sandwich instead of just a little bit?'' Fiddee gave the girl a warm and caring smile as he was met with a facial expression that could be interpreted in a way that the girl had just received a gift from the gods, as she hugged his legs tight with her arms, in fear that might miss this lovely gift.
''Y-yes thank you. '' Fiddee was actually very touched by the little girl's reaction, when he once again called out to the bartender who went out to the kitchen and soon returned with another sandwich, and a new mug with Cawwot juice and put it down by the seat next Fiddee.
Noel had during the time climbed up on the bar stool next to Fiddee as she looked with hungry greedy eyes on the mug and the sandwich before her, but as she was about to sink her teeth in to the sandwich  something stopped her, as if she was battling herself.
'' Noel? ... Is something wrong? '' Concerned that the girl seemed to have an internal conflict within her came a little unexpected, and therefore wanted to ask what was happening.
''I-I can't pay ... I-I have no kamas to pay.'' Noel began to sob a bit quietly as a tear came running down her pale cheek, right in front of her nose was a big sandwich ... but she did not have any kamas to pay for it, she knew that, she had been so incredibly hungry that she had forgotten it apparently.

'' It's okay, Noel, I'll pay for it for you ... Eat. '' Fiddee had not more then paid for the food and drink before Noel had manage sunk her small teeth in to the sandwich and taken a big chunk off of it, to consequently grab the cup with both hands and almost swept almost all the juice within it.
''Take it easy, don't wolf it down or you will choke.'' Fiddee grabbed the end of the mug and set it down on the counter again in concern for the girl, who immediately stopped eating in order to clearly listen to what fiddee told her.
''O-Okay ... I will not eat like a Boowolf ... Even if I am just as hungry as one. '' Noel suddenly became very quiet and calm.
'' Noel, I understand how hungry you are, but if you eat as you do so, you might just get a stomach ache and feel worse later today ... take your time and chew your food, it tastes better and you won't feel so hungry again so soon ... Okay.'' Both of them nodded with a smile to one another, and then continue to eat side by side until there was not even a crumb left on the plate and not even a drope of jucie left in their mugs.
When they had finished their food, they would drop down from the bar chairs as Fiddee squatted down to be at the same eye level as Noel.
''Noel, where are your parents? Where is your family? '' It was good time to Fiddee came away to the next village and their portal, but he could not just abandon the poor little girl here without further ado.
''My ... My mom and I were traveling together, she's a eniripsa, just like me. '' Noel said it with a proud voice and a sweet smile that gave her pale cheek a cute red color.
''But, we were traveling with some big strong men, and I thought they looked dangerous, so I kept myself close to mommy all the time ... When we came here my mom told me that she would go with them for a few days, that it was too dangerous for me to go with her, so she rented a room here for me.'' Noel looked down at the floor again.
'' Does your mother do this often? How long have you been here, Noel? '' Fiddee was a little worried about the girl, perhaps because he saw himself her, and could relate to some of what she was enduring.
''It is not often, but I have been alone before ... Mommy has been gone for three days now..I think? '' Noel began to count on her small fingers, then nodded and smiled to confirm it was three days when she had counted them.

''Didn't she leave you any Kamas for you to eat for? '' Fiddee started to get a tad annoyed that the little girl's mother abandons her daughter in this way.
''Y-yes..She did ... She said. 'Noel, you are not allowed to buy toys for them, only food' she said .... But when I went out to explore a bit, so someone took them away from me ... I lost them, it my fault ... My mom will be so angry at me, and I'm hungry and I-'' Noel began to sob, and a tear ran down her rosy pink cheek. '' I-I want my mommy!'' Noel ran forward and buried her face in Fiddee's cap and his sweater.
'' I know Noel, I know ... '' Fiddee gave Noel a hug and let the child cry a bit as he took forth a small handkerchief to wipe away her tears, and for her to blow his nose.
''I-..I like you, you are kind ... you're not like those other men who mommy and I were traveling with.'' Fiddee was apparently the first one in a very long time to take notice of her.

Fiddee realized however early on that people around here lived a real hard and difficult life, and most of them placed themselves and their family before anyone else ... but Fiddee found it hard to just ignore and leave her, such a little innocent children, to fend for herself.
He took forth the pouch with the kama that Elvira had given him, and opened it.
''Noel, listen to me now, this Kamas is for food and food only, no toys, okay? '' Noel looked back with a teary eyes and nodded, she sobbed a little bit still, but she seemed to at least feel a little better.
''Just like mommy's  Kamas? Are..Are those for me? '' Noel seemed unsure, maybe she had a hard time believing what was happening, or if she was just smart and on her guard, but Fiddee assured her that it was true.

As he took out an empty bag and filled the pouch with half of what was left after he had paid for their food.
''Noel, There should be enough Kamas for you to eat for at least a few more days, so you won't have to starve, okay. '' Fiddee gave Noel a warm and thoughtful smile, and handed over one of the pouch to Noel who took it in both of her small little hands.
Noel dropped the pouch on the floorboard and jumped up to wrapped her small arms around fiddee's neck to hug him, she felt  and sounded so happy.
''Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! sir Fiddee.'' Fiddee hug Noel back, it felt wrong of him to not to leave some of his kamas to Noel, Fiddee could go a day or so without food and could to a certain point at least hunt and thus get some food, while Noel however, depended on someone else and couldn't care for herself, and how could she, she was but a child.

After finally letting go of each other, there would unfortunately be time to part, Fiddee explained shortly why he had to leave but not telling her to much, as Noel nodded and gave one last hug to the kind Iop who had helped her.
''Bye, Sir Fiddee, I hope to see you again!'' Noel had regained enough strength to begin to soar above the ground again, which of course made her even more excited when she waved back  to Fiddee from the doorway, who with a smile waved back to Noel, when Fiddee again continued his journey to the next village.
A bit tired, but...Happy and proud, knowing he had done something good and right.

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His meeting with Noel had been both a mix of joy and pride but also emotional and hard to melt, he pondered over whether if it really was right of him to leave the poor child like that at the inn.
He also had a hard time believing that Noel's mother would return anytime soon, in these parts if you had been gone from more the three days...that usually means something bad have happened, but since he didn't knew if her mother was alive or not, and didn't want to make Noel feel any worse then she already did, then giving her some Kamas was kind of the easiest way to help her, and not also putting her at risk if he was found out by the guards.
At least now she wouldn't go hungry for a few days...a small comfort to him at the least.

But being awake for more than a whole day straight was starting to take its toll on him, as he keep walking through the thick snow, his eyelids started to close and Fiddee became lesser and lesser aware of his surroundings, and he began to slow down in his pace.
All he could think on was to get through the portal, after that he could search for a inn, get a room and just sleep for a whole year.
As Fiddee was lost in his own thought of sleep, and being as exhausted as he was, he failed to notice the dragon turkey heavy steps closing in on him from behind.

''There! Over there!'' the shouting from one of the riders awoke Fiddee from his thoughts,t but not fast enough, as a crossbow bolt came flying past his head and cute some of his hair, he quickly turned around to meet three very familiar riders on top of a dragon turkey each.
A second bolt shortly came flying through the air, as Fiddee manage to shake himself a wake enough to notice and  dodge the bolt it in the last second.
Instead of getting a clear shot at his forehead, it would instead hit and cut his left ear.
''Dammit! Farkes are you insane! You want me killed for a hit in that face of yours! Did I really scramble your Crâ brain so hard!'' Fiddee was both confused, exhausted and angry, Farkes could simply have let him leave and they would never cross paths with one another again.

''Yeah! You ruined my freaking Nose, you redhead bastard! And guess what, I actually am! once and for all'' Fiddee realized by that Farkes wouldn't come to his sense, as he reach for his sword on his back, fighting seemed to be his only way out of this, alas he's fatigue was at its limit and he wasn't quick enough this time to notice and dodge the incoming bolt from Farkes Crossbow.
The bolt hit and pierced a good way into Fiddee's left shoulder, and the share force of the bolt would throw him of and fall backward, down the snowy hill side, as he came to an stop he had manage to avoided landing on the bolt several times.

The pain was incredible as his whole body tensed up, Fiddee wanted nothing more the to scream in pain and agony from the shot...but he bit his teeth and jaw so hard it hurt, and didn't move a muscle...his experience as a low hunter had thought him a thing or two about animals and thier tactics, playing dead, and as he would approach the supposed dead animal it would either bit back or make a run for it, to live another day.
Fiddee was hoping and gambling on the last one, for them to believe that the bolt had hit his heart, it was a big gamble and small chance of success, but if he would scream or do something to show a sign of life they would certainly come down and finish him off.
As he laid in the cold snow, biting down he listened to Farkes and his friends up on the road.

''Ha! Did you see that! the carrot when down without even getting out his sword! That's no Iop that's something else, that why people call me 'Lightning Farkes' fellas, quick and accurate.''
''Hey..Um, Farkes...Shouldn't we at least check if he is really dead.'' As Fiddee laid down below in the snow he silently curse Farkes friends for having half a brain for once, and prayed that Farkes would be dumber than ever before.
''Are you kidding me?! Do you doubt my skill, huh? Nah, he is Boowolf food-..atcho! Damm i hate this freaking cold almost as much as that Iop, come on I want to get home and take a hot bath and open a new bottle of Sadida wine, that iop is no trouble anymore.'' As Farkes and his company rode off, Fiddee both curse their names as well as thanking the gods for making them leave.

As he got up on all four from the snow, he saw it had been covered in a pool of blood, and he had to stop the bleeding fast, instead of pulling the bolt free from his shoulder he left it in, and tried to bandage it up as good as he could with some of his clothing, and with the help from his belt, he manage to create a somewhat working pressure bandage on his wound.
Painfully and slow, the Iop manage to crawl his way up the hill side and back up on the road again, If he had luck the town wouldn't be too far away, and he might find an Eniripsa to heal up his wounds.

With a slow pace he continued down the snowy road, each step he took was more exhausting then usual, his mind had also slowly began to spin out of control.
What would it matter if he died here and now, no one would miss him, no one was depending on him, he had no family or friends, he had nothing but himself and to be honest...he didn't like to look himself in the mirror either, in fact he avoided it as much as possible, but he was mostly afraid, scared of death itself and what would happen after wards.

As Fiddee kept on walking he became more and more dizzy and weaker by the minuet, his bandage was soaking and his legs were starting to fail under his weight, as he soon thereafter fell to the side in a pile of snow.
In the distance he could see the village and the smoke from the chimney, he was almost there, he was so close, but he didn't have any strength left in him, as far as he could tell, this was it, as his eyelids began to close and his vision became more blurry by the second.

As he laid in the snow, with everything slowly coming to an end, and how afraid he was, he would still manage give a faint smile...this was finally it, the end, his terrible life would finally come to a end...He was afraid of cause, unlike many Iops, he hadn't fought in a great battle, he had not fought against any kind of monster or warrior, he had been shoot before he even manage to draw his own sword, the sword which he carried with pride as it was the greatest memory he had of his own mother.
A sense of shame came over him as he thought about his own mother and sister in his last moments and what he had manage so far in his life.
He finally decided it was time to closed his eyes shut and let things have their way.

As things became heavier and his breath almost stopped, he would faintly hear voice, it sounded distant but, it somehow seemed to came closer and closer, the voice was sweet and kind...almost like a childs.
''hey,  Sir fiddee it's not good to lie in the snow like that, you will catch a cold you know.'' Fiddee force himself to open one of his eyelids and with a hazy sight he saw someone familiar.

''N-noel, what are yo-'' Fiddee felt how his whole body just shut down as he wanted to ask what she was doing out here all alone, he wanted to say something, move a muscel, but nothing was happening, all he could was to listen on final time.