The young man seemed moved by your words, at least rendering him speechless. He tapped his fingers together nervously before glancing between you and Toi, and then he spoke quietly. “T-Truth be told... I don’t want to disappoint anyone here either. Iola’s mean sure, but at the same time she at least respects my uh... My strengths, I guess. Ricks is pactient with me too. I just...” He let out a sigh before looking back towards the ocean.

“I guess there’s no real point in hiding it. I used to be part of the Iron Hammer. Used to. They’re bandits now but... They were good people to me. Took me in When goblins destroyed my village as a boy. Helped the survivors flee to the city. I stayed with em, when their leader took me in. He was like a father to me. Taught me how to use a bow. I thought... I thought we were gunna be heroes.” He clasped his hands together tightly until his knuckles turned white. He seemed very frustrated right now.

“I dunno what happened. Hunting goblins, wolves, or even the occasional ogre, I could do with the rest of the clan. But then he started harassing caravans too. I thought we were just warning them about the monsters in the pass. Escorting then to safety. I wanted to believe that. But... But when he started just killing them, taking their stuff, and no one stopped him I...” The young man looses his grip and laid his head into his hands. He struggled some tears and tried to remain composed.

“I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to hate him. Took me in when I was still a baby. Taught me everything I know. Now he’s some mad killer and... I was too weak to do anything. I couldn’t stand up to him. But I couldn’t support him either. We started raising more caravans, even I shot some arrows at the guards but... I had to go. I couldn’t do anything.”

It was subtle, as he was trying to hide it, but the young man was crying. He would refuse to let you see him like this. Even Toi noticed, silently nodding to you as he gives the man some space to vent his feelings. He stands underneath a tree for now. “I’m already sinned. I couldn’t stopped the moment I laid eyes on it but I didn’t. I helped him, because he was family too me. Because that’s the honorable thing to do for the one who took care of you. But I’m a coward at heart. I couldn’t take on anyone, not even peasants. Certainly not my own father. And now I... I’m worried if that’ll happen again. Just beaten and bullied into servitude because... Because I’m too weak to say otherwise.”