A Life Alongside Orderic

🧱 The Encounter: Robin meets Orderic

After waking up and regaining some strength, Robin decides to walk through the village to look for the mason, as he had been advised. Asking for directions along the way, he reaches the back of the bar, a building that clearly shows the marks of recent violence: its walls are cracked in several places, some stones have come loose and lie on the ground, and part of the roof appears to have caved in from the impact of some strange force. There, among piles of rubble and stone and wooden tools, a young man works diligently, trying to repair the damage. Noticing Robin's presence, the young man stops, wipes the dust from his hands on his apron, and approaches with soft, reserved steps. In a kind but low voice, almost as if afraid of speaking too loudly, he introduces himself: —Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Orderic, the village mason. I see you're feeling much better. I was the one who found you lying on the ground, right outside the village. You were badly injured, with deep cuts, and I don't know how much longer you would have stayed there if I hadn't found you. Robin watches him closely as he speaks: he notices that his cheeks flush slightly just by addressing him, that he sometimes looks down at the ground or at his hands instead of making eye contact, and that he is clearly nervous in the presence of a stranger. He immediately understands that Orderic is a very shy person who gets embarrassed easily, even in simple situations. Before Robin can respond, Orderic remembers something important and adds in a sincere, warning tone, as if trying to spare him an unpleasant experience: —One thing… if Hubert, the innkeeper, offers you his special drink, he calls it the "mustard special," I strongly recommend you don't drink it. It's very strong and tastes awful; plus, it almost always causes intense itching all over your body that lasts for hours. No one in the village drinks it for pleasure, only to prank newcomers. Robin thanks him for the warning, introduces himself, and, driven by curiosity and the nagging doubt that haunts him, asks the question that worries him most: —Thank you so much for finding me. Do you know who saved me? Who could have faced and defeated that dark armored figure that attacked me? Orderic blushes a bit more, to the point where his cheeks take on a visible reddish hue, and gently shakes his head: —I don't know for sure. When I got to the spot, the dark knight was already gone, and you were just there, unconscious and wounded. I didn't see anyone else, so I can't tell you who could have defeated him. After a brief silence, to break the tension and offer a helping hand, Orderic proposes an opportunity: —While you recover and look for a place to settle, if you're interested, you could work as a mason's assistant. There's a lot to do: collapsed walls, houses damaged by attacks, roads to repair… it's hard work, but necessary, and it will allow you to earn a living and get to know the village. Robin accepts the offer, and they spend the whole day working together: sorting good stones from broken ones, clearing debris from affected homes, and starting to stabilize the weakest structures. When the sun begins to set and the light turns golden, they call it a day. Orderic, with a small, shy smile, shows him a small house he has recently fixed up: —I've finished repairing this little house. It's simple, but it has a safe roof and sturdy walls. I'd be happy to help you settle into the village. I'll give you some well-worked stones so you can finish making any necessary adjustments, but you'll also need wood to reinforce the doors and windows. For that, you'll have to go to the forest and find Gregor, the village lumberjack; he'll provide you with everything you need. With a slight nod and maintaining his characteristic shyness, Orderic says goodbye: —Good luck in your new home. Robin walks away toward the house, but his thoughts keep churning without rest: Who was the person who really saved me? Who had the strength and courage to face that dark being and defeat it? I only remember that some kind of dagger, arrow, or sword tip pierced its head. The doubt remains in his mind as he begins to take his first steps in this place that still feels unfamiliar to him.

🧱 First Event: The Walk to the Lake and the Birth of Friendship

Several days have passed since Robin started working as Orderic's assistant. One afternoon, after a long and exhausting day of raising walls and repairing roofs, the mason stops, wipes the sweat from his forehead, and looks at his companion with a more relaxed expression than usual: —How about we take a break? We've worked enough for today. Would you like to take a walk to the village lake? Robin gladly accepts, and together they first head to the square, where Bardo's stall is located, selling fruits, vegetables, and meats. Seeing them arrive, Bardo greets them kindly: —Good afternoon, Orderic. What can I get for you today? —Good afternoon —Orderic replies softly—. I'd like two banal fruits, two sweet peppers, and two bluberries. Bardo grins mischievously as he prepares the order: —Wow, I see you're pretty hungry today. But… I see you're not alone. You must be the newcomer, right? —he asks, looking at Robin, who nods with a kind smile. —How lovely —Bardo adds in a playful tone—. It's nice to see that couples are slowly blossoming in our village. Orderic immediately blushes to the tips of his ears, quickly shakes his head, and replies in a nervous voice: —N-no, it's not like that… we're just friends. Robin is a little surprised to hear that Orderic already considers him a friend, though he says nothing and remains quiet. Bardo hands them the fruits wrapped in dry leaves and says: —Here, enjoy them. It's a gift from the house. —Thank you so much —Orderic replies gratefully before continuing on his way. As they approach the lake, they run into Hanth, the village blacksmith, who looks at them with a playful smile: —Don't tell me, Orderic… heading to the lake again? —You know how I am —the mason replies shyly. Hanth then notices Robin's presence and adds teasingly: —Well, well, look at that. Robin just arrived in town and you've already got your eye on him, huh? Orderic gets even more nervous, shakes his head vigorously, and tries to explain that they're just going out to rest, but Hanth just laughs and wishes them a good time. At that, Robin wonders why they're teasing him like that. When they reach the water's edge, they sit on the fresh grass and start eating what they were given. It is then that Orderic, with more confidence, begins to tell him details of his childhood: —When I was little, I lived in a village far from here. There was also a lake nearby, and my friends and I always went swimming. Since we didn't want our clothes to get wet, we took everything off… and that always made me very embarrassed, although over time I got used to it. He pauses briefly and continues in a more serious tone: —I only lived with my mother; I never knew my father. She always told me that he wasn't human, that he belonged to another race, but she never told me which one. She also repeated something very important to me: in that kingdom, mixed-bloods are forbidden. Anyone who carries blood from two different races is hunted and killed. That's why she forced me to keep my secret. Over time, I discovered that my friends were also mixed-bloods, just like me. His eyes sadden a little as he remembers: —When we were between eight and ten years old, the kingdom's soldiers discovered our condition. My friends' families and my own mother gave their lives to stop them and give us time to escape. Since then, this village is the most important thing I have. It's the only place where I've been accepted as I am, regardless of my origin. I will never allow the Dark Knights to destroy it… I would even give my life if necessary to protect it. Robin listens attentively and realizes that, for the first time, he sees Orderic speaking with such confidence and conviction, as if he were a different person when it comes to defending what he loves. After a while of chatting, they decide to go back to finish what was left of the work. At that moment, for Orderic, they are no longer just companions: deep down, he has decided that Robin is his friend.

🧱 Second Event: Orderic's Secret and the Growing Bond

Several days have passed since they started working together, and little by little Orderic is getting to know Robin better. One afternoon, while repairing a damaged wall, the mason stops when he sees a stone that is cracked and no longer useful for construction: —This stone is no good for building walls anymore —he comments—. I'll take it home with me. Then, as if remembering something important he hadn't told him, he adds softly: —Oh, that's right, I haven't told you. Besides being a mason, I'm also a sculptor. I'm not a professional, but when I have free time I like to carve figures. Would you… would you like to come to my house and see my works? He says it with obvious nervousness, and his cheeks take on a soft red hue. He had wanted to invite him for days, and now he finally dares. On the way, Orderic explains that he and his two friends live together in the same house: they call it the Brotherhood House, since they consider themselves almost like brothers. Upon arriving, Robin sees that it is a large, cozy, two-story building. On the ground floor is the common room and the kitchen, while the bedrooms are upstairs. Each one has a balcony with a flag bearing a letter: O, G, and H, for Orderic, Gregor, and Hanth. Once inside, he takes him to his room and immediately apologizes: —I admit, my room is a mess… sorry about the clutter. Robin looks around and doesn't find it as messy as he says: on the walls there are several drawings, and on the table and shelves line up various stone-carved sculptures. —These are the works I've made —Orderic explains—. I know I'm no expert, but I really enjoy doing it. I still have a long way to go before I'm a master, but… you can ask me about whichever one you want. Which one catches your eye? Robin notices one of them: it looks like a hand holding a sword, but the tip of the blade is broken. —That one was supposed to be a hand holding a sword —Orderic recounts—, but the tip broke and I couldn't repair it. It was going to be the hand of the General of the village army. When we arrived here, he was the one who welcomed us and made us feel welcome, and I'm very grateful to him; I wanted to give it to him, but I ruined it. I still keep it, because I put a lot of time into it. Then Robin looks at another one that closely resembles Gregor: —That's Gregor —he says with a small smile—. I love making sculptures of my friends, but for that I need them to pose for hours while I make my sketches. Once I asked Gregor to do it, but he couldn't stay still that long, so I asked Hanth for help. Hanth stood in front of him and started saying things to keep him in place: he told him that if he moved, he was a coward, a chicken, or a piece of crap. When I finished my drawings, you can't imagine what happened: they fought like two animals. Luckily, they didn't break anything in the end… although I must say the sculpture turned out pretty well. Suddenly, Robin's eyes stop on a figure that catches his attention: it's identical to Orderic. The mason changes his expression and becomes serious before speaking: —That one's mine. Every time I see it, it reminds me of what I'm most afraid of: myself. There's something in my nature that I can hardly control: when I get angry, I completely lose control of my emotions and my actions, and I can lash out without realizing it, even at the people I love. Once, the Dark Knights injured Gregor's arm. I got so angry that I don't remember anything that happened afterwards… but when I woke up, I saw several houses destroyed, my friends with cuts all over their bodies, and my weapon completely covered in blood. I blame myself, because I'm sure I was the one who hurt them. Sometimes I think I don't know why I even join the fights: if I'm so weak, my friends could defend the village without me… Seeing him so downcast, Robin approaches and gives him a gentle hug, along with a few pats on the back to cheer him up: —It's okay, it wasn't your fault what happened. Sometimes things happen beyond our control. After that moment, they both stay up talking until late at night. At one point in the conversation, Robin asks him what kind of weapon he uses. —Ah, it's a special weapon I made myself —Orderic replies—. Let's just say I'm not the most skilled at hand-to-hand combat, so I created this. He shows him his tool: a sharp chisel attached to a long, flexible chain. Seeing it, Robin remembers something that had come to mind when he was about to pass out in the forest: the Dark Knight's head had been pierced by a very similar object. He decides not to think too much about it for now, and they keep talking until sleep overtakes them. Since there's no other bed available, Robin lies down in Orderic's bed, while he leans against the wall on the edge, until they both fall asleep. The next morning, when Robin wakes up, Orderic is no longer in the room. When he goes downstairs, he sees him with Gregor and Hanth, preparing provisions: bread, meat, and drinks. —Okay, we have the bread, the meat, and the drinks… what are we missing, guys? —Orderic asks. Gregor, seeing Robin come down, grins mischievously and looks at his friend: —One thing: Robin was with you last night, wasn't he? Orderic immediately blushes and gets nervous at the look from his friends: —Y-yes, he was… but we just talked, nothing more. —Look at him! —Gregor laughs—. What did you two do yesterday, being alone? Before Orderic can answer, Robin arrives and greets them, asking what they're doing. —Oh, Robin, you're awake —Orderic welcomes him with relief—. Did you sleep well? We're getting ready to go camping on the outskirts of the village. Would you like to come with us? Robin gladly accepts. While Orderic goes outside to wait for him, since he has everything ready, Gregor and Hanth come a little closer to Robin to speak to him in a low voice: —Hey —Hanth says—, if Orderic seems very kind or close to you, don't be surprised. It's a secret he's kept for a long time: he likes men. We think he's the only one in the whole village who does, and that's why he feels so ashamed and shy sometimes. But I can see that when he's with you, he feels much more confident and speaks more easily than ever. I'm glad you give him the confidence to change. Robin blushes slightly at hearing that, and then Gregor adds seriously: —And there's something else you should know before we go: it was Orderic who saved you from that Dark Knight. He's too embarrassed to talk about those things, that's why he never admits it. I was out getting some air that night and I saw him carrying you in his arms to the inn; I also saw that his chisel was stained with blood. And even if he tells you he's the weakest of us, that's not true: he's actually the most dangerous of the three when it comes to protecting this place. In hand-to-hand combat we're almost equals, but from a distance he surpasses me. He's probably told you what happens when he gets angry: he attacks indiscriminately, but we still love him very much. In that state, he becomes the third most powerful being in the entire village, only below the General and the King. But please, don't tell him we told you, or he won't trust us again for a while. After those revelations, they all leave together and head toward a mountain far from the village, until they reach a wide, quiet valley where they decide to set up camp. While they eat, Robin notices that Orderic is looking at him out of the corner of his eye, and when their eyes meet, he quickly looks away, unable to keep his cheeks from flushing. At one point, they both reach for the same piece of bread at the same time and their fingers touch slightly; Orderic turns cherry red and immediately pulls his hand away. Gregor and Hanth watch the scene with a smile: they can clearly see that something special is growing between them, and they feel happy that Orderic, the most reserved of the three, is finally starting to open his heart. From that moment on, Orderic considers Robin not just a friend, but someone very close and special to him.

🧱 Third Event: The Confession, the Attack, and the Definitive Bond

Several months have passed since Robin arrived in the village. Every day he works alongside Orderic, and he has noticed that when evening comes and the sun begins to set, the mason often lies down on the grass to look at the sky. Robin takes advantage of these moments to rest too, but one afternoon, as the sunset paints everything in golden hues, they decide to stay and watch the shapes the clouds make. Orderic is still a bit nervous and flushed, but not with the extreme shyness of the first days; now he feels calmer in his company. —Hey, look at that cloud —Orderic says with a small smile—, it's funny, it looks like a wolf's head. And look at that other one, it looks like a crested lizard… or it could also look like Hanth's messy haircut. And that one? What does it remind you of? —They look like two cherries together —Robin replies—, or maybe two grapes. Orderic pauses for a moment, looking at it carefully, and then says softly: —To me it looks more like a heart… but you're right, it also looks like cherries or grapes. He takes a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and turns to him: —Hey, Robin… I have to tell you something. As you know, I've always been very shy, but for some reason, when I'm with you, I feel like I can do anything. Thank you for being by my side these past few months. They've been very good and happy days for me. Even when I'm in my room or anywhere else, I can't stop thinking about you. Hearing those words, Robin blushes slightly. Very calmly, he brings his hand and rests it gently on Orderic's, who immediately blushes intensely to the tips of his ears. —Listen to me —Orderic continues, his voice trembling but sincere—, I've wanted to tell you this for a long time. I… I lo… Before he can finish the sentence, a deafening roar shakes the ground and the whole village trembles violently. They both jump up and run toward the main entrance. When they arrive, they see that the great wooden and stone gate has been completely shattered, and before them stands an imposing figure: an adult dragon, with dark scales and gleaming eyes, advancing with heavy steps toward the houses. Orderic's expression changes completely; his gaze becomes serious and alert: —An adult dragon! The barrier around the village is supposed to protect us… how did it get in? The wizard placed a magical shield over the whole village, but this isn't normal. —He gently pushes Robin back—. Go, Robin. I'll handle this. —Do you think I'm going to leave you alone after what you just said? —Robin replies firmly—. Your words mean a lot to me. I'll fight by your side, even if you say otherwise. Orderic looks at him with a mixture of surprise and gratitude, and they both prepare to face the beast. However, they soon realize it is much stronger than they expected: its hide is as hard as iron, and their blows barely cause any damage. In the middle of the fight, Robin spots a weak point: on the lower part of the dragon's back, a large scale is missing, leaving the skin exposed. He decides to get close quickly to attack there, but just as he is about to strike, the dragon spins abruptly and lands a powerful tail swipe that sends him flying against the wall of a nearby house, leaving him wounded and motionless on the ground. Seeing Robin lying there, bleeding, something breaks inside Orderic. Fury consumes him completely and he loses all control. His pupils become shrouded in deep darkness, his skin becomes marked with dark symbols that glow faintly, and his hands transform into large, sharp claws. With impressive speed, he launches himself at the dragon: a single blow opens a grievous wound in its neck, and with a second precise attack he ends its life. At that moment, Gregor and Hanth come running. Seeing their friend's transformation, they quickly move Robin away from the spot: they know what comes next. Now completely out of control, Orderic turns on them, not recognizing them. He launches a swift attack aimed at Gregor, but Hanth steps in, takes the hit, and is thrown against a wall. Gregor sees Orderic's weapon lying on the ground: he picks it up and quickly thinks of a plan. Before finishing, Orderic launches another swift attack, this time heading straight for Gregor. They exchange blows; Gregor, with his axes, sees an opening and launches a quick attack, cutting off both of Orderic's arms. Gregor acts fast: he throws the chains of Orderic's weapon and summons some roots, managing to immobilize him for a few moments, while he shouts: —Hurry, Hanth! I won't be able to hold him for long, the chains are breaking! Hanth grabs his heavy hammer and approaches quickly, ready to strike him in the head to knock him unconscious and stop him from hurting himself or others further. But just before he can land the blow, Orderic regrows his arms and breaks the chains and roots with a single movement, impales Hanth, and with another swift attack, gravely wounds Gregor in the shoulder. When he is about to take his friends' lives, Robin, despite his pain, manages to stand and steps in. Instead of attacking, he runs to him and hugs him tightly. —They're your friends, almost your brothers! —he says in a strained voice—. Are you going to hurt them? Are you going to hurt me too after what you told me? Please, come back to us! But Orderic doesn't seem to recognize him. With his weapon, the sharp chisel, he pierces Robin's chest. Robin doubles over in pain but doesn't let go of the hug. From the ground, Gregor and Hanth shout desperately: —What the hell are you doing! —You told us today you were going to confess your feelings to him! —Hanth adds in anguish. Orderic reacts. Robin, with his wound open and losing blood little by little, still hugging him, struggles to say: —I think about you every day too… I thought I was the only one feeling this… I… love you too... Robin loses consciousness and falls to the ground, quickly losing blood. The darkness in Orderic's eyes begins to fade. He regains consciousness and, seeing what he has done, feels devastated and falls to his knees. His friends immediately rush to help Robin, bandaging the wound and applying a regeneration potion to stop the bleeding. Orderic steps back a few paces, raises his weapon to take his own life, but Gregor manages to stop him by grabbing his arm tightly: —Idiot! First you hurt the person you love and now you're thinking of leaving him alone. Who are you? You're not the friend I know. —Nothing guarantees this won't happen again —Orderic replies desperately—. Who knows? Maybe if I lose control again, I'll end up killing him and you too. This is for the best… please, let me do it. Let me go. —I won't! —Gregor insists—. When we were kids, I promised your mother I would always protect you. I also can't let you abandon Robin right now. You need him and he needs you. Don't make such stupid decisions! —Don't you remember what you told us? —Hanth adds calmly—. You yourself told us that when you were with him your life was happier than ever. And now you're going to throw it all away just because you're afraid of hurting us? Don't be a fool! Every time you lose control, we'll be here to stop you. You can count on that, friend. Orderic, overcome with emotion, drops his weapon. A few minutes later, Robin wakes up, still weak but conscious. He slowly gets up and goes to Orderic, hugging him with relief and joy at seeing him back to his old self. With tears in his eyes, Orderic says to him: —I'm sorry… forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you. But you have to understand that as long as we're together, your life is in danger. I don't think what we have can protect you. I might lose control again, and next time I might even kill you. Maybe it's best we go our separate ways… Gregor raises his fist to punch him, but Robin stops him with a gentle smile and gives him a kiss on the lips. —No matter how many times you lose control —he says tenderly—, I'll always be here by your side, and I'll do everything I can to help you get back to normal. Because I love you too. They both hug tightly, crying with emotion, while Gregor and Hanth, watching the scene, can't help but shed tears of happiness as well. After a few days of rest and recovery, when they are completely healed, Orderic and Robin decide to make their relationship public. The whole village is surprised at first, but soon they admire the sincere and brave love they share. From that moment on, Orderic considers Robin not just his friend, but his life partner.

🧱 Ending: A New Life Together

Once peace has returned and Robin is recognized as the village's savior for freeing the village from the curse, Orderic and his friends decide to undertake a special project: they are building a small but cozy house right on the shores of the lake. Robin approaches to offer his help, and as he observes the work, he notices that Orderic has put in a care and dedication he has never seen before: every detail is thought out, and in the carefully drawn plans, nothing has been left to chance. —All right —Orderic says in a determined tone as they inspect the structure—, we're on the right track, but we still need to reinforce that wall, put on the roof, and finish a few more details. Robin is surprised: he has never seen Orderic so focused and confident about finishing something. A few days pass and the construction is almost ready. The sunset paints everything in golden and warm hues when Gregor and Hanth say goodbye, saying it's time to leave them alone. Once they walk away, Orderic approaches Robin with a nervous but sincere expression. —Well, it's almost finished —he tells him, and hands him a well-worked brick—. Here, I'll give you the honor of placing the last brick. Robin does so carefully, and when he finishes, he turns to Orderic, who is even redder than usual. —Robin, I have to tell you something —he begins to speak softly—. The reason I put so much effort into this house… is because I didn't build it just for myself. I built it for you… well, for us. His cheeks turn a deep red and his hands tremble slightly with emotion. —Will you… will you marry me? Robin is surprised: he has never heard Orderic speak with such sincerity and confidence. He smiles and replies: —It's funny, because I was also waiting for the right moment to say the same thing. But if I have to answer you now… my answer is yes. Beneath the golden light of the sun, they embrace joyfully. Suddenly, they hear a sob coming from some nearby bushes. Approaching, they discover Gregor and Hanth, who had been watching the whole time. —Wow, Gregor —Hanth says with friendly mockery—, this is one of the few times I've seen you cry. Where's that serious, tough man? —Shut up, you idiot —Gregor replies, wiping his eyes—. It's just that I'm happy to see that our shy, quiet little guy has become a real man. I'm really happy for you two. —How long have you been there? —Orderic asks with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. —Long enough to hear the whole conversation —Hanth replies, smiling—. And well… when's the wedding?   A few days later, the ceremony takes place on the shore of the lake. All the villagers gather to witness the moment. Both are dressed in white suits and matching bow ties, and Horase, the village wizard, officiates. —Dear villagers —he begins—, we are gathered here to celebrate the union of these two people. This will be the first union of two men in our history. This village is characterized by not putting limits on love: different races live together here, they can marry each other, so why not do the same between people of the same gender? He looks at Robin and asks: —Robin, do you accept Orderic as your lawful husband, promising to protect and accompany him, even when his anger may cause difficulties? —Yes, I do —Robin replies firmly. Then he turns to Orderic: —And you, Orderic, do you accept Robin as your husband, promising to protect him and do everything possible to control your temper? Orderic, with a radiant smile full of happiness, answers: —Yes, I do. —Then I declare you husband and husband —the wizard announces—. You may kiss your husband. They kiss as everyone applauds. In the midst of the celebration, Gregor's moved sobbing is clearly heard, so Hanth hands him a handkerchief to dry his tears.   After the party, they settle permanently into their new home. The days pass quietly: Orderic continues working as a mason in the village, and Robin helps him whenever he can, also accompanying Gregor and Hanth in their tasks from time to time. To prevent Orderic from losing control again, they have asked the wizard to create a special bracelet for him, capable of containing the darkness and fury within him. And they soon see that it works: one afternoon, when Gregor and Hanth come to visit and, as usual, end up breaking some plates by accident, Orderic reacts with anger, but without transforming or losing his mind. —You idiots, you're like little kids! —he tells them firmly—. Can't you stop breaking everything every time you come to visit? His friends are stunned for a few seconds: —What's wrong with you? —Gregor asks—. You didn't used to talk like that. —Wow! —Hanth adds—. I never thought I'd hear something like that from you. Robin laughs and looks at his husband: —Well, it seems the bracelet works perfectly, doesn't it? Orderic blushes slightly and nods. As time passes, life is full of happiness. Orderic feels like the master of his home and makes sure Robin never lacks anything. They both feel they have never been this happy. —As long as we're together —Orderic says one afternoon, looking at the lake—, no one can stop us. The cold, hunger, monsters, or dragons are not a problem if we're together. I promise I will always protect you and never leave your side. You have nothing to worry about anymore. Robin, with tears of emotion in his eyes, hugs him tightly: —And I promise I will never abandon you. No matter how dangerous the situation, I will always be by your side. Over time, their love story becomes an example for the whole village. Little by little, other same-sex couples decide to unite as well, and the village celebrates each of those unions, sending gifts and wishing the best for everyone. Thanks to them, love is lived more freely than ever, and life in that place is happier and more united than before.