A few days after the Ritual on the Road, Rask approaches Gustav away from the others after camp is set and horses are tended to.
“My Brother, it felt like our battles in Sutheron against the agents of the Dark Hand, the mercenaries in the alley, and against the Raidensblud Blade in the sewers were some of the first times you struck the fatal blow against a fellow human.”
Rask pauses and looks away from Gus, giving the ranger all the space he needs.
After a few moments of silence, he quietly speaks.
“Gus, my Brother-in-Raiden, and true son of Aegir: Anything you need, I am here for you. I’ve been there. I’ve lost count at this point, anything you need to get off your chest or talking about, you will get no judgement from me.
“Anytime. If you need to talk, or just go for a walk with a friend, you tell me, and I will do everything I can to do it. You’re a good man. Killing a fellow human is never easy. Not the first time, not the hundredth time.”
Rask is a bit sad, but most of all, focused on Gustav.
Gus looks at Rask with a bit of a confused look.
“You are worried that I am feeling bad because I killed some humans? The Raidensblud and dark hand are evil and deserve to die. The mercenaries were unfortunate, but they made their bed working for evil groups. It’s a hard world. We are fighting the good fight so eggs will be broken. I am a hard man who is just as tough and strong as you. Well maybe not as strong, I am not able to hit and kill 4 men at the same time.”
Gus suddenly squints his eyes and scrunches his nose and looks at Rask. He seems to be trying to look tough at Rask but it isn’t super convincing.
Rask squints back and clasps Gustav in the shoulder.
“I don’t know about the Brother, you can hit four foes with that bow of yours as fast as I can with my sword.”
Rask smiles and releases Gus.
Gus softens at the compliment and says:
“I can maybe hit one person 3 times and they probably won’t die without them being hit before. Don’t worry about making me feel better about my skills. You have to stand in the middle of 4 big bruisers. I try to stand far away so I can continue to shoot without being knocked unconscious.”