[ WP ] When NPCs are n't seen they are searching , constantly searching for places or items that will elevate them to the title of `` Side Quest NPC '' . It is fabled also that there is an ever greater title still .

Dad's knuckles were white as they clutched at his fork. I could see him starting to tremble from here. 
 
 `` Dad,'' I began, my voice sounding like that of a very appeasing and reasonable mouse. He ignored me. 
 
 `` For the past seventeen years,'' he growled, glaring over at Evven, `` Your mother and I have toiled endlessly to give you and your sister a chance at the good life. Now I tell you we've done it, and you dare tell me... THIS?'' 
 
 Evven gulped. He stared determinedly at his bowl of porridge, but I could see the moisture gathering in the corners of his eyes. 
 
 Dad brought the flat of his palm down against the bloodstained book he had presented to us so lovingly just minutes before. I flinched at the loud THWAP! `` You ungrateful sot!'' 
 
 Desperate to take attention away from my brother, I blurted, `` Tell us what's in the book, Dad. Please?'' Evven glanced up at me with something that might have been gratitude before returning his attention to his porridge. 
 
 Dad scowled suspiciously back at me, but pride won out over anger. With a sigh, he hoisted the heavy tome so we could all see it clearly. 
 
 `` This,'' he flourished, `` Is the journal of a dead explorer.'' 
 
 My mouth fell open. I could n't help it. What must that have cost him? I thought back to all his late nights at the blacksmith's and marveled. 
 
 `` Does it...'' my voice wavered. I licked my lips and tried again. `` Does it have...'' 
 
 Dad's face split into a broad grin. `` A map marker? Why yes, dear. It does.'' 
 
 A marker. Gods. A thousand images flitted across my mind. It was a future full of endless possibilities. I felt suddenly giddy. My eyes went to meet Evven's, but he was fixated on his spoon. 
 
 `` We'll have a house with our name on it,'' Dad continued, his voice breaking a bit. `` I'll be able to sell my wares and repairs to the travelers directly. There will be forums dedicated to our story.'' 
 
 Silence fell over the table. Dad set down the book and put his head in his hands. `` What a waste,'' he murmured. 
 
 Seconds dragged by. I did n't know what to say. The chasm that had formed between my brother and my father seemed insurmountable. 
 
 Evven pushed away his bowl. `` I never meant to hurt you,'' he said in a voice that was barely not a whisper. 
 
 Dad chopped his hand through the air in a hard dismissal. Evven recoiled. The tears he had been holding at bay brimmed, then a hot flush of anger swept over him. I reached out a hand to urge him to be cautious, to be grateful, but he swatted it away. 
 
 `` Did you ever think that some of us might want something different than this plan of yours?'' he blurted. I went still. Dad's head snapped up, but he said nothing. Evven continued: `` I never wanted to give a side quest. You made all these plans for my life and did n't even stop to ask! What about what I want?'' 
 
 `` What you want is unnatural,'' Dad snarled. Evven stepped back as if he'd been struck. 
 
 `` Dad!'' I cried. Neither of them seemed to hear me. 
 
 `` What I want is different, that's all,'' Evven said. 
 
 Dad stared at him for a long moment. `` If I ever hear you talk about it again,'' he said softly, `` You will no longer be welcome in my home.'' 
 
 The silence that followed this proclamation had a note of ringing finality to it. I looked over at my brother and knew what was coming before he said it. `` Well then.'' 
 
 `` Evven, do n't do this,'' I pleaded. He blinked at my words, but would n't look at me. 
 
 `` I guess this is goodbye.'' 
 
 `` Dad! Please!'' I ran to my father, clutched at his arm. It felt as unyielding as stone. `` He's your son!'' 
 
 Dad's eyes were hollow when they turned to meet mine. `` A man who wants to be a helpless NPC in an escort mission is no son of mine.'' 
 
 I pulled away from him, stunned. Evven stiffened. `` If that's how you feel.'' 
 
 `` It is.'' 
 
 `` Well then.'' Without so much as a backward glance, Evven walked to the door, pulled on his boots and coat, and stepped outside. The whole thing took him maybe fifteen seconds. And that was the last time I saw my brother. 
 
 I hear he does well for himself. He's mastered walking at a pace halfway between the travelers' walking speeds and their running speeds, then refuses to move if they get ahead of him. He's learned to cower in fear directly in front of the travelers' line of sight so he takes damage from their ranged attacks. 
 
 Once, when Dad had been drinking, I found him snoring with a newspaper opened on his chest. The story was titled: `` Aack! Do n't let them get me!'' It was about Evven and his signature phrase. In the article, Evven described how important it was to stick to the phrase no matter what, and to repeat it in every situation to give the full escortee experience. He'd won an award for his work. 
 
 I'm proud of you, Evven. 
 
 And I miss you 
 
 
 

