"Ben, I believe Clinton's decision was justified. His condition at the end was, to put it mildly, gruesome. He didn't want you to witness that scene," Duncan said sadly.
"Your father wished for you to achieve greatness and reach heights he couldn't. He instructed me to give you the house key and let you decide its fate." Duncan handed Ben a key bunch.
"Cathy, please bring that," Duncan instructed his wife. She fetched an urn from inside the house.
"Here, lad. This is your father's urn. Due to his condition, he was given a cremation. He wanted you to pour his ashes into a river."
Ben's eyes stung, but he held back tears. After a moment, he bowed to both and went home. Despite trying to stay the night, sleep eluded him. At daybreak, he packed a portrait of his happy family and prepared to leave.
Cathy came to his door, and before Ben could speak, she dragged him to breakfast. Duncan welcomed him warmly.
During breakfast, Ben surprised them, saying, "Mr. Duncan, I would like to sell the house."
Duncan and Cathy stopped eating in surprise. "Are you sure, lad? Take some time before deciding," Duncan advised.
"I've thought it through, Mr. Duncan. I feel suffocated inside the house, unable to escape memories of my parents. Please help me sell it."
Duncan sighed, understanding Ben's emotions. "Honestly, we had already been approached by several people asking to buy the house after your father's demise. It won't be hard to sell it. But I will ask you again, lad, have you considered it thoroughly?" Ben nodded firmly at Duncan's words.
"Okay, Ben, come with me after breakfast. I will take you to those who showed interest in buying your home."
They left the home and started contacting people. By lunchtime, an adventurer who had recently retired from his adventuring life bought the house. The procedure was completed before the evening, and they returned home, confirming to hand over the key within two days after moving all their belongings.
Ben handed over 500 gold to Duncan, saying, "Please take this and sell whatever can be sold inside the house and dispose of those which can't be sold."
"Ben, we can do that for you. We will even get gold from selling also, but why are you giving us 500 gold?" Cathy asked in puzzlement.
"I know you have a debt of 500 gold. Please pay it off and utilize the gold you get from selling the items for your future. I don't have a requirement for money now," he said firmly, shoving the pouch into Cathy's hand.
Tears began flowing down Cathy's eyes. "Ben, how did you...?" Duncan asked in shock.
"I overheard your plea for an extension of time today, Mr. Duncan. And recently, I have met a few wonderful people who taught me that being of use to others gives you more happiness than the gold you have in your hand. I would like to live on the path they have shown me. Please don't think of this as a favor or a loan for you to repay me back. This is my way of thanking you for taking care of my father, when others felt disgusted to approach him in his final moments. I also heard about this matter too." Ben bowed deeply to both in respect.
Both husband and wife held him up and hugged, crying, seeing the boy who grew in front of their eyes display so much maturity.
Even after their insistence for him to stay that night, he bade them goodbye after dinner and started his journey back to Green Town on his own.
Sensing Ben's emotions, his horse started rubbing its head and neck on Ben's shoulder. Initially Ben didn't responded to the horses action. But after traveling a couple of miles into the forest he was unable to hold it anymore and started crying loudly, his voice echoing in the night. But his horse stood by his side in a consoling way.