Morning had just befallen the city of Codit, and the streets were already bustling with foot traffic. Merchants who were set on course to Atrila left bright and early, enough sunlight to deter bandits, but not late enough to where they’d be stuck at the back of the line at the city’s entrance.
Redus, the merchant that Kanami had been traveling with, was an older gentleman who had no rush for business at this point in life. When Kanami had knocked on his door at the inn, he tiredly exclaimed that he was planning on sleeping in for a few more hours.
If they were headed to Atrila, Saya would most definitely have tried to force the man to move, but seeing as she had no clue about Aimafina’s borders, she felt it would be best to let the expert dictate her plans.
The food district was no less packed, with travelers and in-city workers hurriedly walking up to stalls for a quick breakfast. Due to the early hour, the stalls mostly had their own breakfast menus, written and carved on simple wooden planks.
When the stalls would normally have at least five items, breakfast items only took one or two slots. It wasn’t weird to Saya if she really thought about it, since lunch items could theoretically be sold during suppertime as well.
Limited on options, she opted to grab a simple grilled meat sandwich with eggs. It wasn’t enough to satisfy her greasy cravings, but it would have to do for now.
She sat on one of the only empty tables available, slowly nibbling her sandwich away with small bites. The heat exuding from the meat nearly burned her lips and tongue, steering her away from bigger bites. Not to mention, with the amount of meat juice spraying out, it would be risky to take a huge bite and get unwanted stains on her clothing.
Across from her, was Kanami, seated just like they had been only a day earlier. She wore the same clothes, her hair just as messy as when Saya had first met her. However, there was a big contrast in her appearance.
Yes, her clothes were saggy and her hair was a mess, but based on the makeup she had put on, it was clear that she had not just gotten out of bed. With just the context clues, it was easy for Saya to deduce that Kanami bore a certain fashion style, just not one she understood well.
Their meeting was completely unplanned, coincidentally stopping by the same stall and ordering the exact same thing.
However, as opposed to Saya, Kanami had no issues devouring nearly a third of the sandwich in one bite. She hummed a tune of satisfaction with each chew, her cheeks puffing out from the amount of food she consumed.
Just the sight put Saya at ease, Kanami’s actions reminding her of Albo’s own gluttonous tendencies.
Taking a quick sip of water from the wooden cup beside her, she asked, “what are your plans from now on? You said you’re headed to Atrila, but what’s after that?”
Kanami stared at her, putting a hand up to indicate she’s not done chewing. Her eyes were impatient to answer, but the sense of manners within her stopped her from talking with her mouth full. She may have a more “wild” style, but that didn’t mean she needed to be a savage.
Swallowing the last bit of food, she took a quick sip of water before answering, “I might head back to Keptas with Viera and the others. The annual leaders’ meeting, or whatever it’s called, is being held in my hometown.”
The fact that she had called the Queen of Fridan by name, and so casually at that, took Saya back for a second. She knew that her royal majesty had no problems with her close friends referring to her by name, but she never expected Kanami to be one of those friends.
“I see. Are you close with them?” Saya asked, leaning ever so slightly forward.
Kanami nodded, “Yeah! I had to help them out with some Church stuff a while back. I met KL first, then his wife, and after that Viera.”
“They were kinda scary at first, but after a while, everythin’ was fine.”
“After that, I guess I’ll finally take some time off. Been workin’ way too much lately, and the Church doesn’t give me many breaks.” Kanami groaned, crumbling up the last napkin she used.
She then lifted her head at Saya, “what ‘bout you?”
“Umm, I guess we might make a stop at another village, and after that I think Redus said we’re heading to the city of Tutu.”
Kanami nodded in agreement, “Tutu’s a really beautiful place. You should take some time to check out the area, ya know.”
Sparkling with curiosity, Saya’s tone was raised a pitch higher, “really?! What do you think I should look out for, specifically?”
Pondering in thought, Kanami rolled her eyes up to the sky, placing a hand on her chin, “hmm, I guess the biggest one’s the stone pyramid. After that, maybe check out their festival if they’re having one.”
Saya repeated Kanami’s advice over and over in her head, so that the memory would be etched into her brain.
“Oh, by the way, if you ever visit Keptas, come swing by and see me.” Kanami interrupted her train of thought. “I live in the capital, and if you ask for the biggest Church of Eudoxia, someone’ll point you right there.”
“I live on-site, so come by anytime you feel like it.”
With a warm smile, Saya accepted her offer. The two friends had been apart for what seemed like a lifetime, but in just a single day and the following morning, it was as if they’d known each other their entire lives.
Idle chit chat took more of their time, discussing recent fashion trends, delicious food recommendations, and even talks of romance. Unfortunately for Saya, her love for Albo was so apparent that anyone could deduce her feelings.
However, for Kanami, she had no problem talking about her own types, which she claimed she had none. Saya pressed on, strategically asking her questions that could possibly lead to a clue, but no matter what she did, Kanami’s stance on romance did not budge.
There was not a single hint of interest in love from the woman. Defeated, Saya hung her head, letting out a loud sigh.
“It’s not that big of a deal!” Kanami exclaimed.
“I should have expected this from a pure religious maiden like you.”
The statement was enough to make Kanami recoil back a hitch, not from the accuracy, but rather the inaccuracy. “Huh?! You do know the most ‘pure’ ones are usually the horniest, right?”
“Is that so?” Saya asked, an expression of disbelief spreading across her face. She hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer from her, but taking another good look, there was nothing about her, not even her general appearance, that indicated purity.
“Hey, what’re ya starin’ at?”
Church people that she had met previously in Kala or Atrila all wore clothing which closely resembled a uniform, something to help them stand out amidst the crowd and sea of people. However, the only reason why Kanami would stand out was her distinct fashion.
But that only applied to Fridan. If she were to be seen around in Keptas, then there’s no doubt that anyone would be able to identify her when surrounded by, let’s say, a hundred others.
Interrupting her thoughts, a loud voice called out to Kanami from behind. She quickly twisted her body, leaning her arm onto the backrest of the chair she was sitting in. The man, who was too far away to really discern his facial features, waved at her, his arms raised up as high as they could go.
Kanami replied with another wave before turning back to Saya.
“I gots to go now.” She reached down and grabbed her bag, placing the strap around her right shoulder.
“Is that who you’re travelling with?” Saya asked. From what she could tell, the man wearing all brown was far younger than the merchant she had been travelling with. Taking a guess, she assumed he was around their age, perhaps a bit older.
“Yeah, but I’m only goin’ halfway with him. I’m switchin’ carriages later to head to Atrila.”
Saya stood up as well, gathering all her trash and dirty dishes into one spot, stacking them on top of each other.
Without hesitation, Kanami stepped forward, embracing Saya in a big hug. Cuddling her cheeks against Saya’s, Kanami spoke in a soft tone, “Take care of yourself, ‘kay?”
Pulling back, they met each other's eyes. Kanami rubbed Saya’s shoulder, where her arm had gone missing. “Take care of your other arm too. Don’t go blowin’ yourself up again.”
Saya nodded, leaning forward for another hug. After the second embrace, Kanami pulled back quickly, setting herself into a light jog towards the city’s entrance, where her carriage had been pulled up and was waiting.
Waving goodbye, Saya exclaimed, “I’ll visit you soon!”
Kanami turned halfway, waving goodbye to her. Her frame gradually got smaller and smaller as the sun’s rays started to heat the top of Saya’s head. Gathering all the dishes to return to the stall, Saya took a deep breath, letting the fresh air into her lungs.
Her mind had been occupied and disgruntled from the sudden rush of decisions she made at Atrila, but having met and talked with Kanami, her mind felt much more at ease. Though doubt was a near constant in her mind, for the first time she felt a renewed sense of confidence in herself.
The trip to the village would only take a day, and arrival at Tutu would only take a day as well. Based on the math, it would only be a matter of time before Saya could finally begin her true journey of finding a cure for Albo.
Pumping a fist in the air, like Albo had done when he set a brand new personal record for spellcasting, adrenaline and excitement coursed through her body. From now on, she was determined to not let desperation fuel her journey, but love.
Saya walked back towards the inn with a smile. “I need to wake that old man up.” Her footsteps were a bit hurried, but not enough to call it a rush. Though she wanted to leave as quickly as possible, after the previous night she had come to appreciate the scenery around her.
Taking in the atmosphere of the city, she took a single, long inhale, refreshing her mind with each breeze coursing into her nose and throughout her body.
While Saya was still waking up her companion to continue her journey, dozens of miles away, the village of Hunfor remained in a state of stagnant peace and tranquility. Despite the city of Codit being full of foot traffic from travelling merchants and adventurers, the same could not be said about the relatively small, humble village.
Green, grassy fields encased the entire village, with buildings built on top of what was once a slightly elevated hill. Mountains loomed behind the village, serving as natural protection from potential invaders, or maybe even deadly animals.
Similar to the city of Codit, the village served as a sort of middle ground, allowing for people travelling from and to the Velion Empire to take a day's rest. However, due to the immense unpopularity of the empire, the nation faced little to no travellers or merchants.
A true shame, since the village was a true standout from the rest of the Empire, some even calling the village false advertising for making their homeland seem much more vibrant than it was.
Streams of spring water from the mountains rolled down the hill, forming a naturally made river that flowed through the village. The water was so pure that it was a common occurrence for the villagers to take a sip directly from the well, rather than having to filter it using magic.
Twenty small homes were scattered across the village, only one of them being a store and another being a Church. The doors blasted open from the holy sanctuary, doubling as a small school for children during days without praise.
Over a dozen children rushed out, excitedly making their way towards the park to enjoy the rest of their day off. Adults and elders smiled upon the children as they sprinted past without a single care in the world.
A tall lady emerged from the shadows of the stone church, a maiden with braided, brown hair, brown eyes, and simple clothing. She wore a long brown dress and a dirtied white apron around her chest.
Her appearance was definitely what one would call generic. The sunlight smiled upon her pale skin as she raised her arm to block out the intense light blinding her eyes. Hung around her wrist was a small, empty straw basket.
Closing the double wooden doors behind her, she made her way towards the small market the villagers had set up for themselves. With most of them being farmers, there was no real need for extensive shops to be set up, simply the ones that were required.
There were three wooden stalls, all made with less than optimal carpentry work, laid out across the dirt streets, each serving a different purpose. One stall sold nothing but meat, as they were the only animal farmers in the village.
Another sold purely fruits, dedicating their craft to producing the best savory desserts and treats. Lastly, the final vendor sold tools made of stone and metal, along with crafting services. It was that store, in fact, that had crafted all the other stalls now in commission.
As the brown-haired lady stopped by the meat stall, the vendor, who had a long brown beard, bald head, and round body figure, called out to her with a bright smile, “Oh! Drusi, what are you craving today?”
Without raising her head, Drusi pointed at the pristine cut of tenderloin steak.
“I’ll have this please!”
Her voice was soft but confident. It carried a happy warmth that settled easily in the ears, the kind of tone that smoothed over tension without effort.
Each word left her lips slowly and carefully, rounded at the edges, as if she were afraid that speaking too sharply might startle the fragile world around her. There was a calm patience in the way she spoke, a steadiness that felt practiced and natural at the same time.
Equally, her smile was just as soft. Everything about her, from appearance to composure, screamed comfort, a living lullaby to those around her. While other villagers often ventured to bigger cities to afford greater luxuries, such as different clothes, Drusi aimed to simply make the lives of the children better.
Being the only teacher where she lived, she often took pride in her work, a bright smile coming across her face whenever she thought of her dear students.
Within mere seconds, the butcher had handed her what she requested, wrapping it around a large piece of paper. Placing the meat inside her bag, she proceeded to stop by the other two stalls, buying the necessary ingredients for that day’s lunch and dinner.
But despite her idyllic appearance and composure, she lacked one crucial trait. As she walked along the dirt road paved with pebbles, the villagers nearby watched in vigilance, as she took careless steps.
Just as they had anticipated, she hurled forward, tripping on seemingly nothing but air. Before her body could hit the ground, the butcher had jumped over his stall to catch her at a moment's notice.
“Drusi! Are you okay?!” he called out.
Chuckling, she replied, “I apologize, I’ve done it again, haven’t I?”
If this had been the first time, the villagers wouldn’t have minded laughing it off with her. But the truth of the matter was, this was nearly a daily occurrence. Not just at the small vendor’s market either, but all throughout her day.
Her long clothes were to keep humble appearances, this much was true, but the bigger reason was due to the fact that underneath her garments, she hid a flood of bruises scattered all across her body.
“Please take your time walking, you don’t have to rush anywhere.” the butcher nervously stated, his request being more of a plea than a suggestion.
Drusi cocked her head to her shoulders in confusion, “I have been, sir.”
“I-I see…” lifting her up, the butcher helped her get back on her feet.
As Drusi returned to her shopping, faint whispers crawled along the air, the townsfolk talking and gossiping endlessly.
“And she claims she graduated from the Atrila academy…” one older lady spoke, whispering to another.
“Perhaps she’s just not quite used to the countryside yet…” another mumbled.
Drusi could naturally hear all the gossip behind her back, as the whisperers barely held their volume down. However, this was something she knew would happen the moment she had moved to the village.
After graduating from the Atrila Grand Academy, she had taken up a unique career path to live in a place where she would not be bothered. At first, her life goal was to start a farm, until a friend recommended that she visit the village of Hunfor.
To call it love at first sight would be an understatement, as she had accepted the offer to become the village’s only schoolteacher minutes upon arrival.
Finishing her shopping, Drusi slowly made her way back to her home, tripping once or twice more along the path. The brown texture and color of her long dress camouflaged all the dirt that she accumulated, only taking it off after she got home.
Like every other home, she stayed in a relatively small stone house. It had one bedroom and bathroom, with a relatively small living room. It would be too much for two people to live in, but for her, a single maiden who had no real hobbies, it was the perfect place to stay.
As she laid out the fruits and vegetables along the cooking counter, small knuckles knocked on her wooden door, prompting her to halt. She slid her way across the house, gently opening the door with curiosity.
At first, she found nobody waiting for her, making her think it might have been the wind, or perhaps a prank. But as her eyes slowly scanned around, she saw the tops of three children's heads beneath her.
Being relatively tall, she often struggled with peripheral vision, especially for people who were of shorter stature or children.
“Miss Drusi!” three little children called out, their ages no higher than six. Immediately, they embraced the tall lady, disregarding all the dirt she had collected on her clothing. The sudden shift in balance, combined with her natural clumsiness, forced her into a fall backwards.
Her butt slammed against the wooden floorboards, a loud thud shaking the furniture and utensils. Immediately, the children backed off in regret, grabbing her arm to help her back up. Using her arms as support, she lifted herself up until she was seated and met the eyes of the children.
“How can I help you?” she asked with a smile, ruffling their heads with both hands.
The girl closest to her, who had blonde hair and brown eyes, struggled to speak up in a voice that would be heard by Drusi, no doubt filled with guilt. Speaking for her was a boy behind her, with black eyes and hair, his voice rough and raspy.
“We heard old man Redus is visiting us soon! Will you be buying us new toys from him?”
Drusi pondered for a moment before replying, “hmm, what kind of toys would you kids want?”
“I’m not too rich, so I might not be able to afford much this time around.”
Being in such a remote location, the only vendors who would make the trip to Hunfor were those who were either raised in the village, or those who had close connections with the villagers, Redus being no different.
He had been a regular even before Drusi had moved there nearly five years ago, and yet throughout the years, she had come to build a close relationship with the man, seeing him as someone who entertained her with countless stories of travel.
In many ways, he was a source that allowed her to still stay connected with the outside world, letting her keep in touch with her surroundings.
“I-I would like a doll…” the blonde girl whispered, her voice just enough to bring Drusi back to the real world and away from her thoughts.
Striking a grin, she stood up, dusting off the rest of the excess dirt on her clothes. She then posed with both her hands on her hips, standing confidently over the children. “Sure! I’ll get you guys some toys!”
“But on one condition!”
All three children looked up, as their usually quiet teacher had suddenly gotten louder. “You must call me your favorite teacher ever!”
Her request was simple, and quite unbelievable. Both the children and the questgiver herself knew that she was the only person in the village who held the title of ‘teacher’, and yet, despite being called the ‘best’ countless times, it was something that brought genuine joy to her heart.
Like synchronized machines, the children all exclaimed, “YOU’RE THE BEST AND MOST FAVORITEST TEACHER EVER!”
Their shouts echoed along the mountains, the villagers in the distance doing their work tilting their heads at the source of the sound. Satisfied, she made her way back into the kitchen, getting the knife ready for prep work.
“If you guys want to eat with me too, you can stay over. I’ll make today’s meal an absolute feast.”
The sudden rush of pride poisoned her brain, as she invited three children, who were known to overeat a lot, into her home for a meal. By the start of the next day, she would surely regret her decision, as she used portions of food in one day that were supposed to last three.