The afternoon sun bathed the rolling hills in a warm golden glow as the merchant caravan continued along the winding road.
From the front of the caravan, Gareth suddenly raised his hand.
"We're almost there."
Kael looked ahead.
At first, all he saw were rows of trees.
Then...
Smoke.
Thin trails of white smoke rose into the sky.
Soon after, rooftops appeared.
Small wooden houses stood neatly beside one another, surrounded by farms of waving wheat and vegetable fields. Children chased each other along dirt roads while farmers returned from the fields carrying baskets of freshly harvested crops.
A wooden sign stood beside the entrance.
Green Willow Village
Kael stopped walking.
"So..."
He murmured.
"This is a village."
Lily smiled proudly.
"Pretty, isn't it?"
Kael nodded slowly.
"There are so many houses..."
"There are only about two hundred."
Kael looked at her in disbelief.
"...Only?"
Lily giggled.
"You should see a city."
---
The caravan rolled through the entrance.
Several villagers immediately waved.
"Welcome back!"
"Good to see you again, Gareth!"
"The bread this time better be fresher than last month's!"
Ben placed both hands on his hips.
"My bread is always fresh!"
An elderly woman laughed.
"You said that last time too!"
"It was fresh!"
"It was two days old!"
"It was well-aged!"
The entire street erupted in laughter.
Kael quietly observed everything.
People greeted one another so casually.
Children ran freely through the streets.
Shopkeepers called customers inside.
Even strangers smiled at each other.
The village felt...
Alive.
---
"Kael!"
Lily tugged gently on his sleeve.
"Come on!"
"Let's look around before dinner!"
Kael glanced toward Gareth.
"Is that alright?"
The caravan leader smiled.
"We'll be staying the night."
"Just don't wander too far."
Kael nodded.
"I won't."
---
The first thing Lily showed him was a fruit stall.
Rows of bright red apples, oranges, pears and berries were arranged neatly in wooden baskets.
Kael blinked.
"They're beautiful."
The old fruit seller smiled warmly.
"Would you like one?"
Kael instinctively reached into his pocket.
He carefully placed the shiny copper coin he had found earlier onto the counter.
"I found this beside the road."
"I believe someone lost it."
"I'm keeping it safe."
The fruit seller looked at the coin.
Then at Kael.
"...You aren't buying the fruit?"
Kael shook his head.
"I don't think this belongs to me."
Lily covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
The old man smiled kindly.
"Young man..."
"That's money."
Kael blinked.
"...Money?"
"You use it to buy things."
Kael looked completely confused.
"...People trade metal?"
The fruit seller nodded.
"We do."
Kael stared at the coin for several moments.
"...That seems inconvenient."
Lily couldn't hold it anymore.
She burst into laughter.
---
A few minutes later, Morris patiently explained how money worked.
"So..."
Kael said thoughtfully.
"This little coin..."
"...can become food?"
"Exactly."
"And people accept it?"
"They do."
"...Interesting."
Morris chuckled.
"You've got a lot to learn."
"I think so too."
---
As they continued walking, loud rhythmic clangs echoed down the street.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Kael immediately turned.
Smoke billowed from a nearby building.
Orange flames flickered inside.
His eyes widened.
"...Fire!"
Without another word, he grabbed a nearby bucket of water and sprinted toward the building.
"Kael!"
Lily shouted.
He burst through the doorway.
Inside...
A muscular man was repeatedly striking glowing red metal with a hammer.
The blacksmith looked up just in time to see Kael rush toward the furnace carrying the bucket.
"Wait!"
Kael froze.
"...You're not on fire?"
The blacksmith stared.
"...What?"
"You aren't trying to put it out?"
Silence.
The blacksmith blinked twice.
Then laughed so loudly the walls seemed to shake.
"This is a forge!"
"I'm making swords!"
Kael slowly lowered the bucket.
"...Oh."
"I thought your house was burning."
The blacksmith wiped tears from his eyes.
"That's the funniest thing I've heard all month."
Outside...
Lily had collapsed onto a bench, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
Even Morris had to lean against a wall to steady himself.
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"I was only trying to help."
The blacksmith smiled broadly.
"And that's exactly why nobody's upset."
---
As evening approached, the aroma of grilled meat drifted through the village.
Ben noticed Kael quietly following the smell.
Without saying anything, he walked to a nearby food stall.
"Two skewers."
The vendor handed them over.
Ben gave one to Kael.
"Here."
Kael looked surprised.
"...For me?"
"Of course."
"You've been smelling everyone's food since we arrived."
Kael accepted it carefully.
"...Thank you."
He took one bite.
His eyes widened.
The meat was juicy.
Lightly seasoned.
Unlike anything he had ever tasted on the mountain.
"...This is delicious."
Ben grinned proudly.
"Wait until you try Clara's stew tonight."
---
The sun slowly dipped below the horizon.
Warm lanterns flickered to life throughout the village.
The streets became quieter as families returned home.
Gareth gathered everyone together.
"Come on."
"The inn should have our rooms ready."
The caravan slowly made its way toward the largest building in Green Willow Village.
Above its entrance hung a beautifully carved wooden sign.
The Willow Rest Tavern
Laughter and cheerful conversation drifted from inside.
The smell of fresh food filled the air.
Kael looked curiously toward the doorway.
"So..."
"This is a tavern."
Morris smiled.
"It is."
"You'll like the food."
As the group stepped through the entrance, none of them noticed four rough-looking young men seated in a corner of the tavern.
Empty mugs littered their table.
Their loud voices drowned out the conversations around them.
The innkeeper glanced toward them with a weary sigh.
Several customers quietly avoided looking in their direction.
Rolf leaned back in his chair with his boots resting on another seat.
Bren laughed loudly as he snatched a mug from a frightened traveler.
Hugo cracked his knuckles lazily.
Tanner watched with a smug grin.
The atmosphere in that corner of the tavern was noticeably different from everywhere else.
Kael noticed them only briefly.
Then his attention drifted elsewhere.
Toward the steaming bowls of food being carried past by the waitresses.
"...That smells amazing."
End of Chapter 8