As John and Silas began to walk away, Alena chuckled softly, a little giggle escaping her lips.
"Despite his grumpy and tough looks, deep down he cares for you a lot."
Her face lit up with a lighthearted smile, and she added,
"He always acts like a child near you. Even though he tries to hide it."
Selena's cheeks warmed with a soft pink blush, while a warm light smile brightened her face .
" It does seem that way. But he is not very good at hiding it, as usual."
A slight glimpse into the continued conversation of the two faithful wives. A delighted warmth was on their face as they paused to wish Silas and John a safe journey. While Silas and John waved back steadily passing through the village square.
Silas with a mischievous smirk on his face says, "Uncle John, you were embarrassed because aunt flirted with you, weren't you?"
".Well, don't worry, I won't tell my pa how you looked like the red berries you showed me when you were flirting."
John embarrassed, pats on Silas's shoulder and says with a fluttered voice,
"Oi, brat. Where do you even learn these words and how do you even know these things?"
"I just see mom and dad flirt a lot." Silas conveys while avoiding eye contact whilst making a silly face.
"What is that Arthur even teaching you?"
"Flirting," Silas quietly murmurs.
"Did you say something?"
"No, you are probably just imagining things." Silas teases John with a grin on his face.
John felt a familiar flush creep up his neck, the teasing from the eight-year-old a mirror image of Arthur's own playful jabs. A wry smile played on his face as he thought,
"Silas is the son of Arthur alright. They both can't get enough to pull my leg."
As they walked along, the soft yielded earth of the path cushioned their steps, leading past a captivating thread of village homes.
A patchwork quilt of different designs and materials, each complementing the unique stories and personalities of their inhabitants.
These houses represented the way they live their lives with scrounging details such as, cross pit in the backyard, a sanctuary or a lovely blissful decoration using flowers,vines and stones etc. Each house resided firmly, having either its own small garden or a small farm as a hobby. Sometimes a few animals pecking in the dusty ground. While the gardens held a diversity of elegance such as a variety of jasmine, rose , bella and many more blossoms. Which produced a dense sweet aroma, conveying a warmth of familiarity.
The scent of home cooking, the smell of burning wood and iron emanated throughout the village. The joyous symphony of children playing in a courtyard and butterflies dancing near the gardens in the sun painted a vivid image.
On the other hand, Villagers were going about their morning routines. Some were tending to their small plots of land, the rhythmic scrape of a hoe echoing softly. Others carried baskets, food and various everyday utensils, perhaps heading to the small marketplace that buzzed with quiet commerce. Vendors were selling fresh produce and handcrafted goods in their stalls. Various shops, interconnected with the owners houses made of wood and stone, were open. These shops were selling bread, fresh food and many everyday utensils.
The village has quite an unique commerce. There were jewelry made out from carved stone, various blossoms and plants. But the village had scant amounts materials like iron, silver and gold. While these weren't used for jewelery but they were used for other essential artifacts that benefited the village.
While the villagers performed a customary ritual before beginning their work and daily lives. They prayed before a meticulous sculpture of a lady figure. While the praises of that lady echoed through.
This ritual seemed a deeply ingrained necessity as not only the villagers prayed to the statue but it was also situated at the center of the village. Villagers seeing John waved at him as a way of wishing a good day. John also waved back with the same intent.
Silas, skipping ahead a few steps, pointed towards a figure tending a vibrant garden in the distance. "Look, Uncle John, it's Granny Elara!"
John mumbled, "Ah, Elara. Always has a smile for everyone."
"But we would be in trouble if she sees us now. She would ruffle us untill were old." John mumbled to himself.
He tried to subtly quicken his pace, perhaps hoping to avoid any further playful attention.
"Let's scatter before she notices us.", John said to silas.
"I think we're too late for that", Silas whispers as he sees Elara approaching them.
"Oh, if it isn't Silas," a warm, melodic voice called out.
John's heart slightly jumps while his body gets a faint strike as he hears this.
A woman with kind eyes and a network of fine lines etched around them. Her hands, though weathered by working on dirt through her living years, moved with a practiced grace. "What are you doing out and about so early, dear?"
Silas beamed, his earlier mischievousness replaced with genuine affection.
"Granny Elara! I'm going to the river to help my dad with Uncle John. You should have seen the face of uncle John earlier, it was so funny! But we need to get to my father now so I will tell you that sometime later."
Elara lets out a chuckle.
"Well, now I am wondering what happened!Tell me all about it later, ok."
"So you're going to the river to help your father, I see. What a helpful boy," Elara said with a knowing smile, her gaze flicking towards John.
John, sensing the playful glint in her behavior, made a valiant attempt to hide himself by using his hands to cover his face.
"John, why are you hiding yourself?" Elara called out, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"Come here and help me with carrying the heavy crates lying around."
John shuffled his feet as he took hesitant steps towards Elara, his pace deliberately slow, his head bowed slightly.
"Granny..., I wasn't hiding , I was just... uh...scratching my eye." he mumbled, his voice a mixture of resignation and playful dread.
Elara with a calm but sharp penetrative look called out.
"I hope you didn't forget what you did last time."
A recon of last time. John, Arthur and Silas were heading home after their fishing trip. Arthur had to go to the village meeting while John and Silas were heading home. Elara asked for their help with finding her glasses and they accepted but John fell asleep while searching as he had a long day. So, Silas and Elara had to do it on their own.
Silas imitates Elara from the side to mock John.
John looks at Silas and thinks keeping Arthur in mind,"Yep, these two idiots are gonna drown me someday."
As John drew closer, Elara, with a swiftness that belied her age, reached out and playfully pinched his cheek, her fingers surprisingly strong.
"Always trying to avoid this old lady, aren't you, you big lug?" she said, her eyes softened with affection. With a soft smack, she then playfully patted his backside.
John let out a slightly muffled sigh, a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. Elara, her smile widening, then proceeded to shower him with affectionate pats on the head and gentle strokes on his cheeks.
Silas watched the exchange with amusement, a grin spreading across his face. He knew this was just Granny Elara's way of showing affection, a familiar ritual in the village.
"There, there, John dear," Elara said, her voice softening.
"You're looking a bit skinny this morning. Need a good breakfast, you do."
John while carrying the crates said to her, "Sorry Elara, we can't eat now we need to get to Arthur for something urgent."
"It can't be helped then, alright. But come by to eat anytime you can."
While Silas also offers his help by carrying the small crates that he can carry.
"I will help too. I am also strong and useful," he exclaimed.
Elara pats Silas.
"Well, I am impressed my little prince. You might even become stronger than this lum someday."
Silas stood tall as he looked at John and gave him a proud smile.
John speechless with this, giggles to himself. They quickly finish their task on hand and proceed to leave.
John said to Elara, "We'll be taking our leave now. Take care of yourself and don't go doing heavy work."
Silas also shouts, "Bye Granny Elara, see you later."
"Bye, younguns," Elara's smile tendered as she bade them.
John gave Silas a nudge, his pace quickening.
"Come on, little man, let's move it! We spent our time a little too much."
Silas, his small legs a blur, kept pace, his eyes flitting over the familiar stalls of the food bazar and yards that lined their path. The air blew a still and calm breeze, a comforting embrace even in their hurry.
Bob, the owner of the Thermopolia, called out,
"Hey, you two! Come and eat, it's on the house."
John, already halfway past, called back, a hint of urgency in his voice, "Sorry, Bob, in a rush! Catch you later!"
Bob thinks, "Ah, These two, No one would believe that they aren't brothers. John and Arthur they are so alike and their sons also are turning out like them."
Silas, his excitement about the river building with each step, nodded in agreement.
After a brisk walk towards the west, they finally catch a glimpse of the Lumina river. The bantars of the bazaar and the lively village slowly became quiter replaced by the sizzling sound of smooth stones getting hit by water. The air became cooler as the breeze became stronger.
The serene clear water flowed with a swift elegance. The shining sun rays reflected in the river created an immense feel of stars diving in the river while the clear rocks covered the river bed. The constant slow tide that kept going restlessly created a sound which calmed the heart as it soothed the ear.
Across the gentle flow of the river they could see the other part of Aphanes. A place where a cluster of farmhouses nestled amongst wheat,corn, virella( a medical crop only found in the deep mountains near Aphanes) and various crop fields. The sight of the rich crops, swaying gently, brought a sense of joy that almost brought tears to one's eyes. Beyond the fields, animal farms were enclosed by sturdy wooden fences, keeping the livestock contained within the verdant pastures, a well planned geographical place.
Rising on the far bank, the village library stood, its silhouette hinting as if great forbidden knowledge might be held within its walls.
Amidst this serene setting, their eyes finally landed on Arthur in the distance near the bridge that connected the two parts of the village. Arthur, his voice sturdy as he spoke with a figure Silas recognized as the village's old, one-eyed builder, Willie.
Willie looked concerned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Arthur, this bridge won't last more than a couple of days. We have to fix it today. Without it, our villagers will be in serious trouble – moving essentials across the river will take far too much time and things could get wet."
Arthur sighed, his gaze sweeping over the broken timbers of the bridge.
"It has served us well for nearly a decade. Though, as you know, we did reinforce it a few years back. It shouldn't be showing this much wear already, especially when the river looks so placid."
"I did some research before you arrived," Willie continued, his eyes directed towards Arthur.
"The Lumina River might appear calm on the surface, but it has a strange, unpredictable depth that swells dramatically during the monsoon. And the tide, even when it seems weak, has a surprising strength. It wasn't this noticeable before but recently even though not much but it significantly has changed. I think that's why the bridge has worn down so quickly," Willie explained.
Arthur stretched his back.
"Ah, We have to reinforce or build a whole new bridge, if that's the case."
Silas and John reach near Arthur.
Silas shouted with a big smile on his face and hugged his dad,
"Paa!"
Silas pouted as he complained, "You jerk, you left me asleep."
"Oh, so the big man is here for backup," Arthur said, a smile playing on his lips as he lifted Silas up. "Sorry for that Silas, I really didn't have the time as it was urgent."
He then said, "Sorry for that Silas, I really didn't have the time as it was urgent."
Silas chuckles as he is lifted in the air.
Arthur shifts his gaze to John and says mockingly,
"Your late shitty pants. What took you so long?"
"We had to help out Elara. She was struggling with heavy crates. I think she bought dinner sets or something," John replied while he stretched his arms.
Arthur implies, "Good job, shitty pants. Now lend us a hand."
Silas, curious from the chat, his eyes sparkled as he asked, "Why do you call him shitty pants most of the times, pa?"
John with a sharp gaze locking into Arthur's eyes, " Don't you dare."
Arthur lets out a playful grin.
"Well because he shit..."
Before Arthur could finish what he's saying John covers his mouth and puts him in a headlock.
"Alright, alright, I won't tell a word. Sorry Silas, shitty pants won't let me tell the reason."
Arthur laughs as he says this.
John lets out a sigh,
"You still got the bad habit of pulling my legs, even after years."
"So, whats the big work? Did ya drop your brain or something," John continues.
Arthur chuckled, patting Silas.
"Ha, I see you didn't lose your sense of humor."
"How can I when idiot's like you exist," John countered.
Silas quietly enjoyed their humorous banter and felt the warmth between them.
Arthur went from relaxed tone to a serious tone in a moment and indicated ,
" So, big talk small. The bridge is gonna get rebuilt and we're going to do it, me,you and Willie. Other guys would take a lot of time but we can finish it before evening."
Silas proposes, "Let me help too. I can also do something."
Arthur thinks for a moment and says, " I got the perfect work for you buddy. But you will have to do a lot of work."
His pupils enlarged as he became unsettled, Silas replied,
"Alright. I will do it."
John chuckles as he notices Silas's eagerness. A heavy sigh is let out from his mouth as he stretched his body and prepared himself for the task.
"I guess we have a lot to do. Let's get started."