As Riven waited at the bus stop, he turned back one last time.
The view before him reminded him of the peace and simplicity of village life. Children ran around in groups, their laughter echoing through the air. Women sold foodstuffs and handmade items along the street, while others doing house chores—sweeping and washing. It was a scene full of motion, yet somehow calming.
He noticed a few of the kids he had taught earlier that week. They were playing a game—one pretending to be the teacher, demonstrating the moves Riven had shown them.
"Feet apart. Shoulders relaxed. No, not that relaxed. Ugh, you kids are giving me a headache!"
Riven raised an eyebrow. That sounds awfully familiar.
Just then, some of the kids noticed him. They grinned and waved enthusiastically. Their "teacher" froze for a second, then gave an awkward, sheepish smile. Riven gave a small wave in return, chuckling under his breath.
Farther down the road, elders sat outside their houses, sharing stories. Some talked about the "good old days" while others grumbled about how prices were going up too fast. A man with a deep voice could be heard saying, "Even eggs have joined the inflation!"
Riven smiled quietly to himself.
He really did want to stay—to wake up every morning to this peace, to see Lyra (and Master, too). But reality was waiting. He already had a life in the city, with responsibilities he couldn't ignore.
Eventually, the bus arrived. He climbed on, found a window seat, and settled in. As the engine rumbled and the vehicle pulled away from the village, Riven leaned his head against the window, letting the countryside blur past him.
His mind drifted back to his time in the village.
Master had made him do so many chores under the guise of "training." Sweeping the roof, chopping wood, carrying water up a hill. It was exhausting, and Riven had complained almost every single time. But in hindsight, they had become cherished memories.
The moments he treasured most, however, were the ones he spent with Lyra.
He remembered the time they had snuck away to her favorite spot in the forest. It was near a stream with water so clear you could see the smooth stones underneath. Colorful flowers bloomed everywhere, painting the landscape like a scene out of a dream.
On some days, she'd teach him how to fish or set traps. On others, she'd show him how to identify different plants—poisonous, non-poisonous, edible, inedible. Her knowledge surprised him, but it was her passion for the wild that truly amazed him.
That secret spot felt like paradise. Hidden away from the world, it was their escape from Master's "grueling training"—a.k.a. endless manual labor disguised as martial arts.
Riven suddenly realized he was smiling. He didn't know why, but just thinking about her always lifted his mood.
Did he like her?
'No, that's impossible',he told himself, blushing slightly as he looked out the window.
He reached into his bag and pulled out his headphones. Hoping to distract himself from his thoughts, he put them on and let a soft melody carry him away. Soon, his eyes closed and he fell asleep.
He woke up to the blaring sound of honking cars and grumbling drivers. The bus hadn't moved in a while.
Apparently, it had broken down in the middle of traffic—unsurprising for a bus that cost next to nothing. People were already filing out. Sighing, Riven grabbed his bag and stepped outside, only for his stomach to betray him with a loud rumble.
Several people turned. Some chuckled.
Riven's ears turned red. "Great," he muttered. "Public humiliation before lunch."
He decided to grab a snack before heading home. He stopped at a roadside restaurant and ordered the cheapest thing on the menu—iced tea. He was low on cash and couldn't afford more, but at least it cooled his throat.
As he sipped quietly, he noticed three men across the street watching him. They looked rough—tattoos, chains, baggy clothes, and expressions that spelled trouble.
He tried to ignore them, but that didn't seem to work. The biggest of the three—probably the leader—stood up and swaggered toward him, the others following.
He pulled out the chair opposite Riven and sat down, eyes gleaming with something between amusement and menace.
"Hey, k—" he began, but Riven cut him off with a loud slurp of his iced tea.
There was a brief, awkward silence. Then the thug tried again, "Let's have a little—"
Another long, deliberate slurp.
The leader twitched. He glared and whispered something to one of the others before walking off in a huff.
The second thug leaned toward the third, whispering in his ear. The third one grinned wickedly. They got up and disappeared into the street.
Riven stayed a while longer, sipping calmly, before finally getting bored and leaving.
As he walked home, he wasn't surprised when one of the thugs stepped in his path. The man didn't say a word, just gestured for Riven to follow.
Riven rolled his eyes. "Oh, here we go."
He was led into a narrow alleyway, dimly lit and far from the crowd. The other two were already waiting.
The leader cracked his knuckles. "Time for some fun."
Riven gave a lopsided grin, mock curiosity in his voice. "Why are you guys so desperate to hang out with me?"
The thug ignored him and grinned darkly.
"Let the fun begin."