Planet Arcadia is a world of swords and magic, where magical creatures and mystical powers roam from the ordinary to the absurd. This planet has a circumference of 90,000 kilometers, making it a vast land with many large nations and uncharted territories. There are icy continents with bone-chilling cold, and wild continents filled with monsters and ancient mysteries.
The seasons in Arcadia are equally diverse. In addition to spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the planet also experiences rainy seasons, hail seasons, and even unique seasons that only occur in certain continents. Each continent has its own natural cycle, as if Arcadia wants every corner to have a different story. Hanging in the sky of Arcadia are two natural satellites, the Red Moon and the Golden Moon.
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They continued to play in the meadow until dusk began to approach, when the sky turned golden orange and the sun slowly sank. Finally, Tian and his friends decided to stop their swordplay. "Let's go home before my mom starts looking for me," said Tian while picking up fallen twigs. The soft sound of wood clashing could be heard as he lifted them.
"Alright, let's go!" replied Ark enthusiastically, and they all began to walk away from the lively meadow. As their steps headed towards the main road, the fresh aroma of wheat fields wafting beside the path stirred their sense of smell. The gentle evening breeze and the sound of rustling leaves added warmth to the atmosphere.
The village had started to quiet down, with dark shadows enveloping the houses of residents who had returned home. Upon entering the village, the four friends decided to part ways, as their homes were in different directions.
"Well then, we'll go ahead, Tian. See you tomorrow!" said Lian, waving his hand with a cheerful smile. The sound of their footsteps began to fade, competing with the faint sounds of nocturnal animals starting to sing. Tian smiled and continued his journey to his home, which was deeper in the village.
Upon arriving home, Tian was greeted by a tempting aroma swirling in the air. In the kitchen, Elara Anderson, his mother, was busy stirring a dish in a large pot, fragrant steam wafting from it. Elara's long, blonde hair flowed down her back, especially her blue eyes, which were identical to Tian's, along with her enchanting figure. However, her smile faded upon seeing Tian return in dirty, dust-covered clothes. "Oh my, Tian! Look at you, you're so dirty!" she exclaimed, looking Tian up and down. "What were you playing? Hurry and take a bath before sitting at the dining table!"
Tian sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the unavoidable protest. "Yeeesss, Mom…" he replied lazily, walking to the back of the house. He moved slowly, hugging his chest weakly, as if his dirty body was a heavy burden he had to bear.
At the dining table, his father was sitting with a warm smile, as if he understood how enjoyable the day had been for Tian.
As Tian entered the bathroom, his footsteps made soft sounds on the creaky wooden floor. The sound of water slightly pooling on the floor followed his every movement, adding to the calm atmosphere after a day of play. He took an old bucket from the corner of the bathroom, and it squeaked softly as he lifted it.
Beside him, a large basin filled with clear water from the village well sat quietly. The surface of the water reflected the dim light from a small window in the wall, creating a beautiful play of light.
"Ah, this water must be really cold," Tian murmured softly as he dipped the bucket into the basin. A small splash was heard as the water entered the bucket, and then he lifted it with a little effort. His face grimaced slightly, imagining the cold water that would soon touch his skin.
Tian placed the bucket on the floor and took a scoop. He gently dipped the water, the sound of the scoop touching the water's surface ringing clearly in the quiet room, the gentle splashes filling the small bathroom. "So cold…" Tian shivered as the first splash of water wet his shoulder. The water flowing slowly over his skin made his hair stand on end, and he took a deep breath, trying to endure the cold.
The water ran down his body, dripping onto the wooden bathroom floor. Soft sounds of droplets were heard as the water passed through the gaps in the floorboards, dripping beneath. Through those gaps, Tian could see the water flowing out, disappearing among the damp grass outside. The sound of the small stream added to the tranquility, like a simple melody that only he could hear.
He washed himself slowly, little by little. The scoop in his hand moved carefully, each drop of water feeling like cold needles piercing his skin. The sound of water falling to the floor mingled with his breathing, which sometimes sounded like a whimper due to the cold.
"Ahh... why is it always this cold?" Tian complained, though he knew the well water was always this cold because they lived in a mountainous area. Every time he poured water over himself, he tried not to waste it. In his village, water had to be conserved because there were only two wells used by many people. Not because of a lack of water supply, but because of the tiring necessity to go back and forth to fetch water, Tian always remembered to use water wisely.
After a few minutes, Tian began to get used to the cold water. "Well, at least it's refreshing," he said with a faint smile, feeling a little better. The sound of water flowing over his body created a calm and peaceful atmosphere in the bathroom, as if the world outside had momentarily vanished.
When he finished bathing, Tian took a towel and gently dried his face, allowing his body to warm up again. "Wow, I better get dressed quickly before I start shivering again," he said to himself with a small laugh. The sound of his footsteps was soft on the wooden floor as he headed towards the bathroom door.
"Hey, Tian! You're all clean now, right?" his father greeted him warmly as he welcomed him into the living room.
Tian smiled widely, waving with his still-wet hands. "I'm done, Dad!" he replied cheerfully before running to his room to change clothes.
"Alright, hurry and change. Dinner is almost ready," his father replied affectionately.
Inside the house, the sounds of pots clanging and the sizzling of oil in the pan echoed from the kitchen, creating a familiar harmony. The delicious aroma of cooking filled the air, signaling that his mother was finishing dinner preparations. After Tian changed clothes, the family gathered at the dining table. Warm dishes were served on the table, and their appetizing aroma filled the room. Tian sat between his father and mother, enjoying the warmth of home after a day of playing outside.
His mother served a large bowl of warm soup and freshly baked bread. Tian couldn't wait to taste it, his eyes sparkling at the food in front of him.
"It looks so delicious, Mom!" Tian said enthusiastically, scooping soup into his bowl.
His father smiled at Tian's excitement and said, "Eat slowly, Tian. The food won't run away."
Tian chuckled softly and then began to scoop warm soup into his bowl. "I'm so hungry, Dad. This looks great!"
His mother smiled watching her son eat heartily. "If you're hungry, eat enough, Tian. You must be tired from playing outside all day."
"Yes, Mom. I was playing with my friends, and I saw some shepherd goats passing by. I thought, it would be fun if I had goats too!" Tian scooped more soup while speaking enthusiastically.
His father looked at Tian, smiling as he chewed his bread. "Oh, you want to be a shepherd now?"
"Yes, Dad! I want you to buy me some goats! I can take care of them near the house, right?"
His mother chuckled softly while biting her bread. "Taking care of goats isn't easy, Tian. Are you sure?"
Tian nodded eagerly, his mouth full of food. "I'm sure, Mom! I will learn."
After a dinner filled with laughter, the atmosphere began to calm down. Tian's father leaned back in his chair, rubbing his full stomach, and said, "Wow, the dinner was really delicious. Thank you, Mom."
His mother smiled with satisfaction, looking at the plates that were now almost empty. Tian also looked happy, but there was one thing still on his mind. While clearing his bowl, he approached his father and said, "Dad, so are we getting goats, right?"
His father chuckled softly, "Tian, goats aren't cheap, son. We can't just buy livestock carelessly."
Tian, who usually complied, began to whine softly, "Dad, I promise I'll take care of them! I just want two goats. Please, Dad?"
While shaking his father's body, Tian kept pleading. At first, his father remained calm and gently refused, "Tian, listen, the price of goats is high, and my salary isn't enough to buy two goats just like that."
However, Tian, not listening, kept whining, "Dad, come on! I want my own goats! I promise I'll take care of them well!"
The atmosphere that was once filled with laughter began to change. Tian continued to shake his father's body with small whines that started to echo throughout the room. His mother, who was clearing the plates, could only sigh, watching her usually cheerful child begin to insist a little.
His father, who had seemed firm at first, finally nodded slowly. "Alright, Tian, but only one goat. I can't buy two. It's too expensive."
Tian immediately stopped whining and smiled widely, "One is enough, Dad! I'll take good care of it, and then we can have many goats!"
His father could only shake his head with a small smile. "We'll see how well you take care of that goat. If you succeed, maybe we can think about it again."
Tian looked very happy and almost jumped from his seat. The cheerful voice of the boy filled the room again, restoring the joyful atmosphere that had dimmed.
"Thank you, Dad! I promise I won't disappoint!" Tian exclaimed excitedly, his face beaming at the thought of his own goat.
His father could only smile while ruffling Tian's enthusiastic hair, while his mother, who heard all this from the kitchen, could only chuckle softly, "Well, let's just see how Tian takes care of his first goat."
That morning felt warm on the 35th of Ignisday, in the month of Floravia, as the sun began to rise when Tian woke up from his sleep. He walked to the kitchen, rubbing his still-sleepy eyes, and saw only his mother sitting at the dining table, busy preparing breakfast.
In this world, the time system runs in a cycle consisting of four main seasons, each lasting 100 days. This cycle forms a full year consisting of 10 months: Aurilith, Glacivis, Vernalist, Floravia, Solmora, Pyrosol, Rustavor, Harvestis, Noctivis, and Eclipsar, where each month has 40 days, divided into four weeks, and each week consists of 10 days: Solenday, Lunaday, Terraday, Aquday, Ignisday, Ventiday, Mystiday, Aetherday, Umbreday, and Rechoningday.
"Mom, where's Dad? I don't see him?" Tian asked curiously.
His mother smiled while placing a plate on the table. "Your father left for work early this morning, Tian. Come on, have breakfast. Don't you want to play with your friends?"
Tian nodded, sat in his chair, and began to enjoy the warm bread and oatmeal that his mother had prepared. The soft morning breeze could be heard from outside the window, accompanied by the chirping of birds perched on the trees around their house.
After breakfast, Tian quickly got ready and went outside to play swordplay with his friends at the edge of the village. Meanwhile, Tian's father, David, had arrived at his woodworking shop. He greeted his co-worker, who had just arrived as well.
"Good morning, Garlan! So, did any new materials come in?" David greeted enthusiastically, his face shining as bright as the morning sun streaming through the workshop window.
"Good morning, David! Yes, we just received a shipment of wood from the northern forest. The wood is of good quality. We can start making new furniture today," Garlan replied, his voice warm and full of enthusiasm.
The sound of the saw cutting wood "Zzzzztttt!" and the rhythmic sound of the chisel carving "Krek-krek!" soon filled the workshop. The aroma of fresh wood assaulted their senses, creating an inspiring atmosphere for both of them. David and Garlan worked together, each focused and passionate, shaping the wood into sturdy chairs and tables.
As the sun rose higher, its warm rays illuminated their work. David and Garlan had completed several neat pieces of furniture: strong chairs and impressive-looking tables, all made from the high-quality wood they had just received. The gentle breeze outside added to the calm atmosphere inside the workshop.
With sweat on their brows and satisfaction flowing in their hearts, they both finally set their tools down for a moment to rest. The sound of chiseling "Krek-krek!" and the groans of the saw "Zzzzztttt!" were now replaced by a pleasant silence, allowing them to enjoy the moment.
In the midst of this silence, David raised a topic that had been swirling in his mind since morning. He observed Garlan, who was busy wiping his hands with a cloth, then mustered the courage to ask while continuing to arrange the pieces of wood. "Garlan, by the way, do you know how much a goat costs these days?"
Garlan thought for a moment, then answered reflectively, "Hmm, usually around 30 to 50 silver coins. It depends on the age, though. Why, are you planning to buy one?"
David sighed deeply, his expression showing the burden he was contemplating. "Not for me, but for Tian, my son," he said in a low voice but filled with consideration. "He suddenly asked for a goat to take care of. But the price for just one can reach 30 to 50 silver coins. That's too expensive for me… My income is only around 60 to 80 silver coins a month, and I still have to provide for the family."
David lowered his head slightly, his eyes fixed on the surface of the worn wooden table. "Indeed, if I use my savings, I could buy several at once. But… who knows what will happen in the future?" he murmured softly, more to himself.
Garlan, who had been listening, chuckled softly. His deep voice filled the previously quiet workshop. "Hahaha, kids always have new wishes!" he said while leaning back in his chair. "But if you think about it, having goats isn't bad, right? At least you can get your own milk and meat. Who knows, it might even become a new source of income?"
He glanced at David with a wide smile. "And also, your savings from your previous job are quite a lot, right? Even more than all of us, except maybe Mr. Brian," he added teasingly. "So, there's no harm in using a little for something useful."
David fell silent for a moment, letting Garlan's words sink in. His gaze drifted out the workshop window, as if searching for answers in the gentle breeze.
"Hmmm…" David sighed softly, then smiled faintly. "You have a point, Garlan," he said in a lighter tone. "Alright, I'll buy Tian his goat later."
After chatting for a while, they resumed their furniture-making activities. The sounds of tools filled the workshop again, the saw buzzing "Zzzzztttt!" and the chisel rhythmically working. David and Garlan refocused on each piece of wood, striving to transform it into beautiful creations, while occasionally exchanging light jokes that echoed amid their laughter.
The day began to turn to evening, and David felt the warmth of the sun becoming more intense. He noticed that it was almost time for sunset. He bid farewell to Garlan earlier than usual. "Garlan, I'm leaving now, going to the farm to find a goat for Tian," David said, his footsteps quickening towards the door.
"Be careful on the road, David. Hope you find a good one," Garlan replied, his voice full of hope.
David nodded and stepped outside. The sounds of birds chirping and the gentle breeze welcomed him. He headed towards the farm in the village. Along the way, the aroma of fresh grass and the lively sounds of livestock filled the air.