The decision to remain discreet proved to be the right one. For a brief period, a few merchants began commenting on Gertrude's cures. Nothing alarming at first—just road talk, the sort of stories passed around between mugs in roadside taverns. Even so, it was enough for a few sharper eyes to start watching our village with interest.
We managed to divert the attention with simple infusions. Herbs for pain, fever, digestion… nothing that any experienced healer couldn't prepare.
Fortunately, their curiosity didn't last long.
Tax collectors passed through Carvahall a few days later, circling the village like carrion birds over a battlefield. They observed everything: houses, animals, tools, even the clothes people wore. They sniffed for wealth wherever it might exist.
But they found nothing beyond a small village living as it always had.
After a few days of suspicious glances and indirect questions, they lost interest and moved on.
The danger passed as quickly as it had appeared.
Some of the group even joked about the situation.
"Are you sure you can't see the future?" Gilbert asked one night, half joking, half genuinely curious.
Others laughed, but I noticed that some were actually considering the possibility.
That led me to an improvised lecture.
I explained as best I could that time does not work like a single inevitable road. I used a simple metaphor.
"Time is like a river," I began, drawing lines in the dirt with a stick. "It flows in one direction… but like any river, it can split."
I drew several small branches diverging from the main stream.
"Each choice creates a new branch. Each decision changes where the water goes."
I pointed to one of the lines.
"Marian's accident is a good example. If that day she had decided to stay home… none of it would have happened."
Some nodded slowly.
"So someone who claims to see the future… would really only be seeing one possibility among many."
I looked at each of them before continuing.
"Because every decision, every choice, every action from anyone can completely alter that course."
The explanation took longer than I expected. Certain ideas simply have no direct equivalent in this world, so I had to simplify much of what I actually wanted to say.
Even so, when I finished, everyone was silent.
Thoughtful.
I sincerely hope that was enough to prevent some strange cult of destiny from forming within the group.
Thinking about it… perhaps it would be better to record these ideas more carefully one day. Maybe even write a book about the subject for future generations.
It might be useful.
Despite all these small events, one occurrence stood out—at least according to my mother, who insisted on calling it "a great event."
According to her, it was important enough to deserve celebration.
I asked Elena to marry me.
Now we are engaged.
It was a rather stressful day… but whenever I remember it, I find myself smiling.
It was a bright winter afternoon. The cold still dominated the air, but the sun appeared often enough between the clouds to make the day pleasant.
It was also Elena's birthday.
She was turning sixteen.
I spent almost an entire week working at the forge while she was busy at the school, preparing her surprise. I had to keep everything secret—the only one who truly knew was my father.
He helped me with the runes.
My mother, on the other hand, handled the most important part: enough food to feed half the village.
Normally these celebrations would take place in our hidden settlement, far from curious eyes. But this time I asked for it to be different.
I argued that since Elena was officially becoming an adult, the celebration should be public.
It would also help improve the village's mood after all the confusion surrounding the potions.
In the end, everyone agreed.
That day I went to pick her up from the school as I always did.
She came out accompanied by several children who insisted on showing drawings and small exercises they had done during the day.
After much insistence and a few quick hugs, they finally let her go.
"You seem suspiciously calm today," Elena commented as we walked down the road.
"I am always calm."
She gave me a clearly suspicious look.
I decided to change the subject.
We walked for nearly an hour. I told a few stories, invented others along the way, and did my best to keep her attention away from the village.
When we finally returned, the place seemed deserted.
No children running through the streets. No villagers talking in doorways.
Elena stopped in the middle of the road.
"Where is everyone?" she asked, looking around.
"They must have gone inside to warm up. It's getting cold," I replied, trying to sound distracted.
She narrowed her eyes at me.
"Something is strange."
"You've been getting suspicious about everything lately."
She crossed her arms for a moment, still scanning the silent village.
"And you've been acting strange."
I shrugged.
"Maybe it's the cold."
She snorted but kept walking.
I slowly guided her toward the school.
The moment we opened the door—
"Surprise!!!"
The collective shout echoed through the hall.
Torches burned around the courtyard, illuminating long tables covered with bread, meat, soups, and sweets. Nearly the entire village seemed to be there.
The children reacted first.
They ran straight toward Elena, hugging her all at once while shouting congratulations.
She stood still for a moment, completely surprised.
Then she brought a hand to her mouth, trying to contain the smile that inevitably appeared.
I watched her eyes shine with tears of emotion. I stepped closer and leaned near enough to speak only to her.
"Happy birthday."
She opened her mouth to reply but didn't get the chance.
A true gang of laughing children surrounded her immediately, pulling her hands, hugging her waist, all speaking at once.
"Teacher, did you see the table?"
"There's cake!"
"I helped bake the bread!"
She laughed, still surprised, practically dragged into the center of the crowd.
The celebration continued lively.
Beer and food in abundance kept spirits high. The tables quickly filled with empty plates, mugs clinking together, and stories growing louder as the night progressed.
Children ran between the tables. The elders gathered near the torches, enjoying the warmth of the fire against the winter cold.
From time to time my eyes searched for Elena in the crowd.
She talked with the village women, laughed with the children, and sometimes simply looked around as if still trying to understand what was happening.
Gradually the night advanced.
Some people began speaking louder than necessary. Others settled more comfortably on the benches, satisfied with food and drink.
I decided it was time.
I stood and walked to the center between the tables.
I tapped one mug lightly against another.
"Your attention, please!"
The conversations slowly quieted. Some people took a few seconds to realize something was happening, but soon most eyes turned toward me.
"Today is a very special day," I began. "Today a dear friend of ours officially becomes a young woman of sixteen."
Cheers rose immediately. Mugs were lifted into the air.
"I've known Elena since we were three years old," I continued. "Back then I spent more time bothering her father than doing anything else."
Laughter spread among the crowd—especially from those who had suffered the same persistence when I first began asking to learn at the forge.
"But tonight's celebration will not be the only surprise."
I paused briefly.
"Normally this sort of thing is discussed with the father first."
I turned toward Gilbert.
"And fortunately, I already received his approval."
Gilbert raised his mug toward me with a satisfied smile.
Some of the village women immediately understood what was happening. I saw smiles appear, hands covering mouths, quiet excited whispers.
The men took a little longer.
Whether from the alcohol… or simply by nature.
"Elena," I said, looking directly at her. "I've already spoken with your father."
I took a deep breath before continuing.
"Now I only need your answer."
Silence fell almost instantly.
"Will you marry me?"
Some of the men finally understood.
I heard murmurs rising.
"He's got courage…"
"Bold lad…"
But soon all eyes turned to Elena.
Throughout it all, I watched only her.
I saw the moment she fully understood what was happening.
The shock first.
Then the tears forming again in her eyes.
The seconds passed slowly.
To me, they felt like an eternity.
I began to feel slightly uncomfortable. Some men were already smiling with amusement at my apparent embarrassment.
Then someone—perhaps one of the women beside her—gave her a gentle nudge.
Elena blinked a few times, as if waking from a trance.
She looked around.
Everyone waiting.
Then she looked back at me.
And smiled.
It was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.
"Yes!" she said, almost breathless. "Yes, of course I will!"
She practically ran toward me and embraced me tightly.
I hugged her back.
Around us applause and celebration erupted. Mugs were raised, people whistled, and some of the children jumped with excitement.
I definitely did not hear a very familiar voice shouting from the crowd:
"Finally!"
After a few moments we separated.
Still holding her hands, I took two small rings from my pocket.
"Let these serve as proof of our commitment."
I placed the ring on her finger and handed her the other so she could do the same.
As soon as we finished, some of the village women approached immediately, curious to examine the ring more closely.
Whispers and comments followed as they inspected the metal.
I made it with a simple appearance, without flashy adornments.
In this world, discretion is still the safest choice.
The celebration continued for some time afterward.
Stories were told again, this time with even greater enthusiasm. Some toasts were made to our future, while others simply used the excuse to keep drinking.
As the hours passed, families began saying their farewells. Sleepy children were carried in their parents' arms, and the last mugs were emptied near the torches already burning low.
Gradually the village returned to the silence of the winter night.
When only a few embers remained in the fire and the cold began reclaiming the air, I looked at Elena beside me.
The ring still gleamed softly on her hand beneath the light of the last torches.
The ring is not a simple ring.
With my father's help, we managed to condense a teleportation formula into it.
It can only store a single coordinate, but even so it is extremely useful.
The greatest issue is the energy cost.
Still, a few weeks transferring my own energy into the ring is enough to keep it charged.
And as a small additional detail…
we now know that teleportation is possible.