Having had their fill of compliments performed by shameless old men and women, Catherine decided to cut short the endless stream of flattery:
"Old Man Ma, don't just stand there like a post, introduce everyone! You don't want to be the only one they call by name. After all, these are the future teachers of my children."
"Ahem, ahem. Quite right, little Katty," Old Man Ma cleared his throat, having just been casually thrown under the bus once again.
Physically feeling the sharp gazes on him, promising unspeakable torture for the slightest attempt to undermine their authority in front of the younger generation, the Village Elder selflessly took on the task no one else wished to perform:
"Well then, I am pleased to introduce this lovely old lady in black. Children, you may call her Grandma Cornelia. She is the finest herbalist in the village. She knows every kind of herb, their properties, and how they react when mixed. If you ever feel unwell, she should be the first person you turn to." —The village head Ma introduced the first person, gesturing toward the hunched old woman in a black robe.
Her appearance resembled death itself: skin shriveled by age, a long hooked nose, and even a scythe in her hand.
Had the children encountered her somewhere on the street, they would undoubtedly have run without looking back, yet here, in the presence of their mother and the other elders, she seemed like a kindly grandmother eager to spoil her grandchildren.
Meanwhile, Old Man Ma continued the introductions:
"This old gentleman with the missing arm is your Grandpa Jack. He is a professional emm... Surgeon... Yes, a doctor who understands the structure of the body better than anyone. He knows every weak point and can determine the nature and severity of an injury at a single glance.
For matters of kill... I mean, for any kind of injury, go to him." – he introduced the one-armed man dressed in tight black clothing.
Then he glanced at two figures who stood out among the elderly like cranes among chickens. A man and a woman dressed in classic gothic attire were the only ones who appeared young.
"This happy married couple, Konstantin and Konstancia Blade, are the oldest residents of the village.
They are bloodsuckers (vampires). Both of them are over two thousand years old, and they possess the most extensive wine collection... That is to say, they are the most knowledgeable when it comes to history. They have personally lived through many wars; their knowledge is no laughing matter."
"This blind gentleman in round glasses is a genius swindler... Ahem... Ahem... rather, a politician.
He will be your teacher of oratory. Once, he convinced a viper that it was a proud dragon, and then sold it at a world auction for a staggering sum.
He does not tell us his real name. So just call him Blind Grandpa," he said, pointing to a thin old man whose eyes were as white as his hair.
"Next, though not least in importance, a mad fanatic of magic or simply a greedy miser, Aunt Albedo. Do not you dare call her grandma." — Old Man Ma looked at the tall woman in a dark purple robe, her face concealed beneath a dense hijab.
"She is one of the progenitors of the witch race. And the most well-informed among us. Any question you fail to understand should be directed to her.
And do not be shy about asking her for gifts. She is the wealthiest of us all. I am certain she will be willing to share her treasures with little friends."
"And finally, your last teacher for today, this muscular drunkard with severed fingers, who also happens to be the finest blacksmith, jeweler, and mechanic, a representative of the proud race of dwarves, Grandpa Clark." — he introduced a ruddy-faced, muscular old man who swayed slightly where he stood. He was only half a head taller than the children, reaching merely to Catherine's waist.
At last, having finished the endless introductions, Elder Mark let out a sigh of relief.
He felt the murderous intent slowly leaving his frail body.
Every elder here cared deeply about their reputation in the eyes of the younger generation. No one wanted Old Man Ma to blurt out something unnecessary and leave a poor first impression. Thus, the responsibility of introducing everyone had been not an honor, but a torment for him.
"Greetings, elders," the brother and sister said cheerfully, giving a slight bow in respect.
Watching their innocent reaction, the old folks flushed with pride.
They stood with chests puffed out and bright smiles on their faces. Living here in seclusion, they had almost forgotten how pleasant it felt to be appreciated by the younger generation.
"Now that the introductions are over, allow me to show the children around and acquaint them with the village rules, so they do not trouble your esteemed selves," Catherine said with a smile, taking the initiative.
"Katty, what a good child you are! I cannot get enough of looking at you. Come to my hut for a cup of tea with the little ones. We'll talk about life. I have an excellent four-leaf pu-erh saved just for occasions like this. It is perfect for relaxation." — Grandma Cornelia invited her with the gentlest smile she could manage.
Though her appearance resembled the embodiment of death more than a human being, she was kind at heart and the softest old woman of them all, having devoted her entire life to cultivating plants and tending gardens.
All the elders cast her stern, murderous glances for inviting Catherine out of turn, yet they kept silent, as they often sought her help.
"Of course, Grandma! I will definitely visit you after the tour," Catherine replied with a smile.
While the elders chatted animatedly among themselves, the little family explored the village where they were destined to live for a long time.
There were only fifteen residential houses here, and about half of them currently stood empty, their owners having left on "urgent matters" after hearing Catherine's tragic story.
The houses were easy to distinguish, as each one had a stake in front with a plaque bearing the owner's name. Every plaque was unique, as though it reflected the character of its master.
For instance, the street sign reading "The Newlyweds' Chamber of Konstancia and Konstantin" was beautiful and stylish, with neat golden letters. It was almost ceremonial.
Aunt Albedo's plaque, on the other hand, stood at a forty-five-degree angle, as if it would topple over at the slightest breeze. It swayed from side to side, yet stubbornly remained upright.
Grace could not hold herself back. "Mom, that plaque is about to fall. Maybe we should fix it?"
Catherine could not suppress her laughter. "Ahahaha, my dear, there is nothing to worry about. That plaque stood at the same angle even in my childhood. So many years have passed, and it still has not fallen. Who knows what Aunt Albedo did to it?"
"Maybe we should visit her and ask?"
"She is not at home. See that red ribbon on the plaque? It means the owner is absent and you should not enter the hut." Catherine explained to them, "It is a long-established village tradition so that no one breaks into houses while the owners are away on business."
The twins fell into thought.
As they looked around, they clearly noted that red ribbons were tied to the plaques reading "Albedo" and "Jack," who had apparently left after the introductions.
On the other hand, there were also plaques that read "Morgana," "Robert," "Joseph," and "Qin Luo," names unfamiliar to them.
The residents of the Village of the Forsaken did not live here year-round. They were powerful experts at the level of Sky-Dwellers and could travel far faster than a mother with children. To them, this dreadful village, where one could not step outside at night because of resentful souls, was the coziest nest of all. A place of seclusion to which they could return from time to time.
About five minutes later, the twins stopped in front of a small hut with a plaque that read "Catherine's Residence," also adorned with a red ribbon.
"Residence..." Grace repeated, glancing at her mother with a smirk, "It seems Mom likes giving things grand names..."
Catherine felt slightly embarrassed, yet still replied, "I was young."
'Why is my daughter attentive only to things like this?' she thought to herself. 'She should focus on her lessons, not on nonsense like that.'
With a casual motion, Catherine pulled the stake from the ground. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she planted it where the plaque reading "Village Head's Hut" had previously stood.
That was how she finally evicted poor Grandpa Ma, who had treated her like his own daughter, from his home. She showed not the slightest ceremony. She did not care in the least where the old man would live. He could take her old hut or claim a new house for himself. After all, he was the one who had taught her to be shameless; now he could reap the fruits.
As they walked along the narrow streets, Catherine kept turning their future plans over in her mind.
The village was a wonderful place to raise the twins. The finest specialists in every field were gathered here, and the atmosphere was so peaceful that no one would even think of disturbing them.
The only danger came from the ghosts after nightfall. The village itself was protected by altars, all manner of runes, and the presence of Sky-Dwellers, yet what truly worried Catherine was the carelessness of the two children. Knowing their temperaments, they might very well step beyond the fence simply out of curiosity to see what ghosts looked like.
Should she build a tall fence? Perhaps give them powerful amulets? Or ask Cassia to watch over them from the shadows?
Mm, she would have to do all of it.
But the moment Catherine pushed aside her anxious thoughts and continued the walk, the village reminded her why she had chosen this place in the first place.
Everything here echoed her own childhood, those days when she had run barefoot along these very streets, catching grasshoppers and laughing at the simplest things.
A small mill, powered by the stream that flowed along the edge of the village. Long ago, little Catherine had built it together with Grandpa Ma and Aunt Albedo. With one ear she had listened to their instructions, with the other to the murmur of the water, which had seemed so melodious.
Right behind the mill lay neat piles of hay, the same kind she had once climbed onto, imagining herself a great traveler conquering distant mountains.
A little farther stood a barn with a large cellar where food was stored. Unlike in her childhood, it now contained large wooden chests that radiated cold. Aunt Albedo had invented them not long ago and called them "Winter Chests."
The dried-up well across from the village head's house… Catherine shuddered, remembering how strictly she had been forbidden to approach it. And just like her children now, she had never been given an explanation. Yet that stern prohibition had become part of her life, that rare rule she had obeyed without question.
Now her twins would hear the same warning.
A little farther down the stream stood a large bathhouse. Inside was a massive cast-iron stove piled high with smooth-sided basalt stones. The bathhouse itself was quite spacious; if necessary, five grown men could sit there comfortably. Why such a small village needed such a large bathhouse, history remained silent.
In the dressing room stood a large tub filled with warm water for relaxation, a broad wooden table, and a barrel of ice-cold water.
And of course, the largest building in the village was the barn. All manner of animals were kept there. From Snowball, comfortably perched on a beam beneath the roof, to the local alarm clock named Nikolai. From a black mare to a fluffy sheep. There were also bees, a scorpion the size of a calf, and a peacock proudly displaying its multicolored tail. The three-headed puppy Lucky merrily chased after a strange-looking lizard that resembled a small dinosaur.
The children were delighted by such variety.
In time, after learning the reason behind the two little ones' excitement, the villagers turned the Barn into a small zoo, replenished each month with new exotic creatures.
Every resident of the village was obliged to add a new specimen to the collection once a year. And the winner, the one who impressed Grey and Grace the most, could request anything from the losers' collections.
But that was an entirely different story.
==============
Dear readers, I have to inform you that this work was rejected when applying for a contract without the possibility of revision. Therefore, I was forced to create a second version of the book, where I will publish the latest updates.
I will not give up on this version, but some chapters will be posted a little later than in the main one.
The book is called "The Mad Immortal"
https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-mad-immortal_34969618200258905###
Many thanks for your support, active comments and reviews.
This will help more readers to get acquainted with my book, which means my chances of getting a contract will increase and you will receive content more often. (The author also needs to eat and provide for his family)