After our main character fell, he was washed down the river for two weeks before he finally washed ashore unconscious…
"Hey kid, hey kid. Wake up," a voice said.
Huh? Where am I?
"You are in the town of Luna," the stranger said.
Huh? I've never heard of it. How far are we from The Northern Territories?
"What are The Northern Territories?" The stranger asked.
Well, I assume that answers my question. What's your name, stranger?
"I'm Tim, what's yours?" Tim asked.
I'm Aerin.
"Hey, would you like to come home with me? We can clean you up and get you something to eat," Tim said.
I think I'd like that.
Then Aerin and Tim entered Luna and went to Tim's house, where his parents were waiting for him to return…
"What took you so long, Tim?" Tim's mom asked.
"I found a kid passed out in the river," Tim replied.
"I thought maybe we could give him a place to stay the night and maybe give him some new clothes and something to eat," Tim added.
Then Tim's mom looked behind Tim and saw Aerin…
"Poor kid, he doesn't look any older than seven. Come in, let's give you a bath," Tim's mom said as she walked towards Aerin and pushed him towards the bathroom.
When Tim's mom and Aerin got to the bathroom, Tim's mom began to help Aerin get undressed. But when Tim's mom took of Aerin's shirt, she was horrified at what she saw…
"Huh—?!" Tim's mom said, scared and surprised.
"How could you have so many scars?" Tim's mom asked Aerin, not expecting a response.
Thing is I'm an assassin for a village south of here.
"What? But how could a child be hired as an assassin?" Tim's mom asked, surprised.
It's actually very common in the major villages.
"How could that be?" Tim's mom said.
I don't know, it's just the way it is.
After Aerin bathed and got dressed, he went back to the kitchen for dinner…
Thanks for the food.
"You are very welcome," Tim's dad replied as he sat down at the table with everyone else.
"So, Aerin…do you have any family that we can try and find to get you home," Tim's mom asked.
No, all my family members have passed away.
Then the atmosphere at the table changed…
But it's whatever. Tomorrow, I will head out and try and find my team. I shouldn't have drifted to far down stream.
After everybody finished dinner…
"I have a floor mattress for you to lay on, but we really don't have anything else for you to sleep on," Tim's mom told Aerin.
It's fine. I just want to get some rest.
Several hours later…
Hey Léōn, you there?
"Yes my child, what do you need," Léōn said.
But Léōn didn't appear this time. The voice Aerin had heard was like it was from within, but also everywhere else…
Where am I?
"You are 2000 km from your team and triple that from the northern territories," Léōn replied.
Huh, how long was I drifting in the river?
"Around 2 weeks," Léōn replied.
Looks like I'm going to have to travel quite a bit to get to the northern territories before my team, to meet them there.
Well, I should get some rest. Thanks for the info, Léōn.
"You are very welcome my child, now get some rest you have a long journey ahead of you," Léōn said.
To be continued…