The sun is shining.
Not too bright. not too blinding. The peaceful and warm sensations of summer. The birds chirping, the ground is fertile, the wind is soft and calm.
In a village where a church stands proud and pure. The walls with white paint that stands out with the modest village. A holy sanctuary where the villagers pray and thank God for the blessings they receive every day.
A guard is doing his daily patrols. His armor composed of shoulder pads, small chestplate, and a helmet that covers his head like a mushroom cap clanked softly barely audible in the peaceful ambience of the village market.
There is the usual chatter of vendors and customers.
The guard finished his morning rounds in the market. He calmly walked to a stall. A fruit stall. There, a maiden stands with brown hair that is smooth as a goddess.
"Hey Marinda. How's your day?" The guard asked casually. Leaning on the fruit stall's wooden desk.
"Shouldn't you be patrolling, Leonard? Not... Flirting with women in the market?" Marinda said teasingly
"There, your usual." Leonard is caught off guard. But catches it nonetheless.
"Now go do your duties instead of spending your break flirting with me." Marinda said with a genuine smile. Like this is a daily occurrence for her
Leonard Continues his rounds. Walking around the village. Saying hi to some familiar faces and mediating the usual banter before it gets out of hand. He then goes to the docks where the fishermen work.
"Oh, Leonard! How have you been, young man?"
A burly fisherman named Brutus asked. He has a big grey beard that he strokes knowingly.
"Doing your rounds as usual?" Brutus asked
"Yeah. The usual... So... Any good catches sir Brutus?"
"HahahaHA!" He laughed loudly then pats Leonard's back so hard Leonard nearly fell over.
Howis this old man so strong? Leonard thought to himself.
"The catch is bountiful as always!" His voice booms across the busy docks.
"Oh, we did catch something good." Brutus picks up a huge fish. Even bigger than Leonard. It was a River tuna.
A tuna that adapted to fresh water. Due to the adaptation it also developed teeth like a barracuda. Making it difficult to catch. Although it usually lives upstream not downstream.
After the docks Leonard went to the Hunter's guild.
"He-" Before he could say hello a boar tusk flew in his direction. Nearly hitting him on the head. It falls on the floor. Still leaking blood.
"Oh? Leonard. Daily rounds I presume?"
A handsome man adjusts his glasses his gloved hands were bloodied from butchering a giant boar they hunted. His green tunic has some blood splashes. This is Leo the Hunter's Guildmaster.
Leonard sees the blood all over his hand...
Yeah, he looks fine... He thought to himself.
"... Everything seems fine here. Bye."
Leonard walks away immediately leaving Leo back to butchering.
Leonard had finished his duties. The sun began to set. The lanterns of the street get lit with the built in mana crystals. They hum lightly as the villagers are doing their own thing. The night market is full of food stalls like stew, skewers, among some other things.
The delicious smell of food is suddenly interrupted by a sudden voice from behind him. "How was your day Leonard?" A sudden question asked near his ear.
Leonard is startled. Then he gets a good look on the figure...
"Oh. Don't scare me like that Father Mavrick."
"Hohoho~" Father Mavrick laughed while stroking his grey beard.
"Did I scare our guard? Have no fear child. For God protects our village from evil."
He patted Leonard's shoulder. His hands are steady despite his age, his posture is straight but is inviting, his hand is warm and gentle even through armor. He gives Leonard a deep smile. Then walked back to the village church.
"God... Okay."
He said looking at the church.
Leonard's hand rested on the handle of his sword. A flash of imagery fill his mind then-
Leonard snaps out of his trance.
"Hey. What are you doing?" Marinda asked from behind Leonard.
"You look dazed. Is something wrong?"
"Oh." He clears his throat. "It's nothing."
"Just... You know? Deep tlhinking...."
"Hey." Marinda says.
"Don't think about that. Your not that man anymore."
She said holding Leonard's hands.
"Okay... I'm not him anymore..." Leonard States holding Marinda's hands.
"Uhm... Since you're free for the day... How about we go on a date?" Marinda asked blushing.
"Okay... How about tommorow?" Leonard says smiling wide.
"Okay... Promise?" She reached her pinky out.
"Heh. You're so childish." He did the pinky promise anyway."
"It's cute." Leonard teases her which results in her blush fiercely.
Marinda and Leonard go their seperate ways. Marinda went home and Leonard went to his barracks. He took off his armor and got ready for sleep.
"... Goodnight... I hope." He says to himself
Leonard does a sign of the cross. Then falls asleep... At least he tries. The night was quiet and dark. But it was serene with the stars visible in the night sky.
I hope I sleep. Well.
To be continued...