At the first ray of the sun, my eyes shot open as it hit me from its early rise. I quickly got up then scanned the area from a small window. Even though it was still early, there were already many people up and going around doing their business.

This made me smile widely as I dressed in my usual attire, but silently enough so my brother wouldn't wake up. I secured my knife and gun at my belt then quietly slipped through the door after taking one last look at my little brother, Matthew. From there, I left our hideout while watching out for guards or anyone else.

When the coast was clear, I quickly headed near the outskirts of town and into a local farm. There, I went to the stables and was met with a warm, familiar face.

"Well good morning Alfred."

"Hey Antonio! Is Silver-"

"All ready to go."

I smiled at this then mounted onto my favorite horse, Silver.

"Thanks Antonio, I'll be sure to pay you back when I get back!"

"No need at all mi amigo!"

He waved at me as Silver leaped tremendously above the stable gates and then into the forest with her hooves pounding the earth below.

"Hyah!"

With a strike of the reins, Silver sped up as we now headed for a much more larger town than the one I lived in. As soon as the sun was zenith, the markets are already going to be busy so I had to be there before all the good items are gone.

Along the way I picked up some berries both poison and not before putting them in my pouch. You may never know when you're gonna need them, especially if you're around someone you don't really like. After walking halfway through the forest, I let Silver rest for a drink of water as I wandered off with my hood over my head.

When I came across a large tree, I stopped and looked for anyone close by then went through a small, hidden tunnel deep within the bushes near the tree. I easily avoided all the thorns and then stood up at the other end, dusting leaves off my clothes.

This was my secret place. It was a small meadow surrounded by thick trees that could only be entered by the tunnel. Here, I could be truly calm and at peace. I sighed and then held up my hood as I looked around the bushes for a dark green leaf. Once I found one, I plucked it from its stem then sat down.

I inhaled a bit of air as I placed the leaf slightly bent at my mouth before blowing into it to create a soft note. The noise seems to echo around the area as I continued the song with my eyes closed. The music lulled me into a peacefully calm state.

After the song came to an end, I opened my eyes and stood up. I went out the way I got in then hopped back on Silver. In a few minutes, we got to the town that looked more like a bit city to me. The area wasn't too crowded so my smile stayed on my lips as I got off of Silver. Along the streets, I went to a large shack and smiled at the young lady there.

"Hello their Alfred, it's good to see you."

"Right back at ya Elizabeth. Can I have the usual?"

"Already done."

I smiled at how well things were going so far as I took the bag full of goodies from the brown haired girl. After I paid her, she held me back a while just when I was about to leave.

"Alfred, there's been some cases of people going missing and most of them were said to be taken away into the forest. Try to avoid the forest as much as you can alright?"

Elizabeth smiled at me a little then waved as I packed the items in the sac attached to Silver's saddle and made sure it was secure. In the corner of my eye I saw a fight start to brew even when it was so early in the morning.

I was going to leave but I didn't. My eyes narrowed at the figure who was standing tall and proud as if he owned the place. The smirk on his face remained where it was while he stared down at a guy. His red eyes seemed rather unhuman since it gave off a weird aura.

He opened his mouth and was apparently complaining of how the guy should look where he was going and not bump into him. I clenched my fist and took a step forward but before I could do anything, they were gone.

I helped the boy on the ground to his feet and asked if he was alright. The guy nodded and seems to have a distant look in his eyes. I shook his shoulders a bit and in response he rubbed his eyes.

"Sorry, I'm not really used to waking up this early."

He voice was dripped with sleepiness and I sympathetically smiled at him.

"You'll get used to it eventually. If I might ask, did you know who that person was a few minutes?"

He shook his head in response.

"Alright, be careful now."

We both waved goodbye to each other as we went our separate ways. I rode back through a forest but stopped by at another farm that was like a sister to the one Antonio was at.

"Oh great, looks like the hero bastard is already here."

"Hi to you too Lovino."

Said guy simply scowled at me as he went back to combing one of the horse's hair. Another guy that looked strikingly similar to Lovino came by and took hold of the reins to Silver as he lead her to a roomy stall.

"Ve~ Good morning Alfred!"

"Yea, you too Feliciano."

I got off my horse and I took a bite out of the apple I got from the sac. When he looked into the sac his smiled widened at me.

"Hey you know this is more than we asked for. You should be bringing it back to Matthew."

"You provided more than enough for us. This is just a little token of our appreciation to you and Lovino. Besides, we can take care of ourselves now. I know we're still young but we can handle whatever life throws at us. Even if we were in trouble, as the hero, I will always save the day!"

"Ve~ You're so nice!"

I smiled and then finished up my apple before tossing it to the trash pile.

"So do you need any help or know anyone that may want it?"

He thought about it while carrying a full bucket of water to one of the horses and placed it on a strong hook.

"I think Big Brother Francis could use a hand or two."

"Alright, thanks Feliciano! You too Lovino."

Lovino grunted in response as Feliciano smiled. I waved at the two of them as I started to make my way out of the local farm.

"You sure you don't want to take a horse with you?"

"The next town isn't that far, so don't worry. Also, I'll be back by noon the latest if Matthew ask."

After a goodbye, I headed down the narrow path to my next destination. My belt held the berries in one pouch, money in the next, my knife at one handle, and then my gun.

I wish I could have a day where I didn't have to worry about work. A day off sounds nice too but right now, I wanted freedom. I jumped up and grabbed a hold of a thick branch before pulling myself up on it. There I had a good view of the tremendous city of Gower.

This place was one of the best marketing wise as people all over the world come here to trade and hope to make a profit. I landed back down on the grass then swiftly blend myself in the crowd without making eye contact with anybody.

With the sun fully in the sky, the place was as crowded as it could get which meant that everyone was busy doing there business. I spotted the flower shop then quickly entered the door that sounded a bell.

"Welcome to- Oh good morning Alfred."

"Hey Francis. Anything I can do today?"

Said man was pulling his hair up in a ponytail while looking around the shop.

"Well you can hop over the counter and get the orchids watered."

"Alright."

I pulled my hood off and hopped over the counter then went into the back. This was where all different types of flowers grow. Although the shop seemed small in the front, the back makes up for its size. After I watered almost half of the orchids, I heard Francis's voice call out to me.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember the orchid you planted last week?"

I turned my head around to look at him and saw a orchid in a potted plant sprouting from the ground.

"Look at how far it's come."

He handed the pot to me with care and I smiled widely at the young flower. A month ago, I begged Francis to let me plant my own orchid with some money that I saved up. Now, my beautiful creation is starting to grow out of its seed.

"It still has a many more weeks to go but it made some progress."

I nodded and smiled wider.

"Thanks Francis, Matthew's gonna love this!"

"Yeah no problem. Oh right, you need to do some deliveries for me since I got a ton today."

He grabbed my wrist and dragged me away from my orchid I placed on the counter.

"But the orch-"

"I'll deal with it so don't worry so much."

I decided it was best not to say much more so I hopped over the counter again and took the bag of flowers he prepared. To my surprise, it was much more heavier than it usually is.

"Alright, I'm off to work now sir!"

"Bye and be careful now."

The door was opened and caused the bell to ring slightly. I turned my head around and I saw a girl with long blonde hair.

"Welcome to my flower shop, how may I help you today mi amor?"

I blinked out my trance and smiled at the girl before heading out the door. Looking at my list, it appeared that this day was going to be a long one. After a deep sigh, I stared up at the sky then smiled.

"Here I go!"

TIME SKIP

"Thanks so much for the flowers, you're right on time."

"No problem dude! Please come by to our store when you need our service!"

He smiled a bit then closed the door. I looked at my list and sighed in relief when I saw that I was done. It was amazing that the shop was doing good even though it was nearing winter.

I looked up at the sky while making my way back at the flower shop. There were a few stray clouds in the sky today like usual then I notice of the townspeople. Each and everyday it seemed like the same. People were out doing the usual routine of trading or buying supplies for their everyday lives.

Everyone was so busy with their personal business that it seems if someone were to die, no one would really notice. To me, that seemed too cruel but once I think about it, it's true.

I wished something interesting would happen in this town. Maybe an exciting competition, event or maybe even a festival in order to bring some fun into this sad atmosphere.

Alas, there was nothing I can do but hope. The only thing that were news around these areas were politics and the events that occur deep in the forest. Besides the warning Elizabeth gave me earlier, there were other cases of missing people as well as strange deaths.

In my mind, it could just be robbers that prey on those who were clueless to there presence, but the rumors are starting to become more and more radical. This did make me want to explore the forest as the curious person I was, but so far my odd jobs have kept me busy. Plus, Matthew would never let me go beyond the area I'm allowed to venture into.

"There's that guy again."

"How can he have the guts to show his face around here."

I blinked at a sudden conversation I overhead and turned my head to the side to see two old ladies whispering to one another while looking at a blonde man with caterpillar eyebrows. My eyes studied the figure as he observed some fruits and saw nothing wrong with him.

"I heard that they found books with strange symbols in his room."

"As do I! Not only that but he also tried to turn the duke's daughter into a toad because of her fortune."

One of the ladies visibly shivered after she said that but then continued on in a low whisper that I almost didn't catch.

"Someone has to report that warlock to the authority before he curses us all!"

They both looked back at the 'warlock' then fled when he glanced back at them. His gaze was left at that direction for a while before they traveled to myself. I blinked once and then titled my head to the side since he looked rather harmless for a warlock.

He gave me a knowing smile before turning around and heading off the opposite direction with graceful strides. I couldn't believe the accusations those people ave to that guy considering how calm and gentle he looked. However, their was a chance that what they were saying is true.

A deep sigh left my lips as I continued my journey back to the shop while trying to clear out the thoughts going through my head. To much thinking tends to wear me out faster for some reason, so I try to go with the flow before things get complicated.

"I'm telling you guys, I wasn't just seeing things!"

I stopped in my tracks and looked to the side to see a guy talking to a few other people at a nearby stall. One of the guys laughed and then patted the other man's back.

"Maybe you've been out in the sun for too long and mistaken a bar for whatever beast you're babbling about."

The man trembled when the guy said that then groaned.

"I'm serious though! I was attacked by a huge beast like wolf while I was at the forest!"

His friends sighed again then tried reasoning with him. I got bored of the conversation afterwards so I left the area without stopping since Francis might have something else for me to do. In less than ten minutes, I made my way into the flower shop, making the bell go off as I opened the door.

"Mon ami, back already?"

"Yup, you got anything else for me to do man?"

The blonde haired man nodded and held out a bouquet of sunflowers for me to see.

"Do you remember that girl who came in before you left? She wanted this delivered to a friend of hers."

I looked at it and smiled at how breathtaking it was.

"Just leave it to me!"

Before I could take the flower out of his hands, he stepped back a little with a pensive expression.

"I don't know if I should send you on this one since it's to somewhere in the forest today. There's been some bad rumors about the forest lately and I wouldn't want Matthew or Antonio to kill me for sending you to your death."

This made me chuckle a bit.

"What, you don't think I can take care of myself? Besides, don't you think the rumors are just ways for people to gossip about."

He looked down for a bit then sighed as he handed me the flowers and the directions to the place.

"Alright, but just be careful alright? If you can then come back here so I know you're alive."

I carefully placed the flower in my basket then saluted him.

"You can count on me!"

We said our farewells then I went back out into the open and decided to go straight to Lovino and Feliciano. It only took a few minutes until I reached their place to see Lovino tending to the horses again.

"Hey, I need to take Silver now."

"Are finally gonna leave?"

I shook my head as Lovino saddled up my horse.

"Francis has one more deliver and judging by this map he gave me, it's rather far into the forest."

This made him jump a little.

"The forest? Why would the place be there? From the rumors, I doubt anyone would live in the forest."

I sighed a little.

"Not you too. I would have thought you were the last of all people to believe in those rumors. Besides, what's so bad about the forest anyway? I've been through there constantly and haven't seen this so called 'devil' or 'monsters' the puritans keep spouting about."

He shook his head in disapproval.

"I'm only saying all of this as precautions. Plus, I'd rather you not go or else Feliciano will start bawling his eyes out when you die. Plus, you should be happy that you haven't experienced the things that come out in that place."

"Well I'm sill going whether you like it or not cause I'm not gonna let the girl down. Now either hand over Silver, or I walk in the forest."

Lovino look conflicted for a moment and he opened his mouth then closed it a few times. Finally, he saddled up Silver and led her out of the barn. I followed until we reached the entrance.

"Promise me you'll be careful for Feliciano's sake."

He looked into my eyes and I smiled.

"I promise. Really, you're not my mom so you shouldn't be worrying so much. However, I do appreciate the concern."

Lovino grunted in response and then handed me the reins to Silver. I quickly hopped on my horse. Once I was ready, I waved at him before taking off into the woods. In all honesty I kind of wished that something would happened when I'm here. It'd be nice to see something new but of course I could only hope.