Several days had passed since Alexei had taken refuge in the farm and Mayor Lewis was concerned. The man had not come out from his camp ever since he arrived in Stardew Valley. Although it wasn't nice to pry into other people's business, the foreigner had not interacted with anyone from the town. The times he did come over to see the farm, it was usually to pick up his gatherings and even he was nowhere to be found except for the house he resided in.

Today was going to be enough of that. Sooner or later he had to get out of his farm and meet with people like Pierre to do business and the like. Yet, the mayor found himself surprised to see the farm to be changed since then. It was much more clearer and open for farming and Alexei's efforts did not go unnoticed. Apparently, there was a long systematic line of Joja cans hanging from posts to trees where they would all lead to the fields or the house. "You've been busy."

Then he noticed a small readable post on his left, only to see the description mention about pulling the strings. Curious at what it did, Lewis took a step forward and pulled the string three times. Cans and various metal trash had clattered to the winds, but they were loud enough to be heard throughout the farm.

His hand started to brush his mustache. "I'm not going to lie, this was unexpected."

Sooner than later, the mayor heard a pair of footsteps smacking against wooden boards from depression several feet away from him. The foreigner who had been quiet throughout all of this time had approached him in a blue-striped tank top dirtied by the work he'd been in. "Mayor Lewis, it's good to see you."

That was strange. The last time he met him, he wasn't as good with the language. "You've improved on your speech. I'm surprised."

Alexei smiled at this small achievement. "Yes, I was spending the last few days trying to brush up on the language after I got work done on the farm. Then I'd watch the television to… make it better."

"Ah, it makes sense. I was about to ask why you're not going to town, but you've already answered my question." Lewis replied. "So how's the work? It's not too hard, is it?"

He shook his head. "Nyet." For all of his effort in knowing the language, he retained some aspect of his culture with him. "I used to do this sort of stuff back in my village. It's not as extensive as this, but it's close enough."

"Well, I still recommend coming into the town to meet everyone. There's a calendar that tells you what's going on throughout the town and it's conveniently close to your farm, so to speak."

"Really?" He wondered. "It's a good thing you've mentioned that. It's probably better than memorizing days off the top of my head. Spares me the occasional headache, you understand?"

The mayor returned a smile. "It's also right in front of Pierre's store in case you need anything for your farm."

"He sells farm supplies?"

"Yes. He'll also buy your surplus from you if you're selling any crops."

"Thank you for telling me, com-Mayor Lewis. You're really sparing me a lot of trouble thinking about this."

He laughed at the man's relief. "Thank goodness I am, but I do think you owe the people of Pelican Town an introduction. How about you come around Gus's saloon around six?"

"That sounds fair," Alexei replied. "I won't be a minute late."

"You don't have to be on point," Lewis stated. "Just be there."

"It's an old habit of mine. I tend to be like that."

He waved him goodbye as they said their farewells and returned to their business. The mayor looked over his shoulder to see him walk back to the front of his house just to grab a scyth leaning on the stairs. Lewis was surprised to find him to be a bit too organized for his own good. Perhaps he forgot that the town attracted all sorts of people from adventurers to even a wild man who dug through people's trash. What made this person any different?

Leah stood near the edge of the docks as she let the breeze flow through her air. She always enjoyed her evenings like this before she would go to the saloon for a pint. Yet, there was a strangeness with the sunset as it slowly faded from the earth. Somehow, there was something special about the wildlife around this hour, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Her head perked up to see a tall figure walking along the shores of the riverbank upon her right as his hands rested inside his pockets. She didn't recognize him at first glance, but given he was staring at the sunset it was better not to pester the stranger with questions. As the last glimpse of sunlight had fallen, Leah turned away from the waters as a tune whistled into the air.

There was something strange about it. There was an upbeat tone to it, but the foreign rhythms were enough to inform the girl that he was the stranger Mayor Lewis was talking about.

She continued her way into the town to see the buildings and the lamposts turn on their lights. It was nothing like the city, where it was constantly lit up every inch of darkness. Here, it was calm enough not to be an eyesore for someone who lived outside of Pelican Town.

Leah saw a familiar friend step out of her home as she accompanied her to the saloon. "Evening, Penny. How was your day?"

The town's neighborhood teacher let out a sigh. "You know how it is, teaching the kids at both their best and their worst. Jas and Vincent can be a handful when they're almost done with their lessons."

"You sound tired. Is there anything I can get you tonight?"

"As long as it's not a drink, I'll take anything. How about the Tom Kha soup Gus always make?"

"Yeah, it's okay." She answered. "I can pay for that."

"Thanks, it's nice to have something relieving after a long day of work."

When they finally entered the building, it was just as busy as usual. Each person relaxing the last of their day in their own ways. Their arrival did not go unnoticed when a large man behind a counter called them out. "Leah, Penny, it's good to see you two. What can I get for you?"

Leah was quick to reply. "The usual for me, but do you mind getting the Tom Kha for Penny?"

He nodded his head with a smile before glancing at his blue-haired assistant. "Emily, fix a Tom Kha, will you?"

The waitress nodded her head as she was quick to cooking behind the counter. "On it, Gus!"

As they took their seats at a table away from the others, there was a cold harsh stare between an older woman sitting at a stool near the counter and Penny. Leah knew that the relationship between Penny and her mother was a strained one as they often got themselves into arguments. In fact, it was a blessing that they were able to not get into one as of right now.

Once their silent disdain for each other was finished, Penny relaxed and sat beside her fellow redhead. "Sorry about that. You know me."

"Yeah, I'm glad things went better than expected." She replied.

A lone figure walked past her before he joined their company, causing Leah to find Elliot surprised them. "Hey, how's it going?"

"The usual. Is your writing going well?"

"Definitely. Our talk about the new farmer helped."

Penny turned her attention to him. "Has anyone ever met him besides Lewis and Harvey? There's so much talk about the stranger that even Vincent wants to meet him in person."

Elliot sat upright in his chair. "Sadly, no. He's been busy on his farm for a while."

It was at this moment that Leah realized that she saw him earlier. "I haven't met him personally, but I did see him whistling. Does that count?"

"Really? What's he look like?" He asked.

"I wouldn't know. It was already dark at that time. The only thing he did was whistle a tune. That's it."

The saloon door opened up, but the person who entered was not anyone recognizable as he held a book in his hand. In a brown buttoned shirt and blue pants, an unfamiliar face revealed himself to those within the saloon. Then there was his mustache which was quite small compared to the mayor. Speaking of which, the mayor was talking to someone else before taking a quick glance at the stranger. There were a few seconds of small talk before he moved on to speak with Gus.

"He's here. Why don't we bring him over and introduce ourselves to him?"

Then Penny raised her objections. "Let's not do that. It's his first time here and I'm sure we shouldn't be bothering him right now."

"It doesn't hurt to ask," Leah replied as she stood up from her seat. "Alexei?" She hoped she said his name right.

He turned his head around to find the girl waving her hand at him. Strangely enough, she was becoming nervous around him.

"I heard you're new in town. Why don't you sit with us?"

Alexei stole a quick glance at Gus. "Beer, please." Then he approached their table with reluctance. "Hello." He greeted in a timid fashion.

Penny gave him a small wave and Elliot expressed a warm smile. It was a good start for them to get to know him. "What do you think of Pelican Town?"

"Quite modest in my opinion, but I should have expected that the moment I thought about moving here."

Elliot nodded his head towards the book in his hand. "What are you reading? It looks interesting."

He placed the book on the table and flipped through the pages. "The book is called How an Idiot can Farm. I'm trying to understand how to handle other farm animals once I get things started."

"Other farm animals? What does that mean?" He asked.

"Back in my village, I had become quite familiar with a horse. However, I don't know to tackle cows or pigs in this case."

Penny expressed her surprise. "You tackle animals? Why would you do that?"

Leah glanced at her. "He means how to deal with cows or pigs."

"My apologies, sometimes I take things too literally."

"It's fine," Alexei assured her. "Sometimes I wish I could do that. It would make more sense for me to tackle animals than whatever this book is suggesting."

The table let out an abrupt laugh at his humor before Emily arrived with their orders. Beers were passed out as a bowl of soup was brought to Penny. Everyone was quick to their food as Alexei drank his glass, but his lips smacked at the taste as his eyes looked up. Clearly, he was thinking, but what was it. "Is there something wrong?" Leah wondered.

He placed his glass on the table. "There's nothing wrong. I'm tasting the drink. It's been a while since I've tasted high-quality alcohol."

That was enough to ask him. "Really? When was the last time you had a good drink?"

She saw a small smile underneath his mustache. "A while ago. I was invited to a place where I had the honor and privilege to be in."

It was enough to spark Elliot's mind. "Was this a party?"

"Yes. It's not the ones my fellow citizens usually go to. We're a bit more free in how we do things. However, it was the first time I ever tasted kompot so that is a blessing."

"I take it's a rare occurrence? A not an everyday party anyone goes to."

"No, it's more reserved for the selected few. The company I was with had earned their attention and invited us."

"It must have been a wonderful place to go to," Leah commented. "I doubt I can handle being at those kinds of parties. They're always an annoyance to be there."

"I can understand," He replied. "They're too uptight about manners and can be insulting at times. Put me in a village and I'll have an easier time at a party taken there than at a mansion." Then he increased the rate of drinking for his beer and rapidly down the entire glass in a single chug. "Excuse me, I have to be going now."

His sudden desire to leave was enough for Penny to question it. "You're leaving? You just got here."

"Remember, I'm a farmer. I need all the sleep I could get." As he rose from his seat, he walked up to the cash register and paid his drink. Then he left the saloon as quick as he arrived, earning a worried look from Mayor Lewis.

"I was hoping I could get a question in."

Elliot looked at the empty seat where Alexei used to sit, but the only remains of him were the book he was reading. "Hey, I think he forgot his book."

Leah grabbed the book and ran towards the door as quick as she can. "I'll hand it to him." As she walked out the front door, she looked everywhere for him and began walking around to find him in the town. Yet, he was nowhere to be found as she noticed something fall out from the pages. Her hand shot out and managed not to let it fall to the floor. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a photo. "I'll hand it back to him tomorrow."

When she walked back to the saloon, the building's light shined down on the photo and let her see the details clearly. There were dozens of men within the frame as they were mounted on horseback in brown uniforms. Rifles hung from their backs as they appeared to be riding towards somewhere. Yet, Alexei's face was amongst the many who rode with him.

Vman15: You're welcome.