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He twirled the reaction tube in his hand slowly, watching the greenish liquid moving around in the constraint of the glass apparatus. He put his nose nearer to its tip.
Hm… it is still too strong, he thought. Perhaps I should wait a few more hours.
Putting the tube back into the wooden rack, he decided that this was a good time for him to take a break. He got up from the chair and stretched his body.
The scent around his working table was too much after some time. Klaus opened a drawer and reached for a bottle of coffee beans—an old trick he learned very early in his career. After inhaling the neutralizing scent of coffee beans, he stretched his back.
"Maybe I should go for a walk…" he muttered to himself.
He turned off his Bunsen burner and walked out from his house. As he did, Iris also walked out from her house and noticed him. "Nose block?" she asked good-naturedly.
"No, just waiting for the scent to change," he replied. "How about you? Writer's block?"
Iris chuckled wryly and nodded. "It gets infuriating at times."
"I guess so…"
"And my editor keeps asking me to move out from this town."
At that point, they were walking side by side to the central part of the town. Klaus was impressed on how this town didn't change much ever since he moved here after completing his studies. There were some new people, but the ambience didn't change. On the downside, perhaps the economy of this town was too slow; despite being a trading town, there was only one trader who came regularly. Some other traders came by sometimes, but never staying for long. This had been the concern of not just the guild master, but almost everyone in the town.
Klaus didn't know who brought up the idea of inviting more farmers to this town. He knew that there were some good places along the hill and mountain part that were suitable for farming. Eda encouraged the idea, too, which was why the three—now four—new people coming by. So far, they had been quite… an interesting bunch, quoting Iris.
The first to come by was Giorgio, the flower-beauty-obsessed man. He had been a farmer before, but looking for a better plot for his flowers, or so he heard. To no one's surprise, he became fast friends with Marian.
The second was Elise who came from a line of wealthy farmer. She turned a plot of forest near the town into mansion and a huge farm. She showed the townspeople around when the mansion was done and it was received with mixed reactions; some in awe of the grandness, others saw her action as something of arrogance. Klaus? He didn't think much about it, not that he often saw the little miss, anyway.
Then there was Fritz, who was recommended by Raeger. Fritz was his classmate when studying professional cooking. He had had a few business failures and was on the brink of being declared bankrupt, so Veronica agreed to give Fritz a try out to be a farmer in the town, placing him next to Giorgio who had more experience.
Hopefully they could do their job well.
Iris' speech suddenly halted and she asked. "Oh, isn't she the newest farmer?"
Klaus' head perked up and he saw the new girl walking into the town with a woven basket in her hand.
Yes, the latest—and the last—farmer of this town: Raelyn. Since she just came four days ago, no one really knew her. This was her first time dropping by to the town ever since she came as well. "Yes, she is."
Iris pulled at his sleeve and they walked towards the new girl. The latter noticed them and bowed politely. "Hello…"
"Hi!" Iris replied cheerfully. "You are the new farmer, right? I'm Iris! Nice to meet you!"
The girl simply smiled.
"You are currently training with Madam Eda, right?" Klaus asked.
She nodded and beamed into a smile. "She is very kind."
"You're staying with her?"
"Yes, for the time being."
"That's good…" Iris commented. "Sometimes I get worried about her. She's still managing a farm on her age."
The girl furrowed her brow and half-pursed her lips together. "Yeah…"
"She seems to be in a good health, in the last festival," Klaus joined in. "But I did hear about her hip."
"Oh, really?" the young girl asked. "Then I shouldn't let her carry heavy stuff!"
"Yes, you should not," he agreed.
They chatted for a little bit more before the young girl excused herself. They bade goodbye to each other, and he continued walking with Iris.
"Her hair is very nice…" Iris gushed. "I love the color, too…"
"Is that the first thing you notice about her?"
"Of course,"
Klaus recalled the young girl's hair, the color of blooming cherry blossom, which was uncommon even in this town. It was indeed quite a conspicuous color, but not displeasing at the very least.
"…but I think she is a very caring person." Iris added, snapping him back to their conversation.
"Yes, I think so, too," Klaus replied without much thought.
Iris chuckled. "You know, Klaus, she is a much better candidate than the other female farmer… Elise?"
"Hm? Better candidate for what, exactly?"
"For ro~mance," Iris sang teasingly. "Klaus and Raelyn, sitting on a tree~"
"Shush, she's too young!" he chided her.
"She looks young, but Mistel does, too…"
"I don't think she's even twenty," Klaus commented.
"Twenty this year," someone joined in.
Klaus and Iris turned around and found Marian, the town's doctor. He came a few years ago and had blended in quite well thanks to his service, although some were still a bit uncomfortable with… his life choices. Not that anyone would openly judge, Klaus thought, not even Mrs. Margot.
Marian smiled. "Raelyn Forrester, right?" he said. "From what I have, she will be twenty soon."
"Leaving her family near her birthday? That's quite something…" Iris said. "I'm sure Madam Veronica would not mind to wait."
"She's been living by herself in the city before this, anyway," Marian told them.
Klaus found himself smiling. "She's quite admirable."
He didn't realize that Iris and Marian were listening to him. Iris' dark eyes glinted playfully. "You are impressed?" she asked.
"That is quite a reason to be impressed, Miss Iris," Klaus retorted, making sure he emphasized the words 'is' and 'Miss'.
Marian laughed. "Well, well, the more I see both of you the more I'm sure you guys are not an item."
"Good," Klaus said. "Because we are not."
"I know," the doctor replied quickly. "It has a different vibe."
Klaus sighed in relief. For all his quirkiness, at least Marian understood something better than many others. However, he didn't see what was coming next from the doctor. "You and the young Raelyn, however, are different."
"Pardon?"
"I've never see you with her, of course, but I am dying to."
"She's too young," he said again for the second time in less than one-hour time frame. "I'm too old for her."
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
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A/N: For those of you who didn't know, sorry to burst the bubble, the doctor is a guy.