Nestled within the Roble region, the charming village of Refugio Aurora finds its abode in a picturesque valley, ensconced by lush forests that gracefully envelop one side of the settlement. Although currently designated as a village, its burgeoning development promises an eventual elevation to the status of a town. What distinguishes Refugio from the commonplace is its pivotal role as the last bastion of verdant woodlands in South Roble. This sylvan haven stands as the principal source of timber for the western ports and the wellspring of construction materials for the burgeoning cities in the east. The village has garnered substantial attention and investment, particularly from influential noble houses.
To safeguard their interests, the village's patrons have wisely enlisted mercenaries from the northern territories, renowned for their expertise in combatting formidable beasts. Additionally, a cadre of knights upholds order within the village, while skilled artisans have been commissioned to enhance the local infrastructure, ensuring utmost efficiency for the laborers in the lumber industry. These judicious measures have engendered a well-developed village that beckons the adventurous spirits and toiling souls in search of opportunities.
Adding to the village's allure, it has become a focal point for religious devotion, with the presence of priests from the venerable Church of the Great Four and valiant paladins hailing from the Holy Order. Their collective concern is vested in warding off any malevolent occurrences within the encompassing forest and shielding the villagers from the perilous onslaught of untamed creatures. In summation, Refugio Aurora stands as a thriving crucible of possibilities, poised for a luminous future.
As Sol entered the bustling village, he was immediately struck by the lively atmosphere that now enveloped it. The once tranquil streets had transformed into a hive of activity, with villagers going about their daily routines. Sol noticed how attractive everyone was in the village.
Why does everyone here look attractive? Is it because I've been spending time with Caulot? He felt guilty after thinking that, he still had to make amends to Caulot.
Market stalls had opened up, revealing a vibrant display of fresh produce, colorful fabrics, and various handmade goods. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of street food being prepared, and the sounds of laughter and conversation echoed through the narrow cobblestone pathways.
Yet, amid this newfound energy, Sol couldn't ignore the cautious glances cast his way by the villagers. Their eyes held a mixture of curiosity and wariness, and it was clear they regarded him with a degree of apprehension.
Mothers hurriedly pulled their children close, vendors paused mid-sentence when he approached their stalls, and groups of villagers fell into hushed whispers as he passed. It was as if they expected him to be a representative of the law, a knight enforcing order in their bustling community.
Sol couldn't help but feel the weight of their scrutiny as he moved through the village, a silent observer in his distinctive black armor. Though he had no intention of imposing any laws or authority, he understood the villagers' caution, for his appearance was far from ordinary in this transformed and lively setting.
Well, I can't blame them for their worry. They probably think I'm a law enforcer, like those police officers back then, Sol pondered, empathizing with the villagers' caution.
Who should I approach for a job? What skills can I offer? He mulled over his options, his thoughts interrupted when something caught his eye – a family of five. Two parents and three young children. The parents looked relatively young, perhaps close to Sol's age. Their children appeared to be in the early toddler stage.
Seeing this family stirred emotions in Sol. I wonder… What are Mama and Papa doing right now? A surge of regret and longing washed over him. He hadn't reconciled with his parents, hadn't apologized for his outburst. But dwelling on it now felt futile. I can't afford to get sad at the moment. I need to find work, he reminded himself.
He approached the family, noticing their expressions shift from joy to anxiety. The father, with hands pressed together in gratitude, stepped forward to address the armored knight. "M-may we help you, sir Knight?"
Sol found it difficult to articulate his request but managed to convey, "Uh, I'm looking for work. Where can I find it?" He hoped his message came across despite his struggle with words. They exchanged uncertain glances, and the father blinked twice, seeking clarification.
Sol made it clear, "Work, I'm looking for work. Anything will do," though he couldn't help but snort at his own difficulty with words.
The father blinked again, then suggested, "Well, I'm sure the farmers could use extra hands to deal with their Lanca." He pointed in the direction of the farmhouse, explaining how to reach it.
"Alright, that will do," Sol responded, ready to depart. However, the father stopped him.
"W-wait, sir Knight!"
Sol turned, curious. "Hm?"
The father hesitated before continuing, "Why work on a farmhouse? With your equipment and skills, I'm sure you could earn much more if you worked in a security detail for the lumber camps."
"Lumber camps?" Sol inquired, not quite sure what that entailed.
The father explained that these camps were established by nobles to clear land for farming and mining operations, but they were often at risk of attacks by Rojos, hence the high demand for protectors.
"I see," Sol replied thoughtfully, "Well, I think I'll consider it." He left the family to their own devices, and they nodded in respect before heading to their respective destination. As he made his way to the farmhouse, Sol pondered, Yeah, I don't think they would accept me just yet. He acknowledged his impressive growth in swordsmanship but felt he wasn't quite ready to take on a knight's role.
After a nearly ten-minute walk through the village, during which Sol had to navigate through the numerous curious onlookers, he finally arrived at the farmhouse. It lay on the opposite side of the village. The farmhouse had an ageless charm about it, nestled amidst the plains. Sturdy stone walls, adorned with ivy, stood as a testament to its enduring history. The thatched roof, weathered by countless seasons, added a rustic touch to the landscape.
Wooden shutters adorned each window, giving the house a warm and inviting feel. A stout wooden fence enclosed the farmhouse, offering both protection and a touch of quaint elegance. The golden fields of wheat surrounded the farm, and nearby, a small herb garden thrived, bursting with the fragrant scents of rosemary, basil, and thyme.
Sol stood by the wooden fence, waiting for some time. He spotted two men in the distance, one of them had noticed him and was jogging his way towards the mystic knight. "May we help you, sir Knight?"
"Yes, I'm looking for work," Sol replied.
The man chuckled, "We aren't interested in protection. No need since we aren't close to the forest."
Sol snorted, "I'm looking for any work, anything will do." He was determined to find employment, regardless of the nature of the job.
The farmer blinked, then scratched his beard in contemplation. "Well, I suppose you could handle the farm animals," he finally suggested. With that, he opened the gate, allowing Sol to enter, and motioned for him to follow. They eventually reached a barnhouse situated next to a meadow scattered with imposing horned creatures.
"This is the barn, where we keep our harvested crops for sale or for animal feed," he explained before adding with some distaste, "And over there are our Lancas." He pointed towards the meadow where several dozen of these large, horned creatures grazed the field
"Lanca?" Sol repeated, genuinely intrigued. He had heard of Lancas from Caulot, but this was his first opportunity to see one up close. From a distance, they appeared significantly larger and more muscular than cows, with massive horns and a metallic-like coating that made them look rather imposing.
The farmer chuckled at Sol's amazement. "Never seen a Lanca before?"
"No," Sol admitted. "I've only ever heard of them."
"Well, then it's your lucky day," the farmer remarked with a hint of amusement as they entered the meadow, bringing Sol face to face with the formidable Lanca herd.
Goddamn, why are they so big and why do their hides look like that? Sol couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, although he maintained his composure in his full suit of armor. He could tell by the farmer's amused reaction that his astonishment was quite evident.
"Yeah, unlike in the other kingdoms, our cattle are quite special," the farmer explained with a hint of pride, scratching his beard as he casually brushed the smooth hide of one of the Lancas. "This one is Big Betsy; she's a heavy one."
Sol was still somewhat taken aback. "Wow, so what am I supposed to do with them?"
The farmer tilted his head in thought, his eyes scanning Sol's armor. "I suppose you could handle the Lancas. If one gets enraged, you should be fine," he suggested with a chuckle. "Antonio! Come here for a minute," he called out to a group of ranchers, and one of them separated from the group to approach the farmer.
"Yes, Mr. Cedric?" Antonio responded softly while mounted on his horse. He glanced at Sol with a slightly worried expression.
"Show this gentleman the ropes. He's a newcomer," Mr. Cedric instructed, grinning at Antonio.
Antonio blinked several times in surprise before nodding in agreement.
"Very well, Mr. Cedric," Antonio acknowledged.
The farmer seemed to suddenly remember something and turned to Sol, who stood beside him. "Ah, I had almost forgotten proper introductions. My name is Cedric. I manage this land for our lord, and the man on the mount is Antonio; he leads the ranchers."
"My name is Sol, pleasure to meet you, Cedric," Sol replied, offering his hand for a handshake. Cedric accepted the handshake but frowned slightly. "It's Mr. Cedric, remember that, son."
"Erm, yes, sir," Sol replied, slightly taken aback. He felt an inexplicable need to show respect to Mr. Cedric. Cedric went on to explain further details to Antonio before making his way back, leaving both Sol and Antonio alone.
"So, Sol, why work here? I'm sure you could find higher-paying work, considering you're a knight and all," Antonio inquired curiously.
Sol looked up at Antonio, who was still mounted on his horse, feeling uncertain about how to respond to his question.
"I'm not sure I have the skills necessary to work for them," Sol admitted, and Antonio squinted at him, trying to read the fully armored man's expression.
Seems like a lack of confidence, Antonio thought. He then asked, "Very well, I assume you at least know how to ride a horse, yes?"
Sol hesitated before answering, "Um, no, I've never ridden on a horse before."
Antonio decided to dismount his horse, saying, "Well, there's a first time for everything." He handed the horse's reins to Sol and prepared to mount again. However, the horse had different plans. Reacting to Sol's movements, it suddenly bolted away, leaving Sol holding the reins, wide-eyed and surprised.
"Oh, shit!" Sol screamed as he lost control and tumbled off the horse, hitting the hard ground several times before finally coming to a stop. Antonio watched in disbelief, gasping initially but then realizing that Sol was okay.
He wasn't lying about not having any skills, Antonio thought, unable to suppress a snicker. He rushed over to Sol, who had quickly gotten back on his feet.
Sol, determined not to give up, said, "I'd like to try again."
Antonio stammered, "W-what?"
"Please, one more time! I won't fail," Sol pleaded with the head rancher.
He really doesn't give up, Antonio thought, impressed by Sol's persistence. He decided to give Sol another chance, but it took several attempts before Sol could finally grasp horse riding. Along the way, there were more mishaps, including the horse kicking Sol, dragging him alongside the reins, and even attempting to bite his gauntlet. However, Sol didn't give up, and eventually, he succeeded in riding a spare mount, joining the other ranchers in the field.
"That was quite the performance over there, knight boy," one of the ranchers chuckled, and the others joined in, sharing a laugh at Sol's earlier mishaps. However, Antonio hushed them quickly.
"Now, ladies, Sol here succeeded, despite a rather embarrassing start," Antonio announced. Sol blushed at the attention and couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anger resurfacing.
"Regardless, the Lanca aren't going to herd themselves! Get to it!" Antonio shouted, taking charge and commanding the ranchers to get to work. Sol followed suit, riding his mount carefully. But something felt peculiar to him.
Why do I have this feeling that I've ridden a horse before? Sol wondered, realizing that he was now riding the horse almost perfectly in sync with the other ranchers. His riding was flawless, and he seemed to be following their lead effortlessly.
Is it normal to get this good at horse riding this quickly? Sol pondered as he effortlessly followed the ranchers, helping them keep the Lanca within their designated meadow. The horses shifted from one plain to graze to another, and this cycle repeated several times before they took a break.
"I'm actually quite impressed, Sol. Even after that abysmal start, you pressed on, succeeded, and even exceeded my expectations. You sure you've never ridden before?" Antonio asked, genuinely curious.
"I'm not sure, it felt like I've ridden a horse many times before," Sol replied, looking puzzled by his own newfound skill.
"Hah? How does that work?" Antonio seemed baffled by Sol's explanation.
Before Sol could elaborate, one of the ranchers shouted, interrupting their conversation.
"God fucking damnit! Big Betsy is stuck again!" one of the ranchers exclaimed, followed by groans of annoyance from the others. Antonio sighed and ordered the ranchers to prepare ropes to free Betsy from her muddy entrapment. Sol joined in, helping to tie the ropes to Betsy's horns and connecting them to other Lanca, attempting to coax them into pulling her out. However, despite their efforts, a good quarter of an hour passed, and they made no progress.
"This is why we don't allow Betsy near the mud! Now we're going to be stuck here till nightfall," another rancher complained, leading to more groans and sighs from the group.
Sol, looking puzzled, turned to Antonio and asked, "What does he mean by staying till nightfall?"
Antonio faced Sol and explained, "Since Betsy is the pride of the herd due to her size, we can't leave her here stuck. Instead, we'll have to keep pulling until she's free, even if it means staying with her until tomorrow." He spat on the ground in frustration.
Huh, that explains the general annoyance. However, I can't stay here until tomorrow; I need my paycheck, Sol thought to himself.
He approached the stuck beast, Betsy, and noticed the sorrow in her eyes due to her predicament.
Well, here goes nothing! Sol grabbed Betsy's horn and pulled. The other ranchers noticed his attempt and chuckled at what they saw as a desperate idea. Sol could feel that mysterious surge of rage again, but he ignored it. To the ranchers' astonishment, he managed to pull Betsy, setting her free from her muddy trap.
Unbelievable, I had an idea that I was strong, but not this strong. How did I even get this strong? Sol pondered as he looked at his armored hands. I wonder what else I could do? He couldn't help but wonder about the extent of his newfound abilities as a deathless, far stronger than the average person.
Antonio, still in disbelief of Sol's feat, raced over to him and stammered, "H-How did you do that?"
Sol looked at him and replied, "I'm not sure, I just did." Suddenly, Sol felt a force nudge him from behind. He quickly turned around to see Big Betsy, her eyes filled with joy as she brushed her massive head against Sol's armor.
Antonio laughed and remarked, "Guess Betsy likes you, eh?" The other ranchers were equally astonished by what they had witnessed.
Eventually, the group of ranchers, led by Antonio, made their way back as the afternoon was coming to a close. The ranchers herded the Lanca into their respective barns, and Mr. Cedric greeted them. Antonio dismounted from his horse, explaining what had occurred and the treatment of the Lanca.
Mr. Cedric furrowed his brow, and Sol couldn't tell if he was angry or surprised. Cedric eventually approached Sol, grabbed his palm, and placed a few coins into it. Sol, startled by this unexpected reward, asked,
"Ur eh, um sir?"
"It's your due, and I hope the extra convinces you to work further for us."
Sol looked at the coins, 8 copper 1 silver. All containing a symbol that he's never seen. It wasn't the symbol he saw at the treasury.
"Mr Cedric, what's this symbol on this coin?" Sol asked politely.
Cedric looked at the coin before facing Sol, "that's the symbol of the god of business. The other one is from the merchant guild. You really must not be around here, eh?"
"I see," Sol took the coin, and placed it inside of his shield.
I've only ever heard of the great gods from Caulot; are there more gods here?
"Now Sol, how about it? Wanna work for us further? If you use more of your strength, we'd be willing to pay more," Cedric asked Sol, happy that he had earned some money.
"I'll work for you," Sol said to Mr. Cedric, who grinned brightly at his response.
"Wonderful, see you tomorrow then."
With that, they departed. Mr. Cedric, Antonio, and the other ranchers made their way back. Sol left the farm, entering the village. He wandered back to the edge of the forest, and on the other side of the village, he spotted Caulot practicing with his wooden sword. Caulot noticed Sol approaching from the village.
"Sol, where were you? I thought something happened to you," Caulot questioned, concerned. Sol replied,
He felt a pang of guilt as he looked at Caulot, and he couldn't help but apologize, "I shouldn't have said those things to you, Caulot. I'm sorry." He bowed slightly before retrieving his coins and showing them to Caulot. "We won't starve, I promise you that."
Caulot gasped, clearly surprised, and stammered, "H-how did—"
"I overheard your monologue, so I got a job. It's not a lot, but it's something. Wonder what we can buy with it."
Caulot was overcome with emotion. "Thanks, Sol. I'm not sure what I would do without you."
Sol tried to keep the mood light, suggesting, "Maybe we can save enough to buy you a helmet. That way, you can work too, and you won't ever have to worry about how others look at you."
Caulot nodded tearfully, wiping the tears from his brow. "I'll work too," he affirmed, showing determination and gratitude.
As Sol and Caulot entered their shack, Sol suggested, "I know you will, now come on. Let's cook dinner." A smile passed between them, and Caulot grinned back. Inside, Caulot set to work preparing his stew, and Sol watched, learning from the young boy while keeping an eye out for anything that might remind him of his distressing forest experience.
Their routine continued, much like their earlier days. They would wake up, train, tend to necessary chores, forage for food, and finally rest outside the shack.
Sol removed his helmet as they prepared to eat the stew, but he couldn't help but notice that familiar feeling of discomfort that had been bothering him recently. Why do I feel this way when I take off my helmet? Sol pondered. This sensation had only begun after he met Caulot, and he couldn't pinpoint the cause. He slurped on the stew, finding it much more enjoyable this time, though it still wasn't perfect. Quickly, he re equipped his helmet to ease that unsettling discomfort, ensuring it sat perfectly on his head.
"So what do we do tomorrow then? Since you are working and all." Caulot asked, sitting right across the fireplace which lit the nightly ambience.
"I still want to train with you, so what I'm thinking of doing is training with you early in the morning then head back into the village to work. I won't be able to do any chores, but in return I might be able to buy something."
"Oh," Caulot replied, he was a bit saddened that he wouldn't be able to spend much time with Sol, but he quickly cleared those emotions away.
"That works just fine Sol, also I promise not to look at Nadine again."
"Good, who knows what that women is scheming. Her existence in itself nearly broke us apart, I'll make sure to never fall for her traps ever again," Sol's voice echoed with bitterness and anger, a sentiment that puzzled Caulot.
But you were the one who said all those things, Sol. Nadine didn't really do anything, Caulot pondered silently, refraining from pushing Sol on the matter to avoid further aggravation. Yet, he couldn't shake off his curiosity about the root of Sol's deep-seated resentment towards women.
With Sol now sound asleep, Caulot smiled softly, acknowledging that beneath Sol's complexities and occasional outbursts, there lay good intentions and genuine efforts to mend their bond. He gazed up at the starry night sky, each twinkling light a source of comfort in their shared solitude. Humming a soft, soothing tune, Caulot allowed the night's tranquility to embrace them both, eventually drifting into slumber alongside his companion.