When Ryuji returned to the camp Olaf was on his edge.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What happened?

(Hitashi Olaf) - I think I just saw the tree moving.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Are you sure we did not eat something bad?

(Hitashi Olaf) - It could be, but my eyes do not lie to me.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - In what direction you saw the tree move?

*Point*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Let's get some rest and prepare for tomorrow, shall we?

(Hitashi Olaf) - Sure.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I will take the first shift.

*Sit*

Ryuji have never seen Olaf that scared, but the blurry sight might have made the tree move. As time was passing Ryuji got tired and almost fell asleep. The horses started to get agitated. Olaf also woke up and went to calm down the horses.

*Loud thud*

*Howling*

*Loud thud*

(Hitashi Olaf) - Do you see what I'm seeing?

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I think I believe you now.

(Hitashi Olaf) - Take everything and let's head back to the village.

*Pick*

*Grab*

It was unbelievable, the trees were moving, and the howling was closer than usual. They hurried and left the camp as fast as possible. They got to the village in the middle of the night. Olaf went to the inn and Ryuji went home.

The next morning everyone from the village was surprised by the number of resources that we brought from the forest. Ryuji was finally able to repay his uncle for his kindness in helping his family.

Olaf decided it is time to return to his home, which was in the capital. After the experience from the last night, he entrusted Ryuji with his sword and left the village.

Many people from the village were happy to see the number of resources Ryuji brought from the forest with Olaf, but others were bothered by it.

After that day, Ryuji went to the hideout and studied the papers and maps circled in the forest. But there was nothing he could see only from watching the maps. Because he has never been to many of the places that were marked.

Ryuji decided to go alone in the forest the next day. After all the training he went through, he wasn't scared this time, but on the contrary, he felt prepared. He went and checked the tree that Olaf cut down. It's been about 3 days now since that happened.

When he arrived at the place where they set camp it was as if nothing happened. The tree that Olaf chopped was there, smaller, but standing. As if the forest regenerated.

Ryuji grabbed some wood from there, tied up the horses, and went to the first location that was circled. The path that he was following stopped and he picked up a stick and drew arrows in the dirt so that he can come back.

After some more walking, Ryuji arrived at a strange pond, with crystal clear water surrounded by trees that he haven't seen before.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - This must be it.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

There were herbs and fruits that he did not recognize, but he grabbed them anyway and headed back to the cart. Ryuji filled the cart with the fruits and herbs he found at the mysterious pond and encased them in a box of wood.

He never thought he would gather so many things from the first circled area, and he only borrowed one horse. Ryuji had to also push the cart because it was a bit too heavy for the horse to pull it. Slowly but surely he got back to the village, it was almost evening and there were few people outside.

The innkeeper saw him with the cart and called more people to help him unload it. The innkeeper was respected by the people in the village, he was like a leader to all of them. He was respected and was respecting everyone that deserved it. His name is Mitoshi Fugaku, middle age man 45 years old.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - What are those fruits?

(Old lady) - What about those herbs?

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I have no clue, but I thought they could be worth something, I haven't seen many of them around.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - What if they are poisonous? No one will buy them.

*Sigh*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - You might be right.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - I will show them tomorrow to the trader if you don't mind.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Let's hope he will give us some good news.

After the little chat, Ryuji brought the wood and the few plants he knew about to his house and patiently waited for the trader to come.

It was early in the morning, it was quiet. Ryuji went outside and a man was running towards our house. It was Fugaku.

*Huff*

*Puff*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Did something happen? Why you came so early?

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - You will not believe what happened, come.

*Step*

*Step*

*Step*

Ryuji followed Fugaku and when they arrived he showed him that there was no fruit left or herb that he brought the day before.

*Sigh*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What happened to them?

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - Look behind you.

When Ryuji turned around there were 4 sacks full of coins, from bronze to silver, and even some gold coins here and there.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - The trader came earlier today and bought everything to the last bit.

Ryuji could not describe how he felt at that moment.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - Let me help you get those sacks to your house. Before everyone wakes up.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I will share everything with the other people in the village, rather than keep it to myself.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - How kind of you. But you still should save some for your family.

*Grab*

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - Take this at least.

Fugaku handed Ryuji a small punch full of gold coins.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I can not take this.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - I insist.

Then Ryuji headed back home to help with the chores. After he finished he headed back to the village and everyone was smiling and waving to him. He knew why, but for some reason, he could not understand. He only did what others from the village would have done if they were lucky as he was, or so he thought.

Although some people gave him cold looks. Those people were envious and started to hate him for his achievements. But Ryuji knew he could not help everyone even if he wanted to.

He decided to spend more time in the village for the next few days, considering the haul he managed to get from the map and head back to the forest later.

But the people that envied Ryuji showed their true colors sooner than expected. One night, around midnight he heard noises outside. Ryuji gets up, picks his sword up, and heads outside. The people he mentioned had torches and were talking to burn his house down along with everyone in it.

Ryuji went at them and tried to reason with them but with no luck. They pushed him, punched him, and threw dirt at him. Then they went closer to the house and threw the torches. Ryuji ran into the house, woke his parents up, and helped them get out of there as fast as he could. Unfortunately, he could not put out the fire, and the whole house and farm burned down that night.

The only place Ryuji could go and stay the night was at the inn.

*Step*

*Step*

*Thud*

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - What happened?

*Crying*

*Sob*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - They burned our house.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - Who? Who would do that?

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I only saw two of them, the rest had their face covered. It was Nobuyuki and Kitchirou.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - I can not believe it.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Me neither.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - Come, it is late, let's talk tomorrow, we will figure it out. I have enough rooms.

*Grab the bag*

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - No, no, there is no need to pay for the rooms, not after what I heard happened. And not after what you did to the village.

*Wipe out the tears*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I can not thank you enough!

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - Everyone feels the same about you.

(Mitoshi Fugaku) - Good night!

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Good night as well!