The morning light glistens through the large windows of Papillion’s only café, Levion. Only in the early mornings to late evenings does this café slow down, as local travelers and village youth use it as their resting place and information hub. It may not seem special to others but the locals view it as a symbol of business and luxury that the village frankly lacks. The sounds of coffee machines and blenders make up the ambiance. The chime of a bell rings as a waitress takes the iced green tea from the counter and walks it over to a table closest to the front door near the window. She places it down in front of the only customer in this early hour, “ please enjoy Kay”.
She walks off with nothing but a nod from the dazed young boy. His jade eyes transfixed to the outside vendor preparing his weapon’s stall for the day’s sale. His sight then moves from the outside to the glass before him to the wall across.
“Why did Ven make me wait here so early in the morning.” He begins rubbing his eyes hoping to alleviate the tiredness as he then brings his hand over his golden wheat colored hair attempting to brush aside his layered bangs from his face as he proceeds to yawn.
The front doors to the café open up wide as two local young teens walk through. Kay with a tired expression makes eye contact with the young siblings , Airie and Clavis. Airie’s arm waved over at Kay as her long brown hair swayed to the motion and her light gray eyes focused on him,
“Oh, Hey! What are you doing here so early in the morning Kay?” He took a deep sigh, “Honestly, no clue.”
They look at him with confusion as Clavis asks, “Is Ven not with you?”
“No, he told me to wait at Levion. He went to get a job for us at the quest board”. Clavis turned his stout frame as he focused his gaze at the large menu decorating the front. He had short brown hair similar coloring of his sisters’ and matching gray eyes. He began to proceed to the counter as Airie joined, “You two have been busy lately, don’t overwork yourselves. I know you want to make it to fifth-ranked mages, but you guys are just second-ranked, doing quests won’t bump you up and you don’t even have powers”, says Clavis raising his voice with the added distance between them.
Kay turned his attention from the two back to his drink, he picked it up and began drinking, triggering the sound of ice shifting and droplets of condensed water dripping onto the table. He set it down and replied, “ yeah I know, we’re just saving up money.” Clavis furrowed his brows as he proceeded to answer, “Money, for what? Oh wait, is it for the leveling exams?”
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“Yeah, how else would you raise your rank.” The cash register sounds off followed by an orchestra of machines.
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The village’s bazaars began preparing for their daily operations as the morning fog worked its way amongst the stalls. The soft sound of rustling gravel becomes louder as the vendors take a look to see a shadow running in the distance becoming larger. A young boy dashes through the mist with a sheet of paper in hand. The bright smile that’s cast on his face contrasts the excited look in his eyes. His disheveled jet black hair sweeps through the wind as he runs at full speed. They glanced at his light blue eyes and then continued with their preparations, as they knew that boy all too well. The fruit stand’s vendor, a tall robust man that most people find intimidating, sets his sight onto the boy as he dashed through the stalls beginning to pass his. A roaring voice broke this morning’s calming atmosphere, “Ven!”
The Vendor’s voice was so loud that it spooked nearby vendors into a sudden jolt. Ven slowed down his pace into a slow walk as he turned to see the frightening stall keeper. “Yes, Reno.” “come here.” Ven shifted his stance in Reno’s direction, as he began walking closer. He takes the paper he was carrying and quickly attempts to fold it behind his back with horrid accuracy as he shoves it into his back pocket.
He stands an arm’s length in front of Reno as he replies, “...What’s up?” with a nervous crack in his voice. “You’re available right now, yes”
“No, not--”
“move some of the boxes from the shop over to the booth. The ones with pears, and don’t drop them, they're ripe so they’ll bruise easily"
''I’m kind of busy right now…” Reno’s expression changed from intimidating to terrifying
“but you’re a second-ranked worker, isn’t doing stuff like this your job, what could be so important?” Ven straightened his posture and headed straight for the shop gestured by Reno.
“Just you wait, I’ll become higher ranked, and it’s mage not worker”, he whispered, admitting to the intimidation of Reno’s presence.
Ven entered the shop as Marina greeted him from the counter, “Good morning Ven, oh, did my husband give you grunt work again” He looked up to meet her calm and soft expression, “pretty much, where are the boxes of pears?”
“Sorry for the trouble, they’re over there” as she pointed to a group of boxes near the dragon fruit display in the far corner of the shop. Ven swiftly moved to the pears as he attempted to lift the first box of the three, “He may come off as scary sometimes, but he’s a real softy. He’s just trying hard to make some money for our soon-to-be child” says Marina as she strokes her seven month old bump.
Ven knees buckle from the weight of the box as he moves into a stance that better suits the action of lifting heavy objects, with a struggled voice he says “ Yeah no worries Ma’am, I can definitely tell he’s a child at heart, ugh--, well I’m off---” “be careful Ven”.
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