The boy opened his eyes and he could barely see anything in the darkness, he sat up and spread his arms in the air and yawned deeply while sighing inwardly.
He really wished that he'd wake-up in the hospital or something, having a few broken bones and having to eat jelly for months wouldn't be too bad when compared to his circumstances.
While scratching his butt, Aaron stumbled his way towards the bathroom to empty his bladder while relying on his memory.
*Bam*
"Mother @#$%*&" He almost squealed while hissing from pain when the smallest of his toes almost flew off once it hit something hard! He hobbled the rest of the way on a single leg while rubbing his foot.
'I'm not off to a good start here in this world, thankfully there's no cameras or I'd become the butt of all jokes.' He thought while fixing the piece of fabric around his waist.
"There was four types of coins within the wooden box that Snow left me, it doesn't take a genius to know their worth." Aaron muttered to himself while dipping his "wounded" toe in a bucket of very cold water to quench its heat a little.
"But that's all the money I have on me right now, I need to be as frugal as possible until I maintain a stable source of income." He walked towards the corner very carefully this time and retrieved the box then took an iron coin before hiding it back once again.
'Wait a minute!' He thought before taking a glance at the corner where his treasure is hidden while frowning, 'I don't think that it's safe in the house, that's the first place I'd search if I'm looking to rob a helpless and vulnerable little boy. Maybe the same could be said about the whole village.'
Afterwards Aaron concluded that his options are to hide the money outside the village or give it to Sera.
But he really doesn't like the idea of having to look for the woman every time he needed money and ask her, it kind of feel like he's giving her free reign over him which would restrict his freedom.
Finally the boy decided to rely on himself and pulled the bed sheet from the mattress then wrapped the small wooden box in it, afterwards he found another potato sack like the one he's wearing right now and stuffed the bundled box in it.
Outside on the street he found a stick of wood next to the house, a minute later he walked towards the south-gate with a stick on his shoulder and slung over it is a round bundle.
"Tsk. Why's she here?" Aaron clicked his tongue once he saw the woman sitting alone next to the village's closed wooden gates, calmly drinking while looking towards the sky and admiring the moon.
Her beauty was already above-average during the day but, right now her charm was amplified ten times over! Still, the boy didn't care about her glorified aura or the angle which light broke after hitting her glistening skin.
He felt like he's being monitored and he just didn't like it.
"Humph." Sera snorted once she saw the boy looking at her from afar with a deep frown on his face, "Get your butt in here, right now!" The lady almost felt like all the blood suddenly rushed towards her head once she saw Aaron pivot on his heels and turn around to leave.
'Fuck sake! Just leave me the fuck alone, how am I supposed to check my skills with that chick tagging along?' He felt like he's going crazy, 'Just read the mood you stupid woman, learn to give a man some space would you.'
Despite all these courageous thoughts and candid complaints, Aaron turned one-eighty once again and walked towards the feisty sister.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
"Uh!" He gawked while thinking : 'The fuck you doing questioning "Oresama"' But he said : "I wasn't expecting to see you so late at night! What happened? Can't fall asleep?"
Sera glared at him and practically shouted in reply : "Since it's late and almost everyone in the village is asleep, why are you not in bed?"
'Humph. You wish. All I could hear on the way here is the villages' women moaning their hearts out, it's a miracle that minors could get any sleep in this fuck-fest!' He thought while rolling his eyes at the beauty but he answered with a straight face and said : "I've slumbered for more than enough it's about time for this beast to awaken," Seeing her not being amused by his antics he acted all shy and embarrassed, "Plus, I'm feeling hungry and there's nothing to eat back home, that's why I came out looking to buy something to fill my stomach."
"Glutton!" She muttered when she saw him scratching his head then her eyes fell on the dangling ball of cloth that's slung over the stick on his shoulder and said : "What is that on your shoulder? You do look like homeless beggars."
'Haha, very funny. But I'm still one step ahead of you.' He thought before placing his baggage on the table and standing on a chair then gestured for the woman to come closer, "I'm planning to train in secret for a few weeks to prepare myself before asking grandpa Sid to train me in the ways of the Hunter, maybe learn the ways of Herbalism and Alchemy if I'm lucky enough to pass his test."
Sera hissed from anger when she heard what he said and yanked Aaron from the chair and asked slowly : "So, you're basically saying that you're going to spend a few weeks in the Dark-Forest?"
Aaron didn't like the feeling of having air beneath his feet but he endured : "Of course not! Silly, I meant to go out early in the morning and come back every day before the gates are closed at dusk. Why would I spend the night alone in the cold when I can sleep warm and comfortable in my own bed?"
The woman found reason in his words and couldn't argue back, then her eyes fell on the bundle and she asked once again : "What is that then?"
The boy rolled his eyes and murmured while acting all shy and embarrassed once again : "Last time somebody threw me in the abandoned ancient-well and it was a miracle that I got to survive through the night, me climbing out was because I had some pieces of fabric to remove the mold and I thought that it wouldn't harm if I'm prepared for the worst case scenario that's why I... I brought some items that might help me when things get tough like a knife, a piece of robe, extra pieces of cloth, flint, candle. Unfortunately we don't have a small axe and not even a hammer, otherwise it would be much easier for me to create a small shelter to rest."
The beauty praised the kid inwardly for being smart enough to be prepared before going outside and not taking a risk, she also felt a bit saddened since she's been a bit too harsh on him earlier.
"I'll allow it for you to go out if you promise to be careful and never wander far from the village-walls, you're to report back to me at the gate at least an hour before dusk every single day or this adventure is going to end once you break your promise." Sera said these words and Aaron couldn't be any happier to agree and kept nodding his head.
Seeing the boy so obedient put her heart at ease and the lady lowered him to his seat while saying : "Let me order something for you to eat while we wait for the gates to open at dawn." Then she went towards a nearby house and gently knocked on the window, soon afterwards a sleepy-faced middle-aged woman in a revealing sleeping gown opened the window and kept nodding her head once she received the order from the beauty then closed the window and Sera walked back towards the table.
Meanwhile the eyes of the twenty-something gate guards glowed with interest once their wolfish eyes saw some skin and they began to crack jokes or whistle faintly at the middle-aged woman until she closed the window, Aaron noticed how this daring woman even dared to smile provocatively at the men as if to welcome them to her bed if they feel like it.
'Interesting!' He thought while watching Sera frown slightly as she silently watched the way these men reacted.
"Big sister Sera." Obviously Aaron interrupted her thoughts when he called at her, "Do you have someone in your life?"
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The sudden question clearly wasn't expected from the boy who usually likes to keep to himself whenever he gets a chance, the lady fell silent for a short while before replying with a question of her own : "Why do you ask?"
"Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to be nosy or anything but it seems like there's still time before food gets here and a bit more time before dawn so... it's just a way to make the night easier for both of us instead of staring at each other in absolute silence." He shrugged before explaining.
"Humph. Who would stare at you?" She snorted, rolled her eyes, then looked away before muttering : "I was an orphan like you and Snow before I joined the Whispering Sisters, now I have too many reliable sisters than I could even count." Her smile was shining with both feelings of happiness and contentment.
'Fuck, that's too bright for my taste!' He thought before deciding that this woman must've been brainwashed to a severe extent by her cult, 'Better change subject before she starts breaching me or something.' Aaron looked towards the joyful guards and said : "Seeing the way these guards looked at that lady, I'm guessing that there's a story behind their actions."
Sera gawked before blushing and saying with annoyance : "That's... that's none of your business!" Afterwards she looked away and kept huffing.
'I guess we're spending the rest of the night in silence in the end.' He thought while smirking like the devil.
The beauty drank in silence and resumed her moon gazing ritual, when the boy attempted to pour himself a cup she coldly denied his endeavor by pulling the flask towards her then continued her ceremony after giving him a frosty glare as his final warning.
'No wine for me then, hopefully there's some fresh juice in the middle-aged woman's menu.' Aaron sighed before relaxing on his chair.
About twenty minutes later the loose clothed woman appeared at the door of her house carrying a huge tray with a wide array of plates on top.
Again the guards were getting all excited and noisy when the middle-aged woman intentionally gave them the sight of her back when she leaned on the table to put the plates.
Sera frowned and endured in silence when it happened.
"That's enough!" Then she suddenly said so when the middle-aged woman began to clean the empty chairs, "Betty. I've got it from here, you can go back to sleep." When the beauty noticed that her tone of voice was a bit too sharp earlier and that she startled the middle-aged woman who's called Betty, she dismissed her politely with a smile on her face.
"I'm really sorry! Honorable Sister please forgive me, it won't happen again." Betty understood that she took things a bit too far with her provocative actions and began to apologize sincerely.
Aaron noticed the signs of fear and worry on Betty's expression and the layer of sweat that covered her forehead and thought to himself : 'As I thought, members of that cult are like roses hiding thorns.'
Sera gestured for Betty to leave, "Go."
The middle-aged woman nodded before scurrying towards her house, she glared at the guards and made signs for them to cut it out.
"Wait. Betty, wait!" Aaron suddenly called and everyone looked at him, especially the gate guards they kept having wild thoughts and some of them sneered or glared at the boy.
Maybe if he was aware of what's going in their minds, the boy would certainly start hurling Flame Orbs and Energy Bolts towards these morons!
"Young master. Is something the matter with the food?" Betty asked tentatively while stealing a glance at the one sitting right in front of the kid.
Aaron took another look at the plates full of steaming food then shook his head before saying : "The food looks all good but there's nothing for me to drink, get me some juice or clear water to wash it down."
One of the gate guards snickered before saying : "I guess fresh milk would be fine." The man regretted it immediately afterwards when he became the center of attention and all eyes fell on him, even his fellow guards took a step back and distanced themselves from him! He thought : 'Damn it, I said it all out loud. Now I'm fucked in the ass for good! I insulted a guest of that Honorable Sister.' Afterwards he fell on his knees with an expression of despair all over his face.
Betty smelled trouble in the air and ran to the house to do what she was told while thinking to herself : 'Too bad for little Pio, I guess I won't be visited by his mid-sized cock any time soon, his was always vigorous and hard. Sigh, he even said nice things to me afterwards.'
Sera opened her mouth to say : "Come here." The beauty said it without even looking at the frightened guard.
The poor guy practically crawled his way to the table, the boy could see him shaking and hear him sniffling.
'Just how influential that Whispering Sisters' Sisterhood is for it to be feared by the commoners to such a degree?' Aaron thought with a frown on his face after giving the kneeling mess of a man a glance, 'If you're going to die then at least have some dignity in your death, what's with all the groveling and crying? You're shaming us men here dude, on your knees!'
"You're to follow Ron everywhere he goes whenever he's leaving the village." The woman finally spoke.
"Yes! I'll never let young master Ron leave my sight." The man kept nodding his head while answering and felt like the weight of death just fell from his shoulders.
"Now I've lost my appetite." The boy felt like puking after she cheated him.
Sera smiled and retorted : "You do eat a lot for someone who's so young and with such a small body, I just hope you wouldn't turn up fat and bald when you grow up."
Aaron choked on his food and searched for something to drink before it's too late with panicky eyes!
Pio got to his feet and ran towards Betty's house to get some water and met her inside preparing some juice, the woman seemed surprised to see him alive and smiled since this young man is going to help warming her nights in the future.
"We must celebrate your survival," Betty said while grabbing the young man's groin when he reached for a flask of water.
"Whoa! Indeed we must but I'm certainly going to die if you don't let go right now," Pio was surprised and spilled most of the water but he quickly scattered these thoughts once he remembered his mission.
The middle-aged woman laughed and gave his rod a couple of gentle squeezes before saying : "Remember your promise tomorrow night or I'll chop it of and feed it to your friends on breakfast the day after."
The guard shuddered when he heard her and kept nodding obediently before saying : "I'm out from the night duty of the gate-guard anyways, so there's going to be time for us to have fun in the nights to come. Now let go before the poor kid chokes to death and my life follows after his."
Betty laughed and released him while saying provocatively : "You're not my only option anyway," Then she gave the young man a mysterious smile when she noticed the expression of shock on his face, "You better run before it's too late." Then she flashed him her chest while wiggling her eyebrows mischievously.
"This is not over between us." Pio shouted while running outside.
Aaron snatched the flask of water from the guard and drank until his trachea was clear before looking at Sera and shouting in anger : "Would it make you happy if I really died?"
The beauty rolled her eyes at the boy and said : "Aren't you alive and well right now?"
"You should've given me your flask instead of letting me be tormented all that time!" He glowered at her.
"That's wine, you're too young." She retorted while justifying her actions.
Aaron gritted his teeth before looking at the guard and said : "Thanks man, you're a "life saver". Unlike those who stand and watch, at least you made the effort." Then he climbed on his chair and transitioned from there towards the table and got busy eating to his heart's content.
'Your ancestors were bald and fat, your descendants are going to be bald and fat.' With every piece he chewed, the boy kept glaring at the beautiful woman and cursed in silence.
Between eating and drinking, he began to make small talk with his bodyguard to get familiar and soon it felt like nothing happened earlier at all.
When it was dawn the guards opened the wooden gates and the next shift arrived to replace the gate-guards and the archers within the archer-towers, Pio left to explain things to the captain of the next shift and handed both his armor and weapons to them.
Now he's officially released from duty as a gate-guard and someone else from the village is going to replace him in the next shift, afterwards the young man ran towards the village and returned a few minutes later with a different attire.
Now he's wearing a much more comfortable armor that's made from leather instead of metal, slung on his shoulder is a Bow and a quiver full of arrows.
Hanging from his waist is a Sword and on his belt is a hunting Blade deftly positioned within a leather sheath across his back where it's easier to retrieve.
Meanwhile in his hand is a Spear that's twice as tall as he's! Pio simply seemed much more ready than Aaron when it came to actually going outside.
"Tsk. Show off!" The boy puckered his lips once his bodyguard arrived in front of him.
The young man smiled and said : "Shall we go young master Ron?"
Aaron rolled his eyes and turned towards the gate then took a deep breath in once the sight of the Dark-Forest entered his eyes, 'There's no turning back now.' He thought to himself before taking the first step towards his freedom.
Pio nodded once he met the stern gaze from Sera and followed the kid outside the village.
Of course the young man didn't forget to give a certain middle-aged woman a scorching look while planning his actions for the long night to come.
Unaware that his actions would allow the boy to use his skills in private whenever the young man fell asleep the following day since he's just too exhausted and deprived of sleep.
It wouldn't be until a few weeks later when the young man learned to sleep from dusk until midnight before sneaking into Betty's house to have his fun before sneaking out once again before dawn then meeting with Ron at the gate.
The only ones missing out on the fun and left without any sort of entertainment during the cold nights were the gate-guards.
Of course Aaron didn't care about any of that because his focus was entirely on hiding his treasure during the first day, once he distracted Pio with the task of creating an appropriate wooden shelter for the boy who's going to place said shelter on a high branch of a big sized tree.
Aaron gave the excuse of gathering wood before completing the task of hiding the small wooden box, first he gathered enough stones then buried the box well between the thick roots of some tree while ignoring the disgusting bugs that kept crawling from underneath it.
Then he stuffed the upper layer with stones before adding another layer of sand, twigs, crushed bugs, and tree leaves.
Afterwards he gave each of the surrounding trees a hidden mark with his rusty knife before grabbing a few dry branches and making his way back towards Pio who clumsily tried to use his sharp hunting Blade to peel the outer layer of these branches to even them out to become planks.
'Man. This is going to be a long lesson!' He thought to himself while dropping the branches into the side.