"Get the hell off my property!" a scrawny, old voice bellowed from the rickety, wooden building nestled deep within the forest, far beyond the outskirts of the village and even farther than my own home.

Whoever this native doctor was, he clearly despised visitors. His disdain was made abundantly clear by a weathered wooden sign nailed to the porch, which read:

"NO VISITORS. NO TRADERS. NO EXCEPTIONS. TURN BACK."

"Good morning, sir. I'm here to see Maham Ranu, the native doctor," I called out, my voice trembling slightly. "I...I was told you could help me."

From inside the shadowy depths of the wooden building, the raspy voice growled, "There's no doctor here, kid. Turn around and get lost."

I hesitated, glancing back at the path I'd come from. Had I really trekked miles through the woods for nothing? My mother's insistence on this particular native doctor-one who lived so far away from the village-suddenly felt like a cruel joke.

"Please, sir," I tried again. "I've brought rubies for your service. I'm not here to waste your time. I-"

"Rubies, eh?" His tone shifted slightly, but only for a moment. Then, just as quickly, it turned sharp again. "Didn't I already tell you to scram?"

I stepped closer to the porch, desperate. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. I-"

Suddenly, the upstairs window creaked open, and a wiry old man with wild, unkempt hair appeared. He squinted at me, his gaze piercing and suspicious.

"You kids never learn, do you?" he muttered, waving a gnarled hand dismissively. "Coming here, bothering me with your nonsense. What makes you think I'd help you, huh? Go home!"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"But-" I started to protest.

Before I could finish, he jabbed a bony finger at me. "Listen here, boy. If you don't turn around and leave this instant, you'll regret ever stepping foot on my land. You hear me?"

His outburst sent a chill down my spine, but I planted my feet, unwilling to back down. Whatever this Maham Ranu's reputation was, I wasn't leaving without answers.

"Sir, my mother insisted I see you," I called out, taking another cautious step closer to the porch. "I'm Rumi's son...from Seafallow Village. If you know her..."

There was a pause. Then his voice, sharp but laced with curiosity, replied, "Rumi? Seth's wife?"

"Yes! Yes, that's her. My father's Seth. Well, he...he's passed now," I added awkwardly, unsure if this would make a difference.

"I know that," he snapped, his voice suddenly sharper. "I was at his funeral."

"You were?" I blinked, genuinely surprised.

"Yes, yes. So you must be Kane. Seth's boy."

"Yes, sir, that's right." Relief started to creep in. "That means we're...family friends then. Wouldn't you-wouldn't you welcome me in?"

He leaned out the window just slightly, squinting at me with a scowl. "No. Get lost."

I froze. "What? But-but you knew my father. My mother sent me-"

"And now I'm sending you back!" he barked, slamming the door shut with a resounding thud that rattled the porch.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the closed door, utterly dumbfounded. Family friends, huh? What kind of family friend slams the door in your face?

"You're helping that old coot clean his house?" Finwing asked, tossing a stone into the waves with a flick of his wrist. His dark skin glistened under the afternoon sun, and his long, plaited hair swayed gently in the sea breeze as he turned to me with a crooked grin. The three of us stood at the shore, watching the other fishermen venture beyond the reef in a desperate attempt to catch something.

"You know him?" Thaddeus laughed, leaning casually on his fishing spear, his eyebrows raised in amusement.

"Why wouldn't I?" Finwing smirked, throwing another stone with practiced ease. "He used to be the village's resident lunatic doctor before he packed up and moved to the forest. Honestly, I'm surprised the old geezer's still alive."

"Mum's got me doing odd jobs since fishing's been... less than fruitful," I lied, trying to sound casual as I watched the waves lap at my feet.

"But are you coming with us to Lume this weekend?" Thaddeus asked, his voice tinged with excitement as he nudged me lightly.

"I don't think so," I sighed, kicking a shell into the sand. "Still trying to convince her. I'd rather be out exploring than stuck with some grumpy old man."

"Forget Lume," Thaddeus said, smirking as he clapped me on the shoulder. "At this rate, I don't think traveling to Historia someday is in the cards for you, friend."

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Did you know?

From Seafallow Village on the outskirts of Samaria to the farthest corners of the world, ruby coins are the universal currency. Each shimmering gold coin is a symbol of unity, a rare thread connecting nations otherwise divided by war, culture, and ambition. In a world of strife, this shared treasure serves as proof that even the most fractured lands can find a silver lining in their common need.

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