Twenty minutes after departing from the Orphanage, I arrive into the village proper.
“Phew!"
"Finally made it!”
“Now… let’s see…”
Reaching into a satchel affixed to my dress, I grasp and unfold a note from inside.
Jotted down neatly, are various different ingredients written in ink on a simple piece of parchment.
“First thing is…”
Holding the parchment close, I take note of what’s required and prioritize what I should buy first.
“Hmm, first thing is meat."
"I’ll go and see how the village butcher is doing!”
___________________________________
After concluding on the order of things, I make my way from the southern part of the village towards the northmost side.
It's where the majority of pastures are and livestock is kept.
Within Ten minutes, I come across a rickety wooden stall, adorned with many different choice cuts of meat hanging on display.
“Hello sir!"
"I’d like to purchase some meat from you today!”
With a cleaver in hand, a gruff-looking man, seemingly no older than Forty, looks towards me with a full-bearded grin.
He continues to cleave a fresh slab of meat on his wooden butcher’s block while answering me.
“Well, If it isn’t Mai!”
“I know Old Lady Grunhilda has you running errands for her again, doesn’t she?”
“Hahah! You’re still so young and you’re out here working hard!”
I begin to feel quite embarrassed when he praises me over such a mundane task.
“U-Um… I’m only doing what I was told to do, so…”
“Nonsense! You’re the only kid from that Orphanage who ever comes to see me all the way out here."
"All of the other village kids are busy playing around without a care in the world.”
“Here you are, up and about, good for you!”
“Anyhow, I don’t mean to bore you with my talk, so here!”
Smiling, the man hands me what are cuts of meat, wrapped neatly in cloth and leather.
Graciously, I take the bundle from him, and smile back at him.
Upon feeling the heft of the bundle, there's a noticeably higher amount of meat generously contained within the bundle than usual.
“S-Sir… This feels a bit heavier than usual if I'm not mistaken…”
The butcher laughs heartily.
“Hahah! I'm not sure what you’re talking about!”
"Oh...? Is that so?" I squint dubiously at the man.
He laughs, his hands held up in momentary surrender.
“Heheh... Nothing ever gets past those eyes now, do they?”
“However, no complaining! I insist!”
"Hmm..."
Pondering this situation for a brief moment, I'm feeling somewhat guilty for taking advantage of this situation.
So I reach to my side, grabbing a satchel on my person and begin to count out what I deem to be an appropriate amount of currency to pay the man.
After receiving his payment, the butcher counts the copper-colored coins.
“One… Three…Five…”
"..."
“Hey now... There are too many Grandium pieces here.” He says while counting the copper currency in his palm, confused.
As he continues to count the currency, placing the wrapped bundle of meat inside my handbasket I begin a hasty retreat, running hurriedly back towards the village.
“I'm not sure what you’re talking about sir!”
As I run, I glance back and give him one last wave.
“Take care! Bye-bye!”
The butcher scratches his head and chuckles defeatedly, seemingly amused all the while.
“I’ll have more for you next time! You take care of yourself now!”
Smiling, the butcher waves back to me as I head back towards the center of the village.
With that, I've procured the first ingredient on my list.
----------------------------------------
Walking along the dirt road that trails throughout the village and its outskirts, I look towards the northern trail that connects Saint-Grandis to our village.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
I’d say it's maybe a few hours by horse carriage and at least half a day’s walk to arrive at the capital from here.
"Hmm?"
There, I see an entourage of soldiers.
A multitude of armor-clad soldiers on horseback, while some are on foot, with a caravan in tow.
Given first glance, many of the soldiers seem to walk in an orderly formation, however–
Upon closer look, their armor and clothing seems battered and worn.
Their haggard movements show signs of fatigue and wear.
…
Getting a better look at them, I'm guessing that they’ve just returned from the battlefield.
But... the road that connects the battlefield and the Gaernis Mountain pass are in the opposite direction, that's the way leads to the capital.
So why are they here?
Then suddenly–
“Whoa! Hey there! Watch where you’re going!”
Lost in thought, I don’t realize I’m walking too closely to the center of the dirt pathway.
A man clad in ornate armor, much more intricate than that of the other soldiers following behind him, reigns his horse as the steed lifts its frontal hooves in the air at the sudden reaction of the decorated man riding atop it.
“Are you daft, lass...?"
"Make way for the battle-worn."
"We have business here in Commis Village.”
Feeling intimidated by the armor-clad man who could only be assumed as the leader of this squad, I meekly apologize and make my way off to the side of the dirt path, letting them pass unimpeded.
“…S-Sorry…”
As the various soldiers pass by, I spot a few more commonly clothed people inside of the rear caravan flaps.
Without realizing it, I stare at them, thinking about their various injuries and physical condition.
Then without warning a man beckons at me, snapping me out of my daydream.
His haggard body emerges, jumping down from the rear-end of the slow moving caravan.
“Oi! Girly!”
"...?!"
With both feet firmly planted on the dirt path, he slowly creeps over to me with a sinister grin on his face.
Ominously, he stares down at me while hovering more than a few feet above me, more than double or even triple my size.
“Hey there, girly…"
"Whatcha’ got there...?”
“Looks like you got some supper there.”
Never breaking eye-contact from the man before me, my gaze quickly changes from that of curiosity to fear in an instant.
The man begins to lick his lips.
“You know, if you were a bit older lookin'... I’d be more interested in you..."
"Not many pretty types 'round these parts. Not sure where yer' from, but yer' quite the snack! Heheh!"
"..."
Disgusting...
"But... I’m famished.”
“We haven’t had a proper meal fer' days now, not since our battalion has been sent to the battlefield.”
The obscene man then quickly thrusts his hand out, snatching the woven basket in my hands.
He dangles it above his head, out of my reach.
“I’ll let you off easy fer' giving a small contribution to the war effort."
"After all, we’re the ones keeping yer' sorry village alive.”
"..."
"Grrrrr..."
I hatefully glare at the man.
Anger boils up and fear slowly gives way to rage.
My eyes start to water, they burn unnaturally as my vision is fixated on this repugnant man.
Contempt begins to fester.
For a brief moment I even think of attacking this man.
"..."
“Give…"
"Give it back…”
“Huh…? What’s that? It sounds like you’re saying something, but it must just be the wind.”
He holds a hand up to his ear, openly mocking me.
Finally feeling fed up with his antics, clenching my fists tightly I scream out at the towering soldier.
"GIVE ME BACK MY BASKET!!!!"
"..."
“Hohoh..."
"The little miss has some spunk to her…”
Twirling the basket around with a single finger, the man continues to mock me, holding the packaged meat in his other hand.
“Yer' lucky yer' such a cute little brat... Otherwise I’d shatter yer' teeth and leave you to die in some hole."
"But then again..."
The man smirks
"Seein' as how you’ve been kind enough to give up an offering fer' our efforts…”
He throws my basket that he’d been previously twirling on his finger onto the dirt pathway below.
“You can have this back! Heheh!”
“…”
After tossing my handbasket away, the soldier starts laughing to himself as he walks back towards the caravan which can be seen much further down the path from when the man had first emerged.
At his departure, I silently stare at the soldier's back, who had just been standing here moments before.
Slowly, I drag my feet to the beautifully handcrafted basket, which is now covered in dirt.
I dust it off slightly.
Father made this for me.
“At least I was able to get it back…”
Even though that man stole the meat that was meant for tonight’s dinner...
“That... That really doesn't matter.”
“But still, now I don’t have the meat for the stew…”
I feel... helpless.
“…”
Maybe I should head back and get more meat then…?
Pondering this thought I reach over to my coin satchel and open it, counting the remaining copper pieces inside.
“Not enough left.”
“There's only have enough left for the remaining ingredients.”
“…”
It’s disappointing, but I’ll just have to make do with what’s left.
Feeling somewhat morose, my feet drag me back towards the village as I tail significantly behind the caravan of soldiers that’s further up ahead.
Soon, I lose sight of them as their forms are blocked by the surrounding hills and winding path.
After walking for some time while lost within my thoughts, I make it back to the village.
----------------------------------------
Continuing onward through the village, I spot the same group of soldiers from earlier.
Their caravan is parked near the Village Elder’s home.
It’s honestly no wonder those soldiers would have business with the elder.
He's the one who handles all of the important decisions in our village after all.
…
As I continue to observe in silence, suddenly, there's yelling coming from inside the Elder’s home.
“GET OUT OF HERE!”
“TELL WHOEVER’S IN CHARGE OF YOUR LITTLE BRIGADE OF FOOLS THAT WE DON’T NEED NONE OF YOUR SO-CALLED PROTECTION!’”
“I MAY BE GETTIN’ OLD, BUT I’M NOT A FOOL!”
“…?!”
I’m startled by the loud booming voice of the Elder. After all, he's known for being a kind and patient man.
Now I can't help but be curious about what’s happening.
Pondering these happenings, the Village Elder's door slams immediately.
A familiar armor-clad man steps outside of the Elder’s home with a few knights walking in tandem next to him.
"Bah! Old fool...!"
"He’s squandering an opportunity here."
"Even so... It’s none of my business what happens to this village in the grand scheme of things…"
This man in decorated armor… he has a dubious grin on his face as I overhear him speaking–
I don't have a very good impression of him.
Still, not knowing anything about him personally, I simply chalk it up to intuition.
Amidst the commotion, I clutch my handbasket and go back to resuming my tasks for the day.
I'll be done gathering the remaining ingredients for tonight’s supper soon.
----------------------------------------
After some time passed...
“Finally done!”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I prepare to head back home to the Orphanage.
Having completed my tasks there's no reason left to linger here.
Before I can leave however, an old balding man with a long-white beard walks over to me, cane in hand.
“Oho…!
"If It Isn't Mai!”
“Oh… Village Elder!"
"I-I didn’t notice you there...”
Feeling a bit awkward having witnessed the commotion between the elder and soldiers, I try my best to pretend as if I was just passing by.
The elder gazes knowingly, and flashes me a smile.
“Hahaha!"
"You don’t have to pretend like you didn’t see what happened earlier between me and those men just now…"
"I could see you staring at what was happening from the window after I escorted those buffoons out of my home.”
He stares at the contents of my basket and glances back at me with a much calmer and softer demeanor.
“Also…”
“It seems like you’ve had quite the busy routine for the day."
"Would you care to take a breather before heading back to the Orphanage?”
“…”
In all honesty… today has been exhausting.
“Y-Yes! I’d very much enjoy that…!”
Beckoning me inside, I graciously accept the elder's invitation.
Following the elder into his home, I can’t help but feel like I’ve forgotten something important...
But for now, that doesn’t matter.
I’d much rather take up the Elder on his kind offer than worry over nothing.
Sitting nearly inside, I enjoy some time at the elder's home with both him and his wife.
We share some freshly-baked desserts and brewed tea among some relaxing small-talk on this normal, average day.
----------------------------------------