The warmth from the sun coursing through his body, unable to not sigh from relaxation. Blissful clear blue skies hang high above as he lays on a bale of hay.

"Seems so peaceful and free from worries up there, when will it be like that here?"

Shutting his eyes and taking it all in peacefully, until a shadow blanketed him. He opened his eyes and saw Erica looming over him, she sat herself next to him and gave a gracious sigh looking at the sky too.

Erica said, "Seems free you say, right?"

Zilian replied, "It is just that... umm, how do I say it? It's just different from down here."

Erica said, "Of course it is different. Don't you ever wish to have wings and fly free? Go anywhere you want with ease?"

Playing along teasefully, "But then we will be different, and others will be afraid of me for being different. I wonder if that's how it started?"

Puzzled look on her face.

"How what started?"

Zilian answered, "The war, the stories are that a Empress from the Mountain started it all, but the other Empires continued it and all that other stuff that led to it. I just wonder if it started because people wouldn't get over each others differences."

Clearly she had thoughts on it, or it just was his imagination.

"Maybe. However, can't see how it matters. You and me are just farmers that live a small life. What could we possibly do?"

He knows she is right. In all honesty, he wishes life was as simple forever as it is on the farm. They layed there for a short while, that is until when Zilian hears Farame calling.

"Coming!" He acknowledged.

He and Erica both rise, and made haste back to Farame. He was just in front of the the barn near the cart. Farame dragged a large wooden box towards the cart, Zilian runs up to assist him.

"Here, let me help." He offered.

Kneeling to get a grip on the box, he heaves and carries the large box with the help Farame, they loaded the large box into the cart.

Farame said, "Thanks my boy. Since ya here now, come on and help me with these other packedges. With any luck, we should sell them goods for a pretty coin now."

Zilian said, "Course."

There were many boxes to pick up, all heavy boxes and large containers. They loaded the cart with milk, eggs and all sorts of fruits. While they did the lifting, Erica made herself busy sorting everything so it fits neatly. When they finally finished loading the cart Farame retreated into the shade of the barn.

Farame wheezed heavily, "What would I do without ya? I seem to lose my strength by the day."

Zilian replied, "I am sure you would have found a way."

"I supose ya right, still glad to have that extra hand. Say what, why don't ya take them goods to the townsfolk for me? Here is the manifest of them goods."

Farame tooked out a book and opened it, he signaled his hand to move in closer next to him and showed him the manifest. Directing with a finger.

"This is where ya take it to, this column says who ya take it to and this column tells ya what goods they asked for. In cases where they ask for something that is not on the list, ya go to this section and tells ya what extra goods we have that ain't have possession. Ya get it?"

"I think I get it, I mean how hard can it be, right?"

Erica asked Farame, "Grandpa, can I go too? Please."

Farame hesitated to give a reply.

"Ya sure? I would like to have gapit juice and hapers, how am I to have it without ya?"

Erica countered challengingly, "I made gabit juice already, it is in the third cabinet and next to it are dried hapers. Please Ferry, can I go? I would like to return the books back Yolade myself this time. Besides, what if Forest Boy here forgets how to do the delivery? He'll need a guide."

Farame hesitated, but said, "Third cabinet ya say? I guess ya can go, since ya have them books to return."

Erica jumps to Farame and hugs him and said "Thank you Ferry."

With a fake annoyance, "And what did I tell ya bout calling me Ferry?"

"But one more time won't hurt."

Erica then runs to the house, Farame turns to Zilian.

One request Farame had, "Take care of Erica."

With a clear promise, "I will."

~---~

They both rode in the cart, heading towards a town. They been riding in the cart for a couple of hours, Zilian has his eyes straight on the horse and the road; whereas, Erica the whole time been glued to her book.

Breaking the silence, Zilian said, "I thought you read all your books."

Just a nod from her chin, she did not break loose from the book, "I did, this is my fifth time reading it."

Only partially astounded. Erica spends most, if not all of time reading books. Not one book, not two books; she has dozens of books sometimes laying at the oddest of places, like in the jug of milk in the barn. He did not know why and thought best left unknown.

"You like reading books?"

"I can not begin to describe how much I like them, like is not even the right word to use. I love what I can learn from them. In a world of chaos, there has to be order, reading is one such order."

"You came up with that yourself?"

"No, a man named Cardos Knich. That's my favorite quote, I like it because it is true. Even though we are in war, there has to be order in war. Those who take part of war, will die in war, that's the order to it."

"Not exactly a way how I would put it."

Erica asked, "Then how would you put it?"

Zilian replied, "I don't death should be in order to begin with."

Pointing ahead, "We are almost there. Just past the hill we will be at the town Forest Mist."

Riding for hours, it almost appeared like the city materialized from the mist and woods. For Zilian, this is his first time entering a city. Even though it is a small city, he felt like he was going to expode from the overwhelming sight. Zilian was so overwhelmed, he got distracted until someone shouted at him for almost running over him. "Sorry." Zilian said, "You better be!" The man shouted before walking away. He rode the cart around the city until he reaches his first destination at the market plaza, at what seemed to be a fruit stand. The man stationed behind the stand comes up to him.

The man says, "Ya Farame's, right?"

Zilian replied, "Yes, are you the shop manager?"

The man replied, "Guess ya could say that. Name be Mauris, what ya name be?"

For a moment Zilian stares at Mauris, almost as if he was hearing the same voice back at the farm. He would have stood there dumbfounded for eternity if Mauris did not snap his fingers in Zilians face.

"Oh, sorry," Zilian apoligized, "Just that you sound a lot like Farame." Saying it in a awkward tone.

Erica jumps at Mauris, "Uncle!"

Zilian grew hot from embarrassment, because he could not see the resemblence. Mauris has the appearence of a young and strong character, whereas, just his face and voice were almost exactly the same as Farame's.

Mauris falls backwards, hugging her too. "Look at ya now, hahaha! Where ya been Eri? Ya haven't been here for a year now!"

Erica gets off of Mauris, "I've just been busy, that's all."

"Too busy to visit me?"

"It's just that..."

Mauris cuts her off, "Don't worry, old brother Far needs ya more then me. If he's still alive, it's thanks to you."

"Thank you."

Mauris noticed Zilian still standing there, "Now who he be? He's a friend of ya's?"

Erica said, "I found him the other day passed out in the forest, brought him back to life I did!"

He chuckled "Did you now?" Looking at Zilian again, "Now boy, what ya name be?"

"Zilian."

"Zilian ya say? Strange name indeed, but a good one, nothing less."

"Thank you sir."

"I won't be taking anymore of your time, ya got my shipment?"

"Uh, give me a sec." Zilian jumped in the carriage, grabbed the manifest and looks for the Store and Mauris name. "You wanted a box of dried hapers and 3 boxes of marillas, right?"

"Righty oh, what ya have for extra now?"

Zilian looks in the manifest again, "We have extra 10 of marilla, 5 of hapers, 30 of wheat, 13 of raits and 9 of dried hapers."

"Give me 10 wheat, all of the raits and dried hapers."

Zilian and Erica both look at each other shocked and then look at Mauris. All he could say, "What be the problem?"

Shocked he was going to buy their entire inventory, it was Erica who protested.

"That's a lot, surely you wouldn't be spendng all of your Semps for all of that!"

This merited him another chuckle, "Not if it's the day before first day for Ferdan Festival. Don't tell me you have forgotten now, you always wanted to go to that festival Eri."

Instantly remembering what day it was, but still unbeknownst to Zilian.

"Oh no! I forgot! But Ferry never gonna let me out by myself."

"This year's gonna be the biggest one yet, ya not gonna wanna miss it."

"I know, I know. I don't know... Could you maybe?..."

Mauris thought about it, "No, I can't, this year gonna be big, I won't be there in time pick you up. Ya will have to talk Far out of his den."

"I guess I don't have much of a choice..."

Mauris places his hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry, there's always next year."

"I guess so. Well, great seeing you again uncle!"

Erica gives him another big hug before getting on the carriage. Zilian goes to the back of the carriage and takes out the crates and exchanges it for the empty crates Mauris had. Zilian rides off in the carriage after loading up the empty crates and recieving the pay.

As he leaves, "Nice meeting you, hope to see you again."

Erica said, "Yeah, nice seeing you again, I'll catch with you at another time."

Mauris replied, "No worries, long life ahead of us all, even for Far. Seeya."

~---~

Zilian stopped at several other market stands and dropped off their goods. But there's a disturbing silence, during the rest of the trip. When Zilian finished the last drop off, he said, "Where do you need to go?"

Erica replied, "I need to drop off my book at the Natchel Library."

Took her a moment to realize stopped the cart, until she understood what what the problem was.

She said, "Oh, sorry. We're close to it, just go down this road to the end and you'll see it."

"Ok, as you said then. Onwards."

Zilian drove down to the end of the road right in front of a big building, with columns looming high in front of large arch doors. They both leaped out of the carriage.

"Hey Zilian, can you do me a favor?" Erica asked.

Zilian looks at her, "Yeah, I guess. Depends what you want me to do."

Erica hands him her books, "Could you take this to the Librarian for me? She's the lady sitting behind a desk close to the entrance."

"Sure, but where you're going?"

"Across the road, to meet a friend."

"Who?"

"Just an elderly lady, she's a close friend of Ferry. She hasn't been able to walk for several years now. I just wanna say hi to her, I know it'll cheer her up."

"Ok, seeya back here then."

Turned around inside the Library. Once in, he looked around and saw a desk near the entrance, just like Erica said. She was shuffling through papers and was biting the middle of a pencil.

"Excuse me, are you the Librarian?" Zilian asked.

The woman sitting behind the desk looked up from what seemed to be paper work, "Yes I am sweety, how may I help you?"

She let go of what she was doing to attend him.

Zilian hands over the books, "I was asked to drop this off."

"Let's see here, Art of the Blacksmith, Natural Winds, History of the Regions and The Lost Emblem. Ok, under whose name should I mark these as?"

"Erica."

"Oh, I should've remembered. If that's the case, here's some books she asked for last week." Pulling out plenty of books from under the counter, she layed it on the counter, "that should be everything what she asked for."

"Thanks." Just as he was going to take them all, he noticed a book called Art of Swordplay. He picks it up and asks, "can I borrow this book?"

The Librarian grabs the book and looks in the covers, "It doesn't seem to belong to the Library, maybe someone donated while I was on break. So I guess you can borrow it, actually, I see no problem you keeping it."

"Really? Thanks!" Picking up all the books, he heads back to the carriage. Soon he will be back at the Farm, going on with his daily chores.