“This is our village. We’ll take you to see the Elder. He’s sort of the unofficial leader around here. That and he is the oldest one here.” Dax explained
The village wasn’t anything special to look at. But to Logan who had just arrived here from another world found it all quite interesting.
It was a collection of a few dozen houses scattered across a large area. The houses were all basically log cabins. They were small with the exception of the one in the center of the village, which was about twice as big. Logan thought it was probably the village elder/leader’s house.
As they got closer they came across a few villagers coming and going. Adults were working in their little gardens and children playing in the fields in the distance. They waved at Dax and Pax welcoming them home and the brothers waved back. It seemed to be a friendly and happy village until they saw Logan.
The moment they realized that Logan wasn’t a resident here they kept their distance and only sent intense stars at him.
Logan didn’t know what he did. Maybe they were skittish to outsiders?
After a few minutes taking the intense looks of the villagers Logan realized what was going on. He was still wearing what Pax and Dax had considered bandit attire.
Logan quickly removed his hood and unzipped his jacket. He placed a warm smile on his face to greet the stares of the people. He knew he wasn’t going to convince them right away so he continued to follow the brothers and after a few minutes they arrived.
**Knock Knock** "Hey old man we got company”
Dax knocked on the largest house like Logan suspected.
After a few moments a man in his fifties opened the door.
“Dax how many times have told you not to call me tha…” Just then he noticed Logan and froze mid-sentence. “Who have you brought with you Dax?”
“This is Grand Magician Logan Willams, Wielder of the Elements. We met him in the woods by the heat stone and invited him here.”
Logan now new what the large pulsing rock in the forest was. He didn’t want to ask what the pulsing red rock was before for fear they would realize that he didn’t belong there.
At Dax’s word he grew an expression of surprise and confusion. He scanned Logan up and down noticing his clothes. He then looked at Dax again with an even more confused expression. While Logan had an honest face, his attire still made him look like a bandit.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“I assure you; he is who he says he is. Sir Williams has demonstrated his powers of chantless magic as well as his unique ability to conjure food out of thin air”
Dax quickly spoke up realizing what the old man was thinking. When he had first seen Logan he had thought the same thing.
The old man’s expression change again to a thrilling surprise. Not only was this man a Grand Magician, he could also create food. Food had become scarce and was now a high-valued commodity. Even the neighboring villages were all short on food.
The old man decided that he must befriend this mage at all costs.
“Ah. Sir Logan welcome to our humble little village. My name is Jason, the village elder. My wife has just made some tea. It would be my honor if you would join me.”
Jason’s change in behavior was all in Logan’s plan. As soon as they discovered that he could make food they would hold him in the highest regard. It might have meant even more to them than his mage title.
“Just Logan is fine and I would love to join you for tea.”
Jason led Logan into his home and sat him down in at the table. Dax and Pax did not come with them. They still had to deal with the catch they got from hunting in the forest.
Jason’s house was bigger than all the other houses Logan saw but was still small. It was only about 20 feet by 15 feet.
Jason pored a cup of tea in a mug for both him and Logan. Logan wasn’t a tea person but he figured it was rude to turn him down and it was a good icebreaker for greeting new people.
Both men sat down and drank a sip of tea. While Jason liked this brew; Logan thought it needed to be sweeter.
Realizing the perfect excuse to use his powers again Logan waved his hand and 15 vanilla cookies appeared atop a napkin on the table. He ignored Jason’s stunned look and started eating some cookies.
"Help yourself. It’s always nice to have snacks with your drink."
Jason thought it was best to accept Logan’s offer and proceeded to eat some too. The cookies were good and went well with the tea.
Jason thought it was time to now figure out why such a prestigious figure would be at a backwater place like this.
"So what brings you way out here?"
Logan was expecting this question and had prepared a whole backstory for just this scenario.
"Well it’s a long story but the short version is that I was doing some magical experiments back home. Something must have gone wrong and somehow I was transported to this land. I don't know what land this is or how to get back. Dax and Pax were the first people I met along the way. I was hoping you could tell me about the area in hopes I might find my way back."
Jason leapt at the chance to put a mage in his debt.
"I see. Well our village is in the domain of the kingdom of Tris which is subservient to the Phoenix Empire. Unfortunately I don't know anything of the neighboring empires. We are located on the far eastern side of the human continent. We are in the middle of nowhere so we don't get that much information about the world."
Logan's brows raised at the words 'human continent'. This means that there are more than humans in this world.
"I see. Unfortunately these names mean nothing to me. Do you perhaps have a map I can look at?"
"Well we have a map but its only of the local area and so wouldn't be of use to you."
"I see. Well maybe you could direct me to the nearest city or town. I can probably learn more there than here."
"Ah. Yes. That won’t be a problem. I should also tell you that wild animals, some magical beasts and bandits have been sighted on the road. Though with your prowess they shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Thank you. And perhaps I could help you with you food problem as compensation.”