The commerce in our Greenrun Dukedom thrives from my people's products and the produce that we acquire from everything that surrounds us: the rolling hills and it's minerals, vast valleys with all the herbs and plants, the lake and streams, varying fiends and animals, and lush prairies; also decent foreign trading and tourism which are also blooming but not as brimming as the other large cities in the South. Unlike Osteell, we don't have mines to harvest ores or metal from, that can be used to manufacture products to be sold overseas— but Greenrun is prosperous and peaceful as is.
And I can see that with my own eyes as we began to walk around the Central District. Eriol walked beside me as Aerra followed us a little from behind together with Levi.
"Let's go check the Notice Board!" Says Eriol, picking up his pace to head to the board, where several papers are posted, as we were about to pass by.
"We agreed already that we won't be doing any bounty huntings or apt to it." I grumbled but in a blink of an eye, he already strode to it cheerfully checking all the posted papers.
"Oh look at that! Wow! So many papers posted that means so many people needing help, Aeron!" He hollered, gesturing a hand at me.
"I'm not even a mercenary. Why should I care?" I replied, deciding to just walk towards where he was.
"Well, you are the future Lord of this land..." he began, I quickly interrupted,
"And that's why we made that notice board so people can ask traveling mercenaries to do their bidding. Small and irrelevant issues like that is not part of our job as the Landlords! Like this for example—!" I pointed at a paper that says 'JOB: Wanted Need Help with Deliveries. Few boxes of fresh fishes needs to be delivered from the ports to my shop. If interested, go find Narts at the Fish Market station 6!'
Eriol shook his head in dismay, "I wasn't referring to those kind of things. I meant this one!" He slams his hand to a post where red printed letters are seen saying: HUNT.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "No bounty hunting" I reiterated at him, crossing my arms.
Eriol rips the paper off from the board and hands it to me. "Read!" he insisted. I just glared at him but he kept waving it in front of my face, "Read! Go on!"
I took it off from his hand and read it. It says,
HUNT
A band of thieves are sighted causing trouble around the outskirts lately. Especially to us farmers. We believe they are fugitives from the purge done from the southernmost borders, Ak'hilheim Kingdom. If anyone can help us put an end to this we are ready to pay ##,###. To anyone interested and further information, please visit us at Zenas Village
And then a small map is printed below the note.
I grimaced after reading it. It seems to be at the immediate outskirts about few miles away from Greenrun. They're not exactly part of our domain anymore, I thought. In fact they're not part in any domain at all. They are wild folks. And the sum of money they are offering seems too low for the job. No wonder no one is taking it.
I just sighed.
I look up at Eriol as he just sneers at me.
"Okay, I know you have some sort of reasonable and logical explanation on why I must care for such thing. It's not even a part of the Dukedom. So let me hear it!" I murmured, as I passed the paper to Aerra and Levi for them to read it as well.
"Well, look at the map! If you're a fugitive, where will you go?" Eriol uttered.
"The woods? I don't know. Somewhere close to the village so they can easily return to the farms?"
Eriol nodded his head in a smug, "The woods closest to the village are part of your domain." he added, tossing both his hands to each sides of his waist. "Plus we can surrender them to the Southernmost Kingdom if they're Wanted. That would create a good start for friendly relations."
"I'll just tell Papa about it tonight. I don't need to personally go do the job. He can send our men to take them out"
"I don't think the village is the only place they take their resources from." Levi interrupts, showing the map at me and points to an area. "The Fay Mills are located nearby since it's closest to the lake ports. Those are pretty expensive commodities here aren't they? How many of the Greenrun soldiers are stationed there? Four... six? Crime rates are too low in this city so I won't be surprised if they only sent few. I bet they're not even aware the Fay aqua-grains are stolen from them."
I took a good look at the map and true enough, Levi is right. The Fay Mill's product, the aqua-grains, is an essential element in our commerce. We are one of the few that supply such commodity on the entire continent.
I clench my teeth as my fists tighten to my side. This is an urgent matter that needs to be dealt with immediately.
"Aren't you even curious in trying out your new capabilites? Don't worry! We got this!" Eriol says in such confidence.
I turned to Aerra. She just shrugged, "I'm fine with it. It's not like we're completely powerless. And besides, we have Eriol and Levi with us this time!" she says.
"I can order my men to follow us in and send reinforcements if we don't return before sundown." Added Levi.
"Wow, so you are all in this huh? Fine!" I tossed my hands up in defeat. "Let's hunt down the fugitives."
••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••
"The woods are acres and acres wide
"The woods are acres and acres wide. Just make sure they have specifics for us to find the fugitives faster. We can't spend a night out here just to search. The banquet will be tonight, after all." I murmured as I eyed all of them as we sat patiently inside one of Levi's iron carriages, which he calls an automobile.
Just like the horse-driven carriages, the seats were situated in a way that we face each other squarely. Aerra sat beside me as Eriol sat to the seat in front of me while Levi sits beside him, facing Aerra.
"What do you mean 'make sure'? You know I can't do that. Why are you being so edgy anyway? No one's going to kidnap you or Aerra this time." Eriol replied in a sneer.
"I will assure that." Levi added in a tone just above a whisper.
"I'm not afraid of getting kidnapped or anything. I'm just... not sure about this idea!" I explained. I looked at Aerra at the corner of my eyes.
If something bad happens to her, I don't think I can forgive myself.
It would have been better if I didn't bring her along after all.
I regret this.
Eriol and Levi exchanged glances.
"Just relax, kiddo. Nothing bad is going to happen" Eriol's tone suddenly changes.
I wanted to argue back but I held my tongue and just turned and looked at Aerra who sat beside me. She just sighed and smiled. "They're right. It's okay, Aeron. As long as we stick together, nothing bad will happen. And besides, Eriol is with us. He's a high tier wind magus and a well-seasoned mercenary despite his looks!"
"What do you mean despite my looks?!"
Aerra rolled her eyes at Eriol's remark, ignoring him. "What I'm trying to say is... I know this will be the first time we will travel away together again after what happened two years ago and being frightened it might happen again is not what you are exactly dreading on about. I know—!" She grabs my hand and squeezes it lightly. "You're just worried about me... So stop it. I'll be fine. If you think I won't be ...then make damn sure I will be. You are stronger now than before, aren't you?"
Aerra really knows how my mind works...
"...not that I will depend on you. I can somehow handle and protect myself now after all." She concluded in a contented grin.
"Fine. Just make sure you won't charge head on to trouble. I would prefer it better if you depend on us! Don't just assume you're alone in deciding what should be done" I told Aerra, as she just shrugged as if dismissing my suggestion.
I don't want her to make decisions that would make her blame herself again just like what happened back at the deserts when we lost Nora...
I turned my hand around to accommodate the hand that squeezes mine. Our fingers crossed and she just eyed me in silence. I just stared back. 'Depend on me...' is what I thought but somehow she seems to understood it even before the words even formed out of my mouth. She reluctantly nods before looking away.
I just chuckled at her reply and released her hand.
For some reason, there's this mutual connection in our heads that made us understood what the other is feeling or thinking. Like an instinct.
Perhaps... a kind of bond I will only find in Aerra.
I find solace in the idea that she completely understands me and tries to compromise.
I turned my head to the window and watched the view from it. I can see the sun still barely risen up completely to the high skies. The day has just begun. We are once again heading outside Greenrun, this time, there aren't any guards following us nor any kind of escort. Papa wouldn't mind surely as long as we return safely, Mama on the other hand might fuss a bit but she calms down as soon as we hug her anyway. In other words, I don't think our parents would see this little travel to be bad— as long as we return in one piece... or pair.
It took us about half an hour to finally arrive to the Zenas Village, an outskirt village that is under in no particular reign or kingdom. But under the laws of this land, since they exist in this continent, they should be under the High King's reign. But a village as rural and small as this is usually ignored, or so I thought.
The village was nothing like I expected. The walls that suppose to protect the entire village are only stocked rocks that stood only about four feet high. Houses are just made from low quality materials that won't seem to last if a typhoon arrives. But then again typhoons or abnormal weathers almost never happen here in the South.
There are lots of orchards that surround the area and vast plowed fields that stretch wide beyond the village walls. I noticed most of their apparels are made from the same fabric with unique patterns that perhaps distinguish their own culture from the rest. I could almost count the number of houses. There's so few...
A big stone-well is seen on the middle of the village perhaps their only source for potable water and few children scampered playfully around us as we made our way through.
Rather than looking gloomy despite the rural ambiance, they look rather contented. Happy with whatever lifestyle they are in. I wonder if their fabrics are really enough for the winters though. Maybe I should bring fabrics from Greenrun next time. And how about medicines? Do they just settle with traditional lowly herbs. Maybe I should provide tertiary medicinal elixirs too. And their sandals are just straw... and they don't wear hats despite being farmers... and gloves! No gloves might hurt their hands while farming or gardening, right? —wait what am I thinking?! I shouldn't meddle with them. They're not even my people.
Ugh. This is irritating! Why aren't they updating their ways of living! Don't they know they can get sick easily?
"Aeron, just relax a bit. You're scaring the people with your death glare." Aerra whispered, nudging an elbow at me.
"I'm not—!"
Am I really sending the wrong signals?
In that case, I shouldn't make any eye contacts with the locals. I'll just let Eriol do the talking.
I watch some of the farm animals that loiter around. They seem to let their livestock ran amok. But despite that, their surroundings are surprisingly clean and well managed. Air is fresh too.
I admit it though. This peaceful rural village is beautifully quaint on its own way.
I walked a little slower to make Eriol lead the way. But I began asking around to where the village head is at.
I can sense eyes watching us carefully.
I don't think they know about pureblood since the villagers look at us with astonishment because of the clothes we wear instead of gazing at our eyes and hair color.
It doesn't come as a surprise though. Purebloods are only important matters to nobles. Some commoners doesn't seem to care about those things too much since it doesn't concern them or affect them directly in any way. At least that's what I learned from our morning lectures— and it make sense! Except for the Osteell that is.
Which reminds me...
As I watch Levi in silence, I somehow want to see how Levi handles himself in fighting. I know he's good at sword fights but I want to see what other things he's capable of. He's a commoner blood who bears no magic in his veins but about an hour ago, he showed something that got me wondering how powerful he is.
And if I think it that way —somehow, I thought to myself as we stepped inside a house, I can't wait to encounter those bandits.
———
"Welcome, mercenaries!" Says an old man in an old looking brown cloak. "We've been waiting for someone to finally take the job."
"We're not all mercenaries actually. We're just some curious travellers!" Eriol replied, "Oh but we can fight. I assure you! We can get the job done." he added when the old man's forehead wrinkled at his first statement.
"Well. Any would do as long as you can help us. My name is Saloom Isha. I am the village head."
We all slightly bowed our head to greet back as he bowed in reverence at us. He has small slanted brown eyes and a glistening bald head. A broad red nose, which is too big for his face, that has a bump like a button on the tip. The skin of his face is dry, loose and saggy, marked with small pin point discolorations from working too much under the sun, I assume. And several vertical lines are etched from the years that passed him. Under his lips, a long trailing silver beard drapes to his chest. If I were to guess, he's roughly in the age of late 70's.
"Well, my name is Eriol. This is Aeron, Levi and Aerra." Eriol introduces us. Sawook... or whatever his name is, narrows his eyes at Eriol all of a sudden. He seems to admire the color of his eyes. Well Eriol's eyes are unique so no surprise there.
I watch them in silence as Aerra and Levi stood idly in silence too.
I don't understand why we are wasting time at this point. Has Eriol forgotten that we only have until sundown? The banquet starts narrowly after that. And we already politely had our introductions so...
"So about the job. Can you tell us about the bandits problem you're having lately?" I uttered, crossing my arms impatiently.
The village head walks towards me and glared at me.
"What?" I murmured, abruptly looking away.
He steps in closer and stared boldly at my hair. Maybe he knows something about pureblood. I let him stand there for a couple of seconds. I naturally assumed he has blurry vision for his old age that's why he needs to looks at things closer to study them. He doesn't have glasses after all.
"How old are you, mister Eirom?" He says withh his husky warm voice.
"It's Aeron. I'm twelve, sir." I replied reluctantly as he steps closer and closer.
"B-but I am pretty capable of fighting so..." I added as I leaned aback. The tip of his nose almost touching my cheek so I took few steps away.
"You have a white hair! And with such young age! How peculiar!" He gently brushes his beard in a smile. Whew. I'm glad he doesn't mind my age for this job.
"Your hair reminds me of... uhh... It's white as..." he pauses and purses his lips. Rolling his eyes up while tapping his chin.
"Like snow?" I supplied. "Because I get that a lot."
"No! Like a sheep!" He smiles innocently. "It's curly and white! Nice to make a wool from during the winter! But your curls aren't kinky enough and it's too thin. Not a good quality at all."
"..."
How dare he compare my hair to a livestock—!
Our bloodline is rare and almost extinct and yet he—!!!
"Well isn't that grand, old man!" I grinned, clutching my teeth together.
"And he has white hair too!" He points at Aerra, walking towards her this time. "—and long, like a woman's. But the quality is no good for a wool as well. This is similar to a white goat's hair, rather, with no particular use."
Aerra just smiles in defeat, letting the old man stare at her hair and stroke it.
This old man is annoying me. 💢
Ignorance or not, that right there is punishable by law! To talk to a noble that way is—
Ugh! Who am I kidding. I bet he can't even tell we're noblemen.
"Okay about the job—!" I insisted.
"Ah! Oh yes. The job! Reino, yes?" He replied, tapping at his chin at me.
"It's Aeron! —So give us specifics already about the job, you bald headed old geezer!"
"Aeron, be calm!" Aerra interrupts, sighing.
I am calm. What is she talking about?
"When did the bandits began causing trouble?" Eriol adds.
"Well, they just suddenly came here one morning like this, about two months ago and asked us to give them money and food. We don't really have anything much to give so they trashed our village and threatened to take the women and kill my people if we don't provide." He stated. I crossed my arms together and listened. Huh, very cliche. Textbook intrusions. Those bandits must be dimwitted.
"They left as soon as they came but the next day after that, they returned and finally agreed to just take whatever food we can provide or else. As you can see, my village has more old people than youth so we fear for our lives as much as we fear for the safety of our daughters, so we never fought back. They return here in no specific schedule but they did visit just yesterday so surely they won't return today. They took several sacks of grains and fruits again and so with several bottles of milk from our produce that we were suppose to sell at the South Kingdom.
Our village is small and our earning here are humble and just enough for us to get by for a year. We can't accommodate such increase in demand. Our village will soon be in crisis if this doesn't stop. We're in desperate need of help!"
"For two months?" Aerra gasps, troubled by the idea. "Living in such predicament for two months? No one have ever arrived to help or take the job?"
The Village Head affirms.
"And the bounty?" Levi murmured, seeming interested all of a sudden. "You're in such state but that amount of money is big enough even for this kind of village."
"That's the amount my people has been saving personally from each of the households. They gave it to me so we can hire mercenaries such as yourselves to help us! If it's not enough, we can get you more if only you give us more time!"
"No, the amount is fine. I was only wondering how you manage to acquire that. Forgive me for my rudeness" says Levi in a slight bow.
The village head shook his head. "It is alright. So would you help us?"
I nodded.
"Wait here, I'll give half the bounty then! Just as a downpayment to pay for your troubles in coming all the way out here!"
"No! Don't give the bounty unless the job is done!" I murmured
The village head just arched his brows at my remark. "If you say so then"
He seems to trust so easily, I thought to myself.
What if a scamming mercenary came before us instead and proclaimed he killed the bandits in a lie and ran of with their bounty?
I can't just let them be at this point.
I sighed, "Well... We'll definitely help you so tell us, do you know where we can find them?"
He nods his head, "My daughter, Hysmin knows where their hideout is. She followed them one time and saw it." He shook his head, "Such a stubborn girl..."
"Where is miss Hysmin then? Can we talk to her?" Eriol replied.
The village head shook his head again, "She left to sell our produce just this morning. She usually return the following day. We can provide you a place to stay for the night if you kindly wait for her return."
"No, we can't wait that long." I grumbled, eyeing Eriol. We have a banquet tonight and surely tomorrow our morning lectures resumes.
"I see, I understand. Thank you for hearing us out at least." the village head sighs in dismay, while once again bowing down in reverence.
Wha—! That's not what I mean....
Aerra, Levi, and Eriol eyed me almost all at the same time.
'What?!' I mouthed at them.
"Actually, we're a bit pressed for time since we have plans for the night. But we will gladly finish this job before sundown! So what if we just go to where she is so we can talk to her ourselves. I can assure you we will do our best to help you!" Aerra stated, mildly tapping the shoulder of the village head whose eyes suddenly gleams in delight hearing her proposal.
"If it won't be too much of a bother... please do! Hysmin went to the great southernmost city, Ak'hilheim Kingdom. We usually do our tradings there because they offer the best price for the exchange."
"Exactly how many hours does it take to travel to Ak'hilheim?" I whispered at Levi as I walked beside him.
"About ten hours by carriage." He replied after careful estimation.
"TEN!?!"
Surprised, they all looked at me. I just shook my head, "It's nothing. I was asking something unrelated to Levi."
Horse-driven carriages do ran so slow with just the horse trotting and prancing all through out the journey.
"Can't we use your warships? Those are faster than any ordinary airships, aren't they? That would cut us the time too, right?" I murmured at Levi, leaning closer.
"Have you forgotten I'm from the eastern nation? We can't just randomly cruise in with a warship and cross another nation's borders, idiot."
"You did that when you rescued us from the deserts."
"That was another matter. We did several prior engagements to have that settled before we came in raking the skies and borders of another continent. This is different. It takes days for one Castellan to approve of a warship to cross their lands. Documents needed to be signed, concessions, and also an approval of the High King."
I sighed.
"Then we go to the Fay Mills and ask the guards about the bandits. They will surely talk if I ask them personally."
"Waste of time. Let's just cut us some work from doing one quest to another and just ask miss Hysmin. At least with her, we have a lead."
"But the trip to get there is..." Another sigh escapes from my mouth. "Options Levi. I need options. Otherwise we will have to decline this one and Aerra will surely be disappointed. Look at her, she wants to help these people."
"I know that, idiot. Don't play that card on me. I'm already trying to think... So stop nagging." Levi grumbles subtly but manages to remain composed.
"Hysmin will be at the bazaar for sure. After the trade, she usually stays at a shop of an old family friend to do small jobs and generally just help out. The shop is named as Geníse's Store. She stays there overnight and travel the next sunrise to return here." Says the village head as he then points at a framed picture of a girl that was on a shelf. "That's Hysmin. She's 18 years old, the only daughter I have. I'm sure you won't miss her. Her clothes' patterns are the same with ours. And she has a mole on her left cheek and green beaded locks in one side of her hair." he adds
as Eriol nodded, "Okay. Off to the Southern borders we go then!"
As soon as we walked outside, Eriol crossed his arms together. "You guys just wait for me here. I'll go to the Ak'hilheim myself."
I remembered he can somehow fly using his wind. What a handy element.
"But I want to see the Southern kingdom..." Aerra sighed almost inaudible but we heard it. She clasp at her mouth when she realized we heard it well. "Ah! No! Don't mind me! Sorry about that. I was just talking to myself!"
The point why I agreed to have Aerra in this journey in the first place is so that she can somehow revert back to her usually vivacious self. If she wants to go, we should. No point in restrictions now.
I shook my head. "I want to see the Southernmost Kingdom as well. We are from the south yet we never had any chance to visit that Kingdom before." I stated,
"Ak'hilheim Kingdom, also known as the grand Port city of the South. Ruled by King Ulf of House Rahn, the Castellan of the Southern nation. Also known as Sultan of trades." Levi began, with a finger under his lips as if brooding. "Huge harbours, exotic with its trade preferences overseas, and unique mix cultures and races, surely a journey to such place will be worth it." He then closes his eyes and nods once. "And besides, if Aerra wants to go, so shall it be. I have a plan. We will use the hyperloop drive concept. It's a theory being studied by our scholars in Osteell. Luckily, the automotive I bought along might be able to handle that. Along with your combined help, that is, it might actually work."
"Hyperloop? You might want to talk in a language we can all comprehend, buddy." says Eriol, patting Levi's shoulder.
Levi brushed him off and walked away. "Just come follow me, I'll elaborate." He gestured at us and we followed him.