It's been two months since the talk I had with Nana Mila. Transported? How? Why? And where are my parents? Am I the only one who got transported here? How can I return? These are the questions I keep asking this past month.
Speaking of parents, I have also been able to meet Ariya's parents. They are a Wheedler, it's an occupation here just like mercenaries, but they are more on collecting items in a dangerous area. Once they told me they took rare birds' eggs at the Kingdom of Rerean's Beast Mountain.
They told wonderful stories about their travels, although the pay is not that lucrative, but enough to make a decent living with a small family.
"If I want to be wheedler, what should I do?'' I asked curiously. If I'm going to stay here I need an income, I cannot stay here with this family for good. If I want to know if I can return home I need at least to travel and look like being a wheedler is the best of both worlds.
"If you want to be a wheedler like us, there is an outpost at Oceanshear Town. you can apply there and you have to take the test and training," Ariya's mother—Edida said.
"You need to have skills, if not you, they can train you too, but with a fee," She added.
"Fee? How much does it cost to be trained?" I asked. Do I have a skill? I know how to run if that could be considered a skill.
"Two silver for each skill; knife, swords, archery, and navigation. Those are the skills that are useful for a wheedler, especially navigation because we usually travel by sea," She informs me.
Two silver?! Where could I get that amount? I don't even have a copper to spend. Looks like I need a temporary job here before I travel to Oceanshear.
"Do you know a place that I could temporarily work? I-I don't have any money to spend," I embarrassingly said to them. All my life I never experienced this kind of feeling, that I would make a fuss because I don't have money in my pocket.
It's not something that I am used to.
Worst of all, I don't know if I can do anything here. I don't have any abilities like hunting or even catching fish.
I wonder if my parents ever thought I would be in this dilemma.
"Come on Enya, mother said that the clothes vendor needs an assistant for two days and she will pay three silver for it," Ariya said as she drags me into the village marketplace.
Edida was able to help her out in finding some way to earn. Watching over a clothing store shouldn't be that hard, I think.
"Slow down Ariya, I cannot run properly if you keep dragging me," I said.
'Sorry. But today is special. They said that knights from the capital will come and patrol here today. And I want to see or maybe meet one of them," She said. If she is on Earth, she should be an avid fan waiting for her idol to come and maybe take a photo with them.
"Why are you so excited to see them? Are they famous or something?" I asked, aren't knights like super soldiers? Like military soldiers on earth compared to policemen? Why is Ariya so excited about meeting them?
"You won't know. Being a knight is a very reputable job, everyone respects you and the pay. Most knights are rich. Imagine you get to be paid five gold a month, and sometimes the king or town chiefs will pay you for your service, and who knows how much they get from them?" she said.
So being a knight is a lucrative job, huh? I thought.
"Anyone could be a knight?" I asked.
Ariya laughed at my question. "Aren't all men wished?" she said. "No, not everyone can become a knight. One must first have a strong affinity to an element, second, you must at least pass their arduous training. I once heard that there are few who attempt to join but never survive the training and return home," she said inconspicuously.
"Really, becoming a knight is that hard?" I incredibly asked.
"And besides, being a knight has also a chance to become a Noble, and in reality that is what most wanted. To be part of the Nobility," Ariya added.
"Out of the way!" A voice shouted from behind. I instinctively pulled Ariya with me at the side, then a rushing caravan passed us. If we didn't move, that would hit us.
"Hey! Watch it!" Ariya shouted along with other bystanders who were walking on the street with them. I watch as the caravan driver successfully gains control of his horses as she stops a few buildings from them.
We follow the crowd to see what is going on, why that driver loses control when a dainty hand came out from inside the carriage.
"Lady, are you okay?" one man asked as he attempted to help the woman inside when the same hand that he was about to reach suddenly grabbed by a different man. The first one was so shocked that it took a few seconds before he got to his senses. I guess he is more sensible than the second one since he only frowns at the said man.
When the woman from the carriage was out, I could not believe that the owner of that very delicate looking hand is a woman with a strong build. You really can't see it with just her hands. She is well-built, one that you often see from an athlete.
Hm. maybe a ballerina. Yeah, she has a body of a ballerina; I thought. One that has years of dancing and building her body to be flexible yet strong.
"Thank you," she said to the man with a silvery voice. The man just smiled shyly and moved back.
The woman then looked around and saw the driver of her caravan. And went to him.
"Ollie, are you okay?" She asked the man.
"Yeah, scared though," he replied.
"What happened? Why did the horse suddenly get wild?" The woman asked.
"Bee. Got scared by a bee," he said and looked at his horse with disgust. As if the horse understands him it flicks its tail and snorts his response, as if saying 'wouldn't you be scared?'
The woman just shook her head with them and faced the people surrounding them and said, "We are so sorry, our horse got started by a passing bee and started running as if the beast is after him," she explains. Most of the onlookers move on after her explanation, except for the two men who help her get out of the carriage.
"Miss are you all right?" The first man asked. He was about to say something more when the woman looked at us.
"Are the two of all right?" the woman asked us instead. "I am so sorry about what happens," she added.
"We are fine luckily Enya, she was able to hear your warning and move us out of the way," Ariya said, a look of wonder was all over her face. What's with her now? Why does she look like a superstar?
"My name is Lilias Keeton, a Knight," the woman introduced herself. So that's why. She is a knight.
"A knight?" I asked. You can't see it in her posture.
"Yeah, I don't look like one, right?" Lilias smiled.
"I'm sorry I don't mean any disrespect about that remark," I explain.
"You don't look like a knight, more of a graceful dancer," I said. I heard a gasp coming from Ariya.
"Did I say something wrong?" I asked, did I just make a faux pas?
"I get that a lot, I don't look like a bulky warrior like the others. I am more on speed and flexibility," she said.
"I'm sorry if I just said something insulting," I said.
"Where I came from, being called a dancer is being praised," I added.
"Really? Where did you come from?" Lilias asked.
"Um…" I looked at Ariya with panicked eyes.
"Where are my manners," Ariya said. Trying to distract Lilias.
"My name is Ariya, and this is Enya," She said as she introduced us to her. She smiled and was about to say something when I suddenly said.
"Oh, shit! Ariya the stall!" I blurted, remembering that we are about to go to my temporary job.
"Ah!" Ariya was about to run when she stopped and faced Lilias.
"It's nice meeting you," then started dragging me again. I just inclined my head towards Lilias as she drags me away.
Three days have passed since meeting Lilias Keeton. As I was attending my job, I saw her walking around. Maybe she is the knight that Ariya mentions who will be patrolling here at Fairwarf for a week. Because aside from her, I didn't notice anyone with a fan club trailing behind them.
Looks like Knights are the superstars in this world.
So different, yet so alike.
I can get back home?