Looking at the now destroyed kitchen, Zevram cursed to himself. He was already making up all the possible words of apology that he would have to say to the people who will repair it.
"And I just had the kitchen fixed from their last fire not even three weeks ago and those two burned it down again", the oracle of wind said defeated, "Why do I even bother?" he muttered and set some water to boil ignoring the blackness that now clung to his fingers.
The meal itself was a quiet affair. Everybody would make small talk just to fill in the silence. It was obvious that more serious matters hung in the air, but it did not seem the appropriate time to discuss them. Only Rayna and Midryl would bicker and fight over everything and nothing, causing Zevram to simply shake his head whenever they would insult each other. During that time, Klyran was rather obvious to what was happening around him. His eyes would look around the room, trying to catch every detail.
'Is this what humans call... homey?' he wondered with a small smile.
He looked at the small burnt kitchen trying to understand what was what. He could see the general shape of some pots and remains of a few cups. Despite Zevram doing his best to air out the room, even as far as using his magic, Klyran could still perceive the lingering smell of some of the burnt items. There was the rabbit meat, some roots and plants, even the smell of melted clay. His eyes then looked at the window that stood at the far end of the room. The glass covered the wall entirely, from floor to ceiling. Beyond it could be found a small balcony, overviewing the village. Just like the rest of the house, it had simple decorations. There was a vine along with some flowers stretched around the rail. A table and four chairs stood on the left, while what seemed to be another big char suspended by a wooden construction on the right. Later on, when Klyran asked about it, Aldryn told him that it was called a swing chair.
Quickly noticing their guest's interest, Midryl cleared his throat and gained everyone's attention.
"Would you like to join me to the balcony Klyran?" he asked, making everyone curious, nobody having noticed the Ryan's interest before, "I have a few questions that I wish to ask you", he explained.
After Klyran nodded, the two of them got up and walked the short distance. Midryl slid the glass door and the two of them stepped on the wooden deck. Noticing this, Ranya quickly followed, not wishing to be left behind.
Midryl then sat down on the swing chair, surprising the Ryan when it moved. Then Ranya joined him and left some space in the middle for Klyran, who also sat down, after a bit of hesitation. Despite knowing what to expect, Klyran was still startled when the chair swung backward with him.
"So what are you?" Midryl then suddenly asked, as he started using his feet to gently sway the three of them on the chair, "You don't feel human."
"A Ryan", Klyran said, not even being surprised anymore that some people in this world were able to perceive that he was a foreign entity.
"What's that?" Ranya then asked, looking at him and joining her brother's motion.
"You don't know?" Klyran then said surprised, "I though the father of my kin was mentioned in your legend about Gods."
"Legend?" the two of them asked curiously, then Midryl asked, "The seven Gods of Creation?"
After receiving a nod, the two of them seemed to remember something.
"Must be the legend of the South", Ranya then said with a shrug.
At seeing her reaction, the Ryan was a bit confused, at first it seemed that the two of them didn't know the legend that Aldryn and Ildurin told him about, despite thinking that all humans do. He then suddenly remembered about the other Gods that Aldryn spoke of. The religions of this world, while an interesting matter, did not interest him all that much. His goal was not to read and learn more about how the world begun, but to read and learn how to be stronger.
"There are plenty of legends that speak of how the world was created", Midryl then explained.
"That's right", his sister added, "The seven Gods of Creation is what the people of the South believe in and whom they pray to."
"How many more are there?" Klyran then asked, intrigued about other stories.
"We don't really know all of them", the girl then said at seeing the Ryan's expression.
"We mostly know about the seven Gods of Creation from Aldryn. Despite Zevram seemingly being part of that belief and it even containing the Yakards, this is not whom we, the Greenyards, pray to", the boy explained.
"We believe in Teria, the Goddess of all creation and magic and Yeverin, the God of Death. So we pray to those two gods and not to the seven that many others in the South do" Ranya explained.
"Even Lunahera" Midryl begun to say but paused, "I believe you have already met her", he said and only after receiving a nod of confirmation continued, "She was born and raised in the far North. There, from what she told us, they believe and pray to the four Sovereigns. They represent the four elements that created this world and then chose to appear in it as the four seasons."
"Amazing" was all Klyran could say. For him, this world seemed so vast and full of stories. So beautiful and alive.
'Maybe I should read up on some of the legends', the Ryan thought to himself, 'Just out of curiosity. And who knows, maybe this knowledge will also help him in his own quest.'
"You've been to the mines before you came here didn't you?" Ranya then asked nonchalant.
"Did you happen to see their local celebrity?" her brother then wondered with an impish smile.
'Local celebrity?' the Ryan tried to remember all the Monias who he met there.
"Ylvis?" Klyran wondered as he looked between the two of them.
"Try again" Ranya urged and was nearly jumping in her seat.
"The Kenman" the Ryan then said and quickly remembered that the man was apparently known by everyone.
"Did you see him?", after Midryl asked again, Klyran sighed and told them about everything that happened while he was underground.
Shock was visible on the siblings' looks. They could not believe that the Kenman, who usually just ignored all living creatures, except for the Monias, paid attention to Klyran.
"Decent?!" Ranya yelled in frustration, "This is how he referred to us? Decent?" she said it as if the word gave her a sour taste in her mouth.
"Oh when I see that man again, I will show him decent", the girl continued her angry chant.
"Yeah she will show him", Midryl then begun whispering to Klyran, "Three seconds into the fight and she will be flat on the ground."
"I heard that" she then yelled at her brother and glared at the amused expression Klyran had.
"I see you told them about the Kenman" suddenly, Aldryn's voice was heard from the doorway.
And sure enough, he stood there with Zevram looking at the three of them, amused at Ranya's antics.
"That's it", she exclaimed and then pointed at Klyran, "Training", she declared, "First thing in the morning. Be ready."
After those words, she turned around and went inside the house. Swiftly, she begun clearing the table, gathering all dishes in a big pile. Seeing this, Midryl only got up from the chair and went inside as well, grabbing the plates and taking them to be washed.
After watching the two sibling for a bit, Klyran then looked at Aldryn and Zevram, who took a seat at the chairs surrounding a table.
"What were you two talking about inside while we were here?" he asked the two of them.
"Nothing special. This and that", the blonde replied quickly.
Then, before Klyran could say anything else, Zevram begun questioning him about his own world. Not being sure about how to precede, the Ryan simply gave a nod and begun telling to the Oracle of Wind all about the place where he came from.
Soon, both Ranya and Midryl joined them, taking a seat on the swing chair on either side of Klyran again. The two heard a bit of the story from inside the house and found it interesting, so once finished with their chores, they quickly returned to the balcony and listened to the Ryan's story with amazed eyes.
By the time Klyran said everything he could think of about his world, everyone was tired. Ranya even fell asleep on his shoulder. The sun has also set a while ago. The village was asleep, with only a few Greenyards patrolling the streets. Zevram's house was dark as well, the only source of light being the fireplace that the oracle kindled some time ago.
When they all decide that it was time to sleep, Zevram approached the swing chair and gently lifted Ranya, carrying her inside. Midryl also bid then good night and quickly followed.