It was early in the morning, just like every other day the sun was setting and there was not a star in the clear ocean blue skies. Mother nature was beautiful as always, and the townsfolk was more peaceful than ever. They worked relentlessly whether it be forging a sword, pounding a hammer, or planting crops, they worked hard in every way possible. It was such a brilliant day, one could tell that it would only get better, just as yesterday was and the day before the days before that. As it was the beautiful, peaceful and prosperous town of Třekov, it was quite quiet yet peaceful. Not one sound other than the birds were heard, truly a magnificent day just like almost every other.
" Creek!" was the sound of the door opening." I'm done Xavier, let's clear out." It was Alex.
" Shhh!" Xavier had tried silencing Alex," You'll wake everyone up." Xavier whispered.
" Your whispering is almost as loud as my talking!" Alex had not a care.
They were sneaking out for the first time in their lives. Their reason for this was to meet Wayne to seek training for Alex. Of course, they didn't inform Vivian and Feran about this as they had no idea where they were going or if Wayne would train them anyway. They were willing to risk getting in big trouble for this.
" Sh! Xandyr's room is just next to this wall, you'll wake him up and he'll wake up mom with his crying." Xavier reminded Alex.
" Yeah, Yeah, whatever." Alex ignored him as he stood by the door.
They were more ready to go. They both looked at each other gripping the handle of the door then they shook their heads signaling they were both ready. As they opened the door, the green yet colorful environment captivated them, however, this was an everyday thing for the duo. They both breathe into the fresh air as they walked down the hill with great coverage to meet Wayne once again.
***
As they made it into town after walking down the hill, they looked around. They looked at every single detail they saw as if they were investigators. The town was quite silent, almost dead quiet, and it was such a great day to have fun too just like the day before this day. The people of Třekov locked themselves in their houses as if there was some kind of plague spreading throughout the town. They didn't even miss closing the windows or not fixing the curtains accurately almost. The stallkeepers all got bored as no one bought from them. They walked through the empty streets as the sun's light reflected on their faces. It was a hot day.
" Maybe we should ask around for Wayne?" Alex suggested.
" There is barely anyone on the streets today, so I reckon it would be exceptionally hard to find the guy," Xavier replied.
" You're right." Alex then sighed.
" But hey, it's better trying than giving up." Xavier smiled as he looked at Alex whose face seemed to brighten up once again.
Xavier couldn't let his best friend and brother down. Since he couldn't help him out much, he had to be there for him. Alex was stressed, frustrated, and sad with the whole getting weaker thing which was something Xavier knew possibly better than anybody as he went through the same troubles too. Unlike Alex, Xavier had two people help him when it was happening to him, Baron and Feran while Alex had no one to help him currently. Xavier had to support him in any way he could from friend to friend. Xavier went asking people to people but it was practically impossible to find someone who knew Wayne when hardly anyone walked the streets. His last resort was an old stallkeeper.
Xavier then walked up to a stall keeper," Do you know where a holy knight called Wayne is, if not then where does he live?"
" Oh, Loy's son?" The man's voice was soft and low-pitched, you could barely even hear him from close. The stallkeeper's face saddened when they said Loy's name.
The stallkeeper was an old man with chipped teeth, a big nose hole, small eyes, wrinkles, and was also bald. He wasn't all bald as the sides were shaved. He wore a simple green tunic and sat down on the floor by his stall where he sold fruits such as durian, dragonberries, bounce berries, Throttlevine, and so forth. Unlike before, Xavier knew what these things were as it had been almost eleven years since he reincarnated. Time truly passed by fast.
Xavier then shook his head up and down.
" Well, I don't know where he is, and he lives a bit out of Třekov I heard." The old man replied.
" How unfortunate." Xavier sighed.
" But! You can always ask the knights." The old man reminded Xavier.
Xavier tilted his head in dissatisfaction as his body froze,' Huh? Why didn't I think of that?'
The amount of time they could have spared if they had thought of this sooner.
Xavier then stood on his knees as he bumped his head on the floor," Thank
you!" He shouted as blood trickled down his forehead.
The old man then looked at him with shock," Youths these days always so energetic and here I was thinking no one else was like Loy."
Xavier paid his respects to the old man before running off with Alex. He thought,' Why does that old man know someone like Loy who's second to dad? Xavier and Alex then stopped at a guard on patrol.
" What is it?" The guard sounded bothered by Xavier and Alex.
" Do you know where Holy knight Wayne lives or where he currently is?" Both Alex and Xavier asked.
" Oh! You're Lord Feran's kids." The knight then bowed down for being disrespectful earlier.
Alex then turned away blocking his pleasured smile," There's no need for that." It was a phrase Alex always liked to use to fake his generosity.
" He lives in the bushes outside town near the bridge. He's at home as we speak."
' Bushes?' Both Xavier and Alex thought the same thing at the same time.