"Hello there. Today is a good day, don't you think?" the cleric asked the little girl, noticing her serious expression. Unlike the others he had encountered, who smiled and greeted him warmly, this child looked unusually somber.
"Sir, I... There is... A de..." she stammered, fear evident in her voice as she struggled to speak. The weight of knowing the devil had appeared in their village and the potential consequences terrified her.
"Oh, I understand. You want to confess, right? But you'll have to wait until tonight, okay? After the mass, I'll be hearing confessions from anyone who wishes to repent their wrongdoings." He smiled and patted her head gently. "Now go help the others. We really need this grain so our warriors can protect our land from the enemy."
With that, the cleric continued his walk, leaving the girl staring after him, her worries still unresolved.
As night fell, Rafael left his house only once to relieve himself at the river. He took the opportunity to observe the guard, his house, and the narrow passages between the other buildings.
I'll wait until night to make my move. If everything goes as planned... he thought, formulating his escape.
As the villagers finished their work in the fields, they returned to their homes briefly before taking chairs or anything to sit on and heading toward the village entrance. Rafael watched through the window as they passed by, noting the unusual gathering.
Okay, now is the time.
He climbed onto the table and squeezed himself through the small window. The noise from the villagers outside masked his escape, and by sheer luck, no one noticed him.
Moving cautiously between the houses, Rafael occasionally had to stop and hide as some villagers exited their homes, carrying chairs. It took him several minutes to reach Cenric's house. What is happening? Where is everyone going with those chairs? he wondered, puzzled by the unusual activity. He approached one of the windows and tried to listen for any sound.
Damn it! Why are you at home? Go check on the pigs or something, he thought, hearing voices from inside.
"My estimate is that we've harvested 50% so far. We should finish the rest by tomorrow," Cenric said.
"That's good to hear. Although some in our group won't be pleased to stay another day, they'll have to deal with it," the cleric replied. Both men sat at a table, illuminated by two candles.
"Tsk, if those old men had sent the warning earlier, this wouldn't have happened," Cenric scoffed.
"I agree. Now, I was told you sent a letter asking about a metal. Is that correct?" the cleric asked.
"Yes. Do you clerics know anything about it?" Cenric inquired.
The cleric paused, his demeanor shifting. "How do you know about this type of metal?" His tone had lost its previous casualness.
What? Is this metal important? Wait, so it really exists? Rafael's mind raced with questions. "A merchant asked me about it. Is there a problem?" Cenric replied.
"Who is this man? Does he live here?" the cleric pressed.
"Wait, I don't understand. Did he discover something he shouldn't?" Cenric joked, though his tone was laced with unease.
"Let's leave that for tomorrow. I have a mass to conduct. Will you be attending?" the cleric asked as he stood up.
"Uh... Yes, yes, of course," Cenric stammered. The two men then left the house, heading toward where the entire village had already gathered.
Seizing the opportunity, Rafael sneaked inside. Why was he asking about me? Was it about the magnets? Why is that a problem? he wondered as he began searching for the book.
He scoured the first room but found nothing. Then, entering the bedroom, he discovered a chest large enough to hold the book under the bed. Of course, you have a padlock. Why wouldn't you? he cursed silently, trying in vain to force it open. Maybe if I hit it with something...
Looking around, he found nothing to use. Just as he was about to give up, he noticed a stone at the base of the wall, slightly raised above the others. Upon closer inspection, he saw scratches around its edges, as if it had been scraped. Lifting the stone, he discovered a hidden compartment with the book barely fitting inside. Oh God, if you're out there, thank you!
Whether it was luck, subtle details, or his enhanced vision—or perhaps a combination of all three—Rafael had found the book. But what now? Cenric will know someone took it... Hmmm... Well, I have an alibi, so... Now, where can I hide this?
He replaced the stone, ensuring it fit perfectly, and pushed the chest back under the bed, noting that unlike his own, this one had a wooden frame.
After confirming that no one was nearby, he exited the house and carefully made his way toward the woods, using the cover of the crops to remain hidden.
Reaching the edge of the forest, he looked back and saw the villagers praying with the cleric. "Thank you, man, for creating a distraction," he muttered before disappearing into the trees.
After a few minutes of walking, he reached the time machine. He pressed the yellow dot on his wristband, and the door opened. This piece of junk doesn't even have a place to hide the book. The best spot is under the chair, where I found it... Well, as long as they don't find it, it's fine.
Securing the book under the chair with two metal bars, he stepped out and closed the door. As he returned to the village, he saw that the gathering was ending, and the people were preparing to leave. He quickened his pace to get back to his house.
It's easier to get out than to get back in through this window, he thought as he struggled to re-enter without anything to step on. He finally managed to squeeze inside, making as little noise as possible.
The guard, hearing a noise from the side of the house, went to investigate but found nothing—only an open window. Rafael, who had already climbed down from the table, moved quietly to avoid detection. This damn house! I'm definitely going to change how they're built in the future, he thought, irritated.
Deciding to eat some fruits he still had before going to sleep, Rafael tried to calm his nerves after the tense night.