3 months had gone by, and Hina was more open to Ryu and his grandparents. They had realized that she smiled a lot more, and felt comfortable with them.
Ryu and Hina felt very comfortable together, and it was very common that people would consider them siblings.
Gramps, Granny, Hina, and Ryu were each at the dining table savoring their breakfast.
"Ryu and Hina, I need you to deliver a letter to the tax collector in the Nagasumo district after this," Kyoto said without looking up.
"Nagasumo district... but that's an hour away!" Ryu complained, "plus it rained last night, so the road will be muddy!"
"Yes sir, we will go as soon as we finish," Hina responded immediately after.
"W-What!? No, I'm not~"
Ryu was interrupted by a kick in the leg from under the table by Hina. Ryu and Hina are very intelligent and mature children, but Ryu can be prone to laziness very often, and Hina has always been there to correct his mistakes.
"This is so tiring!" Ryu exclaimed
"It hasn't even been 10 minutes that we have been walking," Hina said smiling at Ryu.
Ryu's face turned pale, "That's the worse part! We still got about 50 minutes just to get there!"
"Don't be such a Drama queen" Hina giggled.
"Hmpf!"
Ryu felt annoyed, but he couldn't admit that he liked spending time with Hina like this.
They were both walking through a muddy path that people would generally take to get to the Nagasumo district. On one side, a wooden fence extended along the side of the road was separating them from a beautiful landscape where they could see horses galloping and sheep munching grass.
On the other side, was the Primera Forest, a very dangerous and hostile forest, especially during the dark. Rumors say that at night, Red blood wolves lurk right near the road and hop on whoever dares to wander on the road.
Red blood wolves are wolves that have a man's body shape, however, their whole body is covered in fur, and their eyes have the color of a blood moon.
Of course, Ryu knew about all those rumors, but he considered them silly tales that were used by adults to scare them.
Many traders took these routes at night, however, they were always accompanied by cultivators that they paid for protection.
In this world, everything turns around to cultivators, and most of the famous and rich people are either nobles or cultivators, nothing else.
"See, it wasn't that long," Hina looked at Ryu with a smile.
Ryu looked oppositely with a disinterested face, "Yeah I guess so..."
From where they were, they could perceive the large Wooden Gate along with the wide Brick walls which surround the district. In front of the gate was a merchant with his carriage and two horses and two guards, one of them inspecting the carriage.
"Everything's clear, let'em pass!" The guard exclaimed.
"The district's pretty protected..." Hina said lifting her head to see the peak of the Gate.
"Well, that's it for the economic district of Makayumo district," Ryu replied still walking toward the guards.
"Halt!" one of the guards said lifting his hand in a stop gesture, "what're two kids coming here for huh?"
Hina lifted the letter that Kyoto gave her, "We have a message to deliver to the tax collector,"
"Alright, they're good to go!" the guard said making way for the kids.
They both entered the district, and it looked amazing. The paths were made of grey marble, and every single house or building was made of grey brick. This pair made the district look clean and civilized.
Ryu looked around and tried to remember which way it was to the tax collector's house, "Alright, so let's get to the tax collector..."
Only nobles lived in the district, and it was easily comparable that Ryu and Hina were not from here.
"This is a very loveable place," Hina exclaimed admiring the place.
Every alleyway was big and clean with shop stands on the sides. After a few minutes of walking, Ryu turned into a street where there were attached housings on each side and each of the houses was made of grey brick with wooden doors.
The two children passed through many doors before stopping in front of a slightly larger wooden door painted white with a small metallic plaque on it with the name Woodlock written in gold gothic.
Ryu knocked on the door, "Mr. Woodlock, it's Ryu, Yokoyama Kyoto's son!"
A while later, a young man with, a beard, well-fixed hair, a long-sleeved tunic, and a metal belt that was held to keep his baggy pants from falling.
"Well, greetings young boy," The man's voice sounded noble and peaceful added with his warm and welcoming smile.
"Hello Mr. Woodlock, I'm just here to deliver a letter from Gramps today," Ryu said.
Hina immediately handed the letter over with a pleasing smile.
Mr. Woodlock took the letter and glared at Hina with dazzling eyes.
"Tell me Ryu, who is this charming child that is accompanying you?"
"She's just my cousin," Ryu replied.
Despite Hina never talking about her past, Ryu respects that decision, and doesn't want to put her in an awkward situation.
"Ohh... well I would like to say that your cousin is one of the cutest little girls I have seen," He said looking intensely at Hina.
"Umm... Mr Woodlock?"
"Ahh, where are my manners, you must have walked for quite long to get here, why don't you come in and have some pasteries?"
"We have to get going Mr. Woodlock maybe next~"
Mr. Woodlock grabbed Hina by the hand and gently brought her in the house.
"For crying out like" Ryu facepalmed entering the house behind them.
"Please sit, let me serve some Berry juice,"
Mr. Woodlock left the room leaving Ryu and Hina alone. There were two cozy sofas in the room with a dining table at the other end of the school.
"We have to be quick Hina,"
Ryu didn't feel very comfortable with them being in Mr. Woodlock's house given his reputation.
The tax collector is known to be a big pervert and for this reason, many women avoid him. So for this reason, Ryu was suspiscous especially when he saw how he was looking at Hina.
'I mean, he is a pervert, but not a pedophile...' Ryu tried to convince himself.
"Here are the drinks!" Mr. Woodlock said with two drinks in his hands.
"Thank you very much!" Hina and Ryu exclaimed.
"Tell me, how are you grandparents doing?" Mr. Woodlock asked.
Ryu drunk his berry juice before answering.
"They are very good sir,"
"That's good, and Hina, do you have any parents?"
"Yes she does," Ryu answered immediately, "she just came by to spend a few days with us that's all,"
"Interesting... I suppose your mother must be really beautiful to give birth to such an angel, and your golden hair is splendid,"
"Thank you," Hina replied unphased.
Ryu started to feel uncomfortable with how the discussion is turning out, and decided that it was now time to leave.
"Alright, Mr. Woodlock thank you for the drink, but we have to leave before night sets,"
"Leaving already?" Mr. Woodlock asked in a sinister tone.
"Hina, we gotta get going,"
Ryu stood from where he was sitting and headed for the door, however, when he took one step, his vision started to become blurry, and his eyelids were getting heavy.
He fell to his knees and turned his head to see that Mr. Woodlock had a grin on his face.
"Feeling sleepy? DOn't worry, I'll take care of your sister during your sleep, she is under good hands,"
"Ryu are you okay!?"
Hina stood up and ran toward Ryu, but Mr. Woodlock grabbed her hair and threw her back to her seat.
"Stay calm child... we're just gonna play a little game..."
Ryu fell on the ground watching Hina defencless against Mr. Woodlock.
"H-Hina..." Ryu murmured before his eyelids closed and fainted.