Astrid stood with her friends conversing about all the things they did today and how much jewelry they wore.
There were many eyes cast toward her, her brother's friends, and a guy who lived in front of her house. They were hoping she could look their way and make eye contact with them.
She had begun noticing the changes in their gazes since her body changed and became a lady. She knew there were many guys ready to throw themself at her but there was no one she had her eyes on. No single man in the village fascinated her until she saw Noah.
A boy who defeated the village's strongest man in arm wrestling even beat her big brother who was considered the best brawler in the Stormfront. He had to recuperate for a week after his fight with Noah.
It was not like she had not seen him before that day. She knew him as he was a regular in the village with his grandfather but all she thought of him at that time was a regular boy that is no better than others.
On that day when she saw him beating stronger people, she decided to choose him as her man. After all who doesn't want a brave, muscular, and handsome man like Noah?
If Noah were to become her man then no one in this entire village can match her status. She will live the most secure and easy life.
She was awestruck the most when Noah had slain the Bear who terrorized the entire village all by himself. The tales of his bravery were all around the place and other girls also started to make moves on him. That's when she settled to take a step and catch his attention using her body as a weapon.
After that day they met several times but things never went the way she wanted, they never got a chance to go further into an intimate relationship.
Her family always hung around, watching her and keeping her busy with her daily tasks while Noah mostly stayed out of the village. And another thing that bothered her was his strange personality, she cannot quite put a finger on him as to you know what he thinks like other people. There was no saying if she were to press him further he will not dump her as he did to Jamia.
She had to be more cautious about the fact but she was quite satisfied being the girl who could kiss him if she wants and if got a chance... Who knows how further they can go?
"Astride? Why are you blushing?" one girl asked following her gaze. She was looking at Noah by the fire, standing alone in deep thought.
"Oh! Isn't that Noah? I bet you also fell in love with him" She laughed. "I am hoping to get a chance to talk with him but don't know what to talk about"
Another girl followed her laugh as Astride smirked. "Wait here, I will be back"
"Wait! Where are you going? Don't tell me you are going to talk to him." Her friends were surprised.
"Let her go, she knew him well you see he is her customer" There was jealousy in her friend's tone.
Noah tossed two coins inside the fire in a slow manner.
"I believe you can do better than that" Astride whispered standing close to Noah. "I nearly offered my savings"
Noah remained silent for a while and then spoke. "I don't believe in things like this"
Astride was left speechless. It was her first time hearing this from a person. In her life up until now, nobody said they never believed in the god or the rituals of the god but she did not entertain this idea anymore because she had not seen the world beyond this village and maybe many people have the same belief as Noah.
Cheers and shouts resounded behind them, as the villagers began their celebration. The offering part of the ritual was almost done, food has been offered to the flames and now it was their turn to celebrate or drunk till sleep. Everyone took a mug in their hands excluding children and toasted in the name of Goddes Luna.
Astride stuck close to Noah as well as Reo who was already half drunk and was now dancing around with his mates. He ended up bumping into them and offered a bottle to him which Noah politely refused.
Noah wanted to stay sober and keep a lookout for the potential threat that was looming over the village. He ate with others and remained mostly silent while Astride had to go around and talk with her fellow villagers.
"It suits you" Jamia smiled at Noah. He replied with a gentle smile getting up from his seat.
"Guess you chose the right color and size for me" Noah looked up and down at his clothes. "but still I am lacking in front of your husband, where is he?"
"He is talking with his friends, I doubt he will come for me any time soon" She replied looking over her shoulder. "Forget him, I heard you are going to the Academy?"
Noah stammered. "What? When?"
"My grandfather told me about it" She raised her eyebrows. "perhaps your grandpa arranged it? Or maybe it was a surprise... " She closed her eyes tightly.
Noah laughed, remembering the pouch he had given to the shopkeeper. That was surely something related to the academy thing or else Gramps wouldn't warn Noah not to open it. He wanted to surprise Noah.
"I am sorry! I ruined everything" Jamia responded, her voice came weak.
"No worries, I will pretend I didn't know it"
Jamia gave him an apologetic smile just when Astride joined them.
She overheard their conversation regarding the Academy, and her heart sank with the mere thought of the future.
"You are going to the Academy?" she asked surprised.
"Yeah, he is. I believe he is sixteen so naturally, it will be better if he joins one" Jamia responded. "It is his dream right, Noah?"
Noah nodded his head. Not matching his gaze with Jamia. after all, he had refused to marry her for the sake of joining the academy.
"You guys enjoy, I will meet you again" She walked away greeting people on the way.
Noah looked around in uneasiness. The noise was rising as more and more people got drunk, half of them had already jumped on the food and were annulled to look away from it.
The look was of feasts more than any religious festival or any kind of festival. All they did differently was to come together as one and decide to get drunk, of course, they did some offerings but to Noah it meant nothing. It was not like he was not satisfied with the celebration going around him, he was rather delighted that at least they are relishing themselves to the whole expanse. These people do not have anything besides these things.
Noah seemed lost in deep thought while on the other hand, Astride was anxious. She was tense because of Noah's plan of joining the Academy.
She was proud of her bust and looks, any man in this village would go over heels for her and she believed Noah was no different as long as she kept him under her charms but if he were to go out in the world, everything she had planned for the future could be for nothing.
Merely a few people can join the academies because of their norm of recruiting, only those would be able to join who are considered exceptions by the world and could pass their entrance exams. Entering any Academy means the selected individual's future would be bright. He will be wealthy and powerful in one way or another, this was what everyone believed.
Astrid was not against him joining the academy, after all, if he joined the academy that would mean she hit the jackpot. She could become a wealthy lady in the area who nobody dares to offend. Seeing Noah's skills there was no denying that he will be selected but what scared her was their relationship. It was not at that point that they could consider a couple.
She was afraid she would also be cast out like Jamia from his life if he found any beautiful girl in the Academy. The place where many young people gather and make connections that last for lives. If that were to happen then her dreams would no longer be fulfilled.
As an ordinary and poor girl who only lived in the countryside, helping her family business as well as helping her mother at home, she always dreamed of becoming wealthy. Like townspeople, who can buy anything as long as they want it.
She blinked hard looking around, unsure what to do. Her father was drunk and her big brother was talking to his future wife while Reo was not around. Her mother was busy with other old women and her friends were flirting with young men.
"Should we head somewhere quieter? I need to take a breather" Noah spoke making his way towards the flowing river edge.