"I'm truly sorry you've had such an unpleasant experience here," Olivia sighed softly, her voice laced with frustration. "The village managers were all conscripted by the lord to fight in the war, and that's why those thugs are running wild. They're unchecked and do whatever they please." She shook her head, clearly trying to brush off her irritation. "But let's not dwell on that. Back to what we were discussing earlier, are you looking for a place to stay?"
Leon gave a weary nod. "Yes, we've been traveling for a long time and we're exhausted. We're hoping to find somewhere we can rest peacefully."
Olivia's blue eyes flicked over the three travelers, assessing them for a moment. After a brief pause, she spoke with a sudden idea. "If you're interested in renting, my family has a few empty farmhouses nearby. The rent is only four dirhams a month. What do you think? If you stay close to us, those thugs won't dare bother you again."
Leon blinked in surprise. He exchanged glances with his companions, Liam and Brandon, who both wore similarly puzzled expressions. They couldn't quite believe the girl's kindness. Was she genuinely offering them help out of the goodness of her heart? Or was there some hidden catch?
Sensing their hesitation, Olivia waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, is it the price? If four dirhams is too much, we can talk about it. I'll speak with my father, and I'm sure we can lower it to three. Really, don't worry."
Leon shook his head quickly. "No, that's not it, Miss Olivia." His voice softened, but his confusion remained. "I just don't understand why you're so willing to help us. Aren't you concerned? You've heard what Boris said, what if we are spies from the enemy or bandits lurking in the mountains?"
Olivia's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Kantadar spies wouldn't waltz into the village speaking a foreign dialect like you. You're far too conspicuous for that. And as for bandits; well, even if you were, I'd rather have you close by where I can keep an eye on you, instead of roaming freely around the village."
With a playful gleam in her eye, she rested one hand on her hip and playfully shook the stick she was carrying. "Besides, don't underestimate me! I know how to fight. Even if you were bandits, I'd still be ready for you."
Leon couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't doubt it, Miss Golden Lion," he said, teasing her with a smile.
Olivia's confident expression faltered slightly, and a hint of embarrassment flickered across her face. "Ugh, you heard that ridiculous nickname?" She groaned, bringing her hand to her forehead. "Damn it, those idiots in the village. How embarrassing."
Leon laughed again, raising his hands in mock surrender. "It's just a joke! But it seems you're not fond of the name." His voice turned more serious as he continued, "In any case, thank you for the offer. We'd be grateful if you could show us the way to the farmhouses."
Though it wouldn't hurt to see the place Olivia mentioned, Leon thought. After all, if the living conditions were decent, the rent of three or four coins seemed more than reasonable. The three of them had been through so much, constant travel, harsh weather, and the looming threat of danger. They were all running on fumes, and continuing the journey without resting for a while seemed impossible. Plus, they didn't exactly have a clear plan for what to do next. Staying in the village for a bit might be just what they needed.
Olivia's face brightened with excitement at Leon's acceptance. "Great! The farmhouse is just past the wheat fields on the outskirts of the village," she said, pointing toward the golden fields in the distance. "But I need to stop by the village first and speak with my father. I'll be quick."
Leon nodded and motioned for his companions to wait. Before following Olivia, he knelt down to grab a piece of torn linen from the ground, wrapping it tightly around the hilt of his sword. After their recent run-in with the local ruffians, he wasn't going to take any chances. Better to hide their weapons and avoid drawing unwanted attention.
As they walked down the simple dirt path leading back to the village, Olivia started chatting easily with the trio, her tone light and friendly. "So, what do I call you?"
"My name is Leon," he said, gesturing to his companions. "This is Brandon, and the big guy here is Liam." He clapped Liam's shoulder with a grin.
Now that introductions had been made, Olivia seemed to relax even more. Her curiosity piqued, she began asking them about their journey, eager to hear about their adventures.
Leon chose his words carefully. He couldn't very well tell her everything, there were parts of their travels, especially those involving strange powers and the cursed forest, that would be too difficult to explain. So, he stuck to safer topics. He told her about how they narrowly escaped a group of mercenaries and had to take a detour to avoid the chaos of the battlefield. He shared stories of their encounters with wild goblins in the forest and how they had to flee from a furious mountain bear. These experiences, though thrilling, were more within the realm of the ordinary. There was no need to bring up the darker, more mysterious parts of their journey, at least, not yet.
As Leon continued chatting, he noticed Olivia's bright eyes growing even more animated with each of his stories. It seemed that even these relatively tame experiences had thoroughly piqued her curiosity. She seemed utterly fascinated, her mind eagerly soaking in every detail.
Her gaze, however, drifted downward and landed on the sword at Leon's waist, wrapped tightly in linen. Her brows furrowed slightly in curiosity.
"I've been wondering about that sword," she said, her tone casual but curious. "It's clear that Boris and his gang were very interested in it. The craftsmanship is exquisite, where did you come across something so rare?"
Leon didn't want to delve into the truth behind the sword's origins. "We found it on a corpse in the forest," he said, his voice deliberately vague. "The poor soul was likely a noble who got lost while hunting. Unfortunate, but we figured the sword should at least be put to good use."
"Oh?" Olivia arched an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. "A noble, wandering into the Nightmare Forest? That's strange. Who in their right mind would dare go in there?" She studied him for a moment longer but didn't push for more details, sensing Leon's reluctance to talk further.
They walked through the village, passing crooked, weathered farmhouses and ramshackle huts. The further they went, the more Leon could hear the steady, rhythmic clang of iron being hammered. The sound grew louder as they approached the village's blacksmith shop.
"My father's name is Brian," Olivia said, leading the group toward a large shed at the end of the street. "He's the village blacksmith."
Inside, a young apprentice was drenched in sweat, hammering a glowing red iron bar on the anvil, sparks flying with every strike. Nearby, an elderly, bearded man stood watching the boy's movements with a sharp eye, clearly evaluating his technique.
Olivia approached the older man, her father, and raised her voice just slightly to catch his attention. "Father, I have something I need to talk to you about."
The apprentice, who had been deeply focused on his work, jumped at the sound of Olivia's voice. His grip faltered, and his next hammer blow landed awkwardly, causing the iron to clang out of rhythm.
Brian frowned, his gruff voice cutting through the noise. "Focus!" he barked at the boy, his displeasure evident. After scolding the apprentice, his expression softened as he turned to Olivia. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his weathered face creasing into a smile.
Noticing the stick in her hand, he let out a chuckle. "Were you off trying to teach those ruffians a lesson again?"
Olivia huffed, setting the stick aside. "No, not this time. I just gave them a good scare, that's all."
Watching from the sidelines, Leon couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration. At first glance, Brian was an intimidating figure; tall, muscular, and rough around the edges. Yet here he was, showing such warmth and affection toward his daughter. It was hard to believe that such a gentle soul had come from someone who appeared so fierce. And then there was their stark physical contrast, Brian's thick brown hair, streaked with gray, seemed nothing like Olivia's radiant blonde locks. It made Leon wonder if her striking features were inherited from her mother.
Brian, still smiling, finally turned his attention to the three unfamiliar figures standing behind Olivia. His eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity. "And who are these young men?"
"They're travelers," Olivia explained. "Hawke came and told me that Boris had gathered his gang again. I went to see what was happening and found them harassing these outsiders, trying to rob them."
Brian's expression darkened. "Those thugs are becoming more brazen by the day," he muttered, shaking his head in frustration. Then, turning to Leon and his companions, his voice softened. "I apologize on behalf of the village. I hope those troublemakers didn't hurt you."
Leon inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you, sir. We weren't harmed, thanks to your daughter. She's incredibly brave and helped us just in time. We're grateful for her kindness."
At Leon's heartfelt words, Olivia's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink. She clearly wasn't used to such direct compliments. Leon's sincerity had caught her off guard, outsiders really did speak differently than the rough villagers she was accustomed to.
Brian, clearly pleased with his daughter, nodded in satisfaction. "Well, I'm glad to hear that." He gestured for the group to follow him. "This place is a bit too noisy for a proper conversation. Let's head to the yard and talk there."
As they followed the old blacksmith out of the workshop, Leon noticed something peculiar, Brian had a limp. His gait was uneven, and he favored his left leg as he walked. Despite this obvious injury, there was a steadiness and strength in his stride, as if he had long since learned to live with the pain.
Leon exchanged a brief glance with Liam and Brandon, both of whom had also noticed the limp. It seemed there was more to Brian than met the eye. Even with an injury, the man radiated a quiet resilience, the kind forged from years of hard labor and perseverance.
As they made their way to the quieter part of the yard, Leon's thoughts drifted. There was something reassuring about this village, despite the trouble with Boris and his gang. Perhaps, here, they could finally rest for a while.