As dusk descended, the soft orange glow of the setting sun bathed the small hillside just north of Selva village. There, an old stone windmill stood silently, its weathered stones glowing warmly in the fading light.
The windmill was a shadow of its former self. The blades were long gone, and a gaping hole marred the exposed roof. Through the hole, one could glimpse the remnants of the mill's inner workings, stripped bare years ago. Climbing vines wound their way up the worn stone walls, a testament to the mill's abandonment, no one knew exactly how long it had been left to the elements.
With a creak, Olivia inserted a rusted key into the mill's battered iron lock, twisting it until it reluctantly gave way. She pushed open the heavy door, its hinges groaning in protest, and stepped aside for Leon and the others. "This place has been abandoned since before I was born," she said, her voice soft but clear in the quiet evening. "No one from the village comes here anymore."
Inside, the mill was as empty as one would expect, stripped of its machinery and life. The walls were bare, and the floor was thick with dust. Yet, it was spacious, spacious enough for the three of them to make do for the night.
They followed Olivia as she led them up a spiraling wooden staircase that creaked beneath their weight. When they reached the third floor, Olivia pushed open a wooden window that faced south, letting the cool evening breeze rush in. "It's a little stuffy downstairs," she explained, glancing back at Leon and the others. "Up here, though, you can catch the night breeze. The roof's damaged, but as long as it doesn't rain, the third floor is pretty comfortable."
Leon, leaning against the worn stone wall, gave her a curious look. "You sound like you've slept here before."
A small smile crept across Olivia's face as she glanced at the wooden crates stacked in the corner. If laid flat, they could make a decent makeshift bed. "When I was a kid," she began, her tone light with nostalgia, "my friends and I would sneak up here to play. Sometimes, when I was feeling rebellious, I'd even spend the night here." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Of course, my father didn't find it as amusing when he caught me. I got quite the scolding."
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Olivia clapped her hands together. "Oh! I just remembered something!" Without further explanation, she shoved the mill's key into Leon's hand and hurriedly descended the stairs, her skirt billowing as she went. "Wait here! I'll be right back!"
Leon watched her disappear down the steps, the echo of her hurried footsteps fading into the distance. He leaned out of the window and spotted her jogging back toward the village, her small figure shrinking in the distance. Amused, he shook his head. "That girl is like a whirlwind," he muttered, pocketing the key.
As the evening breeze brushed his face, Leon took in the view from their perch atop the hill. From here, Selva village spread out like a peaceful painting below. The houses were neatly arranged, their rooftops glowing in the last light of the day. The golden wheat fields stretched far into the horizon, dotted with the occasional tree. A gentle stream meandered through the village, while in the distance, the mountains loomed, dark and quiet, as though guarding this small, untouched world.
For a moment, Leon's heart softened. This place was beautiful. It was tranquil. If it weren't for the tension with the village blacksmith, old Brian, who clearly wanted them gone, he could almost imagine settling here. But in a village like this, where the blacksmith held influence, outsiders like him and his companions were not welcome. The unspoken rule of the village was clear: where Brian's favor didn't fall, no one else's would either.
He sighed, casting a glance at Liam, who was half-asleep on a wooden crate. There was no time for such idle dreams, not now. They all had their own goals to chase, and settling down in a place like Selva was far from Leon's reality. He had made a promise to Miss Lola, after all. Once the war subsided, he would help her return to Rolandar, a promise he intended to keep.
No, the idea of a peaceful life would have to wait. Perhaps for a long time.
Leon rubbed his eyes, feeling the exhaustion of their journey weigh on him. It had been a grueling few weeks, and even at fifteen, his body felt the strain of it all. He caught himself smiling wryly at the thought, fifteen and already yearning for retirement in the countryside? How tired he must be, both in body and mind.
Brandon, dusting off the wooden floor, sat down with a contented sigh. "At least here we won't have to worry about wild animals poking around at night," he said, stretching out against the wall.
Leon nodded, sinking down beside him and letting out a long yawn. The quiet of the place, the cool breeze, and the distant sound of the village settling in for the night lulled him into a state of peace he hadn't felt in days. He closed his eyes, his voice heavy with fatigue. "We'll rest here for a couple of days," he said, stifling another yawn. "After that, we'll head for that town the old blacksmith mentioned."
With that, the windmill fell into a hushed calm, the last of the day's light fading as the night quietly crept in.
I closed my eyes and waited, listening for a response that never came. Time stretched out, but eventually, curiosity overcame the silence. I opened my eyes with some effort, only to find that Brandon, in the midst of our conversation, had already fallen fast asleep, his chest rising and falling with the steady rhythm of slumber.
Lockhart, on the other hand, had fully sprawled out on the makeshift platform of wooden boxes, snoring loud enough to shake the windmill itself. After the long, tense days of running and constant danger, it was as though the moment they found themselves in a safe haven, the exhaustion crashed down on them like a tidal wave.
In that hazy space between waking and sleeping, I heard a voice; soft, familiar, and calling my name. My instincts kicked in, and I gripped the hilt of my sword, ready to defend myself. But as my senses sharpened, I realized it was just Olivia.
"Leon? Are you still up there?"
Her voice drifted up the stairs. I groggily rubbed my eyes and made my way over to the railing, peering down to see her standing at the base of the staircase. She had returned, her arms full with what looked like a bundle of blankets and quilts.
"What are you doing?" I asked, still trying to fully wake up.
"I had some old blankets at home, ones we don't use anymore," she said as she made her way up the stairs. "If you don't mind, you could use them to make yourselves a little more comfortable."
I blinked in surprise. She was going out of her way to bring us these? I hesitated, opening my mouth to offer some sort of polite refusal. But, looking at the blankets she carried and the sincerity in her gesture, I swallowed the words and instead simply said, "Thank you." It felt like the least I could do for her kindness.
Together, we spread the blankets and quilts on the floor, creating a more comfortable space for the night. Liam and Brandon stirred awake, groggily rubbing their eyes, trying to make sense of what was going on. They looked at the bedding laid out and seemed momentarily confused, their brains struggling to catch up.
Olivia, standing tall again, dusted off her dress and walked over to the window, gesturing toward a two-story house in the village. "That's my home," she said, pointing it out. "If you run into any trouble over the next couple of days, feel free to come and find me."
Leon shook his head slightly, feeling indebted. "You've already helped so much. I can't possibly ask more of you."
Olivia smiled warmly, her blonde hair catching the fading light. "Don't worry about it. Out here, people you meet on the road can become friends. I don't want you to leave Selva Village only remembering the bad parts. Let me give you something to smile about when you think back on this place."
With that, she gave a small wave. "It's getting late. I'll leave you all to rest. Goodnight."
Leon quickly followed her down the stairs, not wanting her to leave without a proper farewell. As they reached the mill's door, he watched her walk back toward the village, her silhouette glowing in the last bit of sunlight, her figure gradually blending into the shadows of the houses.
He sighed softly, murmuring to himself, "What a kind person."
His thoughts drifted to the events of the day, remembering the thugs they'd encountered on the road. Compared to them, Olivia was like a breath of fresh air, a stark contrast to the cruelty they'd faced. He couldn't help but feel a growing respect for the old blacksmith; how had he managed to raise such a well-mannered and generous daughter in a place like this?
Leon locked the door behind him and made his way back up to the third floor. As soon as he returned, Liam was there to meet him, his face lit up with a mischievous grin. He jabbed Leon in the side with his elbow. "Hey, Leon. That girl sure is going out of her way for us. You think she's got a thing for you?"
Leon rolled his eyes, pushing his friend away with a bemused smile. "What are you talking about? She's just kind-hearted. Besides, what's there to like about me?" He gestured toward Brandon with a teasing grin. "If anything, I'd say she's more likely to be charmed by that baby face of Brandon's."
Brandon let out a laugh, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey now, don't drag me into this! I barely said two words to Miss Olivia. Don't go using me as your excuse!"
Leon laughed and waved them both off, already too tired to engage further. "Alright, enough talking about people behind their backs. Let's get some sleep."
With that, he pulled the quilt over himself and sank onto the soft blankets, feeling the difference immediately. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't sleeping on a hard, cold floor. The comfort of the quilt made his muscles relax, and for a brief moment, he felt a rare sense of gratitude. It was a simple gesture, but after everything, it felt like a luxury.
As he lay there, the sounds of the windmill creaking gently and the soft breathing of his companions filled the air. And for the first time in days, Leon felt at peace.