"Nate, Nate, wake up."
"Uuuummmm no... Zad, let me sleep, I'm tired."
"Come on, get up; I told you we were going into town to resupply, you shouldn't have stayed up late."
"I know, but can't we postpone it to a bit later or even tomorrow?"
Without further argument, Zad leaped onto Nate, who was comfortably curled up in his bed, and delivered a swift kick that sent him flying out of it. Zad's eyes burned with anger as he added:
"Get up, you lazy bum, and get ready; quickly! Or... I don't even want to think about what I'll do to you!!!"
Nate was suddenly struck by a terrible cold sweat. He had forgotten how terrifying his mentor could be when angry. Deciding it was best not to push his luck any further, he said:
"Ahahaha... I was just kidding; give me a few moments to change..."
"You better not keep me waiting!!!"
Nate swallowed the dry lump in his throat and quickly nodded to show he understood. A few minutes later, just as promised, he appeared before Zad. Fully prepared to head into town, they set off without any further delays. After several hours of walking, they finally reached their destination. But before entering, Zad stopped and addressed his apprentice:
"Alright, let's review the rules of conduct."
"..."
"You stay close to me; you don't speak; you don't do anything; you don't know anything, and above all, especially… ESPECIALLY... you, do not touch anything!!!"
"I know, I know..."
After this little reminder, the two entered the bustling town. Everywhere they looked, people were chatting and laughing out loud. Children played in the streets while the market buzzed with vendors trying various methods of attracting customers. Despite all the activity, Zad did not go unnoticed. Most people recognized him and couldn't help but greet him:
"Hey Zad, it's been a while."
"Yeah, no kidding."
"Good evening, Master Zada, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm doing well; you've grown quite a bit, haven't you?"
"Yoh, Zad, you old fox! Haven't seen you around lately... Staying in your den?"
"Hahahah… What can I say? Wisdom, my friend. You should follow my example and quit drinking to take better care of your wife."
"Come back and tell me that when YOU have a wife."
Seeing how many people were addressing his mentor so familiarly, Nate couldn't help but comment:
"Well, I have to say, you're quite popular around here."
"Yeah, I guess you could say that..."
A few moments later, Zad and his apprentice arrived at a stall in front of a small house. As soon as the owner spotted them, he exclaimed:
"Well, well, Zad... It's been a long time, how've you been?"
"I'm good, and you?"
"Ah, can't complain. You here to buy something?"
"Yeah, yeah, and I'm counting on you for a good price..."
"Hahaha, of course, my friend... But tell me, isn't that the boy who's always with you? What's his name again?"
"His name's Nate."
"Hello, Nate, how are you?"
"..."
"Sorry about him, he's a bit shy."
"Hmmm, alright... So, what can I do for you?"
"Actually, I'd like..."
While Zad was placing his order, Nate couldn't help but gaze around. He rarely got to see such a lively scene. The town was bursting with life, and being used to the monotony, Nate couldn't help but envy the boys his age who passed by, playing and chatting, free of any burdens or responsibilities. Their carefree nature and freedom were absolutely beautiful, and he, being stuck watching from the sidelines, was determined not to miss a single moment. But suddenly, a soft and feminine voice snapped him out of his gloomy thoughts:
"... Excuse me, could you move a bit? I'd like to pass."
Nate stepped aside to let the young girl pass, though his gaze remained fixed on her as if he had never seen a girl before.Then, the merchant attending to them exclaimed:
"Nayma, perfect timing! Go put away your shopping and come help me serve the customers."
The young girl replied:
"Yes, father."
The man then turned to his old friend and asked:
"Zad, you remember my daughter Nayma, don't you?"
"Of course I remember her; last time I saw her, she was barely as tall as my knee. But now, I see she's grown into a lovely young woman."
"Isn't she? She's the spitting image of her mother."
"Yes, you're absolutely right. Speaking of her, do you remember the time when we went..."
"UUHHMMM, UUHHMMM!!! No need to dig up the past, Zad; especially since we're not alone."
"Ahahaha... You're right. In any case, it's crazy how fast kids grow up."
"Aaaahh, don't remind me. It feels like just yesterday I was cradling her in my arms, singing lullabies. Now, if I'm not careful, she'll be married off before I've even blinked."
Zad responded with an embarrassed expression:
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"No, that's not what I meant. It's just that girls nowadays are so naive. They're quick to fall for the wrong guy…"
After a brief moment of reflection, the merchant continued:
"Hey, speaking of which, what do you think of an arranged marriage? I like this boy; he seems serious and hardworking, and he's almost the same age as her. And to top it off, he seems to have already fallen under her spell."
Upon hearing this, Nate, overwhelmed by embarrassment, lowered his head and buried his face in his hands. But it was a futile effort, as his face, now as red as a tomato, betrayed him from afar. Then suddenly:
"Dad."
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I forgot the cheese at the baker's, so I'm going back."
"Alright, but don't take too long."
"Okay…"
As Nayma walked past Nate, this time he didn't look at her, keeping his head lowered. Then the shouts of an old woman scolding some children began to fill the air. She was telling them not to play in the street, but the children, paying her no mind, continued running, playing, and spinning around as they approached Nate and Nayma, who were only a few steps apart. Just as the old woman had predicted, one of the children knocked over a storm lamp that had been resting on a wooden crate. Helplessly, everyone watched as the lamp fell and shattered at Nayma's feet:
*Wooooouuuuuvvvvvvvvvv!*