On the second day, it was the turn of the wizard couple, the Jolins.
This couple knew how to make a good impression, bringing Ronan gifts of freshly baked apple pie and lamb pasties. They warmly invited him to join them for meals anytime, clearly trying to win his favor.
Ronan graciously invited them in for tea. After they left, he tasted the apple pie and lamb pasties, marveling at the craftsmanship. Compared to Mrs. Jolin's cooking, he wondered what he had been eating all this time!
On the third day, it was Linus's turn.
Ronan didn't see him; Linus seemed to have finished his patrol without a word.
On the fourth day, it was the half-elf siblings' turn.
Remembering the lovely half-elf sister he had seen at Porter's funeral, Ronan waited outside his treehouse, hoping to catch a glimpse or even strike up a conversation.
But he was met only by the stoic half-elf brother, who simply asked a few questions before leaving, leaving Ronan a bit disappointed.
On the fifth day, it was finally Ronan's turn to patrol.
"Magic ring, single-handed sword, water pouch, dry food."
Inside his small cabin, Ronan carefully checked his gear before donning his gray robe.
He had planned to wear light leather armor underneath, but his body had changed too much due to body training, and now the old armor didn't fit well, hindering his movement, so he left it aside.
Exiting the cabin, he saw Jacob, the chubby blonde youth assigned to patrol with him, waiting under the old oak tree.
Ronan descended the tree using the vine, and Jacob quickly approached.
"Good morning, Sir Ronan," Jacob greeted, his face showing excitement and a bit of nervousness.
"Good morning," Ronan replied politely, asking casually, "Have you had breakfast?"
"Not yet!"
Jacob first shook his head, then quickly nodded.
Ronan didn't press further; he was just being polite. "Let's get started."
"Oh, okay."
Jacob followed closely like a shadow.
Ronan took his patrol duties seriously, pulling out the patrol map Old Wills had drawn to plan their route.
Starting from his place, they would visit the Jolins, then Old Wills, Vinicia, the half-elf siblings, and Linus.
They'd check each member's residence, patrol the activity area, inspect water sources, and check supply caches.
It should take about two hours at his pace.
But with Jacob...
Ronan glanced at the panting chubby youth beside him, realizing it might take more than three hours.
"I guess I won't get much done today..."
Ronan sighed inwardly.
The team hadn't set strict patrol requirements or fixed routes, but patrols were about luck; you never knew when or where trouble might arise. Ronan preferred to be thorough.
For everyone's sake, including his own.
He planned to run the map three times a day: morning, afternoon, and night.
If all went well, he could still squeeze in some personal time.
As Ronan walked, lost in thought, they reached their first stop, the Jolins' residence.
Their treehouse, nestled between two entwined trees, appeared much larger than Ronan's.
Recalling their previous visit, Ronan decided to greet them out of courtesy.
Unexpectedly, the couple seemed to have anticipated his visit, waiting at the door and warmly ushering them in for a lavish reception.
It was Ronan's first official visit to another wizard's home, and without any gifts, he felt a bit embarrassed. After a quick cup of tea, he excused himself.
Jacob, who claimed to have had breakfast, devoured an entire tray of freshly baked raspberry tarts, leaving Ronan speechless as he burped his way out the door.
Feeling more familiar with Ronan, Jacob began chatting eagerly after leaving the Jolins'.
"Sir Ronan, I heard you're a runesmith?"
"Yes," Ronan nodded casually. It wasn't a secret; he never hid it.
"That's amazing!"
Jacob exclaimed, his eyes filled with genuine respect and admiration.
"I've never seen anyone as young as you become a Level 4 wizard and a runesmith prodigy in the treehouse district."
"Hehe," Ronan chuckled, letting the flattery pass.
After a couple more rounds of compliments, Jacob cautiously asked, "Sir Ronan, do you have a mentor or a legacy?"
Ronan glanced at Jacob, "Why do you ask?"
"Because Lord Linus does."
Jacob quickly answered, "Lord Linus's mentor was a senior wizard apprentice. After passing away, he left everything to Lord Linus."
Ronan was taken aback, instinctively asking, "Where did you hear that?"
"Lady Barbara, a very beautiful witch, used to live over there..."
Jacob pointed to a direction, "Half a month ago, she left her other lovers to become Lord Linus's mistress."
Realizing he might have said too much, Jacob quickly clamped his hand over his mouth.
Ronan, however, was struck with understanding.
"No wonder he's so proud and reached Level 5 at such a young age; he inherited from a senior wandering wizard."
Ronan couldn't help but ask Jacob if he knew why Linus had moved to the treehouse district.
Jacob hesitated to say more.
Ronan speculated that, given Linus's tendency to brag about his wealth, he might have leaked the news of inheriting a senior wizard's legacy, attracting unwanted attention or even being forced out by enemies.
Jacob's inadvertent revelation about Linus piqued Ronan's curiosity, prompting him to engage in more conversation.
Surprisingly, Jacob turned out to be quite the gossip.
While his magical talent and skills were average, his knack for gathering rumors was exceptional.
He knew all about the local wizards—who was secretly involved with whom, whose child wasn't actually theirs, and even tales of two wizards with peculiar preferences, who often met in secret with a male goat.
Ronan was amazed, realizing how colorful life in the treehouse district was.
He also learned that Old Wills had once had a daughter who sadly passed away, explaining his fatherly care for Vinicia, seeing her as a daughter.
Time flew by with Jacob's endless gossip, but by the second half of the patrol, Jacob was too exhausted to continue, leaving Ronan wanting more.
Clearing away fallen leaves, Ronan carefully checked the small items hidden in a tree hollow.
Food, a few packs of hemostatic powder for treating wounds, a bottle of basic antidote, and a brand-new, unused signal box.
"Old Wills really put thought into this..."
Ronan remarked, covering the cache again, with a touch of admiration for Old Wills' thorough preparations.