As Soren followed the elder outside, he noticed the peculiar way the old man moved.
The slightly hunched posture and age-curved back were evident, but what truly intrigued him was how the elder's legs seemed to wobble under their own weight.
The elder seemed to sense Soren's gaze and shot a smile back without turning around.
"These old bones can't walk like they used to. When I was your age, I was considered the best hunter in the village. Now, these legs can barely support me for a few minutes without getting tired."
Soren fell silent upon hearing this, a lump forming in his throat.
Seeming to notice the mood, the elder chuckled and continued walking.
The dirt path became more uneven as they progressed, dotted with small stones and dry leaves that crackled underfoot.
"Durand doesn't have much appreciation for niceties, as you may have noticed." The elder commented after a moment of silence, his voice low and casual.
The trail narrowed as they approached a series of trees, their canopies forming a roof that filtered the morning light into faint beams.
"He didn't even bother to ask your name. May I know what you are called, lad?" The elder turned his face to look at him.
"Soren." Soren replied, still feeling a bit awkward but trying to seem friendly. "My name is Soren."
"Soren…" The elder repeated, savoring the name in his tongue as if tasting an unfamiliar fruit. "Interesting. Well, Soren, welcome to our village."
"Thank you…" Soren said with a nod.
His gaze wandered curiously as they walked through the village.
The houses were small and simple, made of dark stone and wood, with roofs that looked on the verge of collapsing. Some had doors reinforced with strips of iron and narrow windows.
In front of some houses, roosters began to crow, and Soren noticed small patches with herbs and sparse flowers, though most were wilted, with yellowed and faded leaves.
After a few minutes of walking, the elder stopped in front of a small, isolated cabin, with weathered wooden walls and dirty glass windows.
The roof was covered in moss, and around the entrance, vines and creepers entwined with the planks, as if trying to reclaim the space lost to time.
The elder gestured with a slow wave of his hand, indicating the cabin.
"This will be your home while you stay here." He said with an embarrassed smile. "It's not luxurious, but it should serve your needs. I'm sure you'll adapt quickly."
Soren looked at the cabin. The cracked walls and aging door didn't inspire much confidence, but he nodded, grateful to have a place to stay, even if it was so… rudimentary.
He turned to the elder. "Thank you… for this." Soren said sincerely.
"No need to thank me. You arrived today, so I'll let you get familiar with the surroundings." He said, stepping back a few paces.
"If you need anything, you know where to find me. Just visit my house. I'll be back to check on you soon for lunch."
Soren nodded, watching the elder walk away with his hunched back.
After he saw him disappear, he closed the cabin door, making sure the windows were securely locked as well. The sound of the wood creaking echoed through the silent environment, creating a sense of security.
The interior of the cabin was simple, but it had a rustic character that made it strangely cozy.
The walls were made of exposed wooden logs, worn by time, and a thin layer of moss grew in some crevices, giving a touch of life to the structure.
The smell of wet wood mixed with the fresh air entering through the cracks, reminiscent of the nearby forest's humidity.
In the corner, a small bed occupied the space, the old mattress slightly sagging in the center, covered with a yellowed sheet that seemed to have seen better days.
An equally faded pillow lay along the headboard, which was adorned with a simple wood carving.
The bed was near a small window that featured frosted glass panes, obscuring more than it revealed, distorting the view of the outside world. The window was framed by thick fabric curtains, pulled to the side, allowing the pale morning light to filter gently inside.
Through the window, Soren could see the dirt path leading to the cabin's entrance, providing a perfect view of anyone approaching.
However, the idea that someone might see him peering from inside the cabin made him feel slightly uncomfortable. It didn't seem like a very smart layout.
Next to the bed, there was a small wooden table with crooked yet sturdy legs. On it sat a single metal candlestick, devoid of candles.
He sat on the mattress, leaning against the worn wooden wall, while he tried to organize his thoughts.
The silence of the cabin wrapped around him like a blanket, and the mist permeating the exterior seemed to seep subtly through the cracks.
"Okay, let's recap." Soren thought, trying to rationalize the events since he had woken up in the wagon.
"First, I was in that wagon… with no driver and no horses pulling it. And now I'm here, in this village that is definitely not a place I know."
He slammed his fist into his palm as if it were a hammer, sealing a decision. "This place isn't even close to the city where I live. No… the truth is, everything feels strange, as if I've been taken to another… world?"
It seemed that this was really the case.
This idea stirred a mixed sensation in his chest.
Part of him was scared, but at the same time, there was a restless curiosity.
Deciding to ignore the oddness of the situation for now, Soren focused on his present. He remained in the cabin, listening to the silence reigning outside.
"I need to find a way to get back home…" He murmured, looking out the window.
Despite saying this, he didn't even know if his hypothesis was correct. And if it was, he didn't know if it was possible to return.
After some time in the cabin waiting for the elder, Soren found himself with nothing to do. His mind wandered, and he began to hear whispers.
The sound of nearby murmurs caught his attention.
'Is that coming from the door?'
Thinking this, he cautiously approached the window, wanting to see who was whispering at his door.
When he looked through the window, he noticed three figures.
'Children?'
Intrigued, Soren moved closer to the door, walking carefully to avoid making noise. He pressed his ear to the door, trying to make out the muffled whispers.
"He's living here?"
"I think so. I saw the elder bringing him to this place…"
"Don't make noise. What if he hears us?"
'Heeh…' Soren smiled. The door suddenly swung open.
"Ah!"
Before him were three children crouched down, their eyes wide with surprise. Two of the children let out frightened screams and immediately turned to flee.
"A-Ah! We've been discovered by the outsider!" stammered one of the children before darting off after the other.
Soren was confused by this scene and lowered his head, looking at the remaining child.
"You…?"
A chubby child, with a flushed face and wide eyes, stood in front of him. He remained there, frozen, staring at Soren with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Soren looked at the boy in confusion, unsure of what to do or say, while the child stayed still, as if trying to decide between running or staying.
He just wanted to scare them a little and hadn't imagined they would react so dramatically.
Soren kept his eyes fixed on the chubby boy, who was visibly trembling, and sighed. "What were you doing?" he asked, trying to adopt a friendly tone.
The boy looked so frightened that Soren wondered if he really looked that intimidating.
He shouldn't be like this, right? He received many compliments as a child.
Soren observed the boy's large, wide eyes, which seemed almost teardrop-shaped, but the child appeared even more scared.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, the boy finally stammered, "I… I didn't want to spy, but I got dragged along by the other two!"
Soren shook his head, trying to convey that he didn't mind the situation. "It's okay. You don't need to worry about that."
The boy got up, dusting off his rear end, still mumbling. "I… I should go now…" He was clearly trying to back away, taking hesitant steps like a ball ready to roll.
Soren watched the boy, who seemed like a small sphere in motion, as he finally decided to run. "Okay, see you later." Soren said, shrugging and not insisting on the subject.
Receiving permission, the boy turned and ran off as if he had been given a new lease on life.
Soren smiled at this. Letting out a breath, he noticed that the village was beginning to show more color.
Some villagers were walking along the dirt streets, and the sunlight was starting to illuminate the roofs and wooden walls of the houses.
However, upon seeing Soren, many of them cast surprised and suspicious glances in his direction.
'Right, it seems the elder didn't bother to inform everyone about my presence…' Soren thought, realizing that whispers and murmurs had spread quickly throughout the village.
Even the children knew about him.
Deciding this was a good moment to explore the village further and get to know the terrain better, Soren left his cabin.
'The elder won't mind if I step out, right?' He should have stayed and waited for the elder, but he was taking too long, and Soren was starting to feel bored.
***
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