Kairos approached the city gates, his heart filled with anticipation. As he drew nearer, he noticed two young women who exchanged reached the guards who were guarding. He also noticed, those two guards exhaustion and the line of guests entering with their caravans, he guessed there must be something in the capital.
"Good day, fair ladies," Kairos greeted them with a warm smile, his voice a soothing melody. "I am Kairos. I am an ex-worker of the Great Arcadia Tunnel. I lost my everything there. So, I want to enter this city to earn some good pay. So, May I enter the city, please?"
The two women were momentarily stunned by his ethereal beauty and confident demeanor. They quickly recovered, however, and with a professional look, one of them replied, "Of course. Please, sign here." She handed him a contract.
"I don't have any money with me right now, but I can assure you I'll pay you back after I have earned some today," Kairos explained, his tone casual. The fee to enter the city was 1 silver coin.
The women exchanged a knowing glance. They could see the potential in this mysterious stranger, a spark of something extraordinary. They nodded in agreement and handed him the contract.
[ Anya POV ]
Anya, the Grand General of Aurora, couldn't believe her eyes. As one of the most powerful warriors in the continent, she has been attending the Princess Arcadia's eighteenth birthday celebration. However, when she saw the two guards struggling under the weight of their duty, she couldn't help but intervene. She had always been a compassionate soul towards her subordinates, and seeing her people suffer was unbearable to her. Although, your first impression of her would be a Cold General. But, those who know her, knows the cold demeanor of her is a facade, which she uses to hide her caring nature.
Anya had always been the object of admiration, pursued by countless suitors. But none of them had ever stirred her heart like this young man. When he spoke, it felt like a melody to her ears. His mere presence was a breath of fresh air, a stark contrast to the mundane lives of the city's inhabitants. She couldn't help but wonder about the secrets he hid beneath his flawless exterior.
[ Back to Kairos ]
Kairos, oblivious to the stir he was causing, wandered the streets of Arcadia. He was amazed by the city's grandeur, the towering buildings, the bustling markets, and the diverse crowd.
His stomach rumbled, reminding him of his prolonged fast. He spotted a small shop whose speciality was different kind of Ramen. He decided to give it a try. But as he entered, he realized he didn't have any money...
"I'll work for a day in exchange for food and a fair wage," he offered the shop owner.
The shop owner, impressed by Kairos's straightforward approach and his ethereal beauty, agreed. He was an old man in his 60's. He has a special skill called [Ramen Specialist], which made his Ramen famous in whole Arcadia. And, today due to princess birthday celebration, for which many guests have been invited, he has many customers waiting in line. He was thankful to the young man who approached him, but he was somewhat worried, because he doesn't know if this boy has any cooking skills. But, seeing such convection in his eyes. He easily agreed. Now, he could only pray to gods...
"Hey Codex, I need a skill to improve my cooking," Kairos asked Codex, in his head.
< You can install the [Skilled Cook (Lv1)] skill, Master. It will enhance your culinary abilities and allow you to learn recipes more easily> the Codex replied.
"Yes"
With the new skill activated, Kairos's culinary abilities soared. Although the skill was still Level 1, but due to being a high grade skill which allows him to master all kinds of dishes, instead of one type. He quickly understood, how to create 3 types of Ramen, which the shop owner told him to prepare. The shop owner was astonished by Kairos's talent. He could see the boy was enjoying what he was doing. He thought he liked cooking, so he asked if he would like to work for him and offered him ten silver coins as payment for his hard work.
Kairos accepted the money, as he was penniless before entering the city. However, he declined the shop owner's offer to become an employee. "I don't want to work for someone else anymore. Now, I want to enjoy my life while carving my own path."
The shopowner didn't feel bad due to his rejection, he could see the boy has went through some deep pain. His looks hide those traits, but his old eyes could see that boy who is talking about enjoying his life, deep down, was trying to find the purpose of his living. " No issues, young man! I at first thought, you like cooking because of how happy you were while doing so..."
Kairos fell in deep thought for a second, then he asked " Is it wrong to find happiness in small things? "
This time the shopowner was speechless for a second. He could see, the clear doubt on the boy's face. If someone else would have asked this same question, he would have thought they are simply mocking him...
" No, young man! Instead it is good if someone could find happiness in small things, they would always be happy like this."
Kairos smiled hearing this, he thought he somehow got one of the answers, he was seeking. After that Kairos left the shop while promising to come again. Kairos didn't notice, that a young lady was watching him from afar.
As he left the shop, Codex suddenly spoke, "Master, have you forgotten today is your birthday?"
Kairos was stunned, while doing all these things, this thing slipped out of his mind because he had never celebrated a birthday before, having spent his life isolated and working tirelessly. A sense of nostalgia washed over him as he realized the significance of the day.
To mark the occasion, he decided to buy a small cake. He found a quaint little bakery, its windows displaying a variety of delectable treats. As he entered, he was greeted by an elderly woman, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of his ethereal beauty.
"Welcome, young man," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "What would you like?"
Kairos, with a smile, replied, "I'd like to order a cake."
He purchased the cake for 80 coppers. 1 silver is equal to 100 copper, so he has enough money to spend a night. He then found a quiet corner to enjoy it. He lit a single candle, made a silent wish, and blew it out. Just as he was about to cut the cake, he heard a feminine voice.
" Ara Ara ~ what do we have here?"