The village of Velin was alive with motion and sound. Stalls lined the cobblestone streets, displaying goods Kaito had never seen before: fruits that glowed faintly in the sunlight, spices that shimmered like crushed gemstones, and cuts of meat from creatures that defied explanation. Villagers bustled about, their chatter filling the air with a language that, miraculously, Kaito could understand.
As he wandered through the market, clutching the smooth stone that hung from a simple string around his neck, his mind whirled with questions. What was this place? Why had the stone brought him here? And more importantly, what was he supposed to do now?
His stomach growled, pulling him from his thoughts. The aroma of roasting meat and baked bread wafted through the air, tantalizing him. Kaito followed the scent, stopping at a stall where a stout dwarf was grilling skewers of some kind of meat over an open flame.
"Ah, a traveler!" the dwarf greeted, his voice gruff but friendly. "Care for a skewer? Finest griffboar meat in all of Velin."
Kaito hesitated, patting his pockets. He had no money—at least, none that would work here. "I, uh, just arrived," he said sheepishly. "I don't have any coin."
The dwarf eyed him for a moment before gesturing to a pile of dirty dishes behind the stall. "No coin, no problem. You wash those dishes, I'll feed you."
"Deal," Kaito said, rolling up his sleeves.
As Kaito scrubbed dishes, he couldn't help but listen to the chatter of the marketplace. Villagers spoke of distant lands, magical beasts, and local gossip, their voices weaving a tapestry of stories that felt richer than anything he'd ever heard before.
"Here you go," the dwarf said when Kaito finished, handing him a skewer.
Kaito bit into the meat, his eyes widening as the flavors burst on his tongue. It was smoky, tender, and seasoned with a blend of spices he couldn't identify. "This is incredible!"
The dwarf chuckled. "Of course it is! Name's Garrek, by the way. If you're ever hungry again, come find me. I can always use an extra hand."
Kaito nodded, tucking the name away for later. "Thanks, Garrek."
As he wandered through the market, a commotion in the village square drew his attention. A crowd had gathered around a young woman with silver hair that shimmered in the sunlight. She stood on a raised platform, cradling a glowing flower with golden petals that seemed to pulse with an inner light.
"The Starbloom," someone in the crowd whispered. "She actually found one."
Kaito edged closer, his curiosity piqued.
The woman's voice carried over the crowd, clear and commanding. "The Starbloom, harvested from the Feywild Grove. Its nectar can heal any wound, cure any disease, and extend life. A rare treasure, and one not easily obtained." She gestured to the bloodied bandage on her left arm. "The bidding starts at two hundred crowns."
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
Kaito stared at the flower, mesmerized. Its glow was hypnotic, its scent a tantalizing mix of sweetness and earthiness. To the villagers, it was a miraculous cure. To Kaito, it was something else entirely. He saw potential—an ingredient that could transform a dish into an unforgettable masterpiece.
As the bids climbed higher—two hundred, three hundred, four hundred—Kaito's heart sank. He had nothing to offer.
When the bidding ended at seven hundred crowns, the flower went to a wealthy merchant who sauntered off with his prize. Kaito sighed, turning to leave, but a pained gasp stopped him.
The silver-haired woman staggered, clutching her injured arm.
Without thinking, Kaito pushed through the crowd. "Are you okay?"
She glanced at him, her emerald-green eyes narrowing. "I'm fine," she said curtly, though her pale face told a different story.
"You're not," Kaito insisted. "Let me help."
"I don't need—" she began, but her voice faltered as the world swayed around her.
Kaito caught her before she fell. "Come on. Let's get you somewhere to sit."
The innkeeper at a nearby tavern agreed to let them use a table, providing clean water and bandages for a few coins donated by a concerned bystander.
Kaito worked quickly, unwrapping the blood-soaked bandage to reveal a deep gash. "This will sting," he warned, dabbing at the wound with a damp cloth.
The woman hissed but didn't pull away. "You're good at this," she muttered.
"I've had practice," Kaito said. "Cooking teaches you to be precise."
Her eyes flicked to him. "You're a cook?"
"Trying to be," he said with a faint smile.
She smirked, though her expression softened as he tied off the new bandage. "You've got steady hands, stranger."
"Kaito," he said.
"Sylvia," she replied, extending her uninjured hand.
He shook it, her grip surprisingly firm. "What were you doing in the Feywild Grove?"
Sylvia hesitated before answering. "Retrieving the Starbloom. It's valuable, but dangerous to get. The grove is filled with creatures that don't take kindly to intruders."
"And you went alone?"
"I've always worked alone," she said with a shrug. "Fewer people to slow me down."
Kaito nodded, though he couldn't help but admire her bravery—or was it recklessness?
Sylvia leaned back in her chair, studying him. "You don't seem like a local."
"I'm... not from around here," he admitted cautiously.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't press. "Well, you've got skills. If you're looking for work, Velin could use someone like you."
Kaito hesitated. He didn't know how long he'd stay in this world—or how long he could stay—but for now, the idea of finding purpose here was tempting.
"I'll think about it," he said finally.
Sylvia nodded, pushing herself to her feet. "You do that. And if you're serious about staying, you'll need to earn some crowns."
As she left, Kaito leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. This world was strange and unfamiliar, but it felt alive in a way his old life hadn't. For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of excitement.
Maybe, just maybe, this was where he was meant to be.