The sunlight poured down on the stone roads of the small town of Dawnsinger, and dust flew gently in the air. It was a typical medieval suburban town, with a patchwork of houses, mostly built of stone and wood, with roofs covered in thick thatch. In the centre of the town is a bustling marketplace where vendors enthusiastically sell fresh vegetables, fruits and handicrafts. Children chased and played in the streets and their laughter was crisp and clear, adding a sense of life and vigour to the old town.
Gareth and Elena decided to take Vetril for a walk around the town, hoping to expose the somewhat introverted youngster to the outside world and cheer him up a bit. Holding Vetril's hand, they strolled through the bustling streets. When the residents of the town saw them, they flashed friendly smiles and greeted them warmly.
'Good morning, Mr Gareth, Lady Elena.' The owner of the blacksmith shop, a stout man, waved his calloused hand and greeted them warmly. He always had a simple smile on his face that made people feel warm.
'Good morning, Tom.' Gareth responded, his voice gentle and kind. Elena smiled and nodded her head in greeting as well.
'This little one is Vetril, isn't he? So cute looking.' Tom bent down and looked curiously at Vetril, who hid a little shyly behind his parents, but his eyes still revealed his curiosity about the bearded man.
'He's a little shy, but smart.' Elena said gently, nudging Vetril to encourage him to greet Tom.
Vetril hesitated, then whispered, 'Good morning, Mr Tom.' His voice was small, but Tom heard him, and he laughed out loud, a laugh that was as loud as a flood of bells.
'What a polite boy.' Tom said approvingly as he pulled a candy out of his pocket and handed it to Vetril, 'Here, this is for you.'
Vetril took the candy, his eyes sparkling with surprise. He peeled off the candy paper and put it in his mouth, the sweet taste made him smile.
Continuing on, they met the bakery's hostess, Mary. She was a plump woman with a kind smile always on her face. Seeing the Gareth family, she warmly invited them into the shop to try her freshly baked bread.
'Freshly baked and still warm.' Mary said, taking a golden loaf out of the oven, cutting it into pieces and handing it to them.
Vetril took the bread and took a bite, the crispy crust and soft interior made him unable to resist taking another piece. He looked up at Mary with gratitude in his eyes.
'It's good that you like it, son.' Mary said kindly, as she gently stroked Vetril's head.
The residents of the town were very friendly to the Gareth family, even though they were no longer the nobles they once were, Gareth and Elena's kindness and helpfulness earned them respect and love in the town. Gareth often helped the townspeople to clean up the low-level magical beasts in the neighbourhood and protect everyone's safety. Elena, on the other hand, used her knowledge of magic to help people with minor ailments.
After walking for a while, Gareth brought Elena and Vetril to the home of a friend who was a well-known hunter in the town. The hunter's name was Henry, a tall, dark-skinned man with sharp eyes who could always spot his prey with precision. Henry's wife, Susan, was a gentle woman who always greeted her guests with a smile.
'Gareth, Elena, you're here!' Henry greeted them warmly, his voice loud and strong.
'Henry, Susan, this is our Vetril,' Gareth introduced, Vetril hiding a little shyly behind her parents.
'Oh, this is Vetril, is it? Come, show the child our little one.' Susan said gently as she stepped inside and held out a little boy about Vetril's age.
The little boy's name was Jack and he had messy brown hair and mischievous and curious eyes. When he saw Vetril, he immediately flashed a big smile, revealing two missing incisors.
'Hey, who are you?' Jack asked loudly, his voice childish and loud.
Vetril was a little overwhelmed as he looked at the perky little guy, unsure of what to say. Elena nudged him gently, encouraging him to respond.
'My name is Vetril,' Vetril whispered, his voice was small but Jack heard him.
'Vetril, that's a strange name.' Jack wrinkled his nose and made a face. 'Still my name is better, my mother and father told me that my name stands for courage, wisdom and adventurous spirit, not a strange name like yours ...'
Vetril couldn't help but smile at Jack's mouthy look. Jack looked at Vetril's smile and his eyebrows then knitted together as if he was struggling to express his displeasure. His little face turned red. He crossed his arms and held his tiny stomach in a boss-man serious manner, thinking that would make Vetril fearful.
'You're the weird one.' Vetril shot back softly, a hint of mischief in his voice.
Jack's eyes went wide when he heard Vetril's words, as if he couldn't believe that Vetril had the audacity to contradict him. His mouth opened wide and he was half speechless. Then he suddenly laughed, revealing two missing incisors and grinning from ear to ear.
'You're funny, I like you.' Jack said, running over and taking Vetril's hand. 'Come on, I'll show you around.'
Jack took Vetril's hand and led him to the backyard. In the backyard was a small cabin filled with all sorts of toys and tools. Jack excitedly pointed to a broken wooden sword and said, 'Look, this is the wooden sword my dad made for me, I will use it to defeat many monsters in the future.'
Vetril looked at the wooden sword with a flash of envy in his eyes. He carefully reached out to touch it, but Jack suddenly snatched the wooden sword back and said with a smile, 'No, this is my baby, not for you to play with.'
Vetril was a little disappointed, but Jack added, 'But I can lend it to you to play with for a while, but you have to promise me something first.'
'What is it?' Vetril asked curiously.
'You have to call me big brother.' Jack said smugly, a sly glint in his eye.
Vetril froze, he couldn't help but laugh at Jack's smug look. He shook his head and said, 'No, I can't call you big brother.'
Jack's eyes went wide when he heard Vetril's words, as if he couldn't believe that Vetril had the audacity to reject him. He crossed his arms, held his tiny stomach, and said, 'It's okay if you don't call me that, but you have to help me get something.'
'Get what?' Vetril asked.
'Help me with that.' Jack pointed to an apple on a high shelf, his eyes glittering with anticipation.
Vetril looked at the apple, it was a little high, but he decided to give it a try. He jumped up and reached for it, but it was still out of reach. Jack laughed beside him and said, 'Look, you're so short, how can you reach it.'
Undaunted, Vetril gets a stool, stands on it, and finally gets the apple. He handed the apple to Jack and said, 'Here you go.'
Jack took the apple, bit into it, smiled, and said, 'Mmm, that's sweet. You're awesome for helping me get the apple.'
Vetril was a little pleased to hear Jack's compliment. He looked at Jack's happy face and smiled back. The two little guys just played in the backyard, letting out a crisp giggle from time to time.
Gareth and Elena stood aside, quietly watching Vetril and Jack play in the backyard, although Vetril was still a bit formal, looking back to his parents from time to time, seeking a hint of peace of mind, but his eyes had a bit more animation and curiosity. He began to try and imitate Jack's movements, clumsily but earnestly wielding the borrowed wooden sword, each swing causing the two children to laugh. When Gareth saw this scene, a gentle smile flashed in his eyes, and he said softly to Elena, 'See, our Vetril is slowly starting to fit in here.' Elena nodded, her eyes filled with relief, she knew that this was just the beginning of Vetril's new life, but seeing that he could find happiness here filled her heart with hope.