The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over Carvahall as Leo wandered through the busy streets. The town was alive with activity, the bustling marketplace filled with voices haggling over prices, children running in and out of the crowd, and the smells of fresh bread, meat, and wood smoke filling the air. It was all so different from the quiet of the Spine, and Leo found himself both amazed and a little overwhelmed by it all.
His father had gone off to barter with the traders, leaving Leo to explore the town on his own. He passed through the crowd, dodging carts and people as he made his way through the town, his eyes wide with curiosity. There was so much to see here, so many things he had never imagined.
As he wandered down a side street, he spotted a group of children playing near a cart filled with vegetables. One of them caught his eye—a boy around his age, with dark hair and a weathered look in his eyes. The boy was leaning over the cart, talking to an older man, and Leo couldn't help but watch him. There was something different about this boy—something that set him apart from the other children in the town.
Leo's curiosity got the better of him, and he made his way closer, trying to get a better look at the boy. The stranger noticed him then, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. The boy gave him a small nod, as if acknowledging his presence.
"Hey," Leo said, unsure of what else to say. "You're not from around here, are you?"
The boy turned fully toward Leo, studying him for a moment before answering. "No, not really," he said, his voice quiet but steady. "I live with my uncle and stepbrother on the outskirts of Carvahall."
"I thought so," Leo replied. "You don't look like you belong in the town. You seem… different."
The boy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Different how?"
Leo hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to explain what he meant. "I don't know… You don't look like the other kids here. You look… out of place."
The boy chuckled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I guess I am. I've been here for a while, but it still feels strange. The town's full of people, and sometimes it's too much."
"I get that," Leo said, shifting uncomfortably. "I live in the Spine. My father's a trapper, and we only come to Carvahall when we need supplies."
"Spine, huh?" The boy's eyes widened in surprise. "That's a long way from here. I've never been there, but I've heard stories."
Leo smiled, glad to find someone who wasn't completely unfamiliar with where he came from. "It's quiet. Peaceful, most of the time. But it's hard work, too. You can't just walk into a store and buy what you need. You have to make do with what you have."
The boy nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "I get that. I've been living on a farm most of my life, but I don't think I'm cut out for it. I'm not as strong as my stepbrother, Roran, or my uncle Garrow. They work the land and do all the heavy lifting. I mostly help out when I can."
Leo was curious now. "Your stepbrother and uncle—what's it like living with them?"
The boy's face softened as he spoke. "Roran's like a big brother to me. He's strong and protective. He's always looking out for me, even when I don't want him to. Garrow, our uncle, he's the one who taught me everything I know about farming. He's a good man, but sometimes he can be… hard. He doesn't talk much, but when he does, you listen."
Leo nodded, feeling a bit of an odd connection to this boy. "It sounds like you have a good family. You're lucky."
The boy shrugged. "I don't know about lucky. I mean, yeah, they take care of me, but I don't always feel like I belong. It's like there's something else out there for me."
Leo tilted his head, intrigued. "What do you mean? Like… something more?"
The boy's eyes seemed distant for a moment, and then he gave a small smile. "I don't know. Sometimes, I feel like there's more to this world than just farming and living in Carvahall. I can't explain it, but something tells me I'm meant for something bigger. Something different."
Leo's mind wandered, the words lingering in the air between them. It was strange, but he understood what the boy was talking about. He had always felt that there was more to his life than just hunting and trapping in the mountains, something he hadn't been able to put into words.
"I think I understand," Leo said slowly. "I've always wondered if there's more to my life than what I know. Maybe we're both searching for something."
The boy's smile grew a little wider. "Maybe. But who knows? The world's full of surprises. You never know when something's going to change your life."
There was a brief silence between them, as if both of them were contemplating what the other had said. Then the boy spoke again, breaking the quiet.
"Anyway, my name's Eragon," he said, offering a hand.
"Leo," Leo replied, shaking his hand. There was something about Eragon—something familiar, as if their meeting wasn't a coincidence.
"Well, Leo," Eragon said with a grin, "maybe we'll run into each other again. Who knows? The world's a strange place."
"I'm sure we will," Leo said, giving a small smile of his own.
As they parted ways, Leo couldn't help but feel a strange pull toward this boy—Eragon. Something about him felt important, like their paths had crossed for a reason. He didn't know what the future held, but something told him that their lives were about to change in ways neither of them could imagine.