The sun beat down on the backs of the farmers, with not a cloud to spare them in sight. The fields were still in the midst of growing and lacked shade, but the soil still felt damp. That at at least was a relief, as it meant the harvest was in no danger. One of the farmers in the expansive fields to the south of Glaucen felt quite appreciative of his expansive leather hat.

Johon stooped low as he moved up and down the rows of crops, searching for weeds to remove. He wanted to be done as quickly as possible, but knew he couldn’t afford to let anything take root, so to speak. Spadegrass was enough of a pain to remove when it was a single patch; if it spread, it would be easier to just burn a quarantined section of the field. Johon had no children, but taking the hit as taxes were on the rise would never turn out well. His wife spent most of her time nowadays drying out beans for long term storage.

Reaching the end of his fields, he sat on his knees and asked for benevolence from the Guardian of Man. His wife sighed at dirtying his rough trousers every day, but their prayers had yet to fail them. They scattered two bushels in the field every year to return it to the Flow of Life, and their fields had always grown well. Despite that, the rest of the villagers didn’t think highly of Johon’s practice. It didn’t go so far as hostility or ostracism, but there were remarks about his impiety, though he went to services more frequently than any of the others in the village.

Walking back to his house, he went out of the way to pass by the leatherworks. Golmen was probably the reason he got off so lightly in regards to his odd method of practicing the faith. The aging craftsman was one who returned hostility with hospitality; something that intrigued Johon. Of course, the bean farmer suspected he might be a heretic, but he acted so different altogether that the matter was secondary.

“How be you, Johon? Be the hat still sturdy?” Golmen flashed a smile full of crooked teeth upon noticing his approach. His enormous hands continued shaping the leather he held. Johon tapped the floppy and broad brim in response.

“Keeps the sun off me quite well, your work is masterful Golmen. I've already gone through my fields, is there anything you'd like me to get from town?”

“If I trouble you, it would be to pick up Honeydew petals from the Pill Kings.”

Johon responded slowly, as he tried figuring out that had just been said. The leather worker’s speech was broken and used his own unique terms for things. Despite having lived in the village for decades, he never got any better.

“I can do that for you, it would be no trouble at all.” Golmen smiled and handed over four argents. A large sum, one that would leave very little for savings after taxes to the church. However Johon’s face remained steady, as this wasn't the first time this request had been made.

Though Johon didn't feel particularly close, the act was one with a good amount of trust from Golmen. With such a large sum at risk, and already experiencing the disdain of the village, he wouldn't have much chance of recourse even if his request wasn't followed through. Except for when Clerics passed through, there was only the common law of the village.

And in Derriad, altruism was not something that is expected; especially from those lower in status. Johon thought that farmers could afford small kindnesses to others, but that was not the prevailing sentiment. Instead, it was a favor for a favor, and you could only depend on yourself and those you trusted to mete out justice.

Johon did not share that interpretation of the Scriptured Doctrines however. Receiving the sum, he headed towards his own home before setting off for Glaucen. Familiar with the architecture of the city, it was easy to tell that his house was lacking. Johon’s house, and indeed all those of the village, were incomparably simplistic and Spartan. Even so, it kept out the wind and rain, and was sturdy in its construction. Size didn't matter, they were only two, and Johon felt satisfied as things were.

“Anna, are you in? I'm about to go purchase the fruit for this week.” Sitting down in an old wooden chair, he began changing into a second pair of boots. “Golmen asked me to pick up some herbs for him again, so I may be a little late in returning this evening.”

Anna showed herself shortly, wearing a somewhat displeased expression on her face. Her husband just smiled idly back at her, ignoring her displeasure. She could only sigh.

“I know that he’s been quite generous in his dealings with you, but remember that the others in the village don't feel the same way. I won't say never to help out, but please keep their opinions in mind.”

“Don't worry Anana dear,” Johon stood up and pulled his wife in for a kiss “I make my visits brief, and as much as they may not like him, I have faith that they are good people at heart.”

“How could you possibly tell such a thing? Not that I dislike them, but you trust other people too much.” Anna leaned against Johon for a while before eventually separating. “Well, be on your way now, I want you back by evening if possible. Remember to look around before buying, and make sure you get a good deal. We need to start saving for the upcoming years.”

“As you say, Anana dear.” Boots on and money tucked away, Johon kissed his wife once more before setting out on the road.

Johon’s village was in sight of Glaucen, if only barely, and it didn't take long to travel there. Being closer to the city meant the roads were in better condition, and the land around was entirely covered in fields. Vast fields of crops separated by dilapidated stone fencing demarcating properties. The boundaries had been in place since time immemorial, the plots of land passed through families for generations.

The farms were packed together, and smaller than the limit of a farmer’s ability to care for, but these fields were created with the intent that they would never be underutilized due to a lack of manpower. Johon heard that further away from Glaucen and towards the forest, there were no boundaries, and one could work as much land as they were able. He'd never seen such a place with his own eyes though, his whole world consisted of his village, Glaucen, and the road between.

Every time Johon reached the massive walls, he felt an incomparable sense of awe. His reverence towards the Patriarch was unmatched, but this was a different sensation altogether. More than a dozen times a man’s height and two wagons could sit in between the two sides of the wall; the sheer size was something he could never get used to. How was it even possible for such a thing to be built in the first place? Where did all the stone come from? The sermons of the Church taught that power was to be respected, and Johon could only lower his head to what was undoubtedly the center of the world.

Even if he was told by the Clerics during service that there existed an even greater city in the heart of Derriad, it was impossible to imagine. It couldn't be much grander than this bustling place. There were more people on a single street than in the entirety of his village, wouldn't it be impossible for a place to fit even more people?

Still feeling residual awe, Johon made his way through the streets towards the center of town. That was where the most grocers went to sell their food, close to the residential district, but not too far from the east where merchants did their business. It also happened to be where Philip sold his fruits, and Johon had made a promise to always give his goods the first look during his trips.

“Afternoon there Johon! You're here a little later than usual, but don't worry, I have some rimets and mellets set aside for you.” Philip called out to him over the bustle before he’d even seen the fruit farmer.

Philip was of average height, but his bright green eyes were incomparable. He claimed to be able to spot and identify pests on his crops from across his orchard. Claiming such a thing led to some initial skepticism on Johon’s part, but as time passed, he continued to demonstrate his ability to spot things that would escape a normal person’s notice.

“Good afternoon to you too Philip. I take it that means today has had more customers than usual?” Johon idly looked over the skins of the rimets and mellets. He knew Philip wasn't the sort to intermingle any bad crops in with the good, and wouldn't miss any signs of damage either. However if he were to just take what was set before him, they would have no time to chat at all. Well, they caught up more thoroughly after service, but having a small chat once in a while was good as well.

“It sure has been, which is a relief! Inny’s expecting around just before the Paladins come by; Thank The Patriarch this year's bounty has been so good. I'm out dawn till dusk making sure those trees produce all they can. Even with the taxes, I'll make sure my kid gets to eat meat every week!”

“That's an ambitious plan for your son. Let me buy an extra two rimets to support that.” The cost of a rimet wasn't much in comparison to meat, but they'd been having this same back and forth for months. Philip had been getting more and more excited as the day drew closer, and Johon shared in the joy.

Johon was broad and sturdy, Philip was lean and agile; Johon used a subdued tone when talking, Philip couldn't help but call out forcefully; Johon sat at the edges of his village, where Philip was the head of his. The two hailed from opposite sides of Glaucen, and only met each other during a service by chance. Yet somehow despite having no other interaction, they came to be best friends.

Few people developed such confidantes in their life. Most felt that there would be no need for a farmer to form such a bond with someone, their work didn't involve anything that required a trusted partner. For just a chat or companionship there was no need to become so invested in one other person.

The Guardian of Man gifted humans with the ability to access the Flow of Life so that they could come to rely on themselves. The goal of life should be to become independent, and use your remaining strength to support humanity as a whole. If there is excess to support your neighbors, then instead you should support the Church. If your neighbor cannot be strong on their own, then someone stronger should take their place in society. For those such as farmers, friendship should be seen as a waste of effort, there were always things to do in the fields.

Johon didn't say much against this line of thought, but to him it was too lonely. To him it seemed to foster more suspicion and division than unity and strength. His village, and apparently many others saw friends as something like merchant contacts to trade with. The thought wasn't ubiquitous, but for someone with an altruistic soul like his, to see people suppress their inherently good natures was saddening. Without a close and kindred soul, they would undoubtedly lead a lonely life, and not reflect on their ways.

Meeting his wife and Philip was a blessing from the Enlightened One. With their presence, he felt clarity unlike any other. That was why he felt able to challenge the interpretation of the Church, if only in his own home. If only others could feel others as he did, perhaps they would understand that such callousness was not the way of humanity.

A/N:AHHHHH!