“Heave ho”

The farmer took a deep breath and wipes the sweat of his face. They had just finished loading sacks of beans on to the wagon. It is now filled with different crops placed inside a barrel. The wagon is not entirely big, but it was able to contain enough food for a small family to live off for a month. The donkey on the other side keeps eating off of the grass by the roadside, munching carelessly with its face that looks like it has given up on life.

“2 pieces of gold as always.” The bald man took 2 gold coins and handed it to the other.

“Thank you.” The buff man said as he put on his straw hat

The wind howls as the sun began to rise. They have been loading the wagon for quite some time and didn’t noticed the time. Across them is a shed where the buff man store everything he harvested. He puts on a lock on the shed and walks towards bald man who is now getting on the wagon.

“Same time again next week?” The buff man said while holding the hoe on his right hand.

“Can I still not convince you to live by the village?”

“Nah, I’m fine living here on my own.”

“I have mighty piece of land for you there. You could even marry my daughter.” The man grinned

“Not this again, Bara.”

“You’re a hard-working man, Bob. I just don’t want you to rot in this peninsula.”

The man rode his wagon and gave the donkey a slap to start moving. Bob wave at Bara from a distance while feeling the gentle breeze.

‘Merchants, always out to get gain.’ Bob thought to himself.

Every week Bara comes to buy his goods with always the same price. It is not too much for a week’s worth of wage, but Bob didn’t need to concern with it. He loves farming and taking care of the land. He receives his food from the field and cooks it at home when he has the time. When he’s too tired he just eats some of the crops raw.

The shed he use to contain his harvest can only contain so much for a week. For any surplus e brings it to his home.

Despite living alone, he handles everything that is happening in his farm. From field work to taking care of the animals. In which he doesn’t have a lot.

He lives on the farthest hill of the peninsula and the tallest one at that. He could see where his place connects to the main continent. Crossing it would take and entire day’s journey even if one is riding a mule.

He looks at his land and the crops where he has cultivated which roughly covers an entire acre. He smiles upon it with delight. ‘All my hard work lead to this’ He thought to himself while appreciating everything that he sees.

After some time regaining his strength while helping Bara. He took his hoe and plowed another lane right next to an area that has just been cleared. He aligns it to the other lane that has already crops growing from it. He forms a mound and with a small pouch on his waist opens it and place some seeds on top of it.

The entire effort made him forget how long he has been doing it. He looks up and saw that it is already noon. He crosses the fence that is separating the crops from the animals which only consist of a dozen sheep, 2 cows and 10 chickens. Right next to where the animals are is a small barn where all of them fit.

He observes the barn that he made, knocking on the wood, checking if it is still sturdy, it is the next thing he builds right after building his house. The barn lacked any paint which makes it susceptible to termites and using mud to as a wax over it didn’t help that much.

The barn is empty besides the chicken as he had released the flock of sheep and the cows first thing in the morning. Right next to the barn are barrels of water stacked over each other in which he opens one, grab a ladle that his hanging right next to it and took a drink.

The weather at the time is fair, the sun is covered with clouds and the cold breeze brushes through the place, the cows are resting near a tree with the flock.

He then went down the hill where he had built a well. Then wondered to himself how he can have an easy access to water as he doesn’t want to go up and down the hill just to get water.

Then from a distance something caught his eye. Someone is riding a horse and is heading towards him. He squints his eyes to try to find out who it is. The young man coming towards him has his brown hair un covered wearing a brown shirt matching the horse’s hide and a satchel hanging from the horse’s saddle.

He waited down the hill, eagerly anticipating the young man’s arrival.

“Steady” The young man holds the reigns and pulls it towards him

“Couldn’t send a raven, Nesbitt?”

The young man smiled at him and unmounted from the horse. They walk back to the house where Bob insisted for the young man to rest while he finishes his labor for the day.

As he didn’t have any stable, he just tied the horse to a tree right next to the barn. Nesbitt went inside the house while Bob continued with his day of cultivating the fields.

After watering his newly plowed field and exhausting all most of his strength going up and down the hill to fetch some water, he retires to house lit by candlelight. Nesbitt has prepared dinner and by preparing dinner it is just cutting some of the fruits and vegetables and placing them on the table.

“I guess that’s my work for the day”

“You didn’t put the animals at the barn”

“Ah you see, I taught them to go home when it’s night. For those months you haven’t visited.” Bob replies while trying to sound like an old man

“I see, the place looks a lot bigger than the last time I was here.” Nesbitt chuckled

After dinner and finally washing himself and change into new clothes. Bob sat down the dinner table where Nesbitt is reading a book by a candle.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I can’t even visit a friend anymore?” Nesbitt sneered.

“Ha? you would’ve visited me anytime you like but you choose today so something must’ve happened” Bob laughed.

“I came from the city and it takes a long time to get here. Why do you even live this far out of civilization?”

“My preference”

“Anyways, we have always been victims of the monsters that lurks every inch of this world --”

“Which is why I choose this place”

“Let me finish. Someone decided to make an Adventurer’s guild”

“What’s that”

Nesbitt explained what the Adventurer’s guild is. He describes as paying people to hunt the monsters that are terrorizing their place. As well as putting up a request and setting up a reward. During Nesbitt explanation, Bob’s mind wanders to his well and what he could do to have an easy access to his waters.

“You’re not even listening” Nesbitt shouted while snapping his fingers in front of Bob who obviously was just nodding to everything he’s saying.

Nesbitt place a couple of papers and a book on the table.

“Everything you need to know about them are in this book. And you seem like you need some help here. Why don’t you put up some request? Some adventurer might be capable.”

Bob thought for a moment while scratching his chin then he folded his arms as if in deep thought.

“How much would it cost?”

“I’ll let you be the judge of that, just remember that you also pay the guild for the request which only amounts to 10 copper coins.”

‘Very generous.’ Bob thought to himself. He doesn’t spend money unless it’s for materials that he couldn’t obtain within his land. He thinks it’s fine to spend some, it’s not like he is saving for anything at the moment.

He wrote a request and paid the initial payment. Nesbitt reviewed the documents and accepted the received 2 silver coins from Bob. He looks at him with small discontent thinking that Bob should be more generous because he lives too far and adventurers might not even go to this place. But he didn’t say anything and shrugged at the thought.

“The Guild will be official in 3 days. Only then will adventurers see your request.”