Astor awoke from the soft bed and stretched his body. It has been a while since he had slept so soundly. Looking out the window, Astor saw that dawn had yet to arrive. He grabbed his coin pouch, purple cloak, and dagger from the dresser and made his way to the kitchen compartment. Feeling his way around the dark hallway and nearly stumbling down the stairs, he arrived at the building located just a few paces from the main building. Astor walked towards the far left, secluded cabinets and pulled out three lumps of dough he had left to sit overnight; their odor smelled faintly of ale.

Astor gathered an assemblage of wood from the log pile and placed them evenly throughout the small oven. He, then, lit the fire and placed a wooden slab against the entrance to enclose the heat. Yawning, Astor sat down near one of the counters and took a nap. When he woke up, Astor, lazily, turned to look out the open window. He could see the soothing color of dawn seeping into the darkened landscape. Standing up to stretch, he then went over to the oven to feel its heat. Astor felt that its was just barely too hot to rest his hand on top. After removing the charcoals inside, Astor placed one pale wad of dough onto a wooden peel and slipped the lump onto the floor of the searing oven right before sealing it. He waited for what seemed like 30 minutes before pulling out a dull, brown rectangle. Waiting, as the bread settled, Astor then poked its outside to test its hardness. The lump resisted at first, but after some effort, he was able to push through its surface. Unlike the cracked, hard surface, the insides were soft and fluffy. Nodding to himself, Astor placed another dough into the oven before quickly wrapping the cooked bread in cloth. He sprinted out of the kitchen, through the front gates, and onto the southern road. The sun emitted dim rays of warmth against the uncomfortably chilling wind. He had to hurry before the bread hardened. Astor arrived at the makeshift house and peered inside. He saw two small figures resting in the blankets while one little girl was sat upright against the wall next to them. It seems she was unable to sleep due to her ailment. The girl spotted Astor and stared at him curiously. Astor snuck his way closer and placed the warm, steaming bundle into her lap. "Food's ready," he whispered. He crept back outside and ran towards the kitchen. If his timing is right, then the next one should be about done very soon. Being made to dash against the uneven ground was starting to wear him out. As he arrived back in the kitchen, Astor checked on the loaf inside only to see that it had not completely browned just yet. After waiting a bit longer, he pulled out the browned loaf and tested its firmness. Its surface was considerably softer than the previous one, and its insides were a bit gooey in appearance. Astor plucked a small chunk of it off and placed it into his mouth. Unexpectedly, it was delicious. He wrapped it up, slid another clump into the oven, and hustled back towards the kids. After sprinting through the front gates yet again, he began to feel the beads of sweat that started to trails down to his brows. Nothing like a good morning workout, Astor mused. Before approaching the shack, Astor wiped off the his blistering sweat and calmed his breathing. He walked in and looked at the three upright figures. The smell of hot food had woken the other two. Sitting down on their hay bed, Astor pulled the bread apart into three separate globs. "Here you go, Danny..." Astor handed a piece to the young boy. Then, he passed another over to Rolf who was sitting behind him. "And you, Rolf..." Astor stretched his arm across the two boys to Mimi. "And especially you." Astor dusted any remains of his hands and watched as the three ravaged their meal. He remained silent; watching them eat and seeing their little eyes light up with vitality made Astor feel a profound sense of happiness. Some time had passed before the kids had finished their meal. Rolf, after taking one last gulp, quickly spoke up after noticing his gaze. "Thank you, Mister Astor." "You don't have to thank me. It's my responsibility after all." Astor felt a little guilty. He wasn't sure if he should be receiving such praise, after all, it wasn't his ingredients he had cooked with. He even had to ask permission from the cook to use the oven. The three patiently sat as if awaiting further instructions. Astor sat back and scanned the tattered outline of the house before turning his gaze onto the giant hole in the ceiling. How in the world am I going to fix that? he thought. Fixing the walls were one thing, but the ceiling wasn't going to be that simple. Astor could probably use his ingenious wit to refasten the ceiling by observing what was left over on the other side, effectively duplicating the other half. The beams that arched over to form the ceiling seemed to have been adjoined by a specialized method. ... I could just read a book. Astor was unsure of the hazards and tools needed to repair the house. The least thing he would want was for the house to collapse onto the kids while they were sleeping. Just the thought alone sent shivers down his spine. Luckily, his great-grandfather had built up quite an archive of knowledge in their library. If he had ever needed a book for anything, then there would be the first place to look. He could also just ask the local residence to assist him in completing such a task. While thinking about any alternate solutions, Astor began to feel an uncomfortable, gnawing sensation in the deep recess of his mind. Was there something I needed to do? He wondered. He had already prepared for Aricia's birthday, confirmed his outfit's size, and is currently taking care of the three kids. The reconstruction of the house could come later, and the children were well-protected from cold nights. What else is there to worry about again? "The bread!" he exclaimed. Astor stood up and ran out back towards the estate, leaving the children shocked from his sudden outburst. That last piece was supposed to be mine! He passed through the front gates in a fit of gasps. Astor dashed into the kitchen and frantically removed the bread from the steaming oven. Expecting charcoals, he was surprised to see a perfectly, well-done loaf of bread. Well..., if that's the trick to making perfect bread, then bakers must have it harder than I thought. Whilst still wheezing, Astor closed the gate to the stove and rested on a stool. He stared at the alluring color of the bread before taking a bite. Chewing through the crunchy outer layer, Astor relished the smooth, creamy texture of the bread. The presence of food made his body feel refreshed and energized. He felt his fatigue fade more and more as he ate. Just before eating the last big chunk, he remembered one more thing he had wanted to do. Astor placed the rest of it into an unused cast iron pot and headed up the stairs to the upper floor. He walked through the unbearably lengthy hallway before coming to a stop. As Astor approached the corner, he heard the smooth, flowing voice of a seasoned, middle-aged lady coming from a door in which two maids stood stationed at either side. As he approached, Astor gave a quick gesture while nodding to both of the expressionless servants. "Greetings," he called out. Both bowed in unison. "Good morning Sir Astor." He turned his attention to the closer of the two and asked, "Is the Aricia inside?" "Yes, the miss is reviewing her etiquette lessons for the party." Astor nodded and strode closer to the door. By leaning against the door, Astor was barely able to grasp the conversation Aricia and her tutor were having. Noticing that his odd action had piqued the curiosity of the two maids, he hushed them playfully and continued listening. "......Now make sure to exchange a short greeting and thank to every guest attending the celebration. First impressions are critical but do not fret over making mistakes. By giving them your sincerest, heartfelt gratitude, any well-mannered individual can overlook such minor errors. Especially since you are still only a child. Understood?" "Yes, I understand Miss Margery," a small voice called out. "Good. That will be all for today. You are excused." "Thank you for your continued guidance." Astor backed up as the door opened. He saw the two red eyes of the little girl planted towards the ground. "Ahem..." Aricia looked up, a bit startled. "Mind if I borrow her for a bit?" he asked the two maids. "N..No... Not at all sir!" they replied. He bent down and poked Aricia's forehead with his index finger. "Seems tough in there. I can relate. Grandma's assigned lessons are always brutal aren't they?" Aricia placed two hands on top her forehead where Astor had poked and nodded quietly. "Would you like to try a piece of the bread I made?" Curiosity filled the girl's expression. Astor reached into his pot and offered the piece of bread. "Here, try it." Aricia stared at the bread with uncertainty. "Ummm, Mrs. Margery says a lady shouldn't eat between her meals." "Shhhhh, Just a little wouldn't hurt," Astor urged. Aricia accepted the chunk and nibbled on its edges. A second later, Astor watched as ate the whole of the bread. "Good isn't it? Maybe when you get older, you won't kick out this poor, old uncle of yours? I can supply you with the best bread a poor man has to offer," Astor pleaded with a silly expression. Hearing Aricia chuckle lightly at his joke, Astor stood up from his position and smiled. "Then, I'll see you at the party." "Yeah!" Aricia replied. With his objective complete, Astor, again, thanked the two maids before strolling his way towards the library. The sight of the hallway and leading up to it brought back fond memories. The entrance was connected to the large square garden that stretched across on the other side of the estate and near its vicinity was an open pavilion meant for outdoor reading. Astor couldn't wait to come here later and enjoy the fine weather. He walked inside the library and scanned the dozen or so shelves of books that lined the room vertically. It was a simple, yet elegant room that smelled faintly of dampened cedar and leather. Astor browsed through the different arrays of titles all in various fonts and chirography: Directory of those who reached Astronomical Erudition, Excerpts of Law and Order from esteemed Olden Magistrates, The Bæcere's Ole Guide to Cookery; Astor continued searching until he located a book that seemed like it could help in building a house. It's title read, A Fool's Guide to Architecture. How fitting. Picking the book out of the shelf, Astor walked out into the brimming sunlight. He ran across the grossly, decorated garden and hopped over the waist-high cobblestone fence. Making the trek back to the hobbled shack once again, he walked in on the kids as they stared languidly around the house. "Rolf, on your feet. Seeing that you're the only one fit enough to walk, I'll have you help me with a few errands." Astor watched as the boy hustled to order. Astor gave him the iron pot he was holding. "We're going to get some supplies from the market. I have a tiresome event coming up that will probably last the rest of tomorrow and we will need to stock up on food." He turned to Danny and handed him the book. "Can you hold onto that for me. We'll be back shortly." Astor and Rolf walked outside. Astor moved his hand against the blinding sunlight. "We had better hurry." They walked around the curve of the rock hill and headed further south, continuing along the dirt-laden path. Astor began jogging at a quicker pace. He looked back behind him to monitor the boy's physical condition. Rolf, for the most part, was able to keep pace with his comfortable jog, albeit with arduous effort. After a few minutes had passed, Astor began slowing his pace. At a fork leading down the southern road, there was a gentle slope that they'd have to scale. Astor wasn't sure if Rolf could keep up any longer. He stopped jogging and walked briskly up the hill. Standing on its peak, Astor looked towards the receding mountain range away in the distance; their destination should be just in front of the towering masses. The path, that had branched away from the forest, now began rounding over the many lush hills in a smooth, undulating pattern. The plumed clouds above drifted listlessly across the airy, blue scenery. Astor breathed in the reedy air as he waited for Rolf to catch up. A cold breeze blew across the fields just as the boy caught up and Astor took off his purple cloak to place it on top Rolf's brown, wavy hair. "It's a bit chilly. Wear this." They continued slowly down the path towards the town of Weaver, a village famous for their abundance of cloth and fur. Because of the booming economy, Astor was able to easily afford the clothes sold there. The fact that he could buy things with his own money excited him. As they neared the forest, the familiar sight of roofed housed came into view. Brushing past the shrubbery, Astor and Rolf came into full view of the town. It was quite large to be hidden so well by just a few trees. The village was split in half by a smooth, flowing river and at every few feet, the roads on either side were linked by an even distribution of bridges that connected the two halves of the town. The buildings that towered over each side varied from short, multicolored stands to long, stone houses with wagon-sized entrances. The mangled traffic of carriages and people seemed to flow evenly throughout the bridges and multiple paths that entangled the buildings. The two joined the flow of traffic and moved towards one of the open buildings. The loud racket of passing wagons and conversation muted any other sounds. Astor smelled a terrible, noxious scent from one particular caravan as it passed by. He covered his nose and turned away. Glancing down away from the smell, he noticed Rolf's eyes fixated towards something further away in the distance. Peering through the crowd of moving bodies, Astor caught a glance of what Rolf was looking at. In one of the open stalls, a hand-sized, wooden figure was out on display in front of a cluster of wooden shapes. Astor looked down to reaffirmed that Rolf was indeed eyeing at the toy. He saw a slight fidget in the young boy's hand as they walked by. Rolf turned his head back to the front and sighed. "Not worth it for that one huh?" Rolf looked up at him with astonishment. Astor chuckled, "You staring at it for soo long made it quite obvious. Come on. We must do what we came here to do first, and that's to get you three some food and clothes." They continued along with the traffic of bodies before coming to a district filled with a huge cluster of shoppers. The customers bore different styles of clothing, ranging from lavishly extravagant to humbly simplistic. All were flocking towards one large hall room. Well, surely there must be quite a sale going on inside if so many people were buying, Astor thought. The steady stream of people coming and leaving through the entrance all held a wrapped bundle of clothes within their hands. Astor and Rolf made their way inside, passing the two guards stationed at its passage. Inside were displays of clothes hung side-by-side along long rows of displays. There were many different styles, from black capes with red ends, smooth colored breeches, green horizontally-striped capes highlighted with black; to long dresses draped with laces in the middle, full colored kirtles with ranging colors of surcoats, and close-fitting gowns with flamboyant designs. Behind each display were a neat stack of the product. The bonnets, leggings, stockings, and brooches were all stacked next to its pairing set. All were arranged in orderly rows for the large crowds to inspect. While the clothes at the beginning of each aisle flared with status, the more modest collection of garments were located towards the back. These clothes were more obviously used for their practicality. Astor scanned through the different sizes of outfits before settling on a section that seemed exclusively for children. There, the clothes were made simple and large. Astor pulled out a brown tunic and place it in front of Rolf. "Hmmm... What do you think about the sizes for Mimi and Danny?" Rolf just stared at the tunic as Astor held it up to him. "Hey, hello?" Astor called out. Rolf, a bit dazed, answered back, "Umm, I think this one will fit Mimi." "Your opinion's as good as mine," Astor said and hung the piece of cloth over his arm. Astor frowned. How much clothes would each one of them need? The more clothes he bought, the fewer times he would have to do laundry, but the more expensive the cost. The fewer clothes, the more times he would do laundry. If I wash their clothes once per week, then they could wear the same pair for at least two or three days. Then, 7 pairs of shirts and pants for each one would be more than enough. That way, they could switch out between the worn and unworn set if things got too busy for him. Astor walked over to the counter where the clerk was and hailed to her. "Excuse me, how much do each of these kinds of clothes cost?" The middle-aged woman at the counter, who seemed quite apathetic, turned and stared at the tunic. "We don't get many customers for the young'ins so it goes for around 6 coppers. Mind you, these clothes are made in bulk so some may be... a bit older than others." 6 coppers for clothes was quite cheap. "If I were to buy 20 of these, could you lower the price to 5 a piece?" The clerk stared intently at Astor's clothes before looking at his face. The sudden inspection startled Astor a bit. He stared back curiously as she finished eyeing him with interest. "I think we can make an exception," the clerk smiled and got up from her seat. She rounded the counter and gestured for Astor to follow her. They began speaking as they walked back to the children's section. "How many kids do you and the lady have?" "Uhh...we have three. One girl and two boys." "Well, dear customer, you've come to the right establishment for choosing the appropriate wear for your little ones." As they approached the aisle, the woman eyed Rolf who was sitting on one of the side ledges protruding out from the displays. "My my.... what a handsome young boy! Are you here to help your father shop?" Rolf, a bit startled by the ringing voice, nodded his head politely. "Then, I've got just the thing for you." The clerk pulled out a white tunic and a trouser that was tight around the thighs and baggy around the calves. After checking their matching sizes, she quickly turned to Astor and handed him the pair. "How old is your girl?" "Uhh... all three of them are around the same age. She's near 9 years of age." "Hmm....Has she started budding?" Astor looked back at the women, a little perplexed. Sighing, the women pulled him away from Rolf and whispered in his ear, "Has her chest started growing out yet?" Astor, a little taken aback by the question, shook his head. He hadn't thought of such pressing issues while deciding clothes for the three of them. "Well, I would recommend you buy this chest fastener. It'll ease the way for her." The clerk handed him a simple length of cloth and returned to picking out clothes. Astor became a bit tensed with the prospects of raising the girl. He would hardly be able to notice the subtle changes that occurred. I'd probably have to rethink this. Astor believed that he alone was capable of raising them all, but it would probably be better for her if the girl could discuss more private matters openly with someone of the same gender. While Astor brooded, the lady continued on with her previous conversation. "A shirt and pants is enough for the lads. I would recommend a chemise, and or long skirt for the girl. The chemise and skirt fit well with each other. Undergarments are necessary for the growing girl, but the skirt is of choice. I, personally, like to switch out my own girl's skirts for special occasions. Those dreadfully expensive dresses and gowns will come later in their life, I fear." She presented him with a white, loose-fitting dress that was slightly tighter around the neck and forearm areas. "If you had ever wanted to help you wife with chores, then best be careful with these. Wool so it's quite sensitive to shrinking. Soaking it in cold water for bout 2 hours will prevent that. Never rub them against each other or it'll ruin the weave. While both parts of the boy's clothes need cleaning, only the girl's chemise need be washed frequently. " The skirt she picked out was brown with bits of lace here and there around the sides and bottom for added decoration. Astor was just about to ask for the price before the clerk stopped him. "This one's free of charge. Think of it as commemorative towards our future business with each other." Astor nodded hesitantly. They continued conversing about various topics as she went on about the increasing profits of wool, open trades with other established guilds, and the job opportunities that had opened up towards the far eastern coastline. With a neat stack of clothes piling in his arms, the clerk placed one last piece of garment onto his arms before clasping her hands together. "There we have it. Now, come on to the front and I will see these wrapped and ready for you." Astor felt the onset of a headache from all the conversing he has had with the clerk. Placing the 20 pieces of clothing on the counter, Astor reached into his pouch and pulled out 8 silvers and 4 coins. He handed them to the clerk. "Oh my..., you are still using old coins. I recommend switching over to the new blunted coins as soon as possible. They exchange for the about same right now, but I'm betting its value will be increasing soon seeing how the economy of them ol' high-and-mighties west over yonder is still so piggery." That got a chuckle out of Astor. "I'll do so. Thank you for such a.... dedicated service." "Indeed, I could hardly find a such a courteous conversing partner nowadays." she chuckled. "Now go on out of here, lest you make the eyeballs of those young lassies there bulge out of their sockets." She gestured over towards the crowd of people moving about the store. Astor saw the many fleeting glances towards him from around the store. They have been in the store for quite a bit, and it seems his strange appearance has caused quite a commotion. Do I look that much like a vagabond?....Guessed I should have dressed better. The clothes he had on were, indeed, a bit worn and old. Astor smiled one more time at the clerk. "Again, thank you sincerely." The clerk waved as he grabbed the bundled of clothes and walked out the exit. "That was at least enlightening, if not delightful. Sorry, it took so long," he spoke to the tottering boy below him.

The boy nodded his head, yawning. They continued down the same street that led back to the estate. Hearing the sounds of rushing water and squeaking watermills, Astor and Rolf walked on the now, more spacious sidewalk. Traffic seemed to have cleared up momentarily in the midst of the blinding sunlight. Astor began thinking about the last thing the clerk had said. The terms "old" and "blunted" were just slang for the different currency now circulating in both countries. It comes from a myth that says that the many of the kingdoms in Faldrick had tried melting down and reforging the coins in their treasury, allowing for more coinage and lowering the value of the coin unfavorably for the tradesmen of the eastern territories in what is now Mayland. By doing so, supposedly the tip of the dagger located on the face coin was chipped off before the reforging. In response to this, rumor has it that many merchants began trading back to the royals with chipped coins. Now that the country had started manufacturing their own coins, the term "blunted" was adopted as a sort of ridicule towards the unregulated greed of Faldrick kingdoms. Grabbing one from his pouch, Astor flipped it up with his thumb to hear the pleasant hum of the coin's twirl. There were four types of coins: regular (blunted) coins, copper (pennies), silver, and gold. Coppers were worth 10 blunted coins, silver-12 coppers, and gold-15 silvers. He had saved up all the money he had obtained during the war into this pouch. Of course, they weren't obtained by any normal means. Astor knew that, while the chances of surviving the war were up to luck, he could at least plan for a future in which he did survive. Watching the river sparkle in the orange glow of the sun, Astor gestured to the other side of the bridge as they began to make their way across a bridge. "What would you like to eat? Fruits, veggies, bread; anything you'd like." Rolf hesitated before answering. "M...meat... if that's okay." Compared to the fortune he just spent, meat wasn't an impossible ask. Astor was gladder that Rolf could be full-heartily honest in his response. "Well.... in celebrations for Aricia birthday, I guess we can afford to be a lenient. Let's get some food." Eyeing a butcher's shop, Astor walked up to an open stand and browsed through the assortment of meats. "Greetings sir. What will it be?" asked a tall, thin man. "How much for this here beef." "That there is 6 coins per chunk good sir unless you got something of equal price." Astor inspected the sizes of the meats carefully. They seemed to be about the right sizes for the price. "Great, I'll take three then, cut into thin strips." "Very well. I will have it done at the end of a heartbeat."

Leaning back on a shelf, Astor looked at the commerce of people walking past the store. Further down the sidewalk, there was a pair of what seemed like sisters, handing out a batch of vibrant, red spheres. Both carried the spheres in small, woven baskets that looked to be made of thin branches, that still retained their bright, green leaves. Across the river, a pair of elders chattered lively while sitting above the river on what seems to be the remaining remnants of a collapsed bridge. Behind them, a man appeared to be promoting his collection of black and brown furs. The furs had white streaks running down their middle spine area in a thin, zig-zag pattern. Astor began to wonder if fur would be a good choice of clothing for when winter came. He then looked up into the sky. The sun had reached its highest peak in the sky. I bet, right about now, that the two left at home were getting quite a bit hungry. "Here we are. Three chunks of meat, cut and cooked to perfection." The man handed Astor a tray of succulent, brown meat. Grabbing the tray with one hand, he reached into his pockets and placed the even number of coins onto the table. "Thank you for your kind business!" hollered the man. After nodding farewell, Astor filled the iron pot in Rolf's hand with the sizzle pieces. Upon closer inspection, the thin, tender slices had a tinge of red towards the center with sections of glazed, translucent fat wrapped around the outer layers. Its aroma held faint hints of herbs and spices that were fittingly appetizing. The smell got his stomach rumbling. "Hurry, before it gets cold." With new found excitement, Astor hopped onto the ankle-high, stone rising that ran along the side of the road, acting as a barrier between the pavement and the river. It was just wide enough for him to keep his footing. Balancing steadily on the ledge, Astor continued onwards with his silly antics before leaping across the corner gap onto the perpendicular bridge. "Aha, with more training, perhaps I could become the new fool for the Holy King." Astor glanced back at Rolf who was still confused at Astor's initial, nonsensical behavior. "You know... "The Wise Fool" who assisted the king in his long years of service. That story." Rolf shook his head. "Well then, perhaps I'll tell you it later." As they approached the wooden sculpture stand, Astor slowed down inconspicuously from Rolf. Turning to the salesman, Astor picked up the wooden, toy figure and quickly asked for its price. "That's 5 coins." Astor quickly handed the man the money and caught up with Rolf just in time as the boy turned around to check for him. As they walked towards the outskirts of town, Astor gave one last glance at the lively town. Looks like the band of thugs haven't terrorized this area yet. I'll see to it that it stays that way. Turning back to the winding road, Astor and Rolf continued onwards for a little over 20 minutes before stopping to rest in a nearby shade of a tree. Crouching low as if not to hit the low hanging branches, Astor sat down on the coarse grass and gazed at the uneven terrain on the hillsides. Behind them, he could hear to the silent trickling of the distant river, accompanied by a faint smell of damp soil and hazy pollen coming from the nearby wild grass patches. Hearing a soft smack on skin, Astor turned to see the boy fighting off a pair of mosquitoes. Whoops forgot that it had rained recently. Chuckling at the boy's misery, Astor quickly got up and gestured for Rolf to follow. "Sorry. Forgot about those pesky bugs. Let's go." Continuing onwards, their path led back into the forest. Passing through the beams of sunlight, Astor asked a question that had bugged him ever since the three came into his care. "Hey, Rolf... Did you leave any family behind to come with me?" Rolf looked towards Astor's direction, then down at the ground before looking him straight in the eyes. "No." "Ah... I see... Then, what about Mimi and Danny?" Rolf looked forward towards the distance. "Danny has a dad, but he gets hit..... There was a fire and I helped Mimi." That would explain the injuries and scars. "Wait.... how is Mimi in that condition because of a fire?" Rolf looked back down. "It was the past." A saddening thought struck Astor. With an uncanny feeling, he could guess what has happened to Mimi's family. Taking a deep breath, he then asked, "What about her family?" Rolf put on a pained face and shook his head. "They used to give me food." The air had turned abnormally cold. Squeezing the bundle of clothes, Astor exhaled a small, fleeting breath. "....So you and Danny have been taking care of her?" He nodded. They continued onwards in silence before passing the rock on the hill. Astor was not gonna press for details. If he wanted more answers, it would be better to ask the two themselves, perhaps when they are older. I guess many orphans have similar circumstances. Astor looked at Rolf who had about him defeated look. He reached over and ruffled his hair before handing him the small toy he had bought earlier. "Thanks for telling me. You did a good job surviving up to this point. I'm going to do my best to make sure you three don't ever end up that way again. You should focus on what you feel is important right now." Rolf's eyes lit up with wonderment as he fumbled with the wooden figure. "I believe you deserved a gift for accompanying me in this errand." Rolf became soo preoccupied with his new toy that Astor decided to take the burden of the iron pot from him. "Go ahead and enjoy it." Rolf slowly nodded his head in gratitude. The two casually came into view of their little home. Astor felt that something drastic had changed in the air surrounding them. The atmosphere had felt a bit heavy before, but now, it was a lot more comfortable for some reason. Strange, am I coming down with a fever? Ignoring the new, felt feeling, Astor and Rolf walked into the house before placing their things down. "We come bearing presents," Astor said amusingly. Astor lifted the pot next to the fire pit just before realized something important. "Ah..crap, forgot plates. Hold on a few heartbeats." Astor ran out of the house and back towards the mansion. The more he ran, the tinglier the feeling he had gotten before became. If I have gotten sick, then perhaps I could excuse myself from the party. Repressing the urge to humor such thought. Astor dashed through the front gates and into the kitchen. Already used to his behavior, the guards and cooks paid no heed to his action as he grabbed the utensils and ran back onto the path. Raising his hand against the sun, Astor calculated the time till sundown. Oh! it's almost time for Aricia's lesson. Picking up pace, Astor ran towards the direction of the stone hill.