[Maria; Wedi village]

“A day off? Sounds good. I mean, we haven’t really had any time to relax recently, and it’s not like we have anything urgent to get done.” I say, after hearing Ivan’s proposition. “Of course, there’s not much to do here, but perhaps that’s a good thing in this situation.”

“Glad to hear it. So, what do you think of meeting back up here around dinner?”

“I don’t have a problem with that. Guess I’ll see you tonight, then?” I respond.

“Yep. Well then, If you’ll excuse me.” Ivan says as he gets up to leave.

A few minutes later, I finish my meal. After thanking the waitress, I get up to wander around a bit myself. As I walk, I’m impressed by just how lively and colorful the village is. Normally, settlements of this size are rather quiet, with most interactions being purely business. Here, however, I can hear several conversations happening simultaneously, even if it is a bit disorienting with the number of people all speaking at once. Feeling a bit curious, I decide to listen in on a pair of men talking about nothing in particular.

“So, how was your trip to the big city?”

“Honestly, pretty tame, at least compared to what I thought it would be like. While there are carriages strolling around town, they stick to the center of large roads. I even got to ride on one of them. All I can say is that it was far more comfortable than the one I had to ride back. Ohh, my rear end is sore just thinking about it.”

“Moving on from that, did you see anything interesting during your time?”

“Quite a bit, actually, but three things in particular stand out to me. First, there was a massive field filled with all sorts of flowers. Then, there were the noble houses I walked by. I had no idea it was possible to build a home that large without it falling apart. Finally, there was something called…”

I was unable to hear that last bit, as the one man leaned in and whispered in the other’s ear. From the second man’s reaction, I at least had an idea, and agreed that talking about it aloud in a public place was probably not a good idea if I was correct. There are children around, after all.

I turn to leave, only to get smacked in the face with a ball. Looks like that even in the boonies, children continue to be obnoxious brats. I don’t understand why some people like children so much considering just how demanding they can be, but to each their own I guess. As much as I’d like to give them a piece of my mind, I’m beaten to the punch by another woman yelling at the boy who just kicked the ball at me. After an obviously insincere apology by the boy, I decide it’s time to move on.

There’s actually quite a bit going on nearby at the moment, it seems. I overhear news of a bazaar opening up in the next town over in a week, which I mentally file away to tell the rest of the squad about once we reconvene. Of course, not everything I hear is positive. I hear of a man’s daughter burning the bread again, rumors about a ghost in the woods, and some old lady coming down with a cold, to name a few.

Eventually, I find myself at the still-closed apothecary. Taking a peek through one of the windows, all I see is a messy storefront with dust lining the shelves, as if the place has gone unused for some time. Pulling away from the window, I notice a girl standing nearby, seemingly being about twelve years of age. She has chest-length chestnut hair and brilliant green eyes, and is wearing a simple one-piece dress that is easy to move in. She notices my gaze, and begins to speak to me.

“Are you looking for big sis? Her medicine-making skills are great! She’s the one who owns the place, after all.” she gleefully exclaims, obviously proud of her big sister.

“Yes, actually. We used more medicine than we planned, and so we want to get more while we’re here. Can you go get her for me?” I reply.

The girl’s face suddenly takes a gloomy expression “Thing is, I haven’t seen big sis in a while. Some bad-looking men came here, asking about something important her master made, being certain she had it hidden somewhere.” She goes on to briefly talk about the men, who from their descriptions appear to be some noble’s goons. “That night, she disappeared. It’s been almost a month since her disappearance, but I’m the only one still looking for her. It’s like everyone else just forgot about her existence!” she wails out that last part, evidently still believing her sister still lives. I’ve seen those types of men, they wouldn’t take ‘no’ as an answer. However, I should at least try to cheer her up.

“Can I have her name, in case I meet her? I can tell you miss her, and will pass on the message should we run into each other.” I say, despite the fact her sister is almost certainly dead after being gone this long.

“Big sis’ name is… is… Why can’t I remember her name?” The girl mutters, obviously confused. I am too, from what little I’ve heard she seemed pretty close to her sister.

“Can I at least have your name? It would be good to know in case I run into her” I ask, trying to break her out of her stupor.

“Candis. Please find my big sister, ma’am!”

“It’s Maria.” I just now notice how late it’s gotten, the hour of twilight quickly approaching. “I have to go now, but I promise I’ll keep an eye out for her, okay?”

The walk back to the inn is a quiet affair. Makes sense, as most families are eating dinner around this time. My mind keeps wandering back to Candis, however. I can’t help but worry about her. I guess it’s because of how much she reminded me of my own little brother, even if they are years apart. While I may not be able to do much for her sister, I can at least report the events surrounding her disappearance. There’s definitely something going on around here, but I know too little to act upon it. *sigh*, what have I stumbled onto this time? Putting it off for the time being, I return to the inn, and, after talking over some food with Ivan and co., turn in for the night.