Dorian’s mouth stretched in a wide yawn as he prompted his hands between his chin. “Man. All this traveling is so boring.”

Ryu didn’t respond. He was never bored as he took in the sceneries. The green expanse of crops and the silent villagers glances as they passed the muddy dirt path.

They were out from the forest, and they were now in an area surrounded by crops and trees and vast expanse of grasslands.

Ryu enjoyed watching the villagers as they cut the tall crops with their sickles. The scene was healing to his eyes and soul. For some odd reason, he liked it –– the peace and tranquility.

“Ryu, are you listening?”

Ryu blinked and faced Dorian beside him.

“I said, do you want to hunt later?” Dorian asked again.

Ryu nodded in a hurry but then realized that Ferris was sleeping against his shoulder. He took a peek at the girl before he said, “Yes.”

Dorian patted Ryu’s head. “At least I’m never bored with you. I have someone to hunt with. Unlike this folks . . .” Doran jutted his lips at Isaac and Pedro.

“Our job is to watch over the Princess. Not to enjoy ourselves,” Isaac grumbled and looked the other way, completely ignoring Dorian.

Dorian sighed. “See. He’s just a kid, but he is already this serious. I’m worried for his future.”

Isaac frowned but chose to shut his lips tight, or else he wouldn’t hear the end of it. Dorian could be infuriating if he wanted to.

Ryu didn’t respond, but then he remembered that Ferris told him to participate in the conversation to develop his speech and social skills.

Ryu groaned and forced the words out of his mouth. “You two are . . . close.” It was his first attempt, and he’d say he’d done a pretty good job.

But Ferris’s ever so silent snicker told him otherwise.

Ryu shot the sleeping girl a glare. He didn’t saw her have any proper conversation. He’d say she’s equally bad with social skills as him.

Dorian placed his arms over his head. “Well . . . We’ve been in a couple of missions before. So I guess we’re pretty close.”

“No, we’re not,” Isaac snapped, voice shrieking. It was the most childlike behavior Ryu had seen so far that Isaac made.

Realizing he was out of character, Isaac coughed between his fist and pretended to look at the scenery.

Dorian chuckled. “You’re still a kid no matter how hard you hide it.”

Isaac pouted.

Dorian shook his head a little and gazed at the clear sky. “Ah . . . but these boring days I like the best. Actions and danger are good, and all, but I prefer to live a peaceful life.”

Ryu studied Dorian’s face. There was something on his expression as it became softer and softer while his eyes seemed to sparkle.

“I’m thinking of buying a land in the future,” continued Dorian, “Just a small lot somewhere in a village preferably. I’m saving for it.”

He grinned, and his hand reached for the sky. “A small house with my children playing around while my wife cooked delicious meals. Then after I tend the animals, plow the field, and chopped some woods, I’ll be home by six, and my wife and kids greeted me with a warm smile and big hug.”

There was forlorn in Dorian’s expression and longing to his voice that Ryu thought was . . . beautiful . . . He must have really wanted a family. Wanted to experience having one since they mostly grew up with no family.

Ryu looked at his own hands and thought of Cecily, and a smile stretched the stiff edge of his lips.

“What about you?” Dorian asked and faced Ryu. “What do you want in the future?”

Ryu blinked. “Future?”

“Yeah, future. I mean, you can’t be a servant forever.” Dorian scratched his head, and sweat appeared on his face. “Well, yeah, you can be. I mean, most servants’ future is tied with their master. But there are masters out there that are benevolent and have their servants decide their future.”

And Dorian added in a whisper. “Though only a few . . .”

Ryu’s eyes rounded, and he looked over the sky. “I want . . . Cecily and I to get married . . . and have kids in the forest . . . I’ll hunt . . . , and she’ll take care of our children.”

That was Ryu’s first lengthy speech, and he looked at Dorian with an eager face.

Dorian was dumbstruck.

Ferris choked and coughed before she pretended to sleep.

“That’s. . . big.” Dorian looked away and forced a laugh. “Well . . . certainly the princess is a good catch and . . .”

Dorian didn’t know how to proceed and so he ended the topic with a thumbs-up. “Dream big while you’re at it!”

Ryu nodded with a stoic expression, and Ferris wanted to cry for his future.