"Master?"

It was Lin-Lin who awake Maximilian the next morning. The smiling face of the panda girl was the first thing he saw as he opened his eyes.

Yawning while he stretched a bit, he asked.

"Is it late?"

"No master, it is quite early actually. Everybody was still sleeping when I left the shelter."

"Good, good...Have you recuperate your strength? You passed out last night."

She looked down, blushing a bit.

"I'm sorry master, you had to carry me back...why didn't you stay?"

"I had work to finish.How do you find it?"

Turning around, he showed the panda girl the house with a large hand gesture.

"You are simply impressive, master. You did all this using magic?"

"Indeed, I am still amazed by the possibilities magic offer. Be it with spells, artifact...speaking of artefact..."

He looked at the trench, who was now filled with water...well, not exactly, but there was less than one meter missing, so it was fine. Maximilian reduced the water's flow and took back the waterskin. he took a sip before handing it to Lin-Lin who did the same. While she gave it back to him, she was still looking around.

"Is it finished?"

"Almost. I will see with the others if they think I should add something and I still have to finalise the defences, then it should be okay."

"Speaking of others, shouldn't I go and wake them up?"

"Wait just a bit, there is a thing I want to do before they arrive."

...........................................................................................................................................................

The three families were awake by the panda girl that morning, their mind still full of mixed feelings about last night. On one side, they were happy about the slave hunter not pursuing them for the moment and the delivery of the baby who went well, but on the other side, the days to come would be hard, very hard.

"No need to worry, Molly, master will help you."

The woman sighed, patting the panda girl's head.

"You're a good girl, Lin-Lin, and Maximilian is a good man too. But even if he knows a bit about magic, I don't see how he could hel...what is that?"

As they went out of the protective wall, the group arrived in front of...mist. The entire area where Arold and Molly's land used to be was hidden in a thick mist, too thick to see anything behind it.

Looking around like the others, Arold was the first one to talk.

"This mist is strange, It's too thick...and It's hiding everything."

"Good observation, my dear Arold."

From inside the mist came Maximilian's voice as his silhouette appeared just before he stepped out of the misty wall, a big smile on his face.

"Not bad, don't you think? I placed runes all around the area to create this."

They all looked at each other before Molly asked.

"...Did you want to create mist? You know, you just have to go by the river at morning for that, no need to bother yourself with your runes."

She was surprised by Maximilian's laughed.

"Haha, no, no Molly. This isn't a simple mist. This one won't let any aggressive monster inside, it can be a simple wolf or something more "exotic", if it tries to go into the mist with bad intent, the magic inside will make it go in a circle and out, without the monster noticing it. They can try as long as they want, it won't work."

The group looked at him for a moment, not saying a thing. This time, it was Kalem who broke the silence.

"Is it dangerous?"

"For you and your family? Not at all. Go on, try and cross it. you won't even feel anything."

Kalem was clearly excited at the idea.

"Realy, I can?"

He looked at his parents to make sure it was okay.

"Can I ?"

Molly and Arold looked at each other, then at the others before Molly let her son's hand go.

"Yes, but be careful, okay?"

"Yes, mommy"

And so the little Kalem ran until he was just a step away from the mist wall. Seeing him hesitate, Lin-Lin took his hand and led him inside.

There were a few seconds of silence before the boy let his voice be heard.

"Woah!!! Mum, dad, everyone, come see this!!!"

Following the boy's voice, everyone entered the mist, followed by Maximilian.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Is it...is this place real?"

Molly's question was understandable. From inside, the mist was invisible, letting everyone inside see as far as their eyes could. The morning sunlight shining on the new house, reflecting on the tranquil clear water in the trench, and even some little birds were hanging around on the flat house's roof. The peace of this place gave it a dreamy feeling, like an illusion.

Maximilian passed next to them, showing the place with a large hand gesture.

"Why not discovering it by yourself ? This is your haven, you all can live here for dozens of years without worries. Go on, explore, I'll hang around if you have questions."

The adult of the group seemed hesitant, as if taking a step forward would make the illusion disappeared. Once again, it was the children who advanced first. Arold and Molly's child, Lin-Lin and the Wolf girl ran in the house direction, excited and wanting to explore it as soon as possible.

"See? They like the idea of exploration."

All advanced on the new land. Giliane was the last one to pass next to him and stopped a moment.

"You...did all this alone in one night?"

"Lin-Lin helped for the field,but other than that, yeah...you like it?"

She took a look around, walking next to Maximilian. Her hand slightly touched the stone bridge's edge as they passed on it.

"It's...wonderful...I didn't know magic could be used for that. All I ever knew of it is the way some use it to hurt others."

She was surprised by Maximilian's hand on her shoulder, smiling at her.

"There are a lot of beautiful things in this world. When in good hands, magic is one of them."

He pushed her slightly, making her advanced.

"Go on, see for yourself what magic can accomplish."

She smiled at him, replacing a strand of her long dark brown hair behind her ear.

"I'll..see you later, okay?"

"Of course, I'll be around."

For the next hour, Maximilian walked here and there, explaining when needed the special installations of the house.

All were appreciative, but it was Molly who was the most demonstrative.

"Arold! Look! We have a kitchen, like the nobles...even an oven! An oven, Arold."

"Yes dear, I heard you."

Arold, more than happy, was nonetheless calmer than his wife, simply smiling at her happy face while she was discovering everything.

"Have you seen the fireplace? We could roast a horse in there."

This came from Gang, admiring the fine work on the stones.

"I'm impressed with the stone quality, even the prison we were kept in didn't have stones that strong...where did you find them?"

"The stones for the fireplace? I use the big stones who were buried in the field outside, I figure I should use them and seeing you all I thought a big fireplace would be a good idea when winter comes."

"That is indeed a good idea."

Giriel, with Molly and her mother, was also examining the kitchen. She stopped in front of the sink and the lever, tilting her head to the side.

"That's a lever...what does it do?"

"Why don't you try, Giriel?"

The wolf girl reached and pull the lever.

All in the room, expected Maximilian of course, were surprised to see pure water flowing down the pipe and filling the sink.

"Water? How is it possible? Is there a water stock upside?"

"No, this water comes from the trench all around, like all the water you can use in this place. I made sure it was purified before coming in here, so you can drink it without worries."

Arold was the one who talked next.

"The trench? But they aren't big enough to serve as water stocking place...nor do they keep the water there, I dug it to protect us against big rainy days."

"And you did a good job. I just make it deeper and create an inside wall to keep the water. Each rainy day will fill it, and in the case of a long dry period, I made it a dozen meter deep and filled it already, so you should be fine."

"A dozen meters!?"

"Yep, now that you have water to cook and wash, it seemed to be the least quantity to aim for."

Molly interrupted Arold who was gonna speak again.

"Wait, wait...what do you mean, we have water to wash? Are we supposed to wash in the kitchen?"

This made Maximilian laughed a bit at the idea before he pointed at the door leading to the bathroom.

Molly and the other women in the room went to check while Giriel went exploring another part of the place. A few seconds after, Maximilian's efforts were rewarded by the exclamations of joy.

"We have baths!!! And the water is warm! It's magic!"

"Yes, that's the idea."

Coming from the little hall leading to the toilets came Giriel's voice.

"There are several little rooms in here...with what look like strange chairs...what is that?"

Coming at her to see what she was talking about, Maximilian explained what it was.

*Yeah, this would be special even for noble, so no wonder a slave child would not be aware of what a toilet could be.*

To be honest, the women were the ones interested the most in the baths and toilets, the men having less trouble going out in the field. They were still grateful thought, the idea of an inside place to do their business in the winter was a good idea. Gara, with Giriel, Giliane and Tilina, were the most surprised.

"You mean we are supposed to...in there?"

"That's the idea, yes."

"But...isn't it going to smell bad inside the house?"

"No, no, the idea is simple. Every bit of soiled water will directly go far underground, in a big cave where it will slowly nourish the land, making good earth for the field outside."

"And what about this lever?"

"It's used for...cleaning yourself after you're done."

"I...don't really get it..."

"Tell you what, I'll go back out with the others. Try it and you'll see. You do your thing, and pull the lever before standing up, that's all."

Not waiting for another question, he let them test the thing. He went out in the field, where Arold, Gang and Titus were discussing.

"So? How does it look?"

"Incredible, there isn't a single rock left in there...how did you do that?"

"Me? I didn't do anything, it was Lin-Lin who pulled out the rocks, you should thank her later."

Crouching with Arold, Maximilian let the farmer take a bit of earth in his hand, slowly palpating it.

"What do you think, is it gonna be good enough?"

The farmer had shiny eyes, looking as if he was gonna cry.

"Good enough? You brought back my family's land to life...I can finally work again in my father's field...oh no."

"What is it?"

"The seeds. The bit we managed to salvage was stocked inside the house...all is burned now. Without them, even the best field won't be of use."

Maximilian scratched his chin for a bit, thinking.

"There is a village nearby, right?"

"hum...yes, why?"

"I suppose there is some kind of merchant there, no?"

"Indeed, a man who own a shop where you can find...well, more or less everything."

"Good, you think he could have what you need for the field?"

"I think so...but, Maximilian, we're not exactly rich. How are we supposed to buy what we need."

Maximilian patted the man shoulder, smiling at him.

"Details, Arold, details. Let me take care of that and w..."

"WHERE IS HE!?"

Molly and the other women came out of the house, marching in the men's direction. Pointing at him, Molly sais.

"You! I had the surprise of my life in there! You could have warned us."

"About what?"

"That freaking water coming from behind on my...on our...oh don't make me say it, you know what I'm talking about...and stop laughing!"

Although she was speaking loud, it was clear on her face she wasn't angry at all, slapping Maximilian's arm as he was lightly laughing.

"So? How do you find it? The idea of the thing I mean."

"Well...yes, it is going to be useful for us, women."

"What about the men?"

"They will keep it clean with us or go do their business outside, be it sunny or snowy."

"I heard that, dear."

"That's because I wanted you to, Arold."

The comical scene with the farmer couple made everyone laughed. The children ran out of the house, overjoyed.

"Mum, dad, there are bedrooms, enough for everyone!"

Tilina looked surprised at that.

"You made room for everyone?"

"Enough for every couple, plus one for each child having his own, and several more if you should have...visitors."

"But...isn't it gonna be hard to warm every room?"

"Not at all. I installed a system quite similar to the water one, but instead of bringing you water, it brings you heat."

"What do you mean?"

"You pull the lever in your room and it will be slightly warmer, that's all. Of course, you need a fire to be burning for it to work."

Arold, still in a state of amazement, said.

"So...you made us a house, with water and heat inside, protected from monsters...is there something else or did we saw everything?"

"Almost. I made a working place with a forge, you will be able to use it to repair your tools, furniture, or even weapons if needed."

"That will be useful to defend ourselves."

"Glad you like it, Titus. Arold, as a farmer, do you think there is something more I should add to all this?"

"Add? You mean there could be more? But you..."

He looked all around, still not really believing all was real.

"You made so much already. I wouldn't dare to ask more of you."

"Nonsense, do not be shy. You see, I'm not a farmer. There could be things I forgot and I want your advice."

"Well...there are two things who comes to my mind. A windmill and, maybe, a barn? If one day we manage to have a bocow, or even a farm horse, they should have a place to stay."

Maximilian facepalmed.

"A windmill! Of course, I totally forgot that. Wait for a bit, It shouldn't take long. For the barn, I'll simply add a space next to the house, thanks for the idea."

"Is it going to be okay, aren't you tired after all you've done?"

"Nah, I'm fine."

Gang talked next, seconded by Giliane.

"We're going to help."

"Thank you for the offer, I'll need you later, but now I'm waiting for Octavia actually. All of you stand back, for now, I wouldn't want to hurt any of you by mistake."

The group stayed behind, watching Maximilian walking to an open space, several meters after the trench.

*It should be fine here...let's make it tall enough to catch a good wind...*

Stomping on the ground, Maximilian used earth magic to make the windmill tower grew from the ground, making it reach a dozen meters high, the same size in diameter.

"Woaaaaah. It grew like a flower, but much quicker!"

Maximilian didn't need to turn, recognising Kalem's voice. Once the tower was finished, he made a big opening, big enough to let a man and a horse enter at the same time. He made the roof flat and stairs inside the windmill going around the inside wall until it reached the opening in the roof.

*Like that they will be able to work on the wings if it was needed. Now the inside mechanism...*

Going inside, he created the gears out of dust he turned into stones he enchanted with runes, making sure they were the strongest possible. On the windmill ground, he made a big millstone, with some lever on the wall to activate the different mechanisms and brake. One to make the millstone work, and the other to make the windmill turn, so it could face the wind again.

*The inside is done, now I only need Octavia for the wings...speaking of her...*

As he was going out, he saw the spider, warily looking at the mist wall from the outside, or at nothing when you looked at the scene from the inside.

"Octavia, It's okay, you can come inside the mist."

Hearing Maximilian's voice, the spider stepped inside, passing through the wall like nothing. Maximilian and Octavia rejoined with the group.

"How did it go? Did you manage to do what I asked of you?"

"Cashia!"

Octavia gave Some kind of folded fabric the man put away in the havenbag.

"Thank you, Octavia...wait a minute, now that I look at you, you got bigger again."

In fact, the spider was now having the same size as the wolves they killed the day before, Maximilian examined her to see she was now level 18.

"I see the hunter you killed gave you power...good job for your levelling."

Kalem came next to the spider, slightly touching her.

"You got bigger...can I ride you?"

"Kalem! Don't be silly."

That was from Molly, still finding it a bit hard to completely trust the eight leg creature. Maximilian spoke next.

"Not now, I need Octavia's help...if you're not too tired?"

Octavia shook her head left to right before waiting for orders.

"Okay, I want you to help me build the wings for the windmill. I'm going to make the structure, and you are going to weave the fabric, will you be fine?"

The spider thought for a bit before tapping her left front leg on the ground several times, with a second between each movement.

Gang asked.

"What is she doing?"

"She tries to say something...you need something?"

She nodded.

"Okay, you need something...food?"

She shook her head right to left, imitating a flying bird with her two front legs and forcefully closing her mouth several times.

"You ate already, a bird?"

She nodded.

"Okay, you don't need food, something to drink?"

It wasn't that. Evy hit her palm with her fist, thinking about something.

"I know! To weave, a spider needs to have strength, but also time."

Octavia pointed at Evy.

"That's what you mean? You need time to do it?"

She nodded.

"You'll have all the time you need. I'll build the wings for you, and then you take care of the fabric, okay?"

Octavia nodded once again.

Using wood he enchanted to make stronger, he created four big wings on the windmill. Of course, at that moment, it wasn't much more than pieces of wood put together, with nothing to catch the wind with.

"Okay, Octavia, do your thing."

The spider imitated a military salute with her left front leg before walking in the windmill's direction. She did not even bother with the stairs, jumping directly on the wall, then on the wings to started working on them.

Everyone separate, continuing the new land discovery, until only Maximilian and Molly were still there.

Molly was looking at the eight legs creature working, a serious look on her face.

"Is something wrong, Molly?"

"Not really. It's just that...I still find it hard to trust ...her. I know she isn't going to attack us now, but still...she is a monster, you know?"

"Aren't we all, in a certain way?"

"What do you mean?"

"All of us are capable of doing the best or the worst if we chose to. Octavia is the same as us, only her appearance is different. The things you call monsters are far more savage, she is intelligent. Another thing is that the "monsters" are generally imbued with dark energy, chaos. Octavia does not have more dark energy in her than your children, she his a friend and she chose on her own to follow and help me and Lin-Lin on our journey."

Molly nodded before going back in the new house direction.

"I...I'll start bring back inside the bit we manage to salvage from the fire."

"Okay. I'll be in the living room, I have things to do, but first...Arold!"

"Yes?"

"Can you explain to me what is a bocow exactly?"

...........................................................................................................................................................

The farmer was surprised by Maximilian question but explained to him nonetheless. It appeared the bocow were looking a lot like cows of his old world, but bigger, taller, and with curled horns on their head.

For the next hour, Maximilian sat at the big stone table, doing something the others weren't understanding. Tilina was breastfeeding her baby on the opposite side, at the other end of the table. The beastmen and Arold were still examining the working tools to see what was still usable, while the children were playing outside, or simply looking at Octavia working in Evy's case.

Giliane, as curious as the others, came next to Lin-Lin who was helping Molly and Gara in the kitchen, preparing the last pieces of wolf meat who were still in the havenbag, the others having burned in the fire. Bringing what was salvaged inside didn't take long, seeing there wasn't a lot of stuff, to begin with.

"Do you know what he is doing?"

Lin-Lin looked at Maximilian for a second before shrugging.

"Not really. Why don't you ask him?"

"I...wouldn't want to bother him. What he is doing seemed to be important and..."

"You can talk to him, Giliane. Master is the kind of man who will gladly explain what he is doing...and to be frank, I'm curious too. Want me to come with you?"

The wolf woman simply nodded. Lin-Lin put the knife she was using down.

"The pieces of meat are ready for the stew, Molly."

"Thank you, dear."

Lin-Lin and Giliane came near the table where Maximilian was working on little stones rings in front of him.

"Master? Giliane and I were wondering...wat are you doing?"

Looking up to look at the two beastkins, Maximilian smiled at them while showing the stone ring between his index and thumb.

"I'm making protection for our friends."

The two looked at each other, the other adult in the room also interested by Maximilian's words.

"Protection? What do you mean?"

"Simple. As you know, the slavers are looking for beastkins, wolves and rabbits, who have escaped. With what I've done here, I'll make sure they won't be able to find them."

Gang scratched his chin, not understanding.

"With rings? How will it fool them?"

"Try it, you'll see. I've made one for each of you and the children, plus five others just in case."

"Hem..."

Gang wasn't too sure about this. He looked at Titus who was looking as sure as him, then at Giliane and Gara.

"What should I...?"

"Try it, brother. I think Maximilian has proved more than enough we can trust him. I f you don't do it, I will."

"No,no, It is me who should."

Gang took the ring Maximilian was handing him and put it on his index. All in the room except for Maximilian gasped as the wolfman body transformed. In a few seconds, the beastkin had changed to look like at tall and strong looking man with long dark brown hair and yellow eyes. Looking at his hands, Gang spoke after a while.

"What...what did you do to me?"

"Nothing, this is just a disguise. You are still Gang the wolfkin, although it would require a very powerful magician to see through the runes magic I trace on that ring."

"You mean I'm not stuck like this?"

"Not at all. Take off the ring and you'll have your normal form again in less than a minute."

Gang did that and, as Maximilian promised him, retrieve his fur and claws. Gara sighed in relief.

"I thought for a second my male turned into a human for good."

This made Maximilian laughed a bit.

"I wouldn't take your male from you like that, Gara. What you've all seen, these rings, are called rings of masquerade. They allow a non-human humanoid to take the closest human form to theirs. Inside the mist, no one can see you from the outside, but if you need to go to the village, or somewhere else, put them on and none of those hunters will be able to recognise you."

Titus dropped the fork in his hand, a serious look on his face."

"So you say that for us to go out, we have to turn into humans?"

"That's the idea, yes. At least for now. When the day come I'll learn how to take the binding mark on your back off, you won't need to hide anymore, you'll be free. But until then, this will help you avoid trouble."

"I refuse. I refuse to transform in one of you...not after what they've done to us, n..."

"Titus!"

That came from Tilina. Standing up, she gave the baby to Giliane for a moment, coming near Maximilian.

"I know how you feel about humans, we all do, but enough is enough. Molly,Arold, Maximilian, they helped us. By the ancients, it's thanks to them that your son his living today! If that man, that human, is willing to help us once again, I sure am not going to refuse because of his race."

Taking one of the rings on the table, she showed it at her male before putting it on. In a few second, the rabbit woman turned into a human woman with white hair, pale pink skin and red/pink eyes.

The human looking rabbit woman took another ring from the table before taking a few steps and came in front of her male.

"It's only a disguise, Titus. Under this illusion, I'm still the same. My mind is the same, my feelings..."

Reaching with a hand, she caressed her male's cheek, smiling at him.

"Although I look different, I'm still the rabbitkin you fell in love with."

Titus closed her eyes a minute, the situation clearly hard for him.

"oh Tilina...It is just so infuriating that we have to hide ourselves like criminals...but, you're right. Maximilian has already proved he isn't an enemy..."

Tilina slowly put her lips on his before smiling to him.

"I'm proud of you, my male."

And she just put the ring on his index.

...........................................................................................................................................................

A bit later, on the road leading to the village, Maximilian and a woman were riding two of the three black horses Maximilian had taken from the hunters the night before. The third one, who used to belong to the fat guy, had more the physic of a workhorse than the other two, finer. He was walking next to the other two, visibly relieved without the weight of the big guy in armour on his back.

"If I trust what Arold told me earlier, we should find what we need in the village."

"Indeed. The last time, we only pass by the forest, so I don't really know anything about it."

"Don't worry Giliane. From what I've heard, there isn't more than two dozen houses, with an inn, a smith and a general merchant. It shouldn't be too hard to find those places. If needed, we always can ask around for the way."

"Do you think they would help us?"

"Are you kidding? My wears make me look like some kind of rich noble going on an adventure, and you...well, to be frank, I've never heard of a man who wouldn't be willing to give direction to a beautiful lady."

Looking at his companion, he smiled at the human young woman, with long dark brown hair going to her middle back, tanned skin and yellow/golden eyes completing a lovely face and a well proportionate body. All in all, the human form of Giliane looked like a beautiful young gipsy woman.

When it was decided that she would be the one to go with him to the village because she was the only one who knew how to ride except for him (new skill "riding" acquired and maximised), Molly had given her some of her old clothes, rapidly adjusting a long skirt and a shirt so she wouldn't have to go in her slave rags.

Giliane looked down, blushing a bit.

"You...you really think I look beautiful like this?"

"To be frank, I think you looked beautiful even before you put the ring on. The difference is that now you look like a beautiful human and not a beautiful wolfkin. One thing you have to understand is that the ring doesn't change the beauty you have, only the race through wich you show it."

"Thank...thank you."

"You're welcome."

Soon after, they arrived in the village vicinity. Like Arold explained, it wasn't much more than two dozen house all looking more or less like the farmer's old one. Here and there were men and women living their life, doing their jobs or simply talking between themselves. Coming near three women and a man who stopped their discussion when they approached, Maximilian asked.

"Good day to you, could one of you be kind enough to point me the direction of the smith and the merchant?"

The man took off his hat before talking.

"For sure, my lord..."

*My lord?*

"...the smith and merchant both live near the village centre. The merchant has the biggest house of the village, for the smith you just have to follow the hammer sound, you can't miss it."

"Thank you, my good man. Here, for your time."

Maximilian flipped the man two copper coins who landed in the man's hat. Pursuing on the dirt road, the closest thing to a street in this village, Maximilian asked Giliane.

"Do you know why this man called me "My lord"? I was only kidding earlier when I said I looked like a young noble..."

Giliane looked at him from head to feet before asking.

"You...are really not a noble?"

"Not at all, what makes you think that?"

"Well...your dress to begin with. I, as you may have guessed, am not well versed in expensive clothes. But even I can recognise mithril when I see some, and the red fabric used is clearly of superior quality. The money you would make by selling your dress only could buy food for this entire village for a year, at the very least."

Looking down at his wears, Maximilian examined it a bit.

"It's that valuable? I didn't know. I was aware of it's quality, of course, but I had no idea it could cost so much."

"Yes, it is valuable. But I don't think your dress is the only thing why the simple people take you for a noble."

"What is it then?"

"I don't really know. You have a strange air around you, like a natural authority, it inclined some to bow to you...and also, this has a different effect on some beastkin..."

"What effect?"

"Oh look! We're here, the merchant and the smith."

Giliane was clearly changing the subject, but Maximilian decided to not pointed it.

As they arrived at the village centre, Maximilian was surprised to discover a journey crystal, silently floating right in the middle of the central place.

*A journey crystal? Good, I can use it to come back when needed.*

"Should we go for the smith or the merchant first?"

"Juste a second, Giliane, I have something to do first."

Getting off the horse, he walked to the crystal and simply touched it, feeling a little wave of energy running through his body, meaning he was now able to use it as a journey point.

"Okay, done. Let's get to the merchant first, I would like to take care of the horses before anything else."

"I'll stay out to keep an eye on them while you bargain."

"Thank you."

The inside of the shop was what you could expect of a general merchant. Some shelves had seeds bags, farming tools and those kinds of things. Another part of the shop had books, of magic or another subject, although clearly not the best sales of the old man behind the counter.

Exceding from a barrel was basic swords, maybe some pieces exchanged for other goods. One or two pieces of armour, but nothing worthy of intention among those. What caught Maximilian's attention was behind the man, on another shelve. Five big glass jar were filled with little sweets, certainly honey one if you believed the golden colour. On the ground was a barrel filled with what looked like rock candy, and another one with salt.

*Holly god, thank you. Finally some sugar.*

The old man, clearly not used to have customers other than peasant and maybe one or two lost adventurers, was surprised by the man dressed in rich clothes. His merchant blood immediately boiled in him, sensing the good opportunity. Putting on his best smile, he welcomed Maximilian with a slight bow.

"Good day to you, noble sir. How can I help you today?"

The old merchant kinda remembered him the old man of the weapon shop he used to work at before his death, this put him in a good mood.

*That is clearly something that doesn't change no matter which world you live in, the way a professional merchant talk.*

"Good day to you too, sir merchant. I have several things I wish to buy, others I would like to exchange."

"Certainly, noble sir, what was it you wish to buy?"

"First things first, how many of those do you have?"

Maximilian asked while pointing at the salt and sugar barrel.

"Ah, well...I'm afraid all I have is what you see here. This is a small village and to be honest I cannot afford to stock too much of those. But if you're here for some time, I can send a message and be restock in less than a week."

"That won't be necessary sir, I'll take all you have here."

The merchant opened his eyes wide.

"Ev...everything, you want all the sugar and salt I have? I'm afraid this is going to cost you quite a bit, noble sir."

"How much? So I have an idea..."

The old merchant closed his eyes for a bite, calculating actively.

"One gold per barrel."

"One gold you say..."

As he was thinking about the value of the goods and the price asked for it, new skills were discovered. "Goods value knowledge" skill and "bargain" skill were now maximised by Maximilian.

*So...with this new knowledge skill I know that...this old man is clearly trying to rob me!*

"Good merchant, I think your estimation is a bit off. Those barrels have less than half the value you ask for them..."

Maximilian wasn't menacing, a gentle smile still on his face. The idea was to make a good deal, not giving the old man a heart attack by frightening him.

"...I am sure this is just a slight mistake, is it not?"

The old man lost his smile for a fraction of second before putting his seller mask back on.

"All my apologies, noble sir. My mind isn't as vivid as it used to be I'm afraid. You're right of course, I think one gold for the two would be acceptable, yes?"

This still left the merchant with a little profit in the deal, that wasn't bothering Maximilian at all. He nodded and reached inside the havenbag.

"Deal, here is your gold."

The man examined the golden coin in his hand, not really used to be paid with this high-value kind of coin. He hurriedly put it in his pocket while Maximilian walked to the two barrel.

"Should I hep you transport them, noble sir?"

"Do not bother yourself, Give me a second."

The barrels were less than a metre wide, for a bit more than one metre high. Maximilian extended the havenbag and simply put the two barrel inside, making them disappeared while the old merchant opened his mouth wide.

"Wh...what did you do?"

"Well, I took my goods, of course. With a bit of magic, this is easier."

The merchant scratched his chin, then shook his head.

"Let's pursue, noble sir. Was there something else?"

"Yes, those golden little balls in those jars, what are they?"

"The ones behind the counter? Honey sweets, simple delicacies costing two copper each, why?"

"Here, two copper, let me try one, please."

"Yes, sir."

The old man went and picked one of the golden sweets to give it to Maximilian who put it in his mouth. It wasn't anything special, a honey flavoured little sugar ball like he expected, but still very enjoyable and smooth for the throat.

"I take them all."

The old merchant laughed slightly.

"Aren't you a sugar lover. Two hundred sweets per jar, five jars, twenty silver coins, minus two copper already paid for this one, if you please."

"count twenty slivers, it's okay. Here you are."

The merchant took the money and Maximilian emptied the jar in the havenbag.

"Isn't it going to be bad if the sweets get mixed with the salt, noble sir?"

"What? Oh, in my bag you mean? Thank you for your concern but it's alright, I can put all I want in there, there won't be any problem. So next is..."

It continued for a while. Maximilian bought different kinds of seeds for Arold's field, new tools to help them replacing the one burned, better one with metal head compared to the all-wood one he had before. He also bought flour bags for them, to use while their new crops were growing, and dry meat he could use for the journey to come. The merchant had some rolls of fabric. Nothing extravagant, no special colour or matter, but it would still be useful to make dresses for the beastkins.

*All I have are armours and magic dress, I cannot go and give them away every time. For their future farmer life, this will suffice.*

"This should be all I need. One last thing, do you know where I would be able to trade beasts?"

"I'm afraid I don't follow you, noble sir."

"I have horses, good one. They are well nourished, trained, and I can give the saddle with them. I'm looking for bocows, at least a male and a female. Do you have an idea?"

As he explained, he saw the old man face showing a big smile once again.

"You're a lucky one, noble sir. I know of a man, a raiser. He may be interested in this exchange. I, for myself, will only take a small fee in the matter, as an intermediate."

"I wouldn't have asked otherwise, dear merchant. Here..."

Maximilian gave him another silver coin.

"Just tell me where to find him, the rest I can take care of."

"Thank you, noble sir. At this time of the day, he should be at the inn, the owner is a good buyer for his beast's meat and milk. His name is Woboc."

*Woboc the bocow raiser...some parents really have no imagination concerning their children's name...*

"Thank you for the information. I think I have everything I need, I'll be on my way."

The old merchant bow to Maximilian.

"May lady luck smile on your journey, noble sir."

"And to your shop too, good merchant."

Maximilian returned the bow to the merchant, surprised by the rich man courteous action before he turned and left the emptier shop.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Did you find all you needed?"

"Almost. Here, taste that."

Passing next to Giliane, Maximilian gave her one of the honey sweets he just bought. The wolfkin looked at the sweet, smelled it, before putting it in her mouth.

"Hmm, that's so tasty...thank you."

"You're welcome. Come, we should go to the inn next. There's a man I need to see there."

"What do you need him for?"

"Beast business."

Giliane stopped as she heard that.

"Beast...business?"

Seeing her worried face, Maximilian explained.

"Yes, the merchant told me he could be willing to exchange the horses with some bocow, a beast business."

Giliane sighed in relief.

"Oh, that's what you meant...just so you know, beats business is what the slavers called exchanging beastkin slaves."

"Oh shit...sorry, I didn't know."

"That's what I thougt...don't worry, it's okay. I know you wouldn't do something like that."

"Very well then. Do you want to come inside with me or do you prefer to look after the horses?"

"I'll stay with them."

"Alright, I won't be long."

...........................................................................................................................................................

The inside of the inn wasn't too busy at this hour, most of the people being working at the moment. Three old men were playing cards, a party of five adventurers was eating and drinking, while a fat bald man, the inn owner, was discussing with a tall strong man whit a long moustache, that was all.

As he advanced in the counter direction, Maximilian could feel the looks on his back as he passed the adventurers table, the old men not bothering with him. The barman and the moustache man stopped their discussion and looked at him as he approached.

"Good day to you, traveller, what can I serve you? We have fine ale, and there is still meat and eggs if you want something warm to eat"

"Tempting, thank you, but I'll be fine. I'm here seeking sir Woboc, do you know where I can find him?"

"Woboc is my name, but I don't know you, stranger. what do you want of me?"

Maximilian smiled politely at the moustache man.

"I'm here for business. The town merchant told me you could be interested in an exchange of beast. I have three horses, good health, trained and equipped with saddles. I desire bocow, would you be willing to discuss a trade?"

The man name woboc looked at the inn owner who shrugged before playing a bit with his long moustache.

"I could be...but I need to see the horses first...when and where can you show them to me?"

"Right now, my companion is keeping an eye on them while we talk, just outside."

"Ah...well, you don't waste time."

"I don't like to waste my time, or other's, to be frank. Go see them, you can tell the woman outside Maximilian sent you. I just have some things to buy here and I'll be with you soon."

Woboc looked at Maximilian for a bit before walking to the exit.

"I suppose I can take a look..."

While the moustache man was examining the horses, Maximilian bought food and alcohol from the inn owner.

"Would you happen to have cheese?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. Do you want some?"

"How many do you have?"

"About a wheel."

"I'll take it, with some fresh meat, bread..."

The inn owner brought everything out. Maximilian paid him and put everything in the Havenbag, under the surprised look of the inn owner and the adventurers at the table.

"That's a strange bag you've got there, sir."

"Isn't it? One of my most precious treasure. Thank you for the food and good day to you sir."

"Good luck with your bargain, Woboc is an honest man, you'll see."

Maximilian saluted the owner before getting out, passing once again next to the adventurer's table.

"It's a strange thing you've got there."

One of them, a human man, accosted Maximilian as he passed near him.

"Mind telling us where you find it?"

Maximilian took an instant to scan the group. A human man, a human woman, an elf, an orc and a dwarf, with levels between ten and twenty. By their equipment, it was easy enough to guess their respective roles in the group. The man was a scout, duelist, lightly equipped with a sword and a shield. The woman was the thief of the group, light leather armour and dagger on the belt. The elf was the mage, long robe and staff. The dwarf, strangely enough, seemed more focused on range battle with a crossbow, although a small axe was attached to his belt. The orc was the tough one of the group, big armour and two-handed sword. From the look they were exchanging, they didn't seem to be a threat, but Maximilian preferred to stay cautious.

"In the deepest chamber of a dungeon. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm waited for..."

He was going away but the orc grabbed his arm.

"We did not tell you to go human, so you stay."

"You should be more careful..."

Maximilian took the orc's hand and easily made him loose grip, twisting the green flesh. All the adventurers opened their eyes wide as the orc scream in pain.

"Oh don't be a crybaby, I only twisted your arm a little, nothing is broken."

He started to walk again but the group wasn't gonna let him.

"Where do you think you're going after hurting our friend like that?"

Maximilian sighed.

*Oh damn, another group of idiots...*

"Listen...you accosted me, didn't even bother to greet me before asking a question, to which I had the good heart to give you an answer. After that, your orc friend tried to stopped me by force and I only made him let go...Believe me, you should sit back and pursue your breakfast before you do something you will really regret."

"Ha, like what? We are five and you're alone."

"I don't see how this is a good point."

"Let me show you!"

The human man dashed at Maximilian, sword up. Maximilian turned and caught his hand midair, knocking him out with a headbutt. The man fell down, unconscious.

"Boss! You're dead, human."

The dwarf fired a bolt at him, bolt Maximilian caught midair, looking at the astonished face of the bearded ranged fighter.

"Please stop that, you and I are really not of the same level, both figuratively and literally speaking..."

The orc didn't let him finish, taking out his sword to attack him. The blade was caught between Maximilian's fingers, and a punch to the shin knocked the orc out too. From the corner of his eye, he saw the elf starting an incantation.

Before it was too late, Maximilian pointed at him, making two dozen arrows of ice appeared all around the three members of the group still standing, floating and ready to kill.

"Think fast. Don't do anything stupid."

The elf looked at the spell used in an instant, and the power display before him, before dropping his staff, the spell cancelled in an instant. The thief wasn't pleased by that.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm saving our lives, imbecile. Look around, this guy isn't someone we can take on like that. He knocked those two out in a single hit, and my magic is far from being able to compare to his."

Speaking to Maximilian, the elf bowed to him.

"We admit defeat and are sorry, please let us be."

With a single hand gesture, the arrows disappeared. Maximilian simply opened the door.

"Before you go...may I know your name?"

And as the door was closing on him, Maximilian, without a look behind him, said.

"Certainly, so you will know to never attack a friend of mine if you want to keep your heads, I'm Maximilian Baltazard V..."

And the inn door closed behind him...before being opened again by Maximilian, kinda ashamed to have missed a cool exit.

"...Van Nilmerus."

And he closed it again, for good this time. The dwarf blinked several times before looking at the other two.

"Can one of you explain to me what just happened, exactly?"