With a rumbling stomach and tired legs, I glance down from the top of the hill and take in the view.

A sea of golden, many fields of wheat fill the ground beyond the hill; between them are a few farms and farther to the center of them stand several two-story buildings, all of that surrounded by a fence.

A village.

Probably.

I have never seen one before.

I don't know what to feel, though. Finding people is good, isn't it? Finally, civilization.

Back there I felt a lot of relief after finding this barely visible dirt road a couple of days ago. Now that I am so close to people I realize that I have no idea of what to do next, even although I thought a lot about it I didn't come up with a plan.

What to do next? How do I approach them? What do I even need of them? First, I want to get to a city. This isn't one. But still, I need directions, just now I become aware of the weight of how little I know about the Empire, aside from their language.

I lightly slap both of my cheeks at the same time. It doesn't matter, I will not even pass much time here. I can get clothes and food from here. Something else? Become a farmer, maybe. No thanks.

I will just approach them and improvise everything else. What is the worst that could happen? I can trade the monsters' parts and the like, if that fails I will just keep my way to the city, whatever city is the closest, that is.

Alright! Climbing down the hill I head directly to the fields of wheat following the road.

Right after getting out of the Great Wild and finding a high place I looked for a road or a trace of human activity. I found none. Aimlessly wandering is just as dangerous as going through the forest. Were I to walk directly to the west I may have been traveling for months without finding anything, maybe even going past some towns or cities unaware. Walking diagonally as I looked for a road sounded more reasonable. It just left me with going north-west or south-west. Except for the north-west part of the Empire, all the western frontier of it collides with the Great Wild, roads leading to an unpassable place are few, I assumed.

I considered that I had more chances of finding a road going north as the desert between the Empire and the Mastan Kingdom is frequently crossed.

Anyways, it still took me two weeks to find a road, of course, I was relieved, at the time I was starting to think that maybe south-west was better.

The travel through the plains wasn't that interesting as I expected. There were days I didn't spot any signs of life. I saw a few big monsters sometimes, too big for me to dare approach them. Smaller predators tended to run away at the sight of me. My reserves of food ran dry fast.

Any small critter I found was exterminated, they weren't difficult to kill but difficult to find. The difference in strength between these monsters and those in the forest was evident. Even to middle-sized animals, a Fireball is enough to severely calcinate them. Needless to say, after something like that, they became inedible. Somehow, using Earth Lance to pierce the smaller ones made them explode, a bloody, inedible mess ensued. It is cheating, how do they even explode?

Surprisingly, the Boulder spell that back in the forest sometimes didn't even serve as a distraction proved to be far more useful against these. If I aimed to the head, the small ones died in one hit, no explosions.

Those explosions aren't natural anyway, why couldn’t they just obediently die and be eaten? Had I learned ways to preserve meat for longer times it wouldn't be much of a problem but eating rotten meat is a big no.

As I am not a tracker, getting out of my way to search for these rabbits wasn't that effective so I haven't eaten my fill in a while. I have drunk plenty of water, though. As I can conjure fresh water with ease, that was never a problem.

Finally reaching the fields of wheat I stop before the wooden fence. It's roughly my height, even though I can't squeeze between the gaps in the wooden boards I can climb without difficulty and I do so after casting Clean to get rid of my smell, sadly that of the clothes remains.

Now behind the fence, I look around. There doesn't seem to be a way to announce my presence and I don't know if someone spotted me on my way here from the hill so if needed, I will apologize for trespassing later.

After a minute of walking, I see a couple of farmers working the land with some tools. As I am not doing anything to avoid being seen my presence is quickly noticed by them. They talk among themselves for a moment and then one starts running to the village, the other just stares at me warily.

I keep walking at the same speed, not fast, as to not spook them but not slow either, to show the confidence of knowing where I am going to. Very feigned confidence, of course.

Oh, someone is heading this way from the village now, just a moment has passed. Three men, a bearded man in the center, maybe in his forties. His two companions are younger, one of them the guy who ran earlier, he seems tired.

Wait, what if after meeting me their intentions aren't that good? How can I start thinking of this just now? Damn, this is called looking for it, isn't it? This is the hunger's fault.

Relax, they are just farmers, probably.

If things devolve to the worst then I will just defend myself, I am far from being helpless.

I chuckle, dismissing those thoughts. Maybe they are kind people.

Soon enough they arrive in front of me and the older man greets me without wasting time.

"Hey there son, I am Ralph, Elder of Muna Village." He smiles at me. But he doesn't look happy though. "What is your name?"

"Uh?"

For a moment I am nothing but confused, but I quickly catch on to what is going on. I was expecting him to talk the language of the town but of course, he talks the common of the Empire. After learning it I have had few chances to speak it, mostly in the Lessons and when an adventurer or traveler stumbled into town.

But, village Elder, uh, of course, there should be one.

"Oh, right, my name is..." What was it? "Ah! Naaran! Eh... Naaran, just that." I give him an awkward smile. I can feel my cheeks reddening. Surely today is hot.

After not using my name for so long I almost forgot it. I can't believe it, hopefully, it's something normal.

The Elder straightens his back and squints his eyes at me. Is he thinking that I gave a false name?

Now that I think about it... should I have given a false one?

Alright, next time I will think about everything thoroughly before rushing forward. With a bit of luck, there will be a second next time too.

While promising that in my heart I take the chance to look at the Elder in more detail. He has dirty brown pants white a brown belt and brown boots. He is wearing a long-sleeved white shirt. No hat, his companions have one each, though.

The Elder nods slowly. "Pleased to meet you, son." Then he nervously glances at our surroundings before asking: "Can I know the motive of your visit?"

He surely is wary of me, but I have the habit of looking at my surroundings even when alone so I can't fault him for it.

"Yeah, I am not lost or anything, just traveling. I am on my way to the next city to trade, I am looking for clothes too." I say trying to sound honest.

Maybe he will be less wary if he knows I am just passing.

"You aren't lost, I see." He stares at me for a few seconds. Thinking. He seems afraid. "Very well, follow me to my house, that is a better place to continue talking, son."

"That would be great." I agree and walk alongside him the rest of the way, the other two behind us.

All that went well, now I can raise other topics too. Like trading some of my animals' parts for information, clothes, and food. I am dressed like a complete savage, with the fur cloak and no shirt. My shoes are just plants tied together.

"We don't get many visitors so sorry for the curious stares of the rest of the villagers, son."

"I understand, there is no problem."

The Elder then tells me that I arrived at the mealtime and he invites me to it. Great.

We arrive at one of the buildings at the center, all of them two-stories tall. None is painted. After dismissing our escorts, the Elder turns to me: "This is my house, let's go inside, son." Then he opens the door and shouts: "Dear! Bring the food, we have a guest!".

I chuckle, was the shout necessary?

After gesturing for me to enter and I comply, the Elder closes the door and guides me to sit on the chairs of the table nearby. We sit opposite each other. The atmosphere in the Elder's house is very warm. There are curtainless windows, wooden stairs, a doorless way to another room, probably the kitchen, crudely made chairs and orange metallic plates and cutlery in the center of the table. Nothing else worthy of remark except for the cleanliness of the place.

Even though it is so simple, it is still leagues above the old house I used to sleep in.

"My wife must be finishing the food soon; do you mind listening to a request of this old man while we wait?"

A request? I wonder what is it about.

I should at least hear him out.

"What is it?" I couldn't keep out the weariness out of my voice.

"Don't worry son, is nothing much." He said with a reassuring smile and while showing the palms of his hands. "Here we have the tradition of testing our strength with people we just met, oh, don't put that face, it's easy, we just take each other right hand and push our arm to our right side, if you manage to make the back of my hand touch the table then it's your win."

"If you don't want then there is no problem, no harm is done." He quickly adds.

I stared at him for a while.

A tradition? As if I were to believe that. But that game, I have played it before with other kids. We called it Strength back then.

The difference in age and height, though... How do you expect me to win?

"Very well, it makes no harm, as you said". Making contact with him can be dangerous so I start channeling an Earth Lance just for precaution. If he suddenly tries to do something and I die then I will only be able to blame myself.

"Good, thanks for agreeing to my silly request."

At least you admit that it's is silly, you just had to say you wanted to play.

After getting up from his chair the Elder moves to the chair to my left and sits down. Supporting his elbow on the table he opens his hand and waits for me. I do the same. Doesn't matter how I see it, his hands are so much bigger than mine, the sight makes me want to laugh.

This must be the graphical definition of the old bullying the young.

At the count of three, we started.

I feel like trying to move a wall, but still, somehow, I am slowly winning ground. Suddenly, it is reversed and I start to lose. I can feel inner-mana powering the muscles of the Elder.

Hey referee, is this allowed?

"Don't hold back son, try to win." The Elder says between breaths, somehow, he seems to be struggling. What a joke.

Fortunately for me, I haven't' slacked on my training of inner-mana since I started it. The amount I can use now must be enough for this. Just before my hand could be pushed all the way back I start to empower my arm with inner-mana and stops a bit before touching the table, saving me from losing.

Brows furrowed, jaw clenched, unfocused eyes, and adding the weight of his upper body to his arm, the Elder makes it pretty well for a pitiful sight while sweating buckets.

I am confused, though. Is this all fake?

My inner-mana dwindling for each passing second, I decide to try to finish this now. Using all my strength I steadily push the Elder's arm all the way back and soon the back of his hand touches the table, granting me the victory.

"Ahhh" The Elder exclaims tired and breathing heavily.

Aren't you a little too weak? And aren't you ashamed of losing to a ten years old boy, old man?

Wait, I really said that, not just thought it.

"Apologies for being so rude Elder Ralph, it wasn't necessary to let me win," I hurry to say sorry.

The Elder just shakes his head with a self-mocking smile on his face. "Letting you win? Haa... It's just as just say, son, I am weak. Not everyone is talented."

At this moment, a plump middle-aged woman enters the room with a casserole and a jar of —possibly— water. The smell coming from that casserole unleashes my stomach to rumble and my mouth to salivate.

Wait, what if it is poisoned? Yeah, according to the stories I have read, strangers poisoning you isn't a rare occurrence.

Maybe that is why the Elder shouted before entering the house, to give his wife time to poison it?

"Dear, this is our guest, Naaran. And Naaran, she is my wife Erin."

We exchange pleasantries, my 'pleased to meet you' a little subdued due to my thoughts on drugs and early demises but I didn't fail to notice The Elder's wife forced smile. The smiles of the Elder himself haven't been full of happiness until now but at least these weren't that forced.

She takes the plates from the center of the table and puts them in front of us then mixes the contents of the casserole with a big spoon to rinse them with the juice, or whatever it is, and serves the food on both plates. The food is some kind of meat cut in tiny bits with vegetables. Then, she leaves for a moment and comes back with a basket of bread. Finally, the Elder says: "Than' you dear, you can go." And she hurries to make her way out... of the house.

Weird. Won't she eat with us?

But anyway, now that I think about it, the plates, cutlery, and glasses were already here since we entered the house. The only way to poison me would be through the food or water but the Elder will clearly eat from the same place as me. She even mixed it before serving so no way to put the poison on the top or something.

Unless he doesn't mind being poisoned for the sake of it? Maybe he has an antidote?

But I am really hungry.

I was poisoned in the forest several times... hopefully, I have developed some sort of resistance.

Hopefully.

Viewing it from another perspective, in stories, the characters would be wildly violated or tortured long before this point so being poisoned to death isn't that bad. And if it is a sleeping or paralysis poison I don't think they could take me out for long either, these were abundant from plants and insects in the forest too.

Very well, I will eat. If I suddenly start feeling bad then I just pierce his head on the spot.

The Elder suddenly talks after putting together the palms of his hands and closing his eyes: "Thanks for this meal." And then opens his eyes again.

Looking at my raised eyebrows —because I can't raise just one— the Elder smiles without bothering to explain what was that. "Come on, let's continue talking while we eat."

I nod, even though I prefer to not talk while I am eating. Sigh. He takes the jar of water and pours some in his own glass while I take a look at the knife and fork.

What were those manners of the table Claire taught me?

Eh... Do not use your hands to eat, use the cutlery. Yes, that is a given... and... do not chew with your mouth open?... There is more?

Alright, good enough. I start eating holding the fork with one hand, mostly copying the Elder, and taking bites at a piece of bread with the other hand. The flavor almost brings tears to my eyes, more than two years since I tasted something so good.

Poisoned or not, it was worth it.

I gave my praise to his wife's cuisine and the Elder replies she will be happy to hear it.

"Young m... Cough, cough... If you don't mind me asking, how old are you, Naaran? What brings you to be traveling?"

"I am ten. About why I travel...Well, many reasons." I try to think of a good answer but nothing comes to mind. In search of a better life? To get a job as a magician? In the Empire, magicians aren't as common as water like back in town, even less of my age so, the fewer people know I am one, the better.

"Many reasons, I see, if my questions incommode you, son, don't hesitate in telling me. It's not necessary to answer." He laughed. "Yes... This, it's dangerous to travel alone, that is the point I was going to."

"Ah, don't worry about that," I nodded, "it's dangerous but I have grown used to it."

"Yes, I don't doubt you can take care of yourself." He rubbed his right arm as if sore due to our game earlier. "You are heading to Arminium, right?"

Arminium? The name of the closest city?

I nod.

"Of course, but going there dressed like that can naturally lead to some situations that could be originally avoided. Did you really made these..." He waves his hand at me. "Clothes?"

Hearing that he is steering the conversation to my clothes now my eyes lit up. I was waiting to touch on the topic.

"I made them, going through a forest really makes a number on your attire. Of my original set neither the shirts and shoes survived, they weren't more than rags. It's not to my pleasure to be running around naked, not most of the time at least."

I lifted a foot a little to the side of the table. "These sandals are from plant steams, easy to make when I was bored and this furred cloak I carefully cut it from a powerful beast. And, by the way, I have parts of monsters in my backpack that I would like to trade to you for a set of clothes, I mean if your village has any spare-" Seeing the Elder shaking his head I quickly change my approach. "I can trade the cloak if you prefer, even though it's poorly-made, it's very tough." It really is, difficult to cut even with the black blade. Earth Lance is not nearly as sharp as I would like.

"Oh no, no, we only trade goods for coins." The Elder laughed and my heart sank.

"Don't worry, I was going to gift you some clothes anyway."

"What? Why?" I ask suspiciously, not expecting something like that.

A strange offering you a free meal, I can accept it. Being gifted clothes even after I offered something in exchange? That is nonsense. I have lived long enough in the street to know to recognize fantasy from reality.

He sighed. "Yes... how to say it? I will give you the clothes if you accede to resume your travel soon."

"You are kicking me out of the village?" I said without thinking even though I was more at ease than with the clothes as just a gift. That is more natural, the clothes being gifted as a 'sorry for the inconvenience'.

The Elder flinched. "No, no, you are welcome in my house son, but the other people here... they aren't bad people, they just tend to feel uncomfortable with an outsider around and will only be at ease when you continue your way. Believe me, it is for the better, I don't want them to offend you in any way, they will be rude if they think they can get away with it, at least. Little villages like ours aren't used to strangers."

"That is not a problem Elder, I wasn't planning on staying more than a couple hours anyway and I don't want to make my hosts uncomfortable either."

After that the Elder apologized repeatedly for his lack of tact in bringing up the issue —well, it must be rather awkward for him to talk like this with a boy— and allowed me a second serving of food. I am still hungry but there isn't much left and I don't want to leave the Elder's wife without eating. I wonder where she went, and if they have children.

Maybe they are working the fields and eat at different hours.

Anyway, after finishing the meal we leave the house without delay and the Elder instructs a young man that was nearby, maybe eavesdropping on us, to fetch a bag full of bread, pants, a shirt, and shoes of my size.

"Do you have money, son? There is a fee of one small silver coin for passing the gate of the city."

Why does the city need a gate?

Oh, it must have a wall, of course.

More importantly, a small silver coin? We used the Empire's currency back in town and there wasn't something like that. I don't have a single coin and after I tell as much to the Elder he quickly produces and gives me a tiny and thin coin with an eagle-like relief.

"Elder has made much for me already, "I reach for a pocket in my backpack, "permit me to give you one of the-" But he stops me.

"It isn't much, you can find these lying on the floor often and although there are other ways to enter the city, just paying the fee is the easiest and least problematic."

The young man soon came back with my new set of second-hand clothes. The Elder hurried me to try them out to see if they fit well while the Elder held my cloak, after giving it back he said while stroking his barbed chin: "This fur seems to be of good quality..." He hummed for a moment. "Right, if your other goods are like this then you should ask the city guards for the direction of the Merchant's Guild. Selling to specialized stores could give you a higher price but..." He threw me a glance." Considering your age then these stores will attempt to rip you off too much, the strict rules of the guild will play in your favor there."

We walked to the edge of the other side of the village and to the fence surrounding the fields. Several minutes passed and the Elder continued to tell me things about the city, too many for me to remember immediately as to how to search for an inn and to what people ask what questions.

Once the young man opened the fence unlocking some planks of wood I turned around and looked at the Elder in the eyes.

Then told him:

"I love you."

Of course, I didn't. What I said was: "Thank you for everything Elder Ralph." And gave him a slight nod.

He nodded in turn, in that unique way only men understand. "It was interesting to meet you Naaran, I hope you find whatever you are looking for."

And then I left, I kept walking through the road for a while, wondering what I am looking for.

Everything went so well that I wouldn't be surprised if all this is a dream and right now I am still on the table, face planted on my food.

I chuckled. I can't be that unlucky, right?

xxx

Seeing the boy walking away in the distance Ralph let out a relieved sigh.

Earlier, when he almost called him that, Young Master, Ralph was completely drenched in sweat.

He thought these were just tales for little girls, of saving princesses and dashing heroes, of the epic proportions of the tantrums of nobles, and those of their children too. Ralph realized it with a single glance, the boy was more than what he appeared. A weird metallic wristband, dirtied clothes but extremely clean skin and hair. Definitively the effect of some Art or Technique.

A Young Master, maybe of a Martial Family, running away from home for some reason.

No way they could have let him do so unsupervised and for the boy to be uninjured after going through a forest, probably to the south, even if small then it was obvious he had caretakers. More than a month away from going through the same road the boy arrived is just a military fortress overseeing the desert. All in between are plains with scarce trees.

The boy seemed unaware of being followed, for those caretakers to remain hidden so long despite the boy's habit of constantly glancing at his surroundings... It terrified Ralph.

They must have deemed the village unthreatening to the boy and guided him here. Ralph still invited the boy to his house. It wouldn't do to anger those hidden experts. There was something wrong with the boy, the way he walked disturbed Ralph. It wasn't his confident gait, neither it was the sharpness of his movements, Ralph couldn’t pinpoint what it was even until now.

The boy's arm strength proved all of Ralph's assumptions, though. When he was younger Ralph cultivated every free time without rest with the hope of achieving a breakthrough, of becoming something more. But to no avail, he just was never talented.

The boy was stronger than him even without using spiritual energy. He wouldn't have believed it if he had not tested him himself.

Nobles are given all kinds of resources to train since childhood. They don't give thanks to God before a meal, those who have abundance forget to be grateful for it. The boy even speaks better than Ralph himself!

Everything fitted.

Getting him out of the village as fast as possible was a bit rash of him but was for the best. The less attention they drew for themselves the safer they will be.

Ralph played along with the boy's cover of being traveling and trading. He gifted him clothes to please the caretakers with his performance.

Mentally exhausted, Ralph took a glance at the now-empty road before turning to the neighbors' son at his side.

"Go tell the girls th-" Ralph froze. "No, forget it, just get back to work."

He can't be sure if the boy's caretakers are still around or not. Better for the females to remain hidden a few hours more. Ralph knew it in his heart, though. There is no place to hide from an expert and if they decide to have their fun nothing will stop them.

While scanning every corner and jumping at every shadow Ralph silently prayed to God for nothing bad to happen to his village.

Fortunately for him, nothing happened.