*「 ZASHU... ZASHU... 」
A sickle swung with a clean, dry rhythm through the tall golden stalks, each cut almost identical to the last. Three or four farmers moved steadily across the field, saying nothing, just keeping pace with the work.
Meanwhile, a boy no older than fifteen, with scratches on his hands, dirt on face, and slight bruises on arms, there's no telling how long he had been tilling these fields since morning.
「Hey Don! Come here!」
「A-Ah, yes..!?」
My name is Don. Don Seifzani. This village isn't bad at all. Quiet hills, the smell of grain in the wind, and voices filled with laughter and joy... well, sometimes anger too. It's the kind of place that makes you forget things… even just for a while.
And that old man? That's my father, his name is Ronfei, when I was young he told me he used to be a knight but of course I didn't believed him, because I know he had no Essence.. Just like me.
「Here.. carry these and make sure they reached the Weaver's hall in time.」
「But it's heavy—」
「No complaints, now go!」
These flax and hemps bundles are really useful in making fabric clothes, no wonder we sometimes gets a bonus for delivering these.
As Don walked through the village houses, he saw "gifted" kids being trained by their parents, they wielded Essence and it was awesome, because you could have cool magical abilities or even bend fire.
Don felt a pang of jealousy from them because he's a normal human being, even kids younger than him were stronger. But he weren't alone, many people in this world are Essenceless too, only those with Essence are gifted and it's rare.
Either way, the villagers are friendly and kind, they knew Don well from the start, everytime they saw him working — they were proud of him, and of course Don is a hardworking boy.. A man standing by the door noticed Don.
「Don! You seemed to be in a hurry, what's up?」
「Ah well, I'm delivering these again.. just hoping I'd get a bonus.」
Don sprinted again but he saw two knights with gleaming armor, there's also a fox-like icon printed on their chestplate, resembling the guild they're in.
Don's dream was simple: to become a knight and join a guild, joining a guild is necessary for a knight.. he also hated Anarchists that raided town after town, he didn't know why but somehow it made him feel he hate them.
Moments later, Don had reached the Weaver's hall and there's alot of workers, Don made his way on a near river where he will give these to the operator.
「Here mister..!」
Don gave the full sack of flax and hemps that contains 10 each which is 20 in total, to an older worker, probably an operator who looked like he's been working for years, and the bundles will be processed by the Retters on the river to start making fibers.
「You looked energetic today... here.」
Don recieved 10 silvers coppers which is 1500 Neros, its enough to buy 9 loaves of breads or seeds… or split and buy both.
「Thank you so much mister! I'll be going!」
Aww.. I expected a bonus but I guess not, maybe if I had more sack of flax and hemps… wait, that's just increasing the value.. *sigh*
「Have a safe trip!」
Don's house is not too far away from the village, neither does the farm field, it's just up the hill close to where he is living with his father.
But, he went to the marketplace first to buy seeds and loaves of breads, but it's pretty hard to find the stalls because there's a festival ongoing and it's crowded with people.
「Come on, come on!.. there's too many people!」
As Don squeezed himself through the crowd, he didn't realized he's heading on a wrong way which later led him on the first row at the festival.
A wooden stage with a performer that showcased their magical ability, and Don didn't regret heading in a wrong way because he's clearly excited now.
「Woah.. an Essencer...!」
The performer began casting fireworks above and an artificial dragon made by magic with illusion, and of course it weren't dangerous, just a trick.
People applaud as another performer joined in with summoning magic, they summoned a little puppets made from mud and they explode with colorful smoke, also made with magic.
The festival continued for a longer period of time and Don only realized he's more than late, and he quickly squeezed himself again and finally reached the Stall for Seeds.
「U-Uh.. can I have 2 small pouch of seeds for Flax and Hemps?」
「Here, it cost you 1000 Nero.」
「Wait 1000!?.. But I thought it's only 750?」
「 *sigh* You're right but prices have increased lately, so...」
「Aww..」
In the end, Don paid 1000 for two small pouch of seeds, now I could only buy 3 mid-quality loaves of bread.. sigh, he thought as he walked, approaching the Bakery now.
The Bakery was slightly small, it's pretty famous on the village because of its high quality breads and the customers really gave them a nice feedback.
「Three mid-quality loaves of bread please!」
「450 Neros kid.」
Dang it, 50 Neros remained, I didn't even get to buy what I want.. sigh.
「Fine...」
Don took the bread and paid, he inserted the copper inside his pouch, not the pouch of seeds.
*
It's getting late already... Man I wish my father won't yell at me this time, that festival really.... sucked me in.
Still, I wonder what it feels to have Essence, can I make myself bigger or, or can I summon puppets like that performer did, or can I even fly!?.. Haaa~.. that's alot of possibilities.
Don's still daydreaming even when finally stepping inside the abode.
「Tadaimaaa!...」
Sitting on the table was his father, he looked frustrated, oh no..
「Don.. You've watched the festival didn't you?」
「Ah.. old man, about that...— wait why is there a festival stick dango on your pocket?」
「Well uh...」
「Hehe.. Old man, you watched it too didn't you?」
Ronfei only laughed awkwardly, he was definitely caught by his own son, but he didn't denied it though, he did watched the festival too, it was fun for someone essenceless like him, and like his son too.
「Alright you caught me...」
「HA! I KNEW IT!」
Don felt proud to himself but that's not important anymore, he placed the loaves of bread on the table, and the two small pouch of seeds he bought.
「Here... wake me up tomorrow if you woke up first again old man.」
Don settled down, preparing to eat the bread... its tasty, worth the budget and could easily fill their stomach because of its size.
「 *sigh* Why can't you just wake up early...」
「Eh..? Don't be rude old man.」
( NEXT CHAPTER > )