"You're leaving today" Free said, his hair was slightly spiky and pointing up instead of covering his forehead, Okoto was standing infront of him with his large bag tightly tied to his back and his sword at his left waist.
"Yeah, i've been staying for 5 months now. It's time" Okoto said, gently putting his left hand on his sword and with a big grin he pat Free's head. "See you after 5 years again, okay".
"Yeah" Free said, his hand reached down into his right pocket and he pulls out a star shape-wood, he had crafted. "You can have it".
"Awww. Thanks!!" Okoto took the star shaped-wood and put it in his bag, he then takes out a pendant from his bag. It was red, like his firery red hair, he hands the oendant in Free's hand. "Takes this".
"What's this?" Free asks, but Okoto just gave a big grin, turn his back and starts walking while waving his hand.
"You'll be invited too!!" and with that he sprinted, leaving dust behind him while Free confusely stares at the necklace.
He looks at the pendant for a bit longer and wore it between his neck. "What invite?" Free thought, he walks back toward the village.
'It had been two months since dad passed away, Okoto have left for his adventuring again. My new position as the new village chief was a success, nobles tried to pressure me to quit but i was able to make them back away' Free was in his room, leaning in his chair the document and scrolls of the village finances slightly folded as the cold breeze silently blew throught the window. He stare outside, the birds in the root tree had start builing nest for their mating seasons. He looks at the village where the smell of bread and smoke of fire filled the air.
Knock. Knock. Someone gently knock on the door, Free turn behind. "Enter" he gently said.
Sylvia enters with a tray of soup, dried meat and tea. She put the tray in his desk, and hands him the tea. "You've been working really hard" Sylvia put the documents and scrolls in the desk in the corner.
"It's nothing much" Free takes a sip from his tea, while stealing glances at Sylvia.
"How is Hina? have she remembered anything?" Sylvia asked, Free paused for a moment and put his tea on the desk.
"No, she didn't remeber a thing yet" Free eyes glow slightly yellow, he grips his hands tightly and the mana around him starts to rose up. "She forgot even Lina...".
"She will remember soon" Sylvia reassured him, Free eyes softens the glow slowly faded from his eye and the mana reduce back to normal without him noticing.
Just then Lina enters his room, both turn behind. "Lord Free, former chief Hemire have come to meet you" she calmly said and left as fast as she entered.
Free and Sylvia looks at eachother for a second and they stand up and went downstairs, without Free finishing even his tea.
Downstairs in the living room Hemire was with his cane coughing weakly, Free sat down opposite to him and Sylvia sat beside him.
"Free how is your two months" Hemire ask, he scans Free's face for any signs of tiredness but Free totally look fine.
"I'm fine, how is your condition?" Free asked, Hemire cough into his hand and stares directky into Free's eye.
"I'm not quite fine" Hemire replied. "Anyway some rich noble merchants servant has come to negotiate with you about the village harvest" Hemire cough intensely into his hands.
"Be careful" Free said, standing up and supporting Hemire to sat down. "Where are the merchants?".
"They're at village's meeting hall" Hemire stands up with his cane supportibg him and he exits the living room. "I won't be there".
Free walks to the door with Sylvia with him, he exits the living room and saw Hina eating a dried meat she stole from the kitchen. "Oopps".
"Mom that is for dinner" He said, tiredly taking the meat from Hina's mouth. Hina pulled the meat and Free too pulls.
"This is mine, you don't have rights to take it back from me!" Hina shouted with all she got while Free was pulling with his veins poped. the dried meat stretch into two pieces, Free falls into the floor while Hina starts chewing the dried meat again. "Papa lost!" Hina yelled proudly.
"I'm not your dad and you're my mom" Free mutteres from the floor while Sylvia chuckles at the sight of them arguing.
30 minutes later....
Free and Sylvia arrived at the meeting hall where Rael and a man in blue coat and trousers was smiling faintly. "You must be chief Free" He said.
"Yes, and you?" Free asks.
"I'm Marin aligne, merchant of Reys corp" Marin said, he scans Free clothes and eyes like a hawk. 'He's dangerous' Marin thought to himself while having a handshake with Free, his eyes landed on Sylvia. "You must be his partner" He said.
"ME- Yeah i am!" Sylvia said, with her cheeks flushed.
"What are your motive to come to this village, merchant Marin" Free ask, his negotion memory kicking in.
"I'm here to buy all the vegetables and fruits harvested every years" Marin said, taking out a scroll from his pocket he hands the scroll to Free. " We always wanted to have a contract with Hayan farmers but were always refused by the former chief".
Free opens the scroll and it was filled with violet lilies scent, he ignore it while Sylvia sniff the scent. He reds the scroll cautiously then thought for a moment. "How much will you buy it for?".
"We will buy 10 silver for ten hali of cabbage" Marin answers, Rael and Free flinch at the insane price.
"Are you gonna do something illegal to the cabbage or what?" Rael asked, Marin quickly shakes his head in denial.
"No no we're not doing anything illegal!" Marin said. "This village is very fertile, so we wanted a long term contract with it we didn't meant anything hostile! We just heard it's top quality so we came here to buy some for the company" Marin explained, Rael sat back in her chair slowly.
"We will accept the contract" Free said, signing the contract, Marin face lit up with joy meanwhile Rael stands up from her seat again.
"But chief!" Sylvia said, she grab Free's hand.
"With one condition" Free said, everyone quiet down. He made some adjustments in the contract. "There" he hands the scroll to Marin with his sign on it.
"The contract should be ended whenever the village wants to!" Marin read the scroll in disbelief. "But Chief!".
"Accept or leave now" Free interrupted, Marin thought for a moment then nods.
"Okay contract has been made" Marin rolls the scroll back but Free snatch it. "Hey-!".
"I'll make a copy, please wait" Free said, he starts to write the exact copy of the contract but with his own handwriting. Marin sighs tiredly.
'This kid is too clever, that's why i was warned by lord Grail to not try to read him' he thought, staring at Free writing the scroll and his eye lands on the pendant in Free's neck. 'T-t-t-thats..' Marin thought, his eyes filled in disbelief. 'That necklace is from lord....' his lips curls into a thin smile he stare into Free with a grin .
"Here" Free hands marin the scroll and Marin left afterwards, Free tilt his head, a bit confused by Marin change in demeanor.
"Free?" Sylvia said, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Y-yeah!" Free snap back to his senses. "What?".
"Nothing" she said.
Meanwhile on Marin's side, he was smiling in his carriage continuosly. "I never thought out of all people i'll meet the companion of..." he mutters to himself and stares outside the window. "Lord Marquis Okoto reys".
To be continued.....