(Attendances… plz…)
….
As the carriage rumbled into view, the villagers of Irlam emerged from their homes, their faces lighting up at the familiar sight.
Children waved enthusiastically, and adults called out warm greetings as they gathered around.
"Miss Ram is here!"
"Welcome back!"
The villagers' hands waved in a friendly chorus, all directed at the pink-haired maid who sat with a placid expression.
It was a routine visit; Ram and Rem often brought supplies to the nearby villages within Roswaal's domain, a practice that maintained goodwill and demonstrated their lord's benevolence.
Roswaal, for all his eccentricities, seemed to be a responsible and caring lord to his people.
Despite the cheerful reception, Ram's expression remained a perfect mask of professional indifference. One could play a thousand hands of poker against her and never guess the cards she held.
Gojo leaned over, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "Come on, you can at least crack a smile. Look how happy they are to see you. A little wave wouldn't kill you."
"You should keep your thoughts to yourself, Gojoru," Ram replied, her voice as flat as ever. "No one appreciates them… not in the slightest."
"Is that how you talk to a guest of your lord? So cold," Gojo teased, but Ram offered no reply, her gaze fixed forward.
The carriage came to a halt in the center of the village square. As Ram began overseeing the distribution of food and supplies, the villagers crowded around, offering their heartfelt thanks.
Seeing she had everything under control, Gojo hopped down from the carriage and stepped aside, stretching his arms high above his head with a satisfying pop. He took a deep, deliberate breath.
"Ah, you just can't beat fresh country air," he murmured to himself.
His moment of peace was interrupted by a gentle voice. "Pardon me, young man. Are you with Lady Ram?"
Gojo turned to see an elderly woman with kind, wrinkled eyes and a warm smile. She leaned lightly on a wooden cane.
"Hmm, what gave it away?" Gojo asked, his blindfold hiding the playful glint in his eyes.
The woman chuckled, a soft, pleasant sound. "Well, you did arrive in the same carriage as her."
Gojo snapped his fingers. "Wow, quite the keen sight and deductive skills you've got there! A regular detective."
The old woman blinked, tilting her head. "Are you making fun of me, sonny?"
"No, why would I do that? I'm genuinely impressed. It's not every day you see such sharp reasoning," he said, his tone laced with a sincerity that was just a bit too over-the-top.
The woman simply stared at him, her expression unchanging, as if she was patiently waiting for the joke to land. A long, silent stare.
"…Right," Gojo finally broke the silence, scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry, it's a habit where I'm from. You are…?"
"I am Milde Irlam," she said, her smile returning. "I am the headwoman of Irlam village."
Gojo's grin widened. "Oh, so I'm talking to the big boss, huh? A pleasure to make your old acquaintance."
With the last of the supplies distributed and the villagers offering their final thanks, Ram turned to Gojo. Her expression was as stern and unreadable as ever, her voice laced with a familiar scorn.
"I will be attending to the shopping now," she stated, not asked. "Do not wander into the forest and get yourself lost. I will not hesitate to leave you behind."
She turned and walked off without waiting for a reply. Gojo watched her go before turning to Milde with a theatrical sigh.
"Can you believe her? She talks to me like I'm a five-year-old who's going to get distracted by a butterfly and wander off a cliff. What does she take me for?"
The old woman chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Lady Ram has a guarded heart, that is all. She was much the same with us when she first began visiting. She is a kind girl, but it is buried under many layers of duty. Give it time. She will warm up to you."
Gojo raised an eyebrow. "Huh. If this is her warming up, I'd hate to see her on a bad day."
"You will see," Milde said with a knowing smile. She gave his arm a gentle pat before turning to attend to her own duties, leaving Gojo alone in the village square.
The moment she was gone, Gojo felt it, a half-dozen pairs of eyes fixed on him.
Peeking from behind the corner of a nearby building was a small group of children, whispering and pointing.
There was a chubby boy with a buzz cut, a girl with bright blonde pigtails, two boys who were clearly brothers, and a girl with reddish-brown hair tied back with a red ribbon.
Deciding he had nothing better to do, Gojo sauntered over with an easy grin.
"Yo, kiddos."
They immediately took a collective step back, startled by his direct approach. Seeing their wary faces, Gojo tried again, leaning forward conspiratorially.
"What's with the long faces? A handsome, charming adult says hello, and you all look like I'm about to steal your lunch money."
Their expressions shifted from wary to confused. Finally, the chubby boy took a hesitant step forward. "Are you… a knight?" he asked.
"What makes you think that?" Gojo asked, amused.
"Because you're wearing such nice clothes," the boy explained with flawless childhood logic.
"Knights are strong and important, so they have to have nice clothes, right? So, nice clothes means you're an important person… and that means you could be a knight!"
Gojo chuckled. "Solid reasoning, but no, not a knight. You could call me a… mage."
"Hmph. Mages are lame," one of the brothers declared with a dismissive wave. "They're useless if a swordsman gets up close!"
"Yeah!" his brother chimed in, puffing out his chest. "Swords are way cooler!"
Gojo's smile twitched slightly. Huh?! Do kids these days have no respect for their adults? he thought, a flash of a certain spiky-haired student crossing his mind. Little Megumis, the whole lot of them.
Just then, the girl with the red ribbon spoke up, her voice clear and earnest. "No! I think magic is cool! And… and I think you look cool, too!"
Gojo's grin instantly returned, brighter than before. He pointed a finger at her. "Hah! See? This one gets it. You, kiddo, have potential. Excellent taste." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "For having such a good eye, how about a reward? Ever wanted to fly?"
The girl's blue eyes went wide with disbelief and excitement. "What? Really?! You can make me fly?"
"Of course," Gojo said with a dramatic flair. "It's a special privilege reserved only for those who acknowledge my coolness."
He snapped his fingers. A faint, invisible force enveloped the girl, lifting her gently off the ground.
A surprised gasp escaped her lips, quickly turning into a peal of joyous laughter as she floated a few feet in the air, her feet dangling weightlessly.
"Guys, look!" she shouted, spinning slowly. "I'm flying! I'm really flying!"
The other children stared, their jaws hanging open. The two brothers looked at each other, their faces a mixture of awe and immediate regret.
"You know," the first brother said quickly, a nervous smile on his face. "I was just thinking that magic is actually super cool."
"Yeah," added the second, nodding vigorously. "Swords are okay, I guess, but flying is way better!"
….
A/N: Well how was it?! I know a chapter is a little… too late. And sorry for that. But i do hoped you enjoyed it.
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