Early morning.
It was the time when inn owners began their daily preparations. They prepare food, check their stocks, and tidy the area.
June, the old man who owns the Thrive and Hope Inn, went downstairs to start his tasks.
His steps stopped when he heard the sound of someone sweeping.
It was Eli, the child he took in not too long ago.
Oakenford is a small village and almost everyone knows each other. The majority of their population is elderly, and travelers come only once in a while.
June could still remember that day vividly.
He was sweeping outside of his inn, when a small child approached him, asking for food.
'I, I'm really hungry… Could I please get anything? I, I can work for you! Please, even just a piece of bread…'
The child bowed to the ground while his stomach growled. Perhaps he felt embarrassed, his cheeks flustered.
June smiled at the child and helped him get up,
'Come inside.'
He decided to take the child in, and provided his daily necessities.
The child did not even have his own name.
June looked at him in pity. He then thought for a second,
'How about Eli? Doesn't it sound nice?'
The child, who had found his new name, smiled brightly as his eyes shone. He hugged June tightly.
'Yes, I like it!'
Later on, he changed the name of his inn in hopes of this precious child having a bright and hopeful future.
June shook his head while smiling, after recalling those memories.
He went to the kitchen and saw the stoves occupied. The soup has been simmering for a while now. It was the usual rib soup he serves the guests.
'Did Eli make this?'
Even though he taught the child a lot of things, he rarely had him help on morning tasks.
He thought a child should sleep more, in order to grow up healthy.
Eli is already smaller than his peers. He really did not like him helping more in the morning.
"Grandpa, did you sleep well?"
He heard Eli's voice behind him.
June smiled,
"Yeah, I slept well, thanks to you."
The black-haired child smiled and hugged him.
"I wanted to help out, even just a little bit."
"You didn't have to, though. How did you do all these by yourself? What time did you wake up?"
June saw how clean the whole place was.
Eli didn't speak.
He thought for a moment,
"Grandpa… would it be bad for me to go out for a bit?"
June's hand froze. It was not the usual way Eli talks.
"By going out, you mean…?"
Eli held his grandfather's hands.
"You see, I met a good friend. Like me, he also has some strange abilities. You know about my ability to tell lies, right?"
June did not say anything. He just listened closely.
Tears slowly formed on the corner of Eli's eyes. He didn't want to cry. He really didn't. He wanted to convey his message as clearly as possible.
"I thought, if I go with him for a while, I can learn more about it. Apparently, not just us, a lot of people have it! Just for a while… I promise, I will send letters. Also, I will try to visit as much as I can…"
He looked down, trying to hide his crying face from his grandpa.
He then saw a pair of old hands lifting his face.
"Is that what you truly wish to do?"
June asked him with clear eyes.
Eli looked at those eyes while sobbing. He wanted to go with Mr. Chad, but now that he's saying it, he found himself not wanting to leave his grandfather behind alone in this place.
"I, I…"
June hugged him tight, and patted his back gently.
"You don't have anything to worry about. Grandpa here has lots of friends."
Eli's green pupils shone as they widened.
June faced him.
"Go if you must. I will wait for your letter."
His eyes kept on shimmering.
It told him everything he needed to hear.
He opened his mouth,
"Grandpa, will you really be okay?"
Blurry as they are, he could still see his grandfather's smile clearly.
June nodded as he told the child he took in,
"I'm as strong as ever. I don't need a child to babysit me."
Eli's eyes glowed again.
'...It wasn't a lie.'
"Ugh… waa! Grandpa!"
This made him cry even more.
He hugged his grandfather as tight as he could, as he finally let out his cries.
The old man patted the child's back,
"I'm more worried about you. You're going out in a world full of danger."
June comforted him until he finally stopped crying.
***
Chad stretched his arms out in the air.
He grabbed his left shoulder and started stretching. Earlier, while helping Eli go through the Memory Lane, his arms had to be held up for hours, until it was finished. His current stamina is puny, and it just made his mood go down.
'Why did this have to happen to me?'
He looked at the sky above. He wondered what he could have done so wrong, to receive such a punishment worse than being turned into an ant.
Chad frowned.
'No, not an ant. Maybe a dung beetle? No, a stink bug? …definitely not.'
He shook his head.
'Stop, let's not jinx it.'
"Is there anything you and your friend need?"
He heard the inn owner's voice outside.
"I'm going to ask Mr. Chad."
Eli ran to the wooden cart, where Chad is leaning into.
"Mr. Chad, grandpa is asking if we need anything else."
Chad took a moment,
"Hmm, a horse, and maybe someone who can drive the cart for us."
He went in front of the old man.
"I can pay for the horse, but a guide to help us go to the next village will also be helpful."
June held Chad's hands.
"So you're the friend Eli was talking about. I think old man Vick is about to go to the next village to buy some grains. I can ask him to drive the cart for you. However, it means that the cart has to go back here and you will be left there to find your own transportation. Is that alright?"
Chad brightened, and shook the old man's hands.
"Yes, that's plenty! I will be really grateful for that."
His main priority right now is to get away from the village. Getting a carriage later would be no problem by then.
"Let's do that, then."
The old man nodded and went to ask his old friend.
Chad watched the old man's back quietly.
"You're ready to go?"
Eli is also looking at his grandfather.
"Yes, grandpa reassured me. He has many friends here and he was fine even before he took me in. He wasn't lying when he said he'll be fine, even when I go."
"Then that's good."
Chad leaned back on the cart again.
He looked at the two unconscious men on the cart. To ensure they wouldn't wake up while traveling, he hit them on their head again. He couldn't help but sigh.
All he wanted was to relax, but he just had to get caught up on a small fight. He looked at Eli.
'To think I'd meet Solomon in this village…'
He's not someone who takes a child around while traveling, but the current Eli has no means to defend himself against people's greed for his mark.
Chad folded his arms,
'I guess I'll help for now.'
Should he give Eli to Michael? Knowing the blonde man's nature, there's no way he could refuse. He's very vulnerable when it comes to weak and innocent children, after all.
Chad scratched his head. He suddenly felt bad, knowing he had already dumped his duties on Michael before coming here.
'But I mean, Eli can be his assistant?'
As far as he knows, the kid is not tactless. With a little more education, he will be a real useful asset for Michael.
Chad nodded his head.
'Yeah, he'll take a liking to him.'
After a while, June finally brought Vick with him and they started preparing to leave. Eli took a few sets of clothes with him, alongside snacks that June gave him to eat while traveling.
June hugged Eli again,
"Be careful out there. The world outside is dangerous, so you better be cautious. Don't forget to eat, even when you don't feel hungry. It gave you enough problems in the past."
'So warm.'
Eli nuzzled his head on his grandpa's neck.
"Yes, grandpa. I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me until now."
His grandfather finally let go as he smiled.
"Remember, this place will always be your home. If things get too tough outside, you can always come back here, in this inn."
"...I understand. Thank you, grandpa."
Eli started to tear up.
This grandpa of his really did everything to make sure he lives well. His words gave him comfort to no end.
"We'll be leaving now. I will send you letters."
"I'll be waiting."
June waved his hand to the direction of the wooden cart, slowly drifting away.
He then noticed the man who looked to be barely in his early twenties on the cart. Chad bowed his head to the old man.
It made June feel reassured.
Even though he had not stayed long in their inn, he noticed the black-haired man with the golden eyes had always had an expression of nonchalance, as if he's detached to everything that surrounds him. However, he never felt anything malicious from him. In fact, he could even say he had an air of holiness.