Rosti Village, Saffrom Kingdom, Sernik Continent.
A small, peaceful village lay in the middle of vast grasslands, surrounded in the distance by majestic mountain ranges. Gentle winds swept across the green fields, causing the grass to ripple like soft waves beneath the morning sunlight.
In the village, people were going about their daily lives. Adults sat chatting on the porches of their houses, while children ran around the yards, laughing and playing.
The village consisted of only a few dozen small wooden houses. At the very center stood the largest building—the home of the village mayor, who also happened to be the only doctor in the entire village.
"Alright, make sure you take your medicine regularly when you get home. You'll recover soon."
"Yes, Mr. Mayor!"
The mayor had just finished treating a young boy from the village.
A gentle breeze passed through, making the green grass beneath their feet sway softly.
The village looked calm and peaceful. Narrow dirt roads curved along the hillsides leading out of the village, stretching into endless fields of grass.
Sunlight streamed through the window of a small house near the middle of the village.
Inside, a young woman was busy working in the kitchen.
She wore a brown apron over a pink dress with white stripes. Her hands were kneading dough, shaping it carefully before placing it into the oven.
"Alright… a delicious batch of bread for noon."
The small house was filled with the warmth of the oven and the gentle aroma of freshly baked bread.
Yet inside that house, there was no one else.
The young woman took several loaves that had already been baked and placed them into a small yellow basket. Inside the basket was a piece of red cloth with white stripes used as lining.
Outside the window, the mayor had arrived.
He stood beside the window with his hands behind his back and called out to her.
"Good morning, Cashew. I'm starving. Could you sell me a few loaves of bread?"
Cashew turned her head. She wiped some flour from her face, smiled softly, and gently shook her head.
"No, Mr. Heguel. They won't be ready until noon."
Mayor Heguel scratched his head before turning to leave.
"Oh, alright then. I'll come back at noon to buy some."
Cashew placed the basket of bread on the table and walked over to a small mirror.
She removed her apron, folded it neatly, and set it aside. Then she wiped away the remaining flour on her face and dress.
She picked up a comb, brushed her hair carefully, and pinned it neatly behind her head with a hairpin.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Cashew smiled brightly.
She picked up the basket and stepped outside the house.
Outside was a small road paved with white pebbles. Cashew walked along the path.
"Good morning, Mr. Gouda. Hello there, Melen."
Cashew waved to an elderly man who was sitting in his yard playing with his young grandchild.
Then she continued toward the hill in the distance.
She walked along a narrow dirt path that curved around the hillside.
Up ahead, two young women were crouched down picking mushrooms. When they saw Cashew, they immediately waved.
"Hi Cashew!"
Cashew walked closer and waved back.
"Hi Tess, hi Fenna. Are you two out picking mushrooms?"
Tess took a few small mushrooms out of her basket.
"Here, Cashew. Do you want some?"
Cashew quickly shook her head.
"No, you should take them to the market and sell them."
Tess smiled and placed the mushrooms back into the basket.
Fenna then noticed the basket Cashew was carrying.
"Hey Cashew, what's in that basket?"
Cashew opened the basket slightly. Inside were freshly baked loaves of bread.
"Oh, bread? Can I have one?"
Cashew shook her head again.
"No, these are a gift for someone very important to me."
Tess and Fenna exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
"Hey… are you bringing those to some handsome guy?"
Cashew immediately blushed. She quickly closed the basket and turned as if to leave.
"No!"
Tess laughed loudly and handed Cashew a small bag of mushrooms.
"Take these home and cook them for that person. They're delicious."
Cashew grew even more embarrassed.
"There's no one like that!"
She hurried away.
Behind her, Tess called out teasingly.
"What's there to be shy about, Cashew? You're 25 already and still haven't had a single romance!"
Cashew continued climbing toward the top of the hill.
At the highest point stood a large tree. Its wide branches shielded the ground from the bright sunlight.
Beneath the tree were two small stone graves.
Cashew slowly sat down beside them.
She opened the basket and gently placed several small loaves of bread in front of the two graves.
Cashew sat silently for a while, looking up at the clear blue sky above.
Then she spoke softly.
"It's already been a month since I last saw you, Mom."
A gentle wind brushed across her face. The leaves above rustled quietly.
"Up in heaven… you've probably reunited with Dad."
Her voice became softer.
"As for me… I feel very lonely. There's no one left by my side anymore."
Cashew sat on the hill, gazing down at her village.
Below her, life continued as usual. Villagers moved about their daily routines, and livestock were working in the fields.
The small village looked peacefully beautiful.
After a while, Cashew stood up.
She picked up the basket of bread and the small bag of mushrooms.
Before leaving, she turned back to look at the two graves.
"Goodbye, Mom… goodbye, Dad. I'll come visit again in a few days."
After saying that, she turned and began walking down the hill, returning to her village.