The caravan remained in the clearing for another hour.
The injured guards treated their bruises while several merchants repaired a broken wagon wheel that had cracked during the Ironfang Wolf's attack.
Kael offered to help.
Unfortunately...
He wasn't very good at wagon repairs.
He held the wheel upside down.
Twice.
Then accidentally handed a hammer to someone asking for rope.
The merchants exchanged amused glances.
"So..."
The gray-bearded merchant stroked his beard.
"You can knock a wolf into a tree..."
"...but you've never fixed a wagon?"
Kael shook his head honestly.
"We didn't have wagons on the mountain."
"Fair enough."
---
By the time repairs were complete, Gareth gathered everyone together.
"There are a few introductions to make."
He gestured toward Kael.
"This is Kael."
"He'll be traveling with us to Azure River City."
Several merchants greeted him warmly.
The gray-bearded man stepped forward first.
"My name is Morris."
"I sell herbs."
"Expensive herbs."
"So don't eat any unless I tell you."
Kael nodded seriously.
"I won't."
Morris smiled.
"Good."
"I like obedient youngsters."
Next came a broad-shouldered man with flour covering his sleeves.
"I'm Ben."
"I bake."
"If you're hungry..."
He patted his round stomach proudly.
"...come find me."
Kael's eyes noticeably brightened.
"I will."
Ben laughed loudly.
"I think we're going to get along."
A cheerful woman carrying several cooking pots waved enthusiastically.
"I'm Clara."
"I make dinner."
"If Ben's bread fills your stomach..."
"...my stew fills your soul."
Ben looked offended.
"My bread has soul."
"It has too much salt."
"It builds character."
"It builds thirst."
Their argument immediately resumed.
Kael quietly watched them.
"...Are they angry?"
Morris chuckled.
"No."
"They've been arguing for fifteen years."
"It would be strange if they stopped."
---
Finally...
A small girl stepped forward from behind one of the wagons.
She couldn't have been older than eight.
She held a worn cloth rabbit tightly against her chest.
She peeked up at Kael.
"My name is Lily."
Kael crouched slightly so they were closer in height.
"I'm Kael."
She looked at him for several moments.
"...You're tall."
"So are you."
Lily frowned.
"I'm not."
"You will be."
She considered that.
"...That's true."
Then she smiled.
From that moment...
She decided she liked him.
---
The caravan resumed its journey.
Three wagons rolled steadily along the wide dirt road.
Four guards walked ahead.
Two guarded the rear.
The merchants chatted amongst themselves while birds sang from the surrounding trees.
It was peaceful.
Very peaceful.
Much more peaceful than Kael had expected the outside world to be.
---
After walking for nearly an hour, Lily wandered over.
She looked up at Kael.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Have you really never been outside the mountain?"
"No."
"...Not even once?"
"No."
She gasped dramatically.
"Then you've never seen a festival?"
Kael blinked.
"...What's a festival?"
Lily froze.
"You don't know?"
Kael shook his head.
She immediately grabbed his sleeve.
"You have to see one!"
"There are lanterns!"
"And music!"
"And sweets!"
"And games!"
"And dancing!"
Kael listened carefully.
"It sounds busy."
"It is!"
"I think Grandpa would have said the same thing."
---
A little later...
Ben walked beside Kael carrying a basket of freshly baked bread.
"So..."
"What did your grandfather teach you besides martial arts?"
Kael thought for a moment.
"Cooking."
"Fishing."
"Gardening."
"Carpentry."
"Hunting."
"Herbal medicine."
"Cleaning."
"Sewing."
Ben blinked.
"...Sewing?"
"My clothes tear."
"Someone has to repair them."
Ben scratched his head.
"That's..."
"...actually very sensible."
---
As the afternoon sun climbed higher, the caravan stopped beside a clear stream to rest.
The horses eagerly drank water while the merchants stretched their legs.
Clara immediately began preparing lunch.
The smell of simmering stew drifted through the camp.
Kael watched curiously.
"...Can I help?"
"Of course."
She handed him a basket.
"Wash these vegetables."
He nodded.
Several minutes later...
Clara turned around.
"...Kael?"
"Yes?"
"...Why are the vegetables arranged by size?"
Kael looked down.
"...Is that not how you wash them?"
The nearby merchants burst into laughter.
Morris wiped tears from his eyes.
"He organized them before washing them!"
Kael looked genuinely puzzled.
"I thought it would make washing easier."
Clara smiled kindly.
"It's not wrong."
"...Just unexpected."
---
Lunch passed with cheerful conversation.
Kael mostly listened.
Every story fascinated him.
A merchant spoke about crossing deserts where the sand stretched farther than the eye could see.
Another described ships larger than houses.
Someone mentioned snow that lasted for months.
Kael absorbed every word.
The world truly was much bigger than he had imagined.
---
As everyone prepared to continue traveling, Gareth called out,
"We should reach Green Willow Village before sunset."
"The inn there serves excellent food."
Ben nodded enthusiastically.
"And decent desserts."
Clara folded her arms.
"The desserts are average."
"They're excellent."
"They're average."
"Excellent."
Morris sighed.
"They're going to argue about dessert for the next three hours."
Kael tilted his head.
"...Is that normal?"
"Very."
---
As the caravan rolled onward beneath the afternoon sun, Kael found himself smiling.
The road ahead remained unknown.
He still had no idea how far Martial High truly was.
Nor what awaited him there.
But for the first time since leaving the mountain...
The journey no longer felt lonely.
He glanced at the laughing merchants around him.
Perhaps...
The outside world wasn't quite as frightening as he had imagined.
Far ahead, nestled among rolling green hills, the rooftops of Green Willow Village slowly came into view.
For Kael...
It would be the first village he had ever entered.
And, as Grandpa Elias would no doubt have predicted...
It would not go quite as smoothly as expected.
End of Chapter 7