The sun is shining.
The air is crisp and clean. Unlike the pollution of the future and past. It's a paradise. An Eden in this world.
Not too bright. not too blinding. The peaceful and warm sensations of summer. The birds chirping, the ground is fertile, the wind is soft and calm.
In a town named Eden. Stood on a wide and open meadow. A big river leading to the ocean runs on the side of the village. A forest near the village with a local boar population...
There is a church that stood proud and pure. The walls with white paint that stands out with the modest village. A holy sanctuary where the villagers pray and thank God for the blessings they receive every day. (𐋅𐌄𐌐𐌄𐌔𐌙)
The interior is simple but holy. A blessed silver cross mantled behind the on the chapel stage. And rows of church seats filled the chapel. It is well kept, The floors are smooth and clean.
A guard is doing his daily patrols. His armor composed of shoulder pads, small chestplate, and a helmet that covers his head like a mushroom cap clanked softly barely audible in the peaceful ambience of the village market.
There is the usual chatter of vendors and customers.
The guard finished his morning rounds in the market. He calmly walked to a stall. A fruit stall. There, a maiden stands with brown hair that is smooth as a goddess.
"Hey Marinda. How's your day?"
The guard asked casually. Leaning on the fruit stall's wooden desk. The wood creaks softly under the sudden weight.
"Shouldn't you be patrolling, Leonard? Not... Flirting with women in the market?" Marinda said teasingly with a wide smile
She is so kind and beautiful - Leonard thought to himself
"There, your usual."
Marinda threw an apple to him. Leonard is caught off guard. But catches the apple nonetheless. It's ripe, smooth, and crisp. It's red as a rose and smells unmistakably fresh.
"Now go do your duties instead of spending your break flirting with me." Marinda said with a genuine smile
She gestures her hand towards him as if shooing a stray cat. Like this is a daily occurrence for her. The usual market noise creates a background for their conversation.
Leonard looked at the apple and hesitating for a second.
"How much for the apple?"
He asked Marinda
"It's on the house. Now get on with your patrol." Marinda answered casually. Now shooing Leonard like a stray cat.
"Hmm... On the house." Leonard murmurs to himself
Leonard took a bite... It was sweet like Honeydew. The skin was crispy and the inside was juicy, tender, and not stargchy. He looks at it...
"Thanks, I'll get going now." He said with a grateful tone and smile
He turns away and snaps himself out of it.
This is a good day - Leonard thought to himself.
Leonard Continues his rounds. Walking around the village. Saying hi to some familiar faces and mediating the usual banter before it gets out of hand. He then goes to the docks where the fishermen work.
Leonard walks into the docks. The smell of fish and and water filled the area. Just like the market there are also people here buying goods. He accidentally bumps into someone.
"Oh, Leonard! How have you been, young man?"
A burly veteran fisherman named Brutus asked loudly. He has a big grey beard that he strokes knowingly. He's wearing fisherman boots and overalls. He was organizing his catch. A mix of fish and crustaceans.
"Doing your rounds as usual?" Brutus asked
"Yeah. The usual... So... Any good catches sir Brutus?"
"HahahaHA!" He laughed so loud it shook the dock they we're standing on.
Brutus then pats Leonard's back so hard Leonard nearly fell into the water below. He stabilizes himself.
Howis this old man so strong? Leonard thought to himself.
"The catch is bountiful as always!" His voice booms across the busy docks. He gestures to his large boat. He gets on it and digs through a particular pile of fish.
"Oh! Did I catch something good!" Brutus picks up a huge fish. Even bigger than Leonard. It was a River tuna. It's streamlined and heavier than regular tuna. It has a beef taste due to it being a predatory fish with large fangs and durable head.
The fish that adapted to fresh water. Due to the adaptation it also developed teeth like a barracuda. Making it difficult to catch. Although it usually lives upstream not downstream. But it does migrate at spring to lay it's mate and lay it's eggs downstream.
The young man waves Brutus goodbye. Walking out of the busy docks.
"That boy is brighter than he first got here... Good for him." Brutus said to himself.
After the docks Leonard went to the Hunter's guild.
"He-" Before he could say hello a boar tusk flew in his direction. Nearly hitting him on the head. It impales the wall next to his head. Still leaking blood.
"Oh? Leonard. Daily rounds I presume?" A handsome man states.
He adjust his round glasses. The white gloves he was wearing were bloodied from butchering a giant boar they hunted. His green tunic has some blood splashes. This is Leo the Hunter's Guildmaster.
Leonard sees the blood all over his hand...
Yeah, he looks fine... He thought to himself.
"... Everything seems fine here. Bye."
Leonard walks away immediately leaving Leo back to butchering.
"Aww... He never talks to new normally..." Leo says in a defeated tone.
"Maybe because you look like a psycho right now, covered in all that blood..." The guild's butcher comments. An old woman in her 50s.
"Hmm... Maybe I should wash up." Leo said blood still dripping from his clothes...
Leonard had finished his duties. The sun began to set. The lanterns of the street get lit with the built in mana crystals. They hum lightly as the villagers are doing their own thing. The night market is full of food stalls sweets, skewers, among some other things.
The delicious smell of food is suddenly interrupted by a sudden voice from behind him.
"How was your day Leonard?"
A sudden question asked near his ear.
Leonard is startled. Then he gets a good look on the figure...
"Oh. Don't scare me like that Father Mavrick."
"Hohoho~" Father Mavrick laughed while stroking his grey beard.
"Did I scare our guard? Have no fear child. For God protects our village from evil."
He patted Leonard's shoulder. His hands are steady despite his age, his posture is straight but is inviting, his hand is warm and gentle even through armor.
He gives Leonard a deep smile. Then walked back to the village church.
"God... Okay."
He said looking at the church.
Leonard's hand rested on the handle of his sword. A flash of imagery fill his mind then-
There was a tap on Leonard's shoulder pad...
Leonard snaps out of his trance.
"Hey. What are you doing?" Marinda asked from behind Leonard.
"You look dazed. Is something wrong?" Marinda pokes Leonard's cheek.
Leonard felt grounded... Alive.
"Oh. Uh-" He clears his throat. "It's nothing."
The warm lights of the night illuminate the soft features of Marinda. The late night ambience of the town tales the back seat. At this moment the world is at a standstill.
It's just Leonard and Marinda. Only him and her. Leonard is mesmerized by her. To him she's more beautiful than any noble or royalty...
"Just... You know? Deep thinking...."
Leonard responded
"Hey." Marinda says.
"Don't think about that. Your not that man anymore."
She said holding Leonard's hands.
"Okay... I'm not him anymore..." Leonard States holding Marinda's hands.
"Uhm... Since you're free for the day... How about we go on a date?" Marinda asked blushing.
"Okay... How about tommorow?" Leonard says smiling wide.
"Okay... Promise?" She reached her pinky out.
"Heh. You're so childish." He did the pinky promise anyway."
"It's cute." Leonard teases her which results in her blush fiercely.
Marinda and Leonard go their seperate ways. Marinda went home and Leonard went to his barracks. He took off his armor and got ready for sleep.
"... Goodnight... I hope." He says to himself
Leonard does a sign of the cross. Then falls asleep... Or at least he tries. The night was quiet and dark. But it was serene with the stars visible in the night sky through his window.
His mind lingers on his day. He gets up and takes a small note book. Writing about his day. After that. He laid down staring at the ceiling.
I hope I sleep Well. It was his last thought before succumbing to slumber.
To be continued...