Chapter 7: Sins

Seven years, a damn long time since I started living here sometimes at Nakitel.

A good life, selling these junk tools and weapons from those lunatic blacksmiths from my kins, secured a good flow of alcohol and lastly, I need to fix this store right now.

I have to say the wood here is garbage. It only lasts for two years and I have to change every single pillar just for safety. I can't let them know, so I have to hire these brawn heads right now to fix the store for me.

It was a good deal back then. I didn't sell the first three weapons I had gotten after I showed her my money. She was kinda impressed how much I had made.

Let's see for today. I need to restock knives, chisels, shovels, hoes, fangs, iron balls, gears, nails.etc. The list keeps going on. Heading to the supply store to buy some food, some water and shoes for my goats. As for me, I need rations, not for my needs, it is more like for my disguise. On my way back…

- A column of smoke and a loud explosion. What was that?

A town folk just asks others. I could hear that. But who in the world would detonate such feats. Oh well, it is another unimportant event. Now to think of it, I just remember that from last year, a guy named Wilmas bought something called gunpowder around this town every now and then. The last time I saw that lad was last week. He seemed like he was tired and I saw his axes were a bit broken. I offered a deal but Wilmas refused.

Time to restock then.

Suddenly

A feeling

It is just like that time

While Hiwan once ran away and had the same feeling, that one drake stayed back to fend off the enemies. That drake was brave and great. The moment he fell, Hiwan almost collapsed.

So a brave and great drake has just fallen. Grievous.

Why did god let me see this? A view from god to witness my fallen servant once again.

Thankfully, I didn't fall down in front of people. I collapsed alone in my bedroom. My book, I should pick up and put that back on the shelf. It seems like it is dusk already. I should go out for a stroll at the town's library. For the past seven years, I read most of the books here and to be frank, most books are all about praising Nortus or church.

Time to get home and feed my goats.

Tonight, the moon is shining pretty

[

I am just another fool

Being used as a tool ~

Until I meet you, fairy ~

You are white as dairy

My heart skips a beat

this feat ~

A dream or a fate

I won't be late

My love for you isn't a lie

For you, I would die

]

Who sang that?

There is only one person who could have heard it.

My lover

Aikaze Maiko

- The song, you seem to know it ,stranger? Or should I say you are the one I have been looking for?

- Good to see you again after 800 years.

- You want to know your true name, sand folk?

- How did you kno…?

- I am the one who begged Lamento for you.

- Why?

- It is love. Once you know the name, I will be forever gone from this world.

- Don't do it.

- If you know your real name, you will gain the knowledge and power of your previous life. Your memory may be vague but still, you were innocent. I saw it all but I couldn't. The new princess was too weak.

- Reconsider this, Aikaze.

- Farewell forever and never to be seen in this or after life, Jarek.

She disappears. It is like a fog. The wind just carries her away.

I will never forget you, my love. The last line was supposed to be: "Every night and day, I cry". But she changed it. It was a good bye

She exchanged her life for me but once I know the name, she will disappear forever from this world.

I need to be stronger than this.

I need to get a book of magic. Not just any kind. A sage's.

But here is the dilemma, if I go to the capital now, I have no right to access it since I am just a merchant. On the other hand, I don't like having conversation with that weird lazy old fart.

Next morning.

Let's settle this to my kin's capital.

Provision, goats, wagon and lastly, my weapons.

Thunderstick, loaded, staff, on my belt and knife, sheathed.

It is just like the first day. The forsaken sun is still there, sand is infinite.

I just go the usual road for merchants then I will go to where there is no road.

- GIVE US YOUR MONEY OR ELSE - A yamp

- Tch, small fries. I fought better man than this empty barrel.

- GET HIM.

A dozen men come out. Swords, axes, spears and bows ready at me. three men with axes, two with swords, five with bows, the other last two are with spears.

Swish

Three at the front got decapitated.

Thunk! Thunk ! Bonk ! Thack ! Crack!

Five skulls were broken.

Bang! Swish

Three heads got pierced by a single fang.

One with a bow left. He scares. Coward, you should never collapse in front of your predator.

- What are you?

- I am just a merchant

- It was too fast. You are not human.

- Indeed.

- A monster?

- I am a sand folk. Your days of preying on merchants are over. Enjoy this last moment

He was pierced by the sandstorm until his bones were left. No, this isn't enough. Another sandstorm, for sure he will not be able to be resurrected as an undead. The wind carries the rest.

I am not sure about this bandit group but this road is now safer.

I visit the capital of our kins.

I distribute the provisions and get some weapons and tools. I hope that they will deliver to sand elves.

With some new provisions from sand elves' town to avoid being blown up the cover, let's head back with weapons and tools

[

Dogs are just dogs

Preying on many in the fogs

Kill them all, splatter their blood on lands

Let's see them how they are tanned

Last of their day, til prey

A finale in their play

]

I sang that song aimlessly in the desert.

When I arrive in Nakitel, I need to be back at my shop. After unloading all the cargos and feeding goats, I need to head to this town's tavern for a round or ten.

- Those bandits in the desert are all gone. Strange but thank god who did all the works.

- Let's celebrate for that. Hey host, another round

- I guess that is that.

A group of a merchant and mercenaries are drinking lively.

- Yoooou seeeeem liiiiike aaa meerceenaaree thaaaan aaa meerchant heeeh?

- Hey ma'am, you drank way too much. I am just a merchant

- Yooou caaarreee threee weapons on yoou. Hicc. Aaaa meeerchaant wooouldnnin't carry sooo maaaneeee. Hiccc

- Precaution is a virtue.

A lady with a bow on her back. She is apparently a ranger or an archer. But an elf like her drinks just way too much

Elves are just weird. Either they are an extreme arrogant person or just overboard like this one.

Thankfully, her friend is here to carry her all the way.

I hope tomorrow will be a better day.

Or maybe, I should put a request for an escort to Loreahor. It has been a long time since I last met that Serpent King and that brawn head.