Villagers

The three asked in surprise about Ryu's intention to stay in their village, this was something that never happened before. To have a visitor is already something rare, for it to be a cultivator is an event that just occurred a few times in history, but a cultivator staying here is unheard of.

"Is there a problem?" when Ryu made this question a shiver crossed the back spine of the three, is a moment of astonishment they lost composture and spoke their minds outs.

"No, of course no. Whe are just surprised that you want to stay here. Having a visit is something realy rare, you see." Clark rushed in an explanation to fix the situation.

"So can I get the room?"

"You can, if you want. But It is a very humble room and I don't know if you will want to keep it."

They chatted for some time, the rain eventually stopped and Ryu was conducted by Susan to the backward of the tavern. An attachment in the back of the building with a single door lays the room where Ryu will stay, Susan opened the door revealing a space of 3x2 square meters room with a single bed.

"I told you it is shabby, this were used as a bedroom for an employee in the past but no one uses nowadays."

"It is fine to me." Ryu has spent a week sleeping in the forest, this room was not luxurious but it is way better than his camp. His expectation when he became a cultivator was very high, but reality hit him hard.

The next morning Ryu waked, used the bathroom outside, with a struggle he put the shoes on and went to see Susan in the tavern. Today he is planning to see the village and its residents.

After eating the breakfast Susan have prepared for him Ryu went outside, he was not satisfied that Susan has returned to address him formally but he decided to not be too harsh and reprimand her. At this point, he has already realized that this is something that would be happening for the next few days. If he wants to befriend them he would have to earn their trust first.

Leaving the tavern Ryu went for a stroll around the city, it was so small that it wasn't even necessary to walk to see the entire city, just by making a 360º turn he was able to see it all. But just see was not the intention he has, his task is to meet people.

Ryu walked between the houses and saw some of the roofs have been damaged by the storm, some people were looking at their houses to assess the damage properly. Fortunately, the walls are made of brick and they held no damage.

He passed by some people when he was walking, every time he gets near that person would bow and greet him.

"Good morning lord." and he responded greeting back and asking their names.

No one seemed surprised with the presence of a stranger walking in their village that visitors come just rarely. The people of the village must have talked about his presence before he waked, they should have prepared themselves to receive him.

He was passing near every house and have met almost everyone, when he was passing in the main single street a woman appeared at the door and called him.

"Greetings lord Ryu, I am Anne. Can you come to my house?" a middle-aged woman that looks about 45 years with a slender body, wearing a yellow dress close to her knees. Her hair black hair has traces of white and is tied back revealing her neck, she was quite beautiful for her age.

"Nice to meet you Anne. I can go, what it is?" Ryu followed the woman accepting the sudden invitation, he has no reason to deny it.

When he entered the room he saw a small room with a balcony and many shelves. Ryu thought this should be a store and the woman wants to sell something for him.

The woman looked at Ryu examining the surround and told with a smile.

"I am an herbalist. Susan told me your feet is horrible, so she asked if I have an ointment to treat it. I may not be as skilled as an alchemyst of the sect but I am confident in my skills to treat something like that."

Understanding what is happening Ryu agreed with the treatment, he would not reject help especially if it could help him mingle with people of the village.

The woman pointed a chair for Ryu and made him remove his shoes, she picked a bottle on one of the shelves and applied the mixture of herbs to his feet. After the procedure Anne made Ryu keep seated.

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Ryu appraised the woman for her skills when he felt the pain-reducing. He then told the woman about his struggle to collect herbs, he could not find a single one, and differentiate one from the other was almost impossible.

They chatted about herbs for an hour, Ryu was finally able to put his shoes back. He left the store thanking the woman, his limp way of the walk had turned back to normal. The fast treatment was mostly caused by his constitution.

After lunch in the tavern, Ryu went for another walk in the village.

He found Clark, the man he found last night at the tavern, on the top of a house. The man is dismantling a damaged roof.

Ryu approached him and learned the man is a lumberjack and a carpenter, he does general repair everything wood made in the village, Clark told him the damages the village have suffered and that he would go next day to the forest to gather some wood.

He also learned the man has a wife and a young son. Clark is an easy dealing man very proud of his family

Walking further Ryu reached a farm, where he found John along with his wife Beth and his daughter Mary. John is a farmer by profession, he cultivates seeds and has some animals.

Talking with him Ryu learned that they often have problems with beasts invading the village and assaulting his plantation and animals. The fence around the village provides some protection but they have to keep repairing it.

The day finally came to an end, Ryu was getting an understanding of the dynamics of the village and is thinking about what he should do to mingle with them. He decided to choose a few people that and approach them.

His first day went well, there is still a lot of progress to make but the people are not rejecting him. It would be much easier if they could see him as an equal and not a lord to be revered, he would have to work on that.

Ryu then remembered his motive to be here, Nura talked that would help him leveling, he would get better quests here. Ryu didn't know how this should be, nor what kind of quest there is around here.

So his first task is to search for quests, and for that, he needs better interaction.