Randel

In the end, Haalfrin really has no other place to sleep except under a broken stone bridge with wooden planks draped across the top to reconnect both sides again.

With nothing better to do with his time, Haalfrin lays down on the soft, grassy incline beneath the bridge, and he attempts to clear his mind of everything that's annoyed him today.

Closing his eyes, Haalfrin smells the clean rainy air, he listens to the birds chirping and the grass swaying in the wind.

"So peaceful... So… boring," Haalfrin mutters.

Even though Haalfrin had made up his mind to wait a couple of years, the idea of lounging around in peace just feels so... AWFUL!

With these thoughts of debilitating boredom in his mind, Haalfrin drifts off to sleep.

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Haalfrin wakes up a few hours later to find a confused man staring at him in concern. "Are you all right, sir?" the man asks.

Once the stranger gets a better look at Haalfrin's face, he gets alarmed a little. "Oh! I've seen you before! We saw you come through town, and my wife mistook you for the baron's tax collector. You were dressed for battle and all, and we heard a lot of the other guards were dismissed because he got himself a mage."

Haalfrin shrugs casually as the man sits down next to him under the bridge while thinking, "Huh... Word sure travels fast..."

"We don't get a lot of strangers in these parts," the lean-looking man comments as he pulls out some picked fruit from his bag, then offers one to Haalfrin.

Once Haalfrin accepts the gift, the mage looks over and asks, "You know… Aren't most of you people wary of travelers? Everyone was ignoring me."

The brown-haired man shrugs his bony shoulders, "Nah. I can see that sword on you, the scars, and the thick muscles. You're also a bit young to have that experienced look in your eye. You're probably a mage. As a mage, is there really a point for me to act scared of you? If you were up to no good, then there's nothing I could do to stop you. If I act friendly – you know, saying hi and giving you an apple, then you're less likely to cause problems with me. Yeah?"

Taking his first bite now, Haalfrin lets out a smile. "I like a man with some sense on his shoulders."

The friendly villager relaxes a little and asks, "So, what's your business out here?"

This strange man must have some good social skills since Haalfrin actually relaxes enough around this man to completely spill out his story without any reservations.

…A few minutes pass, and 2 young men sit down under a quiet bridge as they talk about each other's lives. Of course, they both introduce each other. Haalfrin learned that his new friend's name is Randel, while Randel learns that he's talking to an exiled war veteran.

Then, he ends up telling Randel about how he became some noble's headache back in the capitol, getting too many war accomplishments, then having the gall to NOT swear allegiance to him.

Hearing this, Randel ends up getting angrier for Haalfrin than Haalfrin got angry for himself - especially when Haalfrin tells him about how he was basically sent here to the countryside and told to keep quiet.

"So yeah," Haalfrin finishes, "the baron seemed to think I was supposed to obey him. Why would I obey such a prissy, weak man? I mean, if I wouldn't obey a prince, then what makes the Baron of Borin an exception?"

Randel throws away his apple core. "Aren't you uncomfortable sleeping under a bridge and not in that rich mansion?"

"Bah," Haalfrin batts those words out of the air. "I'm a soldier. I'm used to sleeping on the ground anyway. Not a big deal."

After getting to know each other, Randel stands up and offers, "I got an extra room in my house you could stay in for a while."

Haalfrin stands up as well and extends his hand for a handshake. "I'm not poor, so I'll make sure you're paid generously."

Randel shrugs, "Of course! Who'd reject an honest, paying tenant?" The skinny man looks around and quickly adds, "I have a few things to take care of back at my house…"

With that, Randel runs off to do who knows what.

Naturally, having the man run off by himself does make Haalfrin a little suspicious. What if someone's trying to rob him, and he just ran off ahead to prepare an ambush?

However unlikely it is, Haalfrin creeps along after Randel, uses a spell to enhance his hearing, and keeps a close watch on the man as he runs off to his house.

The next moment, Haalfrin sees Randel arrive at his house. Then, instead of hearing shuffling furniture, Haalfrin hears Randel talking to 2 little children, "Now Galla and Ria. We're going to be renting out one of the rooms, so you'll both need to share a bed now. Galla. Help your little sister move her things into your room. Be quick about it."

Truth be told, Randel rushed off because he didn't want Haalfrin to feel guilty about making his family change their living arrangements.

Before the children can run off, a stern-looking woman steps out of the door. "Randel!" she shouts, "What are you doing? Did you just say someone's moving in without consulting me?"

Randel scratches his head and says, "…He's rich and he's paying."

In an instant, his wife's frown morphs into a smile, and she says cheerfully, "Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? Go show our guest inside while I help the children move their things."

The father of the house scratches his head awkwardly. "I'm sorry for not telling you earlier."

The wife frowns a little, then pats him on the head. "Well, it's fine as long as he's paying. I wouldn't want to reshuffle the house for a freeloader."

"Honey," Randel protests, "He's a mage. It'd be weird if he was poor."

"Oh! A mage! That's even better! I can triple the rent then!"

"Honey! That's not honest!" Randel protests.

"What? I want our kids to be educated and leave this forsaken place, but schools, tutors, and writing materials cost money. Better yet, we need to save up money so we can get out of this accursed province ourselves with the kids."

"...Yeah...," Randel agrees, "Our lord is sh##."

"RANDEL! Language around the children?!"

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On Haalfrin's first night after moving into his landlord's house, he takes out his little far-speak medallion and contacts his master. "What's happening on your end, Master?"

"The Crown Prince is getting anxious," Kalastros answers, "The people in the capitol are still talking about you, and he doesn't like it. The king seems to be doubling down on siding with Kanus, so he won't allow any talk about you in the court; they're both probably hoping that the court just forgets about you."

Kalastros adds in a more jovial tone, "Well, at least you won't be stuck with those troublesome missions. I really did hate how you were forcibly torn from your studies. So… did you make sure to bring the shared-space box I sent you?"

Haalfrin rolls his eyes, "Yeah. You reminded me a dozen times. Of course. It's in my bag."

A shared-space box has an advanced spatial enchantment that lets two containers share the same space. Any item placed inside one box will the accessible in the other as well. This makes it simple to exchange objects over vast distances.

On the other side of the kingdom, Kalastros smiles. "Good. I've left some more study materials inside. I expect you'll keep yourself busy out there on your extended vacation. I heard It's beautiful out there, so enjoy the scenery!"

Haalfrin rolls his eyes, "Yeah. I'll definitely keep myself busy."

"Haalfrin!" Kalastros warns sternly, "Don't pointlessly start fights or murder anyone... got that?"

"…Yes master."

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Haalfrin already had several decades spent studying behind him, so getting back into the habit isn't all that difficult.

…Even still, Haalfrin's habits include going out to find some "stimulation" with his sword on his hip.

And so, Haalfrin spends most of his days cooped up in his room studying. After a few months, Randel's wife, Lia, convinces Haalfrin to teach the children how to read and write in exchange for lowering his rent.

… Despite being technically hired to teach both of the children, Ria is only 4 years old right now. Rather than sitting down like a good girl and learning her letters, she plays with his mana pen the moment she's taught how to use it.

The little girl is so entranced with the ability to draw glowing designs on anything – even the air, so whenever her parents come to check on her, they usually find her in a corner doodling in the air or sneakily writing on Haalfrin's back, while Haalfrin pretends not to notice.

Galla, though, is a lot older than Ria – old enough to be reasoned with, anyway. He was always more interested in being by himself and staying indoors anyway, so he's a cooperative student.

Other than handling 2 obnoxious brats who seem way too curious about him, Haalfrin makes good work on his study materials. 'Fortunately, this means Master won't yell at me at the end of the month.'