The Second Journey

Scene: Harith's Journey and Charbel's Day

The scene shifts to Harith, traveling back home while accompanying Natan and the others on their adventure to deliver supplies to the railway depot. Harith glanced at the map provided by the other adventurers, detailing their route and noting various villages and cities along the way.

"So, this X sign here means these areas are predicted to become bandit hotspots. If we're here now, we'll part ways with them on this road, I suppose," Harith mused silently, preferring to converse with his thoughts rather than aloud. His mind wandered briefly.

"Hehe, when I get back home, I should write a letter to Charbel about today's journey. I wonder what he's up to right now?"

As Harith continued his journey, the scene shifted to Charbel's village. People were busy loading wheat into carriages, and among them was Charbel, working diligently.

"What a day," Charbel muttered to himself, wiping sweat from his brow. Laura, the tavern waitress, approached him, looking around anxiously.

"Ms. Laura, what's wrong?" Charbel asked, noticing her searching gaze.

"Have you seen Zashchitnik's son? I made these muffins for him, hoping to give them to him before he left," Laura explained, clearly disappointed.

"Um, Ms. Laura, he's already left," Charbel replied gently. "He moved out last night."

"Wait, what? Really? That's too early! I just finished baking these muffins recently. I should have made them earlier," Laura said, her disappointment evident.

Charbel clarified, "He's with Mr. Natan and joined the expedition to secure the supply until it reaches the station. He'll part ways with them halfway and take a different road afterward."

"I see... But what should I do with these leftover muffins now?" Laura sighed, unsure who else to give them to.

Charbel, trying to suppress his hunger, replied, "Maybe I can take them? I mean, if you don't mind..."

Suddenly, Charbel's stomach growled loudly, a sound so conspicuous that even Ms. Laura couldn't miss it.

"Hehe, it seems this young man is hungry after his work," Laura chuckled.

Charbel blushed deeply, embarrassed. "No, no, I'm not... Well, maybe a little. My work isn't finished yet; I still need to sell this wheat in the city after I prepare the carriage."

"How admirable," Laura smiled warmly. "I'll pack these muffins for your journey instead."

Charbel nodded gratefully, and as he finished setting up the carriage, Laura returned with packed muffins and bid him farewell.

"Make sure to finish them, okay?" Laura advised kindly.

"Yes, I will," Charbel promised.

Laura smiled fondly. "Seeing you grown so big and independent, your parents must be proud of you."

"I hope so," Charbel replied softly.

"Goodbye, Ms. Laura," Charbel said, setting off with the locals towards the city.

As Charbel departed, Ms. Laura returned to the tavern, preparing herself a drink and lost in her thoughts.

"Too bad I didn't get a chance to give those muffins to him. At least Charbel got to enjoy some dessert after a long time. But when will I get the chance to meet that knight?"

Laura recalled being saved by a mysterious knight from bandits in the past. She believed she had glimpsed Mr. Zashchitnik behind the helmet during that heroic rescue. Her face flushed red at the memory.

"I hope you're doing well now," she whispered softly.

Meanwhile, at Mr. Zashchitnik's house, he honed his old sword, a sense of warmth filling him.

"I sense something... warmth," he muttered to himself, his face reddening slightly. Unbeknownst to him, at the same time, Laura's face also turned red, recalling her thoughts about the knight.

The story continues to intertwine the lives of Harith, Charbel, Ms. Laura, and Mr. Zashchitnik, each with their own hopes, concerns, and connections