The Old Cow Eating Tender Grass

It didn't take long for Sheriff Dougly and his team to storm into the scene, just as Glen had predicted.

"This is quite the eye-opener..." one of the officers remarked.

"Quit gawking! Check on the kids, make sure they're alright!" Dougly barked orders, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Captain, what do we do with this big guy?" Another officer gestured to the fallen giant insect.

"What do you think? Leave it! Let the professionals handle it!" Dougly snapped back, his tone a mix of authority and exasperation.

The team scattered into action, taking care of the children and handling the remains of the giant creature. Amidst the frenzy, everything seemed chaotic but strangely organized.

"Did you do this?" Dougly muttered under his breath, his gaze drifting toward the horizon as if searching for answers.

Meanwhile, Glen had already slipped back into the shadows, moving through the rooftops of the town with the quiet precision of a predator. He was soon back by his trusty cart, his mind still buzzing with thoughts about the battle and its aftermath.

He brushed a hand through his disheveled hair, checking the state of his appearance. Satisfied that he didn't look too out of place, he set off, the cart rumbling down the road as he drove away from Dudley Town.

But before his thoughts could wander too far, a familiar smell reached his nose, making him pause.

Three horse-drawn carriages were ahead on the road—common enough, but something felt off. As he got closer, he noticed the carriages were loaded with furniture and personal belongings.

"Moving?" Glen thought, his curiosity piqued. He quickened his pace to catch up.

As he passed the first carriage, his suspicions were confirmed. The faces of familiar people greeted him—Leyla and her mother, Mrs. Derly, both looking deep in thought and unaware of his presence.

"Leyla, are you moving out?" Glen asked loudly enough to get their attention.

"Ah!" Leyla jumped at the unexpected question, her eyes widening before she saw who it was. A hint of surprise flickered across her face. "Glen, long time no see!"

Mrs. Derly also greeted him with a warm smile. "Glen, it's good to see you again. We never got a chance to properly thank you for saving us last time. How embarrassing."

Glen gave Leyla a small nod, then turned to Mrs. Derly. "Just call me Glen. I'm only in my twenties, no need for all the formalities."

Mrs. Derly nodded with a smile.

"So, you're moving?" Glen asked again, the question still lingering in the air.

The two women exchanged a glance, and their smiles dimmed a little.

"Well… due to some special circumstances, we need to leave, Glen," Leyla replied, forcing a smile.

Glen raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. "Is it because of your father?"

The mention of Leyla's father made both women visibly tense. Their faces paled slightly, as if memories of him still haunted them.

Glen, sensing the pain, softened his tone. "If that's the case, you don't need to worry anymore. The police have already taken care of those criminals. Your father is probably either arrested or… executed by now. I heard the news just before I left the town."

He wasn't sure if her father had been among the criminals he took down, but with the insect's protection gone, there was no way the scum who'd been working with it could escape the Sheriff's forces. They had already deployed all their resources across the town.

"Is that true?!" Both Mrs. Derly and Leyla gasped in unison, their voices filled with disbelief. Even the driver, Mr. Pickman, jumped in shock.

"Of course, it's true. If you don't believe me, you can head back to town and check for yourselves. A lot of the missing kids have already been found. They're waiting for their families to pick them up," Glen said with a reassuring grin.

The relief was palpable. Both women's eyes welled up with tears, and they immediately turned to Mr. Pickman.

"Mr. Pickman, turn around! We're going back to check," Mrs. Derly ordered.

Without hesitation, Pickman called out to the other drivers, and soon, the entire caravan was turning back toward the town.

"Glen, thank you for telling us. If you hadn't, we would've regretted it forever," Leyla said, her voice trembling with gratitude as she bowed to him.

Glen chuckled lightly. "So, you're not moving anymore?"

Leyla's cheeks flushed visibly, and she hastily thanked him again before turning to leave with her mother. The sound of the carriages grew faint as they headed back to town.

With that business out of the way, Glen continued on his path back home, the cart rolling smoothly down the familiar road.

On the way, Glen passed two other residents of Bayek, their clothes old-fashioned and worn, their manner distant and cold. The encounter was brief and silent—just two strangers acknowledging each other before continuing on their separate ways.

As he neared Bayek Town, something caught his eye—a lone, eye-catching carriage parked in front of the old man's house. The oddness of it piqued his interest. The smell of something unfamiliar wafted through the air.

Glen's instincts told him the carriage belonged to someone the old man knew, so he didn't feel too concerned. But as he approached, he saw a tall, graceful figure emerge from the carriage—a woman dressed in fine robes, her every movement exuding elegance.

It was Deffa.

She eyed him curiously as she descended from the carriage, like she was appraising a rare creature.

Feeling suddenly self-conscious, Glen called out from a distance. "Are you an acquaintance of the old man?"

"The old man?" Deffa blinked in surprise, then laughed, covering her mouth. "Heh... you actually call him that? That's rather disrespectful."

Glen shrugged nonchalantly. "It slips out. He doesn't mind."

Deffa's smile widened. "It's a bit rude, but I can see why you'd say it. He certainly has a certain way about him."

Glen approached her, now standing in front of the striking woman. His curiosity got the better of him. "So, you're really an acquaintance of his?"

Deffa, sensing his intrigue, raised an eyebrow. "I take it you're thinking I'm his lover or something?"

Glen's mind made a quick leap, and before he could stop himself, he blurted, "Are you his... older lover?"

Deffa blinked, then suddenly pulled a wand from her robes and lightly tapped it on Glen's head. "Is that how you see me?"

Glen rubbed his head where she'd tapped him, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "Well, you know... older cows with younger grass, it happens, right?"

Deffa froze for a moment, then burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Older cows and younger grass? Oh, Glen, you're one of a kind! In all my years, I've never heard such a comparison!" She laughed so hard that tears formed in her eyes.

Glen stood there, a little embarrassed, but he couldn't help but grin at her reaction. He hadn't expected the serious, authoritative figure to have such a lighthearted side.

After a few minutes, Deffa finally composed herself, wiping away a tear. "The old man's not home right now. Would you like to come to my place instead?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Glen hesitated for a moment before giving a sly grin. "Sure, why not?" He gave her a quick glance at the old man's house, then added, "If he's not home, maybe you can entertain me for a while."

Deffa shot him a teasing look as they walked off toward her house, leaving the old man's place behind.

As they arrived at Glen's home, his young maid, Tia, was the first to greet him. "Welcome home, Glen," she said, bowing politely.

Glen returned her greeting, but then turned to Deffa, realizing he hadn't even asked her name.

"So, how should I address you?" he asked, glancing back at her.

Deffa smiled. "Just call me Deffa. No need for formalities. We've already met before, haven't we?"

Glen blinked, slightly confused, and turned to Tia for clarification.

Tia nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, Glen. This morning... you remember."

Glen stared at Tia for a moment, his mind racing. After a few seconds, he smirked. "The old man is truly hopeless, isn't he? Letting random people waltz into my house like that..."

Deffa raised an eyebrow, amused by the exchange. "You've got quite the interesting dynamic here," she remarked, stepping inside.

As the door closed behind them, Glen couldn't help but feel a sense of quiet anticipation about what the day might bring next.