The Village

… 

The ship's engine roared as it steadied itself before landing on the platform. Its landing gear deployed, touching down with a heavy thud. The platform groaned under the ship's weight, a low metallic creak echoing through the air.

The ramp lowered from the cargo/storage area as Evryn stepped out, with everyone else following behind him.

The sunlight shone brightly upon them, hurting Evryn's eyes, so he shielded them with his hand while heading down the ramp.

Then, he lowered it.

His eyes widened in surprise and excitement.

A village stood before them, surrounded by massive trees that nearly rivaled the height of the buildings in Sythar.

The houses, made of wood, stone, and hardened plant resin, had a natural yet sturdy appearance.

The pathways were smooth and flattened, composed of soft dirt that looked inviting enough to walk barefoot on.

The air felt entirely different from Sythar—humid and rich with the scent of soil, fresh rain, and exotic fruit.

The village teemed with life—people chattering, children playing, the crackle of cooking fires, and the distant roar of unseen beasts deeper in the forest.

Wow… the whole mood of this place is completely different.

Razek playfully pushed Evryn. "Come on, we don't want to stay here forever."

"Right."

Evryn and the rest walked down the ramp onto the ground.

Stepping off the path, Evryn crouched down and brushed his fingers against the grass. This was his first time seeing it in person—his first time touching it.

He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he knew he was enjoying himself.

"What are you doing?" Cyrus called out.

"Stop messing around and come on."

"Right." Evryn stood up and jogged back onto the path, catching up to Cyrus and the rest.

Glancing back, he saw the ship resting on a grassy field beside the path they were walking on.

As they headed deeper into the village, the locals eyed them with curiosity and uncertainty.

"They don't seem comfortable with us being here, Cyrus."

"Relax, they don't get visitors that often. Plus, we won't be staying long—just until things cool down."

"If you say so." Evryn sighed.

"I bet the women here are really pret—" Before Razek could finish his sentence, Helaine smacked him on the back of the neck.

"Can't you think about anything else besides what the women are like everywhere we go?" she said, already sounding tired of Razek's antics.

They passed by a bar, a few shops, and even a coffee shop that caught Evryn's eye.

"Okay, we're here." Cyrus said.

They now stood before a building, its exterior worn yet sturdy, built from a mix of wood and stone like the rest of the village. A faint scent of burning incense drifted from within, and the soft hum of voices could be heard behind the closed doors.

Cyrus out his hands on both of the doors and opened it. 

The room fell silent.

Every pair of eyes turned toward them, some filled with curiosity, others with quiet suspicion. The air inside was thick with the scent of incense and aged wood, mingling with the faint aroma of food from somewhere deeper within the building. A few villagers sat around wooden tables, their conversations now halted, while others stood near the walls, watching.

Evryn shifted slightly, feeling the weight of their stares. "Well… this is welcoming." he muttered under his breath.

"Cyrus, is that you?" A voice came from a crowd of people. 

"Yea, it's me old friend." 

"Hahaha, it's been so long!"

A man emerged from the crowd.

The man was tall and built with a sturdy frame, his posture exuding confidence. His light tan skin was weathered from years of experience, with a few scars marking his arms—a testament to a life well-lived. His shoulder-length, dark blonde hair was loosely tied back, with a few stray strands falling over his sharp, angular face. A trimmed beard covered his jawline, adding to his rugged yet refined appearance.

His piercing blue eyes held a mix of curiosity and familiarity as they landed on Cyrus. He wore a fitted, earth-toned tunic with reinforced leather straps along the shoulders, showing both practicality and a sense of status within the village.

A small smirk formed on Cyrus's face. "Been too long, Garran."

"You can say that again!"

Cyrus stepped forward, and Garran did the same.

They both lifted their arms and clasped hands in a firm, familiar greeting.

"So, what brings you here, my friend?"

Cyrus leaned in, bringing Garran down so he could whisper in his ear.

"Haha, some people never change, do they? Well, you came to the right place." He placed his hand on Cyrus's shoulder.

Evryn wasn't too sure about everything going on, but he could tell they were well acquainted. Maybe they used to rob banks or something together back then… Evryn thought to himself.

"So, who are these three?"

Cyrus points at Razek. "That's Razek." He moves his finger to Helaine. "That's Helaine." Then he points to Evryn. "And finally, that's Evryn."

"Well aren't you full of surprises, they seem to know a thing or two!" 

"Yea, you can definitely say that." 

"Lets stop standing around, you all must be hungry." 

I haven't really eaten anything since I've been with them… Evryn put his hand to his stomach. I am pretty hungry… I wonder what they have here… he thought his mouth becoming watery. 

Garran led them to to a table with benches making room for them to sit down.

They sat down, and Cyrus and Garran got lost in conversation with each other. Razek was checking to see if there were any women nearby, while Helaine was minding her own business.

Evryn couldn't remember the last time he sat down at a table or with a group of people. He wasn't sure what to make of all this.

Was this supposed to be exciting or boring? He wasn't sure.

A plate slid across the table to Evryn.

"For you!" someone said to him.

"Thank you!" Evryn smiled, ready to dig in.

Then he looked at the food before him.

He wasn't entirely sure what he was looking at.

There was a small golden cone with a soft glowing peel.

Evryn picked it up to inspect it closer. It looked like some sort of fruit.

"That's a Sunspire fruit."

Evryn looked up, startled. An older man was watching him.

"It's a delicious delight."

Without a second thought, Evryn bit into it. A burst of sweet, tangy juice flooded his mouth, leaving a faint warmth behind, as if the fruit had absorbed the energy of the sun itself. The interior was a vibrant orange, resembling the color of a setting sun.

Evryn moaned as he chewed.

"First time having one?"

Evryn nodded, devouring it eagerly.

"They grow on the highest part of trees, absorbing sunlight energy. The sun is what helps them grow and keeps them alive."

After Evryn finished the fruit, he looked down at what seemed to be a lean cut of meat, deep red with a generous amount of seasoning.

"That's Ashclaw Venison."

Without a second thought, Evryn immediately dug in. The meat had a robust, earthy flavor, but nonetheless, it still tasted good.

Evryn looked up at the old man. "What is an Ashclaw?"

"It's a large predatory creature with dark, ashen fur. We usually have some of our hunters go out and bring back meat from them."

Evryn listened to him, absorbing the information that was being shared.

Before he realized it, the food on his plate was all gone, and he was stuffed. His belly was satisfied.

Evryn was about to thank the old man who had told him about the food, but he was already out of sight.

Where did he go? Evryn muttered to himself, confused. But he was grateful for everything that had been bestowed upon him.

Evryn looked around him. Cyrus and Garran were still talking, Helaine was eating, and Razek looked like he was devastated by something, but Evryn didn't want to ask why or get involved.

"Hey, Evryn." 

Someone called out to him.