Searching for Answers

Zach remained composed despite the disappointment gnawing at him. The sight of the untouched game table was undeniably disheartening, but this was not the first time he had faced a setback. Life, both in his past and present, was filled with failures that demanded solutions.

He closed his eyes briefly, allowing his mind to drift back to a memory from his previous life. There was a time when he had invested in building a playground, believing it would bring joy to the children of his city. Yet, after the grand opening, the space was abandoned, left to gather dust and leaves. No children came, no laughter filled the air just an empty structure standing in solitude.

But that playground had eventually thrived. Something had changed. He had done something to turn it around. What was it? The answer eluded him, frustratingly just beyond his grasp.

Snapping back to the present, Zach took a deep breath. "I want to see the other stores."

Rendon nodded and led him onward. If one location proved fruitless, there was still hope in the others.

The second store yielded the same result no one approached the game. The third, the fourth… all the same. Customers came and went, but none paid the game any attention. The store owners, though polite, offered similar explanations: people only stopped by briefly to shop, rarely staying to linger, let alone play a game. Adults, the main customers, had no interest, and children hardly set foot in such establishments.

Through it all, Zach remained outwardly composed. His mind, however, was churning, digging through his past experiences for a solution. There has to be something I'm missing.

Finally, they arrived at the last stop Hadrian's store. The place was livelier than the others, filled with customers engaging in negotiations and inspecting wares. As Zach observed the environment, a familiar figure approached.

Hadrian, ever the opportunist, grinned as he spotted Zach and Rendon. "Ah, what an honor! To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, young master?"

Hadrian POV

Hadrian had seen his fair share of nobles in his time as a merchant most of them spoiled, demanding, and blind to the realities of trade. That was why, when he first heard that the young master of Ravennest would be visiting the town, he had prepared himself for another child who would throw fits and demand the impossible.

Yet, when he saw the young boy standing before him, there was something different.

The child, Lord Zach, did not have the arrogant air of a noble brat. No frustration, no loud complaints. Instead, he was composed, his small brows slightly furrowed in thought, as if he was calculating something beyond Hadrian's understanding.

Rendon, standing beside the young master, was the one to speak first. "We're simply traveling around town, allowing the young master to see the sights and witness the project he envisioned."

Hadrian's sharp merchant instincts immediately caught onto the subtlety of those words. 'Witness the project he envisioned?' That meant they had already seen the results results that, judging by the boy's unreadable face, were far from satisfying.

His gaze flickered to the store's side, where a corner had been dedicated to the game the young master had introduced. The very same game that, despite its grand setup, remained untouched. A failure. And yet, the child did not act as one would expect.

'If this were my son…' Hadrian thought to himself. If his own boy had worked on something, only to be met with complete disinterest from others, he would have thrown a tantrum. Crying, whining, demanding things be changed. Yet here Zach stood, silently observing, accepting, thinking.

A strange feeling swelled in Hadrian's chest.

Pity? Perhaps.

Admiration? A little.

He cleared his throat, trying to push those thoughts aside. "I see. It must be quite the experience for the young master to travel the town."

Zacharias simply gave him a glance before returning to his quiet contemplation. The child had no need for meaningless flattery, and Hadrian realized that the usual bootlicking tactics merchants used on nobles wouldn't work here.

For the first time in years, Hadrian found himself curious. 'Just what kind of young master are you? 

Zach Pov

Seated at the empty game table, Zach rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. The realization that his project wasn't working as intended gnawed at him. Moving the game's location again wasn't an option it would only bring dissatisfaction to those involved, even if the investment was small. As the son of the lord, earning the town's trust was crucial. Mishandling this would only tarnish his image before he even had a chance to establish himself.

His mind drifted to a memory from his past life one of a leader who had tried to enact change. This leader had placed his faith in a promising new candidate, tirelessly promoting him despite public skepticism. The candidate had won, ascending to the highest position in the country. But once in power, the man proved to be nothing but a shadow of his predecessor, coasting on past achievements and making no real contributions of his own.

When the people finally saw through the facade, they turned against the leader who had once guided them. The very people who had cheered for him now pelted him with stones and jeers, branding him the most foolish leader to have ever lived. His vision, his ideals, all crumbled in an instant.

Zach clenched his hands slightly. Just because I believe in something doesn't mean others will immediately accept it. Change couldn't be forced. It had to be introduced in a way that made people see its worth on their own.

But no matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't figure out the right approach.

Letting out a soft sigh, he straightened up. There was no point in frustrating himself over something he couldn't solve yet. Instead, he glanced toward Hadrian and Rendon, then at the empty game board in front of them.

"Since we're already here, we might as well play." His tone was calm, as if the earlier disappointment had never happened.

Hadrian raised a brow before letting out a chuckle. "That's a good mindset to have, young master."

Rendon nodded in approval. "Very well. Let's see what this game of yours is about."

With that, the three of them gathered around the table, setting up the pieces to play. Though Zach still had no answer to his problem, he knew one thing he wasn't going to give up just yet.