Handy

Nick looked at Sosora's blank face with confusion.

"You're saying I have visitors?" He asked doubtfully. She nodded.

"But I don't know anyone?" He was confused. Why did he suddenly have visitors? Where were they from? How did they know him? The sudden event birthed a slew of questions.

"If it's any comfort, they didn't seem to know you, either," Sosora responded calmly.

"What? Didn't you say they were looking for me?"

"To be specific, they're looking for the Outsider in Tiabe. That would be you."

"So, they're looking for me, not me?"

Sosora nodded.

"Still, why are they looking for me? And did you say they were from outside the forest?"

"I think you might have more luck answering those questions by asking them to those two. I know they were sent here by a seer, though."

"A seer?" Nick asked in confusion. He wasn't sure it was what he thought it was. It was a fantasy world, so it might be something else.

Sosora raised an eyebrow. Was he asking because he wanted to confirm, because he wanted to know which one, or because he didn't know what a seer was?

"Someone who reads palms?" Nick clarified his question.

Sosora tilted her head.

"I guess they might do that, too. But they are usually more famous for seeing the future and divining fate."

"Huh." Nick crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. He was dealing with a couple of suckers, then.

It might be a fantasy world, but he was a firm believer that the future was unpredictable. Whoever they were, they were being scammed.

He was curious about how someone else knew about him. But information could have spread from the forest. It wouldn't be strange if the three countries outside the forest kept tabs on what was going on inside it.

Nick also wanted to know what this supposed seer hoped to gain by sending two people to his doorstep.

"Alright. I want to meet them. I would appreciate it if you were present, though, Sosora."

"Of course." Sosora nodded happily. She had been about to ask if he wanted to meet them alone or if she could stay.

Nick scanned the forest.

"And…It feels like Kai is nearby. Do you think Malak can keep him away?"

"If I ask him to, he'll even move mountains."

"Handy."

Sosora returned to where Squawks and Lily were waiting with anticipation, Malak, and the others from the Bawin tribe. She leaned in close to Malak and whispered in his ear, asking him to take a lap around Nick's house to look for a bear cub and gently chase it away.

She then turned to Squawks and Lily.

"Congratulations, your audience has been granted," She said before turning around again.

"Audience? We're not meeting a king or anything, right?" Squawks whispered to Lily, suspicious about Sosora's choice of words.

"Maybe he's the future king of the forest. That's what the prophecy is about. If we somehow, you know…" Lily said with a wink. If she finished what she was saying, there was a chance someone might overhear them and have a crack at the prophecy themselves.

Squawks nodded sneakily.

That made sense. If this Outsider was someone very important, to the point where Sosora, who was held in high regard by the Bawin tribe that caught them sneaking through the forest, treated him with respect, maybe the prophecy was talking about the great fortunes of the forest.

It sounded very plausible and also very enticing.

There was a reason why all three of the kingdoms had launched various expeditions into the forest throughout history to try and extract some of its riches. There was also a reason why they had failed every time.

Squawks' and Lily's steps were light and filled with eagerness as Sosora led them into the clearing.

The sight that greeted them was not what they had expected.

A messy lawn, the remains of a campfire, and a strange house that, despite its unusual looks, appeared to be very well-made.

And sitting on the stairs to the house's entrance was an ordinary man.

Since he was an Outsider to Tiabe, Squawks and Lily hadn't him to be part of any of the many tribes native to the forest. But it still surprised them to see a normal human waiting for them. But then again, what else would he be? Besides, his clothes made him look strange enough to make up for his common appearance.

Nick held his hands out on either side.

"I heard you two wanted to meet me. I'm a little honored. It almost makes me feel like a celebrity. I have a few things I'm curious about, so please take a seat," he said, pointing at the two chairs he had put out in front of him. There was also a chair to the side for Sosora.

Nick wasn't sure how he was supposed to treat this meeting. It was a couple who had come from afar to find him because of nothing but his identity as an Outsider to Tiabe. 

He doubted he would have anything in common with them.

He didn't know the first thing about them. And if he had understood right, they didn't know the first thing about him. But he was curious about them, and they were curious about him.

That meant they would be asking each other questions.

'Almost like a blind date or something,' Nick thought as the two slowly sat down.

'Not my kind of blind date, though.' He wasn't interested in throuples or in being watched.

'Maybe interview is more accurate.' He tilted his head as he thought about it.

Squawks and Lily looked at him. They glanced at each other. Was this really the Outsider? They couldn't help but feel that he was a little underwhelming. How was he supposed to grant the holder of his heart great fortune?

Was it the house? It looked like it would have a lot of valuable things inside.

"Alright, I guess I'll take the lead, then. I'm Nick. What are your names?"