The morning sun slowly rose over Drelmire, A cool breeze passed through the trees,
Samuel stretched as he sat up from his bed in the house they had been given. The previous night had ended with Jason sulking after getting drenched, while the girls had laughed at his misfortune. It was one of the few lighthearted moments they had since arriving in the village.
He glanced around the room. Jason was still asleep, sprawled across his bed, snoring lightly.
"Still out?" Samuel muttered, shaking his head. He decided to step outside to get some fresh air.
Morning in the Village,
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw that the village was already awake. Men and women were carrying supplies, children were playing near the houses, and elderly villagers sat together, talking.
Samuel stretched his arms. It's peaceful here…
He walked toward the well, where he saw Elaine and Sylvia drawing water.
Elaine noticed him and smiled. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
"Morning," Samuel replied. "You two are up early."
Sylvia nodded. "We promised to help the villagers today."
Elaine wiped her forehead. "Carrying water isn't the most exciting thing, but it's important."
Samuel glanced around. "Where's Marianne and Lyra?"
"Marianne is helping the village chief with supplies, and Lyra…" Elaine hesitated. "Well, she's somewhere. She still likes to do things alone."
Samuel nodded. Lyra wasn't the type to join in group activities often, but she had been more present since coming to the village.
Just then, Marianne walked up, carrying a small basket of fruit.
"Oh, you're finally awake," she teased.
Samuel shrugged. "Didn't realize I had a wake-up time."
"Well, you do now," she grinned. "Come on, the chief wants to see us. Something about the farms."
Helping at the Farmland,
The group arrived at the farmland on the outskirts of the village. Rows of crops stretched out under the morning sun, though some parts were damaged from the battle with the shadow creatures.
The village chief, an older man named Orwin, was waiting for them.
"Good morning, youngsters," Orwin greeted. "I appreciate you lending a hand."
Samuel nodded. "What do you need us to do?"
Orwin stroked his beard. "Some of the crops need to be cleared, and others need replanting. We lost a few sections during the attack."
Elaine rolled up her sleeves. "Alright, let's get to work."
The next few hours were spent in labor.
Samuel worked alongside the farmers, pulling out damaged plants and replanting new ones.
Elaine and Sylvia helped water the fields.
Marianne carried supplies and helped organize the workers.
Despite the hard work, there was a sense of satisfaction in helping the village recover.
At one point, Jason finally arrived, yawning.
"You guys started without me?" he complained.
Elaine smirked. "If you woke up earlier, you would've been here."
Jason sighed. "Alright, fine. Where do you need me?"
"Go help with the crates over there," Samuel said, pointing to a cart.
Jason groaned but went off to help.
As the sun began to lower in the sky, Samuel took a short break and walked toward a small hill overlooking the village. To his surprise, Lyra was sitting there, watching the sunset.
"You're avoiding work," Samuel commented.
Lyra smirked. "I already did my part."
Samuel sat beside her. "It's rare to see you just sitting and watching something."
Lyra shrugged. "It's quiet here."
They sat in silence for a moment, watching the village below.
After a while, Lyra spoke. "Do you like it here?"
Samuel thought for a moment. "Yeah. It's peaceful. After everything we've been through, it's nice to have a break."
Lyra leaned back. "Peace never lasts. You know that."
Samuel sighed. "I know. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy it while we can."
Lyra didn't respond, but he noticed a small smile on her face.
That night, the villagers prepared a small feast in celebration of their recovery.
The town square was filled with food, laughter, and music.
Children ran around playing.
Villagers shared drinks and stories.
The party members sat together, eating and talking.
Jason raised his cup. "To surviving another battle and finally getting some good food!"
Elaine laughed. "I'll drink to that."
Marianne smiled. "It feels nice, doesn't it?"
Samuel nodded. "Yeah. It does."
As the night went on, they enjoyed the warmth of the village, knowing that their journey was far from over.
The night had been filled with laughter and celebration, but by morning, the village had returned to its normal rhythm. Samuel and his group had settled into their routine—helping the villagers, strengthening their bodies, and resting from their recent battles.
But even as the days passed peacefully, Samuel couldn't shake the feeling that this peace wouldn't last.
Morning Training,
Samuel woke up early, stepping outside into the cool morning air. The village was still quiet, with only a few farmers heading to their fields. He decided to train while he had the time.
Moving to an open space near the forest, he began his routine:
Sword swings – refining his movements to be sharper and more efficient.
Footwork drills – ensuring he could move swiftly in battle.
Breath control – learning to channel his energy without wasting stamina.
After about an hour, Jason showed up, stretching his arms.
"Man, you really don't take breaks, do you?" Jason yawned.
Samuel smirked. "Neither do you, apparently."