The black-haired boy looked outside of the carriage because the whole village could be seen from this hill. It looked like it was slowly passing them. He held his arm out as if trying to grab it, to stop it from going, but he couldn't.

Deep warm gusts were hitting their ears, deafening the sound of galloping horses. The mountains of clouds were slowly dragging across the horizon almost touching the sea that sparkled in the morning sun. The blond boy was staring at the broken windmill, wondering…

How did it come to this? I wasn’t ready to leave my home just yet…

* * *

 A bell rang on top of a church just next to a busy marketplace in a small coastal village; marking high noon. From above, people looked occupied by trying to make good sales, or in contrast haggling for discounts on the goods.

One could hear the sound of many voices not synchronized one bit, but a song for the soul of the old fisherman sitting in his small wooden boat, waiting for the fish to bite. The sun burned hot, yet the gentle breeze and the smell of the sea made it easier to live at this hour.

Many merchants were visiting the Village of Stars on every month's first Sunday to set up their stand in one of the biggest markets in the region. This Sunday was not an exception.

A tall knight with a tired look on his face walked up to one of the most deliberately decorated stands in the row. Wiping the sweat from his brows, he took a look at the stand's unusually dressed owner.

 Clad in purple clothing with sleeves unnecessarily long and adorned with trinkets from head to toe, a huge matching hat, sitting on top of his head; his nose was still taking all the attention from the man to himself.

“Welcome friend! Care for a game?”

“Huh?” asked the knight, putting the bag from his shoulder onto the ground.

“A game of cups for a silver coin. The rules are simple; just follow the coin but don't lose sight while I will rotate the cups with all my might. If you choose where the cup and the coin meet, you win a refreshment to help you with this heat. Should you miss your mark, the coin gets lost in the dark.”

“Ah, I don't know about that. A silver coin is a bit much for a game and all you offer are bottles of water and apples...”

“A tough customer I see... Very well.” the small man opened a larger box, from which he took a clothed object. “If you win three times, you will get a special prize. A sword that belonged to one of Emnikatia's own Serpent Forces,” added the merchant, revealing the goods.

The expression on the tall man's face changed from uninterested to skeptical. Clearly, he thought it was a fake but the possibility that it was actually legitimate wouldn't stop biting at his mind.

“Alright, let's give it a shot,” he put one silver coin on the table covered fully with a white sheet where the three cups lay.

The man behind the table immediately put one of the cups onto the coin and started shuffling them as fast and confusing as he could.

Three cups for all to see

In which one it may be?

To guess right here's the key

If you miss it, don't blame me

When finished, he leaned back in his chair with a wide grin on his face; “Your turn to take a guess, my friend.”

“The middle one…”

“Whoa, you guessed it! But how? ...In any case, feel free to choose a refreshment of your choice,” said the nosey man and mumbled something to himself right after.

“I'll take a bottle of water, but never mind that; two more and I get the sword. That was the deal, right?”

“That is the deal indeed, but do not get ahead of yourself. I was going easy on you.”

“Aaahahaha, I bet you say that to every customer when you lose. Let's go, here's the second coin.”

The owner was spinning the cups as quickly as he could, all while reciting his song even more quickly.

After a few seconds, following the cups became pointless and the knight was left with only guesses once more.

“There we go. I bet you won't guess so easily this time, friend!”

“Hmm... It's tough alright. I think... no... I’d say it's this one!”

The merchant opened the cup slowly, smiling and bragging; “You thought it would be easy as last time? What you just witnessed was my special shuffling technique called— What the..!?” After lifting the cup and revealing the coin once again, he flipped; “Oh, that does it! How could you follow my incredible speed? Yours is an extraordinary gift, my friend. Here, choose from my goods.”

The knight took an apple, acting all proud of his achievement. “Flattery will get you nowhere, friend, as I recall, one more game and the sword changes its owner.”

“Mrngl, frngl...” the small man started mumbling to his chin again, “So I suppose, I said you will get the sword after only three games. I must admit I was a bit hasty there, but a deal is a deal and the Great Mundini doesn't go back on his word...”

“Who's that?”

“Me! Who do you think?” snapped the infuriated merchant. I don't think you are one of the brightest ones, friend.

After the third silver coin was put on the table, the shuffling started, but as a pleasant surprise to the impatient, happy man on the observing side, the cups were dancing rather slowly, as if the shuffler got tired or just lost his will completely. This will be a piece of cake.-thought the knight cheerfully.

“Alright, pick the cup.” said the merchant with very little interest.

“Hey, were you even trying? It's this one, it must be.”

“Are you sure? You don't want to change your mind?”

“Yeah, I'm sure. I stay with this one. I bet you want me to change 'cuz you know I got it right. I won't change my mind,” the man was firm, but after lifting the cup, he got surprised. The coin wasn't there.

“Hey! Are you cheating?!”

“What, cheating? Me, the Great Mundini? Never! Why would I cheat, when I have my special shuffling technique? You just underestimated me and that's why you missed it. Don't be a sore loser and admit defeat like a true knight is supposed to.”

“Ah, fair enough, I guess I did underestimate you back there. Let's give it another shot.”

The crowd got busier and louder and the gentle breeze stopped, leaving only heat to do its work on the market full of people from all around the world. Mostly from the Kingdom of Emnikatia, but one could find people from distant lands of Toukoku and even some pirates.

The Village of Stars was blessed with its large marketplace and a good location; right on the crossroads between the north and west; that's why it was always blooming and its people lived mostly joyous lives. Of course, there were rich and poor, but the majority was somewhere in the middle without a worry on their mind.

The village had no strategic value, so it was rarely attacked, and even when it was, the walls surrounding it from three sides and the sea being the fourth, it repelled bandits, robbers, and vigilant Orgriash-folk with ease. There were some guards posted around, but nothing major. Most of the actual guarding was done by the Emnikatia's twelfth division, posted on the most important roads and woodland paths, and two smaller armed ships docked in the port, ready to sail at all times.

The village was, of course, paying its tribute to the kingdom, in order to keep this peaceful state of affairs.

“Ready for another try?”

“No, I had enough! I guessed the first two, but you're telling me that since then I couldn't hit it nine times in a row??

“Relax friend. I assure you that I'm playing fair. You just had a streak of bad luck, that's all.”

“Bad luck?! That's bull! I want my money back!” the knight raged and hit the table with his fist. The people around the stand gave him a mix of concerned looks and warning frowns, obviously not too approving of his behavior.

“H-hey there, hold your horses. You wouldn't want someone to call the guards, now, would you?”

“Fine,” said the knight after cooling his head and leaning down to grab his bag.

After he left, the merchant pulled a curtain over his stand's entrance and entered the shadow of his tent. Seconds after, a small man got out from beneath the table and followed him, waving a necklace made of a silver chain and a decorated pendant.

“This was all that had any value; the rest of the bag was rubbish.”

“Well, at least I got nine silvers out of him up on the top. He lost his head after one look at the sword. Can you imagine?”

“Good work Bob. We really did—”

“Shuddup Mart, will ya? I told you to call me Mundini when we-” he was interrupted by a noise coming from the stand. Someone was knocking.

“Hello? Is anybody working here?

Bob hurried back to reopen the shop, his hands rolling each other; he was hoping for another victim. “Yes? Hello, we are open, just a small break, that's all. Can I interest you in one of our games?” he observed the customer.

Clad in a black sleeveless kimono with a red rope holding it on the waist, grey baggy pants, and black monk slippers, was a boy a bit tall for his age. Fit and in form, he had a neat muscular build.

His skin was a little bit pale in contrast to his long hair dark as night tied into a tail and a larger bang on each side of his absolutely proportionate face. His eyebrows were like a pair of raven wings above two almost dragon-like emerald eyes.

There was something reminiscent of Toukoku in his look, but with such proportionate features, it was hard to grasp what exactly.

“They are plenty of fun, I assure you. But have you a silver coin?”

“Fun? Sure, why not? Although I lack any silver.”

“Then you can't afford to play! Goodbye!” Bob shook off and started closing the cloth again.

“I have this though. I found it outside,” said the boy and flipped a coin with his thumb casually. It landed on the table in front of Bob who was now most interested to serve the peculiar customer.

T-t-this is... gold??? ... Thought Mundini, taken aback.