As they knelt in the snow, scrubbing the remnants of their failed trap, the cold reality of their actions began to settle in. 

Each stroke of their scrubbing was a reminder of their misadventure. The initial laughter and excitement had now turned into a quiet reflection. 

As the yellow liquid seeped into the snow, Asdras looked at Brian, their faces mirroring the blend of youthful mischief and the creeping understanding of responsibility.

"This," Asdras said, looking at the liquid. "Never." 

After their hard training session, their bellies let out a symphony of grumbles to show how unhappy they were. 

The smell of the ham mixed with the crunch of the greens had always been a welcome treat after their hard workouts. 

"Yeah," Brian's face twisted in disgust as he scrubbed at the ground, trying to rid himself as quickly as he could. "You really wanna go there?"

"Yes!" Asdras gave a firm reply as he nodded his head.

As they worked hard at the difficult task of scrubbing and scraping, they naturally talked about the unknown and strange future that lay ahead of them. Like a winding river with many branching tributaries, the many reasons they had with them gave them many options.

"It's the best place to discover about myself," he mumbled under his breath, lost in himself.

"You know, Asdras," Brian couldn't help but spread his arms. "I've been givin' some thought to our future lately. How 'bout this? When we're all grown up, we become adventurers, wander this big old world, having epic battles, and uncover all the wonders out there, just like Miss Ellena, huh?"

"Sounds like a plan," Asdras grinned, elbowing him playfully. "Miss Ellena, huh? You sure do have some guts, fancying a lady in her late twenties when you haven't even grown a proper beard yet!"

"Aw, c'mon, Asdras, you'll never grasp the fine art of a refined fella like me," Brian boasted, puffing out his chest and giving it a little pat. "Us guys with class are as rare as hen's teeth in this wild world, and Teacher Ellena is one fetchin' lady, no doubt about it!"

"I wish you luck then," Asdras said, looking sideways up at the church. "By the way, is it true that we're heading to Baurus next week? I miss there."

"There or that lady?" Brian examined his friend up and down. "With them flowin', curly golden hairs, a face that could charm the birds from the trees, a body that'd make Cupid blush, and a grin that could melt an iceberg!"

"Shut up, idiot!" Asdras laughed with a slight redness in his face.

When he was rescued, his health declined quickly. The village doesn’t have any alchemists to help him, so they head up towards the city.

Being held in the alchemist store to be examined. Asdras experienced a strangely familiar yet distant sensation when a girl of his age entered the building.

He had never actually seen her, but his instincts told him there was something about her that could be of help to him.

When he learned she was enrolling in the academy, his decision was sealed that day.

"And you?" Asdras asked, rising to his feet and giving his body a good stretch.

"No change of heart here," Brian shrugged. "I'm headin' to the military. The old man might be rooting for the academy, but my sights are set on that path."

The resounding toll of the church bell echoed through the courtyard, its deep, sonorous chime slicing through the crisp midday air.

They shared quick glances, their expressions a blend of surprise and amusement.

"Finally," Brian let out a big sigh of relief. "And, oh, yes! Once the deliverer arrives, we're hittin' the city, my friend! We'll be filling our mouths with our own two hands at last!"

With the bell's solemn echo still fading in the distance, they turned their attention to the freshly cleaned courtyard.

The wooden traps and scattered lines they had set earlier had been meticulously restored, and the faint scent of the stinky herb had dissipated.

"Let's eat," Asdras grinned, nodding in satisfaction.

****

The familiar gathering had convened at the pub. Though only numbering twenty, it still constituted more than half the population of the village, filling the room to capacity.

As the crowd in the pub settled down, a hushed excitement filled the air with the arrival of the Deliverer. 

Clad in thick leather garments and dark cloaks that seemed to meld with the wintry night, the Deliverers were a rare breed chosen by the church to carry essential goods across the perilous terrains to faraway communities. 

Their arrival always brought a glimmer of hope, a breath of the outside world into the small village.

The man who held the title was known as Raffin, a seasoned traveler with tales as vast as the skies. His rugged face carried the map of his adventures, eyes that had witnessed the far corners of this part of the region. 

He was not just a carrier of goods, but a bearer of news, a storyteller who held the power to transport the villagers to places they could only dream of.

"So there's this farmer, right? Good ol' Tom. Now, Tom had a cow named Daisy, but Daisy wasn't just like the others; she had a hankering for apples!"

"Apples?" A kid jumped with wide eyes.

"Aye, you heard me right, kiddo. Apples! Tom would wake up each morning, go to the barn, and what'd he find? Daisy munching on apples like she was at a pub!"

"Hey, ol' Raffin!" Brian giggled. "How'd she even get them?"

"That's the mystery, little one. No one knows. Some say she found a secret treasure. Others blamed ol' Tom for lying," Raffin sighed. "But here's the kicker: every night, Tom would hear a strange sound outside, like a low growl, and he'd find his Daisy mysteriously disappearing! Now, where could she be going?"

"It's a creature of the night, I tell ya!" A farmer whispered fearfully to his friends.

"Well, seems like we've got ourselves a storyteller amongst us," Raffin winked at the farmer. "But don't you worry, folks, Tom has a plan up his sleeve! One night, he's out there, and what does he see? His cow, Daisy, wanderin' in the dark woods, a big and juicy apple right on her noggin!"

"An apple on her head?" Asdras mumbled in confusion.

"That's right! But not just any apple, mind you. This here was special — it had eyes! Can you believe it?" The deliverer spread his arm in a dramatic pause. "Tom thought his head gone bonkers. He said, "Daisy, what in tarnation are you doin' with an apple on your head?" And you know what she did?"

"What, what?" The children urged him to continue.

"She turned and dashed at ol' Tom," Raffin raised his tone. "Now here's where it gets even wilder. That apple, folks, it ain't no apple. It's a worm! A sneaky critter that lures you in with that juicy apple, then... Well, you'll see, you become like Daisy!"

"Like a cow?" Brian asked incredulously.

"No, idiot," Raffin grinned. "You become an aimless figure, with no thought other than wandering among the trees. Searching for herbs to serve as food for the worm!"

"It's a creature of the night, like I've been sayin'!" The farmer hollered, spilling his ale all over the table.

"Raffin," Joe coughed discreetly.

Raffin gestured for silence with a hush and a raised hand, signaling that he had something of great importance to share.

"Listen," he tapped on the counter. "The Church predicted the next Eruption may occur in this solstice. The military is expected to come and enlist the youths to head to Baurous for either joining them or the Academy."

As Raffin unveiled the news of the imminent military draft, a chilling silence swept through the room. The faces of the villagers turned pale, each word from Raffin hitting them like a cold gust of wind. 

The jovial atmosphere had turned grave, the laughter now replaced by hushed whispers of concern. The news was a grim reminder of the reality beyond their peaceful village, a reality they were now forced to face. 

The priest looked over the faces of the young people in the crowd, stopping on each one with a measured intensity.

"Do you understand what this means? It's a difficult path, I know. But it's also a chance to better your lives and change the fate of this village and yours."

Father Joe’s face was a canvas of mixed emotions as he listened to the fervent discussions among the villagers. 

His eyes, usually warm and comforting, now carried a burden of unspoken fears. He knew the draft was a necessary evil, a bitter pill they all had to swallow for a chance at a better future. 

Yet, as he looked at the young faces filled with apprehension, a heavy sigh escaped his lips. His heart ached for the innocence that was on the brink of being overshadowed by the harsh realities of life. 

Each argument, each outcry from the villagers, resonated with his own internal battle of duty versus desire.

"I still recall", he sighed. "Numeral figures rose, and with that, several places benefited from the improvement and the hope to prosper for a better life. As everyone here knows, our distant neighbor received the reward to move forward and transform itself into a town. And the reason is that one person received the title of champion, his name being Gravious."

"Can you imagine it?" His eyes sparked. "Better seeds, more tasty milk, and no longer the need for the deliverer to come and bring us pills because of the doctors. This is what we need to look for!"

The silence in the room grew heavier, suffocating every breath. The women, their hands trembling, set their mugs down gently. The weight of the news of sending their loved ones to war pressed upon them, their hearts burdened by a mix of defeat, anger, and uncertainty. They understood the gravity of the situation and the unyielding power the military held over them, leaving them grasping for words and actions to change their fate.

"Uncle Raffin, kin it be so you aimin' ta stop comin' 'round these parts?" a boy interrupted the solemn air.

"Oh, it's you, Cabbage boy," the kids started to laugh. "Yeah, I guess. You know, the Deliverer must be replaced at each full moon. So someone else will be in my place to bring the goods and news."

"Ain't we got no say 'bout sending the young'uns yonder?" a woman rumbled in a shy voice.

"Ya know it ain't up ta ya, Bettie," a man spoke grave-like. "If'n we hide, we loses them fellers bringing the goods and tonics, we ain't making it till winter comes 'round. Ya knows that cursed fog's gonna take the young'uns if'n we don't git on with it."

Father Joe and Raffin exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes heavy with the weight of the situation. They knew the difficulty of the situation. At the same moment, it was their duty to bring the news and paint the scene for the villagers.

"You all know, I've been talkin' 'bout this every week," the priest said, scratching his beard. "Sure, there's some danger, but the good it brings can change our village for the better. This isn't like the usual draft that happens every year. This time, they'll make sure our village is safe and even send a medic to stay with us 'til the eruption is over."

"Purty words, preacher, but we know the odds of kickin' the bucket 'fore we git hitched is plumb higher," someone in the back shouted.

Father Joe quietly made his way to the exit. He motioned for Raffin to follow him. Despite his eloquent speech, he couldn't ignore the threat of war that was slowly creeping into the peaceful villages. It felt like massive boulders rolling down a towering mountain. The nature of their community development project meant that only a select few wealthy individuals would benefit from it.

As the door closed, a stir rippled through the local gathering. Heated discussions and debates erupted, filling the room with energy. Fists pounded on tables, their reverberations echoing through the night. The shattering of glass signaled the late hour, bringing an end to the young ones' day. The adults, too, couldn't contain their emotions and made their thoughts known.

"Hey!" Brian poked Asdras with his elbow while eyeing the door. "C'mon, buddy, let's go!"