— "Now's the time to demonstrate what a Hero can do!"

Minnie yelled before jumping out of the carriage with her rifle in hand.

— "Get 'er!!"

The bandits were wearing everything in black with a mark on the back of their clothes, it was a white fire. Least to say that they were in an organization or a group.

One of them lunged at Minnie with a short sword. But just as soon as he did, she shot him without any hesitation. A cloud of smoke came out of the barrel of her rifle. Although, I never saw the bullet like it never existed. There's a small bruise on the shoulder of the bandit along with a small patch of torn fabric of his clothes.

— "Ha! No one uses guns in combat! You're gonna take forever to–"

Another shot came out of her rifle. Her rifle is the standard long-barrel flintlock rifle. How did she load her gun quickly?!

Two of the other bandits on standby were hit by something making ricochet noises. Leaving the leader of the bandits to flee. Thank goodness I have capable people with me!

— "And that should do it! Did you see that, Owens?"

She asked as she turned around to look at me with her rifle on her shoulder.

— "How is that even possible? You should be loading your gun after that shot"

— "What an idiotic question!"

She replied before tapping my head with the barrel of her rifle.

— "Ow..."

— "What else is there to explain? It's magic! There's three magic circles engraved at the bottom of the barrel that create the gunpowder, cloth, and the lead shot itself. Although, it was a rubber shot as I don't want to hurt the person I'm shooting."

— "Still. That explains close to nothing, Min-Min."

— "Stop calling me that!"

— "Could you stop scuffling, you both?!"

Because of the noise we three were making, Silven woke up from the sleeping powder and is already standing back on his two-legs.

Not long after that, we got back into the carriage. Where are we even going? I checked the map and this trail–wait. Something was in my pocket and I took it out. It was a cloth the length of my arm with symbols of three monkeys. One was covering its eyes. One was covering its ears. One was covering its mouth...

...And as I looked closer, there appeared a piece of paper that I hadn't seen before, like it was snapped in thin air. It reads:

— "Parting gift from Lida. Come back again sometimes."

Leo's ears perked up and turned his attention from me instead of Minnie. Stopping their scuffle.

— "Oooo. You already have a woman, Owens?"

— "N-No!! That's not the case!"

— "That's to be expected, I guess."

Minnie quipped sarcastically.

Still. I don't know what this is and I don't remember even having it. And the name Lida... It's her isn't it? Who even is she?! These mysteries are screwing with me!

At any rate, we continued our travel and not long after, we reached the end of the forest surrounding Aevum.

The light seeped into the forest. The trees at the end of the path were hit by the sun's warm orange-yellow light and when the carriage exitted the forest, the warm light blinded us and when our eyes adjusted, we saw fields of Tall Wheat on the left the rocky path of the forest exit and the sun just at the right spot of setting in the direction of the west.

The wind was visibly moving because of the fields of Tall Wheat swaying back each time the wind passed by. Creating whistling sounds on the open fields of the Tall Wheat. The sound of the wind was in harmony with the chirps of the birds that were flying above the field.

— "It looks beautiful."

I muttered under my breath before I looked back from the driver's area to the body of the carriage to find Leo and Minnie beside each other whilst looking over the curtains of the sides of the carriage with a twinkle in their eye.

It was such a beautiful sight that even Silven turned his head to look to his side to admire the view for a bit before turning his head forward to continue carrying the carriage and walking the narrow and somewhat rocky path ahead of us.

Overhead, we see the path split into two: a path to the farm that owns that massive and beautiful field and the path continuing forward.

Minnie then scooted over close to the driver's box.

— "The sun is setting. We should head back."

— "I hate to admit it, Owens. But Min-Min is right."

And then I remembered her just joining our travels without my consent first. And it's only natural that I defy her.

— "No."

I said bluntly, continuing the path forward to the split paths.

— "Are you that pathetic?! Go back! Just sacrifice your pride and listen to me, damnit!""

She started to shake my shoulders but that didn't stop me from driving Silven to the path and taking the path that leads to the farm that owns the huge Tall Wheat field.

— "Too late, Minnie."

Before she knew it, we're already at the arched entrance of the farm.

I was the first one to hop off the carriage. And after I did, they soon followed with Minnie stubbornly following me and Leo. It's a good thing Leo didn't oppose my decision.

— "Just know that I'm not following you because you want me to!"

I said nothing and we went inside of the farm and walked down the path to the small house in the middle of the farm.

The farm was free-range with cows, ox, and bulls were in the grassy part of the farm with the horses and other stallions. Although, they didn't take care of Land Dragons. I guess that's understandable, Land Dragons cost a lot to maintain. Anyhow, we made our way to the small house in the middle of the house and knocked on the door.

And after we knocked, the woman running the farm opened the door. Along with her was her son who was maybe around Leo's age... On that note, I don't really know how old Leo is but from what I could tell, the two are about the same age.

— "Oh, a traveling merchant. What can I do for ya?"

She asked whilst keeping a polite smile. Her and her son were wearing long-sleeved shirts with overalls.

— "Mom, what's that kid with fox ears and tail doing 'er?

— "Be more respectful, Jonathan."

It looked like the two had an accent. Well I guess I can't really blame the kid because he probably learnt it from his parents.

— "I'm Leo. What's your name?"

— "Jonathan. My name is Jonathan."

Leo seems to be interacting well with her child without a problem. At least now he could at least be busy for the meantime.

— "We actually came to stop by and ask if we could stay here for the night because our STUPID companion didn't want to swallow his pride and turn back to the kingdom."

You know what, I'm not even going to try and stop Minnie. I'm used to it at this point.

— "Oh, I see. Well, this shabby farm also works as an inn for the travelers."

— "Great! How much is it for a night?"

— "I'on't ask for money from travelers that wants to stay in here. You three could stay here for however long you want for free."

— "That sure is surprising."

She beckoned us three inside. The inside was surprisingly welcoming and has a home-y atmosphere. It had a fireplace made out of wood that is connected to the roof of the house.

The living room is connected to it and on its side was the kitchen counter made out of stone along with five stools.

— "You three best get comfortable with the rooms for the meantime whilst I prepare our meal for tonight. I had also cleaned the rooms well this mornin' if you're curious. You should leave these boys behind whilst you two check out the rooms. The two rooms on the end of the hall are mine and Jonathan's, alright?"

Me and Minnie nodded whilst Leo didn't as he was too busy playing and talking with his newly found friend, Jonathan. And so we left him behind and went upstairs to our rooms.

There were four rooms, one for the woman running the farm, for her son Jonathan and that leaves us with two vacant rooms.

— "You two boys sleep together and I'll sleep on my own."

— "But–"

— "No buts, Owens. You're the one who insisted we all come here to stay for the night."

She then slammed the door in front of me and so I reluctantly walked to the other vacant room.

I was surprised how spacious and clean it is. The furniture are well-kept and spotless. The window had glass that was also spotless. The bed was big enough for two-and-a-half people to fit in.

Without thinking much about it, I jumped in the bed...

...Although, my thoughts still lingered. What was that cloth in my pocket? Who is Lida? And before I knew it, I was already asleep.