A new day dawned in Emelka.
Golden sunlight covered the land while singing birds filled the air with melodies.
The whole village was beginning to wake up.
The locals had already begun their daily routines, and, among all the streets and squares, there was one place where the bustle was unmistakable: Alibert’s tavern.
This establishment had become a popular meeting point for travelers and locals alike ever since its owner, a retired bounty hunter, opened it nearly twelve years ago after radically changing in his life.
He’d invested his savings in buying the place, and since then his business had only grown.
Its regulars all agreed the quality of service had improved remarkably since Alibert took the reins, turning the tavern into the beating heart of the village.
Before the break of dawn, the innkeeper was already on his feet, preparing everything with the same dedication as always.
He wiped down the tables, checked the supplies, and made sure everything was in order before welcoming the first customers.
And, as usual, the tavern filled up faster than expected.
Familiar faces and hungry travelers settled in, filling the room lively conversations and endless orders.
As he moved qround greeting patrons and taking orders, Alibert noticed something that no longer surprised him.
His son still wasn’t awake.
He sighed, shaking his head.
Here we go again.
“Yugo!” he bellowed.
“Get up already!”
The shout thundered through the tavern and all the way up to the boy’s room.
Yugo, who until that moment had been sleeping blisfully, opened his eyes in shock.
He lay in bed for a few seconds, blinking heavily.
Is it morning already?
Man, this night really went by fast…
I wish I could keep sleeping.
But Dad needs me, so I don’t really have much a choice.
With a yawn, he stretched and put on his clothes in a hurry.
Before heading out, he put on his signature blue hat which he’d worn for as long as he could remember.
To him, it wasn’t just any old accessory.
It was the only thing he had from his real family.
Alibert had made it from the blue cloth that swaddled him on the day he first arrived in his arms, and the boy hadn’t parted parted with it ever since.
As he finished getting ready, a small bird emerged from the sheets and fluttered around the room, chirping happily.
It was a Tofu, a bird native to the region known for its yellow feathers and nearly spherical shape.
Yugo grinned at the sight of him.
“Good morning, Az!” the boy called out.
The bird answered with a song and perched on his owner’s shoulder, nuzzling his head with affection.
This Tofu had been with Yugo since the day he ended up in Alibert’s care, becoming his best friend and most loyal adventure companion ever since.
Once he was ready, Yugo dashed through his bedroom door, vaulted onto the stair railing, and slid down it with cat-like speed.
In seconds he landed on the ground floor with a smile on his face and stood before the tavern keeper.
“I’m here, Dad!” he announced.
“Glad you finally decided to come, Yugo,” Alibert replied.
“Don’t you remember that I told you yesterday that you needed to get up early, but it seems my words fell on deaf ears.
You know today’s the tavern’s anniversary, right?.”
“I know, I know!” Yugo answered, scratching the back of his neck.
“I’m sorry, really.
I swear it won’t happen again.
It’s Az’s fault.
He overslept too and didn’t wake me up.”
The little Tofu, perched on his shoulder, chirped indignantly at these accusations.
Alibert let out a hearty laugh and ruffled his son’s hair.
“You always have a new excuse, don’t you?” he said with a smile.
“Well, now that you’re up, I’ve got a job for you.”
“A job?
This early?” Yugo groaned, his enthusiasm quickly evaporating.
His entire body seemed to sag, as if the mere mention of the word “job” had drained every ounce of energy from him.
He yawned dramatically.
“Dad, I literally just woke up…”
“You know how this works,” the tavern keeper replied, crossing his arms.
“This tavern doesn’t run itself, and you’re old enough to lend me a hand.
Look, I need you to go to Shay’s shop and buy four dozen eggs.”
He pulled a pouch from his pocket and handed it over.
“That should be enough to cover them.”
Yugo eyed the pouch with resignation.
He wasn’t thrilled about running errands this early, but there was no escape.
His father worked hard day after day, and though he never said it out loud, he seemed a little more tired lately.
He sighed, took the pouch, and headed for the door.
“Don’t worry, Dad.
I’ll have those eggs back before you can say ‘Tofu’.
See you later!”
Alibert watched him go, leaning against the bar.
Look how much he’s grown…
He smiled with pride.
Then shook his head and got back to work.
Well, time to get moving.
It’s going to be a long day.
On this sunny day, the road to the village looked completely different from that winter night.
Skies were blue, birds were singing cheerful melodies and trees were lush and green.
Spring was in full swing, making the land a much happier place.
In the middle of the path, two small Tofus were fighting frantically e over a gold coin some careless traveler had dropped.
They pecked and fluttered in circles, oblivious to the shadow looming over them.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice made them jump in fright.
“Out of the way, you filthy critters!
That Kama is mine!
Mine!”
The birds shrieked and fled, shocked by this sudden thread.
Ruel, the old Enutrof, bent down slowly, picked up the coin, and tucked it into his pocket with a satisfied grin.
Even Tofus are trying to make a fortune these days, he thought, shaking his head.
Can’t let my guard down for a single second.
These last years had left their mark.
His beard, once streaked with gray, had now gone completely white, while his body had grown even thinner and more hunchbacked.
He carried little more than his tunic, a worn-out backpack, and a massive shovel he used as a walking stick.
It was few.
And he needed nothing more.
As he made his way towards Emelka, he stopped at a crossroads.
His old bones begged for a break, and he saw no reason to deny them.
He dropped onto a large rock at the side of the road and closed his eyes for a moment.
That moment stretched longer than intended.
Ruel’s nap came to an abrupt end when a female voice suddenly woke him up.
“Excuse me, sir.
Do you know of any nearby village where we could rest?”
Ruel blinked, disoriented at first, but soon focused on the source of the voice.
Before him stood two young women mounted on Dragoturkeys, watching him expectantly.
Dragoturkeys…
he thought, eyeing the creatures that looked like a cross between an ostrich and a lizard.
Not very common around here.
I can already guess where these girls are from.
But it was when he got a good look at the travelers that his interest truly piqued.
The first was a young blonde with yellow-green eyes, freckles on her cheeks and pointed ears.
Nevertehless, what really caught Ruel’s attention was the finely crafted bow slung across her back.
He didn’t need any more clues to know she belonged to the Cra race, renowned worldwide for their archery skills.
The second intrigued him even more.
Her brown skin contrasted with her vibrant green hair lush as spring leaves.
Her emerald-green eyes watched him with curiosity, and though she tried to keep a low profile, Ruel didn’t miss the gold ornaments glinting on her outfit.
A Sadida…
he arched an eyebrow.
But what in the world is she doing this far from home?
That race isn’t even from this continent.
The two young women watched him impatiently, uncomfortable under his watchful gaze.
Ruel decided to answer without further delay.
“Of course, young ladies,” he put on his best smile.
“Not far from here there’s an absolutely charming little village.
You just have to follow the path that runs along the Great Whispering Forest.”
He pointed in the right direction, but his gaze drifted back to the Sadida’s golden ornaments.
A new and very lucrative idea sprung to his mind.
“That said, since you don’t seem to be from around here, you’re incredibly lucky to have stumbled upon the finest guide in the region,” he added.
“I could escort you to the village and even liven up the journey with some interesting tales…
Though, of course, a poor old man like me needs to eat, and a small fee for my services would go a long way.”
Before he could start his usual sob story, the Sadida cut him off.
“Did you hear that, Eva!” she exclaimed as she sprinted toward her companion.
“I can’t believe we’re going to pass through the Whispering Forest!
I’ve read that the trees there have magical properties and can even talk to people who aren’t Sadidas.
Like, we have to go right now!”
Then, with a carefree smile, she turned back to Ruel.
“Thanks for the help, old man!”
She waved and, without waiting another second, spurred her Dragoturkey, which took off at full speed down the road.
“Amalia, don’t go so fast!
Wait for me!” shouted the Cra, trying to get her own mount to follow.
But her Dragoturkey, stubborn as ever, just stood still and pawed the ground with indifference.
The young Cra sighed with frustration
“And now you’re failing me too…” she pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Why does she always have to be so reckless?”
After a few seconds of wrestling with the reins, the animal finally galloped across the trail.
Before charging after her companion, she cast one last look at Ruel to say good-bye.
“Thank you for the offer, but we’ll manage on our own from here.
Have a safe journey!”
She spurred the Dragoturkey and vanished behind a cloud of dust.
Ruel stood staring at the empty trail, blinking through the dust that now coated his tunic.
He brushed off his arms and let out a grunt.
“How rude!” the old man grumbled.
“I go out of my way to help them and this is how they repay me.
Young people these days have no respect for their elders!
Selfish, that’s what they are.
Nobody cares about a poor, helpless Enutrof…”
His complaint faded into the wind, and after one last huff, he dusted himself off and resumed his walk.
His stomach growled loudly, reminding him it had been far too long since a proper meal.
His thoughts turned to Alibert’s tavern and the juicy steaks his old friend used to serve him.
Just imagining it brought a smile to his lips.
It had been so long…
and he had so many stories to tell.
Yugo ran toward the tavern at full speed, carrying the four dozen eggs his father had ordered.
As he neared the entrance, he spotted a crowd of customers piling up at the door, making it almost impossible to get in.
Ah, right…
he thought, surveying the sea of people blocking his way.
Today’s the anniversary.
How am I supposed to get through all that…
His eyes scanned the building until he spotted something crucial.
Alibert had left the kitchen window open.
Yugo’s face changed to a confident grin.
Az, who knew his owner all too well, started chirping frantically, warning of all the ways his plan could go ron.
“Relax, Az.
I’ve got it all under control.”
He took a deep breath and, without hesitation, sprinted toward the window.
Quick as a cat, the boy used the momentum to leap through the opening.
He landed on the kitchen floor, but a quick roll he absorbed the impact and kept the eggs intact.
The sudden crash startled Alibert, who immediately dashed to the kitchen.
Before he could say anything, Yugo smiled with mischievous grin and held up the basket with pride.
“Here are your eggs, Dad.
Just like you ordered, without a single crack.”
Alibert sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“What were you thinking, Yugo?
You could’ve broken them all with that stunt.
How many times do I have to tell you to think before you act?
If you keep this up, you’ll land yourself in real trouble one day…” He shook his head and quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, the tavern is packed and I’m going to need your help again.”
“Again?” Yugo’s jaw dropped with surprise.
“Not even a second to rest, Dad?”
“That’s how it goes,” Alibert replied.
“The tavern doesn’t run itself and one of the waiters called in sick.
Since you’ve got so much energy, I need you to help deliver some dishes.”
Yugo sighed.
When his father started talking like this, saying no was no longer an option.
“Fine!
You’ll see.
I’ll be the fastest waiter in the village!
Better yet, in the whole continent!”
Alibert smiled and pointed to the plates already prepared.
“Alright, show me what you can do.
Those two go to table three, and that one goes to table one.
C’mon, get going!
You don’t want to make our customers wait.”
Yugo grabbed a plate in each hand and dashed into the main hall.
Barely a few seconds passed before his voice rang out.
“Done!” he announced proudly.
“Oh, and the couple at table two wants the ‘Alibert Special,’ and table four ordered sweet Mushroom soup.”
Alibert turned around, surprised.
“I can’t believe you were that fast…” he let out a faint laugh.
“But don’t think your work ends here.
There are still plenty of plates to deliver.”
Time rolled on, and father and son worked in perfect harmony.
While Alibert cooked without stopping, Yugo handled deliveries with impressive speed.
But as time shifted to noon, the tavern began to fill up even more and orders would only grow and grow.
Now Yugo was carrying several plates at once and could barely catch his breath.
As he ran towards a table with his latest order, he took a wrong step and, before he could react, he began to fall towards the ground.
The plate of roast meat he was carrying flew into the air.
Yugo stretched out his arm in a desperate attempt to catch it, but it was too far away.
He wasn’t going to make it.
Then…
something strange happened.
A bluish glow emanated from his hand and a shining circle appeared beneath the plate.
In an instant, the food vanished in a flash of light.
Yugo froze in shock.
What…
what did I just do?
The air around him seemed to vibrate with a strange tingling that ran from his fingertips to his chest.
For a moment, the noise of the tavern faded away.
Something had awakened within his soul, something that filled him with newfound power.
Before he could process it, the customer waiting for the dish glared at him and demanded to know what had happened to his order.
Still dazed, Yugo raised his hand and tried to repeat that same gesture.
The same blue circle materialized over the table and, in seconds, the roast meat appeared as if nothing had happened.
Now things had gotten seriously weird.
Confused and excited, the boy ran back to the kitchen to tell Alibert what had happened, but before he could open his mouth his father shoved two more plates into his hands.
“Quick, Yugo!
Take these to table ten!”
Not the best time to discuss what had just happened.
Sighing, he stayed quiet and headed back out.
As he delivered the plates, his mind wouldn’t thinking about what just happened.
This day is definitely full of surprises…
What he didn’t know yet was that this strange event would be only the beginning of something much greater than he could even imagine.