⋅⋅⊱༻ VILLAGE OF IMALNATIR ༺⊰⋅⋅

A secluded village on the seashore, lodged in a vast plain between two mountains. Imalnatir; Few know of such a name. The lands technically belong to the Rikengar kingdom, but its residents enjoy relative independence: the great distance, along with the alarming numbers of monsters and bandits on the way make it difficult to reach. The constructions are small, none seem to elevate more than one story, and their straw thatch roofs hang very low, hugging the ground tightly as if trying to meld with the landscape.

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Two figures approach the small village.

A bodyguard and a noble.

His steps are heavy and sure, his posture straight and his body language oozing with confidence.

"Wow this village is pretty cute!! I like the houses hehe!!" Next to the tall man, hops around a tiny chirpy lady.

The village's children notice them coming from afar. They stop their playing all at once, falling silent, and hold their hands to their eyes like binoculars to try and have a better look. Once they determine that those are unfamiliar faces, they let out excited noises, rising higher and higher until the children tumultuously skitter away towards the village, Each eager to be the first to announce the rare arrival.

"Woah those children were totally cheering for us there!! Right?!" She excitedly turns her head to Cyrus, who looks disinterested... Or as if he's used to the attention...

"I suppose, yes. Let's look for the villagers now, we have a place to get to after all."

"Pshhh, boring!!" Konran puts a hand on her hip and looks away from him, enjoying the view of the village as they walk downhill towards it. He does the same, admiring the unusual architecture.

"You know, it's rather peacef—KONRAN????"

Wooooooshh

She set off to chase after the children.

"AAAAAAHHHHH WAAAAAAAH!!!!" The one picked as Konran's first target, the smallest of the bunch, looks far too shaken, you can’t tell if it’s from excitement or from fear.

"KONRAN GET BACK HERE."

"RAAAAAAAAAWRRRR." She raises her arms and runs at the girl as fast as she can, no mercy. At that, even the older kids give up their staring and go full sprint into the village, abandoning their friend to her fate.

The little one being chased, Marcille, flails around helplessly. THE STRANGER IS GETTING TOO CLOSE TOO FAST—

Then a taller figure appears, jogging, alerted by the children's ruckus. SHE IS SAVED!!

"Woah hey what's going on here??" The children pay him no mind as they run past him all freaked out. He stops right in his tracks once he sees Konran.

"DIMIT-DIMIT—DIMIIIIIITRIIIIIIIII" Marcille scrambles towards him on her panicked little feet.

"IMMMGUNNA EATCHO TOES LIL HUMAN IMMMMMMGUNNA EATCHO-" Konran suddenly stops and freezes in front of Dimitri, realizing that he is a taller adult witness. She slowly puts her arms down, fixes her posture and expression and smiles politely at the new face.

"Why hello there!!" She greets as if nothing happened.

Dimitri subconsciously picks up Marcille without breaking eye contact with the new arrival. He looks to be in his late teens, his frame is lean and relatively tall and he looks down at Konran with innocent eyes and a youthful face. You can tell from the way he picked up the child that the act is etched into his muscle memory.

"O-oh! Hello hello!!" His expression is friendly but a bit confused. ‘She looks like an adult…?’

Other villagers have already come out of their houses, the commotion impossible to ignore. Once they see the lady and count the children, they put their knives back in their kichens.

"Welcome!" A big smile finally forms on Dimitri’s face as he composes himself. His smile is warm and kind.

"Thank you thank you!!"

Konran feels a hand on her shoulder as Cyrus, who just arrived on scene, leans down to whisper in her ear "Stop running off so much or you'll get us in trouble again, Konran Ripley."

"Yes yes sorry sorry~" 'Oop mom's using last names!'

Cyrus scoffs and stands straight again. More villagers curiously exit their homes.“Looks like a noble..?” “Or a rich merchant.” “Maybe a noble sent to exile!” All eyes are fully fixated on them. Cyrus pays them no mind, unlike Konran who waves at them happily.

"Good afternoon. Sorry for our sudden and quite loud intrusion.” He side eyes Konran. “I hope we didn't bother your village's peace too much."

"No no not at all! We don't get a lot of visitors, especially not this time of year..”

Some villagers wave back to Konran, most don't, a few even look mildly annoyed, studying every inch of the newcomers with judging eyes... They seem satisfied to leave the visitors to the young man.

“Welcome to Imalnatir! you can call me Dimitri, may I ask for your names?" ‘They don’t look like criminals this time…’

"I'm Konran!!!"

"My name's Cyrus. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He puts a hand on his chest and bows slightly.

"Tryhard." Konran says.

"What?"

"Wat?"

Dimitri chuckles, amused by their contrasting personalities —AND heights, a fun duo for sure— He then offers them both his hands to shake, one each, arms crisscrossed, not caring if one of them will be awkward. "A pleasure to meet you both!"

"yeah yeah!!!"

"Likewise."

Konran takes his hand and shakes it with both of hers. Cyrus stares at it for a second, contemplating whether or not to comment on this odd manner of greeting, before hesitantly taking Dimitri's hand.

Encouraged by her enthusiasm—and super happy his special handshake worked—he steps sideways, ready to lead them into the village. "Come on, you both must be exhausted. We know the trip to here can be a bit challenging. We'll have a warm bath ready for you both!"

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!" Before Konran gets to properly celebrate, Cyrus puts a halting hand in front of her.

"My apologies, but unfortunately we've got no time to relax." He retrieves his arm and takes a step towards Dimitri, mostly to keep Konran out of their conversation. "We've been sent here to find a map maker, and we'd be grateful if you lead us to him."

"Oh! Mister Mito?... hmmm.. if I may ask, who are you exactly?" He doesn't sound particularly suspicious, as Cyrus gives off a respectable and trustworthy impression, and Konran is just this cute lady accompanying him. Still, his tone gained a tad bit more seriousness.

"I'm Cyrus Redwood." His voice slightly drops at his last name.

"Y-you're from the Redwood house?!!” A collective gasp is heard from the people surrounding them. “Why of course! Of course I can take you there!" The revelation threw him off a bit, all hesitation washed away, it seems the name alone is enough for a free pass. A wave of whispers overtakes the small crowd “I told you!!” “That hermit’s always bringing us these pompous types…”

"Yes, thank you." Cyrus would’ve preferred not to tell random villagers of his identity, but hopefully they're no threat. "I'd like to go as soon as possible, please."

"Hmmm.. right, let’s see.. the trip is around two hours on horseback.. are you sure you don't want to rest before that?" When Dimitri pays the cartographer a visit, he typically goes by morning so he can make it back before sunset, and these days as winter closes in daytime has been getting shorter… but he can't possibly refuse.

"No. But is it awkward timing for you?" His 'concerned' voice is pretty awkward to hear, it's really just... Indifferent and sort of intimidating, it almost sounds like a threat disguised as worry... Or is that just how nobility talk?

"No, it’s fine! Speaking of which, where are your horses..?"

".........it's a long story."

“Alright, we can borrow two from my uncle's, I'm sure he won't mind." 'He sure won't after he hears it’s the REDWOODS.' "Follow me."

Cyrus nods his head and complies, Konran quietly following after the two.

"Hey Cyrus?" She finally speaks.

"Yes?" He doesn't even look her way, yet his voice is ever so slightly softer when he's speaking to her.

"You're actually real corny."

“What?"

.

.

.

⋅⋅⊱༻To be continued༺⊰⋅⋅