Chapter 16: 16) Shawn Village
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3rd Pov
Shawn Village was just like any other normal village you could find in Genkai, having only a few hundred wooden houses, surrounded by a wooden fence at its perimeter, having a farmland, chicken coops, cow sheds, pigpens, etc. They had people ranging from bakers, to carpenters, from farmers to soldiers, the majority of the village population consisted of Humans, with a few demi-humans living such as a few families of cat people, and few families of cheinthropes.
These species were very common Demi-Humans on top of that, and no other race, especially Elves lived here. Overall, it was a common medieval village, if we were to leave out the modern appliances such as lamps and fridge they used powered by Magic stones. However, if anything made it different than a typical village was that it had the presence of a Divine.
Some villages often had a drop of a powerful monster to ensure that monsters don't approach their villages, however even that was considered a rarity, the majority of the villages had only a small group of guards or soldiers consisting of villagers only, however most villages didn't face many threats, considering they existed in the first place due to them being located in a considerable safe place.
Even then, the threat of monsters was rampant. In Genkai, a villager might leave out his entire life without encountering any significant threat, or a young villager might become a victim to the massacre by the monsters. As such, having a Divine in a village elevated the safety, as a Divine could grant Falna to them, helping them become strong enough to survive in this world, in face of many dangers that would have erased them otherwise.
However, Gods didn't descend in Tenkai with the pure intention to help, they wanted enjoyment, get free from the boredom, so no God was stupid enough, even the Kind ones to stay in a village, even if some Gods chose to live in a Town or a small city, it was mainly to get less competition and develop their familia, till it is time for them to move in a bigger city, or to the center of the world, Orario.
No god wanted to waste his time in a measly village, where the chances of developing a powerful familia were minimal, and unless they get a dozen of genius, it was foolish dream to achieve that. Thus, that's what make this village stood out from rest, however it wasn't something special either. Not many knew of this village either, only Riveria once had heard it about from an adventurer who had stayed in that village once. Being interested of the outside world, Riveria who was disguised that time took the opportunity to talk with them.
The Adventurers kindly told her all they could, however for them that village didn't hold any significance either, at most it was peculiar because a God resided in it. Riveria too was disappointed as the village just stood out an oddity and nothing more, still she remembered this peculiar case, enough to suggest it about Ember once they were making his plan to escape and where would he go next.
Even then Riveria had just casually suggested it with its location, not too serious about it, however for Ember it met his needs. A place where he can get Falna and not be in limelight for a while? Which place can be better than this? Thus, Ember who had located the village, moved towards it on his horse, once he arrived at the village's entrance, he found two guards situated there.
" Please stop there!", one guard said, and other looked at him. Ember had already stopped, and got down from his horse and said," I am a Traveller, I want to stay in this village for a while", he revealed his face, seeing his face and especially his ears they became stunned. " An Elf!", one of the exclaimed, he had never seen an Elf in his life!
The other guard had a much calmer look and sighed," Fine Sir, now would you please write your name, and give me the toll", he said, and Ember nodded, his eyes suddenly fell on the first guard who was still staring at him, with an awkward cough the second guard woke up the first guard from his trance.
" Jason! Why are you staring at him?! Don't you know it's rude! He is an Elf, their kind are always quirky, stare then and he might punch you in your guts!", the second guard, said to the first one, whose name revealed to be Jason. " Marthon, can you blame me? Look at his black hair, and blue eyes! I have never seen a person as handsome as him in my entire life! Even our Goddess' charm pales in comparison with him!", Jason said.
Meanwhile Ember's eyelids twitched hearing their conservation, he coughed stopping both of them. Passing through the entrance, the guard sat on his chair, a wooden table was in front of him, with a book and a quill. He asked," Sir, what your name would be?", Ember replied without any hesitation," Ber", his reply was short, and the guard quickly noted it down.
" Race Elf, huh age- Leave it. Now sir the reason you want to enter is stay here, right?", he said, and Ember nodded," For how long?", Marthon asked, and Ember replied," I don't know it myself, but shouldn't be for very long. I would like to rest here for a week or two though", the man nodded nonchalantly.
While the other seemed surprised, finally after writing down everything he needed, he said," Twenty Valis is the fee for entering, we accept other currencies as well", Ember nodded and took out four Alfians and handed it over to them. Jason looked at the currency mesmerized, while Marthon took it and said," Sir, head towards the centre of the village, there you will find an inn."
Ember nodded giving them a thanks surprising before leaving it on his horse. Once he had left Jason looked at Marthon. " Uh, I guess you want some answers", said Marthon on seeing Jason's stare, the latter nodded," Very Well, I guess I can tell you. It was seven years when we received and Female Elf, naturally as an Elf she was very beautiful, falling short only to Kami-sama in beauty."
" Eh, I guess I do remember something like that, and I guess I saw her a few times, as you said, she was very beautiful", Jason said in deep thought, Marthon sighed and said," We did some mistakes that day, firstly Elves are quirky people, arrogance is in their bones. So usually, they talk haughtily to other races, thus try to be as polite to them, to avoid unpleasant situation. Secondly, don't ask their age, you wouldn't believe the shock I received when I realized that woman was older than my grandfather, and my reaction earned her ire, making my situation not so pleasant."
Marthon's face became pale as he narrated the past, making Jason gulp," Lastly, Elves perceive time in different way, believe me, when an Elf says he is going to stay for two months, take it as if that Elf is staying for two days. I guess, we are luckier this time considering it's a male Elf, female ones are much more difficult to handle", he finished with a scared tone, Jason quickly memorized his words by heart.
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Ember Pov
I ignored the nonsense those two guards spouted; I mean my hearing is too good even among Elves. As I walked through the village, I couldn't help but look around, people noticed me as I passed by, women blushed on seeing me, while I could almost see stars in the eyes of younger females.
" Um, excuse me", I decided to ask someone for directions, although this village wasn't big, and I will surely find the place, I wanted to save the time. " Yes, Esteemed sir! How may someone as lowly as me help you?", the girl said, and I froze wondering if I had heard wrong,"~Ara~Ara, Maria, it seems you learned the trick I taught you."
"Eh, Kami-sama", the moment I heard the word, I looked at the person, the moment I looked at her a feeling came into my mind as if I was before a higher existence, someone Divine, undoubtedly a God's will it was. I looked at the Goddess, she had brown hair and black eyes, even among female Elves she can be considered exceptionally beautiful, well too bad my aesthetics in women are ruined by my mother and sister so I didn't end up in blushing mess.
" An Elf? It has been a while since I met your kind", the Goddess said with a gentle smile, I bowed towards her and introduced myself," My name is Ber", her eyes blinked innocently the next moment, most probably she caught up my lie. Well not that I care, and she seemed to not care either. " Nice to meet you Ber, I am Aurora, Goddess of Dawn, and the Divine that presides over this village", she said.
Aurora, the Goddess of Dawn in Greek Mythology, she is a minor Goddess however I know her because of the story of her and Tithonus. Good, it would mean I wouldn't be in complete blank, and can pretty much guess her position in heaven, though comparing her personality to mythology is pretty much useless.
She giggled, meanwhile a older woman got beside Maria, and twisted her ear," Ouch-Mother! I am sorry! Please I am really sorry!", she said with teary eyes," Maria! It has been a half an hour since I told you to buy and bring pork! Here are you talking with a stranger!", her mother said in dissatisfied tone.
" C'mon Martha, look at Sir Ber, so young and dashing. I am pretty sure he can steal any maiden's attention and make her forget her quest", Aurora said in a gentle tone, and Martha left the hold of Maria's poor ears, who rubbed it in pain. The scene looked a bit comedic to me, almost making me laugh.
" Goddess! Although I respect you! Please don't teach my daughter any more weird 'otaku' knowledge! You don't know how many complains we get every day because of her saying some nonsense", Martha said with a defeated look, while Aurora looked away with wry smile." Um lad... You are an Elf?", Martha looked at me surprised, I guess she hadn't observed me carefully.
I just gave a nod, I decided to be elusive for now, because I want to observe... Goddess Aurora, she might look like a cheerful, and a kind Goddess from the interaction I had, but Gods... they are terrifying, except a few naive ones, most of them are cunning schemers, and the worse of them... As my father said, they look at the entire world like a gameboard.
"*cough* Anyway, Sir Ber apparently you require some assistance, may I ask of you what it might be?", Goddess Aurora asked me, and I said," May I ask of you where might be the inn maybe?", suddenly Maria's eyes sparkled hearing my words, then getting on her one knee before me, she took out a rose from inside her clothes and took it in her mouth, then getting in a dramatic position she looked at me.
" As the Fates would have desired, our meeting is an divine prophecy, telling us of our heavenly union in the future under the blessing of Goddess of Dawn, Sir, I am the daughter of the inn owner, now let us take you in my heavenly abode", she said with strange sparkle in her eyes, Goddess Aurora started clapping with a joyful face, while Martha facepalmed herself.
Meanwhile I doubted what I have seen and heard, for a moment I wondered If I have traveled through another world, no that might be the case, but on seeing Goddess Aurora who was muttering," You made me proud, Maria", I understood the cause of the situation, looking at them deadpan, I moved on ignoring the chunnibyou girl and stood before Martha.
" Lady Martha, I am a traveller, and I would like to stay in your inn", I said, she nodded with a smile," Good, we have variety of dishes, now let me fill you up with the prices and delicacies as we walk", and thus we departed leaving the two weirdos." Oh poor, Maria, it would seem you had been ignored by the Cold Male Lead ", I heard Goddess Aurora say as we walked away.
" Maria! Don't forget to get the pork ribs!", Martha shouted out a last time before we went far enough. Ah, I guess I should have been prepared, I have seen in anime and read how weird these gods were, as if they weren't proud Gods but otakus, who got divine powers. As we reached the inn, I looked at the inn building, it had three floors and was certainly bigger than most of the houses here.
Martha looked at me proudly and said," Me and my husband run this inn, we have eight rooms here, and warm food for the travellers, merchants and adventurers alike. It has been two weeks since I have got a customer, Sir Ber, you would find our place very comfy! I can assure you that!", I nodded and we entered, I guess it was time to take a little rest, and eat something good other than dried up jerky.
To be continued...
(A/N: Discord: Xb47VnFUpQ
Just so you know, I currently have exams going so I am only uploading stocked up chaps, not new ones. So please don't ask me to write any fic till 10th march!
Also, I have uploaded a Re Zero fic, the Og is peak fiction and I have done what anyone would have done. 'Beheti ganga be haath dal diya'
So in this story we will get weak to op subaru, I mean really op in endgame that he could one-shot reinhardt, genderbent reinhardt who is like dozens of times stronger than her male counterpart.
You can get in wattpad, name's Re Zero: The Great Sage)