The good old tavern. After a day of work, there is nothing better than a drink. Or so I heard. Although I'm not much of a drinker myself. Even then, I visited this particular tavern since I was but a child. So, it's one of the places where I'm more comfortable.
I took a better look at Astrid. She is already sitting by the counter. She has short black hair, fair skin, and blue eyes. She is shorter than me.
My brother Ilex, on the other hand, is a bit taller than me. He has very short blonde hair and blue eyes as well. He is 18 years old.
The women in our village are usually tanned, and they sometimes have a rough appearance thanks to the time they spend in the sun or working with their hands.
Thinking about it, I have no idea how I look right now. It's been a while since I took a look at my reflection. My sister and my mother are the only ones who have mirrors in our house.
I approach the counter. The tavern keeper greets me. He is a kind middle-aged man called Elwood.
When a hunting season is on, Elwood praises all hunters for their work, but we are not in season. It's been a while since the last time I hunted.
"Hey, Ailan. What were you doing standing there like a statue? Have a seat. As usual, the first round is on the house." He points at the stool next to Astrid.
I sit. "Could I borrow a mirror for a sec?"
"Sure." He gives me a hand mirror.
Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I see: A young-looking teenager, with fair skin and cunning blue eyes. Tall and athletic, with an incipient beard poorly taken care of. My hair is very short and black. All in all, I don't look too bad. Maybe a little tired.
"What are you looking at? Are you getting ready for a date?" Astrid says, a little pissed.
"Even if I were, I wouldn't tell you." I return the mirror to Elwood.
Then, he serves me a mug of beer and a glass of wine to Astrid. I took some sips.
"So, what were you going to tell me?"
"One of my friends asked me if she could accompany you in your journey to the capital."
"I see." Makes sense, not many people go to the capital. I should have expected that someone would want to join me. Maybe she wants to see how it is.
"Does she know how to fight?"
"She killed a goblin once, with a dagger."
I sigh. "Not enough, and even if she were a skilled warrior. I want to go alone."
"I thought you would say that..."
"Why does she want to go to the capital?"
"She heard that in the city, people aren't afraid of monsters. And there are tons of things to do."
"She could join a caravan coming from the nearby cities. She doesn't have to go to the capital."
That surprised her a little. "Wait, then why can't you go to one of those nearby cities instead of going to the capital?"
"Wardens aren't as powerful as before. In the past, every city had academies for wardens. But nowadays. The only remaining academy is in the capital."
"I see, we thought that you had to go to the capital because the rest of the cities are bad or something."
"That's not the case."
"Ok, I'll tell her that she could just go to a nearby city. When the next city caravan arrives, she could join them. She might have to wait a year or two before that happens."
"Did you have anything else to say?"
She sipped some of her wine and then wiped her mouth with a sleeve.
"Like I said. I didn't have anything to say to you. I was just mumbling to myself."
"Whatever you say." I chugged the rest of my mug.
"Why do you want to go alone?"
"Because traveling alone is usually quicker. And besides, that way I get to experience how it feels to be a warden. I'll get a taste of what surviving alone is like."
"That's stupid." She grunts.
"Becoming a warden is stupid." I shrug. "That's why they are kind of going extinct."
"It's not just because they die all the time?"
"There is that." I laugh.
Elwood asked us if we were going to order anything. Before I could say something, my sister nodded.
We settled at an empty table and enjoyed our breakfast together. Breakfast is not a mandatory meal. Usually, only nobles have breakfast.
Our breakfast consisted of some fruits, eggs, white bread, and milk. It's been a while since I had breakfast. Two meals a day are usually enough for most people. Including myself.
After eating, I paid the tavern keeper and said farewell. I escorted my sister back to our farm.
It was around noon. I had some time to kill before dusk.
I considered my options: I could visit the alchemists, or maybe train with the guards. The things I usually do. I also sometimes study anatomy with the physicians, but it's not an activity I enjoy much. It's gross...
In the end, I decided to visit the alchemists. At least with them, I won't get quite as tired.
I ride steadily until I reach the alchemist's lab. A very beautiful place. If you looked outside, you would see only a typical temple. But inside is where the magic happens.
Of course, our village is too small to have a proper lab. There are only basic materials, recipes, and tools.
I already learned all that they could teach me. And more, since I read some alchemy books too. Sometimes they ask me to teach them the new recipes I've found.
Their chief it's the only one who knows how to read and write. A tough-looking old woman by the name of Fern. She is like sixty years old. Despite being the only one who can read and write, however. Her eyes aren't working as they used to. She sometimes asks me to read for her.
As soon as I enter the lab, Fern welcomes me.
In addition to her, only four alchemists work in the lab, all of them are currently here.
"Ailanthus! It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you as well." I bowed politely.
"Winter is about to end. I guess you are getting ready for your journey."
"You guessed right."
"I'm sorry that there isn't more that we could teach you. We just don't have the resources, I wish I could do something more for you before you depart."
"You have already done more than enough."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here? You could easily become the new alchemy chief."
"We already discussed this, Fern. I have to travel to the capital. Wardens can only register in the academy when they are 16 years old. "
"Am I supposed to respect a profession that requests teenagers to venture to the capital?" She pulls her hair slightly.
"That's only because wardens lost most of their relevance over the centuries."
"Nothing I say will make you change your mind, right?" She shakes her head.
I didn't answer.
I noticed the worried looks of the rest of the alchemists. The worried look that I started to see more and more frequently. Ever since they realized that I wanted to become a warden.
"Fine, go to your table then."
"Sure."
I approach the alchemic table I usually use. I gather some plantain and ginseng. I wash them, and I make some healing potions using the table, my tools, and a very small amount of mana. I don't want to get tired. I might need my energy later to deal with that brat.
That brat has a name. Gerber. He is a teenager. A little fat, with brown eyes, and combed hair. He is probably going to use the money he gets by selling the magic steel of that axe to buy some desserts.
I traveled to a couple of nearby villages to find someone interested in buying the axe. And after asking around discreetly, I found a merchant who was interested in buying it. He asked me to escort his son to Nutaarvik. He was leading a merchant caravan to cut a deal with some textiles.
Supposedly, after Gerber finished his business. He would use some of the money he gets to buy me the axe. A square deal. A deal I need to see through.
After a couple of hours, Fern approaches me. Looking at me while I kept working.
Her look makes me feel a little uncomfortable. "What is it?"
"A witch was looking for you."
"A what?!" I yelled, but the look she had couldn't be more serious.
"What you heard. She told us that if we saw you, we should tell you that she is waiting for you at the inn."
"Why would a witch look for me?"
"I have no idea, but she didn't look like she was messing around. According to her, she came to this village exclusively looking for you."
"I am busy, can she wait?"
"Yes, she can. Go to the inn when you have time. If you don't find her in the common room, ask the innkeeper about where she is."
"Duly noted."
She nods and leaves me with my work. Finally, it's almost dusk. I have to bring the axe to Gerber. I should have more than enough time to do it.
I gave the healing potions I made to Fern. She looks pleased with them, as usual. She paid me some copper coins for my work.
After saying goodbye to the alchemists. I got up on my horse and I started riding towards the barn.