Even though he's standing a step higher oairs, our eyes align at the same level. His shoulders aren’t particurly broad either, yet he exudes fidence. I must admit, his face is quite appealing — the type girls must fall in love with, though I’m no expert on the preferenodern city girls. His short, almond-green hair is ly trimmed, framing his fa a way that casts a slight shadow over his tours while emphasizing his open forehead. His sleeveless, midnight-blue tunic with white piping reveals his skinny arms, but his legs, surprisingly long in proportion to the rest, remind me of a silver gazelle. Not that I’ve ever seen one of those fabled creatures from the tales of old Tak, but I’ve often imagihem rag the wind across the vast steppes of the Eastern Empire, far beyond the Serenitas Desert.

  – Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something stuck between my teeth, he asks, panig seriously, his nail already digging into his gums.

  I smile; an a that, now that I think about it, hasn’t happened in a while. Fearing that my smile might seem strange, I quickly wipe it away.

  – My name is Ishizora.

  – I know.

  ～ He knows? How? I ’t have made a name for myself in such a short time… Maybe my outfit has drawn too much attention to myself.

  – o meet you, Ishizora, he says, extending his hand with a smile while I tio stare at him, puzzled. Never shaken hands before? I’m not going to bite, n you into a dark alley to chop off your limbs ahem on the bck market. So, take my hand before I start looking ridiculous!

  ～ If that was supposed to reassure me, it failed. I wonder who’d even buy a severed arm. Besides, he doesn’t seem like a bad guy — too -cut to be a bandit.

  I coolly pce my hand in his.

  – o meet you… Natsuki, right?

  – Nakki for my friends.

  There’s something about him that I ’t quite pinpoint — a mischievous spark in his emerald eyes, perhaps, suggesting he always has a bad idea in mind, about to get him into trouble.

  – So… Natsuki, what’s with the warm greeting?

  – You’re new in town and looking for information about the Geikas, aren’t you?

  ～ It seems I’m already famous, after all. I guess I’ve been noticed more than o Karim’s tavern on my first night, and again oreet the m.

  – Don’t look so surprised. I know it’s nht, but I overheard your... brief versation with the nurse. And judging by your outfit, it’s pretty obvious you’ve just arrived.

  His expnation reassure me a bit, though I’m still irely vinced. Either he’s very perceptive, or he’s hiding something.

  – So, what I do for you?

  – Don’t be so suspicious. It’s crazy what the capital do to someone. Anyway, you must’ve had a rough time until now, but cheer up — Natsuki arrived to put ao your suffering!

  ～ I’m not sure what there is to be cheerful about. His theatrical gesture, fist raised towards the sky, inspires more fear than anything else.

  – And… more specifically?

  – I’ve got a deal for you.

  – A deal? What kind of deal?

  – The kind of deal you discuss by a fountain, not on a staircase. e on, follow me, he says as he brushes past me, heading toward the fountain with the winged wolf.

  I hesitate for a moment, torweerigue and the mistrust this deal story arouses. As I reach the fountain, I watch him from behind as he seems to focus on the basin.

  – So… this deal, what’s it about?

  – Shhh! I’m trying to trate. I’m not as skilled at this as the others.

  – The others?

  Suddenly, as he holds his hands over the surface of the water, ripples start f on the surface. The water ripples more and more until a bulb slowly rises beh the hands of the young man, whose tense face betray his efforts of tration. After a few moments, a drop of water, as wide as a hand and as long as an arm, begins to emerge boriously from the fountain. I watch, astonished, as the liquid floats in the air, moving in sync with the young magi’s gestures.

  ～ Ever since I arrived in town, I’ve entered people with abilities as diverse as they are extraordinary. First, there was Kana, the red-haired girl, who scared off ferocious wolves with a single ghen the mysterious man hiding his face who opened huge metal doors without toug them. Right after, there was this strange illusion that sent me back out into the street when I could gave sworn I was in the heart of a building. And now, I see water defying gravity, dang around a fountain.

  pletely hypnotized, I don’t notice the liquid is heading towards me until it spshes over my head like a bucket of cold water. Stunned, I stand there, mouth open, while Natsuki bursts into ughter.

  – You should see your face right now! It made my day, he says, ughing hysterically.

  I regain my posure and think that, after all, I might have beeer off not following him. Seeing my face, as dark as be the one of someone who has never known anger, Natsuki sobers up, wiping away a tear of ughter, though a few chuckles still escape his mouth.

  – Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Your smell was sg off all the girls around here. I’ve got a reputation to uphold, you know, he informs me proudly.

  fused, I discreetly sniff my armpit.

  ～ Now that I think about it, it’s been over a week since I had a proper wash, and spending my st two nights iables surely hasn’t helped.

  – No wonder you’ve had trouble getting information. Who’d want to let someone who smells like a beast e into their pce? This isn’t a proper bath, but it’ll have to do for now.

  I want tue, but I ’t deny his truthful words.

  – With this sunshine, you’ll be as dry as an ibex butt in no time, and while you’re drying, we chat.

  I’m not sure what the butt of an ibex has to do with it, but the wetness isn’t my main . Although I hate being the ter of attention, I feel the stares of passers-by nding oh a mix of disgust and amusement.

  – I don’t mind a quick rinse, but ime, give me a heads up before you douse me.

  – If I had, I wouldn’t have ughed as much, he answers very seriously.

  Normally, I’d protest such absurd logic, but his hirity makes it clear that arguing with him would be pointless. He seems to be the type who lives only for fun, blissfully unaware of the dangers of the outside world, which he’s probably never experienced.

  – Let’s get back to our discussion.

  – Well said! So, here is the thing, I got up te this m and I’m behind on my chores.

  ～ That doesn’t surprise me from him, but why is he suddenly telling me about his day?

  – So here’s the deal: you help me run a few errands around town, and iurn, I’ll answer all your questions. I even sign you my new essay : How to have charm ieps.

  – Oh, that’s very kind of you, but as you mentioned earlier, I’m more ied in—

  – … Geikas, yes, yes, I know, he says with a disappointed look, though my response seems legitimate to me. It happens that I’m part of a Geika myself. My little trick should’ve been enough to vince you. But don’t be so serious! Whatever yoals in life, nothing justify to rush through your youth!

  ～ There he goes again with his dramatic gestures.

  – I’m not sure to get the point…

  He suddenly gets very familiar, draping an arm around my shoulders to whisper in my ear.

  – There must be a girl or two who’s caught your eye since you’ve been here, right?

  I want to deny it, but his fident smirk stops me from doing so. I briefly think of Kana. After meetiwider… peculiar circumstances, it’s clear I’m not indifferent to her, though anyone would feel that way in such situations. Not knowing anything about her yet, I ’t say I feel anything beyond curiosity.

  – So, I was right, he whispers in my ear with a grin that annoys me as much as the fact I ’t refute it. Good for you — you’ve e to the right person, he finally says before strutting away with a smug expression, ughing loudly.

  He ughs heartily, hands on his hips, strutting away with a smug expression.

  ～ Despite his suspicious behavior, especially when I think he somehow knew my name and eavesdropped on my versation with the nurse, his offer seems fairly straightforward.

  – So, are you ing? These errands won’t run themselves, he yells at me from the other end of the square.

  I’m surprised at how quickly he covered such a distance. I have thus no choice but to do something I hate to answer him: I shout.

  – I haven’t agreed to anythi!

  – What did you say? , hurry up!

  I give up. I might be able to outrun a pack of wolves on steroids, but when it es to people like him, they’ll always outmaneuver me.

  Expl the shopping district with Natsuki turns out to be far more enjoyable than I anticipated. My usual aversion to crowds seems to have eased, though I’m still irely fortable in packed spaces. True to his nature, Natsuki takes every opportunity to wink at the city girls we pass, elig a range of reas — from a few who seem fttered to many who meet his gaze with disdain. When a woman runs a stall, he immediately start iating with pliments, which surprisingly works quarter of the time.

  With the handful of silver s he gave me, I purchase whatever he requests, never venturing too far from his side. It's the first time I’m holding s in my hand. After all, in the wilderness of Historia, a pieetal is nothing more than a pieetal. Eae is stamped with the image of the winged wolf from the fountain — a sign that it must be a prevalent local legend.

  ～ I don’t know anything about the city’s s and traditio. Old Tak could’ve filled me in...

  Still, there's a peculiar satisfa in trading these small s for various items I’ve never entered before. The merts eye me warily when they see my clothes, but their expressions brighten the moment they spot the s in my hand.

  ～ Who would've thought such little metal discs could wield such a power?

  After each purchase, Natsuki asks about the price to ensure I haven't beeed. After all, I still don’t know the value of goods here.

  ～ So much I have to learn... This world really is full of surprises, and delicious treats.

  The aromas from the food stalls are making my stomach rumble loudly enough to be heard beyond the walls. Natsuki seems just as affected and suggests we take a break. He hands me two bronze s and tells me to choose whatever I want to eat. Though it paio make a choice, I finally decide on caramelized meat skewers — their entig st has beeing me for a while now. The stall seems to be quite popur, since five people are already in line.

  As I wait, I fill my lungs with the delicious aroma esg from the grill. My impatience must be readable on my face because when my turn finally es, the middle age woman running the stall greets me with a warm smile. I exge the two bronze s for two skewers, and to my surprise, she also hands me a jam-filled sugar bun. A gift from the house, she told me.

  ～ Perhaps my tattered clothes sparked this sudden generosity...

  I accept without question and join Natsuki, who leads me to a small park a few streets away. "Park" might be aatement. This modest patch of greenery, barely rger than the square with the winged wolf fountain, is bordered by six light wooden benches spaced evenly apart. A few sy trees dot the wn, small patches of shade where some couples rex.

  With all the benches occupied, we end up sitting on the grass under a tree, not without a hint of embarrassment on Natsuki's face. ed in a soothing calm, only the sounds of our chewing be heard. I must say, I haveen anything this good for… as long as I remember. It’s finally Natsuki who breaks the silence.

  – So, do you have any questions for me?

  Engrossed in my meal, I’d almost fotten the reason of my preseh this strange character.

  – Holy swimming panther, you’re right! There are so many things I want to know, actually.

  – I promised to answer all your questions, didn’t I? Just pie to start.

  – Alright, here’s my first questioerday, someone asked if I y from Tea—

  As Natsuki is about to take a drink, with the neck of his waterskiween his lips, he suddenly spits out the liquid he just sipped.

  – Wow! As discreet as be a traveler with fool breath and tattered clothes, you sure got noticed quickly.

  His teasing remarks do not reach me anymore, but I discreetly exhale into my hand before tinuing.

  – I think you also mentioea earlier, so I was w... where exactly is Tea?

  This time, his eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

  – Are we starting from there? What cave have you been living in?

  ～ It’s true that old Tak only told me about the pces he’d visited during his adventures, and as much of a traveler as he was in his youth, he ’t have seen the whole world.

  – I e from too far away for the people here, it seems.

  – Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude, he says with an unusual seriousness.

  ～ I’m not sure why he’s apologizing — I don’t care what the people here think of me. Maybe the memory of old Tak has cast a shadow over my face.

  – I’m just surprised that’s what’s ing you. If you really were a Tea spy, you’d have been hanged in the public square by now. Listen..., his skewer of meat now finished, he uses the stick to dra of the ti on the grass. This rge area surrounded by water is the kingdom of Historia, with the Republic of Tea to its north.

  ～ After traveling through Historia for over six years, I k was a vast kingdom, but seeing it represented like this is astonishing.

  – Tea is barely a tenth the size of Historia, and that’s not even ting the rocky mountains that separate us, eating away at their habitable space. Together, these two tries form the ti of Aktos, separated from the rest of the world by the Serenitas Desert to the northeast. If you like sand, that pce is for you, he excims, spreading his arms wide as if presenting a location that only he boasts of knowing.

  He spreads his arms wide, as if showing me a pce that only he cims to know.

  ～ Has Natsuki been that far already? He doesly look cut out for that kind of adventure...

  – Do you like sand, he asks suddenly, makiammer a vague response. Me, it irritates my skin.

  This toug fession is followed by a long silence during which I wait impatiently for a follow-up that never es. Natsuki is now pying with his skewer, passing it between his fingers with a dexterity that ands respect.

  – And so?

  – Sorry, what was I saying again?

  – You were talking about the Sérénitas Desert.

  – Ah, you’re right!

  He clears his throat before tinuing.

  – Beyond this desert lies what we call the Eastern Empire, but that name is more of a bel given to unknown nds than the one of a real empire. In fact, we know almost nothing about these regions sino one has ever been there. Or at least, no one has ever returned.

  ～ Old Tak did! At least, that’s what he told me, and his stories were always so ri detail that it’s hard to doubt their truth. But I’d rather not interrupt Natsuki with that.

  – Beyond the My Sea lies the territory of the Northerners. Again, apart from a few traders who left their mark long time ago, we know o nothing about them.

  ～ It seems we don’t know much about many things in this try. Probably because the dense vegetation of Historia makes long journeys as tedious as dangerous.

  – As for Tea, their retions with Historia are... delicate. We’ve fought many wars in the past, but after years of flid mutual depletion of resources, a truce was signed about fifty years ago.

  – In that case, what about the men I saw at the Kusur Geika? They didly give the impression of being in a time of peace.

  – Iy, a deep animosity still lingers between our two nations, and the situation at our borders is far less stable than the gover would have us believe. Being so far from these tension zones, it’s easy to deceive the people into the illusion of a false peace.

  I gnce arouhe city seems so peaceful, behind its immense protective walls. Enclosed in this haven of peace, the inhabitants are probably unaware of the dahat threaten them beyond these fortifications.

  – What were they fighting over?

  – Acc to history books, Tea, having exhausted its resources through rapid industrialization, invaded Historia in search of new ones. But if you ask me, Historia’s leaders likely aren’t bmeless either.

  – If the differen our territories is so vast, why didn’t we share some of our resources? A few less hectares wouldn’t have made much difference, especially since much of the wilderness is uninhabited.

  – The thing is, people of Historia have a very ive view of Tea's industrial development. Here, tradition and respect for nature are paramount. Our society may seem outdated pared to Tea’s, but our leaders would never risk losing popur support by building factories that would eventually deplete the nd and the Mystra. You could say Tea chosed progress, while we remained rooted in our traditions. Over time, this choice drove a wedge between our unities, and as they stopped uanding each other, flicts erupted.

  – You mentioned Mystra earlier, didn’t you? I think I heard that word today already.

  Natsuki sighs deeply, striking his forehead with his hand.

  – Pfff... We’ll never see the end of it, he says as he pces his hand on his forehead as out a long sigh.

  – Sorry about that...

  – Anyway, let’s save that topic for ter, or we’ll never finish these errands in time.

  Standing up, he brushes off his tunic.

  – Hang on a sed! I still have that bun.

  – So? Eat it! You’ve ear.

  – Without your s, I wouldn’t have been able to eat.

  I break the warm bun in half and offer him one piece. After a brief sigh, and seeing that I won’t back down, he accepts the modest present.

  – If you’re this generous, you’ll go broke. I don’t know what forest you came from, but it is a real jungle here.