Another world, Celeste

Thirty Three, pt 2

The following day, upon arriving at the east gate, Serafina gives me the simple task of attending to the horses that are pulling the carriages coming into town while the passengers and carriage drivers are going through identity inspection. Moreover, what amazes me is that despite the recent increase in monster attacks on the road, an influx of people, mostly merchants, still risk travelling to the mining town anyway. When seven carriages belonging to merchants arrive together in the late afternoon, I help the soldiers with the horses. As I feed the exhausted horses apples in turn, I overhear the conversation of the senior soldier with the merchants.

"I take it that nothing is stopping you lot from attending the auction," the senior soldier speaks familiarly.

"Several merchants we're partnered with decided it was better to move together than to come here separately."

"We don't want the auction to be called off because fewer people are coming this year."

"Humph! My family has been attending the auction since the time of my great-great-grandfather. This tradition won't be broken during my time."

"I heard old man Duce will come this year too. We can't just let him take all the valuable items at the auction from us."

That last comment I overhear from the merchants pique my attention. Mister Duce is coming. It's been some time since his last visit to the village. After I finish caring for the merchants' horses, Serafina walks into the stables.

"Did you have a hard time with the horses?"

"Not really," I answer her.

Serafina follows behind me as I replenish the horses' water. Archie is holding onto an apple to give to a horse he likes, so far the red panda personally gives out three apples out of the many horses that came to the stables for a short rest.

"And their conditions?"

"None of the horses sustain any injuries. Most of them are just tired from the journey," I report.

"That's good to hear," Serafina says with a tired voice.

"Where's Mint?"

"With Red. I made a small change to the formation after listening to Mint's advise and that resulted in Peachy and the dogs moving more efficiently than before," says Serafina as she collapses on the hays.

"Mint is not the serious type but she's pretty good at pointing out things that you missed. Is that why you're burned out?"

Serafina groans.

I look at her with a pitiful gaze.

While I'm on horse-sitting duty the whole day, Serafina was relaying information to tamers, adventurers and soldiers on-site with the assistance of Peachy and her messenger dogs. Red is on stand-by in case of an emergency; carrying injured people back to town quickly. Basically, Red is equivalent to an ambulance.