Aeon of Roses

Act 0-1: Rubedo part 2

The orphanage

Purified_and_cursed

Laughter could be heard coming from the harbor, where children were playfully running around, dodging obstacles as they engaged in an age-old game of tag, which continues to provide amusement to the younger ones.

Mothers, observing from afar, wore contented smiles as they engaged in light conversation while carrying on with their shopping errands.

As spring season arrived, the village of Argus buzzed with activity. Merchants from the kingdom of Mantle, crossing the vast ocean, brought a surge of business to the small town.

The small fishing village called Argus was beginning its initial transformation into a trading port connecting the two kingdoms.

"Tag! You're it!" A boy screamed.

"Not fair! I wasn't even ready!"

"Too bad! Catch me if you can~"

The second boy who was 'it' displayed a small frown before chasing after the boy who tagged him.

He sprinted past numerous merchant stalls offering a wide array of goods, including enchanting crystals and innovative fishing gear like rods and nets. Eventually, he exited the harbor and found himself in the bustling central plaza.

The boy couldn't help but notice how bustling the place was, with both visitors and villagers filling the area like bees in a hive. However, he found himself uninterested in the activities happening around him.

He let out a sigh. Realizing that this was a major disadvantage for him. It seemed impossible to single out someone in such a large crowd, let alone tag them.

'where are they?'

Nevertheless, the boy remained resolute and unyielding. A few may question why the boy was so fixated on emerging victorious in a game of tag. Yet the answer was actually quite straightforward.

It was pride.

The boy was determined not to let the other children perceive him as the slowest individual in the village. The mere idea of being measured against the elderly woodcutter pushed him to run with all his might.

After all, he was the source of immense pride for the entire village, damn it! Making his way through the throngs of individuals, he wormed through the crowd.

Out of nowhere, a strong scent invaded his nostrils. The aroma brought immense pleasure to his sense of smell, causing his mouth to salivate.

His empty stomach emitted a faint growl, expressing its discontent after a whole day of recreational activities.

It directed him towards the source of the delectable fragrance. There it was.

A group of children gathered around a small mat, where a man sat in a seiza position, wearing a joyful smile, while accepting payment from each child for their treats.

The boy's mouth watered as he watched the boy he had been chasing receive a stick adorned with colorful balls-a popular treat called Dango.

Dango, a mouth-watering treat, is considered one of Mistral's finest delicacies. Initially, there was some skepticism surrounding this new innovation, as it was invented by a faunus.

Rumors circulated that Dango were lethal weapons used by assassins to destabilize the aristocratic society.

However, its popularity rapidly grew, and it eventually became widespread throughout the entire continent of Anima.