Alexo

Chapter 4: It Takes A Village

Alexo sat at a table inside of a small stone tavern. A dozen mugs made of wood were laying across the floor and the table, dripping wine from the edges.

Alexo leaned back in a chair, finishing yet another in silence.

He sat completely stern and still, as if the wine had no effect on him at all.

He looked towards the entrance when Vasileios walked in, a sack full of money.

"I see you've already gone through your wine payment. The village agreed to give you some money as a gift. The parts have already allowed us to expand and increase the productivity of our harvest. We are grateful and thankful for you." He said and put the sack on the table.

Alexo looked up at him and smirked, slowly rising to his feet. The chair fell back and onto the floor as he stared down at the average sized man, who looked tiny compared to Alexo.

Vasileios swallowed hard and nodded.

"Alright...I hope this will be sufficient for you." He said, having to look away from the intense gaze.

Alexo shrugged as he looked over the bag, lifting it and moving it up and down as if weighing it.

Alexo nodded and walked around him to leave the building, having to crouch down to walk through the doorway.

"Hey, do you have a place to sleep tonight?" Vasileios asked.

Alexo turned and looked back, shaking his head side to side very slowly.

Vasileios sighed and rubbed his head.

"We have a house here, nobody lives in it yet. It can be yours, at least for a short while." He said.

Alexo smiled and nodded.

"Great. We could also use a big guard dog like you. Keep any raiders or travelers away." Vasileios said.

Alexo raised his eyebrow, looking over the small tavern before he stepped out into the street.

At the dock was the skeleton of the ship, most of the pieces having been removed and used for countless new buildings and infrastructure.

He smirked and began to head down the street.

The people moved happily and freely. Their homes expanded to give them more space and allow for more children, leading to the construction of the first school and first teachers being hired. There were no homeless people on the streets, all of them having a place to live and even turning their homes into shops, restaurants, and whatever else the people needed to enjoy themselves.

Clothing now became more elaborate and cheaper at the same time, everyone dressed in whatever they wished.

Alexo continued to march forward as the people went to the edges of the street, creating a long path for him to move through without issue or resistance.
Alexo continued to stay silent while carrying the sack of money that was larger than multiple people.

He spotted a house being built on the outskirts of the village, close to the dock. Away from the villagers, as if in the shadows of their society.

He made it to the edge of the village, watching as they finished putting the roof on top with the largest pieces of wood they had.

The massive ship blocked the skyline in one direction, blocking the sea and preventing the waves from reaching up onto the sand.

While the other direction was covered by the homes sitting on top of a hill, giving him very little sunlight.

Alexo's face was slowly turning down into a frown before he slowly made his way down, leaning back to keep his balance while still dragging the money with him.