Serenus - Sarcastic Newcomer Edition

Chapter 3: (Dis)orientation

The next day, I woke up early and went for a walk. Because why not start the day with a brisk stroll? I decided to take the same trail that Fabio and Misa had shown me the night before, hoping to recapture a bit of that magic. The trees, of course, didn't have the same dazzling glow they had under the cover of darkness, but they still managed to look pretty impressive—like a forest straight out of a fantasy novel. The sun was already high in the sky, and the village was alive with the usual hustle and bustle. People were going about their daily routines, and for a moment, I almost felt like I was part of this charmingly odd community.

I wandered around the village center, observing everything like a tourist on their first day in a new city. I couldn't help but notice that everyone had a well-defined role, like they'd all been cast in some elaborate play. I, on the other hand, was still trying to figure out if I was the lead actor or just an extra.

Then, as if on cue, Amy found me and greeted me with her trademark sunny smile. "Good morning, my friend!" she chirped, as though we were old pals who'd been doing this morning routine forever.

"Good morning, Amy. How are you?" I replied.

"I'm doing well, thank you. Did you sleep well?" she asked, as if I hadn't just spent the night pondering the meaning of my existence.

"Yeah, I did," I said, hoping she couldn't tell that I'd barely slept a wink.

"Great! Would you like to join me for breakfast?" she offered, clearly eager to fill me in on the latest episode of "Welcome to Serenus."

"Sure, I'd love to," I replied, mostly curious about what pearls of wisdom Amy would share today.

"I have good news for you," she announced, her smile growing even broader, if that was possible. "Your home is ready! You can move in today."

"Really? That's quick!" I said, genuinely surprised. I mean, talk about speedy service—these folks didn't waste any time.

The news of getting my own place filled me with a mix of joy and trepidation. We quickly finished our meal and set off to see my new place.

Serenus Lodge was conveniently located right next to the village center, which, up until now, had been my entire world. We followed a path that led away from the village center, passing by beautiful wooden homes on both sides. All the houses were similar in size and structure, with a cozy, storybook charm. Each was surrounded by a circular fence, with a stone pathway leading up to the front door. The yards were meticulously landscaped, each one reflecting the owner's taste in plants and garden gnomes—or whatever the Seren equivalent of garden gnomes was.

As we walked, I spotted a glittering pond fed by a stream. Amy explained that the stream flowed from a nearby lake and that there were numerous bodies of water scattered across the island, none of which connected to the surrounding sea. Because why would they? That would make too much sense.

Once I'd wrapped my head around the village's basic layout, I asked Amy about the magical trees. I was itching to know more, but she just gave me a cryptic smile and said, "I can show you the trees another day. You'll have to experience the magic yourself. Words can't do it justice."

Well, that was helpful. "Alright, what is a thinker, and what am I supposed to do?" I asked, hoping for at least one straightforward answer.

"A thinker is someone who explores the concepts and workings of things and tries to understand how we can use that understanding to our advantage," Amy explained, as if that cleared everything up. "The thinkers of the past discovered how to use the power of the magical trees. But there are still so many unanswered questions. Thinkers focus on those questions and try to find answers."