The next day, I woke up with that delightful sense of dread lingering from a dream that was way too real for comfort. Great. Just what I needed—more anxiety before breakfast. I couldn't stop wondering what happened to Alfred and the white dog after they were conveniently separated in that cliché dark forest. But, you know, priorities. So, I tried to shake it off as I got ready for another thrilling day.
After breakfast, I wandered over to the forge, hoping to make myself useful. Turns out, Feray's project was almost done, so my help was about as necessary as a screen door on a submarine. Left with nothing better to do, I wandered aimlessly, pretending to be fascinated by the random metal sculptures strewn around. When that got old, I planted myself under a tree and listened to the oh-so-soothing sound of hammering metal.
Kratos, ever the perceptive one, noticed my profound boredom and decided to join me. He patted my back and, with all the seriousness of someone who's discovered the meaning of life, said, "I've never felt so certain that I'm doing the right job." Shocker, right? I looked at him, utterly surprised that someone could be so content with their life choices.
He continued, "Idir told me about your response to Fabio, and I'm genuinely impressed." Well, that was unexpected. Flattered and a bit flustered, I wasn't entirely sure if my response was really that impressive or if Kratos had just set the bar incredibly low. But hey, a compliment's a compliment.
Then came the dreaded question: "Did you also think of an answer to my question?" Oh great, time to perform. He looked at me as if I was the Oracle of Delphi, ready to spill the secrets of the universe. No pressure.
Boosted by his earlier praise, I decided to throw caution to the wind and share my thoughts. "You're successful in life if people respect and care for you. You're successful if you can make time for those people. You're successful if you can relax and enjoy your food. You're successful if you can finish your work and still have time for the fun stuff. And, finally, you're successful if you can sleep without your conscience throwing a tantrum."
Kratos, bless his heart, looked like I'd just handed him the Holy Grail. He patted my shoulder again, obviously thrilled with my profound wisdom, and walked away nodding in contentment. I could practically see the 'Good Job!' sticker on my chest. Feeling rather smug, I headed off to the village center for lunch. A well-deserved reward for a day (more like an hour) of thinking.
Just as I was about to dig into my meal, the bells rang. Fabulous timing, really. Confused, I watched as a herd of guardians dashed toward the river, with Amy hot on their heels, notebook in hand. Realizing something was actually happening, I joined the chase. By the time I reached the river, the guardians had already surrounded the latest victim—I mean, newcomer.
Another boat, another bewildered face. This time, a girl who looked as lost as I did on my first day. They followed the same welcoming routine: take her to the prison tree, let her sweat it out alone, then test her for magic. Spoiler alert: no magic powers here either. Kratos gave her the standard 'Welcome to Serenus' speech and led her to the village center for her first meal. Business as usual.
The village center buzzed with excitement as she ate. She got the same warm, if not slightly robotic, greeting and was sent to the same lodge I had stayed in. As she sat inside, probably wondering if she'd landed in the weirdest village on Earth, we prepped for her surprise party outside. The next morning, she bounced out, all energy and excitement, shaking hands and fluttering her wings like a social butterfly on caffeine. We were clearly cut from different cloth.
After the performance, some girl declared the newcomer as a material researcher. Not exactly the career path I'd have predicted, but hey, everyone's got to have a thing. Curious, I asked Amy what that actually meant. Turns out, our new friend was obsessed with textures, materials, grains of wood, and all things tactile. She was the kind of person who'd probably ask you about the thread count of your bedsheets. Fascinating.
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Serenus - Sarcastic Newcomer Edition
FantasiaSo, here we are, all of us, lost in this mystical realm with zero memory of where we came from. It's like we all took the world's worst vacation, and now nobody can find their way back home. And guess what we have to guide us? A poem. Because why bo...
