Legends of Magnoria

Chapter Twenty-Two ~ Phoebe's Prying

Atalo walked through the village, smiling at every face that wandered into his sight. For every face he saw, a smile was displayed across it. The spirit of Rumppidum had certainly increased since the slaying of the Demon, with the consequence of the event leaving the village in glee for days on end.

"Good morning, mister Atalo!" A little girl chirped, thrashing her hand in the air. "How've you been today?"

Atalo waved back, "I'm good, thanks. And you?"

The girl nodded in the agreement, "I'm good too!" She exclaimed. Atalo chuckled as he continued down the street.

Atalo would have never expected to have a whole crowd see him the way the villagers saw him now. Every conversation he had had over the past two weeks had been a positive one. The village had certainly changed — people were happier, the roads and houses were cleaner. Even certain places such as the inn had a small remodelling here and there. It was as if it was an entirely new village.

Atalo stopped in his tracks and looked up at the  overhanging sign. Rumppidum Blacksmith it read. This sign was also newly crafted. Unlike the previous one, the new sign had the small symbol of an anvil on it, placed right at the very end of the title.

Behind the gate stood the village's blacksmith, Grant. Atalo hadn't spoken to him much during his time at the village, however Grant had sent a letter requesting to meet with him. There he stood, clanging loudly in the piping hot sun, unaware of Atalo's presence.

"Excuse me — uh —" The clashing of metal easily cut out Atalo's voice. Grant paid no attention, continuing his work on the fine piece he was working on.

"HEY!" Atalo yelled, waving his arms up in the air. Grant froze and looked up from his work.

"Atalo!" The muffled voice behind the mask exclaimed.

Grant lifted up the mask he wore to protect his face, revealing his features. His green eyes stood out among his grey soot-filled hair and ash-covered face. He somewhere in his forties, or possibly fifties. The visible wrinkles across his forehead were a giveaway. He smiled as Atalo entered the property, showing off his slightly butter yellow teeth.

"Grant, right?" Atalo asked. Grant nodded in response, placing his tool gently on the table.

"I see you received my letter," Grant commented. "I wanted to show you something. If you'd just kindly come inside." He held open his front door for Atalo, following in after Atalo had entered. "This way," he directed.

*

Phoebe peered up from her rock slowly. There it was. The golden prize. A couple of feet away stood a beautiful full grown doe. Phoebe's lip curved upwards as she slowly raised her hand.

"Yeah ... that's right. Just gnaw on that nice grass. Good deer ..." Phoebe slowly ignited a spark in the palm of her hand, ready to throw it at the deer.

THUMP. The deer dropped dead into the ground, an arrow resting nicely through its head. Phoebe gritted her teeth and turned to face the direction where the arrow came from. "Serena!" Phoebe growled, extinguishing the spark that patiently sat in her hand.

"I win! I win!" Serena chanted gloatingly, jumping down from a tree branch. She cheerfully danced towards Phoebe, tapping her nose with her finger and continuing on.

"I had that!" Phoebe hissed in frustration. She balled up her fists as her eyes and eyebrows narrowed. A scowl was sent towards Serena as she approached the now dead doe.