The Era of Heroes

Ch.2: A Day in the Life of a Suwa Villager

The dirt road running through the village sat silent aside from one young wanderer walking past the rows of lanterns illuminating the path, the moon high above Utano as she walked up to a household no bigger than her family's. Chewing on a fresh walnut she gathered from her early morning walks, she went up to the door that suddenly slides open to show an older, bearded man.

"Why is it that I always speak to you boy, doesn't your father have enough respect to come over himself to speak?" he complained in a slightly scratchy voice.

"I assure you, my father holds high respect to anyone he talks to, he just so happens to be busy having tea with someone at the moment. Also, I'm a girl, Mr. Hatano."

"From the way you look and act you should be a boy, and stop with the chewing, would you! Could barely hear a word your saying." the old man complained as Utano spat out a piece of the walnut. "I'm guessing he wishes to share tomorrow's plans with me, yes?"

"Correct Mr. Hatano, he just wants to confirm the purchases you'll be making as well as make sure others of each family will be able to provide the necessary field for the farms while we're gone."

The old man squinted at the young girl, scoffing as he said, "I may be on the older side, but you tell your father I am fully aware what I'm paying for and that my family field hands will get the job done and then some. There's a reason my surplus is the largest of the five of us, anything else to share, boy?"

Utano thought for a moment but shook her head, without even a goodbye the old man closed the wooden door on her. She didn't mind much, dealing with him for most of her life made such comments something she gotten used to by now. With him being the last of their travel buddies, Utano turned her eyes down the lower path where her home was when an idea popped in her head, she turned to the highest point of their village and saw the most extensive home has its lanterns lit up. Taking another bite of her stash of walnuts, she ran up towards the large house for a quick visit.

Her sandals digging into the light mud littering the road, hardly slowing her down her ascent till stopping a few feet away, knowing getting any closer would get her in big trouble. She casually then snuck her way to the side and took a pathway only she knew. A small but helpful bundle of bamboo trees made it hard for anyone but her to sneak through, it was easy to get lost at this darker area, but it also provides excellent cover for her to go around towards the side of the large home. Climbing up a little up ahead and through a small stream brought her to the perfect view of a closed but lit up window several feet above her. Taking a pebble from the stream she aimed and threw it at the surrounding wooden boards, she knew who was up there and kept throwing rock after rock till she heard someone on the other side.

A big smile was on her face as a girl with lengthy brown hair running down her left shoulder looked out the window and shook her head at who she's seeing. "Utanon, I thought we agreed this way of meeting is too dangerous, what if my parents were walking by?"

"Then I'll blend into the night, like a shadow..." Utano said dramatically as she covered half her face behind her dark sleeves, watching Mito then laugh at her silly antics made trips like these worth the risk.

"So, came her to show me something or you just wanted some small talk?"

"I wish we can share a few more words, but I gotta return home soon; however, I did want to give you these." Utano took her statch and put it all in a little handmade bag before throwing it up to Mito. Opening it up she saw they were walnuts, something she never really had before. "Just wanted to wish you a peaceful night and made sure you're not going hungry."

Mito covered her face and looked away as her cheeks go a little red, Utano didn't notice though and smiled at her cute reaction. "You always know how to give the oddest gifts, will I see you tomorrow?" asked Mito.