Auron woke up to the weak light of the still-rising sun streaming through the window next to his head.

  He stretched, yawned, and got up. His eyes scanned the completely plain cabin: a bed, a nightstand, and the window—if that could even count as decoration.

  He put on the armor he had removed the night before, leaving only his underclothes beneath.

  He wanted to change his underwear, but he had none to spare.

  Stepping outside, he noticed how early it still was, yet the village was already bustling with activity.

  He wandered through the streets until he reached the chief’s cabin, immediately noticeable thanks to its size and the huge deer-like head mounted above the double doors.

  He knocked.

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  “Come in,” a voice called from inside.

  Auron opened the doors.

  “Good morning, Robben,” he greeted the man seated at a table stacked with papers and scrolls at the far end of the room.

  The cabin was massive compared to Auron’s sleeping quarters—roughly four times the size. Its interior resembled a pyramid-of-cubes structure: three sections in a row, and a fourth atop where Robben sat.

  “Good morning, Auron,” Robben replied with a quick glance before returning to his work.

  Noticing that Robben’s hands were full with “chief-stuff,” Auron got straight to the point.

  “I don’t want to interrupt your work. I just wanted to ask if I could help in the village.”

  After some convincing, Robben agreed.

  “Ask Melina,” he said. “She’s in charge of the city visit. You’ll accompany her with a few others from the village. She’ll have something for you to do. And if she doesn’t, you can chop wood in the forest—we always need firewood.”

  ---

  Following Robben’s advice, Auron searched the village for Melina, stopping to eat some bread from his magical pouch as hunger hit.

  Taking a sip from his glass water bottle, he noticed a carriage being prepared with several people moving boxes and barrels while a woman barked orders.

  “That must be Melina,” he muttered and approached her.

  “Hello, my name is Aur—” he started.

  “I know who you are, but what do you want? I’m busy,” Melina interrupted, clearly annoyed.

  “Exactly why I’m here,” Auron replied. “The chief said I could help.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise, and her hostility softened slightly.

  “Oh… okay. Then help carry these boxes and barrels to the carriage.”

  “Understood,”