The distance beginning from one edge of the market to another was not more than five hundred paces. Within that space, forged of two vertical rows, facing each other were stalls. And in between those two rows of stalls was a bisected trail where customers would stop and barter for their products. As for the stalls themselves, the carts on either side were clustered and huddled together to such an extent that barely half a pace of space was left between them.

  Aftee carrying along those three satchels, my pace bypassed each of those stalls, passing by vendor after vendor that sold wide variety of foods and drinks containing different flavours of staples, bread, cheese, seasonal fruits, vegetables, to Leather goods containing purses pouches, belts, and tunics.

  Included among those stalls were metalwork containing pots, pans, and tools forged by blacksmiths. Textiles containing common and fine clothing like silks imported from distant lands. And even few haberdashers regularly would come from rocks creek to sell also fabrics, buttons, and threads.

  But because of the presence of library within this village, even from the far region of the city of academia exceptional paper, parchment, quills, and ink were also sold for scribes and scholars that frequently visit our valley. But this did not end there, because before I came into picture and banned them, few vendors were also daring to sell rare faunas, creature parts, and wide verities of poisons and stolen goods. It even included maps and dangerous services. of course, all of those were put to hold by my violent fists, and even more violent legs, so proceeding that departure, nobody from the valley ever dared or let alone attempted to proceed in their follow steps again.

  Not to mention because of my presence and the premium security provided by my presence, all the vendors that sold in the market formed their little coalition and choose to pay ten percent of the profit from their earnings to the valley's orphanage. Some vendors even go as far as to give them the proceeds of the product as well. Thus, every morning till early afternoon the sale of the day goes live.

  So, walking in this market has become a routine for most men and women. It has become a purpose. As all kinds of people comes together from each corner of the valley to sell and to buy what was needed to survive and to thrive in this village.

  Of course during winter, due to the extreme cold, schedule shifts, as snow clatters around the market. So thus, instead of early morning, the sale will be from the late afternoon till late evening.

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  But that winter was far away, here and now, as the shade of the sun covered by the cloud and threw the market into the pitch of darkness, my thoughts deeply bothered about my brother advanced forward, increasing the pace of my walk with each step as it marched forward, all the while those whispers, and the echo of those whispers from either side, and behind me, began to escalate and echo tenfold.

  So, amidst such barter and bargaining, as much as possible, and as quick as possible, carrying in both of my arms all three of my satchels, with pace unevenly fast, easily began to bypass each man and woman that marched before me. As few of these men and woman even prepared themselves to talk and interrupt me, but seeing my determined gaze, all of them choose to remain where they stood, which worked just fine. So in not more than twenty breaths, with nothing and no one to interrupt me, my legs had bypassed the entire trail and stopped itself at the edge of the market. And barely had another breath passed, with sweat dripping from both corners of my forehead, straightening my shoulder, my body deeply exhaling once, turning backward, tracked and scanned the entire trail.

  After seeing this profound clustered activity of buyers and sellers bartering and bickering increasing with passage of every breath, instantaneously a thin smile split across my features, resulting in the warmth of the highest calibre to flood within me.

  "You should smile more; I heard somewhere that if you do it enough times, the positivity within your mind increases ten times"

  Upon hearing that statement my body twisted and shifted itself till my gaze watched as the two men, with sheathed swords hanging upon their belts, march towards me.

  While the man on the right, with combed hair parted at the right corner, beer belly hung low, and shaped grey beard cut short, whose height matching mine, and whose perched white skin radiated authority and strength, entirely unparalleled and unopposing, stopped before me, my gaze watched this man. And after seeing this man, whose round face, and small eyes, held upon its gaze a warmth-greater and kinder than a ten thousand priests giving the food on the fateful day, unable to look at his gaze anymore, my gaze shifted towards the other man that walked befor my left. This other man, whose fingers were covered with the dark black gloves. With features just ascending into manhood, moustache, and hair on his chin cleanly shaven. With the hairs on his head like a skin of bear, whose strands oiled and parted in the left corner, anf restless rings around his eyes, the man walked as if a tensed pressure and war boiled within him. And with each step as he continued to walk towards me, he felt a little bit drained, and a little bit broken, but despite of that as he walked and stopped before me, this man radiated strength. Strength earned by conviction. Strength earned by duty.

  And barely had this young man stopped before me, my fingers passing the satchel of meat to this young man, walked alongside him.