Snippet #1765464

The dark wooden buildings became more visible as the wagon traveled closer and closer. The colorful festive decorations had covered much of everywhere in the village. There was sounds of music playing in a distance, getting louder with each second the wagon goes toward Jiender. The travelers inside the wagon were peeking out of the wagon bonnet, trying to get a good look at the town and its people. Cedric was no exception at all, as he anticipated the annual festival and is very eager to meet the same Jiender residents he had met before, as well as some new faces who might've traveled all the way to the golden grasslands for this harvest day.

As he looked out of the bonnet, he felt a tap on his right shoulder twice. He looked back inside the wagon and found himself looking at two Y'lastellean Hymas with fairly contradicting appearances. One of them was a short, old man with short, white hair and a white, bushy, finely-curled moustache. He wore an apron and was holding onto what seems to be a large, cube-shaped toolbox. The other Hyma was a tall girl with long white hair. She looked young, and also wears an apron just like the old man. She has a leather bag hanging on her back shoulders. Actually, Cedric remembered making notes about each individual as the trip began. He noted both of them as "merchants". They might be here in Jiender for a business purpose, but he's unsure what type of business they would be holding. Although it's obviously the old man who's requiring Cedric's attention, he found himself quite attracted to the female Hyma. The mage couldn't help but smile widely.

Before the old Hyma could speak, he cleared his throat a bit. "Excuse me, young lad," he said, in a raspy voice. "I know we haven't exchanged any sort of greetings when this trip began, but I have some questions regarding the area around."

Cedric widened his eyes a little, curiously. "What is it you might need to know?" he politely asked.

"I wanted to ask if you've ever been to Jiender before," he said. "Specifically, during the festival times."

"Ah, well..." Cedric rubbed his chin and looked to his side, pondering about his thoughts. "Actually, I have. This is my second visit to Jiender, and both of my visits are on this very same holiday. I enjoy being here, as the outskirt sights are very beautiful. Don't you agree?"

The old man didn't seem to care about the scenery around Jiender, as he tossed Cedric's question aside and spoke bluntly. "I'm here to make a business, young lad. You see, I'm a traveling merchant and trader. I sell all kinds of goods, as well as buy them. We have all kinds of common and rare items you can't find anywhere else." The old man placed his heavy-looking box from his lap to the surface of the wagon floor, and patted the top of it. Cedric felt this old Hyma is trying to convince him for a trade offer.

"If you haven't heard of us, then you're missing out. We're traders from a guild known as The Precious Sands! I'm Ru-haji Lasfadi and next to me is my granddaughter and merchant apprentice, Uriah Lasfadi."

The girl waved her arm to Cedric as she smiled while Ru-haji posed as what looked like a victory gesture, putting his hands on his waist and looking proudly. Cedric believed he enjoys doing what he's doing for a living, although it's kind of awkward for him to pose like that, especially inside the wagon. He wondered if he does this everytime he introduces himself to anyone he meets, and regretted thinking about.

"We're supposed to head to Ametty tonight, but we heard about a village on the roads," the Old Y'lastellean Hyma explained. "And what's a better opportunity than to give it a shot at selling goods in that very same village during a festival? Surely, there might be some respectable folk who had heard of the guild. Besides, the man taking us on his wagon said it himself that this is our last stop here in Jiender until the end of Saint Magnarta. Or Magney, if that's how you people like to say it."

"Magnarta, Magney... I'm sure they're both fine to say, it doesn't matter which one." Cedric has heard of The Precious Sands guild. They were pretty popular in Haubenor, actually. Though, he has never made any business with any of them, but he did hear good details about their goods and policies.

"The Precious Sands, huh? Well, Jiender is kind of a small town. But I'm sure there are going to be a few who are interested in your trade businesses."

"Oh ho, now come on, lad. I'm sure you're one of the few who would want some of my stuff. You're an adventuring mage, are you not?" Ru-haj certainly wanted Cedric to have a look at his wares.

Cedric tried to explain, as well as insist on telling him that he wasn't interested in buying anything at all. "Oh, no no no. I mean, I do know some magic, but my profession isn't really about becoming a mage. You see, I'm a traveling adventurer, as you have said. But not those kinds of adventurers who thirst for dangerous dungeons. Oh no, I'm just a simple Hyma, learning about the world of Kiden by studying the many kinds of faeries and the cultures embedded into our lifestyles."

Ru-haji doesn't seem interested about Cedric's type of adventure, but his granddaughter seems amazed from how he had described it. "I-I believe what you're doing is beautiful, Mister," she complimented.

The mage smiled and bowed. "Please, call me Cedric. That's my name." He had certainly not forgotten his elegant manners. Not even his rough and long travels can urge him to abandon the exquisite manners of the wealthy family he was born from.

"N-Nice to meet you, Cedric!" she said loudly. Uriah really made some of the faeries inside the wagon glance at her with a puzzled look.

"Quiet down, Uriah! We're just having a simple talk, and you practically yelled inside the wagon!" Ru-haji whispered to her.

The whisper was quite loud as well, since Cedric could hear him, too. All he could do was smile nervously. 'Weren't you also yelling when introducing yourselves?' he thought.

As the three continued chatting, someone sitting on the opposite side of the wagon whistled. While Ru-haji was busy scolding his apprentice, Cedric's attention was caught. He looked around and saw a bulky Inish Hyma man. Cedric remembered noting him down as "Archer", since he has a bow and quiver beside him. This man wears a woolen coif, covering most of his head and hair. He wears dark brown leather armor all around his muscled body. This archer also has a couple of scars on his left cheek. Overall, he looked like a serious type who could probably stare in death's face whilst remaining stoic.

Cedric wasn't sure if he whistled to catch their attention. It didn't take minutes for this man to whistle towards them again. Cedric then had his body turned towards him and asked, "Excuse me, sir. Do you need something?" He tried to say it in a polite tone, but Cedric felt nervous when trying to talk to him.

The man didn't answer back after Cedric had his attention towards him. It only took him a few seconds later to speak. "Hey," he said, in a deep, serious tone. "I suggest you and your friends over there to be careful around this area. Around Jiender." This archer really meant it, based on his angry-looking expression.

"Careful? Is there something wrong around where we're at?" Cedric definitely had no idea what this Hyma had meant.

The archer closed his eyes as he spoke. "Look, I cannot directly tell you why. But there are rumors about this village. Not any good ones, I heard."

'Rumors?' the mage wondered. Before he could question him some more, Ru-haji interrupted.

"Now what do you mean by rumors? Are you hiding something about Jiender?" He really wanted answers from the Inish Hyma, but all he did was smirk back while his eyes remained closed.

"Luckily, you shouldn't worry about such things at the moment. Pray to the heavens that Magney has come to protect us and the people of around this village," he recited.

'Just what in the world is this man talking about?' Cedric felt quite annoyed at how vague he was at answering questions. 'What does he mean by Magney protecting us?' Magney, or Saint Magnarta, is a harvest holiday, and only a harvest holiday.

Suddenly, another man, an Inish as well, spoke up. Compared to the archer, he was a little shorter and thinner. The faery has black hair, reaching down to his shoulders. He wore short robes suitable for the wilderness and carried a dagger on his waist. Throughout the whole road trip, he always was shaking and shivering. He wasn't talkative either, just like the archer. Cedric noted him as "Shaky."

He had been quiet for days until now, when he decided to have a say in their conversation. "H-Hey, guys," he said, nervously, "there's no need to w-worry about those t-things, r-right?" The way he talked made Cedric a little uneasy towards him.

"You don't seem well, ironically. Telling us to worry when you yourself look like you got a case of the jitters," said Ru-haji.

"Now now..." Cedric was trying to calm the situation down. "There's no need to continue this subject. I mean, today is Saint Magnarta. It's a day we must celebrate!"

Uriah agreed, and it seemed that the archer agreed as well. "He's right," he laughed. "We should definitely be cherishing Magney's Day."

'Kinda odd for you to change back to a good mood when you warned us about those so-called rumors.' Cedric felt like he's the only one out of everyone in the wagon who isn't some sort of a hypocrite.

As the group ended their conversation, they had completely forgotten about the festival noises. Ru-haji looked outside, and it was obvious that they made it to Jiender.

"Hoo-whee! We made it, folks!" announced the wagon driver. "Gather yer belongins' and git going! Can't afford to waste Magney's time, now do we?" He was waiting for the travelers to get out before he can find a place to leave his wagon.

"It seems we're here," Cedric said. He took a step outside and clearly remembered where he was at, which is a ranch farm of Jiender. Of course, that old man needed to put his wagon and blue ox somewhere, so the stop being at a ranch farm made sense. Fortunately, Cedric knew where the village center was. He gestured the other travelers which path to take to go there, and continued on without much worry in his head.