2 New Home (1/2)

Seran stayed on Eleanor's heels on the way to the chief's house, which was the only stone building in the village, along with being twice as big as the others. Apparently, it was meant to be used as a shelter in case of an attack, as the founder, Edric Greenwood, had a cellar dug out.

”Once upon a time, our tiny village had only 3 people to protect it: my father, my brother, and my father's childhood friend and war buddy, Uncle Shaun. The Dreamless Savannah was much more dangerous back then, and we were constantly being attacked by magic beasts. 3 years of living off everything we could get later, our guardian spirit came and protected us, as they have since... I'm getting nostalgic thinking about it,” Eleanor sighed as she pushed her memories aside. ”Anyway, the current chief is of the fifth generation and is my brother's great-great-grandson. Eamon was just like our father, a natural leader, and it seems to run in the family. Meanwhile, I'm the one keeping their heads on straight.”

The young boy nodded as he listened to Eleanor talk about the past, her family and the chief. He rarely made any noises, except for some surprised noises at some of the things he saw here and there. It didn't take very long to reach the chief's house, to which Eleanor unceremoniously opened the door and said loudly, ”Etienne, where are you?” She glared around the house.

Through a doorway came a lightly tanned man only a few inches taller than Eleanor, roughly 5.9ft (180cm) tall, with dark brown hair and green eyes. His face and physique made him look no older than 40, yet his eyes had a childlike spark to them. ”I'm coming, nan, I'm coming.” Just like the rest of the villagers, he wore simple clothes, except for the leather boots on his feet. Seeing Seran, he smiled and held out his hand rather warmly, ”Nice to meet you, Seran. I am the Greenwood Village Chief, Etienne Greenwood.”

Seran awkwardly shook his hand, ”Nice to meet you too, sir... I'm sorry about the trouble I've caused.”

Etienne laughed, ”No worries. If anything, I think we'd have more trouble if we didn't save you. I don't think I'll survive a rampage of angry women if I let a kid die.”

”And you'd better remember that, young man, or nan will add a bump to your forehead,” said Eleanor, staring pointedly at the chief, who immediately held his hands over his head. Apparently, he'd taken more than a few knocks to the head before.

Shifting awkwardly in place, Seran asked, ”I-is it okay if I live in the village..? I don't exactly have a home anymore...”

Etienne was about to answer when the old herbalist cut in, ”Definitely. You can live here, there's an empty room that used to be my brother's before he became chief. It's been empty for a long time.”

The chief shook his head with a smile, knowing that his nan had made her choice and wouldn't let him change it. Besides, he had wanted the young lad to stay anyway. ”Just like nan said, you can stay here. Until she approves of you to be able to help around the village, you don't have to help with the fields or other tasks the children handle, nor can you go exploring the forest. That said, there's not much to do around here. You'll have to come up with your own entertainment, just like the rest of us. Understood, Seran?” When the boy nodded, Etienne clapped his hands and said, ”Good, then it's settled. From now on, you are a Greenwood Village resident. If nan approves, you can go explore the village, but not outside it.”

”That's fine, a little exploration of his new home is okay. But if you go outside the village, kiddo, this granny will give you a couple knocks to the head.” The old herbalist held up her cane with a smile that wasn't a smile, causing Seran to nod hastily as he followed her out, waving to Etienne as he did.

Sitting in a wooden chair, Etienne watched them through the window next to him, ”A good kid, that one. He just might be the one that the guardian spirit was looking for, the one prophecized to change our little village into an empire.” Looking towards the sky, he muttered, ”The Oracle never said when it would happen, only that it would. Still, even if he isn't, this will always be his home.”

--

Seran meandered through the village, looking at the scenery and taking in the sights of his new home. Eleanor had lightly patted him on the head after they left and told him to go look around. Everything attracted his interest, despite the many things he'd seen before. It's probably because this was his home now, while everything else was just the places he had to look at whilst he lived in the slums.

Suddenly, startling Seran, the system said, [I've got some good news and some bad news.]

Nearly cursing out loud, Seran thought, ”Damn it all, you nearly gave me a heart attack!”

[Just because I've been silent doesn't mean I'm not here, Seran. Anyway, good and bad news for you.]

”What is it about, William?”

[Well, it's about the same thing, really. You know what that is, though.]

”... Tell me the bad news then.”