Chapter 144 - 139: The Market Beyond the Village
# Chapter 127: The Market Beyond the Village
Morning arrived with the soft ringing of the church bell near the center of Greenhollow.
Unlike the previous few days, the village was busier than usual.
Several wagons stood near the entrance, their horses patiently waiting while villagers loaded crates of vegetables, woven baskets, pottery, and freshly baked bread.
John looked out from the inn’s doorway with mild curiosity.
"Something going on?"
The innkeeper, who was sweeping the front steps, smiled.
"Market day."
John turned to her.
"Market day?"
She nodded.
"The neighboring villages gather once every two weeks. Farmers trade crops, craftsmen sell their work, and everyone catches up with old friends."
"So it’s not just Greenhollow?"
"Oh, no." She chuckled. "You’ll probably meet half the valley today."
---
By the time everyone had finished breakfast, the square had become much livelier.
Lythriel adjusted the light cloak draped over her shoulders.
"I’ve never been to a village market before."
John looked at her.
"Really?"
"My home relied mostly on hunting and gathering. Traders came to us instead."
Sylvara smiled.
"I’ve only seen one once."
Aerion folded his arms.
"Then today should be interesting."
The Soul Raven, perched on a nearby roof, gave a quiet caw before spreading its wings and taking to the sky.
It circled lazily overhead, keeping watch more out of habit than necessity.
---
As they entered the village square, the atmosphere felt completely different from the Founder’s Day festival.
There were no games.
No musicians.
No tournaments.
Instead...
People greeted one another like old friends.
An elderly woman hugged someone she hadn’t seen in months.
Children compared handmade toys.
Farmers discussed the weather while inspecting each other’s crops.
It wasn’t a celebration.
It was simply life.
John found himself smiling again.
---
"I knew we’d find you!"
A familiar voice called out.
Nathan came running through the crowd, nearly tripping over his own feet.
He stopped in front of John, slightly out of breath.
"I practiced!"
John blinked.
"You did?"
The young boy proudly held up his wooden sword.
"I’ve been practicing every morning!"
John crouched down.
"Show me."
Nathan immediately took his stance.
Compared to the previous evening...
It had improved.
Not by much.
But enough that John noticed.
His footing was steadier.
His grip wasn’t as stiff.
Most importantly...
He looked more confident.
John nodded approvingly.
"Much better."
Nathan’s face lit up.
"Really?"
"Really."
The boy grinned so widely that it looked as though he’d just won a tournament.
"I’ll keep practicing!"
"I know you will."
Nathan hurried back toward his friends, proudly showing off to anyone willing to listen that John had praised him.
Lythriel watched him disappear.
"You’ve made yourself a fan."
John rubbed the back of his neck.
"I only gave him a few pointers."
"Sometimes that’s enough."
---
The group wandered through the market.
John stopped at a leatherworker’s stall, admiring the craftsmanship of several travel bags.
The elderly craftsman noticed his interest.
"Looking for something durable?"
John nodded.
"I travel a lot."
The old man picked up a weathered satchel.
"This one’s made from mountain elk hide."
"It’ll last years if you take care of it."
John examined the stitching carefully.
It wasn’t magical.
It wasn’t reinforced by mana.
Yet every stitch had been placed with remarkable precision.
"You made this yourself?"
The craftsman smiled proudly.
"Forty-two years."
John looked up.
"Forty-two years?"
"I’ve been making bags since I was fifteen."
There wasn’t an ounce of arrogance in his voice.
Just quiet pride.
John handed the satchel back respectfully.
"Your work shows."
The old man’s smile widened.
"Thank you."
---
A short distance away, Sylvara had become fascinated by a stall selling pressed flowers preserved inside small glass ornaments.
"They’re beautiful..."
The merchant smiled warmly.
"My granddaughter gathers every flower herself."
Sylvara carefully picked up a tiny ornament containing blue wildflowers.
"They never wilt?"
"Not if they’re preserved properly."
Lythriel leaned closer.
"I think it suits you."
Sylvara smiled shyly.
"You think so?"
"It reminds me of your magic."
Her cheeks turned faintly pink.
"Thank you."
Without another word, John quietly paid the merchant.
When Sylvara noticed, she quickly turned toward him.
"John?"
"You liked it."
"I... but..."
"It’s a gift."
Sylvara hesitated.
"You really don’t have to."
John smiled.
"I know."
She held the ornament close to her chest.
"...I’ll treasure it."
Lythriel looked at the exchange before glancing sideways at John.
"...You’re surprisingly thoughtful."
John blinked.
"I just wanted her to have it."
"I know."
Lythriel smiled to herself.
"That’s exactly what I mean."
---
Not wanting Sylvara to be the only one receiving something, John turned toward Lythriel.
"What about you?"
She folded her arms.
"I don’t need anything."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m sure."
She took two steps...
Then abruptly stopped in front of another stall.
"...Although..."
John couldn’t help smiling.
"I knew there was an ’although.’"
The stall displayed finely crafted hairpins carved from polished oak and decorated with tiny silver leaves.
Lythriel stared at one in particular.
It was simple.
Elegant.
Nothing flashy.
John noticed the way her eyes lingered on it.
"You like it."
"It’s... nice."
"That’s not an answer."
She sighed.
"I do."
Before she could stop him, John purchased it.
The merchant carefully wrapped the hairpin in soft cloth and handed it over.
John offered it to Lythriel.
"For all the tea you’ve forced me to drink."
She looked at him, then at the small package.
"...That’s your reason?"
"I figured it was fair."
Lythriel laughed.
"You’re terrible at giving excuses."
"But you’ll accept it?"
She gently took the package.
"...Thank you."
There was a softness in her voice that hadn’t been there before.
She carefully tucked it away instead of putting it on immediately.
It felt too special to wear casually.
---
Aerion, who had witnessed the entire exchange, quietly smiled.
The Soul Raven landed beside him.
"You see it too."
Aerion nodded.
"They’re becoming closer."
The ancient guardian looked toward John.
"He still doesn’t realize."
"No."
Aerion’s smile deepened ever so slightly.
"But perhaps that’s for the best."
"Why?"
"Because it’s genuine."
There were no hidden motives.
No expectations.
John treated them with kindness simply because he wanted to.
The bonds forming between them were growing naturally.
Neither forced nor rushed.
---
As the afternoon wore on, the group stopped near the edge of the square to rest beneath a large oak tree.
John leaned back against the trunk.
"This village has a way of slowing time."
Aerion chuckled.
"Time moves the same."
"It only feels slower because you’re finally paying attention."
John thought about those words.
Maybe he was right.
For so long...
Every day had blurred into the next.
Fight.
Recover.
Train.
Repeat.
Now...
He could remember each day clearly.
The festival.
The bridge.
Nathan’s determination.
The conversations beneath the stars.
Even simple moments at breakfast.
Each one lingered in his memory.
---
As the sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, a cool breeze swept through the market.
Villagers began packing away their goods, exchanging warm farewells before returning to their homes.
John watched them leave with peaceful expressions.
A few days ago, Greenhollow had simply been another stop on his journey.
Now...
When he looked around...
It felt like a place he would genuinely miss when the time came to leave.
He didn’t know when that day would arrive.
But for now...
There was no reason to think about tomorrow.
Today was enough.
And somehow...
That felt like the greatest lesson Greenhollow had taught him so far.
---
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