KENSHI
We'd been on the road for only five days since we left Aste City, yet my body was in bliss to find itself resting on a warm and cozy bed; it was as though it had been deprived of such sensation for a very long time.
I knew I was no longer lying on damp and cold soil. I knew I was no longer vulnerable and exposed to wild animals. And I knew I wouldn't be worrying about getting wet in the rain due to lack of roofing.
Because based on how my nose picked up the aroma of cooking food, how my body felt relaxed reclining on a soft cushion, and how my ears listened to the noises originating from the kitchen, I could tell that I was in somebody's residence.
And I was right when I opened my eyes. The first thing that came into my vision was the wooden ceiling above me, where portions of it were illuminated and warmed by the rays of the sun.
When I got up to sit, I discovered that my wounds were patched up and dressed. My sword and parts of my clothing, which were neatly folded, were on the side table on my left. And ahead of it was a window showcasing the serenity beyond it.
Upon glancing to my right, I saw the slumbering bodies of my companions, Kana and Shino. Just by the looks of their calm and undistorted faces, I could tell they were at peace.
So, I didn't bother waking them up and stepped outside the room silently, which was instantly the living room. And beyond the living room was the busy kitchen. I could tell it was busy because of the girl cooking in it.
Even though her back was against me, I was not mistaken that she was the same age as Kana and Shiro. She even had to elevate herself by standing on a wooden stool just to reach the countertop and cut the ingredients.
The contents of the two pots on her left were bubbling vigorously because the pots' lids bobbed every now and then due to steam and pressure. The kettle whistled as the water it contained reached its boiling point.
The interior suggested that despite the size of its owner, it was well-maintained. It just saddened me that she was living here alone. I concluded she was alone because if she still had her parents with her, they wouldn't leave their daughter alone with strangers sleeping in their bedroom.
"Standing must be challenging for an injured person like you. Why don't you take a seat?" the girl suddenly spoke before turning her body to face me. And my body instantly relaxed upon seeing her innocent smile.
"Didn't your parents teach you not to bring strangers into the house?" I asked as I moved toward the nearest chair.
"They do, but they specifically said 'suspicious and dangerous strangers.' You're neither suspicious nor dangerous, so I'm safe," she replied while going back to her task.
"On what standard is your definition of being suspicious and dangerous based on?"
"Wolven standard," she answered, only for my brows to furrow. What did she mean by wolven standard? "I meant standards established by the wolves," she clarified but still failed to make me understand.
"You're relying on the wolves to discern someone's character?"
"You won't understand now, but sooner or later, you'll know. I have to apologize if my wound-tending skills aren't that great. It's a skill that I'm not really good at."
"It was actually kind of impressive. The bandages are wrapped neatly, and the pressure to stop the bleeding was neither too tight nor too loose. It was just right."
The girl looked back at me and beamed the widest smile yet. "That's good to hear! But I can't help but wonder—why were you at the foot of the mountain? Did you cross Mt. Lancel? Based on your wounds, I would guess it was the snow hounds that gave them to you."
"Good deduction," I praised. I told her what happened, and even though we were strangers to each other, she showed a genuine and sincere look of worry and sympathy when she heard about the worst thing that had happened to us in the mountain.
"Oh my~ I knew those hounds were brutal predators. Thankfully, Suya and Sayu didn't grow up with them. I can't imagine them being savage prey hunters."
"Who?"
"My wolves."
"You have pet wolves?" a girl's voice interjected from behind me, pivoting my body to see who it was. It was Kana who spoke, and Shino was behind her.
"Great! You're awake as well! The food is ready! We can finally eat!"
To repay her kindness, I volunteered to help prepare the table, while Kana and Shino just watched, clueless about what was going on.
"We can talk while we eat," I told the two before going back to sit in my earlier chair. The girl also took a seat, and eventually, Kana and Shino did as well. "This girl right here saved us from the foot of the mountain. She took us in, allowed us to rest, tended to my wounds, and now she's giving us free breakfast."
"Such a small and simple act of kindness. Nothing to worry about! Dig in!"
Even with extreme hunger, we managed to devour the food as calmly as we could, scared that we might look rude in front of our benefactor.
"Are you alone?"
"Yup! Mom and Dad died during the coup."
The three of us looked at each other, worried and confused. Confused by what she just said about a coup.
"Coup?" Kana asked.
"You know, rebellion? Revolution? Stuff like that. It happened when King Dasmo was crowned as the new monarch of Suttoh. His abuse of power and corruption ignited the rebellion, which also led to his death. After that, the people stopped electing new kings, which left this kingdom lacking a leader. But strangely, the kingdom became much more peaceful than it ever has.
"But of course, there are still crimes. With law and order no longer observed, everyone can do whatever they want without getting arrested or jailed. Thanks to the group who called themselves The Sages of Haiag, order returned to the city. They acted as the new law enforcement bodies but never as leaders," she ended.
So I could safely assume that we'd finally arrived in Suttoh Kingdom. But how far were we from the city?
"That's what I heard too, except for The Sages of Haiag part," Shino mumbled.
"That's because they just arrived a couple of months ago."
"Anyway, going back. You mentioned that you have pet wolves?"
"Yes!" the girl suddenly placed her fingers in her mouth and blew air out, creating the sound of a whistle. Then, two gigantic creatures jumped through the window and into the house, sitting close to the girl. They were snow hounds but tamed. "This is Suya and Sayu! They're actually the ones who saw you three at the foot of the mountain when we went there to hunt some rabbits and deer."
"So that howl I heard before I passed out—it was one of them?" Kana asked.
"Yes! You heard them too! Their howls are like music to my ears!"
"Not to us. Their howls reminded us of the attack from their kind back on the mountain."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but you don't have to worry about these two. They have been with me since they were puppies, which is something I'm grateful for. They helped me get through the tough times, especially when Mom and Dad died."
"You're such a brave girl," Shino complimented while beaming a smile.
"Thank you," the girl bashfully replied. But then her eyes suddenly widened as if she remembered something crucial. "How rude of me, talking to you and sharing my story without even introducing myself! I'm Forshia! You can either call me Forsh or Shia. My friends call me Fo, and I don't mind if you want to call me that too. Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too, Fo! I'm Shino, and this is Kana. I think you and her are the same age. And this guy right here is Kenshi."
"Thank you for your kindness and generosity, Fo," Kana thanked.
"We'll be forever grateful to you, Fo," I said.
Forshia, or Fo, blushed and bashfully smiled. After our introduction, we continued with our food while also chatting. That was when we learned about Fo as The Tamer, after she tamed the two snow hounds, Suya and Sayu.