The silent weight hung between the duo as Horse trotted into the village. Arlene occasionally glanced back and saw that sight of his—a lonely stare into the horizon far in the distant full of hollow. Her heart pulled for him. They trotted till the village square, passing onlookers who recognized the attire of the Chosen One, waving to them.

  “Take the left here and continue, you can leave Horse there at the stable” spoke Wattyson finally, point his arm to get her attention.

  Arlene nodded and galloped Horse there. “So… do you know anyone here?” asked Arlene, trying to make some small conversation.

  “I do. A guy who worked in the tavern.”

  “Shall we go there after?”

  “Yes let’s. We need a place to sleep after all.”

  “Sleep?”

  “Yeah? It’s already mid-afternoon. We won’t be able to travel much afterward.”

  “Ah, right. I hope your friend give us a discount.”

  “No promises”

  Arlene perked up a bit. It felt like the tension between them starting to let up after heavy topic. Probably wasn’t heavy for Wattyson, but… to her it felt suffocating just ending it in silence.

  The two dismounted at the stable, Wattyson went to pay for Horse’s staying fee. Arlene caressed Horse and stroked his hair. “You’ll be good now okay?” The horse snorted like it understood. Maybe it did.

  Meanwhile at Wattyson with the teller. “So how long will you keep your horse here?” asked the teller.

  “For a day. Any discounts?”

  “None. Strange though, you always came to our village on foot. Why the change?”

  “Got partied up by that person over there” he pointed with an open palm.

  “Isn’t that… wait I recognize that insignia! That’s the chosen one isn’t it? How did you manage to travel with her?!”

  “I’ll tell you if you give me a discount.”

  “No can do.”

  “Tch.”

  “So what is the horse name?”

  “It’s- “

  “It’s Horse!” chimed in Arlene, standing behind to the left of Wattyson.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The teller looked to her blankly then to Wattyson. Wattyson meanwhile just nodded slowly, sucking in his lips.

  “Ok… Horse. Here’s the ticket”

  Arlene leaned in to take it.

  “You can pay tomorrow after you pick up Horse.” The teller gave them both a smile.

  The two bowed slightly as thanks and left, walking back to the square.

  Arlene took in her surrounding; it had been quite a while since she came to a village not as liberator, saviour or anything, but just a regular person.

  The village’s atmosphere was bubbly warm. The villagers were happy. Kids were playing out in the opens. A lot of bickering over price in the market stalls. A lot of buildings and houses here were two stories high. Must be sign of things improving since the end of the Dark Lord’s war.

  “Watty, whose house is that on the lonely mound? The one surrounded by thick forests” She pointed while tugging his robe.

  “That’s the village elder house.”

  “Ooh! The person you wanted to visit right?”

  “Mmhm.”

  “Shall we go now?” for some reason, her eyes were beaming, raring to go visit. Maybe she wanted to know why the elder chose to build all the way there.

  Wattyson looked to her, seemingly unbothered by her stretching his robe. “We can do that later, for now let’s secure a place to sleep.” He gently brushed off her tugging hand. “Let me see if I can talk to the tavern’s owner for one.”

  In the tavern was a bustling activities, people arm wrestling while some were drinking. Others were hanging out with their friends in their shared stories while many were eating, enjoying the foods. All of them noticed Arlene, knowing she was the Chosen One but they didn’t want to bother.

  Arlene could feel it, the occasional glance in her direction but she didn’t mind. She wasn’t bothered just for being in public. It was a nice change of pace.

  Though she could also feel most of their gazes was on this weirdo walking beside her in full white robe, and gold coloured accessories gleaming near the shoulder. Arlene giggled to herself, hovering one hand to cover.

  “What?” noticed Wattyson.

  “Oh, nothing. Let’s go talk to your friend Watty.”

  Suddenly a person behind the counter laughed. They were close enough for that person to hear. “Pff... Watty”

  “Shut it, Rond” scolded Wattyson to his friend, a man looked to be in his forties. Big and burly stature.

  “My apology,” Rond leaned down as if he was bowing royalty. “So what does my weird wizard friend doing here, with the Chosen One no less?” he waved at Arlene.

  Wattyson gestured his hand in an arc motion. “I’m not a wizard. Anyway, do you have a spare house or rooms.”

  “I only have one room available, not-wizard. The village just celebrated sixty years since its founding. All the occupied rooms aren’t checking out yet.”

  Wattyson gruffed, turning to Arlene. “You okay with sharing room?”

  Arlene nodded. “It’s fine. Part of travelling after all.”

  Rond nodded too. “She’s resourceful, non-mages. You should travel with her more instead of staying in that cottage all the time.”

  “None of your business, I assume you’ll give me discount yes? For all the favours I’ve done for you. 50% off.”

  “30%”

  “49%”

  “Make it 40% and I’ll give you one.”

  “Deal”

  The two clasped their hands together so fast Arlene didn’t even register it.

  “Good doing negotiation with you Rond.”

  “You too, Wattyson” Rond handed them a key, a silver key with a sword design.

  “Thank you Rond” he said while handing Arlene the key. “Alright. Let’s go check the room out.”

  The duo climbed their way upstair and entered room 019. It was nothing out of the ordinary. A bed, drawer, a table and a bathroom with toilet.

  Arlene stepped in lightly, dropping off her leather satchel. Wattyson strode to poke the bed with his finger. “Good. He gave us a soft one.”

  “Is that what you always check?” asked Arlene, rolling her eyes.

  “A good bed ensures good rest. And you’ll be sleeping on it.”

  “Again? Watty, I already slept on one at your house… yesterday”

  “Non-negotiable”

  “Fine.”

  “Great. I’ll go visit the village elder now.”

  “I’ll come with!”