Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 1691: The Family of 3

The next morning, it rained.

It was a light drizzle, but that was enough for the mountaintop to be too cold for people to walk outside properly. They had brought umbrellas and warm clothes, but they still sought shelter where they could.

A married couple and their young son came to Ningʼs own cart, asking for shelter from the rain. The man even volunteered to steer the cart in exchange for letting them stay, so Ning accepted.

Ning finally sat at the back of the cart with the older woman and their son, who seemed to be no older than 12 years old. The child seemed bored and didnʼt want to talk at all, but the married couple were quite talkative and asked the two various questions.

As Ning and Shara introduced them as siblings, they couldnʼt help but question where their home was or what they were doing out there.

”We have some legal work to take care of in Toma, and we thought it would be a good idea to sightsee while we can,” Ning said.

”Oh my. You are quite brave to be doing so at such a young age. I never even left my village before I was 20,” the old woman said.

”I donʼt think I ever went out alone before I was 20 either,” the man steering the cart said. ”I remember the first time my old man sent me to get a sack of salt from the next city over. I nearly threw the whole cart in a ditch by the road.”

The man laughed and the woman giggled a little too.

”Why are you guys going to Toma?” Ning asked.

”Weʼre going to Farma actually. There is a school there that we want to admit him into. Have you heard of the Grand Lenes school?” the woman asked.

Ning thought for a moment and nodded. ”I have heard of the name, I suppose. I donʼt know anything about it, Iʼm afraid.”

”Oh, itʼs a prestigious school for children. Everyone who comes out of there is said to have a bright future. We just want the best for our son is all,” the woman said.

Ning nodded. ”So is he going to stay in a hostel or...”

”Well, weʼll have to see if he gets accepted first, but I have no doubt he will be,” the mother said, proud of her son. ”Once he gets accepted, we will have to find a place to stay there.”

”I can find work anywhere,” the man said. ”I am an excellent smith. My whole family is. They will accept me easily.”

Ning nodded. ”What about your family back home?” he asked.

”Well, we have family, but we donʼt need to be there to be family, right?” the woman asked.

”I donʼt have a father anymore, and my older brothers are taking care of our old mother. Her family is the same. We will come around once in a while to meet, I suppose. But we donʼt need to stay there.”

”It doesnʼt sound like you plan on returning home even if the plan about the school pans out.”

The man turned and looked at his wife. They both had a look of understanding. ”I suppose weʼve already decided to stay there,” he said.

They talked for a while, and Ning came to understand that their young son was a little dejected because he was being taken away from his friends back home. He would be all alone in a new place where they even spoke differently, albeit the same language.

The parents were certain the son would come around eventually.

The caravan stopped briefly for lunch. It still rained, so everyone stayed inside their carts and carriages to eat. The man ran to a carriage far away to bring back some food. He brought a bag full of fruits and dried jerky.

The woman cut them up for everyone and they all had a bite. Soon, the caravan began rolling once again, and they were on their way.

The woman rested her head to the side and began falling asleep, while the young boy simply read a book in the cart, seemingly preparing for the many tests he would have to take once he reached the Farma city.

The rain pattered on the cartʼs fabric, making a very satisfying white noise that created just the right kind of atmosphere for the midday.

The caravan began halting once again and Ning looked out, confused. It was just past noon, so this wasnʼt a time to be stopping at all. It was such a weird time to be stopping.

They waited in the cart, wondering what was up when a man came running from the front, delivering the news.

”Mudslide ahead. We need everyone capable of working to help us clear it,” the man shouted. ”Oh no,” the woman said, having woken up from the commotion. ”Mudslide? Thatʼs no good.”

Ning looked outside at the place they had arrived upon. They were in the two somewhat slanted hills, with the land to their right quite barren.

The mudslide had originated from the left side and it seemed to have slid down the hill on their left.

”That pattern of erosion. This place must constantly face mudslides,” the husband said. ”Stay here guys, Iʼll go help.”

The husband jumped down from the cart, pulling his hood up.

[Quest: Help Clear Mudslide

The mudslide had caused a blockade for the caravan. Clear it so you can continue through.

Reward: 4 points]

”Iʼll help too,” Ning said, getting off the cart.

”No, you can stay back,” the husband said. ”You only have one arm, so they wonʼt expect any help from you.”

”I donʼt help because people expect me to,” Ning said. ”Besides, I am strong even with one

arm.”

The husband paused for a moment and nodded. ”Alright,” he said. He addressed the wife and son to stay back and Ning told Shara to handle the horses while they were away.

After that, they went up front to check on the mudslide.