The magical journey of a countryside boy

As William enters the town, the first thing he notices is the lack of stone pavement like in Arindale or Bruges. Most houses are made of wood. The main street is cramped and dirty, wide enough for only a single wagon to pass. A wagon pulled by a pair of mules squeezes past them, one of the animals stopping mid-stride to drop a pile of feces right on the dirt road.

​William scrunches up his nose. The whole town smells like dung, moisture, and soil.

’​Maybe I just got too used to living in the city,’ he thinks.

​There are no busy merchants or orderly guards here. Instead, groups of adults sit on wooden porches arguing, while young children chase each other through the alleyways, shouting and kicking a ball made of cloth and leather across the dirt.

​William steps carefully down the street, keeping his eyes on the ground to avoid manure.

​Mark calls out from beside him, “So where does your family live?”

​William looks at his feet, feeling guilty. “I don’t really know. It’s been more than a year since I was here last, and usually they’re the ones who come to visit me in Arindale.”

​Mark sighs heavily, a tired look on his face. “Don’t you remember anything, kid?”

​William thinks for a moment. “Well... they live near the town hall.”

​Mark huffs and turns toward the center of town, walking straight toward the only building completely made of stone.

As they walk toward the town hall, William keeps scanning his surroundings, searching for anything familiar. However, his search is cut short by a voice calling out to him.

​“William?”

​William turns to see someone standing on the side of the street, staring back at him.

​“Craig!” William exclaims, running over to the boy.

​“What are you doing here?” Craig asks.

​“I have something important to discuss with Auntie and Uncle,” William says, craning his neck up to look at Craig, who simply nods in response.

‘​How did he get this tall all of a sudden?’William thinks. ‘We met just three months ago and he was only a little taller than me. He’s only a year older than I am.’

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“​And who’s this?” Craig asks, his voice laced with suspicion.

​Before William can answer, Mark steps up from behind them. “I’m someone here to talk to your parents about William’s future.”

​A look of surprise and fear breaks across Craig’s usually serious face. William glances at Mark, letting out a quiet sigh before adding, “Yeah, he has something important to discuss with Auntie and Uncle.”

​Craig nods without another word, turning into a side alley with William and Mark following close behind.

​“Dad just got back from his route because two of the mules fell sick,” Craig says, taking a sharp turn deeper into the alley. “Matt is still out on the road, though—he won’t be back for another three days.”

​He stops in front of a house William immediately recognizes. Craig pushes the door open and steps inside.

​“You came back early today,” a young girl’s voice calls out from inside.

​William cranes his head to see Emma walking out of the kitchen while their aunt works inside.

​“I ran into William near the town hall,” Craig says.

​“William?!”

​A loud voice booms from the kitchen as Gretchen rushes out, her eyes locking onto William. “William, what are you doing here? Did something—”

​Her words cut off as she spots the stranger walking into her house right behind him.

​“Hello,” Mark says politely. “I apologize for the sudden intrusion. I am Mark, and I have something important to discuss with you and your husband regarding William.”

​Mark glances toward Emma and Craig. “Preferably in private.”

A hesitant expression appears on Gretchen’s face, but she gestures for Craig and Emma to go to their rooms. Both leave with visible confusion written across their faces.

​After a moment, Gretchen gestures for Mark to come inside while pulling William closer to her side. She stares at Mark suspiciously. “My husband is currently outside and should be coming back soon, but you can tell me whatever you need to.”

​Through the entire interaction, the calm smile on Mark’s face never falters. “I apologize, but it will be much easier to speak with both of you together. You don’t have to worry, though—I have plenty of time to wait.”

​Mark looks toward the table and chairs in the center of the room.

​Gretchen gestures for him to take a seat. “Let me get you something to drink.”

​“There is no need for that. I am not thirsty,” Mark replies smoothly. “You can just sit with me until your husband arrives.”

​As Mark finishes speaking, a voice from the entrance interrupts them. “Gretchen, is someone visiting us?”

​William immediately recognizes the voice as his uncle Rob. He turns to see Rob standing in the doorway, staring at Mark and then at his wife’s anxious face before his eyes lock onto William in surprise.

“​You must be William’s uncle, right? Pleasure to meet you,” Mark says, standing up from his seat. “I’m Mark, and I have something important to discuss with both of you.”

​Before Rob can process it, Mark gestures back to the chairs. “Let’s talk while sitting down.”

​Rob nods absentmindedly, too caught off guard by the stranger’s blunt attitude to protest.

​After a brief tense silence around the table, Mark leans forward, his playful tone completely vanishing.

​“Before we get into anything, let me make one thing clear,” Mark says, his voice dropping low. “Everything discussed in this room stays in this room. If a word of this leaves this table, lives won’t be enough to pay the price.”