It didn't take long for David to arrive before the large building seated on top of a small, likely artificial mound located behind the village, overlooking it and the sea.
While wondering how he should interact with the man who saved him and whether or not to knock or simply enter, the door before him opened and out stepped a young woman, looking to be around David's age.
She was a brunette with clear, honey-colored eyes. She wore a black smock dress and around her neck rested a shawl of pristine silk, embroidered with purple roses, and in one of her hands she carried what looked like an umbrella made up of the same dark grey silk as her scarf.
Though not comparable to the goddess, the woman before him still had a beauty to be appreciated and judging by her clean appearance, David assumed her to be someone of importance in the village.
He didn't have long to ponder on it, however, since she also noticed him waiting and decided to block his path, leaning her lithe figure against the doorway.
"Hey, you must be the pureblood that father spoke about. Why do you look like that?" she said, locking eyes with David. Her voice was crisp but far from delicate.
Definitely venomous, he thought.
While she spoke and watched David stand there confused at her words, a smug smile slowly made its way onto her thin lips.
She continued, "I'm not talking about your hair or that gorgeous set of eyes that looks to contain glimpses of the abyss. Everyone knows what those are about."
'I don't.'
"What I meant is; why do you look like a half-dead gazelle? Like a fish that's been thrown onto the beach, awaiting death through suffocation."
Raising an eyebrow at the insults(?), David responded with a shrug.
"I'm not sure what you mean but I'd like to meet with sir Kasra. Do you know if he's available?"
She feigned a look of confusion before answering, not realizing her wicked smile grew wider while doing so.
"I'm not sure who you're talking about, I don't know of any Kasra. Does he live here?"
Since it became clear that she was messing with him and he didn't have the energy to entertain it, David simply sighed and took a seat in the sand a few meters away from her.
He looked out towards the ocean and watched as village life continued below the dune, while calmly enjoying the rain. Meanwhile, the woman grew increasingly impatient and slightly annoyed at his lack of interest.
A short while passed in silence before an aged voice sounded out from within the building.
"Shadi, quit bothering the young man and let him in. He is my guest and I wish to speak with him."
The woman let out a soft "tsk" in disappointment before raising her umbrella and obediently stepping down the stone stairs, beginning her walk towards the village.
"A pureblood who would allow her tears to defile his body. Disgusting." she muttered quietly, perhaps to avoid being overheard by the man inside.
Though confused about the word "pureblood" which Shadi used to describe him, David nonchalantly waved her off as she passed by with a slight scowl on her otherwise pretty face.
'I suppose I'll ask him about it later.'
After taking another moment to appreciate the new addition to the view... he stood up and patted the sand off his body, then walked up the small set of stairs leading into the house. There, he gave the village one final look before entering the building and closing the door behind him.
The main hall was fairly large and adorned with a thick, purple rug covering the floor, as well as several decorated wooden cabinets lining its walls. Before him were two doorways, one on each side of the hall.
The door on the right was open so David decided to peer through it after patting the sand off his blistered and somewhat bloodied feet.
Inside was a large room, equally luxurious but much more expansive than the hallway before it. A small, brass-colored chandelier hanged from the ceiling in the center of the room, and along the sides stood many cupboards and other furniture that helped fill out the large space.
Near the opposite wall from the door, behind a large wooden desk, sat a man who looked to be in his late 40s. He had a gaunt, stubby face with a slight goatee and his short hair was dark and well kept. He was casually dressed in a high quality linen shirt and a pair of pants made up of the same grey silk as the woman's scarf and umbrella.
His aesthetic may have been that of an old, wealthy gentleman, but his demeanor gave the impression of a viper. Composed but dangerous, as if ready to strike at any moment.
The man did not look up when he spoke,
"I see you made it through the night. Here, have a seat and let us talk."
Kasra put down the quill which he had been using to write on some parchment, before lifting his head to face David and gesturing towards the chair on the other side of the table.
David walked over to sit down and spoke, rather timidly,
"Hello, I heard from one of the villagers that you were the lord of this village. I hope you'll forgive me if I come across as rude, since I don't know the customs of this nation."
A light smile rose on Kasra's lips in response.
"These things do not matter, feel free to speak casually to me. In the end we are all nothing but servants beneath his majesty."
David slowly nodded in response, not wanting to oppose the old man who saved him.
"What is your name, young one?"
"It's David, sir."
"May I call you Dave? You se-" his words were cut short by a light knock sounding out from the door, which at some point had closed after David entered.
Kasra's eyes immediately went cold and when he responded to the knocking, his voice was harsh with a touch of cold irritation.
"Open and enter."
Inside the room entered a young lady looking to be in her mid teens. She was a soft-featured girl dressed like a maid of sorts.
She curtsied deeply before speaking with a weak, quivering voice, "M-my lord... may I serve your lordship and the esteemed guest, by boiling some.. tea?"
Having barely finished her sentence she began fidgeting on the spot, awaiting a response with her head lowered to face the floor. David's expression did not change but he wondered why the girl was so anxious in their presence.
In the short moment of silence that followed, he turned back to look at Kasra, whose face had already returned to it's previous smile.
"Go fetch a cup for my guest, along with breakfast items from the morning."
The previous cruelty of his voice was nowhere to be heard since he continued to speak like he had done before the appearance of the maid. Gently and calmly.
"Right away, my lord."
When the maid turned around to leave, the door suddenly closed in front of her, causing her to jump with fright.
"And Serena, remember what you have been told. Do not knock on my door, especially when there is a guest. I will acknowledge your presence when I am ready."
The young girl turned around and while meekly biting her lip, she returned her gaze to the floor, before nodding and curtsying in their general direction. After this, the door slowly creaked open and Serena made a quick escape from the room.
When the door once again shut close behind her, Kasra turned back to David, any negative emotion previously harbored having been fully replaced by smiles and positivity.
"Now then, what was I saying before we were so rudely interrupted?"
He appeared to be deep in thought for a brief moment before continuing,
"Ah, right.. how did you end up travelling through Shaz'ra?"
Although surprised that they were going back to regular conversation just seconds after that strange interaction, David's face remained impassive as he answered,
"I didn't get along well with my father and couldn't stay at home, so I found myself going on a bit of an adventure."
'They say the best lies are half-truths. This isn't really a half-truth either but it probably works.'
"I see, and that adventure must have brought you here. What do you know of our great kingdom?"
"Not much, I've only been here a short while and it didn't take long before... well.."
David was a bit worried that he would get found out as he was "withholding the truth" but quickly figured it didn't matter. The man seemed nice enough not to question it even if he became suspicious of the answers, and it wasn't like David really cared if he was confronted.
"I see. Where are you from, originally? It must be very far. If you were one of our neighbors, I would know."
After mentioning their neighbors, Kasra chuckled to himself, apparently having thought of something amusing.
"I was born in a small kingdom called Sweden, located in the far north."
"I see." he replied, rather disinterestedly.
David figured the other man might've thought he was lying, or perhaps didn't care to begin with. Either way, Kasra nodded in apparent understanding, then looked over at the door and spoke, "Come in."
Opening the door was not the servant but instead the young woman David had met a little while ago, barring his entry to the building. Shadi looked somewhat peeved while carrying a plate with some fruits and a cup of tea, which she proceeded to walk over and place on the table in front of David.
"I saw the maid standing outside your door. She seemed uncomfortable so I helped her out."
Saying that, she leisurely walked over and laid down on the sofa located in the corner adjacent to the two men, then turned her curvaceous body to face them.
'Well.. damn.'
David's face finally showed a reaction, as he appeared a little intrigued while watching her. It would seem he still functioned when it came to certain emotions, just not the ones he had gotten used to faking.
His somewhat inappropriate thoughts were then interrupted by Shadi's voice, which now felt slightly nicer to his ears.
"So, what have you two fine men been discussing while I was gone?"
"Not much, Shadi. You may stay if you wish, though our guest might prefer that you do not."
"Is that so.... well then, scuffed pureblood. Would you like me to leave?" she asked, smiling bewitchingly at David.
'Can't trust a woman who smiles like that.'
Unbeknownst to David, he flashed her an equally alluring smile when he responded, his devilish but previously deadpan face now coated with a layer of playfulness.
"I don't mind but what's this 'pureblood' you've mentioned a few times now?"
As she was about to eagerly respond, Kasra decided to put an early stop to their conversation.
"You would know if you were one, which brings us to the main point of our discussion today."
He continued, not quite as happily as before his daughter arrived but still attempting to appear unbothered, "Truth is, Dave, I do not care about your past. I wish to know what you will do now. The way I understand it, you do not have anywhere to go from here."
"You're right, I don't have much left. I was planning to see if people require help around the village, as a means of feeding myself before leaving once the rain stops."
"Mmm."
Stroking his beard in apparent contemplation, Kasra soon nodded and said, "I have called for someone to bring you to the capital. I see a lot of potential in you son, and I would like for you to go with them when the time comes. They will know what to do with you, even if you do not."
At this point Shadi seemed to have realized something as she stopped nonchalantly inspecting her fingernails while sneaking glances at David, and instead turned to her father, viewing him with slight distaste.
After a moment of consideration, she stood up and sighed before addressing them in a disheartened tone, "I'm leaving. Stay safe, pureblood. Father.. I'm going back to Cinthia. I will see you once you're done here."
"I see. Safe travels, my dear. May we meet again later in the year."
For a brief moment before she exited the room, Shadi looked to David and her gaze appeared to tremble with distress. Then, without a word, she quickly left and shut the door behind her.
"What was that about?" David asked after she left, thinking about her reaction to Kasra's proposition.
"Do not worry yourself with that. She does this sometimes. I think that perhaps our lands are too harsh on my daughter, and that perhaps she is too delicate."
Kasra continued after waving it off as an insignificant occurrence, "As I was saying earlier, my associate will arrive tomorrow, at noon. You must simply remain in the village until then if you wish to go with him to begin your new life."
'I suppose I've nowhere else to go and I would prefer having an escort if I have to travel through these lands.'
David thought, having realized that this world was much more dangerous than Earth and that he lacked the information needed to survive on his own.
"Alright, I'll go with him. Thank you for all your help, sir. I will surely repay the favor someday."
"That day may come sooner than you think, son. Now, if you would be so kind as to go down to the village.. I heard they are rebuilding the old bridge and could use your help."
"Will do. Thanks."
The moment David stood up to leave, Kasra returned to the parchment he had been writing on prior to their conversation.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The rest of the day went by in a flash.
David had gone down to the village and asked around for a bit before finding the bridge in question. It was an old, dilapidated fishing bridge leading out into the ocean.
A large group had gathered and were cooperating to reinforce and replace parts of the bridge, as much of the wood had rotted and fallen off.
At first, when David offered a helping hand, he stuck out like a sore thumb amidst the crowd. Many villagers stared at him with suspicion, some with hostility, and others watched him only with interest in his appearance.
It didn't take long, however, for one of the older men to begin suggesting things he could do. It began with mostly simple tasks that involved carrying planks and other items between the village and the old bridge, before he eventually gained enough trust to directly assist with its reconstruction.
Later in the evening, the maid from earlier appeared by the bridge, carrying fruits and bread. She began happily handing out the food to the people working in the area, and eventually got close to where David was hammering away at a plank, while halfway submerged in the chilly ocean water.
At first she hadn't even noticed the shirtless stranger, as she was clearly distracted while chatting with the other villagers, so when he turned to face her she was startled and dropped the basket in fright.
Apologizing profusely, Serena then scrambled to pick up the remaining food which had fallen just short of the water, before hurriedly making her way back up the beach.
Seeing this, David had felt a little weird about the man who saved his life. He figured there was probably a reason why the maid feared him so, despite the seemingly lenient nature of the lord. However, just thinking about it didn't get him anywhere, so after the villagers began finishing up around the bridge come dusk, he decided to ask around a bit.
He questioned some of the now familiar faces that he'd gotten acquainted to during the day, and they all said the same thing, more or less; the lord was a great man from the capital, who had come to keep them safe during the rainy period.
'Perhaps it's not the lord himself that they fear but rather the people who sent him?'
He thought, and with that, the day came to an end.
David went to bed that night feeling fine, most his energy expended from having worked on the bridge during the day. As a result, he slept rather easily, thinking about the rain and how it's a blessing, not a curse.
Not just today, when it helped protect him from the sun while he toiled on the beach, but mostly every time in the past, too.
Rain had always been the thing that eased his worried mind, no matter the circumstances.
'I still don't understand why they hate it so much. Maybe it's a cultural thing... or something to do with the climate?'
Those were his exact thoughts as he drifted off to sleep, not yet having understood the true reason behind their complaints. But he would come to understand it soon.
Very soon.