As the sun began to set behind the mountains, a large carriage was being assembled in the central square of the village, bathed in the warm hues of twilight.
This carriage, referred to as a wagon, had its canopy replaced with a sheet of tin. It resembled a small hut in its construction. To ease the burden on the horses, the tin was crafted from a special metal, making it thin, lightweight, and durable. The village children eagerly explained various details on behalf of the busy craftsmen, and I found myself becoming a little more knowledgeable.
At last, amidst the watchful eyes of the villagers, Mr. Dolf attached the large wheels. To celebrate the completion, barrels of wine were brought in, and the craftsmen erupted in cheers.
“Come on, Flora-chan, Gilbert, why don’t you take a look inside?”
Encouraged by Ms. Barbara, I made my way to the door at the back of the carriage. With a flutter of excitement, I opened the door…
“Whaaat…!?”
“W-What is this…!?”
Gilbert and I were both taken aback. Mr. Dolf, Ms. Barbara, the craftsmen, and even the village children wore expressions of delight, as if a prank had succeeded.
From the outside, the carriage appeared to be a small hut, but beyond the door lay a space more than double its apparent size. Clearly, the dimensions of the exterior and interior did not match. On one side, there was a bunk bed, and in the right corner of the entrance, there was even a small hearth.
“I-Is this magic…?”
It was the only explanation that made sense, and when I asked, Ms. Barbara nodded with a beaming smile, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Mr. Dolf let out a hearty laugh, the loudest of the day. I learned that besides Ms. Barbara, there were several other sorcerers in the village, and this special carriage was a collaborative effort between the craftsmen and the sorcerers. It dawned on me that this village might be something truly special.
“Well, it’s still a bit cramped for four adults. Either way, someone will have to take turns at the coachman’s seat during the journey, so it’ll work out somehow.”
“Can this even be pulled by horses…?”
Gilbert asked, his brow furrowed in concern. Indeed, seeing the sturdy wooden walls made me worry about the weight during travel.
“The weight is no different from a regular covered wagon,” Mr. Dolf replied, and I recalled the leather tool bag we had made earlier that day, feeling reassured. Gilbert still looked puzzled.
After that, we celebrated the completion of the carriage with a banquet under the starry sky, honoring all the craftsmen involved. Responding to the enthusiastic requests from the village children, I prepared Duck Soup once again for the evening.
Furthermore, the main dish was to be a collaborative effort, with everyone joining in to create the village’s celebratory meal. We spread a variety of meats, fish, peeled potatoes, and vegetables across a large iron plate, about the size of a person with arms outstretched, filling the gaps with the rare rice from this country. After adding a splash of water, we seasoned it with spices and rock salt, then covered it with blanched butterbur leaves, layering it with leaves from the magnolia and bayberry trees.
The iron plate had edges about the depth of a palm, and the covered leaves formed a perfect lid. For the finishing touch, we placed a round iron plate on top as a weight.
We dug a shallow hole in the ground, lined it with charcoal gathered from the forge, and covered it again to steam the dish. The leaves, which were high in moisture and low in oil, wouldn’t catch fire easily. This was a robust cooking method unique to a village of blacksmiths. Once steamed, we removed the charcoal and lightly rinsed the large magnolia leaves that had survived the heat, using them as plates to serve the meal, which we all enjoyed together.
The craftsmen, already a bit tipsy, sang songs from distant lands, while the children danced around them.
“It’s lively, isn’t it? This is a feast to celebrate safe travels and a send-off,” Ms. Barbara explained.
“Are we celebrating before we leave?”
“Of course. We’ve already celebrated, so it’s bound to be safe, right? It’s a kind of wishful thinking that sounds like a silly excuse. But it’s not a bad idea, is it?”
I smiled and nodded back at Ms. Barbara, who wore a bright smile.
Since coming to this village, I had only experienced joy, and even though I had left the Royal Capital just a short while ago, the bitter memories felt like a distant past.
After the banquet, we began loading our belongings into the carriage. It seemed we would be departing under the cover of night.
“Hey, isn’t it a bit early…? We could leave tomorrow morning instead…”
“What are you saying, Gilbert? You really want to catch up with Lionel as soon as possible, don’t you?”
“Well… that’s true. I’m sorry, Mr. Dolf, for everything… I’m grateful.”
I overheard the conversation between Gilbert and Mr. Dolf, and it steeled my resolve. Our destination was the northern part of the kingdom, and we were heading to the battlefield. I couldn’t afford to be lost in merriment.
As I straightened my back and carried the luggage, Mr. Dolf patted me on the shoulder.
“Flora-chan, there’s no need to feel pressured. Whether you enjoy this moment or wear a serious face, the outcome will be the same. It’s better to have a relaxed mindset; it’ll help things go smoothly.”
With those words, he returned to the loading task, and I took a deep breath. Perhaps there wasn’t much I could do. But in just two days, I had formed a bond with these wonderful people, and I wished to be of help to them.
Before we set off, the village children came to present me with a gift. It was a small wooden carving of a goddess.
“Today, I got a nice piece of wood from the lumberjack brother, and I made this!”
The proud boy, around ten years old, beamed with joy. I learned he aspired to be a sculptor in the future. Despite its small size, the carving was intricate and beautifully done.
“I helped too! Look here!”
A little girl pointed to the small flower decoration adorning the earthen pedestal at the goddess’s feet. The slightly misshapen flowers, so characteristic of young children, only added to their charm.
“Big sister, when you come back, make soup again, okay!”
“If I were to name it, I’d call it the Goddess Statue of Soup Wishes!”
The boy, the creator of the statue, said proudly. I felt a warmth in my heart, realizing how much they cherished this gift and that it held their prayers.
Before coming to the village, I had nothing but the travel money given to me by Miss Chelsea and a few belongings. Unexpectedly, I had gained a wonderful treasure here.