[How cute]
As I began my day, I took a moment to neatly fold the blanket I had wrapped myself in overnight. I glanced back at my empty bed one last time before stepping out of the room. I was doing my best to hide my surprise when I spotted a tall, big man lounging near the fireplace. I squinted my eyes, hoping to sharpen my focus and get a better look at him.
"Umm, father, did you head out early again?"
The man standing there was my father, and it felt like this had turned into a routine for him. he didn't even seem surprised to spot me. He shifted his attention back to the porridge he was heating, making sure it wouldn't scorch on the bottom.
"I need to swing by the beach for a bit before heading over to Smiour's," my father mentioned in a laid-back manner, though his face still wore that serious look.
"Are you going to meet Uncle Leif? I thought he was still out there, somewhere in the middle of the ocean?"
In the village, Uncle Leif was a well-known figure, a bit of an oddball, really. He had this undeniable passion for the ocean and spent countless hours sailing his boat, much to the curiosity of the village folk. Even though I knew he headed out to trade, he always returned with a captivating story of his exciting adventures.
All the kids enjoyed his stories, but I still can't wrap my head around it. The stories he shared were quite unbelievable, and considering all the dangerous situations he had faced, it felt nothing short of a miracle that he managed to return alive.
As I waited for my father to respond, I strolled past another room. Curiosity got the better of me, and I peeked inside just a bit. There, I spotted my mother and little brother peacefully asleep on the bed, completely unaware of my presence.
"You know, you're right. Leif came back last night, and he brought along everything the villagers needed."
Even though I was only 12 years old, I found it surprisingly easy to grasp what my father was saying. I had heard it countless times from other villagers as well.
In simple terms, our village sits at the very edge of the earth, quite a distance from the nearest kingdom. This means that the only way we can reach out and communicate with the outside world is by setting sail across the ocean for several days.
The weather can be quite unpredictable, and if you're not careful, you might just run into some bandits who are eager to take everything you've got. The whole situation definitely turns the journey into something much more risky.
So, the villagers decided to appoint a few folks, with Uncle Leif taking the lead, to handle the delivery of the goods they wanted to trade in the kingdom. Later on, they can also ask for specific items exclusive to the other land.
As a result, everyone holds a great deal of respect for Uncle Leif. His time spent at ocean really laid the groundwork for all of this to happen.
Still, I find it hard to buy into his adventure stories.
So, I'm pretty knowledgeable, right?
I know my little brother probably won't get something like this, which is exactly why I've been entrusted with an important role in our family. Taking care of our sheep and ensuring they stay healthy enough to produce plenty of offspring is no easy feat, and it's a responsibility that falls squarely on my shoulders.
A smile instantly spread across my face as I shrugged my shoulders, filled with a sense of pride. It was as if I had been struck by lightning when that memory from the day before suddenly flashed back into my mind.
"Don't tell me he's been waiting for me," I muttered, a hint of uncertainty creeping into my voice. Still, I hurried back to my room to grab my jacket.
"Hey Ylva, what's going on? Is everything okay? You're acting strange. Just a moment ago, you had this random smile on your face, and now you seem all panicked."
I hadn't noticed my father watching me, and a slight wave of shame hit me. Still, I kept my attention on straightening my jacket. "I just remembered that I probably haven't fed our sheep enough, so I wanted to check on how they're doing right now."
He frowned even deeper, his expression a mix of bewilderment and uncertainty as he looked at me. I smiled, trying to ease his worries before heading back into the room. When I finally stepped out, I found my father already at the door, preparing to leave.
"Is that so. I hope you take care of our sheep properly, I'm counting on you Ylva."
It hit me that he had been wearing his jacket all along, with everything else he needed. As I was slipping on my shoes, I noticed he was already waiting on the other side of the door.
"I hope he didn't end up waiting for me… I'm not too sure if he'll actually show up." Just like my little brother, I bet he's still snoozing away at this moment.
As soon as I slipped on my shoes, I couldn't wait any longer. I dashed to the door, flung it open, and stepped out, feeling the crisp snow beneath my feet. I glanced around, but there was no one in sight—not even my father.
In the distance, I noticed my father conversing with someone. However, since his body was blocking the view, I couldn't make out who he was talking to.
As I took my time to stretch, I heard a series of pleasant sounds coming from my body, each one a little pop or crackle. It was followed by a warm sensation that made me let out a soft groan of satisfaction.
Honestly, this is the first time I've woken up this early. Even when my father first tried to train me to rise with the sun, I still found ways to be lazy and buy myself some extra time in bed.
"It looks like my father has developed quite a close bond with that person."
Given my father's personality, it makes sense that he's friendly with everyone in the village. Still, I can't help but wonder what they're chatting about.
As I contemplated making my move, their chat wrapped up, and at last, I caught sight of a small figure standing alone amidst the vast expanse of snow that enveloped him.
He didn't seem to notice me at all, even though I was putting in a lot of effort to recall him from my memory. As he suddenly spun around, our eyes met in an instant, and in that fleeting moment, everything came rushing back to me.
It was almost like we were in sync. As I made my way toward him, he started walking my way, too. When he spoke for the first time, I was completely at a loss for words.
"I came to collect your promise."
Does he think he's some sort of bandit?
Looking at the seriousness in his eyes made me reconsider whether I had made the right choice in promising this boy something. Given that his father has been such a tremendous help to my family, it feels impossible for me to ignore that fact.
"I know, I know… Feel free to hang out in our family's sheep pen and enjoy some time with the sheep!"
"I'm not here just to play around. I'm here to dive deep and discover..." For some reason, the boy's gaze turned intense as he whispered, "exploration..."
His attempt to speak slowly got under my skin, and before I knew it, I ended up hitting him. I honestly didn't feel bad at all watching him rub his head in pain.
You might think I'm being petty, but I've had my fair share of dealing with brats like him. My little brother has taught me a lot about handling situations like this.
"Oh, come on, you little troublemaker. You think you can keep me waiting like this? Well, just so you know, I'm going to make you work extra hard today," I said with a smirk, not missing a beat.
When I saw the look of surprise on his face, I couldn't help but try to walk past him, hoping to conceal the smile that was creeping onto my lips. I wasn't concerned that he would back down. Even without glancing over my shoulder, I could hear his tiny footsteps trailing behind me.
"Are you serious? You're lying right? I thought I got up super early today, and I'm curious about what you mean when you say working hard."
"Isn't this a special chance for you? You have to put in the effort for it, that's what I mean."
I figured that probably wouldn't be enough to get him going, so I tossed in, "Have you ever seen a sheep? Their wool is as white as freshly fallen snow, and they also produce some delicious milk. Aren't you curious about where they live?"
Since Viktor is just 3 years old, he doesn't have as much experience as I do. I also realize that in this village, there are only a handful of families that raise sheep like our family.
For him, this is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he'll always remember. I wouldn't be shocked if he found it hard to sleep all night, which is probably why he showed up so early.
As we continued our walk, the sky started to lighten, and I could hear the sounds of people inside their homes beginning their daily routines. Before too long, we found ourselves crossing paths with more villagers.
Every now and then, I'd glance back to see how he was doing. To match my speed, he smartly placed his feet on the tracks I had created, ensuring his footing was secure. Still, it felt like his stamina was running out pretty quickly.
"How cute..." I thought, watching as he navigated each little challenge with such determination. It was as if he had something to express, a message just waiting to be shared.
"Hey, is the place still far?"
"If you're talking about the sheep pen, it's just behind my house—" Before I could elaborate any more, Viktor cut me off, bursting out in frustration.
"So, where are you taking me? Is this what you meant by hard work? Are you just messing with me?"
He caught me off guard when he suddenly appeared right next to me and tugged at my jacket. I had no other option but to come to a stop, though I couldn't help but let out a sigh first.
"I get that it might be a bit confusing, but I need to pick up some more of their feed before anything else. The leftovers we have at home just won't cut it for all those sheep, you know?"
I felt a wave of relief wash over me when he instantly believed what I was saying. But as soon as he pulled back his hand, his expression shifted to something more serious. He looked me in the eye and said, "For now, I will trust you. Just know that if you break your promise, I won't forgive you."
Again, did he seriously think he could intimidate me?
What can a three-year-old like him do, anyway?
A grin effortlessly spread across my face, and I've said this before, but it just slipped out of my mouth, "How cute..."