The Classic Tale of You and Me

Chapter I: Len of the Green Fields

The green field was covered with orange lights as soon as the sun lowered from the sky. Len, watching the sunset on their porch, had his eyes steadied on the scattering of light behind the mountains. It was a cold afternoon and the darkness was just around the sky, waiting for the sun's departure. He seemed not bothered by the cold wind although he lacked to wear something thicker than his stained shirt. His cuffs were unbuttoned, permitting the cold air to circulate on his arms.

"Len? Mother is looking for you," an older blonde came out from the door looking like she's on her early 20s. A checkered bandana kept her short golden hair out of her way. She was Len's older sister, Rin. Her gaze softened as she saw her younger brother spacing out. "What are you thinking, Len?"

The boy looked at her with a gentle smile, then sighed. His eyes studied the old skirt and apron his sister is wearing, but nonetheless not lasting. "Nothing much, sister. You'll be leaving in a month." His smile saddened. "Are you sure you love that merchant?"

"You seem not concerned about my marriage for the past month. What makes you ask, Len?" His sister tapped his shoulder and sat beside him, watching the stars to come out. "I love him more than you imagine. We've been friends since we're kids."

"Huh? I haven't seen him since I was born, with few exceptions of summer days." Len protested, still not welcoming the thought of his sister marrying, or the concept of marriage itself.

"I know him more than you do, Len. He's a merchant, nothing's new." Rin pulled him up and walked them inside their little cabin because the coldness was freezing her. "So, what's in your mind? I know you're thinking of something to invent."

Rin was Len's sister, older by ten years. She was the supportive sibling Len could ever have. The two of them find ways to do Len's ideas, constructing his little inventions through collecting items found in the field. The last time they built something, Len went remaking Leonardo Da Vinci's flying machine but the boy ended spraining an ankle.

So, to avoid further accidents, Rin introduced Len to her friend, Sir Leon from the clock tower. She used to deliver milk every morning to the noble bachelor since she was seven, no doubt that he would be friendly with her younger brother. Len was nine when he met the man from the clock tower. Like Len, the man was a creative being. The only difference is that, the man was formally educated from an academe where the famous philosophers, who Rin only knew by name, had studied. The bachelor lived his life without having his family. Thus, he dedicated his life widening his knowledge and sharing it to willing learners. Rin saw Len's potential as a scholar. He was a diamond in the rough, Rin thought. He could be the brightest diamond if polished.

"I'm thinking of how can we produce more crops within a year. Various crops, specifically. Shall I consult Sir Leon's books about plant propagation? " Len asked as they settled on their dining table, a fair wood cut like a table. The older sister just gave a bitter laugh and said that what Len was talking about was crop rotation. No books needed.

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Len was from a family of farmers. They would never be able to call the land as their own because the aristocrats took it away from their ancestors as a compensation after murdering a noble. So, the part of land where they were living was the only part of land they could call as their property. Len's family was known in the small town for having the looks of a royalty - golden hair and blue eyed, though royalties were recognized having the redheads, after the late Queen. Many agreed that the humble family might be from a royalty. But the blondes knew how to ignore and stop dreaming to reach the castle. It's too impossible for peasants like them to come from the king's bloodline, especially when there were a lot of blonde and blue eyed people.

Len as a child was raised with cows, sheep and other farm animals. Together with his father's tall black dog, the boy grew spending his mornings with cows by milking them. His thick skinned feet were very used to the sharp blades of the grasses and his pale skin marked with freckles was acquainted with the sun. He developed his curiosity with the growing crops and how his father grow them. Len spent his mornings in cultivating the land, putting the stuffs that would make the soil fertile.