"What do you think the world will be like in 400 years?"
The young man smirked as he looked towards the girl who asked the question, "I barely know what will happen tomorrow let alone 400 years." A fire cracked between them.
Another boy close by them laughed, "And why 400 years? That's pretty random. If you're talking time, why not 100 or 1000?"
The girl puffed her cheeks, "I don't know. 400 seemed like a good number okay. Are you going to answer the question or not?"
"Haha well...," the young man's smirk faded to a soft smile. He brushed back his flaxen hair in thought, "Hopefully a nice place I guess."
"That's just like you," the boy who had laughed poked him with a stick before standing gallantly. "No matter if its 400 years or tomorrow, of course this world will be a nice place. Why? Because we're here."
A silence spread across the three. Embarrassed the boy sat back down.
"Well umm," he cleared his throat. "Please don't just stare at me like that."
Unable to contain herself the girl began to giggle and as the young man joined in soon a full blown laughter spread from the fire and into the surrounding night. The cloudless sky shown down on them revealing the stars above and despite the wilderness around them an atmosphere of peace radiated from the sound of their voices. The two continued as the boy blushed indignantly.
"Okay that's enough," he folded his arms. "I was just answering your question anyway."
The girl finally managed to calm herself, "I'm sorry." She sniffed and breathed, "It's just you said that so seriously."
"Well sorry for being serious."
The young man smiled, "No don't be. It was a good answer. Better than mine at least." His eyes gazed into the darkness to where the light of the fire could never reach, across the plane of grass they camped in and towards the forest beyond where the shape of earth began to move. "Besides it's our job, we should be optimistic about it."
As the three began to calm down a new voice entered the fray, "Wow you guys are loud. I could hear you from eons away." The tone of her voice was light and as she entered the light of the fire a clear grin was plastered on her expression. "Sorry I'm late. Though where are the others?"
"They couldn't make it," the girl stood up shaking her head. "We also got a call from the south so they left this to us."
"It's not like we'll need their help anyway," the boy rose to his feet as well, dusting off his pants.
"I wouldn't be so confident," the flaxen haired man said reproachfully. "We're dealing with something pretty troublesome this time so stay sharp."
"I know," the boy waved him away.
The girl who had just arrived looked towards the darkness, "Well since I'm here we'll be fine. And Estile, about your question, 400 years really is a long time but what I can tell you, tomorrow we'll have ourselves a party."
With those words the hidden tension in Estile's body began to fade away, "Right."
And like that, as the now four companions left the warmth of the fire disappearing from sight, so did the dream come to an end.
*
For a baker the day began before the sun rose and this morning was no exception. While the quiet village of Tomph slept, a young man faced a crude awakening. He could practically feel it coming before it happened but it didn't change the fact that he was always too slow to dodge. With a splash the ice cold water spread across his face and in a splutter he rolled from the bed onto the hard wooden floor.
"Ehhhh... couldn't you wake me up normally?" he groggily looked towards the man standing above him.
The man grinned, "Well you didn't wake up when I called you so I thought I'd have some fun." Easily taller than six feet and with more muscle than a baker should have he expressed no guilt. "Now get changed we have a big order to fill today. Oh and Kyle don't forget to dry your sheets. I might have used a bit too much water there."
"Yes dad," the young man named Kyle slowly rose as his father escaped cheerily. Like his father he shared the same flaxen hair however unlike his father he didn't inherit his surprising amount of muscle. Instead Kyle could be said to have a delicate build and a face most would say was wasted on a boy, and as Kyle looked in the mirror he had to agree. Although ne never wanted to be a knight or swing a sword, he couldn't help but feel a bit lacking. Still his arms were stronger than they looked from years of working the dough that was their livelihood.
With his work clothes and apron on and his sheets left to dry from the morning's assault, Kyle headed to the kitchen. Piles of dough had already been prepared and were being pushed into shape. The oven's heat smoothed out the chill in the air and like the day before, with no need to be told Kyle began to work beside his father. If asked whether he liked his job, the answer would be yes. To Kyle there was something about working in the early hours where all others were asleep. A methodical motion that was sprinkled with creativity. Each bun, pastry or baguette, the same yet different. Better still was the reward and smile of those who'd wake to his creations. It was a simple life that he appreciated more than anything else.
"Hey dad," the words left Kyle's mouth as he pushed a laden tray into the oven. "Do you ever have weird dreams?"
"Weird dreams?" his father perked at his question. "Well the other night I dreamt the entire village was transformed into cats until only I was left. You'd be surprised how creepy that is. Imagine yourself as a brown fur monster purring 'one of us' over and over again."
"Umm what?" Kyle looked at him with raised brows but quickly shook off his father's talk. It was normal after all. "No not quite that weird. I mean like dreaming about people you've never met before."
"Oh? Like who, was it a girl?"
"Well yes there was a girl there but-."
He was cut off as his father smirked, "A girl huh? Well you are that age my son. In fact I'd consider you quite the late bloomer."
"It wasn't that kind of dream," Kyle replied exasperated. "I couldn't even see their faces that well, they were all blurry."
"Hmm," his father paused, letting the dough settle. "Isn't that quite normal for a dream?"
"Well yes but... everything else looked so real and to be honest this wasn't the first time I dreamt of them."
"Maybe it's a sign," the older man waved his hand mystically, smiling. "Who knows in the near future you just might meet her."
Kyle sighed, "It's not about the girl."
"I'm just playing with you," he laughed and began working the dough again. "Still you should get out more. At this rate you'll end up alone like this old man."
"And just where would I go? The only other girl my age in this village is the Mayor's daughter and she's way off limits."
"That and she's not the small bit of a stuck up brat."
"Dad you can't say that," Kyle quickly reprimanded him.
"Ha! No one's here but us and besides the truth is the truth. What's Mr Turner going to do, kick out the village's only proper baker?""
Kyle frowned not liking the idea of being homeless, "He really could."
Seeing his son's serious expression he couldn't help flick some flour towards him, "Even as a kid you were always so level headed. I really wonder where you get that from."
A puff of white flew from Kyle's mouth as he coughed the flour off his face, "Obviously not you. Whatever forget I mentioned anything. There's bread to bake." And so the two went back to work.
As the hours passed and the early morning rose in proper, the village of Tomph began to move. The streets of pressed dirt and stone were quiet with only few walking the laneways between the far spread houses. Smoke began to rise from the chimneys as warmth flushed the weary night away and with it came the usual morning routine. Farmers began to start their work as others prepared for the day, the school house by the centre of town opened its doors waiting for the pupils to arrive and the call of a friendly good morning passed from person to person.
In this very ordinary day like many days before, Kyle pushed his cart through the village. Laden with baked goods, the cart let out the soft hum as the crystals within kept its occupants fresh and warm. The old hand-me-down cart rolled with a wobble as the oddly paired wheels crossed the occasional stone. Back in his earlier years it was his father that would make the deliveries and although since then the cart had been improved, the box was still at times a struggle to push.
"Good morning Kyle," an older women greeted him with a smile. Her greying hair and slight hunch was a common sight in the village as many of those who remained were up in their years. "You'll build up those muscles quickly at this rate."
With a push Kyle held the cart in place against the slope, "I'd rather have those muscles now. Would you mind making the load a little lighter?"
The older women let out a fake gasp, "But Kyle, Mr Turner would hate not to have his morning's first pick."
"For you Mrs Nell I'd break the rules," Kyle chuckled. "Besides if he wants first pick he should at least meet me halfway instead of making me walk up this damn hill."
"Then I must oblige you," Mrs Nell curtsied as she walked to the cart and placed a loaf in her bag, with it was the clink of coins being dropped in the nearby tin.
"Thank you for your business," Kyle replied with a smile before once more pushing the cart away.
The village of Tomph could be described as nowhere. Away from the cities it was a place that framed the simple life. A community that supported itself and traded little with the outside world. Nestled between the forest and meadows, the quiet village was almost hidden aside from the single mansion atop a small hill. It was that hill which Kyle found himself climbing.
By the time he reached the top his back was already covered in sweat. At times like these Kyle really couldn't help dislike his disposition. No matter how many months or years he had worked, his body had never become quite used to it. With a sigh he wiped away his perspiration and came to the mansion's front. Unlike the other homes of Tomph the mansion had a high outer wall as if purposefully showing the power it represented.
"Delivery!" Kyle called from the front of the gate and soon a well-dressed butler arrived.
"Mr Barker, good morning. You're as punctual as usual," the butler greeted him with his usual stiff expression, something that Kyle couldn't quite get used to.
"Well we do wake up early," he kept up a business smile and opened the cart's storage. "Here is this morning's selection."
"Yes very good as usu-."
A loud voice interrupted him as a portly man quickly approached, "One moment there Sebastian." Dressed in fine attire and with a moustache to match, the man had an air of nobility to him, though the bolding on his head was never to be mentioned.
"Good morning Mr Turner," Kyle nodded towards him politely.
"Ah yes good morning," the Mayor's eyes barely passed him instead focusing on the butler. "Sebastian please make the purchase of several extra poppy seed bagels and a loaf of sourdough."
"Yes sir," Sebastian bowed and turning to Kyle began to make his selection. "Ah there seems to be no more sourdough loafs."
"Excuse me?" Mr Turner who had already began to head back inside abruptly turned around. His eyes went straight to Kyle. "Did you not bake any this morning?"
"We did sir, I'm sure I-," Kyle paused as he realised. Most the village who ordered delivery did so before hand and aside from the ordered goods the rest were spares. It just so happened that the only sourdough loaf had already been taken. "Ah... I must have not placed it in the cart. If it's okay with you we have a selection of other loaves that are-."
"Why this is quite preposterous Mr Barker. My family overseas this village and you cannot even supply an adequate selection of bread? I will have to have a word with your father."
"No umm well-," Kyle didn't know quite what to say. He just knew that his father would only make the situation worse, he wasn't the best at personal negotiation.
"Father where are you!?" a shrill voice suddenly called from the open door of the mansion. There standing by the door still dressed in her nightwear was the Mayor's daughter. The same age as Kyle she had a youthful appearance but one that was refined by etiquette. As her eyes caught onto Kyle a slight panic seemed to spread across her expression but instead of running away her pride made her stay. With a clear step she approached the front gate fully aware of her attire but owning it nonetheless.
"Marisha my daughter, I'll be just one moment," Mr Turner said to her apologetically. "No need to come out here."
"It's not a problem is it?" she looked towards her father before focusing on the young baker. "Good morning Kyle."
Kyle lightly bowed in reply, "Good morning Miss Turner, you are up early today."
"Of course. A lady such as myself must always be prepared," she huffed and Kyle decided not to point out her current choice of clothing. "And did I not say to call me Marisha?"
"O-of course," he couldn't help but flinch at the stern gaze coming from her father.
Mr Turner stepped between them, "Breakfast will be ready soon. We're simply having a slight lack of selection."
"Just take what you can father," Marisha scowled. "There's no point pushing this further and Kyle has other deliveries to make."
"But-,"
"It's fine," she turned away and without looking headed back towards the mansion. "Good day to you."
Mr Turner pushed out his chest, "I won't be so lenient next time. Ensure this mistake is not made again." With that he quickly followed his daughter back inside.
Not sure what to do about the odd exchange Kyle scratched his head and looked to Sebastian who hadn't moved, "Umm so please take what you'd like." Mr Turner wasn't a bad mayor, or so Kyle thought, he was just a bit stand offish and his daughter Marisha was quite the same having an unyielding attitude, though for whatever reason he felt that she was actually quite nice to him most the time.
The clink of coins broke Kyle from his thoughts and to his surprise there was a little extra added in.
"For this morning's trouble," Sebastian bowed nonchalantly and stepped away, his expression never changing. Kyle could never read what that man was thinking.
With his most arduous delivery over Kyle lifted the breaks of the cart and turned back. On the plus side the way down was much easier and one of few true enjoyments he had in his morning routine.