This story is part of the Wanderer series.
A high pitch scream, followed by a string of giggles. From behind, a group of children, perhaps four or five, ran past the two of them, interweaving each other like a snaking river. The other townsfolk did not pay them much heed, as the market itself was bustling with activity. There were people gossiping in the middle of the street, laughing as they did, and merchants hollered out their sales for the day.
As Rin and Karin wandered through the streets, they received a few curious looks. None that betrayed any serious suspicion of them. Only genuine curiosity. They did stand out from the crowd, especially Rin’s brownish red hair. They behaved like strangers as well, with Rin leaned back, hands crossed behind her head and basket swinging on her elbow, and Karin intently gazing around, holding a small piece of paper. As they meandered deeper into the market, eventually one of the merchants called out to them and asked if they were looking for any particular products to purchase and touted his selection. When Karin politely told him they were picking up supplies from a particular shop, he was all too willing to point them in the right direction. “Ah! Aunty’s shop is right down there!” he piped. “You see here, where the street splits over there? See a right turn—not the alleyway, but, you see, the street—and walk all the way down until you see her shop on the left. See?”
Following the merchant’s directions, Rin and Karin make it to the shop. Run by just a middle-aged woman, she warmly greeted them, welcoming them to her humble little shop. “You two aren’t from around here, are you?”
“No, we are not. We are here to pick up ingredients for a girl named Yua.”
Karin handed her the piece of paper. Her eyes lit up as she adjusted her glasses, even before she got the chance to read the paper. “Ah! You’re friends with Miss Yua?”
“Sort of… We just met.”
“Ah! I see, I see. She’s a lovely girl. She and the rest of the children. We have them all to thank for the prosperity of the town.”
This caught Rin’s attention. “The town’s prosperity?”
The aunt began to gather together herbs as she spoke. Rin realized she still had the basket and handed it to her. “Yes, when the children came to this town, they started fighting off the monsters that plagued us for years. Thanks to them, we are now able to rest easy.”
Once the aunt finished gathering together all the ingredients, she checked the note one last time, then slipped it in the basket and returned it. Karin exchanged the coins she was given with the aunt, and they were off with one last smile. The aunt told them to relay her greetings to Yua, and waved them goodbye.
“Seems like our saviors have a reputation here,” Rin commented as they began their walk back.
Karin nodded, glancing around at the merry little community. “Why do you suppose they chose to protect this town, specifically?”
Crossing her hands behind her head again, Rin sighed. “Who knows?”
From out one of the alleyways, they heard the echoes of laughing children. Suddenly, there was the sound of a soft impact against the brick, and a ball bounced out from the alley. Two or three children ran out after it, chasing the ball with laughter. Rin and Karin stopped in their tracks to avoid colliding with the children, watching them run by.
Rin leaned her head to the side, following the children. “I wonder what it was like here before Yua and the others arrived.”
Karin did not have an answer. Gazing for a few moments, she eventually continued on. And Rin followed with her.