Avel and Luca reached their destination, it was an orchard. The place was not big but there were quite a variety of trees and shrubs in the orchard. Winter had just ended so the greeneries were a bit lacking.

“Wow, what a nice place.”

“Mister Horse!”

Luca ran to the person drinking tea leisurely outside the house near the orchard.

“Hello, little flower. Healthy, yes?”

Avel walked at his own pace, approaching the pair.

So that’s Mister Horse. Well, I already had an inkling.

Mister Horse obviously was beastfolk, a race of people with animal-like characteristics. They were mostly humanoid. Avel had seen a few here and there but he wasn't particularly close or familiar with any of them. Their race mostly occupied the southern part of the continent so seeing one in the Coalition lands was not too rare but not too common either.

The beastfolk had the head of a horse. His skin was dark brown and had a reddish mane. He could speak fluently despite having the mouth structure of a horse. Other than his animal head, the rest of his body was no different than humans. He had hands and legs instead of hoofs.

He was a bit similar to the Ox-Head and Horse-Face depiction in Chinese mythology. His height was a bit taller than regular humans, about 180 cm.

“Greetings, apologies for interrupting your day, good sir,” Avel said his hello.

“Ah yes. The stranger that got washed away by the river. I have heard of you,” the beastfolk’s voice was friendly.

“You heard about me?”

“Rumors spread fast in a little village like this. I am Shlomo, son of Tholmo. Well met, young human.”

“Avel of Javia, nice to meet you.”

Avel and Shlomo shook hands. Because of the close contact, he felt something.

This one… Level 2? But something feels different.

Clearly Avel wasn't the only one getting feedback from the handshake. Shlomo gave him an approving look with his big horse eyes.

“So young and already possessing such strength. Impressive, young Avel… I welcome you to my humble abode.”

“Thank you for your praise. I hope me and Luca are not intruding.”

“Not at all. I’m happy guests came. Come inside, allow me to offer you something to drink.”

The inside of the house was modest but better than the Irvings. There was a lot of tapestry and stuff with exotic designs. Somehow, Avel got an African feeling from the house’s interior.

“Little Luca wants her favorite fruit juice, yes?”

“Un!” Luca seemed happier already by hearing the words.

“What about you? Would you like some ale?” Shlomo asked.

“I’ll have the same as Luca. I don't really like alcohol,” Avel replied.

The beastfolk gave his guests superb refreshments. Luca was enjoying her juice very much.

“Mister Horse, big bro Avel is seeking turnip seeds. Do you have some?”

“Turnips? Let’s see… I think I have some. What for?”

“Why, for planting it of course. During my stay here, I have to plant something or I’ll regret it for all my life.”

“For a Pathseeker, I have other seeds more suitable.”

“Oh?” Avel was intrigued.

“Yes. Just by watering it with water mixed with your Victa, they would grow quickly and beautifully.”

“Ahahah,” Avel weakly laughed. “I’m afraid I’m a bit short of Victa at the moment. I’ll take the regular seeds please.”

Avel and Shlomo talked for a while and Luca seemed bored.

“Little apple, would you like to play with Ojoko?” Shlomo offered.

“Can I?” She looked expectant.

“Excuse me for a bit,” Shlomo said to Avel as he went outside the house. Naturally, Avel followed.

“Come forth, the swift hoofs of sandy wind.”

Avel saw the back of Shlomo lit up with the tattoo of a horse. Even hidden below his clothes Avel could see it. The tattoo turned into a real horse made of sand. The sand was shifting and flowing, very mystical.

“Ojoko! Hello, hello! Long time no see.” Luca hugged the sand horse, she seemed familiar with it.

“Heiggh!”

Ojoko gently nudged little Luca with its mouth. It looked happy. Ojoko smartly laid down so Luca could climb on its back. Then they went riding out.

“Yaaaayyy! Bye-bye bro, bye-bye Mister Horse!” Luca said from a distance.

Shlomo waved, so did Avel.

“She will be fine. Ojoko will not hurt her.”

“I don't recognize it but Ojoko should be a monster, right?”

“Correct. Akahalam Horse, from a place near my birthplace.”

“I am unfamiliar with the technique. Is it some sort of Arte?”

“No. This is Custora Branding. A different Path of Power from humanity’s Intio Magisterix.”

“Interesting… may I ask what is the concept of Custora Branding?”

“We achieve symbiosis with compatible monsters. While other races seek to kill and defeat monsters, we beastfolks coexist with them in harmony.”

Avel found it was a novel idea.

Ojoko was a Rank 2 so Shlomo should be a Level 2 Pathseeker.

“If you don't mind, I would like to ask some more questions,” Avel’s curiosity had awakened.

“I’d love to. As you can see, most humans are turned away by my appearance. Especially those who are not Pathseekers.”

Avel found it hard to believe horse-faced Shlomo could smile with his face but he couldn't deny what he was seeing.

With Luca sufficiently distracted, both Pathseekers could speak more freely.

“Why are you doing your transformation in such a half-hearted manner, Mister Shlomo?”

While Shlomo truly had the face of a horse right now, Avel knew beastfolks were not all like that. They usually looked very human. Ox tribe beastfolks would have horns growing out of their head, cat tribe had cat ears. Most beastfolks had tails depending on what manner of animal their traits were.

Avel didn't know why Shlomo chose to show a full horse face for all to see. He should only be having horse ears and tail.

“Mmm, I can see you’re close to Luca. The girl is quite hated by the villagers because she was different. I am the same. I am very happy to meet people like you, those who are not prejudiced toward others who look different.”

Shlomo looked up to the sky.

“My people, beastfolks are a people of nature. We value harmony and bravery… Sadly, we are often misunderstood because of our similarities to animals and monsters.”

“To the north of our territory, lies the powerful Zetel Kingdom, with an ideology of human supremacy. Some Zetelians treat us no better than animals. They hunted and made slaves of us, for labor or amusement.”

Avel heard the heavy topic patiently. The Zetel Kingdom lay on the east of the Coalition. A neighboring country which Avel never visited.

“Even a dog can bite when its young is threatened, let alone the various tribes of the beastfolks. And it was bloody, for both sides. Even now skirmishes happen.”

“Generations passed and the blood feud ran deep. Some of my people would stop at nothing to kill all humans… But not me. Were we not a people of harmony as we claimed to be? So I set out, to seek ways to coexist. Even if some of my compatriots called me a coward,” Shlomo said with melancholy.

“...I see. So the reason you stay in this village is...”

“I was a merchant once. I traveled from the land of my birth from place to place. Until I arrived here, the Free People Coalition. One year ago I arrived in this village. A small secluded place such as this is perfect for what I have in mind, to create a safe haven for beastfolks and humans. I showed this form because I wanted to be accepted among them even with a face like this.”

He’s right. Compared to the Zetel Kingdom, the Coalition people are more accepting of other races, Avel thought.

“As you can see, it's hard to be accepted when you are different. The surplus of food I grew with my orchard, I shared them with the villagers. Thanks to that, they all made it through the winter without deaths and they were opening up to me. Still, I feel their hesitation. I’m afraid it will take more time.”

“...Humans are afraid of things they don't understand. Mister Shlomo, may I offer a suggestion?”

“Please.”

“One of the simplest things to get through to someone is through their stomach.

“You mean...”

“A barbeque party.”

***

Trok!

Viers tilled the no longer frozen land with a hoe.

“Lalala la la la la, la la la~ Lalala la la la la, la la la~”

Viers hummed an unforgettable tune from his childhood memories.

He borrowed a small place from the Irvings and created his own field from scratch, for HM and SDV full experience.

After coming back from Shlomo’s house with the turnip seeds, Avel went to work making his field immediately.

Viers focused his healing factor mending his other injuries such as regenerating his left hand so the stamina benefit he usually enjoyed was no more. Since he also didn't use any of his Victa, Viers felt farm work was quite tiring.

Trok!

“There! Pheeeew...”

He completed his small field with that last stroke of the hoe.

The seeds were next, he planted them carefully. Naturally, he planted them in 3x3 soil formation.

Next came the watering. Viers used the old watering can he borrowed from Arim.

After all was done, while panting and wiping the beads of sweat on his brows, he heard the sound of a flute.

Paina? She really is talented in using that flute. If she was born on Earth, she might have had a future as a musician.

His body was tired but his heart was satisfied after a hard day's worth of work. He leaned on a tree and unexpectedly fell asleep soon after, Paina’s melody was like an angel’s lullaby.

***

Paina finished her piece after blowing the last note. She was a soul so why she needed to take breaths was beyond her.

The V-stream was dark, it seemed Viers had fallen asleep. The fact that her song contributed to that made Paina feel a little bit of pride.

Seek strength… Yes, Viers is right. I’m sick of being powerless. Even for the current me, there must be something I could do.

Piana clenched her little fist and looked at the flute in her hand.

“Ah!”

A light bulb lit up inside her head.

“Viers! Viers wake up!”