Li''s 3rd birthday, the day his dad promised him he would take him into town and go on a shopping run with him. Li is very excited for the trip as he cannot stop asking his dad when they are leaving.


    "Dad dad dad dad are we leaving yet!" Li asked over and over throughout the day until it was finally time for them to go. Li''s dad gave him a few copper coins and said to spend it wisely. They then walked out to the carriage where Li and his dad both feed the horses. The horses were not strong by any means. They were skinny and in the middle age of their life. The horses both had a nice coat of brown fur. You could tell they were taken well care of.


    With that they are off, they packed a bit a food for the road and with the crack of a whip they started heading towards the town. Jue noticed that they were heading the opposite direction from where the forest was, even though their were carriage tracks leading into the forest. Yet they didn''t go that way they went the opposite. It confused Jue a bit but Li didn''t notice at all.


    Heading towards the village Li''s dad didn''t use a map at all. He followed a river that was next to a dirt road that seemed to only be used by carriages. There was only dead grass where the carriage wheels would turn. Looking at the river you could see the endless amount of jumping through and out of the water. Seeing a little rainbow through the water droplets each time the fish would jump out as the sun above was beating down heavily.


    Li breathed in the fresh forest air, he smell the scent of the trees and the flowers in the close vicinity. Slowly traveling on the path on their way to the village Li took in every second of it. He had never been away from the house before and this was a new experience for him. As they were traveling by Li was looking towards the river as he sees a herd of deer running quickly across the grass plain on the other side. They were running much faster than they usually would, it seems they are running for a certain reason. Li''s father stands on the carriage and looks behind them, he doesn''t see much and just plays it off as a unique experience.


    Li following his dad he going on top the carriage and looks at the grass plains. Li doesn''t see something but Jue does. A simple pack of wolfs that are further up into the forest, quietly stalking them. Since Jue doesn''t find it a serious issue he chooses not to alert Li about the wolfs stalking them. A wolf or two shouldn''t be an issue as long as they continue moving.


    Continuing along the trail the views only get better for Li. He looks at every direction at every simple thing that''s new to him. Looking at the mountains in the distance with a little bit of snow on top. Looking at the waterfall that beats into the rocks as you can hear it from a ways away. Looking at the different types of animals, Li only used to know boar, but now traveling to the town he has already seen so much more. Excited for the day that he himself can hunt food like that for his family and protect them.


    After an hour or so of travel they finally reached the point where they can see the town. Li looks at the wall that surrounds the town and is confused.


    "Daddy, why does the town need a wall surrounding it?" Li asks curiously.


    "It protects the town from monster attacks and keeps them out when they try to raid the village." Li''s father answered with a straight expression and a monotone voice, not showing much interest in the topic.


    Li looked at the wall and then looked at the surrounding forest. He never realized it but the forest was massive. He stood on top of the carriage again trying to find the end of it, yet nothing was in sight. The forest continued for what seemed to be forever. However squinting his eyes he can see a huge tree in the distance that toward over all others. He wanted to ask his father but after his last question he decided not to.


    "That huge tree in the distance is the world tree. Since I do not know the name of the world you live on I cannot tell you it''s exact name. The world tree provides life to all the trees in the forest, all the trees you see are connected to the world tree. Also depending on what world you are in it can have different purposes. Some are home to gods or giants, while others trees simply give the energy to the world."


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    Li was amazed when he heard this, he wasn''t just surprised about the world tree, but also the mister. Li continued squinting at the world tree until it hurt to keep his eyes open any longer, there were tears coming from his eyes before he closed them. Then he embraced the view of the forest and all the life surrounding it.


    Li sits back down on the carriage as they start to enter the village. They get stopped by the guards but are immediately let through. A nod between the guards and Li''s father was all that was needed. Entering the village Li was shocked, seeing all sorts of different and new things. Shops that sold magic items, different foods, charms, etc. He saw other children playing around in the street and running around. The different buildings that were much different than his own house. Most of the buildings being made out of stone rather than wood.


    Li''s father is not entertained by any of these things and knows exactly what he wants and where he wants to go.


    "Follow me Li." Li''s father says as he bends over so that Li can hear him. He doesn''t bother to hold his hand or put him on his shoulders or anything. Even though Li is the proper age for such he has much more trust in Li to know what to do.


    Li follows his father closely as they walk to where his father is leading them. While walking Li watches the people around him and the different shops. Looking at buff men with swords and shields by their sides. Looking at men whom had armor covering their whole body so you couldn''t see them. They were all walking towards a single place. The Hunters Guild. Li could hear the voices coming inside from outside the building as they walked past it. Seeing all the different people inside made him curious and want to go in, but he knew better than to leave father''s side.


    After another minute or two of walking and passing more shops, they finally reached Li''s father''s favorite butcher. Li''s father opens the door and a bell rings.


    "Cairon! Oh, and who is this you have at your side?" The butcher calls out as they enter the shop. Cairon is one of his most loyal customers after all, buying boar every week at the same time every time.


    Li however is a little startled, that is his first time ever hearing his fathers name. The only name he knew him by was daddy or the names that Yue called him. He just looked up and stared at his father in curiosity. He always wondered what his name was.


    "One boar like usual Edric." Cairon said in a happier tone than normal. Which again surprised Li as his father does not normally act as such.


    "Here ya go buddy." Edric takes out the boar and throws it onto the counter. You could hear the meat slam onto the counter as it made a disturbing sound. It made Li want to throw up as he heard it. Cairon picks the meat up by a rope coming out by its mouth and throws it over his shoulder.


    "Is there anything you want to do Li?" Cairon asked Li in a comforting tone, making Li forget all about the noise he had just heard.


    "Yes!" Li said with excitement.


    They walked around the village with Li skipping ahead of Cairon. Looking around the town as he skips around as he walks into every shop that he passes. Entering a variety of different shops such as another butchers place, a place that sells daggers, a blacksmith, a produce shop, etc. However, one shop catches his eyes, a shop that sells gear for mages. He walks towards it with great interest.


    Walking in the bell rings just like all the other stores. As he walks into the store he can see the selection of different wands, staffs, hats, and robes. It seems like a paradise to him. He walks around looking at the different wands and staffs each of them making him more curious than the other. Most had a type of rare wood as the handle then a pretty looking gemstone on top.


    Li walked even further towards the back of the store as he stumbles upon a bookshelf. A bookshelf that held countless books that seemed to be as thick as his whole body. He wondered if he could even hold up the weight of the book. Li reaches his hand out towards one of the books on the shelf...


    Cairon comes out from nowhere and tightly grabs his hand.


    "Li, don''t be wasting your time with stuff as such as that, our family doesn''t have any mages in our bloodline. Either way we couldn''t afford such a luxury anyways. We must hurry back to our house too if we want to get the boar to your mother in time for dinner." Cairon says in a serious and angry tone, as if he is tired of following Li around.


    "Okay.." Li lets out in a defeated tone.


    He quietly follows Cairon back to the carriage in defeat.


    "I can help you with that Li." Jue tells Li in a way to make him seem as a savior.