Fifteen days had passed since Party Noiver had left Antrows City in a rush. The long journey through dense jungles and along paths rarely trodden by humans finally brought them across the border.
The air felt slightly different. More humid, carrying the scent of fertile soil.
Their weary footsteps eventually led them to a quiet little settlement. The village was surrounded by yellowing wheat fields and a sturdy yet welcoming wooden fence. As they approached the village gate, several adult men, appearing to be village guards, immediately stepped forward with wary expressions.
"Halt there, strangers!" one of the residents said in a firm but not hostile tone. "What is your purpose for coming to our remote village?"
Keyzier, who always acted as the mediator, stepped forward calmly. He signaled to Donovan and Novalia to do the same.
Simultaneously, they reached into their belt pouches and displayed their dark brown Rank C adventurer license cards. The licenses were enough to prove their identity as official adventurers recognized by the Guild.
Donovan then took over the conversation to provide further explanation. "We are wandering adventurers!" he said with a sincere, friendly smile. "Currently, we are on a journey around the world, visiting places we've never seen before. We hope to rest here for a while before continuing our journey south."
Seeing their polite demeanor and valid licenses, the tension on the villagers' faces melted away. They welcomed Party Noiver with the typical hospitality of country folk, and the residents invited the trio into the heart of the village.
Keyzier let out a long sigh, a feeling of relief that he had rarely felt lately washing over his chest. Finally, they could lower their guard, if only a little.
The small group was immediately taken to meet the village chief, an old man with a long white beard and eyes that radiated wisdom. Inside his simple yet warm house, Keyzier stated their intention.
"Village Chief, if permitted, we would like to ask for permission to stay in this village for a few days. We need time to recover our strength and check our supplies." Keyzier requested.
The village chief smiled broadly, patting Keyzier's shoulder kindly. "Of course, young man! Please! There is an empty house in this village that hasn't been occupied for quite some time. Use it as a place to rest as much as you like."
"Thank you very much, Village Chief." Novalia replied gratefully. "By the way, if I may know, what is the name of this beautiful village?"
"This village is called Telo Village, and it is part of the Fellims Kingdom." the chief answered proudly.
Hearing the chief's answer, Keyzier, Donovan, and Novalia felt relieved and happy. Their long journey had borne fruit, and they had finally set foot in the territory of the Kingdom of Fellims.
Accompanied by the village chief as their guide, they headed to the empty house in question. The house was located slightly away from the cluster of other residents' homes, providing the privacy they desperately needed. However, upon arriving at the slightly tilted wooden door, Keyzier was a bit taken aback as he stepped inside.
The condition inside the house was truly deplorable. The floor was covered in thick dust, spider webs hung in every corner of the ceiling, and a musty smell filled the room. The wooden furniture there looked dull and very dirty.
After the village chief said his goodbyes and left the three of them, Keyzier stood in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips. He immediately drew up a plan for a quick cleanup.
"Novan, please carry all these beds and wooden furniture out of the house." Keyzier commanded. He then glanced at Novalia. "Nova, use Physical Enhancement magic and help Novan lift everything! We need to empty this house as quickly as possible."
Donovan raised an eyebrow. "And what about you, Key? Planning to relax?"
Keyzier chuckled softly while rolling up his sleeves. "Of course not. I'll use my magic to clean all the dust and dirt inside this house once you've cleared out all the belongings. Trust me, this will be much faster than using a broom."
Donovan and Novalia immediately got to work. With the help of the physical strengthening magic from Novalia, the two of them were able to lift large wardrobes and heavy mattresses as if they were made of cotton. One by one, the furniture was placed in the yard.
Meanwhile, Keyzier moved to open all the windows, which seemingly hadn't been opened since the original owner left. The hinges creaked in protest but eventually surrendered to Keyzier's strength.
Their actions inevitably caught the attention of the villagers. One by one, residents, from children to the elderly, gathered around the yard of the empty house. They watched with wide eyes, amazed to see the extraordinary strength of Donovan and Novalia, who easily moved large, heavy pieces of furniture that would normally require the strength of four or five grown men.
After all the furniture had been removed, Keyzier stood at the doorway and shouted loudly. "Novan! Nova! Stay away from the house! I won't be responsible if this dust gets on you both!"
Donovan and Novalia immediately moved several meters away from the door. Not long after, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred. From inside the house, a small whirlwind began to form. Suddenly, massive clouds of grey dust billowed out through the windows and doors like smoke being forcibly blown.
It didn't stop there. A stream of clean water suddenly appeared and flowed heavily out of the house door, washing the floors and interior walls. Keyzier combined water magic for washing and fire magic to create instant heat to dry the inside of the house so it wouldn't stay damp.
On the terrace, he did the same. He combined wind, water, and a bit of heat from fire magic to work harmoniously like an automatic cleaning machine.
The residents of Telo Village were mesmerized. To them, magic was usually used for combat or simple agricultural needs, but seeing someone use magic with such precise control to clean a house was a very rare and beautiful sight.
Keyzier then stepped out into the yard. He pointed his hand toward the furniture and beds that were still dirty. Water enveloped the mattresses, lifting the clinging dirt, and then in an instant, Keyzier did something even more spectacular. He combined wind and fire magic simultaneously. He created a spinning current of hot air that was fast yet perfectly controlled.
He regulated the temperature so well that the wet mattresses dried instantly without a single part of the fabric being scorched or burned.
Once everything felt clean and sparkling, Keyzier wiped a thin layer of sweat from his forehead and stopped the flow of his mana. The atmosphere suddenly went silent for a moment before finally...
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
All the watching villagers broke into thunderous applause. They cheered because they felt they had been treated to a magical performance that was both stunning and useful.
Keyzier jumped in surprise. He, who had previously only been focused on the cleanliness of the house, had absolutely no idea that his activities had been watched and observed by almost the entire village since the beginning.
His face turned slightly red with embarrassment, while Donovan and Novalia could only laugh seeing their comrade's awkward expression amidst the boisterous applause of the Telo Village residents.