A few days had passed since the last group of people walked into the temporary settlement of Valora. The initially unfamiliar and cautious atmosphere had now visibly eased. Every house in the temporary residential area was now occupied, and families from various villages were beginning to recognize one another by the distinctive jackets they'd been given for identification.
The young soldier guiding Mari and Silas turned a small corner and led them toward a row of houses near the center of the settlement. Before them stood a two‑story house built with fired bricks, its exterior walls painted a light cream color, with the base trim and window frames highlighted in pale gray. The architecture had a modern, neat, polished look—like small urban homes in well-developed areas.
The roof was covered with bright red tiles, neatly aligned and shining under the afternoon sun. The front door was glossy brown wood, featuring frosted glass in its upper section, giving a cozy yet modern feel. Next to the door was a large window overlooking a small front yard—complete with a few beds of purple flowers and a neatly planted mint bush along the wall.
The soldier turned and pointed toward the house:
> "This is your house. Two stories, built with fired bricks, red-tiled roof—same style as most homes in Valora. All furnishings are fully installed: beds, tables, chairs, a mini gas stove, running water sink, lighting, and other basic items. There are even private rooms upstairs for each of you."
He glanced at the list in his hands, pausing for a moment at the red‑printed line next to the names "Silas and Mari." Though he said nothing further, his expression momentarily darkened in contemplation.
> "Orders from above: you two have free living privileges—no area restrictions, no daily check‑ins. If you need anything special, report directly to the nearest guard post."
He smiled gently and said:
> "Welcome to Valora. I hope this will be a wonderful new beginning for both of you."
Mari gazed at the house, her eyes wide with delight. She whispered softly:
> "It's beautiful... Looks just like the houses I've seen in picture books. And even bigger than our old home."
Silas smiled, gently patting his daughter's head:
> "Yes. It seems... we'll be okay here."
The soldier didn't leave immediately. He smiled again and gently pushed the wooden door open, saying:
> "Come on in and take a look. If anything's not quite right, just say the word; someone will come to adjust it."
The door swung open, revealing a warm, tidy interior. The ground floor was tiled with light-colored ceramic, shining clean. To the right was a simple but sturdy seating area, next to a low wooden bookshelf and a small tea table. Further in was the kitchen, equipped with a sink, dish rack, small gas stove, and pantry cabinet. On the wall hung a simple round clock and several hooks for kitchen towels.
Mari stepped inside first, excitement lighting up her eyes. She ran around the living room, inspecting every item:
> "They even have a desk lamp! Dad, there's real running water here!"
Silas followed, observing each corner carefully. He flipped the ceiling light switch, and a soft white glow filled the room:
> "It's really bright..." he remarked lowly, then opened a kitchen cabinet door, nodding. "Really good."
The soldier trailed behind, nodding slowly:
> "The homes in this central area come fully equipped: lights, stove, bed, table, chairs, clean water system, even exhaust piping. Upstairs are two separate bedrooms with made beds."
He looked around one more time, then asked:
> "How do you two feel? Comfortable?"
Mari turned and nodded enthusiastically, her eyes still shining:
> "Yes, I love it! There's even a balcony upstairs!"
Silas smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder:
> "This house is more than good enough. Thank you, sir."
The soldier smiled gently, his gaze softening:
> "No problem. It's the least we should do. Everyone who comes here deserves to live safely and with dignity."
He glanced around a final time, then folded the list in his hand:
> "If there's nothing more, I'll go. If you need anything, go to the settlement gate; someone will be there. Oh, and remember to lock the door at night—even though it's safe here, better safe than sorry."
Silas nodded in thanks. The soldier stepped outside, closed the door behind him, and left the father and daughter in the warmth of their new home.
Just as he was about to walk away, he paused and turned back to add:
> "Oh, one more thing. In three days—July 3, 238—the Queen will give a speech to the entire kingdom. It's an important event."
He pulled a small notice from his pocket and handed it to Silas:
> "On that day, everyone will gather at the Western City Square. You must wear the village identification jackets—the ones you received earlier. Not to segregate, but to make sure we've collected everyone from each village. This is the final step before the new registration system goes into effect."
Mari blinked curiously:
> "So… everyone gets to see the Queen, right?"
The soldier chuckled softly:
> "You'll see her… from afar. But you'll definitely hear her voice. Queen Ring seldom appears in person, so her speech will be broadcast across the square via loudspeakers. It will be memorable."
He nodded once more before departing:
> "Remember: early that morning, go to the designated spot, wear the correct village jacket, follow the signs so you don't get lost."
He left, leaving behind a quiet and expectant atmosphere in the new house.
As the door closed, the two-story home fell silent. Late-afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the gleaming tiles.
Mari sat on the edge of the stairs, clutching her gray identification jacket, flipping through it.
> "Dad, do you think… what Queen Ring will say?" she asked softly, her voice a mix of excitement and worry.
Silas stood by the window, looking out at the faint silhouettes of other houses. He was silent for a moment before replying slowly:
> "She'll probably reassure everyone. And talk about what lies ahead."
Mari lowered her gaze to her jacket:
> "Back in our old village... I never thought I'd get to hear the Queen speak. Even if only by voice."
Silas turned, smiling gently:
> "We've come a long way to get here. The fact that you can think about the future… that's a good thing."
A soft breeze blew, making the curtains sway. Although the house felt unfamiliar, it no longer seemed lonely. On the table lay the list the soldier had left—alongside everyday items: a white ceramic tea set, a few thin booklets, and neatly folded blankets on the bed.
Mari looked up at her father, her eyes shining with hopeful belief:
> "Then… let's prepare well for it, Dad. I want to be at that ceremony. I want to see... all our village there, complete."
Silas nodded; his eyes reflected a rare, steady calm:
> "Yes. We will all be there. Together with everyone."
He smiled, gently tapping Mari's hand:
> "Alright, Dad will take care of dinner now. Everything you like is in the kitchen. You can go take a walk and see if any neighbors seem familiar."
Mari nodded:
> "Yes, I will go out for a bit and then come back."
Mari stepped outside. The late afternoon breeze brushed gently against her cheeks. The newly built residential area buzzed with life — adults chatted cheerfully on their porches while children ran around flower beds and tiled courtyards in little groups. Every house glowed with warm yellow lights through glass windows, making the place feel like a peaceful little town.
She walked slowly along the stone-paved path, eyes lifting to take in the two-story red-brick houses with white tiled roofs and gleaming bright walls. Though unfamiliar, something about it all filled her with a strange sense of peace.
Up ahead, she spotted Uncle Bart leaning against the railing of a house across the path, eyes gazing off as if deep in thought. Mari quickly stepped over and greeted him with a smile:
— "Good evening, village chief!"
Uncle Bart turned at the sound, chuckling softly.
— "Oh, I'm no village chief anymore, kiddo."
Mari blinked in surprise.
— "Huh? Why not?"
He waved a hand gently, voice slow:
— "Out here, we're all the same. I'm just another newcomer like the rest. All those titles from the old village... we left them behind."
Mari looked at him, then glanced around. A moment later, she smiled lightly:
— "Then… you're my neighbor now?"
Uncle Bart burst into hearty laughter:
— "That's right! An old, grumpy neighbor — but a kind one!"
Both of them laughed together. The evening settled in, bringing with it a rare sense of calm and closeness.
Just as their laughter faded, a young male voice called from down the stone path:
— "Hey, old man! So you're living in this area too?"
Mari turned around. It was a tall, lean young man with his hair tied neatly behind his head, holding a village-colored uniform jacket in one hand. His face wore a mischievous grin.
Uncle Bart squinted, then laughed heartily:
— "Oh, it's the grumbler from the transport wagon, the one who complained about sitting next to me!"
Mari recognized him immediately — the one who argued with Uncle Bart the entire ride to Valora.
The young man scratched his head, chuckling:
— "Yep, that's me. Thanks to you, everyone knows my face now. As soon as I arrived, people pointed and said, 'Hey, it's the guy who bickered with the grumpy old man!'"
Uncle Bart chuckled low:
— "Well, I made you famous, didn't I? You ought to thank me!"
Mari stood between the two, unable to hold back her laughter. The atmosphere was light and warm, as if they'd all lived on this same street for years.
The young man crossed his arms and looked around:
— "These houses are beautiful. Never thought we'd end up somewhere like this after leaving the village."
Uncle Bart nodded thoughtfully:
— "Yeah. Maybe... it's a good place for a new start."
---
As their laughter faded, a few villagers gathered around Mari and Silas's house. Adults chatted about tiled courtyards and new fences, while children played among the flowerbeds. The lively buzz of conversation made it feel like a little marketplace.
The young man who had been talking with Uncle Bart gestured toward the others, then turned to Mari:
— "I heard from some soldiers that there's a big blacksmith district inside the city. I might try to apply for work there in the next few days."
Mari blinked in surprise:
— "Wait, are you a blacksmith?"
— "Sure am." He grinned, friendly and a little proud. "I'm from Village 37 too, but I guess you never passed by my workshop."
Mari scratched her head sheepishly:
— "Yeah... I mostly stayed near home."
— "Anyway, I'm Rowen." He tapped his chest lightly and smiled. "And you?"
— "I'm Mari!"
— "Nice name. I'll remember that. If you ever pass by the smithing district, drop in! I make some sharp knives, you know!"
Uncle Bart, standing nearby, let out a chuckle:
— "Rowen makes sharp blades, but his tongue's sharper than any of them."
Rowen laughed out loud, raising his hands in surrender:
— "Okay, you got me there!"
---
After a little walk and chat with Uncle Bart and Rowen, Mari returned to the house she now shared with her father. The sun had sunk westward, casting soft pink hues over the brick walls, creating a strangely tranquil scene.
As she opened the door, the warmth of freshly cooked food greeted her. In the kitchen, Silas was setting down a pot of soup, with stir-fried greens and rice already arranged on the table. He turned as she stepped in:
— "Back already? Dinner's ready. Did you have fun on your walk?"
Mari smiled, taking off her light jacket and hanging it by the door:
— "Yeah, it was great! I met Uncle Bart again. Oh, and a blacksmith named Rowen. Turns out he's from our village too — I never even knew!"
Silas set another pair of chopsticks down, his gaze soft and warm:
— "Now that we're all living closer together, you'll get to know everyone soon enough. Go wash up — I made your favorite soup tonight."
Mari dashed over to wash her hands. Cool water flowed from the tap. She smiled when she spotted the little mirror above the sink — everything in this new house was neat, modern, and surprisingly comfortable. Nothing like the old village.
Back at the table, she sat down and looked at the simple yet cozy dinner. The warm yellow light lit up the wooden tabletop, casting a peaceful hue over everything.
She murmured:
— "This place… it really is different. I think... I'll get used to it soon."
Silas nodded, ladling soup into her bowl:
— "New beginnings always feel strange. But as long as we have each other, anywhere can be home."
---
After their warm meal, the two of them tidied up and prepared to rest. Mari's room was upstairs — a small space with a round window overlooking the stone path — while Silas chose the downstairs room near the kitchen and living area.
When she reached her room, Mari looked around once more. It was simple but tidy: a wooden bed with brand-new bedding, a small desk by the wall, and an empty bookshelf waiting to be filled. She opened the window, and the night breeze blew in — cool and fresh, carrying the scent of grass and clean earth.
The whole city had settled into silence. Only the soft yellow glow from neighboring houses remained. Crickets chirped in the distance, and the wind rustled gently through the trees. Mari slowly relaxed, curling up under the blanket.
And as she closed her eyes, a strange feeling rose inside her.
Not fear, not sadness — but... joy. A quiet, unexplainable joy, like something was waiting for her here, within these unfamiliar brick walls. Not joy from escaping the past, but the kind that came when a door had just opened.
"Weird… why am I this happy?" she wondered, clutching her blanket a little tighter.
She didn't know why. Maybe it was the clean house, or the dinner with her father. Maybe the friendly eyes of the people she'd met, or simply the fact that — for once — she didn't have to worry about where she'd be tomorrow.
That feeling followed her into sleep — gentle, like the first breeze of summer slipping through the window.
(End of Chapter 0.2A)
Thank you for reading this far.
If anything in the story didn't feel right to you, I'd be grateful if you could share your thoughts in the comments.
Your support and feedback mean a lot.
— Author: Vodanh2254