The morning sun was now over the village, casting a warm light on the village's remains. The werewolves's attack could have happened around 6 a.m. if Mason had used his world's clock to assume the time.
The villagers had gathered everything they could and had arranged them in a cart in front of Daniel's house. They all stood, waiting for Mason and his to-be wife.
After eating, Mason and Daniel's family came outside to see what the villagers had prepared.
"Damn, this is too much," he whispered to himself. And then two men arrived with two huge black horses. "Oh my goodness, I'm gonna ride a horse, not a car?"
Letico was the only place Mason had encountered ever since he arrived in the dangerous world. How long would it take him to finally realize he was completely in the medieval period – no cars, only horses, and no aircraft, only witchcraft?
Maybe dragons—to make his adventure more thrilling— or any other flying beasts he should be aware of. Nonetheless, if he were to die in this strange world he'd at least have some fun. Even if it was a little, before his miserable life comes to an end.
Mason looked over to Mia, who was standing beside him. "I can't ride a horse," he whispered. He wished he hadn't, because Mia gave him an incredulous stare before whispering something to her father.
Daniel also stared at him in what looked like a mix of shock and amusement, maybe a little bit of disbelief was there. Tense seconds passed by before he lifted his gaze, a large smile appearing on his face.
He turned to the villagers and addressed them. "Good news my people. The hero will delay his journey and stay with us today."
A few eyebrows were raised, and then the villagers let a chuckle of delight fill the air. "It's an honor!" one of the watchers shouted.
Confused, Mason turned to Daniel but was met with a whisper from him. "You'd be in trouble if you don't know how to mount a horse," he said. "My daughters shall teach you today, and if your learning skills are as good as your fighting prowess," he smiled, "you can leave in two or three days."
Without waiting for Mason's protest, the man turned on his heels and went back inside, grinning. He was so agile for his age, and Mason wondered how formidable he must have been during his youth.
Mason glanced at the villagers, who were still grinning from ear to ear. He bowed deeply and went inside, followed by Daniel's family.
When he entered he saw the old man sitting in a large wooden chair. He raised a hand to halt Mason's attempt at speech.
"I know what you're going to say," Daniel said, "but I can't have you embark on a perilous journey without safety."
"I can protect myself," Mason countered.
"And my daughter?"
"You know you don't have to send her with me. Everything the villagers prepared is more than enough to–"
"I believe we're done talking about that," Daniel cut in. "First advice from an old man who'd spent more than 70 years gathering experiences, to a young man who's venturing into this dangerous world," he sighed. "Nothing is free, never."
The old man shrugged and motioned for Mason to sit on a chair opposite to him. Mason obeyed without hesitation.
"Even though I fought alongside Prince Morris, I expected my wages in return," Daniel continued. "Good deeds are rare, Mason. You must return favors; no matter how small."
"But I merely returned the favor you–"
"You're so persistent, young man," Daniel laughed. "I believe I told you we're done talking about that." He stopped laughing and stared at Mason, probing him for an answer.
Reluctantly, Mason shrugged and nodded.
"That's good," Daniel said, smiling again. "Second advice for you; rather than asking for help, bargain. Strike deals. No one wants to put themselves in a tight spot for you without getting something in return."
Mason nodded once more, his eyes locked on the old man's grey eyes filled with life. Daniel's advices are not new to him, he'd lived all his life with them in his mind.
"Third advice," Daniel said. "Do not trust no one. No matter how they prove to be trustworthy. They'll sell you off if their lives are put in danger. I've seen men sell out their friends for little more than two copper coins with the king's face stamped on them. Trust no one–" he chuckled, "–except my daughter, of course!"
Mason smiled, but he said nothing.
"Fourth advice, Mason–"
"There's still more?" Amie shouted from behind. She stood a few inches away from the door, her hands akimbo.
Daniel's face turned red. He raised his head and barked, "Shut up! I wasn't talking to you!" He then turned back to Mason and he forced a smile, his voice lowering to almost a whisper. "I'm sorry, she's not always this rude."
Mason considered saying something, instead of just nodding in response.
"She has a large heart," he said. "You did a great job raising your daughters. They sure do take after you."
Daniel blushed. He chuckled lightly and regarded Mason for a moment before speaking. "You're a smart one, aren't ya?" he said, leaning in. "And yes, they took after me. Stubborn as they are, their kindness dominates their very essence.
The old man slumped in his chair and folded his hands. "It wasn't easy, though. Maybe it would've been if I'd planted the right seed in their mother," he said. If he was aiming for a whisper, he sure was hopelessly poor at it. "Perhaps I would've been blessed with a boy instead. Nevertheless, I trained them to be brave and–"
"See him, taking all the credit as though he did little more than barking orders at them like they were his soldiers," Diana interrupted from behind. "Tut-tut, you men are all the same; you take credit for good children, then blame us, the women, for the bad ones. Huh!"
She rolled her eyes and disappeared into her room. Amie and Mia likewise made themselves unavailable for the two men.
Daniel grunted, attempting to get their previous conversation back on the track. "There are dangerous creatures out there that can outrun horses, Mason," he said. "You'd be caught and eaten alive before you take more than five steps away from them."
"So what's the use of a horse if they can outrun them?" asked Mason.
"You get to live a bit longer," Daniel replied. "And if you're lucky, help will find ya. But considering how strong a man you are, I doubt you'd go down without purchasing half of their hordes."
"Aren't you overestimating me, sir?"
"I wager even overestimation would work against what lies in the woods," Daniel said. "If you're good at riding horses, you might not be able to outrun some monsters, but you'd at least outsmart them." His expression turned soft. "Learn how to ride, Mason. It's for your own safety and for my daughter as well. I implore," he added.
Mason bowed in his chair. "Thanks for the advice, sir," he said. "I'll put them to good use."
"And…er… one last advice," Daniel said, grinning.
One more? Mason raised an eyebrow.
"Grow some beard, man!" Daniel said. "Heavens! I can see not even a shadow, you're so clean on cheek and chin!"
"Oh, I'll make sure to do that too," Mason replied, "if they decide to grow."
"And a little bit of advice."
"Again?"
"Of course not, just joking."
Mason sighed.
"Grow some beard, lad," Daniel insisted. "My daughters love them, though they pretend not to."
Something vibrated, causing both Daniel and Mason to flinch. Mason put his hand inside his pocket and brought it out.
It was his phone!
Whoa! You follow me here? He wondered.
"What on earth is that thing?" Mia, who was just coming out of her room, asked, her eyes fixating on the cell phone. Mason glanced and caught a bit of awe in her eyes.
"Oh, this is a cell phone," he replied. "I didn't know I brought it with me from my wor–my city."
"I've never seen something like this before," Daniel said. "What is it used for?"
Mason didn't know how to explain to them the use of the phone without rousing doubts.
"It's a bomb," he replied. Hearing how it buzzed earlier, it might be easy to trick them into believing it's a newly invented explosive.
"What's a bomb?" Mia frowned.
"Something that boooom!" Mason drawled, elaborating with the gestures from his hands.
"Explosive?" Daniel's eyes widened.
Mason nodded.
"Damn!" Mia shouted as she sought cover. "He's going to kill us all!"
Daniel was tense for some seconds, staring at Mason. Then he took his edge off and laughed.
"Who activates an explosive and sits beside it?" he said. "Come on Mia, this man doesn't look like the one to murder a family."
"Really?" Mia said as she emerged. "Where goes all the don't trust no one advice?"
"Ah," Daniel breathed. "If there's one thing I've learned during my time as a soldier–"
"Huh, he's starting his soldier stuff again!" Mia sniffed.
"It's trusting my instincts," Daniel completed. "These eyes I'm staring at are too innocent to do such mischief; though I'm still baffled as to how he defeated the wolves earlier."
"What a letdown," Mia rolled her eyes.
"Say, Mia," Daniel continued. "Do you believe a man who can't mount a horse wields an explosive?"
Mia furrowed her brows, and then she erupted into laughter. "Of course not," she turned to Mason. "I knew he was not capable of such an act. It was just unexpected."
"I'm sorry," Mason said, chuckling. He quickly slipped his phone back into his pocket to prevent additional questions.
"It's alright," Mia replied, mirroring his expression.
"You and your sister will teach him how to ride a horse," Daniel said.
"Yes, father," Mia replied, her eyes never wavering from Mason.
"Isn't this the part where I hear breakfast is ready?" Daniel shouted, breaking the momentum.
"Not until you stop yammering and treat those damn wounds of yers!" Diana's voice came in an echo.
"What wound?" Daniel asked. His eyes flickered over his body and as he spotted the slash on his chest his body trembled. "Gods! I'm bleeding!" He cried.