Chapter 12 – Family in a Simple Place
The evening sky over Andora was bathed in golden light as the village carriage stopped at the main gate. The dust on the road hadn't fully settled when the carriage door opened and Hyunwoo stepped down with steady steps.
"Hyunwoo!" Yerin shouted, running straight to him and hugging him tightly.
That hug wasn't just a greeting. It was a burst of longing, worry, and gratitude all wrapped into one breath. Hyunwoo gently returned the embrace, allowing himself to sink into the peace of the moment.
Not far from them, Belinda stood still. Her eyes watched the embrace with an unreadable expression—somewhere between confusion and... jealousy?
Meanwhile, Taeyang nudged Wonho with a teasing tone, "Hey, don't you want an emotional hug like that too?"
Wonho just sighed and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his robe. "A regular welcome is enough for me."
Claude greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome back. How was the journey?"
Wonho answered immediately, "We went to the Thalveran region, fixed the diverted water system. The flow is back to normal now."
Hyunwoo added, "You guys did great. Andora owes you a lot."
Suddenly, Belinda pointed toward a man in a black cloak standing slightly behind the group. "Who's that?"
Wonho replied quickly, "That'll be explained tonight at the grand meeting. For now, we need rest and time to organize housing for the people we brought back."
Hyunwoo nodded. "Right. I'll also be introducing a few important people tonight."
---
That night, the usually quiet village hall buzzed with activity. Torchlight lit up the wooden walls, and whispers filled the space.
Everyone important in Andora was present: Claude, Belinda, Arlain, Elden, Verine, Garren, Thadrick, Lurik, Calem, Maelis, Ahsan, Vel, and of course Krothar with the lizardmen. The regular villagers didn't want to miss out either. The hall was packed.
Hyunwoo stood before them all, his voice firm, "We've brought 20 people who will live here and help build this village. Among them are lizardmen from the southern mountains."
The room fell silent.
Claude continued, "They'll be housed in the vacant homes on the east side of the village. But we understand there's concern among the villagers."
One of them asked, "Can they be trusted?"
Krothar stepped forward, his voice deep, "We didn't come to freeload. We'll work. We'll contribute our strength and skills."
Garren raised his hand, "If you can help with hunting and border patrols, I've got no objections."
Thadrick nodded. "Same here. We need more hands in the forge."
Wonho proposed an organized work schedule, splitting tasks between villagers and lizardmen.
Yerin added, "We'll also be building a shared health center. Selka and I will handle the medical system for all races."
Taeyang chimed in, "And don't forget the info board in the village center—for announcements, suggestions, and… a bit of humor."
Everyone chuckled.
Then Hyunwoo gave a signal. The man in the black cloak stepped to the center of the hall, pulled down his hood—revealing an unfamiliar face.
"I was sent by Jaehyun," he said. "He's alive. He's on an important mission and doesn't want you to worry about him. That's all."
A heavy silence blanketed the room. Before anyone could ask questions, the man turned and quietly left.
The meeting continued.
Some villagers asked, "Who's Jaehyun?" but Hyunwoo only said he was an old friend.
Then Belinda suggested cross-race training sessions to help them get to know each other better.
Wonho laid out his plan to expand the irrigation system based on newly discovered sources.
Claude closed the meeting, "Threats from outside may come anytime, but tonight, we choose unity."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
---
The next morning, sunlight revealed a scene never before seen in Andora: humans and lizardmen working side by side.
Rakka and Thog were learning to farm from Taeyang, who patiently explained things while joking now and then.
"You're holding that hoe like it's a weapon!" he laughed.
Selka and Yerin sat together, comparing knowledge on herbs and bite wounds.
Gorln had a serious chat with Thadrick near the metal workshop about which ores were best for light weapons.
Lily, Cedric, and a few other children played with lizardman babies, turning the day into a small festival. Their laughter filled the air.
Verine prepared a massive batch of warm food and handed it out to everyone present. That day, Andora felt like home—for everyone.
But behind the warmth, Marlen stood in the village's corner, his face cold. He wasn't alone. A few villagers nodded at him in secret.
That afternoon, Claude received a report from the border hunters. "The Noctivale kingdom's troops have started moving. They're suspicious of something."
Moments later, a sealed letter from the neighboring kingdom arrived:
"To the village of Andora. We have received reports that a forbidden race has escaped and is hiding in your territory. Surrender them. If not, Andora will be considered as harboring enemies of the state. – Noctivale"
Krothar read the letter in silence. His face turned dark.
Yerin stepped closer, "What does it say?"
"They won't let us live in peace," he said simply.
---
Night fell. From the window of his home, Hyunwoo gazed at the starry sky.
Footsteps approached. Wonho stood beside him.
"If we want to build a new world," Wonho said softly, "we have to be ready to be hated."
Hyunwoo stared at the sky, then smiled faintly. "Then let's make a world so good, they'll be ashamed to hate it."
Wonho went back to his room, leaving Hyunwoo alone.
In the dark of night, the wind slipped through the walls. Hyunwoo grinned.
"So things are going just as planned… Jaehyun?!?!" he whispered.