Rangers Endgame

Chapter 128: Haven Village

Upon arrival at Haven Village, they were greeted with an otherworldly view. Nestled within a rugged cavity of the earth was the symmetrical architecture of man intertwined with the natural beauty of nature. The river above had been torn in two, its cascading waters tumbling into earth’s maw from both sides. Buildings lay in the graceful embrace of flowing streams and horizontal trees sprouting from the cavernous walls.

The air twinkled playfully as their carriage passed through, and vines danced along the edges of inclining roads. Pulley systems hauled buckets of sloshing water from the crystal pond below, and vegetable baskets strung to homemade balloons meandered up to higher levels for villagers to catch with extended nets.

When their carriage stopped at a roundabout, Itsuki tipped the coachman, and the rangers got off. Yakeru’s and Fuyumi's eyes silently wandered the natural scenery while Kenji approached the road’s vined railing and peered down.

“Whoa.”

“I used to stop by this place every once in a while before and after missions,” Itsuki explained, a content smile on his face from watching their reactions. “Good place to grab some grub too.”

Dash traced wobbly lines along the ground with his curious nose as the party continued on foot. Itsuki led them across wooden bridges that spanned the gaps, providing breathtaking views of the abyss. The sun's rays scattered above them, giving the mouth of the cavity a warm glow and keeping the air within cool and crisp. The pleasant fragrance of vegetation wafting through the chasm grew more prominent the deeper they went.

Arriving at one of the lower levels, Itsuki let out an audible “Ah” when they finally found the place he was looking for.

Carved from the stone wall stood a quaint building with balconies fanning across its face and warm lighting that emanated invitingly from its interior.

“This place hasn’t seen much change,” Itsuki noted as he gestured inside with his head.

Upon entering, the innkeeper welcomed them with a smile. Itsuki approached the front desk to check in while Yakeru, Kenji, and Fuyumi let their eyes explore. Although simple in its interior design, the flickering lanterns and crackling hearth created a cozy atmosphere.

Yakeru’s gaze was then drawn to the ceiling, which he could only stare at in quiet admiration. Looming above them was an artistic depiction of a peaceful settlement reaching across a flat, verdant expanse with only the familiar rocky spires making up the backdrop in the far distance.

Kenji followed his gaze and adjusted his glasses. “This will be an interesting stay.”

“Why do you say that?” Yakeru asked, still inspecting the artwork.

“There's no food bar.”

Yakeru glanced at him from the corner of his eye, not sure whether to be amused or confused. “I never took you for a gourmand.”

The conjurer’s face flushed with embarrassment. “That's not what I meant.”

“If you kids are ready, our rooms are this way,” Itsuki said as he snapped his fingers, and Dash came rushing to his side after thoroughly exploring each corner of the lobby.

They all climbed the stairs to the second floor and reached a stretch of rooms. Itsuki unlocked the first door and politely gestured everyone inside. Yakeru stepped into the space, followed by Kenji, then Fuyumi.

Warm lighting greeted them as they strode inside. Plush furnishings lay alluringly under paintings of the countryside that adorned the walls. A long dining table dominated the living space with a vase of freshly picked flowers gracing its center. The space peeled off into separate bedrooms with bathrooms.

Dash bounced around the place, tails wagging uncontrollably as he adventured through the area.

“Claim your rooms now,” Itsuki said, already making his way to one of the branching rooms. “And if you want to have a full stomach tonight, I’d suggest you three start heading down to the bottom level.”

Yakeru cocked a brow while Kenji and Fuyumi exchanged a curious look.

“And why’s that?” Yakeru inquired.

Itsuki sank into a cushioned seat, letting out a contented breath as he did. “This inn provides you with neither food nor water.” He tilted his attention to the buckets waiting patiently next to a metal tub on the balcony just outside the living room. “The inn would rather have travelers...dip their toes in the Haven’s culture.”

Understanding flickered across Yakeru’s face.

While looking at the buckets, Kenji asked, “So you plan on staying cozy while we get dinner, why?”

“Because I paid,” Itsuki explained matter-of-factly, spreading his arms on the backrest and resting his ankle on his knee. “Besides, someone has to stay here to pull up your haul.”

“Fair,” the conjurer responded simply, his finger scratching at his cheek for asking the silly question.

Dash hopped into Itsuki’s lap, and he made a pained face when the oblivious fox stepped on a particularly sensitive area. He lifted him and set him back on the floor. “Take him with you, too. He could use the exercise.”

Dash whined in protest, but it only took a stern look from the veteran to make the fox turn with a disappointed grumble.

After fanning out to set aside their belongings in their respective rooms, the three of them grabbed the buckets and departed with Dash. Stepping out into the brisk air, they made their descent, taking a winding road that would lead them to the chasm’s depths.

They took their time, taking in more of the sights along the way. Yakeru smirked when the mischievous critter leaped into Fuyumi’s bucket to hitch a ride, nearly making her topple. Even when he felt her glaring holes in his back, he heartlessly kept his casual pace, leaving her behind to do some bonding she didn’t ask for.

The air carried the scent of damp earth the deeper they went, and vegetation grew more abundant. The waterfalls echoed off the walls, mingling with laughter and conversation as they reached the bottom level. Dash rolled in the carpet of vibrant wildflowers, their petals shimmering with dappled sunlight.

Villagers meandered barefoot within the crystal pond as they gathered food and water. Following their example, the trio removed their boots and socks, rolled their pant legs up to their knees, and made their way to the shallow end. The cool sensation jolted their skin as soft soil gave way to crisp waters.

Yakeru told the two to pick out food while he started gathering water. They split, and he found a quiet corner to fill his bucket. Tipping it into the pond, the water rushed inside eagerly as he observed the villagers, studying how they sent their hauls back to their homes using a tether system.

Filling the bucket to the brim, he made his way across the pond and positioned himself directly underneath the inn, its balconies stretching over him with dangling lines waiting idly. Yakeru walked to each tether until he found the one labeled with their room number and hooked the bucket to it. Itsuki must’ve noticed when the tether went taut because the bucket began to ascend. A few minutes later, the veteran ranger returned the now-empty bucket.

Yakeru repeated this process a couple more times before deciding to check on Kenji and Fuyumi, who’d been harvesting a variety of vegetables within a graceful mesh of vines that sprouted from the water. Getting a closer look, he couldn't recognize any of the vegetables, which he found strange. Thanks to Akari’s travels, there was always a wide assortment of foods in the house.

Pushing the nagging thought to the back of his mind, he began his harvest as well. Dash playfully looped through the vines as he'd do in Itsuki's backyard. He stopped at Fuyumi to rub against her leg before darting to investigate a ripple, but she learned to ignore his antics.

“You seem to attract the clingy ones as of late,” Yakeru noted as he inspected a tan vegetable.

“Certainly not by choice.” She responded, depositing a blue vegetable into her bucket.

“I think it's nice that you found an adorable little companion,” Kenji chimed in as he appeared around the corner, his bucket full of color.

Fuyumi struck him with an irritated flick to his forehead that made him recoil, causing his findings to tumble into the water awkwardly.

“Hey!” he exclaimed, scrambling to salvage what he could.

“I can sympathize,” Yakeru said, pushing aside a vine to better access a particularly vibrant cluster. “Dash can be a handful.”

Fuyumi glanced at him with an almost wry look. “Is Akari’s ‘precious’ baby brother stressing over a fox?” She teased, the corners of her lips rising faintly.

Yakeru looked over at Kenji, who sulked while soothing his forehead, then back at the oddly shaped vegetable in his hand. “I'll take my chances with the fox rather than a violent woman.”

Her hand flashed to deliver the same punishment, but Yakeru casually stepped out of reach, making her stumble. He snickered at her expense, and she kicked water at him while suppressing a smile.

When they finished, he guided her to the tether and used his bucket as a demonstration, then she copied what he’d done. Kenji waddled over next with his bucket refilled and figured out the contraption himself. When the buckets didn’t return, they took it as a sign to head back up.

Dash watched from the shallow water as the trio dried their feet at a towel rack supplied by designated workers. When they put their socks and boots back on, they started making their way back.

“Let’s go, gremlin. Or I'll have your dad come get you himself.” Yakeru threatened as he approached the road leading up to the higher levels, leaving no room to argue.

Dash took a hesitant step forward, then looked back at the viney playground. Eventually, his paws took him out of the water even as his head remained on the vines, and he shook himself off before darting to catch up with the group.

By the time they got back to the room, Itsuki was lounging at the dining table, already chowing down on food. Yakeru gave him a look, but he ignored it.

“Good work, everyone,” Itsuki said with a smirk before taking another bite. When he swallowed, he added, “Go get yourselves some.”

After picking out their food and sitting at the table, Kenji and Fuyumi slipped into conversation—the conjurer carrying it for the most part—while Yakeru sat with Itsuki. Yakeru nibbled testingly at a blue vegetable, his nonchalant expression lighting up as its sweet flavor danced along his tongue. Dash occasionally came up to Itsuki's side for another bite, which he obliged. It had only been a few minutes, and Dash was going through their food supply like nothing.

“Shouldn’t we save as much as we can? They'd make good provisions,” Yakeru suggested as he took a bigger bite.

“Hardly,” Itsuki countered curtly. “The vegetables grown here are rich in nutrition, which makes them a popular food choice for rangers. But they're also delicate.”

Yakeru looked at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“They're highly dependent on the stem. Once they're separated, they start to rot away in just under a day, even when cooled, so preserving them isn't an option,” he explained.

The youth’s eyes trailed down to his plate, which was vibrant with life. “A shame. Something this good should last longer.”

Whether he meant for it to happen or not, Itsuki’s expression grew more grim. “I know, kid.” He averted his gaze to look beyond the balcony, the chasm’s walls darkening to signal night’s looming approach. “But that's our reality, unfortunately. Nothing, no matter how good it is, lasts forever.”