The inside of Elric's home was modest but well-kept. Wooden shelves lined the walls, stacked with books, dried herbs, and small trinkets. A sturdy wooden table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by chairs that had clearly seen years of use. The faint scent of parchment and aged wood lingered in the air.
Leon's eyes swept across the space, noting its familiarity. He had been here before—many times, in his past life. Back then, it had been nothing more than a stop in his journey. A minor location on his way to greater things.
But now, it was different.
Now, it was the beginning.
Elric motioned for him to sit, and Leon did so, settling into the worn chair as the older man took a seat across from him. The village chief leaned back slightly, studying him with a calm yet calculating gaze.
"You say you're a Beast Tamer," Elric said. "That's not common around here. Most who deal with animals are farmers or hunters. We don't see many who claim to tame them."
Leon nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "That's why I'm here. I need to start somewhere."
Elric stroked his beard, considering. Then he sighed. "Well, we could use an extra pair of hands. A few of our farmers have been having trouble lately. Some of their livestock have gone missing."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Missing?"
"Vanishing overnight," Elric explained. "No signs of struggle, no blood, no tracks leading away. Just gone."
Leon frowned slightly. That was odd. In his past life, Green Pine Village had been peaceful—nothing more than a quiet beginner area. He didn't recall any incidents like this.
Could this be something that had always happened but never been discovered? Or was this a change brought on by his return?
Either way, it was worth looking into.
"I'll check it out," Leon said simply.
Elric raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"
Leon smiled slightly. "You need help, and I need a place to start. Seems fair."
The village chief chuckled. "Fair enough. I won't turn down an extra set of eyes. The farmers live on the east side of the village. You should start there."
Leon nodded, standing up. "I'll handle it."
As he turned to leave, Elric's voice stopped him.
"One more thing," the older man said. "Be careful. We don't know what's causing this, but… something feels off."
Leon paused for a moment, then gave a small nod before stepping outside.
The evening sun cast long shadows over the village as he made his way toward the farms.
A simple job.
But simple jobs often led to unexpected discoveries.
And Leon had a feeling this was just the beginning.
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