Chapter 231

It felt like we had stepped back in time. The village looked like something from a fairytale. Cobblestone paths led past old cottages. Flower pots filled with spring blooms decorated the windows. Women wore dresses and aprons. The men wore old-fashioned clothes. A delicious smell from a bakery drifted toward us. We passed giant windmills and fields of crops glowing in the setting sun.

"Why didn’t Aunt Julie ever talk about this place?" I asked, amazed.

"We can ask the locals. Let’s find a place to sleep and eat first," Xavier said.

As we walked, the villagers gave us suspicious looks. Then, a young man ran up to us with a big smile. "Hello, countrymen! Welcome to Riverwoods. I’m Jonathan Wright, but you can call me Jonny."

He wore jeans, a shiny leather jacket, and sneakers. He looked out of place here.

Without waiting for us to reply, he kept talking. "Riverwoods has great views, food, and friendly people." Just then, a woman passed by with a basket of fruit on her head. She scowled