“Felipe, listen to me,” Felipe’s father, the village chief, started talking to him as they walked along the path through the village. “You need to take care of these people. You need to take care of the whole village, without these people – without the bounty from the village – we will never be able to keep up the life that we live right now.”“Is that the reason why everyone smiles when they see you, father?” the young Felipe asked,looking up at his father, and then towards the villagers.“Yes,” the village chief replied, “when you grow older, you will understand it better. But for now, look at how bountiful this village is; look at how contented the people are. Make this village even more bountiful; make the people of your time even more contented. That is how you run a village, and that is where we get our own wealth.” Felipe looks at the villagers who are harvesting the

“What is happening?!” Felipe screamed in frustration, he just returned from a meeting with the people of the black market and it seemed like things did not go well, “Why are they doing this to me?!”“What is the matter, dear?” Felipe’s wife asked. She immediately prepared a soothing tea for him.“Those people!” Felipe said while still slumped on the couch, “They suddenly turned their backs on me!” Felipe’s wife remained silent. She knew what people Felipe meant, she has known it for a long time and tried to support him despite everything. But she also knew that this has been a long time coming. She despised what Felipe does but she still cares for him, if he learns his lesson this way, then it would be for the better, she just has to support him while he goes through this.“They said they believed in me!” Felipe continued, this time he is looking at his wife. Desperation can be s

“Pretty Human, I bring food,” the Harpy announced as she entered the cell. “Yes, thank you,” Amanda replied blandly. She did not mean to sound that way but she is just too deep in thought. “I see Lord Alex, Lord Alex talk to Pretty Human again?” The Harpy asked, trying to start aconversation. “Yes,” Amanda gave a short reply and kept looking outside the cell. “Food ready,” The Harpy replied, looking at her friend, “Pretty Human eat” “Yes, thank you,” Amanda replied and practically dropped herself to her bed and took her share of the meal. “Food delicious,” the Harpy replied expecting a usual response from her friend, but she seems to really be out of it. She started to feel concerned. “Pretty Human lonely?” the Harpy asked as she can’t bear the silence anymore. “I’m fine, I’m just thinking about things,” Amanda replied blandly. She feels sorry for the harpy, she is just concerned about her friend but she just does n

“Mama? And Snake Boss lady?” the Harpy asked, confused as to why they were the only people inside the otherwise busy kitchen at this time of the day.“If you are worried about the food, don’t be,” The Centaur Cook said as she realized the Harpy’s reaction, “we have already cooked earlier and you already have yours prepared. Now come, my dear, we have much to teach you.”“Are you sure that she will remember everything?” the Lamia asked, doubting the Harpy’smemory, “you know how easily she forgets and I believe this is for the sake of the Lordultimately,”“Not to worry,” the Centaur cook reassured as she pulled the Harpy closer, “the mind may forget, but the body will always remember.” Upon saying that, she immediately went down to business; teaching the Harpy about what was written in the notes not through words, but through actions.* * * * * *

Dimitri could not sit still. He has already taken his place at the head of the dining table and the grand feast is already laid out in front of him. But the girl is not yet in. She is still being prepared and taken to the dining room. His mind wandered to the night when they first met each other. He could not explain how he felt when she came in with the maids. Something stirred deep inside him since then and he could not understand what it was. He only had very few chances to see the girl afterward but he still tried to remember her face and imagine how she would look in a nightgown once again. Time seemed to stand still. Dimitri looked around and the attendants did not seem to be moving; even seemed to just be standing straight, staring into nothingness. Dimitri could almost hear his heart pounding. Dimitri pictured himself finally taking that irresistible girl in his arms. He has been made to wait for weeks, he will definitely mess her up tonight: The thought of h