Do ratmen dream of the sacred tree of spirits?

Chapter 76 Holiday

"Good evening, Fafnir, how was your day?" It was nearly eight o'clock when Clint and Alyssa returned home.

"Good evening, Mom and Dad. I'm doing well. I sat in the yard sunbathing this afternoon, haha."

"On my first day back home for the holidays, I was a bit relaxed, perhaps even a little lazy, and I didn't practice any spells." Fafnir was in a good mood; he felt he had gotten plenty of rest that day.

After basking in the sun all afternoon, my mental state has improved.

Fafnir thought, "I'll start practicing magic tomorrow. It's all the same anyway, and I won't miss today."

By the way, I need to go to Lorraine Castle tomorrow to find Martha and Allen. The "options" on the "ledger" haven't come into play yet. Fafnir is looking forward to trying it out tomorrow.

"Come and eat your dinner, Fafnir. The dinner in your lunchbox is still warm; it's just from the cafeteria."

"Okay, I'm here!"

……

Fafner followed his biological clock today, waking up at six o'clock, having breakfast, and then going out with his parents.

He planned to first find Martha and Allen to verify his conjecture.

Fafnir arrived at the underground storeroom of Lorraine Castle, where his former home was located.

Martha and Alan's home wasn't far from Fafner's former home, but they weren't familiar with it before.

After working together, we had less time off, and with Fafnir moving, he rarely came over.

"Thump, thump."

Fafnir gently knocked on the old wooden door of the room.

"Who is it?" a familiar female voice called out.

"Martha, it's me, Fafnir."

"Creak—" The door opened, and Martha and Allen stood in the doorway.

"Fafner! Happy holidays! Come in!" Martha and Alan were delighted.

Although they did not yet know why Fafnir had come, they were very welcoming and happy to have this guest.

Martha and Allen kept smiling at Fafnir.

"Fafner, please have a seat." Allen brought over a chair.

"Thanks."

"Hey, Fafnir, try this, we bought it at the market yesterday." Martha picked up a small paper-wrapped package of food from the table.

Fafner saw the paper package that Martha had given him.

Oh, it's dried fruit, dried berries. It looks very nice.

"Try it, don't be shy, Fafnir."

Fafner nodded, took a small piece with his hand, and tasted it.

It tastes really good, with a rich aroma and a sweet flavor...

"Thank you, it's delicious. I'll buy some to try next time I have the chance."

"By the way, Fafnir, did you come to see us today to have some fun?" Allen asked from the side.

Play? Fafner felt that word was too far removed from him, haha.

He certainly knew some of the games he played with his friends, similar to the ones he did in gym class in his previous life.

But that's something only little kids do...

"No," Fafner shook his head:

"I've come here to discuss the practice of spells with you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Fafnir, you've been working so hard," Martha said, feeling a little ashamed.

"You truly are our role model. We had a relaxing day yesterday; Allen and I spent half the day at the manor's market."

We originally wanted to come find you, but we were afraid of disturbing you. This seems like the right thing to do. Were you already practicing magic yesterday?

Alan looked at Fafnir apologetically: "Fafnir, I'm sorry, we're not little kids anymore, but we still like to run around and play."

I was just about to ask you if you wanted to go play by the river nearby...

"I also rested yesterday. When you're on holiday, you should rest well, haha, thanks. You don't need to praise me."

"I didn't mean you should practice magic too, I'm the one who's bothering you." Fafnir smiled.

Martha and Alan are still just kids, they're only thirteen and twelve years old.

In Fafnir's previous life, that would have been around the age of graduating from elementary school.

Their childhood isn't over yet.

"Let's go for a walk along the river first. We can talk about practicing magic later," Fafnir suggested.

"Okay, let's go!" Allen was very happy, and Martha nodded demurely.

Martha also brought some dried fruit with her, while Allen took a small bag of mixed wheat bread.

"You can eat if you get hungry on the way," Allen said with a smile.

The three walked side by side, their destination being a small river about three kilometers away from Lorraine Castle.

Every time they traveled by carriage to the eastern part of Ryan, they would see the scenery here and want to come and explore.

Fafnir knew that Martha and Alan had had a very difficult time before.

The monthly allowance of eighty copper coins wasn't much, and their parents' work was hard, so their wages were low—much lower than Clint and Elisa's wages as "high-ranking servants."

At the same time, their living expenses are not low; they are growing and need more money to supplement their nutrition.

Moreover, they also have to repay the "buyout fee" that was paid to send them to work as volunteers. It is unknown how much of the six gold pounds was borrowed and has not been repaid. Perhaps the housekeeper was also given some kickbacks at the time.

Fortunately, Martha and Allen are now priests of the Church of the God of Death, second-level assistant priests.

They receive a silver shield subsidy from the church every semester, and they are now earning more money than their parents, as is Fafnir.

Furthermore, Martha and Allen are already proficient in meditation and spiritual vision; if they were to master five more first-tier elemental spells, they would be recognized by the academy as prospective superhumans.

In that case, their supernatural abilities would be stronger than Mr. Hans, the captain of the Ryan Harbor inspection team...

Their lives are getting better and better; at least they now have ample time to "stop and relax."

Fafnir realized that Martha and Allen didn't necessarily have to become Enlighteners or Messengers.

They should now enjoy their childhood, which is about to end...

……

"Have you two been here before?" Fafnir asked.

"No," Martha said, "I always just glance at it from afar when I ride in the carriage; I never get off."

Allen carried the bag of mixed wheat bread in his hand, swaying as he walked, the wheat fields on both sides of the road rustling in the wind.

After walking for about forty minutes, the three of them saw the small river. They estimated it was about ten steps to the other side. The water was shallow, and they could see the stones and sand at the bottom.

Several waterfowl were swimming slowly on the river.

Allen ran to the riverbank, squatted down, and reached out to test the water.

"Be careful not to fall in," Martha said, following after her. "I can't swim."

"I will," Fafner said, "but I don't want to go down."

Allen chuckled twice, found a flat rock to sit on, took off his shoes and socks, and put his feet in the water.

Martha hesitated for a moment, then took off her shoes and carefully slipped her feet inside.

The three people sat side by side with their feet in the water.