Chapitre 119: Chapter 119: Impossible Requests
Soon, Tom found out the address of the Scarborough Market—this market originated from the Vikings. They often raided England, plundering extensively, but they also engaged in normal trade. Scarborough became a regular market due to these activities, held every autumn and lasting for about a month and a half.
This market had been ongoing for centuries, and even the Vikings refrained from attacking during its period.
Scarborough Market was approximately forty to fifty miles away from their current location, and walking there would be exhausting. So, Hermione looked at Tom.
"Your abilities should still be intact, right?"
"Of course!" As soon as he spoke, an elegant male unicorn appeared in front of Hermione. Its beautiful silver mane immediately caught Hermione's attention, and she couldn't bear to look away.
Watching the unicorn's shiny silver coat, Hermione couldn't resist approaching it and then gently stroking its back, feeling the silky texture. However, she suddenly remembered the true form of this unicorn, and her face flushed.
She mounted the unicorn's back, and they rushed towards Scarborough Market.
There was a reason why Tom didn't use his Phoenix form. The distance was quite far, and while the real Fawkes might swiftly reach the destination, Tom, as a replica, hadn't mastered magical teleportation yet. So, he could only fly honestly, and flying to Scarborough Market would take at least twenty minutes. To avoid suspicion, Tom had to fly at a higher altitude, and during the flight, what if Hermione fell off?
Thus, it was better to transform into a unicorn and let Hermione ride him. Additionally, Tom, in unicorn form, felt strangely comfortable when Hermione approached him, especially when she touched his back. It was more pleasurable than various massages. Unfortunately, Hermione only touched him for a short while before stopping.
The unicorn's speed in the woods was comparable to a racing horse, and its endurance far surpassed that of a regular horse. After a little over two hours, Tom carried Hermione to Scarborough Market.
This market was much larger than the one in the small town, probably hundreds of times bigger, with merchants loudly hawking their goods and traders selling various specialties.
Tom experienced the medieval atmosphere for the first time.
In the market, they easily found the spice merchant and purchased the four spices. The merchant thoughtfully bundled them together. Tom learned that these four spices represented sweetness of love, strength, loyalty, and courage.
With the spices in hand, they walked to the south of the market while inquiring about Ben's address. Finally, they found Ben in a small village south of the market.
Ben looked like a young man in his twenties, with a sturdy physique and long limbs. He owned some fields and employed more than ten people to help with farming. After taking the spice package, he revealed a slightly sorrowful expression.
After thinking for a while, he said to Tom, "Could you please pass on a message for me? Tell Elaine, please make me a linen shirt. However, after making the shirt, wash it in the dry well, dry it on a withered grass, and the shirt must be able to contain water without leaking a drop. If she can achieve all this, we can reconcile and be each other's true love."
Tom & Hermione: ...
When they returned to the town, it was already afternoon.
Elaine was waiting at the entrance of the town for them.
After hearing Ben's reply, Elaine stomped her foot. What's the big deal? They just had a quarrel, no need to be so petty!
She was a bit angry. "Then, please ask them to convey a message to him. I have a request for him too. I want him to use a leather sickle to harvest the wheat and thresh it against the wall. However, not a single seed should fall to the ground. If he can accomplish this, we can reconcile and be each other's true love."
Tom had figured it out. This young couple was probably having a lover's spat. However, delivering the messages was still necessary; Tom knew that to complete this side quest, these lovers were crucial.
"Alright, I'll help you convey your message. But if you truly care for Ben, it's better to reconcile with him sooner. Both sides need to be understanding of each other."
Elaine lowered her head and remained silent.
Tom pulled Hermione aside, telling her about his thoughts. Later, he set off on the road to Scarborough Market. Fortunately, he didn't feel the need to eat or drink after the strenuous journey.
A day later, Elaine had completed the linen shirt requested by Ben. She handed it to Hermione, and Hermione, using the Aguamenti spell, created a bubbling spring from her wand tip. She then lowered the shirt into the dry well and cast the Levitation charm, causing the shirt and a withered grass to float in mid-air. Soon, the mountain wind blew, drying the shirt.
Finally, following Tom's instructions, Hermione brought a candle and applied it repeatedly on the surface of the shirt. After finishing, she took a hot pebble and rolled it over the shirt, melting the wax into the fabric's seams. With this, even if you poured a cup of water into it, the shirt would not leak a drop.
After making the shirt, Elaine asked Hermione to deliver it and check if Ben had harvested the wheat as per her request.
Hermione shook her head. She found this couple somewhat irritating. Clearly, they liked each other, but they were unwilling to compromise, setting difficult challenges for each other. This way, they would only miss the chance for a happy marriage.
However, Hermione believed that Tom had found a good solution.
With a somewhat troubled heart, Hermione set out on the road to Scarborough Market.
Meanwhile, Tom was already standing in Ben's threshing ground.
"Amazing! How did you manage this? You've made a leather sickle as hard as stone!"
Tom: ...
It wasn't a big deal; some experts could even make a knife out of rice. However, Tom didn't have that skill, so he could only use a Petrification Hex to make do.
As for threshing against the wall, Tom's solution was to set up a layer of cloth on the ground. To prevent the wind from blowing away the grains, he even covered it with a layer of gauze.
This indeed allowed him to stand on the wall and thresh the wheat, not letting a single grain fall to the ground.
After the last sheaf of wheat was finished, Ben was almost exhausted. He staggered down from the wall, then walked to Tom: "Thank you for your help. Please tell Elaine I've done it! Let us reconcile."
Tom nodded and set out on the return journey.
This time, he met Hermione on the way, and after some discussion, they decided it might be better to bring Elaine along to meet Ben—this bickering couple needed a mediator. It would save Tom and Hermione from running back and forth.
However, when they returned to the small town, an unexpected scene unfolded.
Although the town wasn't prosperous, it had a few hundred residents, exuding a lively atmosphere. However, when Tom returned, the entire town had turned into ruins. Even the tallest church was reduced to rubble. Other houses had turned into piles of tiles and charred wood, hidden beneath overgrown weeds. Amid the weeds, occasional empty eye sockets of skulls could be seen.
Relying on memory, Tom arrived at Elaine's house. Like other parts of the town, it had become scorched earth. In the weeds, he picked up a headband with brown spots, wiped away the dust, and examined it.
"Tom, what happened here? I don't understand..." Hermione looked at this strange yet familiar scene, saying in disbelief, "We were only gone for half a day!"
"Go to Ben's place." Tom immediately turned back, carrying the headband. This time, the village south of Scarborough Market was still there, but Tom felt that everything had subtly changed as he entered. The houses, fields, and even the villagers seemed to have changed, with a new generation taking over.
He arrived at Ben's house, only to find that it too had become a desolate ruin.
Tom stopped a passing old farmer. "Do you know where the owner of this house went?"
The old farmer's cloudy eyes showed a hint of reminiscence. "This house used to belong to a person named Ben. Many years ago, the Viking pirates were rampant, and many towns in the north were razed to the ground. He willingly responded to the Lord's call, went to fight against the Vikings, but never returned. In the end, only a jar was sent back... That was decades ago... Why are you asking about these things?"
"Nothing," Tom shook his head, "Do you know where Ben was finally buried?"
"No!" The old farmer pointed to the house. He was buried in the backyard, under that oak tree.
Tom and Hermione crossed the collapsed gate and entered the ruins of Ben's house. Under the oak tree in the backyard, they indeed found a nearly overgrown small grave. In front of the grave was a two-foot-square stone with Ben's name engraved on it. Underneath the stone, there was a necklace with a cross.
Tom took out the linen shirt from Hermione's arms. However, as soon as the shirt touched the air, it quickly decayed and turned into flying ashes.
Tom gently dug out the necklace and entwined it with the headband.
[Tandem Quest: Scarborough Market Clear!
Mission Accomplished: Fulfill Elaine and Ben's wishes.
Quest Rewards: Divination talent +1]
[Divination: 4 (Innate Talent)]
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(End of this chapter)
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