Snowy Cottage! (Mission/Solo)

Assist an old man named Bartre and his son Ninko build a wooden cottage atop a snowy mountain. The house being built is a gift for Bartre's daughter Nino, who's going to be married in a few months. Though they live in a magical world, Bartre does not believe in the use of magic to get a job done; and requests that the mage or mages helping him help build the cottage without using any magic.

That's what the request sheet said. Allen read it thoroughly several times before shoving the request sheet in his thin, narrow pocket. He looked around, taking twists and turns that were off the main path since he was so familiar with the place. He grew up in these mountains after he had escaped Stein's lab. This was where Khalan raised Allen. He was isolated from the people of these mountains because he had a thing for blood, but he'd usually sneak around here to watch the people of the mountain village do their own thing.

At the time, he didn't understand the human heart, and he still doesn't. He didn't know why sometimes they fought, and the next day they'd forgive. Do humans just forgive each other like that? Allen understood that now, that forgiveness is something essential to have a good relationship with anyone.

He giggled at the thought before shortly arriving at the village through the bushes and branches of trees. Shaking the soft leaves off of his semi-robe and head, he walked over to the rather noisy village with a straight, curious face expressed on his face. He smiled as he approached an old man and a young boy standing in front of a barely standing cottage. The two definately fit the description of Bartre and Ninko. Before approaching the two men, he inspected the cottage-in-progress from afar. He at least wanted a small observation before he was told where he needed to work on it.

But along with that small inspection, or observation, or whatever you call it, came a warm welcoming. Allen walked up to the two men with a straight, confused face and his arms drooping down to his sides. It was his first mission, and he really wasn't sure on how to talk to strangers... strangers, he wouldn't call them that. He always had watched this village as a kid when he got a chance to. He knew them from afar, but they didn't know him. He didn't know their names or faces, but he knew about this village a lot.

"Er.. hello. I'm here for the job?" Allen said shyly with the rub of his neck. At first the young boy and old man looked confused, as if they had no idea what in the world Allen was talking about. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of his cheek nervously. ..Maybe I should've brought Nii-san or Fujin with me.. or maybe Rokai.. He thought before talking again, "Uh.. sorry,.. wrong cottage..?" He said before tilting around, about to walk off.

But as his body began to turn, the old man gently grabbed Allen's wrist, in high hopes it would stop him. - And it did. Allen raised both brows is a bit of shock, the old man sighed with a smile, "This is the correct cottage, young man." Allen really wasn't sure how to react. He thought he should act as tolerable and polite as possible to clients on jobs and missions. Or that was at least what he was told. Allen gave a fake, crooked smile in response. "O-Oh... I see. So, um, what will you have do?.." He asked awkwardly. The old man loosened his grip on his wrist until he let go. Allen rubbed his wrist, trying to rid the presence of his fading grip that remained on his wrist. "You can help us with the rest of the cottage that we haven't done yet. Me, you, and that kiddo over there will be helping the whole time! Thanks for stopping around, er.."

The old man rubbed the back of his neck, motioning and gesturing that Allen introduce himself. "Allen.. my name is Allen. And it's a pleasure to be working with you two, as well... er.." Allen said, averting his gaze elsewhere. He lied a bit. He had better things to do rather then build cottages. And he'd rather be doing those then this, but it's not like Allen will progress in life if he doesn't learn to work. So he thought this would be a good opportunity to progress and even get his bag filled with jewels. He sighed as he gazed at the cottage, which was halfway built. This shouldn't be hard, right? Yeah.. Okay, how hard can building a cottage be?.. He thought to himself. He didn't think using magic would be necessary in the first place, cottages seem so simple and chiche that he wouldn't even need to use his dragon slayer magic. Why would he? What, do others find building these kind of things so difficult that they need to use their magic? Pathetic! But... Allen was tempted to do the same, so he can't say anything.

Stacks of wood, a rusted hammer, and some other small metal pieces like bent nails and screws were scattered around. But the wooden planks were neatly stacked next to the half-built cottage. Allen sniffed the air, it reeked of rust and damp wood, it was certainly not a pleasant smell. But, the old man smiled as he went back to working with the other young boy, doing the same. Allen sighed as he walked over to the cottage, grabbing several wooden planks and putting them in.. obvious places. But oddly enough, he placed them in the correct positions. The stench of rust kept bothering him though. Rust was disgusting! He may be the iron dragon slayer but he'd rather throw up blood then eat rust! It was foul and unappetizing. But then, his golden eyes fell to the ground, focused on the scattered, perfectly fine, nails and screws. He glanced over at the old man and boy who were quite focused on their work.

Allen took the opportunity to crouch down to his toes, and toss the tasty screws and nails into his mouth and chewed. It was crunchy and tasted like watery blood. But.. it still tasted like blood, though. Allen was quite unique to choose blood over iron and other metals, after all he grew up drinking it. Iron and other metals were.. kind of a undesirable treat. There were so many screws and nails in his mouth, he continued to chew and chew, like it was crunchy gum. But eventually, he swallowed and got back up, and resumed his working. He hammered a wooden plank right next to another, and one over the one he just hammered. It was quite a.. bulky cottage, and soon, the cottage seemed so thick that Allen thought he was doing something wrong. But the old man and boy were doing the same thing.. so..

So apparently.. he was doing fine. But, why did these things have to have layer after layer after layer of wood? Is going to pour down fire or something? Allen didn't know and honestly didn't care but it sure caught his attention. So, he kept hammering down more wooden planks over the ones he did the same with. And at some point.. that cottage started looking more like a small fortress prepared for war rather then a cozy cottage for a married couple.. but hey! At least the small fortress was almost done. That was.. easy. Anyone was capable of doing this. But, the way of life here seemed one that required hardship and commitment, none of which Allen planned to bare unless otherwise. But, as Allen peeked inside the small fortress, it did seem.. cozy. On the inside, that is. Because on the outside, it truly looked like a humble fortress capable of withstanding arrows lit on fire! Yowch!

The small humble fortress capable of withstanding canons and arrows lit on fire was finally done. And it only took about an hour.. or two.. Allen didn't keep track of the time but it sure seemed to pass quickly! Allen wiped the few beads of sweat running down his forehead with the back of his wrist as he let a sigh of relief cross his lips. He then gazed over at the old man with a straight face, "It's uh.. done, sir." He said, hoping he wouldn't notice the missing screws and nails. Allen glared at the iron hammer, almost as if he were tempted to eat it.. which he was. The old man sighed with a smile, also wiping the sweat off his head in general, "See what I mean, kid? Good things can happen without the use of magic!" He gave a thumbs up, the grin never fading.

"Haha.. yeah.." Allen said awkwardly. Was he aware of how easy this was? Sure, you could use magic. But it wouldn't make the job any easier.. Allen brushed the thought off with a clearing of his throat. "Well, Allen, I guess your job's done here!" He said as he patted Allen's broad chest with his fist, playfully. "You want your money, right?" Allen slowly nodded with a rather surprised expression, "Um, yeah-" He was cut off by the feeling of a heavy bag in his palms. "Well here you go! My daughter will be pleased with your work, thanks again for everything, Allen!" Allen smiled, perhaps doing jobs wasn't so bad. "Likewise. So very much." He nodded with those parting words as he walked off, down the cobblestoned and dirt road. His smile didn't fade that. He wasn't sure if it was because of the money or the confidence, but he was in a gleeful mood.