CHAPTER 41: THE DAY (1)

"There they are."

The day they have been waiting for finally arrived.

That morning, the three of them didn’t go to the marketplace. Instead, they waited outside their shop’s location.

Leonard stood in front of. He had his arms crossed, watching the road.

Soon enough, a small caravan came closer. It was pulled by two horses. In the back were the pieces of furniture they had paid for, covered with cloth so they wouldn’t get dirtied.

Leonard narrowed his eyes.

’120 silvers... this better be worth it, old man.’

Next to him, Anika clasped her hands together, her eyes wide and bright.

"It’s really here..." she whispered, her voice filled with excitement.

Leonard let out a long breath. "Finally," he muttered.

The cart rolled to a stop in front of them. Old Marrek hopped down from the driver’s seat, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked tired and sleepless, but still, there was a spark of joy in his eyes.

"Morning, young ones," he greeted out loud, patting the side of his cart. "It took me a few late nights, but it’s all done now. I used strong wood, so this will last you a long time."

Leonard stepped forward, his eyes briefly scanning the cart. He reached out to it and pulled the cloth, revealing Old Marrek’s creation beneath. In there were the tables, stools, and everything he ask for he had asked for.

"Hah! Give it a touch, young man!" Old Marrek muttered out loud. His voice was brimming with confidence.

He ran his hand along the surface. They were smooth, hard, and solid. You could tell that it was not cheap work.

"Did you see my work?" Marrek said proudly, puffing out his chest. "This is sturdy enough to last you a decade! Even if idiot customers slam their hands on the table, it wouldn’t break."

"It’s beautiful..." Anika’s eyes lit up even more. She touched one of the stools as though it were a treasure.

Gareth also gave a rare nod of approval. "Thanks, Old Marrek. They look pretty nice," he said simply. He knew that they could really count on the man.

"I’m satisfied with it," Leonard showed a bright smile as he let his hand rest on the table. "What are we waiting for? Let’s finally place them inside!"

Old Marrek let out a booming laugh, slapping his thigh.

"Boys! What are we waiting for? Let’s get this thing inside already!"

That was when Leonard noticed movement in the back of the cart. Two men hopped down. They were wearing old shirts, and their faces looked like they hadn’t slept properly in days.

Marrek waved a hand at them.

"They are my helpers," he muttered. "I couldn’t have finished on time without these two."

Leonard blinked, then grinned as he spread his arms wide.

"Well then, welcome! The more hands, the better. Come on, let’s get everything in. If we finish this quickly, lunch is on me!"

The two men exchanged a quick glance with each other. Their tired expressions suddenly became bright and energetic. At the mention of food, they moved like lightning.

"Trust this on us!" One of them shouted, while the other one was already lifting one of the stools before anyone else could step forward.

Anika let out a small laugh at their speed, while Gareth shook his head, muttering under his breath, "They’re motivated by their stomachs, huh?"

Leonard chuckled as he rolled up his sleeves.

"Good. That means we’ll be done in no time."

With it, the small group got to work immediately. They filled the quiet street with the sounds of their heavy footsteps and loud grunts.

Leonard and Gareth carried the stools inside. On the other hand, the helpers moved together to carry the heavy tables. Anika, on the other hand, went to grab those lanterns that were lighter in weight.

Even Old Marrek helped in.

Once Anika was done gathering all the lanterns, she then went on and gave them instructions on where to place things.

She may be a girl, but she was knowledgeable when it comes to the placement of furniture.

"Please put that table near the window... and then can you move the long table in the center more? It’ll make the shop look welcoming!" Excitement was evident in his voice as she kept giving orders from time to time.

Her eyes were glowing as the empty room slowly began to transform. Furniture was now being put into place, filling the void space.

Leonard adjusted one of the tables as he was told. He trusts Anika on this. After all, she was the only girl who could provide help with making this place look good.

"Hey, idiot! Be careful with that stool!" Gareth uttered out loud as one of the helpers nearly scraped the wall. He quickly helped the man, then muttered, "Don’t scratch it before we even open..."

"Relax, boy," Marrek laughed, waving him off. "These things can take more beating than you think."

Leonard smirked, watching Gareth’s fussing. Then he clapped his hands together, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Alright! We’re almost done! Good job, everyone."

The room now looked alive. The tables were lined up neatly, with stools tucked under it. There was also enough space for every table, so people who weren’t playing could still view from the side.

The last few trips in and out of the place were quieter and slower. After hours, they were already tired. Everyone’s shoulders sagged, and their clothes were damp with sweat, but no one complained.

Finally, the two helpers set down the last bench with a grunt, wiping their brows.

"We’re done, boss!"

With it, Leonard turned toward the small box that had been left by the door. Inside were the most important pieces of all—the dice and the wooden cups.

A small playful smile tugged at his lips. He carried the box to the nearest table, pulled out a pair, and set them down with a satisfying sound. Then he moved to the next table, and the next, carefully placing one cup and one die at each.

When the last table was set, Leonard finally straightened up. A moment of silence fell as they waited. Then suddenly, Leonard clapped his hands together again. The loud sound of it echoes in the whole room.

"We’re finally done! We’ve worked harder than we thought, and now it’s time to fill our stomachs. Just as promised, lunch is on me!"

"Woohh!"

"Free food!"

"Thanks, Boss!"

"Thank you, Leonard."