"The Ratfolk Artisans prefer bread and thick soup, so plan your menu around those... Meat? From what I know, they don't actually like large cuts of meat..." Little Smo first showed the camp Cook how to prepare their food, then had the guards bring Eli the plans he had drawn the night before. "They have unusual builds. They'll sleep more comfortably in specially made beds..."
Annan and Francois stood nearby, watching Little Smo bustle about, plainly enjoying himself.
"He's completely fired up... How did you do it?" Francois found it hard to believe.
Given Little Smo's state of mind before, Francois wouldn't have been surprised if he'd been found hanging in his room one day...
"My method."
Francois nodded in sudden understanding. He guessed Annan had used some sorcerer's trick.
"If I ever end up like Little Smo was, how about giving me a dose too?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Francois sniffled. "You're so heartless. Have you forgotten everything I did for you in Breeze City...?"
After joking around for a while, Annan said, "It's simple, really. I just told him there are many more people outside the Free City living in misery."
What did people live for?
Every person and every race had their own answer. Some wanted forests to cover the world; some hoped to become nobles; some wanted endless battle; and some craved the secrets of knowledge. Whoever they were, they had a goal.
Little Smo had lost his. Annan had helped him find it again, only this new goal was bigger than the old one and harder to achieve.
"So what exactly did you two talk about?" Francois still couldn't contain his curiosity.
Annan still didn't answer directly. "He dropped an iron axe by a lake. I rose from the water and asked whether