The next day after the sun rise Sam went to the wheat field with some anticipation. Even though, there are no clues until now that she is anyway related to Gran, he still felt like there could be some sort of link between them and he felt like there is even a chance that she is Gran.
But as soon as Sam arrived at the field, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
There is no soul scent around her and she is completely clean. But soon his disappointment was gone as both of them started working on the field.
"Sorry, I forgot to ask before. What is your name?" Sam asked as they worked.
"Sia."
Sam looked at her and felt like she is a bit too excited and couldn't help but ask.
"So, why are you so excited today? Is there a special reason for that?"
"I am excited about the wheat field. This is getting me one step closer to my dream."
"What is your dream?"
"I want to become the greatest liquor maker in the world and this beer making is going to open new doors for me. It will teach me many new lessons and I would be able to make huge progress. It has been a bit stagnant for a while."
"Of course, it would be stalled. If you hole up in a place like this, it would be indeed difficult to progress. To be the greatest at an art, you have to explore, meet other people who are in that art, experiment at different places, exchange points with other masters.
In your case, you have to move a lot. Go to different realms, find new ingredients, try to make liquor in different climates, mix different ingredients, experiment, explore. If you stay in the realm, you wouldn't be able to progress at all.
In fact, it would be no surprise if you regress."
Sia just stayed silent for a while and asked Sam.
"What is your dream?"
"My dream? I just want to lead a simple life."
"Simple life? Then that would be easy. All you have to do is go to one of the lower level realms and stay there. Some people will give you protection fees just to use your name and you will be able to live off of it. There is no need to worry at all."
"That is not my definition of simple life."
"Then what is your definition?"
"My definition of a simple life is…"
Sam was about to say something as he looked at the sun in the sky, but he stopped in the middle as he looked at Sia carefully.
He suddenly noticed that his behavior has been weird. Generally, he wouldn't take to a stranger like this, much less a person of an opposite gender about his dream or advise them casually. This is completely new of him.
Maybe it is because she is dedicated to her craft and it is rare to find someone who is obssessed with an craft that has nothing to do with power,status and authority that he decided to open up an bit.
He shook his head and said.
"There is no use in explaining my simple life. I cannot get it anyway. I need to many things before I get to that."
With that he finished the work before the bar opening time and said.
"We need to stop here today. The earth needs to soak the nutrients in before we start the next process. I have something else to do. So, I will see you in the bar this afternoon."
With that Sam took off on harbinger.
But what he didn't notice is the look that Sia has on her face as she looked at his receding back.
There is a hint of tenderness in her eyes and Sam would have easily identified that if he saw it, but unfortunately he didn't.
After going back to the city, Sam kept on roaming around the city to find Gran. He believed that no matter how secretive gran is, he must be living in the city. So, he decided to go about in an old fashioned time consuming way.
By afternoon, he roamed over half of the city and looked around.
But there are no results and by afternoon, he arrived at the bar.
He decided to just to go in. But as soon as he stepped inside the bar, he felt the soul scent. He stopped in his tracks for a moment and looked around without any overreaction.
He walked towards the counter and took his usual seat as he slowly concentrated on observing the scent of each and every person carefully. But all the people who are sitting at the tables are clear of any possible scent.
Then there is only person left in the bar and his gaze turned to Sia who is standing at the far end of the counter as she arranged the wine jars carefully.
He carefully checked for a few more times to see if he was mistaken. But after a few sniffs, he is sure that he got the right person.
"Hahahahaha…."
Sam started laughing out loud and Sia walked towards him confusion.
"What happened? Why are you so happy?"
"Nothing. Just give me this cocktail."
Sia nodded and went to work on the cocktail and Sam spoke.
"I have an offer to make. Tell me if you are interested."
"Offer? I thought we already made a deal. Are you selling another recipe?"
"Not really. I have a job offer for you."
"Job offer?"
"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Sam and I run an organization called the Dusk Organization. My business Spans across many realms. I want to officially recruit you into my organization. Think over it. We will talk about it tomorrow."
With that Sam finished his cocktail and went back to his residence.
"Stop all our plans. I found Gran." Sam gave instructions as soon as he returned.
"You found him? Who is he?"
"You will know for yourself soon enough."
With that Sam waited for the next day in anticipation.
The next morning, Sam went to the wheat field on harbinger and met with Sia.
She didn't talk about the harbinger and just worked casually with some small talk. But Sam asked with a smile.
"So, what do you think about my Job offer?"
"Offer? Sam, I am working on the Wheat field. Why would I work on this if I have any intention to leave?"
"Maybe, you don't. But what about your sister?"
Sia halted in her tracks and she shivered for a second before she covered the anxious expression with a smile.
"Wha…t are you talking about? I don't have a sister."
"If you reacted fast enough it would have been convincing. But you gave it away.
As I said this morning, I am Sam and I own an organization. I am currently on a journey to recruit some special candidates for a quest of my own. And Gran's name came up on the list. I came here to recruit gran.
It was really hard to find out. I am here to extend an invitation to both of you. You can both join my organization as you are both highly skilled."
Sia turned silent for a second and replied in a low voice.
"What if I am just some normal bartender? What if I am just Sia and have nothing to do with the master thief, what if my sister is the Gran and I am just a normal bartender."
"Well, if you it is indeed the case, I would still offer job for both of you. Your sister for her skills as a master thief and assassin, you for being a wine maker and a bartender. But your sister might have to stay with me in the journey, while you can work with the liquor department of my business.
But my guess is that both of you are Sia the skilled liquor maker and Bartender and both of you are Gran, the skilled master thief and assassin.
Since we have this healthy coincidence, I would be a fool to pass up on this.
You can think about the offer, but do consider it properly. I am giving you and your sister an opportunity to enter the major league of the crafts you are in. You would enter a whole new world with a whole lot of skilled opponents and obstacles with a lot more possibilities and opportunities for progress.
And it might not even be impossible for you to become the greatest liquor maker in the world.
So, both of you take a seat, have a proper discussion before you decide."
With that, Sam left the area on the harbinger without turning back. He is really excited to see what decision Sia would make.
In actual fact, he really liked her and already wanted to offer her a job even if Gran didn't come into the picture. But now this happy coincidence made things easier.
