The afternoon sun was slowly fading, casting long shadows across the ground as its light shifted into a soft golden hue. Yet I remained still, silently absorbed in my thoughts, trying to understand what I was truly supposed to do. As I lingered in that quiet moment, someone suddenly sat beside me. It was the Elder.

Despite his age, there was an air of dignity about him. His white hair did nothing to diminish the strength in his features—if anything, it added a refined solemnity to his presence. He looked at me with a grave expression, his gaze searching as though trying to uncover something hidden deep inside me.

“Have you met the flower?” the Elder asked, his voice calm but stern. I nodded slowly, remembering that I had successfully found the flower to heal Arvan.

“How did you manage to find it?” he continued, eyes narrowing slightly with visible suspicion, as if scrutinizing every word that might leave my lips.

“I simply followed my instincts,” I replied after a moment.

After my answer, the atmosphere shifted. Silence fell, heavy and thoughtful, wrapping around us like an unseen veil. Then, with deliberate slowness, he rose from his seat.

“That flower is exceedingly rare,” he said, speaking as though he weighed each word carefully. “It only appears a few times in a single generation. It grows best in places where the air is naturally humid and untouched by direct sunlight. Each one blooms in solitude, and when the time of reproduction comes, they seek their pistils with the assistance of others.”

He paused and turned toward me, his eyes filled with a profound question.

“Who are you, truly?”

His gaze pierced through me, intense and knowing, like he was silently questioning whether I would become a demon destined to bring destruction or a hero who might bring salvation in the days to come. I did not know how to answer. Even if I claimed to be a demon, I would not be certain of the truth.

‘Who am I, really?’

That was the question I had longed to ask myself for as long as I could remember.

“Come eat!” Michelle’s voice suddenly echoed from inside the house, breaking the tension with abrupt familiarity. The moment between us dissolved.

“Michelle, I will head home for now. Take care of Lira, she still seems weak,” the Elder said before walking away. He glanced back occasionally, as if confirming I remained where I was—or perhaps ensuring that I did not pose any threat to either Michelle or Lira.

Night settled quietly. Inside the wooden house, Michelle watched Lira eat with great appetite. Outside, the sound of crickets and frogs blended together, forming a somber melody across the stillness of the night.

I was silent for a moment, then attempted to speak with Michelle.

“Could you stop looking at me like that?” she asked softly.

I gave a slight nod, scratching my head though it did not itch. Before I could ask her what she meant, she spoke again, changing the subject entirely. The moment slipped away, and I let my curiosity fall unspoken.

“I’ll put Lira to bed first,” she said.

Only then did I realize that they had already finished eating, while the food in front of me remained untouched and cold.

“Am I taking this too seriously?” I muttered under my breath. I began eating then, trying to focus despite my thoughts wandering back to the questions I wished to ask.

Days passed. My strength returned little by little. Michelle became increasingly busy supporting their livelihood, with Lira occasionally helping in small ways.

One afternoon, while I was chopping wood in the yard, the Elder came to see me.

“Does your energy still drain quickly?” he asked. I paused mid-swing.

“I’m feeling much better now,” I responded.

“What brings you here, Elder?” I asked as he sat down nearby.

“Here,” he said suddenly. “Keep this for emergencies.”

He handed me a few pills, then left as abruptly as he had come. I watched him leave before glancing down at the pills in my palm, unsure of their nature but feeling a curious unease.

Time moved forward. Since I had fully recovered, it was time to leave. I prepared my departure and approached Lira and Michelle to say goodbye.

But before I could go, Lira broke into tears. She clung to my neck with all her strength, refusing to release me no matter how many times Michelle tried to calm her.

“Are you really leaving Lira behind?” she asked, her voice quivering, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“If you ever want to see me, you can come to the palace,” I suggested gently. “Would that be alright?”

She shook her head and cried even harder.

“That’s enough, Lira. If you keep crying, your eyes will swell,” Michelle said flatly. I gently seated Lira on a nearby chair.

“I promise I’ll visit sometimes. And this is my gift to you.”

I offered her a wooden pendant I had carved myself.

“Is this really for Lira?” she asked, still sniffling. I nodded.

“Yes. My name is carved on it. If you ever come to the palace, show this to the guards—they’ll let you and Michelle inside.”

“Really? I can enter the palace?” she asked, her expression lighting up with hope.

“Just show it to them,” I said softly. “They’ll bring you to me.”

She smiled then. I returned the smile faintly.

So this is how my fate unfolds, I thought.

After fastening the pendant around her neck, I turned to leave. Lira had wanted to play with me since yesterday, but Michelle had refused. Even today, she still forbade it. I did not know why.

“Are you not even a little sad that I’m leaving?” I asked Michelle.

She sighed.

“I’ve lived with Lira from the beginning. Your departure is not something I need to consider,” she replied and entered the house.

“Lira… I’m leaving,” I said gently.

She approached, and I patted her head softly.

“Take care of yourself—and look after Michelle,” I said. She nodded.

“Go play now—but don’t go too far.”

I found Michelle cooking in the kitchen.

“Michelle, I’m going now. Thank you for helping and healing me. The royal family will send gifts to you. Just accept them—I won’t take no.”

She did not reply.

I walked away. One last time, I looked back. She was still there, not facing me.

I looked up at the sky—bright, warm.

“I hope you’ll all be alright,” I whispered.

The wooden house came back into view. A tightness formed in my chest. Perhaps peace felt like this. Or perhaps… it was because of someone inside that house.

And those unspoken thoughts followed me as I finally walked away.

—

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