The days became quieter.
That should have been comforting.
Instead, it made Elsa uneasy.
---
For nearly two weeks, no hunters came.
No soldiers.
No rumors carried by frightened travelers.
Nothing.
---
The forest settled into routine.
A dangerous thing.
Because routine creates attachment.
---
Morning meant gathering water.
Afternoons meant helping repair things the old man had already repaired incorrectly.
Evenings meant sitting outside while the sun disappeared beyond the trees.
---
It felt normal.
---
Elsa hated how much she liked it.
---
"You missed a spot."
She pointed toward the roof.
---
The old man looked upward.
Squinted.
---
"...No, I didn't."
---
"The rain literally comes through there."
---
"That's ventilation."
---
Elsa stared at him.
---
"That's a hole."
---
"A very determined hole."
---
For a brief moment—
She laughed again.
---
The old man smiled quietly.
Not drawing attention to it.
Not making it important.
---
Which somehow made it more important.
---
The laughter faded.
But the warmth remained.
---
That night—
Elsa sat outside alone.
Looking at the stars.
---
Edward used to do this.
Not often.
But sometimes.
---
Back when she was small.
Back when the world felt larger.
Safer.
---
A memory surfaced.
---
"Father."
---
"Hm?"
---
"Why do stars shine?"
---
Edward had been silent for nearly a minute.
Thinking.
---
Then—
"I don't know."
---
"You don't know?"
---
"No."
---
"But you're an adult."
---
"I know."
---
"Adults are supposed to know everything."
---
Edward had laughed.
---
"Then don't tell anyone I'm failing."
---
The memory faded.
Leaving behind a small smile.
And a familiar ache.
---
"...I miss you."
---
The words disappeared into the night.
---
No answer came.
---
But for once—
The silence didn't hurt as much.
---
Behind her—
The hut door opened softly.
---
The old man stepped outside.
Holding two cups again.
---
"You do that a lot."
---
"What?"
---
"Appear with tea."
---
"It's a useful skill."
---
Elsa accepted the cup.
---
The old man sat beside her.
Quietly.
---
For a while—
Neither spoke.
---
Then—
"Someone's coming."
---
Elsa immediately felt it.
Movement.
Far away.
Multiple people.
---
Not soldiers.
Different.
---
The old man's expression darkened slightly.
---
"Visitors."
---
"Friends?"
---
The old man laughed.
---
"At my age?"
---
That answered the question.
---
The next morning—
They arrived.
---
Three riders.
---
Not kingdom soldiers.
Not hunters.
---
Adventurers.
---
Old ones.
Experienced.
Dangerous.
---
They stopped before the hut.
Studying it.
Studying the old man.
---
Then one of them smiled.
---
"Still alive, old bastard."
---
The old man groaned.
---
"Oh no."
---
Elsa immediately knew.
---
These people knew him.
---
Which meant trouble.
---
The woman leading the group dismounted first.
Silver hair.
Scar across one eye.
Spear on her back.
---
She noticed Elsa immediately.
---
Silence followed.
---
A long silence.
---
Then—
"...You adopted another one?"
---
The old man nearly choked.
---
Elsa blinked.
---
The woman blinked.
---
Then both looked at him.
---
"Explain."
---
For the first time since meeting him—
The old man looked genuinely uncomfortable.
---
And Elsa suddenly realized something.
---
She knew almost nothing about him.
---
Not his name.
Not his past.
Not why he lived alone.
---
Nothing.
---
The woman folded her arms.
---
"You haven't told her?"
---
"Told her what?"
---
The old man sighed heavily.
---
The other adventurers exchanged glances.
---
Then one quietly muttered—
---
"She's going to be angry."
---
The old man looked toward the sky.
As though hoping it might save him.
---
It didn't.
---
Elsa slowly stood.
---
"...What exactly haven't you told me?"
---
For the first time—
The old man had no easy answer.
---
And far away—
Within the capital—
Jack finally uncovered something hidden for over sixteen years.
---
A report.
Forgotten.
Sealed.
Buried.
---
About a dragon woman.
A human man.
And the knight who hunted them.
---
Jack's hands tightened around the document.
---
Because the signature at the bottom belonged to only one person.
---
The spear warrior.
---
And for the first time—
Jack realized the story he had been told...
...might have been a lie.