The clearing felt strangely tense.
Not because of danger.
Because of embarrassment.
---
The old man rubbed his forehead.
The three adventurers stood nearby with expressions ranging from amusement to disappointment.
---
Elsa folded her arms.
Waiting.
---
"...Well?"
---
The old man sighed.
Long.
Deep.
The sigh of a man whose peaceful life had just ended.
---
"My name is Rowan."
---
Silence.
---
Elsa blinked.
---
"That's it?"
---
"...What do you mean that's it?"
---
"You acted like you were confessing to murder."
---
One of the adventurers immediately coughed.
Violently.
---
The old man closed his eyes.
---
The woman with the scar covered her face.
---
Elsa slowly turned toward them.
---
"...Why did he react like that?"
---
Nobody answered.
---
Which was answer enough.
---
The atmosphere instantly became heavier.
---
Rowan sighed again.
---
"I used to be an adventurer."
---
"I figured."
---
"A famous one."
---
"...How famous?"
---
The three visitors stared at her.
---
One finally spoke.
---
"Every tavern in the kingdom knows his name."
---
Elsa looked back at Rowan.
Then back at them.
Then back at Rowan.
---
"...Really?"
---
The old man looked uncomfortable.
---
Which confirmed it.
---
The realization felt bizarre.
---
Because the man who couldn't repair a roof properly was apparently some kind of legend.
---
"Why are you living in the middle of nowhere then?"
---
Rowan became quiet.
---
For a moment—
The humor disappeared.
---
His eyes drifted toward the forest.
Toward memories.
---
"Because I got tired."
---
The answer sounded simple.
Too simple.
---
Tired of fighting.
Tired of losing people.
Tired of surviving.
---
Elsa understood immediately.
---
Because she was becoming tired too.
---
The woman finally stepped forward.
---
"We didn't come here to reminisce."
---
Her expression sharpened.
---
"Things are changing."
---
Rowan nodded slowly.
---
"I guessed."
---
The adventurer looked toward Elsa.
Not hostile.
Not friendly.
Evaluating.
---
"The kingdom is preparing something."
---
The air grew colder.
---
Elsa already knew what that meant.
---
Hunters.
---
Armies.
---
Fear gathering into something larger.
---
"What kind of something?"
---
The adventurer hesitated.
---
Then answered honestly.
---
"An extermination."
---
Silence.
---
No one reacted immediately.
---
Because the word itself said enough.
---
Not capture.
Not negotiation.
Not containment.
---
Extermination.
---
Elsa lowered her gaze slightly.
---
Part of her wasn't surprised.
---
That almost hurt more.
---
The woman continued.
---
"People are panicking."
---
"Over one person?"
---
"No."
---
A pause.
---
"Over what they think you might become."
---
There it was again.
---
The same reason.
Always the same reason.
---
Not what she had done.
---
What she might do.
---
Elsa laughed softly.
Not because it was funny.
Because she was tired.
---
"So they're punishing a future that doesn't exist."
---
Nobody disagreed.
---
Because that was exactly what was happening.
---
Rowan looked toward her quietly.
---
His eyes carried concern.
---
Not fear.
---
Concern.
---
That difference mattered.
---
The conversation ended shortly after.
---
The adventurers remained for the evening.
---
Stories were exchanged.
Old memories revisited.
Arguments restarted.
---
For a brief moment—
The hut felt alive.
---
Normal.
---
Elsa mostly listened.
---
Learning things about Rowan he clearly never intended to share.
---
How he once fought a wyvern barehanded.
---
How he accidentally destroyed a noble's estate.
---
How he got banned from seven taverns.
---
"Eight."
---
"Still proud of that?"
---
"A little."
---
The woman sighed.
---
Elsa laughed again.
---
And for a few hours—
She forgot.
---
Forgot hunters.
Forgot kingdoms.
Forgot graves.
---
Forgot pain.
---
Just for a little while.
---
That night—
After everyone slept—
Elsa remained outside.
---
The stars stretched endlessly above her.
---
Peaceful.
---
Silent.
---
Then footsteps approached.
---
Rowan.
---
He sat beside her.
---
Neither spoke immediately.
---
The forest breathed softly around them.
---
Finally—
Rowan asked:
---
"Are you happy here?"
---
The question surprised her.
---
Because she hadn't allowed herself to think about it.
---
Happy.
---
A dangerous word.
---
A dangerous hope.
---
"...A little."
---
The answer came quietly.
---
Honest.
---
Rowan smiled.
---
"Good."
---
Silence followed.
---
Then Elsa looked toward him.
---
"...Why are you helping me?"
---
Again.
The same question.
---
This time—
Rowan answered differently.
---
"Because someone once taught me that protecting one person can matter more than saving a thousand."
---
The words felt strangely familiar.
---
Edward would have understood them.
---
Perhaps too well.
---
Far away—
In the capital—
Jack sat alone.
---
The report remained open before him.
---
Blood-stained records.
Witness accounts.
Orders signed years ago.
---
And one detail refused to leave his mind.
---
The dragon woman had not attacked anyone.
---
Not one person.
---
She had only run.
---
Protecting her unborn child.
---
Jack slowly closed his eyes.
---
Because he finally understood something terrible.
---
Edward wasn't the first person betrayed by someone trying to save the world.
---
And unless something changed—
Elsa wouldn't be the last.