"Aina, sweetheart, we're nearly there." 

Haerak murmured, his voice soothing and warm. 

Haerak

"Just a little longer, and I promise there'll be a place to rest, okay?"

Aina's little face scrunched up, a pout forming as she tugged at his hand, her steps slower and reluctant. 

"But, Daddy, my legs are tired!"

 Aina

She whined, stamping one foot. 

"And this bag is so heavy!"

Haerak knelt down, carefully setting the larger bag on the ground to free his hand. 

He gave her an understanding smile as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.

"I know, my little warrior." 

He chuckled softly, using the nickname she always loved. 

"You've been so brave, carrying that bag all by yourself. But we're almost there—look, see that big tree up ahead? That's our last stop before we can take a real break. We'll sit under the shade and have a snack. How's that sound?"

Aina's pout softened a little, but she glanced at the tree and then back at him, still unconvinced. 

"Can you carry me, Daddy?"

Haerak pretended to think about it, giving her a playful, exaggerated sigh. 

"Hmm, well, with this bag, and that one, and..." 

He leaned in close, his eyes twinkling. 

"Are you sure you're not too big for me to carry now? You might just knock me right over!"

Aina giggled, covering her mouth with her free hand. 

"I'm not that big, Daddy! I'm just a little warrior, remember?"

"Of course, of course." 

He said, laughing softly as he picked her up with one arm, balancing the extra weight. 

"How silly of me to forget!" 

With her nestled against his shoulder, he could feel the tension and exhaustion begin to ease, the warm trust in her grip a small reminder of why he kept going.

As they walked, Aina rested her head against his shoulder, her voice softening. 

"Daddy?"

"Mm?"

"I'll help you carry the bags again when we rest, okay?"

Haerak's heart swelled a little, his smile gentle as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. 

"I know you will, my little warrior. You've been helping me all day, haven't you?"

She nodded sleepily, her small arms tightening around his neck as they reached the shade of the tree. As he sat down, he could feel her doze off on his shoulder, her earlier complaints forgotten. Haerak gave her one last tender look before settling against the tree himself, grateful for the quiet moment in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

After a short rest under the cool shade, Haerak gently stirred Aina awake. 

She blinked groggily, rubbing her eyes as she looked up at her father, who smiled softly.

"Alright, my little warrior, ready to keep going?" he asked, adjusting the bags and taking her hand again.

Aina nodded, though she gave a little yawn as they began their journey once more. After a few moments, her curiosity sparked. 

"Daddy... tell me about the village again. Ember Wind, right?"

Haerak's face lit up, clearly delighted. 

"That's right, Ember Wind. It's our home, you know. The place where I grew up and where all our friends and family are waiting for us." He pointed up the path, where the sky began to open, revealing glimpses of blue. "It's not too far now, and once we get there, you'll see what I mean."

"Is it really big? Like a big castle?"

"Not a castle, no." 

He chuckled. 

"But to me, it feels just as special. It's nestled in an island, surrounded by fields of wheat that sway in the wind like waves on the sea. And in the evenings, when the sun sets, the whole place glows with this warm, golden light. That's why they call it Ember Wind. When the breeze picks up, the village looks like it's wrapped in a gentle fire."

Aina's eyes sparkled, imagination filling her gaze as she imagined the golden fields. 

"Is there a forest there too? Like the one we passed?"

"Oh, yes." 

Haerak nodded, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. 

"There's a forest at the edge of the village where I used to play as a boy. It's filled with the biggest, oldest trees you've ever seen, their branches twisting all the way up to the clouds. My friends and I used to pretend they were ladders to the stars."

Aina giggled, squeezing his hand a little tighter. 

"And did you ever climb all the way to the top?"

Haerak chuckled, shaking his head. 

"Oh, no, no. Not with my mother watching! She would've had a fit if she thought I was climbing that high." 

He leaned down a bit, lowering his voice like he was sharing a big secret. 

"But sometimes... we would go up just a little bit, high enough that we could see the whole village from above."

Aina grinned, looking thrilled by the idea. "Will you take me to climb the trees too?"

"If you're brave enough," he teased, tapping her nose gently, "and only if we get permission from your Aunt Seraphina. She was always watching over me back then. I'm sure she'll do the same for you."

Aina's face lit up at the mention of her grandmother. 

"And Aunt Seraphina is waiting for us, right? And she makes the best cookies, you said?"

Haerak laughed, a deep, warm sound that echoed in the quiet woods. 

"She does. And she can't wait to spoil you with them. In fact, when I told her we were coming, she started baking that very day. Said she wanted to make sure there'd be enough for a hungry traveler like you."

Haerak asked, glancing down at her with a warm smile.

"By the way, sweetheart. Did I ever tell you the story of how Emberwind Village started?" 

Aina tilted her head up, her face lighting up at the prospect of a story. 

"No, Daddy! You haven't told me about your village before. You made it?"

Haerak chuckled, a bit surprised she hadn't heard it yet. 

"Yes, sweetheart, along with two of my closest friends. They're more like family to me, really. We built it before you were even born."

"Like... building a house?"

"Kind of like that, yes. But imagine building not just one house, but a whole village—finding people, helping them settle, giving them a place where they could be safe and live happily." 

He explained, slowing down so she could keep up with the conversation. 

"Back then, the kingdoms were... well, they weren't very nice places to live. The kings were greedy and didn't care about the people at all. So, we wanted something different, something peaceful, where people could work together and help each other."

Aina's face scrunched up thoughtfully, and she looked back up at him. 

"But Daddy... if the kingdoms weren't very nice, why did we go to the Kingdom of Drakonium?"

Haerak laughed softly, a warm chuckle that lingered in the morning air. 

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. 

"Well, this time it's not for the kingdom itself. It's because I wanted an adventure with you."

Her face lit up. 

"An adventure with me?"

"That's right." 

He said, smiling down at her. 

"This trip is for you and me to spend time together, to see a bit more of the world. It's not about Drakonium's kings or their castles. It's about giving us a chance to explore, just the two of us."

Aina's face softened, her previous worries melting away. 

"Well... then let's keep going, Daddy!" she said, giving his hand an excited tug.

Aina's eyes sparkled with wonder. 

"Daddy, about the village, your friends helped you, right?"

"Yes, indeed. They were siblings, like brother and sister. We shared the same dreams, and they worked just as hard as I did to make Emberwind real. We planned everything from the houses to the fields, thinking about how people could live there safely without having to worry about wars or, you know... all the bad things."

Aina looked up at him, as if studying her father anew. "That's... really cool, Daddy. So everyone there is your friend?"

Haerak chuckled, reaching over to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. 

"That's right. It was a lot of work, but we slowly gathered people. Some were farmers, others were crafters, or just people who wanted a safe place to raise their families. We all worked together. It wasn't easy, but... well, now it's home."

They walked in a comfortable silence for a moment as Aina took it all in, her small steps quickening to match his stride.

She then looked up, her little brow furrowed in thought. 

"Did you ever think it wouldn't work?"

A soft smile touched Haerak's face. 

"Oh, many times. Starting something from nothing always feels impossible at first. But having friends beside me, and eventually a whole village... it gave me hope. I knew if we stuck together, we could build something lasting, something real."

Aina gave his hand a squeeze. 

"I'm glad you didn't give up, Daddy."

"Me too, Aina."

In an instant, their peaceful walk shattered. 

Out of the dense brush, three shadowy figures lunged, their eyes glinting with the hunger of men who had given themselves over to darkness. 

Haerak barely had time to react as he stumbled, clutching Aina's hand tightly, but the weight of their bags dragged him to the ground. 

He hit hard, the jolt sending a sharp ache through his bones. 

The bags fell, spilling their few belongings across the path, scattering the small tokens of their journey like leaves in the wind.

"Run, Aina!" 

Haerak's voice trembled, yet there was steel in it. 

He pulled himself up just enough to look into her wide, terrified eyes, his own heart breaking as he whispered. 

"Go! Now, honey. I need you to go."

But Aina's little face crumpled, tears filling her eyes as she clung tighter to him. 

"Daddy!" she wailed, her voice cracking. 

She shook her head, her whole world splitting apart in her small hands.

He said, forcing himself to smile, even as he felt panic grip his heart. 

"Listen to me." 

He brushed his fingers over her cheek, gentle but urgent. 

"I'll be right behind you. You just have to get out of here, okay? Run fast and don't look back."

Her lips trembled, and she shook her head again, her tiny fists clinging to his coat as the bandits drew closer. 

One of them laughed, low and cruel, savoring their fear like a vulture circling its prey.

"Please, Aina," Haerak whispered, his own voice thick. 

"I promise. Just... go. Daddy will be right behind you."

With one last look, filled with the innocence of a child who didn't understand but trusted him, she nodded, her small face streaked with tears.

Haerak scrambled for his bag, his fingers brushing against the handle of a small kitchen knife—

The only thing he could reach that might give him a fighting chance. 

But before he could get a solid grip, a boot connected with his stomach, sending him sprawling across the ground. 

Pain burst through his midsection as he rolled, gasping for air. 

"Arghhh!"

His vision blurred, yet he could see the bandits towering over him, their faces twisted with smug amusement as they inspected him like he was nothing more than a game.

One bandit sneered, nudging the fallen bags with his boot. 

"What have you got here, old man? Anything worth our time?"

Haerak's pulse thundered in his ears as he struggled to sit up, his gaze flickering to the items strewn across the ground. 

Just small tokens of his journey with Aina—her tiny shoes, a faded blanket she insisted on bringing, a small pouch of food meant to get them through the day. 

The thought of these men laying hands on the few remnants of their life together made his stomach turn.

"Looks like we've got some souvenirs here, boys." The man's laughter was sharp and cold. 

"Hey, why don't we make this more interesting? Might be something even better with the little one."

At that, the second bandit jerked his head in the direction Aina had run, his eyes darkening with a predatory glint. 

"Yeah, I'll go fetch her. She won't get far."

Haerak's breath hitched. Every instinct in him screamed, pulling him from the haze of pain, replacing it with a fierce resolve. 

 His voice tore from his throat, raw and desperate, the sound of a father's pure —

Unbreakable love.

"Aina! NO!" 

Ignoring the throbbing pain in his body, he staggered to his feet and lunged at the man who had taken a step toward his daughter. 

Haerak shoved the bandit back, his grip solid, fueled by the single, fierce purpose of keeping Aina safe. 

But the man turned, his face contorted in fury, and swung, his fist connecting with Haerak's cheek.

"Get the fuck off me, old man!!"

Stars exploded in Haerak's vision as he staggered, feeling the warm trickle of blood from his lip. 

His head throbbed, and he could barely stand, but he refused to let the thought of giving up take hold. 

Not while Aina was out there, alone and scared, just waiting for him to keep his promise.

"Think you're some kind of hero, don't you?" the bandit sneered, grabbing Haerak by the collar and shaking him like a rag doll. 

"What, you thought you'd just walk through here with all this?" 

He kicked the scattered bags, anger flashing across his face. 

"How 'bout I let you watch while I go fetch the girl?"

Haerak's heart twisted with desperation, and his face, bloodied and bruised, steeled with a fierceness that even the bandits hadn't expected. 

"You don't lay a hand on her."

But they only laughed, enjoying the sight of his hopeless fury. 

Haerak could feel his hands trembling as he forced himself to rise, each movement a defiance, each step closer to the bandits a vow.

△▼△▼△▼△

Aina's small feet pounded against the rough ground, her breaths coming in sharp, panicked gasps. 

She ran and ran, her heart racing, her tiny hands clenched tight as she held onto that promise—her daddy's promise—that he would be right behind her. 

But as the trees blurred by, doubt crept in, wrapping around her heart like a cold wind.

She tripped on an exposed root, her balance crumbling as she fell forward, scraping her hands and knees against the ground.

She sat up, her palms stinging, and looked back at the empty, winding path. The weight of silence pressed down on her, thick and unyielding. 

Her lips quivered as she whispered.

"Daddy..."

Her voice seemed to vanish into the stillness, swallowed by the trees and darkness, as if even her words were too scared to linger. 

She felt tears welling up in her eyes, hot and blurring her vision. 

But she held back, gripping tightly onto the memory of his last words, the warmth of his hand as he whispered it—a promise. Her fingers brushed the locket he had given her before the journey, a small trinket she had clung to so many nights.

"No..." she whimpered, her small voice cracking. 

"Daddy said... he promised. He'll be right behind me."

But as the seconds ticked by and the shadows crept closer, the world around her grew colder, emptier, and the tears she had held back broke free. 

Her tiny shoulders shook as she hugged herself, her breath hitching. The weight of her fear and loneliness crashed down, pulling her into a despair she couldn't understand.

"Daddy..." 

She sobbed, the sound barely a whisper as she curled up, clutching her locket close to her chest, feeling the sharp ache of missing him. 

She waited, hoping he would appear, that somehow he'd run through the trees and sweep her up in his arms.

But there was only silence.

Suddenly, from the shadows of the trees, a man appeared, his tall figure looming over Aina as he crouched down to her level. 

His face was rugged, marked by the scars of battle, but his eyes were kind, glimmering with a hint of concern. 

He asked gently, his voice soothing despite the size of the war axe strapped to his back.

"Are you okay, little girl?"

Aina's heart raced as fear gripped her. 

She scrambled back, instinct driving her to flee. 

"No! Stay away!" 

She cried, her instincts screaming that he was just another bandit like the ones who had attacked her father. 

She turned and bolted, her small legs pumping furiously as she dashed deeper into the forest.

"Wait! Please!" the man called after her, his voice cutting through the rustle of leaves. 

"You forgot this!"

Aina skidded to a halt, her heart racing as she turned back. 

In his outstretched hand, she saw her precious locket—the trinket her father had given her before they set out on their adventure. The sight of it pulled her in like a magnet. 

She hesitated, fear battling with the need to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

"Please," he urged, taking a cautious step closer but keeping his hand open and visible. 

"I'm not here to hurt you. Just look."

Slowly, Aina approached, her gaze fixed on the locket. 

She stammered, her voice trembling as she inched closer, wary yet desperate to reclaim a piece of her father.

"You... you have my locket." 

"I found it when I saw you running. I thought you might need it." 

He said, a warm smile breaking through the seriousness of the moment.

Tears welled in Aina's eyes as she reached out, her small fingers trembling as they brushed against the cold metal of the locket. 

"That's mine!" she exclaimed, snatching it from his grasp. 

"You're not a bad guy?"

He shook his head, his demeanor softening. 

"No, I'm not. I'm just a traveler passing through. My name is Qarek. And you're all alone out here, aren't you?"

Qarek

Aina's heart raced as she clutched the locket to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

"My daddy... he needs help!!"

Qarek's expression shifted to one of understanding. 

"I can help you find him. We can look together, okay?"

Her heart ached, the weight of her fear beginning to lift ever so slightly. 

"You... you really mean it?"

"Of course. I'll help you." 

Qarek said, his voice steady and reassuring. 

"You don't have to be alone."

Aina nodded, taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart. 

"Thank you."

Qarek asked gently, crouching back down to her level.

"What's your name?" 

"Aina."

"Nice to meet you, Aina. Now, let's find your daddy."

Aina smiled through her tears, feeling a flicker of hope. 

"Okay... Qarek." 

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, taking a moment to catch her breath. 

"What if we can't find him?"

"We will." 

Qarek promised, a fierce determination in his voice. 

"We just need to keep looking. He might be searching for you, too."

As they run side by side through the forest, Aina clutched her locket tightly, still glancing up at Qarek with a mixture of curiosity and unease. 

After a while, she broke the silence.

"My dad... he told me to run because some bad people... they tried to hurt us. He's probably still with them." 

She said, her voice wavering. 

"Three bandits. They wanted everything we had. But... he stayed behind to keep me safe." 

Her eyes glistened with fresh tears as she added.

"He's all alone right now."

Qarek's face grew serious, and he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 

"Your father sounds like a brave man, Aina. And I'll make sure he's safe. We'll find him together."

"But... three bandits?" 

She murmured, looking up at him, her voice filled with worry. 

"How can you be so sure we can beat them?" 

She took in his worn, rugged appearance, the way he carried himself—steady and unafraid. 

"You're... you're not even scared."

Qarek chuckled softly, his gaze thoughtful as he looked ahead. 

"I'm confident because I've been trained for moments like these. And when you've seen enough battles, the fear begins to fade. But it's not just any training." 

He said, a small, almost nostalgic smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

"I learned everything I know from my captain. He's... well, he's unlike anyone you've ever met."

Aina's eyes widened. 

"Who is he?"

For a moment, Qarek was silent, as if he were sifting through memories, picking out the right words. 

He said finally, a deep respect in his tone.

"His name is..."

"... Zach." 

═════ ◆ TO BE CONTINUED ◆ ═════

◆ ◆ ◆ Author's Notes ◆ ◆ ◆

Another member of the Renaissance band has appeared!