Daniel felt strange when he woke up the following morning. It was not the familar bedroom or smell of old wood that greeted him but the confides of a tiny cot that barely fit him. Most of all though, the fishy smell of river water overwhelmed most of his sense when he got up. It seemed he still wasn't used to it yet. The clothes already in his bedroom wardrobe fitted Daniel quite well so even though he seemingly didn't bring anything with him to Midnight, he lucked out.
By the time Daniel walked downstairs the sun was fairly high in the sky. Just as Daniel was about to make his way into the main shop area, a whiff of something caught his nose. Trailing it, Daniel followed the stairs up again until he reached a small dining room and kitchen. Four plates were set out on the table, wooden cutlery accompanying them.
Eni was stirring a pot of soup over a large fire pit of sorts, where the smell was coming from. Of what Daniel could see, various vegetables bobbed up and down in the soup, which was for the most part a translucent colour. By Eni's side was a compartment set further back into the wall, with a fish on a spit set in it. Heavy smoke billowed from the compartment, some of it not rising up into the connected chimney above but leaving into the room, overwhelming it with rich smells.
"Ah, Daniel, breakfast won't be for another hour or so I'd say so you might want join Anya outside. If you don't mind, keep an eye on her too since she'll probably be playing with the other kids. Havie's outside helping some of his friends in town if you want to get him." Eni said, speaking from over her shoulder.
"I see. I'll be back in a bit then, ma'am." Daniel replied before going back downstairs, secretly wishing that he would have stayed in there a bit longer to savour the smells. When Daniel exited the shop, the chill riverside air cleansed his senses almost immediately. Unlike the other day, the river was calm and the violent torrents and splashes of yesterday's were almost non-existent. Taking a short walk to the edge of the river, Daniel sat down on the wet grass beside it's edge, staring into it's depths. It was deceivingly deep, Daniel found, him unable to see the bottom even only a few breadths from the river edge; but what else would have Daniel expected from a river that originates from the darkness of the forest of Gearmön.
With more time on his hands than he has had in what felt like forever, Daniel could finally let himself rest and his mind wander. He still didn't dare to try and remember the events that transpired around three weeks ago now, in fear that he would break down again. Even so, nothing could relieve Daniel's nerves about what his future would be like.
One moment, Daniel had gained closure on his father's death and accepted it. In another, Daniel resolved to still continue his enrolment in the Academy, taking interest in actually becoming a Guild member rather than being one just to get closer to where his father disappeared to. Then in another moment, he was happier than he had ever been in his life, two good friends by his side: Nyn and the one he doesn't dare to remember the name of, lest the memories come back again. Finally, in the most recent moment, all of that was torn away, leaving nothing. And Daniel was reduced to a husk of a person, yet again.
In this moment, however, Daniel had no idea what he was supposed to be doing in Midnight. For he didn't believe that he was sent away here just for his own safety, otherwise he would be sent to somewhere further away than this town. At least the fraeru he was staying with seemed nice. How Lanyon or Igo knew them, Daniel couldn't fathom. Either way, he was safe. Perhaps even eventually happy.
Despite that, Daniel couldn't help but feel like this was all a farce. Something to lead him into a false sense of security, before they did something terrible to him. Daniel knew that way of thinking was preposterous but he couldn't shake that sensation no matter what he tried to make himself believe. Should he try and run away then? No. Daniel would be caught within days. And on the off chance he wasn't, Daniel would either die a starved and dehydrated corpse somewhere in the wilderness, or he would be caught by those who wanted him dead in Alandriel, and those cursed memories would play out once more. This time, in reality.
It was then, in that moment of realisation, that Daniel realised what he was so afraid of. The possibility that if he ever wanted something again, he would be betrayed and left all alone, because who would want someone who whines and moans and pesters and cries in their lives? That's right, no one would.
"Daniel, I presume?" someone asked from behind. Turning around, Daniel laid his eyes upon someone with a striking resemblance to Connor. "Yes, I must be right. Ah! I suppose this will be our first time meeting each other. Well then, my name is Gulliver, Gull to my friends."