"Did... Did you just say... Eric?"
Eric was looking at Janette incredulously. As far as he could tell, Janette has refused to make a single sound since the moment she was born two months ago.
Yet the first words that came out of her mouth were none other than her father's name. It was unheard of for a two-month-old to be able to talk. It must be a coincidence.
Eric looked at her and saw a huge smile from ear to ear as if she was making fun of him...
"It's me Dad, can you say my name?" Eric said trying to keep a straight face.
"Mhm... Eric!"
"There's no way! Janette, we are going for Nana. She needs to see this"
Eric hastily picked up his sheathed sword and tied it around his waist, and after picking Janette up, they were off.
Janette saw everything happen so fast, after leaving home Eric dashed across town, a very picturesque village surrounded by a pinewood forest and a small river painted the scenery.
Yet Janette didn't have the time to appreciate the beauty of such a place. In a matter of seconds, Eric had already traveled tens of meters as if they were as light as the morning breeze.
Janette tried looking down to see her father's feet but his footwork was immaculate. Almost as if they were floating in a shadow. Janette was starting to get nauseous due to the blur of everything around them.
After a few short instances, they arrived at a big house. Although the architecture was a bit rough since it was made with mud, stones, and barely any 'processed' wood as the biggest building nearby it was still impressive.
Eric rushed inside and looked for Nana immediately. This place was nothing but a big room where you could see a few injured and sick people. As a 'town hall' it was nothing other than a room that made for whatever need there was at the present moment.
"Nana."
The middle-aged woman looked at her son and got upset almost instantly.
"Eric, you know you can't bring Janette here, what will you do if she gets sick you dumb monkey"
An embarrassed expression could be seen momentarily on his face yet it was quickly washed away with excitement once more.
"Nana... Janette spoke!" Said Eric while holding Janette up with both arms, almost as if presenting her as a tribute to the heavens.
"All this fuss for a gugu gaga? grow up Eric, it is great she is not sick but if you keep her here she could be soon..." Nana Said with an exasperated expression.
Until Janette spoke while pointing around.
"E-ric, Nn-ana, umm Janette." Janette said while pointing at herself. Her grin could almost devour the whole word for the size she was showing, still missing every single tooth.
Nana's eyes grew as huge as watermelons while she looked around to see if anyone else noticed...
"Let's go outside for a second my son." Nana could barely hide her excitement, yet a hint of concern was hidden behind her expression.
After leaving for a secluded area and double-checking that no one was around, Nana's expression relaxed a little bit.
"Eric, you need to be careful my son, you must not make Janette stand out too much did you hear me?
We are not completely safe in this village, if they were to find Janette I am afraid you alone will not be enough to protect her."
Eric's expression turned dark and his demeanor changed as he gritted his teeth.
This was the life they have chosen for themselves, he felt furious that even after all those years they should still live as fugitives. The thought of Janette being involved in something she has no reason to be involved with because of him made him rethink his actions.
There was no use in crying over spilled milk. But it wouldn't make the fact that the did was already done any better.
As long as they could stay far away from Jhoan's family they will be safe, even if safety was nothing but an illusion, he still wanted to see his daughter grow up to be a beautiful woman but alas maybe destiny had other plans...
"I'm so sorry Nana, I wasn't thinking things through..."
Eric's presence became ice cold, but his rage had no direction to go, he lacked the strength, the only thing a man should never lack, and thus he wasn't strong enough to protect his family.
He wasn't strong enough to protect his wife...
After that incident, things stayed somewhat the same, Nana stopped volunteering at the town hall and stayed home with Janette while Eric trained and hunted for the village.
To be completely honest Nana was terrified of Janette's capacity to learn and understand everything that was going on around her. A few months went past and Nana focused on teaching Janette as much as she could in order to keep the both of them occupied.
Janette's body was still a little weaker than the usual six-month-old baby but her mental fortitude was unheard of...
With enough time Janette understood her place in this world. From what she was able to gather it seems that her parents have committed some unforgivable sin and they have been on the run ever since.
At the moment they were in a small town called Pine Bark with around four hundred inhabitants, although life in the village was primitive and rough it was still a good and carefree life nonetheless...