Hovering above the ground, he slowly raised his hand, palm facing the sky, as if commanding the universe itself. The air around him began to stir, first as a gentle breeze, then turning into a stronger current, charged with energy. His eyes shone with determination as, gradually, an invisible force gathered around his hand. The swirling wind turned into a fiery spiral, and in an instant, a flickering crimson flame ignited, growing in intensity. It was a magnificent sight, almost alive, dancing between his fingers as if the fire recognized him as its master.
Still in the palm of his hand, a small translucent sphere began to form, hovering inches away like an enchanted jewel. Slowly, it grew, expanding into a sphere of incandescent fire, so bright and fierce that it seemed to contain the power of a small sun. Flames rippled around his fingers, roaring silently, as if yearning for release. And then, just as he was about to smile, satisfied with the mastery he had achieved, the fireball abruptly disappeared, like a mere spark lost in the wind.
— Well... At least it's a step forward... — he muttered, a mix of frustration and relief escaping his lips.
As if the invisible force keeping him afloat had suddenly been pulled away,he gently descended until his body settled on the ground again. His hair, which had acquired an unearthly shine during a manifestation of magic, gradually returned to its natural color. He let out a long sigh and stood up, patting his pants to clear away the debris that had accumulated during his little display of power.
"Now I..." His mind drifted for a moment, but something interrupted him. His eyes narrowed as they locked onto a point in the dense darkness of the forest. There was something there... or someone. Two eyes, red like embers, watched him from the shadows, piercing and fierce.
— An observer, huh? — a casual tone left his lips, without looking away. — You've been there for quite a while, haven't you?
From within the darkness, the creature revealed itself. A massive wolf emerged from the shadows, its sharp fangs gleaming under the faint moonlight. So different from any wolf, this one had something that caught the boy's attention... That's because there was black sorcery in the great beast. Its claws touched the ground with deadly softness, and its fur, black as night, blended with the surroundings, except for a few gray streaks that betrayed its age and experience. A deep howl reverberated through the forest, a sound more akin to the roar of an approaching storm.
He took a deep breath, but instead of retreating, he advanced boldly toward the beast. The wolf growled, its claws tearing into the ground like blades, but the young man remained unfazed, his expression cold and impassive.
— Are they sharp? — he commented almost casually, as if he were discussing something trivial with someone rather than a large, bloody beast. — I'll come closer to you, little friend., I don't intend to cause harm...
Each step brought him closer to the wolf, and now he could clearly see the scars of past battles marking the creature's body, and the injured right paw, hanging slightly. A wolf in such a condition wouldn't survive for long; the wilderness had no mercy for the weak. But the beast before him still held its pride, even with a wounded paw, fighting to survive.
However, when he accidentally stepped on a dry branch, the sound made the wolf recoil instinctively, vanishing back into the depths of the forest. The red glow of its eyes disappeared into the darkness as if it had never been there.
— Damn... — with a muttered, frowning. — I was so close to finding a way to kill the Old Man from the heart....
He let out a brief laugh, full of irony, but soon fell silent, realizing the cloak of darkness that now enveloped the forest around him. It was time to return. The exhaustion was starting to weigh on his bones, and with the little energy he had left, he turned and began walking back to his friend's cabin. Each step echoed softly with the sound of dry leaves crunching beneath his feet, as the serenity of the forest reclaimed the surroundings. The only evidence of the power he had invoked was the empty space where the fireball had briefly flickered, now just a memory.
Standing before the cabin door, he hesitated. His hand grasped the handle, but something made him pause. Quickly, he wiped his face, removing the traces of his recent effort, leaving only a faint smudge of dirt in its place. He took a deep breath and carefully opened the door, ensuring no sound betrayed his arrival.
As he entered, the darkness swallowed him, and the door softly closed behind him, leaving the forest and its mysteries behind.
KALED POV
I woke up that morning with a familiar heaviness in my eyelids. My eyes, still tired from the life I lead, slowly opened to the world. The dawn light, shy, had not yet flooded the room, but I knew it would soon pierce through the window's cracks, reminding me that another day of hunting awaited. Despite the chronic aches throbbing in every aged muscle, a whisper of gratitude passed through my chest—another day, another chance to live. I had no choice but to rise, even if my bones screamed in protest. Another day of hard work awaited me, just like so many I've faced and many more I still will.
As I got up, I felt the cold floor beneath my bare feet. I put on my worn hunter's clothes, garments that felt more like a second skin, silent witnesses to every battle fought in the forest. The truth is, despite the fatigue, there was something inside me that longed for one more day in the woods, a hidden pleasure in being the predator, the instinct to hunt renewing my soul. That was enough to stifle the laziness and keep me moving forward.
My dagger, my old bow, and my cloth bag were my faithful companions, but today I decided to add a little extra pleasure to the hunt: a bit of wine, courtesy of a friend, Xhalor. "Who wouldn't want to enjoy a drink while hunting a few rabbits?" I thought, letting out a mocking smile. It was a joke with myself, but the truth is that any excuse to lighten the routine was welcome.
Each firm step, which carried the weight of fatigue, on the already aged wood reminded me how old and dilapidated my house was.
I opened the cabin's wooden door, creaking as always, and was greeted by the cool morning air. It was at that moment that my peaceful journey towards hunting began to turn into something unexpected, something I still couldn't predict. Little did I know it would be an unforgettable day.
Although many say that old age brings wisdom, all I can think about is how it brings this damned urge to stay in bed all the time. "A man like me... Old man? Me? Oh, I wish!" I laughed at myself. Maybe it's the loneliness, or maybe it's the mind playing tricks with time. But, truth be told, the solitary routine of a hunter had already become part of me. Even in the internal jokes, there was a strange solace.
As I entered the forest, I was greeted by the soft embrace of the wind, carrying the smell of earth and damp leaves. For me, hunting was as natural as breathing. Instinct guided me: spot the movement, adjust the body, and... "Baaaa!" The arrow strikes the target with precision. It's that simple.
As my silent feet stepped over the fallen foliage, I felt the entire forest awakening with me. The sound of birds chirping above, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the invisible movements of small creatures crawling beneath the great thicket created a familiar symphony. Each step was a dance with nature, and despite the pain, I allowed myself to enjoy the tranquility of that moment.
Soon, I spotted my first prey—a fat rabbit, chewing on some plant, completely unaware of my presence. I prepared the bow, feeling the tension in the worn-out string, and fixed my gaze on the little animal. My body aligned with its breathing. For a second, our lungs seemed to breathe together, and then, at the exact moment it exhaled, the arrow flew.
Thwick!!
The whistle of the arrow cutting through the air filled my ears, and the sensation of the perfect hit coursed through me like a wave of adrenaline. The arrow embedded itself in the target, dropping the rabbit where it stood. My body filled with euphoria. A smile formed on my lips as I approached the prey. Lunch was secured, maybe even dinner, if luck continued to smile on me. I removed the arrow from the still warm body and, with my dagger, I put an end to the last agonizing sighs of the little living being. I kept it in my cloth bag, thinking how the life of a hunter, although lonely, was filled with these quiet moments of triumph.
— Heheh.... Let's go to the next one!!
One, two, three... My bag filled more and more with rabbit... Enough to feel the weight increasing. Maybe today the gods, the unfortunate ones, decided to give me a smile!
But fate, always mischievous, decided to play a trick on me. As I ventured deeper into the woods, I spotted a group of rabbits hopping between the plants. "Gods, am I the chosen one?" I murmured, feeling the thrill of anticipation. I was ready to shoot when a sharp scream pierced the air. A desperate sound, one that cut deep into the soul.
— What the hell is that?
My eyes widened, my body on high alert. The rabbits, panicked, fled before I could react. And then, everything went silent again. A heavy silence, broken only by the echo of that scream. It was an animal being hunted? Or something worse? A chill ran down my spine, and for a moment, I considered ignoring it. After all, curiosity kills, doesn't it? But my feet were already moving on their own toward the source of the screams, while my mind tried to convince me to turn back.
The bow was firm in my hands as I ventured deeper into the dense woods, each step more uncertain than the last. It was as if the forest itself was warning me to stop, to retreat, but something inside me, a stubborn spark, forced me to press on. "The gods are toying with me," I thought, trying to stay calm as branches scratched my skin and the sunlight filtered through the treetops, creating shadows that seemed to dance around me.
Another scream echoed, this time closer and more desperate. My heart raced, and I ran, ignoring the pain in my legs. When I finally reached the clearing, what I saw left me speechless: two bodies lying on the ground, and further ahead, a third figure, smaller, with their back to me.
I waited, the dense silence enveloping me, as if the very air was heavy with answers that refused to come. Something was supposed to happen. Something should explain what my eyes were witnessing. But nothing came—nothing but the cold emptiness that settled in my chest. I swallowed hard, gathering my courage, and took slow steps toward the three bodies in front of me.
Two men, their throats slashed by some sharp object, likely a dagger, the blood still alive on their simple clothes and oozing from the cuts on their necks. Whatever had done that, it was good with fine cuts... I recognized their garments immediately—slave traders. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, spitting on the ground in disgust. "Damn slavers!" contempt burning like any alcohol inside me.
But my eyes didn't linger on them for long. Something else caught my attention: the third body, lying a little further away. Fragile, small. A child. The sight struck me like an arrow to the chest. The clothes were in tatters, covered in dirt and blood, painting a heartbreaking picture of helplessness. I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl, and that only deepened the pain, a mix of powerlessness and sorrow.
I approached, hesitant, with a thread of senseless hope. Maybe... maybe the child was still alive. I leaned over the body, listening, searching for any signs of life. But there was nothing—no heartbeat, no breath. Only silence. I cradled that fragile body in my arms, feeling the light, almost nonexistent weight, as if life had abandoned it long ago. "You don't deserve to stay here," I thought. "Not between these two damned scum."
I decided then and there that I wouldn't let the child be devoured by the forest's predators. At the very least, it would have a proper burial. I sighed, the weight of responsibility pulling me back to the harsh reality. I gave one last glance at the slavers' bodies. I felt no remorse for leaving them there, rotting on the ground. But the child... The child didn't deserve that fate.
The pain in my back throbbed as I walked, the weight of the child in my arms making me feel all the years of my life. The rabbits I caught that morning, once a gift, now felt like an extra burden. The wine around my waist, tied, half full and half empty, I let go... It wasn't my style to give up my delicious and nice wine like that, but anything that reduced the weight would be appreciated by me. With each step, exhaustion took over, blurring my vision. "Just a little more..." I repeated to myself, like a mantra. The path home never felt so long, every rock and root along the way reminding me of my limits.
When I finally saw my cabin, immediate relief washed over me, like a sip of ice-cold water after hours under the scorching sun. I arrived, out of breath, with my body in tatters. After a light rest, I picked up a shovel to dig. I soon realized that I should buy a new shovel. Maybe Xhalor could make me a new one... I dug the hole deep enough to keep even the most persistent predators from finding it, my old body protesting with every movement. "These damn back pains…" I muttered, rubbing the place where the pain was throbbing intensely. But I continued, and then, after digging the hole, with a white cloth ready to wrap the child's body. At least the burial would be decent.
And that's when the unexpected happened.
As I began to cover the child with dirt, I saw something... move. A slight tremor in the cloth.
—Oh, gods! — I cried, stepping back, my heart racing so wildly I thought it might burst.
I couldn't believe what I had just seen. It couldn't be...! I quickly knelt down, pulling the cloth away, my fingers trembling with excitement and fear. And there he was, his eyes slowly opening, barely able to focus on me before closing again.
— the child... the child is alive! — I whispered, barely believing my own words. An unexpected miracle, a rebirth from the ashes.
I held his body carefully, as if the child were made of glass, about to break. This child was not ordinary; something more... special. His hair was tangled, his pale face was stained with dirt and blood that didn't belong to him. An almost angelic figure, out of place in the dirty world in which we lived.
I took him inside the hut, laying him on my straw bed. My heart, still beating erratically, began to calm down as I removed her clothes, revealing her young, delicate form. This child was a... A boy. I laughed a little internally, my eyes taking in every detail of his appearance, and... A great tool for his size. "The damn gods blessed him..." He wasn't just any kid, I was sure of that. The marks on the wrists, the bruised palms of the feet, probably from a difficult walk without recommended protection, but all insignificant for someone who was almost buried alive. Maybe this child was very lucky to survive all of this.
Without wasting time, with a bucket of water and a cloth, I began to clean him, each gesture meticulous and filled with growing curiosity. Who was this boy? Where had he come from? As I wiped the blood and dirt from his face, I saw that his features were refined, not belonging to anyone from this land of Essos. He seemed... foreign. Perhaps a noble child from Westeros. His appearance was singular, as if fate had thrown him into my path for some greater purpose.
I finished cleaning him and covered him with a sheet, while my thoughts raced. How would he react when he woke up? What would he say? So many questions, so many possibilities. I sat by the bed, listening to the faintness of his breathing. He was alive. And for now, that was all that mattered.
Time passed and the sound of my stomach reminded me that I also needed to take care of myself. I got up carefully, still watching him as if he could disappear at any moment, and went to prepare something to eat. But now there was something else inside me, something that hadn't been there before – a spark of hope, a promise of redemption.
The soft and juicy rabbit meat, already seasoned with herbs and spices that I had collected in the forest, awakened my appetite just by imagining the flavor that would come. The crackling of the embers slowly intensified, the wood crackling like a rustic song as I meticulously cut each piece, preparing it for the fire. The flames, dancing in the dim light of the cabin, cast shadows that played across my eyes, and I watched, mesmerized, as the meat slowly roasted until it was perfect. The aroma... oh, the aroma. It filled every corner of the cabin, as if the air itself had become a living temptation, invading my senses and enveloping my mind in a delicious embrace.
I was so focused on the task that I didn't notice the subtle sounds approaching behind me. It wasn't until I heard a muffled noise — the growl of a hungry stomach — that reality imposed itself again. My body reacted instinctively, turning in one swift motion, the knife still firm in my hand, ready for whatever might come.
There, at the edge of the shadows, stood the child. A pale figure, wrapped in a tattered sheet, his clear, hungry eyes fixed not on me, but on the piece of meat I held. He didn't need to say anything. Hunger was written in his gaze, a raw and almost desperate need.
— Hello... — my voice came out rougher than I expected, breaking the silence between us. One eyebrow raised in curiosity, but the child said nothing. His eyes didn't stray from the skewer in my hand.
A slight smile curved my lips. "You're starving, aren't you?" I thought, almost laughing at the scene. I extended the skewer toward him without hesitation. He stared at my offering for a brief moment, perhaps battling some internal doubt, but the unmistakable sound of his stomach growling again decided for him. His small, pale hand slowly reached out, taking the piece with the caution of someone who feared the food might vanish in the blink of an eye.
He took a careful bite, and I saw his eyes light up with the taste. Ah, that meat… it had been prepared with all the care and dedication of a true hunter, and seeing his reaction almost made me feel proud.
— Tasty, isn't it? — I asked, with a friendly smile. — I'm Kaled. And you, little one, what's your name?
Silence. His eyes remained on the skewer, his expression distant, but there was no anger or fear. Just… hunger. Once again, I tried to strike up some conversation, but the only response I got was the continued, focused chewing.
I pondered for a moment. "If he's from far away, maybe he doesn't understand what I'm saying," I thought, tapping my own forehead lightly, as if trying to wake up a stubborn mind. Maybe age was making me more foolish, or just more forgetful. I sighed, feeling the weight of my aching back as I stood up. I decided to try the Common Tongue, the language so many travelers and merchants use. It was a shot in the dark, but if he was from Westeros, his reactions would give me the answer.
— What's your name? — I asked, this time in another language.
The child hesitated, his face thoughtful. For a second, I thought he wouldn't respond again. But then, in an almost too childish tone... In an almost forced way. I finally heard your voice.
— Eigan.
For a brief moment, that simple word transported me to a distant time. A time when I too was young and lost. I smiled, feeling the weight of memory flood over me, as I stepped closer and, with an almost paternal gesture, ruffled his black, messy hair. It contrasted starkly with his pale skin, like the moon shining in the night sky.
— This place is safe, Little One. You're among a friend here. — I said, with a wide and sincere smile, trying to offer as much comfort as my words could provide.
He looked at me for a moment, as if studying me. His eyes were deep, with something mysterious that I had yet to decipher. There was an unexpected lightness in his response, which caught me by surprise:
— Alright, Old Man…
I frowned for a moment, confused. "Old Man?" I couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped my lips. I wasn't used to hearing that, least of all from a child. My laughter echoed through the cabin, a sound that hadn't made sense to me in a long time. But somehow, he had brought it back.
Still smiling, I felt the weight of exhaustion hit me. My eyes began to close, an invisible force… until I was swallowed by sudden and absolute darkness.
"What's going on?" I found myself submerged in shadows, trying to open my eyes, rub them, do anything to escape that darkness. It was then that a soft voice whispered, cold and familiar, in my ear:
— Have you forgotten me? Don't forget… or you will lose everything again!
I woke with a start, sweat pouring down my body as if it were midsummer. Rella slept beside me, peaceful, wrapped in the sheets. I, however, felt my heart racing, pounding like the rabbits I hunted in the forest.
I stood up silently, each movement careful not to disturb her. I went to the cabin door and opened it cautiously, letting the cold night air envelope me. I leaned against the doorframe, staring into the darkness ahead. The straw bed was empty, he was still outside. "Little..." I murmured, the memory of that unforgettable past along with a nightmare still vivid in my mind. "I never forget..."
***
— Do you know how long I've been waiting here?!
The voice sliced through the silence like a sharp blade, causing him to turn abruptly, his heart racing. The tension in the air was palpable.
— How long have you been there? — the boy questioned, shrugging his shoulders as a breathy sigh escaped his lips, as if trying to hide his nervousness.
His gaze was fixed on the old man sitting on the straw cot, the neutral expression contrasting with the deep wrinkles that revealed his discontent. Each line on his face seemed to tell a story of frustration and distrust.
I'm not the one who should be explaining anything here, little one! — Kaled frowned, his piercing eyes fixed on the boy. — Huh... I never stopped to think how a poor boy managed to survive while two men were dead in that forest, with injuries inflicted by their own weapons. And as for your strangeness in relation to the other children... Now, I think I deserve at least an explanation. Don't you think so, Eigan?
Eigan froze, his heart beating erratically. It was the first time Kaled had shown so much frustration. His eyes roamed the dark room, landing on the crackling firewood in the fireplace, the flames flickering weakly, illuminating the cold environment, but failing to warm the young man.
— I... — he began, a heavy pause interrupting his words. The man's eyes were fixed intensely on him. —— I know I owe you an explanation about what happened that day... You waited for me to talk about it, but I always avoided it.
With hesitant steps, the young man walked toward his friend, his eyes firm, while his thoughts plunged into an internal storm. He was almost disconnecting from the entire environment around him when Kaled brought him back to reality with his grave voice.
— You must! — Kaled moved to the side, patting the space next to him, indicating for him to sit down.
Eigan sat in silence, his mind racing as he struggled to find the right words. Finally, the silence was broken.
— I killed them.
Kaled showed no visible reaction, his eyes fixed on the burning wood in the fireplace. He already knew the answer before Eigan even spoke, but hearing the confession brought a weight that the old hunter still didn't know how to handle. His eyes focused on the flames, but his mind was distant, questioning the nature of this boy. How could a child, no matter how skilled, have killed two adult men, even if they were just slave traders? What kind of power slept within him? He didn't have the courage to ask that, trembling at the answer.
Eigan continued, his calm voice contrasting with the gravity of the situation:
— The idiots were arguing so much. So, the moment I had the chance, I did it... But then I passed out from exhaustion, Kaled. —his eyes wandered over the flames, watching them dance and devour the firewood, while his gaze reflected the light of the fire. — But why now? Why do you want to know this so much now?!
Kaled diverted his gaze to Eigan, shrugging his shoulders and letting out a deep sigh, his voice heavy with weakness.
— Because you don't look like anything I've ever seen in this world. I confess that in the first few days, I didn't care about that, but over time, you... — he hesitated, carefully considering his words, before continuing with a choked voice. — I see you as a son.
The crackling of wood consumed by the fire echoed in the silence, filling the space with emotional tension. Kaled's face was lit by a faint smile, his eyes reflecting the glow of the flames, revealing an unexpected vulnerability and appreciative relief.
"Son?" Eigan repeated in his thoughts, surprised by what he had just heard. But before he could articulate a response, Kaled continued, opening his heart.
— I am sorry. I had a terrible dream while I was sleeping... The truth is that I used you to replace what I once lost. — his words were sincere and, as he bit his lower lip, a tear threatened to roll down his wrinkled face.
Eigan lowered his gaze, fixating on his thighs, his mouth slightly open, as his heart pulsed softly. There were no words to be spoken, so he did what he knew best: listen.
— I was selfish. — Kaled continued, each word coming out with difficulty, as if he were confessing something long repressed. — I thought if you stayed by my side, I could replace what I lost. I convinced myself that you could bring me back something I lost. But... that was wrong. And here I am, revealing the worst of me. — He took a deep breath, sadness engraved in each syllable. — Forgive me.
Kaled's sorrowful words reverberated in Eigan's ears, penetrating his heart like sharp blades. Finally, he managed to break the silence.
— What happened? — Eigan turned his face to look at Kaled, his eyes calm but his mind troubled.
Kaled sighed deeply, gathering courage, a bitter smile forming on his lips as he closed his eyes, ready to tell his story.
For a long time, only Kaled's voice and the crackling coming from the fireplace were the only things that interrupted the silence. Eigan listened carefully to every word, realizing that his old friend had probably never shared his pain, guilt and weaknesses with anyone like this. It was as if Kaled was cleansing his soul. At that moment, he understood why the old man was constantly worried: Kaled had come from far away, a peasant in love with a noblewoman. Their love story was marked by difficulties, running away together while she carried a life in her womb.In the end, as he seeks a new beginning with his loved one and his unborn child, he loses everything to the cruelty of the world.
After all, this world was not an enchanted story, where everything would always work out.
This was Kaled's story, a story that could belong to anyone. He lived immersed in guilt and regret, until, with time, he found a new purpose. His relationship with Eigan and Rella helped him, but the fear of losing everything still haunted him. Now, with a woman and a child by his side, what he had no chance to have in the past was becoming a reality, but this only fueled the nightmares that consumed him. Kaled was, deep down, just a frightened man, fearing the repetition of his losses.
The two remained silent, watching the wood burn, each crackle echoing like a reminder of the fragility of life. Then Eigan broke the silence, his voice soft and gentle:
— You would be a good father, old Man...
Kaled did not look at Eigan, remaining silent, but the young man could feel that the old man was finally letting go of the weight he carried in his heart.
— Thank you, little one. — Kaled murmured, his voice thick, echoing amid the warmth of the flames.
With the sound of wood being devoured by the fire, Kaled, lost in contemplative silence, murmured as if confessing a dark secret to the flames themselves:
— I asked Rella to come live here with me...
Eigan looked at him with an eyebrow raised, his expression somewhat confused by the abrupt change of subject. However, he found the conversation welcome at that moment, especially considering the smell of smoke that was starting to spread through the air, making his nose itch as if it had been hit by a sneezing spell.
— And she said no? Didn't she? — Eigan shot back, anticipating the answer even before Kaled could open his mouth. An impressive talent, considering he had no idea what Kaled's love life was like. The boy seemed more prepared for a duel than a broken heart.
Kaled sighed deeply, almost as if the air leaving his lungs was laden with despair. He shook his head, wondering how his younger friend had come to such a conclusion. It was easy to see that unrequited love was a specialty of his, almost like a hobby he had forgotten to record on a scroll.
— Almost... — Kaled began, a pained expression on his face, as if he had just taken a hit with a wooden stick. — She changed the subject before giving me a clear answer. Rella loves her family; living in the forest, surrounded by animals, is like breathing for her. Sooner or later, she'll leave with her family... probably to a place where the only conversations involving love don't end with "no, thank you" but rather with a good sense of humor.
— If she doesn't want to live in this place, why don't you go live with her?
Eigan's response shocked Kaled, who looked at him thoughtfully, as if he had just been punched in the face. The idea seemed so... Simple. That for a moment Kaled wondered if Eigan had become a wise man or simply hit his head on a tree. "Why didn't I think of that, anyway?"
"You are a sage!" Kaled thought to himself, an incredulous smile beginning to spread across his face, even though the idea had the potential to make him seem completely insane. He imagined living in the forest, surrounded by magical creatures and enjoying Rella's company. But the vision quickly faded when he remembered that, for him, even the birds always seemed ready to crack a joke, flying in circles and singing about the sadness of broken hearts, as if rehearsing for an epic lament.
— Hmmm... You might be right... — Kaled admitted, a glimmer of hope and tremor mixed in his eyes, as if he had found a magical flower that could give him power but also a fever. — But let's be honest, I'm not exactly the type of companion who would fit well surrounded by people.
Eigan couldn't help but laugh, imagining the scene: Kaled, surrounded by a crowd of intrigued animals, trying to give love advice to a rabbit who just wanted to know where to find the best carrots. Eigan's laughter echoed in the air, lighting up the dark night that surrounded them, and even the flames seemed to dance with more joy, as if laughing at Kaled's romantic misadventures.
— I'll think about it- — Kaled added, rubbing his beard as if trying to pull an answer from his own face.
— Don't think... Act! — Eigan intervened, letting out another low, almost imperceptible laugh.