----
The trees thinned gradually, and sunlight poured through the gaps in the canopy,
One day has passed since the battle.
As Fowad stepped out of the Sapling Forest for the first time in two years.
Ahead of him lay the familiar sight of the Sapling Village, its wooden houses and bustling streets exactly as he remembered from his childhood.
The memories hit him like a wave his father's reassuring presence,
Their small home on the village's edge, and the lively market where merchants and adventurers mingled.
It was the gateway to the forest, a meeting place for those seeking fortune, adventure, or escape.
But for Fowad, it had been home since he remember.
Now, as he approached the village, he felt like an outsider.
---
Fowad's rugged appearance turned heads as he walked through the village's dirt roads.
