As the night deepened, Florã lay restless in her bed. Unable to quiet her thoughts, she slipped out into the cool night air and wandered to the lakeside. The moon cast a silver glow over the water, and the gentle ripples reflected the stars. She sat down on the soft grass, her voice a quiet whisper to herself, "It's so beautiful. So peaceful."
From the shadows, Lorian watched her, his presence hidden yet deliberate. He hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, but Florã's sharp instincts didn't fail her. Without turning, she spoke, her tone calm but firm. "You don't need to linger behind me, Lorian. I can sense you. Come, sit with me."
Caught, Lorian chuckled softly and walked to her side, settling down beside her. He followed her gaze over the still lake. "It really is beautiful," he said after a moment. "When I was a child, I came here often. Back then, this place felt alive—full of laughter, families, and stories. It's different now, quieter. But I believe you can bring that life back. I'm counting on you, Florã."
Florã leaned back, lying on the grass with her hands behind her head. Her eyes traced the constellations above. "Don't worry," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of determination. "I'll bring back more than life—I'll make this place shine again. That's a promise."
Lorian turned his head to her, studying her expression. "You know," he began softly, "sometimes it feels like you're carrying more than you let on. Like you're someone far older, someone who's seen too much, endured too much. I understand some of it—what you've shared about your family—but I know there's more, something you're hiding deep inside."
Florã's confident façade faltered for a moment, her eyes flickering with a mix of surprise and vulnerability.
"But," he continued, his voice steady, "you can't let yourself get lost in that darkness. You're holding on to revenge like it's the only thing keeping you going. But have you ever thought about what comes after? What happens when it's done? What will you live for then?"
The weight of his words struck her, and for once, she didn't have a quick reply.
"Whatever happens," Lorian said, his voice gentler now, "don't lose yourself. Stay strong. And when it feels like too much—when it gets hard to carry it all alone—come to me. Talk to me. I'll always be here to listen, no matter what."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Florã felt something stir within her—an emotion she had almost forgotten. Warmth. Comfort. A fleeting sense of safety. Turning her head to him, she offered a faint, genuine smile. "You're right," she admitted quietly. "And thank you, Lorian. I'll remember that."
But Florã wasn't one to linger in heavy emotions for too long. With a glint of mischief in her eye, she broke the silence. "But you know, I'm not sure if I should take advice from someone who still gets scared of frogs jumping out of bushes."
Lorian blinked, caught off guard, before breaking into a laugh. "Hey, that happened once! And that frog was huge, I swear!"
Florã laughed, a sound that felt almost foreign to her after all these years. The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by an easy camaraderie. Under the vast expanse of the starry sky, they shared a rare moment of lightness, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was room for hope and connection.
As the conversation lingered by the lakeside, Florã stretched and sat up, brushing grass from her hair. She turned to Lorian with a soft smile. "Lorian, tomorrow's going to be a big day. You've traveled so much already—go and get some rest."
Lorian leaned back, propping himself up on his hands, and gave her a mock frown. "Dude, we've been talking all this time, and you're still talking so formally? I know you're from the palace, but enough with that face. I hate it."
Florã chuckled, tilting her head in mock innocence. "Well, you were formal to me first! I thought it'd be improper for royalty to talk casually to people."
Lorian groaned, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation. "I'm not just people. I'm your best friend! So drop the royal act and talk normally, already."
Florã smirked, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Eww, who said we're friends? Shoo, shoo! Go away!" She burst out laughing, unable to hold back.
Lorian smirked, shaking his head before reaching over and flicking her forehead lightly. "Ow!" Florã exclaimed, clutching her forehead dramatically. "That hurts, you baddie!"
Lorian rolled his eyes, amused. "Oh, stop being so dramatic. You can handle worse. Besides, you're not fooling me with all this." He leaned closer, lowering his voice with a knowing look. "I know you're not really the delicate prince everyone thinks you are, Floren."
Her laughter faltered for a split second, but she quickly masked it with a teasing grin. "And yet, here you are, flicking my head like I'm fragile!"
They both laughed, the playful banter lightening the mood. Finally, after the laughter died down, Florã stood and dusted off her clothes. "Alright, I suppose you're right. We both need rest. Let's head back before we're too tired to face tomorrow."
"Good idea," Lorian agreed, standing and stretching.
They walked back together under the moonlight, their footsteps soft against the grass. As they reached their rooms, Florã turned to him, her voice softer now. "Goodnight, Lorian."
"Goodnight, Floren," he replied with a small smile.
And with that, they each retired to their rooms, the quiet of the night settling over them, preparing for the challenges of the day to come.
After a long day, Florã and Lorian went to their respective rooms to rest. When morning came, Florã awoke early, her mind already occupied with thoughts about the villagers' needs. She stepped outside into the crisp morning air and observed her surroundings. It became clear to her that hunger was the most immediate problem—many of the villagers were visibly weak and had little energy to rebuild their lives. She sighed deeply, realizing that the bandits had not only stolen their supplies but also left them without the means to sustain themselves.
"I need to do something about this," Florã thought. "They need food to regain their strength and prepare for any challenges that may lie ahead. I'll go hunting today to ensure they have a proper meal."
With that decision made, she began to pack her belongings. She carefully prepared her gear, including her twin swords, which gleamed under the morning sun. Once ready, she decided to inform the village head of her plan. As she approached his hut, she noticed him talking to someone—a man with a calm demeanor who seemed familiar yet unfamiliar. Florã approached them politely and greeted them.
"Good morning," she said with a warm smile. "I wanted to let you know that I'll be heading out to hunt for food today."
The man turned toward her and raised an eyebrow with curiosity. "So, you're the royal figure who came to assist our village?"
Florã nodded. "Yes, that's me. May I ask who you are, sir?"
The man chuckled. "I'm Lorian's father."
"Oh, I see," Florã replied with a smile. "Your son is a good man. He's been a great help during my time here."
The man's face softened with pride. "Haha, thank you for saying that. It means a lot to hear such kind words about him. And thank you for looking after him, young man."
Florã shook her head modestly. "It's truly my pleasure, sir. I found him traveling alone, and we simply ended up working together. He's been strong and resourceful—I haven't done much."
"You're too humble," the man replied with a hearty laugh. "You must be a remarkable person yourself to take on such a burden for our village."
Just then, Lorian appeared, his eyes lighting up when he saw his father. "Father, you're here!" he exclaimed as he hurried over to them.
"Yes, my son," his father responded warmly. "I was just speaking with Floren here. he's planning to hunt for food to help the villagers."
Lorian turned to Florã, his expression filled with appreciation. "You're doing so much for us, Floren. Thank you for everything."
Florã smiled at him, her tone steady yet kind. "It's nothing compared to what you've all endured. Everyone here needs strength to rebuild, and ensuring they don't go hungry is the least I can do."
Lorian's father nodded approvingly. "he's right, Lorian. Floren has a kind and courageous heart. Be sure to learn from her."
Florã glanced at Lorian and hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Actually, Lorian, would you like to join me? I could use some company—and having an extra set of eyes in the forest would be helpful."
Lorian looked surprised by the offer but quickly agreed. "Of course! I'd be glad to help. Let me grab my dagger."
"Good," Florã replied with a nod before turning back to the village head. "We'll leave now and return before nightfall with enough to feed everyone."
The village head expressed his gratitude, and Lorian's father placed a hand on his son's shoulder, giving him his blessing. With their plans set, Florã and Lorian headed off together toward the forest. As they walked, the sunlight filtering through the trees, Florã felt a glimmer of hope. Despite the challenges they faced, she was determined to do everything in her power to bring relief and strength to the villagers.