The soup steamed in the bowls, but Seth hardly touched it. Maeve's words echoed in his mind: The Kik attack anyone who stands in their way. What if they came here too, to this peaceful village of the Niut? Were they safe nowhere?
Lyra, sensing Seth's unease, placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Don't worry," she said softly. "You're safe here. The Kik wouldn't dare enter Niut territory.""But how can you be sure?" asked Eldric, who also seemed nervous. "They found our village, even though it was far away."Maeve sighed. "The Kik are masters of deception. They have spies everywhere. But the Niut live in harmony with nature. We sense danger before it reaches us.""Nevertheless..." Seth began, but Maeve interrupted him."I understand your fear," she said. "You have experienced terrible things. But you must learn to calm yourselves. Fear is a bad advisor."She gazed into the flames of the hearth, and her expression grew serious. "I myself know what it's like to lose everything," she said quietly. "I too had to leave my home once."Curious, Seth and Eldric looked at her. Maeve had never told them about her past."It happened many years ago," Maeve began, "when I was still a young girl. I lived with my family in a village on the edge of the Great Forest. We were a happy people, in harmony with nature. But one day, a terrible disaster struck us."Maeve's voice trembled slightly as she continued. "An earthquake shook our land. Mountains collapsed, rivers overflowed their banks, and our village was buried by a mudslide. I lost my parents, my siblings, almost my entire family."Tears glistened in Maeve's eyes, but she fought back her grief. "I was one of the few survivors," she continued. "But the other villagers blamed me for the disaster. They said I had angered the spirits of the forest. They drove me out of the village and chased me away.""That's terrible!" Eldric exclaimed in horror.Maeve nodded. "I wandered through the wilderness for months, alone and desperate. I didn't know where to go, where to find help. But then I met a group of Niut who took me in and offered me shelter. They taught me how to deal with my emotions, to understand nature, and to use the gift of Sight.""And you've lived here ever since?" Seth asked.Maeve smiled. "Yes, I've been a Niut ever since. This village is my home, and these people are my family."She looked at Seth and Eldric compassionately. "I know what it's like to lose everything," she said. "But I also know that you can always find new hope. Don't lose heart, you two. You are young, and your journey has just begun."Seth felt Maeve's words touch him. He was not alone. Maeve had also experienced terrible things, but she had found the strength to live on and find a new home. Maybe he could too."Thank you, Maeve," he said quietly. "Your story gives me hope."Maeve smiled. "I'm glad, Seth. Now eat your soup before it gets cold."Seth and Eldric picked up their spoons and ate the soup. It tasted delicious, and the warmth spread through their stomachs. They felt safe and secure in the small hut, surrounded by the kindness of the Niut.But the peace was not to last. For the shadows of the past were already lurking at the edge of the forest...