The village was quite, located between rolling hills and dense forests. It was a peaceful place, far removed from the chaos of kingdoms and wars. For Zora, it was a strange new world. After centuries of ruling his dungeon, the life of a simple human was entirely alien to him. He had chosen this place for Lila's sake, a small, peaceful village where no one would question his identity. He took on the role of a quiet, modest man who preferred peace, and the villagers, though curious at first, welcomed him and Lila warmly.
But adapting to human life wasn't easy.
Zora struggled with everything, bartering at the market, understanding human festivals, even basic interactions. Villagers would greet him with a wave or a smile, and he'd respond with an awkward nod, unsure if he was doing it correctly. He often found himself observing from the shadows, studying their customs and behaviors, trying to fit in.
His only real comfort was Lila.
From the moment he had found her, she had brought light into his life. As she grew, so did her curiosity and energy. She had a knack for exploring, her small feet always running to the farthest corners of the village, her eyes wide with wonder at every new discovery.
---
When Lila was about seven, she became fascinated with the tales of the village's elders.One of them, an old man named Tharon, was a retired adventurer. Despite his age, his eyes still sparkled with the fire of his youth. Every evening, he would gather the village children around him and tell stories of his adventures, of battling fearsome beasts, exploring ancient ruins, and uncovering lost treasures. Lila was his most eager listener. She would sit at the front, her eyes wide with excitement, hanging on to every word.
"And then," Tharon said one evening, his voice rising dramatically, "the dragon roared, its fiery breath scorching the ground! But I stood my ground, sword in hand, and struck it down with one mighty blow!" The children gasped in awe, and Lila clapped her hands, her face glowing with admiration.
After the story, she ran to Zora, her small hands tugging at his sleeve. "Did you hear that, Papa? He fought a dragon! A real dragon!" Zora, who had been quietly watching from a distance, gave a faint smile. "Yes, I heard. But stories and reality are different, Lila. Dragons are not so easily defeated." "But I want to fight dragons too!" she declared, her tiny fists clenched with determination. Zora's smile faded. He had chosen this village to give Lila a peaceful life, far away from the dangers he had once known. He didn't want her chasing after perilous dreams. "You don't need to fight dragons, Lila. You can live a happy life here, without any of that."
Lila sulked a little but didn't argue. Still, the spark in her eyes didn't dim...
---
As the years passed, Lila grew into a lively and spirited young girl. She loved hearing the stories of Tharon and other adventurers who occasionally visited the village. They would share tales of distant lands, fearsome monsters, and grand battles. Despite Zora's efforts to steer her toward a peaceful life, Lila's dreams only grew bolder. She wanted to become an adventurer, just like the heroes in the stories. She wanted to see the world, fight monsters, and create her own legendary tales. Zora, however, was determined to keep her safe. He did his best to distract her, teaching her practical skills like cooking, gardening, and crafting. But Lila was clever.
One day, when she was about twelve, she approached him with a wide-eyed plea. "Papa," she said sweetly, "can you teach me how to defend myself?" Zora raised an eyebrow. "Defend yourself? From what?" ."You never know, Papa! What if a wild animal attacks? Or a thief comes to the village? I need to know how to protect myself!"
He hesitated. He knew Lila was crafty, and he suspected she had ulterior motives. But her logic wasn't entirely wrong. And despite his reluctance, a part of him wanted to prepare her for the world, just in case. "Fine," he said at last. "But only for self-defense." Lila was excited and ambitious , and Zora couldn't help but smile back, though he felt a huge amount of doubt in his chest.
---
What started as basic lessons quickly escalated.
Zora taught her how to evade attacks, how to read an opponent's movements, and how to use her agility to her advantage. But Lila was relentless. She wanted to learn more—swordsmanship, archery, even unarmed combat. At first, Zora refused. But her persistence wore him down, and he found himself teaching her more than he intended. She had a natural talent for fighting, picking up techniques with remarkable speed. As the years went by, Lila grew stronger and more confident. She often sparred with Zora, and though he always held back, she improved with each match. Zora watched her with a mix of pride and unease. He couldn't deny her talent, but he feared what it might lead to. He had wanted to give her a peaceful life, yet here she was, training to face dangers he had tried to shield her from.
---
Lila and Zora trained in a small clearing surrounded by trees. Zora stood tall, holding his wooden training sword. "Okay, focus. Watch what I do," he said. Lila nodded, gripping her own wooden sword tightly. Zora swung at her slowly, and she dodged to the side. As she countered, something strange happened—a tiny spark of fire appeared at the edge of her sword. She gasped but quickly hid her reaction. Zora didn't notice, and Lila felt relieved. She kept going, pretending nothing had happened. "Good," Zora said. "You're improving. But keep your balance next time."
When Zora left for the village, Lila snuck away to a quiet spot near the river. She brought her real sword this time. Standing near the water, she closed her eyes and thought about the fire and water she could feel inside her. She swung her sword, and a thin line of fire followed its path. She smiled, excited. Then, she swung again, and water swirled around the blade before splashing into the river. "I'm getting better," she whispered, feeling proud. But she looked toward the village, her smile fading. She hadn't told Zora. She was scared he might stop her training if he found out.
---
One day, Zora wanted to see how much Lila had learned. "Let's spar," he said, holding his sword. Lila nodded, trying to hide her nerves. They started circling each other, and Zora attacked first. Lila blocked and dodged, her movements quick. But as they fought, she held back. She didn't want to accidentally use her magic. Zora suddenly knocked her sword out of her hand. "You're holding back," he said, frowning. "Why?" ,"I… I don't want to hurt you," she said, forcing a smile. Zora laughed. "You're not strong enough to hurt me yet. But you'll never get better if you don't try your best." Lila nodded, hiding her real thoughts.
When everyone was asleep, Lila sneaked out of the house with her sword. She went back to the forest clearing, where no one could see her. She swung her sword, focusing on her magic. Fire burst from the blade, lighting up the dark forest. Then, she tried adding water, creating a swirl of steam around her. She smiled, but her hands were shaking. She wasn't scared, she was excited. "Someday, I'll show you, Papa," she whispered to herself. "But not yet."
From that day she used to train secretly whenever she could., honing her elemental magic skills as much as she coulddd...
---
On her seventeenth birthday, the village came alive with celebration.
Zora had spent weeks planning a grand party for Lila, enlisting the help of the villagers to make it special. The town square was decorated with colorful banners, tables were laden with food, and music filled the air. Lila was the center of attention, her laughter ringing out as she danced with her friends and enjoyed the festivities. When the time came for gifts, Zora stepped forward with a wrapped package. "Happy birthday, Lila," he said, handing it to her. She tore it open, revealing a beautifully crafted sword. Her eyes lit up as she held it, marveling at its craftsmanship. "It's perfect! Thank you, Papa!" Zora smiled, though his heart was heavy. He had hoped to dissuade her from her dreams, but he couldn't bring himself to deny her happiness.
As the party continued, Lila approached him with a mischievous grin.
"I have a surprise for you too, Papa," she said. Zora raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"
Lila hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I've decided... I'm going to become an adventurer."
The world seemed to go quiet around Zora. He stared at her, his expression unreadable.
"Lila..." he began, but she cut him off.
"I know you're worried, Papa. But this is what I want. I've always wanted to see the world, to fight monsters, to be like the heroes in the stories. I know it's dangerous, but I'm ready. You've trained me, and I'll be careful. Please, trust me." Zora's chest tightened. He wanted to protest, to tell her she was too young, too inexperienced. But as he looked into her eyes, he saw the same determination that had driven him in his own youth. After a long silence, he sighed. "If this is what you truly want... then I won't stop you." Lila's face lit up, and she threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Papa!" As she pulled away, Zora managed a small smile. "Just promise me one thing, Lila. Whatever happens, come back to me." "I promise" she said firmly.
And in that moment, Zora realized that his role as her protector had not ended... it had simply changed...