ITyr and Fern raced down the street, their laughter ringing through the air. Tyr gripped Fern's hand tightly, leading the way toward the cantina. The wind brushed against their faces as their feet pounded against the cobblestones, kicking up little clouds of dust.As they reached the fork in the road, Tyr barely noticed the old man he had spoken to earlier, still seated with his newspaper in hand. The old man glanced up from the paper, a smirk creeping across his face as he watched the two children pass. "Huh," he muttered to himself, "that boy's something special—handling Fern like that." Chuckling, he returned to his reading.When the cantina finally came into view, Tyr threw open the door with gusto, his face beaming with excitement. "I'm back!" he announced, his voice cutting through the hum of the busy room.The entire cantina turned to look, but as Fern stumbled in behind him, the cheerful chatter quickly shifted to groans and mutters."Ah great, she's back.""Ugh, what now?""Here comes trouble."Fern's face darkened with annoyance as she crossed her arms. "Shut up!" she barked, glaring at the patrons.Tyr leaned closer to her and whispered, "Just ignore them, Fern. After all, I invited you to eat with me."Fern rolled her eyes but relented. "Fine, but only 'cause you said you'd buy me food." She stuck her tongue out at the grumbling crowd before scurrying up to the bar with Tyr in tow.The two climbed onto stools, their small frames looking almost comical among the larger adults. Gurtrand, the cantina's barkeep, approached with a knowing smile. "Well, well, young lady. Looks like you've made a friend."Fern ignored him, slamming her hand on the bar. "I want food!" she demanded.Tyr gave her a sharp look, disappointment flashing across his face. Fern hesitated, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She muttered, "...Please."Tyr smiled at her approval of manners and turned to face Hagar, who stood nearby. But as soon as their eyes met, Tyr gulped audibly. Hagar's expression was unimpressed, his brow furrowed and his piercing gaze boring into Tyr's soul.Tyr, unwilling to admit fault, put on his best sad face, his lower lip trembling in a pitiful pout. Hagar tried to hold firm, but the sight broke his resolve, memories of his own daughter, Gilda, flooding his mind. Damn it, just like her, Hagar thought, sighing in defeat."Order something to eat," Hagar said, his voice softer now. "I recommend the dragon fritters."Tyr brightened instantly and turned to Gurtrand. "I want rabbit stew! Please!" he said with a wide grin.Gurtrand chuckled. "Coming right up."After a short wait, Gurtrand returned with two steaming bowls of rabbit stew for the children and a plate of dragon fritters for Hagar. Fern wasted no time. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the stew like a wild animal, broth spilling down her dusty black-and-green dress. Tyr and Hagar exchanged a mix of amusement and horror as Fern slammed the empty bowl onto the counter."More! ...Please," she added quickly, glancing at Tyr.Hagar laughed, shaking his head. "She reminds me of someone," he said, looking down at Tyr.Tyr glanced up, cheeks puffed full of stew, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face. He swallowed quickly and exclaimed, "This is the best rabbit stew I've ever had!" His eyes sparkled with excitement.Gurtrand grinned proudly. "Glad you like it, kid."The three ate in companionable silence, the occasional clatter of utensils punctuating the moment. Suddenly, Fern let out an enormous burp, loud enough to turn heads.Tyr giggled, then leaned back and let out one even louder."Hey, no fair! Yours was louder!" Fern protested, determined not to be outdone. She belted out another, louder than before. "Take that!" She stuck out her tongue in triumph.The two launched into an impromptu burping contest, much to the exasperation of the other patrons. Gurtrand and Hagar exchanged weary glances, muttering in unison, "Kids." They both burst into laughter, shaking their heads.Hagar composed himself and placed a firm hand on Tyr's shoulder. "Alright, time to get going. We've got someone important to see."Tyr looked up at Hagar, reluctantly breaking away from his competition with Fern. "Do we have to go now?""Yes," Hagar replied firmly.Tyr sighed and turned to Fern. "I've gotta go." His gaze dropped to the floor, avoiding her eyes.Fern's playful demeanor faded. "You have to go?" she asked, her tone softer, almost sad.Tyr nodded as he slid off his stool and followed Hagar to the door."Please don't go!" Fern shouted, her voice cracking. Tears welled up in her eyes.Tyr paused, turning back to give her a small, reassuring smile. "We can play together tomorrow."Fern's eyes lit up with hope, a faint smile breaking through her sadness. She nodded eagerly as Tyr and Hagar stepped out, the door closing with a quiet thud behind them.For a moment, Fern sat still, lost in thought."So, you did make a friend," Gurtrand said, breaking the silence with a chuckle.Fern's face turned bright red. "Shut up!" she yelled, grabbing her empty bowl and hurling it at Gurtrand. It hit him square in the face, splattering the last bits of stew across his cheeks.As the cantina erupted in laughter, Fern bolted for the door, knocking over chairs and leaving a trail of chaos in her wake. Yet, something about her seemed different—lighter. Everyone noticed.Gurtrand wiped stew from his face, chuckling. "Never thought I'd see the day Fern would smile."He turned back to his work, a warm grin spreading across his face as the cantina settled into a rare moment of joy.IIThe sun hung low on the horizon, painting the town of Ferndale in a dim orange glow. Shadows stretched long across the cobblestone streets, flickering with the faint warmth of the ending day. Tyr and Hagar walked side by side, their footsteps the only sound amidst the quiet hum of evening life.For a while, neither spoke. Finally, Hagar broke the silence, his voice probing but calm."So, boy, why are you so fascinated by Fern?"Tyr's gaze stayed fixed on the road ahead, his voice soft. "She reminded me of Raina."Hagar scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I see. Do you… like Fern?"Without hesitation, Tyr nodded vigorously. "Yeah!" he exclaimed, his youthful energy cutting through the stillness. "We're the same."Hagar raised a curious brow. "How so?"Tyr paused, his expression thoughtful as he searched for the right words. "She knows what it's like to feel alone," he said finally.Hagar's faint smile faded, replaced by a look of quiet understanding. He spoke again, his voice carrying a soothing weight. "I know that feeling all too well. I'm glad you found her. She seems to really like you, you know. And she doesn't like anyone."Tyr reached for Hagar's hand, his small fingers wrapping around the older man's calloused palm. He looked up at him with a wide, radiant smile. "Well, you have me!"The simple words hit Hagar like a thunderclap. A wave of emotion washed over him, and for a fleeting moment, memories of his lost family flickered in his mind—faces he would never see again, laughter now silenced by time. But Tyr's words pushed through the pain like a beacon, grounding him in the present.Hagar's voice was thick with appreciation as he replied, "Thank you, Tyr." He paused, his tone shifting as they neared a large, weathered house at the edge of town. "But listen… there's something you should know."Tyr tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "Like what?"Hagar took a deep breath, steadying himself. "The person we're here to see… I have a long history with him. And, well, it didn't exactly end on the best of terms."For the first time, Tyr noticed something unusual about Hagar—a faint tremor in his voice, a flicker of hesitation in his normally resolute demeanor. Worry crept into Tyr's chest. Whoever this person was, they must be someone truly intimidating.Hagar pressed on, his tone heavy with concern. "I brought you here because he's the only one who can teach you to control your soul art." He hesitated, then added quietly, "He's the one who trained me."Tyr's eyes widened, his worry melting away and replaced by awe. "Woah, really?" he stammered, barely able to contain his excitement. "That's so cool! I can't wait!"Hagar frowned, clearly uneasy with Tyr's enthusiasm. "No, listen. I only brought you here because there's no other choice. Don't get the wrong idea—this isn't going to be easy."But Tyr wasn't listening. He was practically bouncing on his toes now. "Awesome! He must be super strong!"Hagar groaned, tugging at the collar of his shirt as beads of sweat formed on his brow. "Ah, forget about it…" he muttered under his breath.They stopped in front of the weathered wooden door, its surface marred by years of wear and tear. Hagar raised a trembling hand, his knuckles hovering inches from the wood. Tyr watched in silence, noticing for the first time the beads of sweat running down Hagar's temple.Hagar swallowed hard and knocked.Before his fist could strike the door, an explosion of blinding white light erupted from the house. The force of the blast sent a gust of wind tearing through the street, kicking up clouds of dust and debris. Tyr stumbled back, blinking rapidly to clear his vision.When the dust began to settle, Tyr's jaw dropped. The door was gone—obliterated. Splinters and shards of wood littered the ground, and a gaping hole now occupied the side of the house. Steam hissed from the jagged edges of the doorway, cracks spider-webbing outward through the stone and plaster."What… just happened?" Tyr muttered, his wide eyes fixed on the ruined doorway.Before Tyr could process what happened, a deep, commanding voice boomed from within the house. The tone was sharp and laced with menace, echoing through the empty streets."So, you've returned after all this time…" the voice sneered. "Only to die from a weak attack, Pathetic?"