Ten Years Ago — Lyron Village
The sun hung lazily in the sky above Lyron, casting golden rays over the quiet village nestled beneath the protective arms of the surrounding forest. The scent of woodsmoke and wildflowers drifted through the air, blending with the sound of rustling leaves and the occasional call of birds.
In the garden just outside Guru house, a young girl stood stiffly beside a tall woman in sage robes. Her hair was dark as midnight, streaked faintly with red, and her pale skin seemed to shimmer under the daylight—almost too perfect, like porcelain. But her eyes... her eyes were weary, as if they had already seen too much.
Fionalla gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Introduce yourself, Latriys." Her voice was warm, nudging her forward.
But Latriys shrank back, her hands clutching the hem of Fionalla's robe, hiding behind her like a shadow avoiding the sun.
Across from her stood two children: a boy with short, tousled hair and a calm gaze—Asuma, nine years old—and a younger girl, bright-eyed and brimming with curiosity—Anami, only seven, but bold and cheerful beyond her years.
"Is she shy?" Anami asked, tilting her head, trying to peer around Fionalla.
"Hey, give her space," Asuma said, gently pulling his sister back. "She's not used to strangers yet."
"But... she looks like a doll!" Anami whispered with awe, her eyes sparkling as she admired the quiet girl with fascination. "She's so pretty."
Latriys only pressed her face deeper into Fionalla's side, her voice caught somewhere between her throat and her heart.
Behind them, the old Hero Guru stepped out of the shaded house, leaning heavily on his staff. His sharp eyes softened slightly as they settled on the girl.
"So this is the child you rescued," he murmured to Fionalla, watching the small girl with concern. "She looks... fragile."
Fionalla smiled gently. "She's stronger than she looks. But she's never been around other children—not like this." She knelt and brushed Latriys's hair aside. "Try to make friends, alright? I need to speak with this old man for a while."
She looked at Asuma. "I'm leaving her in your care, Asuma. Show her around. Be kind."
"I will," he nodded confidently.
Guru turned, casting a glance toward the forest trail. "Don't stray too far. Stay within the village borders, you hear me?"
"Yes, Grandpa!" Asuma and Anami chimed in unison.
As Fionalla and Guru disappeared into the elder's hall, Latriys was left exposed in the sunlight. Her eyes darted nervously between the siblings. And then, suddenly—
"Come on!" Anami chirped, grabbing Latriys's hand and pulling her with surprising strength and excitement.
"W-Wait—" Asuma called out, startled as the two darted away from him. **"Where are you going?!"
But they had already disappeared into the woods beyond the fence that lined the edge of Guru's property.
Latriys's voice was soft and uncertain as they passed beneath the canopy of green. "Where are we going...?"
Anami turned and flashed a bright smile, still pulling her along.
"So you can talk!" she grinned. "Good! You're coming with me—to my tree house!"
Latriys blinked, confused—but for the first time since she arrived in Lyron, her hand was in someone else's, and it felt... warm. A faint flicker of something stirred in her chest.
A hush had settled over the woods, broken only by the sound of two pairs of hurried footsteps weaving through the thickets.
After a few minutes of running, they burst into a secluded clearing bathed in light. A sea of lilies stretched out beneath their feet, the white petals swaying gently like ripples on a still pond. At the center of it all stood an enormous, ancient tree—its roots thick and gnarled, its trunk scarred with time. At its crown, nestled high in the branches, was a quaint little treehouse, patched together with love and the hands of a child.
"What is this place?" Latriys asked quietly, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and uncertainty.
"This is my sanctuary," Anami declared, spreading her arms wide as if she were presenting a castle. "When I feel lonely, I come here. Just me, the wind, and the flowers."
Latriys looked around. The flowers shimmered like tiny stars under the sun, and the old tree creaked with gentle familiarity, like it had been waiting for her all along.
"Do you think I'm sad?" she asked, almost unsure of her own question.
Anami blinked and looked at her, tilting her head. "Aren't you?"
Latriys didn't answer at first. The question echoed in her mind like a drop falling into a deep well. Was she sad? It was hard to know. Her earliest memories were filled with fire—her village razed by bandits, screams swallowed by smoke. She had survived by some cruel twist of fate, wandering alone through the wilderness until Fionalla found her. Since then, she'd lived in safety, but never really lived. Always watching. Always distant.
Did she miss her parents? Or was it just the emptiness they left behind? Had she learned to smile again, or was she only pretending to be whole?
She stared at Anami in silence, the wind brushing strands of black-and-red hair from her face.
"Finally!"
The shout broke the quiet, and they turned to see Asuma stumbling into the clearing from the other side of the woods, his shirt damp with sweat and sticks caught in his hair.
"Found you!" he said, triumphant and panting.
"Tch..." Anami narrowed her eyes. "Latriys, come on!"
She snatched Latriys's hand and tugged her away, giggling as she ran. "He's going to try and catch us!"
Latriys stumbled at first but followed—drawn forward not by understanding, but by something deeper. Her hand, warm in Anami's, her feet brushing through lilies, her ears full of laughter. It wasn't a memory of pain. It wasn't silence or fear.
It was joy.
And for the first time in her life, Latriys felt something strange bloom inside her chest.
She smiled.
For several days, Latriys had filled her time with games, laughter, and quiet moments beside Anami and Asuma—her two closest friends, though she never quite found the words to say it. Anami was a whirlwind of energy, always dragging her into some new adventure. Asuma, in contrast, was cautious and disciplined, treating her like a sibling rather than a guest. In their company, she'd found something rare: a place that felt like home.
Over the years, she returned to Lyon often—each visit stitched into her memory like pages in a storybook. But the last time she came was different.
she found herself by the lake—a quiet place where the wind made no demands and the water didn't judge. She sat on the edge of the grassy bank, picking up small stones and tossing them across the calm surface. One, two, three skips... then a plunk.
She was angry—angry that Fionalla had accepted a request to move to Talagra City, away from Lyon, away from the only friends she had ever truly known. She didn't want to start over. Not again.
"There you are."
Anami's voice broke through the hum of the wind. She dropped onto the grass beside her, casual and unbothered as always.
"You doing that thing again where you pretend to be sad and mysterious?" she teased with a smirk.
Latriys didn't answer. She kept skipping stones, eyes locked on the ripples spreading across the lake.
"No reply, huh?" Anami continued, leaning back on her arms and gazing at the sky. "You know, when you first came here, you were like a ghost. You didn't want to talk to anyone—not even me. And now look at you. All gloomy because you're leaving. Isn't that kind of funny?"
"Shut up," Latriys finally muttered, cheeks slightly red.
Anami smiled knowingly. "Ah, there's that voice. I knew you'd talk eventually."
She paused, thoughtful, then said softly, "Could you do me a favor?"
Latriys glanced over. "What kind of favor?"
"If my brother ever comes to you—when I'm not around—promise me you'll help him."
Latriys frowned. "Why wouldn't you be around?"
Anami didn't answer right away. She turned and laid her head gently on Latriys's lap, letting her long hair fall over the girl's knees like a silken veil.
"It's just a feeling," she whispered. "But no matter where life takes you, you'll be fine, Latriys. You're strong—even if you don't see it yet. And Asuma and I... we'll always find our way back to you."
Latriys blinked, surprised by the weight in her voice. There was something final in Anami's words—something that nestled itself deep inside her heart.
"So cheer up," Anami added sleepily. "Your journey starts here... even if it means walking alone for a while."
Latriys didn't understand it then. But the warmth of Anami resting on her lap, the way the wind gently moved the lilies on the lake, and the sound of her friend's even breathing as she dozed off—those memories etched themselves into her soul.