Daniel awoke to the smell of crushed herbs and warm broth.
His vision blurred at first, but the outline of a small, wooden ceiling eventually sharpened. Every muscle in his body ached, and the bandages across his ribs pulled tight whenever he breathed. He tried to sit up—
"Ah— nope! Lie back down before you tear open everything I just fixed!"
A voice floated beside him — sharp, stubborn, and far too energetic for someone who had barely slept in two days. Kaizen turned his head.
The girl from the river stood there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in exaggerated scolding.
"You almost died again," she said. "If you're planning to make a habit of that, I need advance notice."
Daniel blinked. "You… healed me?"
"Well, I didn't wrestle a crocodile for fun while you were unconscious," she muttered, then added quickly, "—not that I couldn't. If I needed to. Probably."
Kaizen stared.
She stared back.
Then she grinned, wide and unrestrained.
"I'm Eseren Elyndra," she announced, bowing in a sweep that was far too dramatic for the small room. "But you can call me Eseren. Everyone does. Except my grandfather— he calls me 'trouble,' which is technically still accurate."
Kaizen let out a short breath that might have been a laugh.
Her Grandfather
Later that afternoon, when Daniel managed to stand and hobble outside, Eseren led him to the edge of the village where an old man chopped firewood with slow, steady swings.
"That's my grandfather," she whispered loudly enough for the whole forest to hear. "Very wise. Very patient. Mostly because he had to survive raising me."
The old man snorted without looking up. "And yet somehow I still have hair."
Eseren gasped dramatically. "Grandfather! How dare you expose my greatness like this?"
Daniel watched the exchange, caught off guard by how easily humor flowed between them — even though the village had nearly been destroyed.
The old man finally turned, his weathered face softening as he looked at Kaizen.
"You saved us," he said. "For that, this old life of mine is yours if needed."
Daniel bowed slightly. "The beasts would have killed you all if I hadn't stepped in."
"And they very nearly killed you," the grandfather replied. "Which, according to Eseren, means you're either brave or foolish."
"I said he was both!" Eseren corrected proudly.
Her grandfather sighed. "Yes… that does sound like you."
A Stubborn Decision
That evening, Eseren suddenly stood before her grandfather, back straight, chin raised — the look of someone about to be very stubborn.
"I've made up my mind," she said boldly.
Kaizen, sitting on a low bench with a cup of herbal tea, looked up.
Her grandfather stopped stacking firewood. "Oh no," he murmured. "Here it comes."
Eseren planted her hands on her hips. "I know the path I want to take."
The old man groaned softly. "Just say it."
"I'm going with Daniel," she declared. "I'm going to be a real Achor. Not just in this village. Out there — where it matters. I'll learn. I'll grow. And maybe I'll stop accidentally setting things on fire."
Daniel raised a brow. "…You set things on fire?"
"Only twice!" Eseren said quickly. "One and a half, technically."
Her grandfather rubbed his forehead. "Eseren…"
But she cut him off.
"I'm serious, Grandfather. Staying here feels like standing still. I want to see the world. I want to understand who I am supposed to anchor. And—"
She hesitated for a heartbeat.
"—I think it's him."
Her voice softened, losing some of its usual chaotic energy.
Daniel didn't speak. Eseren kept going.
"I don't know if I'm following him because it's destiny… or because I admire him… or because…"She waved a hand awkwardly. "Look, it's confusing, okay? I'll figure it out. But my heart won't get any clearer if I never leave."
Her grandfather studied her with tired, loving eyes.
"You're stubborn," he said gently.
Eseren grinned. "Yes. It's my best feature."
"And reckless."
"Second-best feature."
"And loud."
"Third-best, but climbing the ranks."
Her grandfather chuckled despite himself, shaking his head.
Finally, he stepped forward and placed a weathered hand on her shoulder.
"You are your grandmother's child," he murmured. "Wild as fire and twice as bright… She would have been proud of you."
Eseren's eyes softened. "Then… you'll let me go?"
"I'll never stop you," he said. "I just pray you find what you're searching for."
She threw her arms around him, squeezing tight. The old man hugged her back, whispering something only she could hear.
Daniel watched quietly.
When Eseren pulled away, her smile was bright — stubborn, hopeful, and trembling at the edges.
The First Step
At dawn, Eseren slung a small pack over her shoulder and skipped — actually skipped — toward Kaizen, who waited at the trail leading out of the village.
She stood in front of him, puffing out her chest.
"I'm ready," she declared. "Achor Eseren Elyndra, at your service! I promise to cause only minimal chaos. Maybe. Probably."
Daniel frowned. "Doesn't sound very reassuring."
Eseren shrugged. "Reassurance is overrated."
She grinned brightly — so bright it filled the morning with warmth it didn't have before.
"Shall we?"
Daniel gave a small nod.
Together, they stepped into the forest — a warrior walking toward destiny, and a stubborn, spirited Achor determined to follow him…
Whether out of duty, admiration, confusion, or something far more complicated.
The journey began with laughter echoing through the trees.