.....: "M-my name is… Aeris… Aeris Dawnflare…"
Altair extended his hand.
Altair: "Nice to meet you, Aeris. My name is Altair… and this is Lyra. Are you alright?"
Aeris: "I'm okay now, thanks to you. Thank you so much for saving my life."
She said softly, lowering her head.
Altair gently lifted her chin.
Altair: "Hey… you don't need to bow to me, okay? Are you really alright? And why were you alone so deep in the forest? Isn't that dangerous for someone your age?"
Lyra: "That's true. The nearest village is still far from here. How did you end up here?"
Aeris: "…I was being chased by bandits. Because of my father's debts. Even though my father is gone, they're still after me."
Altair: "I see… Then what about your mother? Where is she now?"
Aeris: "S-she… passed away…"
Lyra: "What a poor girl…"
Altair: "I'm sorry for asking something painful."
Aeris: "It's alright. You saved my life today."
Lyra: "So… you're living alone now?"
Aeris: "Yes. I work to survive, even on my own."
Altair: "You're still so young and yet you have to live like this… that's a heavy life."
Lyra: "How about coming with us for a while? We promise we'll protect you."
Aeris hesitated. But this was the only chance she had.
Aeris: "Is it really okay? I'm afraid I'll only be a burden…"
Lyra & Altair: "We don't mind."
Altair: "And it's dangerous for a young girl to live alone."
Aeris: "Alright… if you truly don't mind, I'll go with you for now."
Altair: "Thank you. Oh, and… are you hungry, Lyra? Aeris?"
Lyra: "I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since yesterday."
Aeris: "I'm fine. You two can eat."
Altair: "Come on. If I eat, then you both eat too, okay?"
Aeris: "…Alright."
---
After that, Altair went to gather firewood. Once the campfire was burning steadily, they grilled the fish Altair had caught a few days ago, sitting together as they talked.
Altair: "Sorry… this is all we have."
Aeris: "It's okay. It's delicious."
Lyra: "I'm glad to hear that. So… what are your plans from now on, Aeris?"
Aeris: "Plans…? Honestly, I don't have any. I just want to survive… and hopefully live a better life someday."
Altair: "How about becoming an adventurer?"
Lyra: "Yeah! Becoming an adventurer and selling herbs alone already pays well enough."
Aeris fell silent, thinking.
Aeris: "I don't have any fighting skills… and I get lost easily. I don't think I'm ready for something like that."
Altair: "I see… that's okay if you're not ready yet. While you travel with us, you can learn a little about being an adventurer. You don't have to fight monsters right away, right, Lyra?"
Lyra: "Exactly. You can start as a herb gatherer. It's safe and the most reliable path for you right now."
Aeris: "Alright… I'll try to learn a thing or two while traveling with you."
---
Night slowly fell. The surroundings grew darker, leaving only the glowing embers and the campfire to warm the quiet night.
Altair: "It seems like it's late. How about we sleep for tonight?"
Lyra: "Sure. Oh, and… here."
Lyra handed a blanket to Aeris, worried she might get cold.
Aeris: "I-I don't need it. You can use it—"
Lyra: "It's fine. Just take it."
Aeris: "O-okay… then what about you?"
Lyra: "I'll stay with Altair."
Altair: "Y-yeah, that's f— w-wait, what??"
Ten minutes later, Altair and Lyra were sitting, leaning against each other.
Altair: "I think I need to teach you a little self-restraint… I mean, we just met."
Lyra: "I know. But you're the person I trust most in my life right now. And I feel sorry for that girl."
Altair: "Ah… fine."
Altair glanced toward Aeris, who had already fallen asleep.
Altair: "Looks like she's asleep. What do you think about her?"
Lyra: "She's a good girl… but her life is far too harsh for a teenager—especially a girl."
Altair: "Yeah… I feel the same. I hope something good comes to her in the future."
Lyra had already fallen into a deep sleep while Altair was still talking.
Altair: "H-hey… ah, never mind."
Altair stood up and decided to sleep leaning against a tree.
---
Just as he stood—
Aeris: "Altair… may I ask one last thing before I sleep?"
Altair was startled, thinking she was already asleep.
Altair: "Of course."
Aeris: "Altair… if I stay with you… am I allowed to hope?"
Altair sat back against the tree, slightly surprised.
Altair: "Hope for what?"
Aeris lowered her head, then slowly lifted her face, her eyes trembling with tears.
Aeris:
"That my life can become more than just surviving…"
Altair fell silent for a moment, then smiled gently.
Altair:
"You've already come this far. That alone means you deserve to hope."
Aeris closed her eyes. For the first time in a long while… she smiled.
---
The night grew quieter, the air colder. The fire warmed their bodies — but Aeris was warmed by Altair.
All they could hear was the wind, and the soft crackling of embers in the silent night.