ã€ŠThe Legionnaireã€‹


 Prologue

    The air smelled of fear. The otherwise cheerful, wide street leading to the main town square suddenly went silent. Only the wind whispered to the dried leaves, which cheerfully responded, accentuating the ensuing silence.

    Locals stood along the white stone fences. Gathering in miniature packs, they guarded each other''s fear. The younglings ran to their parents, clutching their mother''s skirt and father''s trousers while their wrinkled palms fell protectively on their shoulders.

    Their gazes, bathed in the golden and crimson hues of autumn, rushed to the edge of the forest, from which three men were approaching with a firm stride¡ªtheir facial features stern and sharp, expressions unfathomable. With broad, burly shoulders, sturdy necks, powerful backs and arms, they were moving unusually nimbly, as if hovering above the ground.

    The dragon skin capes fluttered behind them, tickled by the wind. Two men at the rear were cloaked in the color of the sky, while the first among them was wearing a cape of golden scales reflecting a hundred shades of autumn. He had honey-colored hair tied into a high ponytail. An asymmetrical scar, the length of a forefinger, cut across the prominent cheekbones on his left cheek, particularly emphasized by his even facial features. Under a long cloak, dragging behind him, was a sizeable black carcass, which he gracefully threw in front of him when they reached the middle of the street.

    The townspeople averted their gazes and lowered their heads before the warriors. Several women squealed when the blond man threw a carcass in front of them. Many hands flew swiftly to cover the children''s eyes. A few children sulked, trying to wriggle out of the firm grip.

    "Terrunians," roared the goldilocks as if to calm the crowd, though all the sound had vanished when they appeared. "Your fear has come to an end."

    A black bestia lay lifeless in front of him. At the top of the elongated head, it had two horns, one behind the other, of which the one closer to the forehead was half as short. Carved along their entire length, they resembled a saw. The rat-like head, bordered by a tough fan-shaped membrane, in which no pride remained, was mounted on a sinewy neck.

    The body was not covered in hair, feathers, or scales; it was completely naked, coated only with rigid, resistant skin, which seemed utterly impenetrable. The long tail, tapering to sharp creases like the horns, blended into a dark green blood trail pouring from two symmetrical punctures on the solid chest.

    "Why should we be afraid?" A woman''s voice cut through the silence.

    The red-haired man beside the robust, dark-haired woman suddenly paled. He grabbed and squeezed her hand, trying to reprimand her, but she didn''t even look at him. She looked the newcomers straight in the eye.

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    "Terrun was under siege by Malumbra[1]</a> for days. Your herds have been decimated. Even the lives of your youngest were endangered." He ripped the air with his harsh voice. "But as of today, you have nothing to fear."

    "That''s nonsense! There are no bestias in Terrun!" Encouraged by the stubby woman, a tall man with brown, curly hair and a thick beard turned to the warriors who stood motionless in the middle of the street. His bushy eyebrows framed a slightly dull expression.

    "Then what is this? It was only a matter of time before it attacked your children," one of the two warriors in blue replied, his voice sharp and piercing. Curly dark brown hair fell over his cape.

    The blond man raised his hand, and he fell silent.

    They wore uniforms carefully crafted of blue dragon scales. On their chests was gold body armor with a crest which was also embossed on the back of their cloaks. Gold alloy greaves protected their shins; girdles and the edges of the sleeves, collars, and capes were adorned with numerous gilded details.

    "It''s true what he says about the herds," timidly added a young man standing to the warrior''s right. "I''m missing a few sheep..."

    "You''re missing a few marbles," the dark-haired woman spoke again, shooting the young man with her gaze. "What do you want from us?"

    "We want nothing from you. We''ve done this for you. With this, the Legion''s mission is complete. Remain in peace." The frontmost warrior lowered his gaze to the carcass.

    "Ambustio," he thundered, turning his palm towards Malumbra, around which a thick fire was rising. Dark green reflections of burnt blood emerged through the flames, and terrified cries and sighs of dismay resounded through the street.

    "Leave! You''re not welcome here," the woman screamed, and the others echoed her sentiments.

    The three legionnaires were leaving town proudly as if they were being sent off with heartfelt farewells.

    The air stank of combustion, and there was nothing left in the place where the bestia had burned. Not even ashes. However, the locals circled around that piece of land at a wide angle. Emboldened by their retreating figures, they nervously crossed each other''s paths, resuming what they had been doing before this unfortunate event.

    Only one dark-skinned boy with curly dark hair continued to look after them, his gaze full of boyish admiration.

    "Let''s go, Leon!" his father called, holding his hand while the boy stumbled, glancing back.

    Other children were forcibly dragged off the street and taken into houses with sharp reproaches from their parents.

    "These are cursed matters!"

    The Terrunians seemed quick to forget, so everything already seemed as usual. Perhaps they just skillfully concealed their unease, believing that what we quickly surrendered to oblivion never occurred.

    Maybe they were closer to the truth than they could have imagined¡­

    [1]</a> Malumbra ¨C Most commonly black or dark brown in color, it belongs to terrestrial vertebrates. The predator can reach up to three feet in adult males. The bodies of adult individuals are not covered with fur, feathers, scales, or other horny or crystalline substances; their skin is very resistant. In times of hunger, Malumbra individuals, if found near populated areas, will attack herds, flocks, or droves of domestic animals; there have been recorded instances of attacks on children. The male Malumbra will kill its own offspring in the absence of food. Type: jarish. Danger level: perilious.

 A Boys Dream

    Winter gently weaved its first cloak and covered the streets of Terrun. Low houses with high-pointed roofs were trying out their new white hats that perfectly matched the facades of light stone.

    Large snowflakes fell lazily as if they did not want to touch the ground. The day was already tired and slowly falling asleep, while the house''s oil lamps and candles were waking up simultaneously, casting golden reflections over the blanket of snow. The air smelled of chamomile and mulled wine, and a muffled murmur echoed from the homes.

    A fat cat was sitting on a wide snow-white street, blinking drowsily as the snowflakes caressed its fur before melting. It relished the chill, defying the infinite white vastness with its thick black fur. In the flash of the moment, it couldn''t be said precisely whether it was the cat purring or if the snow creaked at the feet of two boys who rushed out from behind the corner.

    "There it is, Luke! We have it now."

    The cat abruptly widened its light blue eyes and, with a loud meow, ran haughtily down the street. The boys chased it tirelessly, holding wooden swords high above their heads.

    "Hurry up, Luke, it''s going to get away," shouted the dark-skinned boy, on whose black curls the snowflakes were constantly melting and catching up anew.

    The fat cat was quite fast and moved more easily on thin layers of snow. Soon, it escaped them again.

    "Follow the trace!"

    "It leads to the right..."

    This time, it greeted them sitting in the middle of the trail, less surprised. It ran lazily, almost not caring, just enough to escape them. One could almost read from its eyes: these cubs are very persistent.

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    "It can''t get away from us now."

    "Get iiiit!"

    "Stop, black demon! The holy Legion is on your back; you won''t get far."

    The curly-haired boy rushed in and screamed like a roaring lion. He threw himself from the ground, spreading his arms towards the animal, which sped up the pace to escape.

    The door to their right opened, revealing a woman with a grim face, a pointy chin, and a spiky nose, whose dreadful shadow rushed angrily toward the boys as if to swallow them. They eluded it by a hairbreadth.

    "Who''s screaming in front of my house at this time of night?"

    She thinned her already thin mouth even more, keeping her chin exceptionally high, which accentuated her long neck.

    In hiding his eyes, Luke silently stared at the boy lying in the street, his head buried in the snow.

    "I am Legionnaire Leon, from Bruno of Terrun," the boy replied, rising to his feet. He stood tall, straightened up, and looked her squarely in the eyes.

    She sneered. "You''re just a little savage, that''s what you are. Where are your parents?"

    Luke was still looking at Leon, not speaking.

    "We are the holy Legion, and we are saving Terrun from the black demon." Leon didn''t answer her last question.

    "You are hunting an ordinary cat and howling like a donkey; you''re no legionnaire!"

    The boys watched her in silence. As Luke gazed to the ground and watched the snowflakes reluctantly reach the earth, Leon blushed.

    "One day, I''ll become a legionnaire," he finally said, painfully but decisively.

    "Don''t let me report you to the Council for this nonsense! Both you and your foolish father allowing this!" She shook herself. "Get out of here, right now!"

    She entered the house and slammed the door behind her.

    The boys retreated with red noses and cheeks, their footsteps creaking through the eerie silence of the street. Their long coats erased the traces behind them.

    "I have to go home. It''s late," Luke said. "I hope she doesn''t tell my father we played legionnaires. He wouldn''t like that. He keeps telling me that magic is a cursed thing..."

    Leon didn''t speak. He was staring at his snow-soaked black boots.

    "Leon?"

    "I will become a legionnaire. One day, I''ll become a legionnaire, and she''ll be ashamed she didn''t believe in me."

    Not far from them, the cat was licking itself proudly. It was finally able to enjoy the first snow unbothered.

 1. Home

    Although he knew he couldn''t escape anything in his life¡ªespecially not himself¡ªon Athos''s back, the escape felt real: the warmth of the sun on his skin, the mixed scent of dewy grass and newly born hyacinth flowers in the Ruvimi Valley, the power of the wind pushing against Athos''s muscular body and relentlessly trying to slow him down, while his mane danced with effortless grace to the rhythm of freedom.

    A shabby house by the Ibry Creek; a grumpy old Lerney cursing them for the millionth time as they galloped mightily, dampening her freshly dried laundry, even though they could have got around it. But then they wouldn''t cool off with the icy water of Ibry which was splashing them, nor would Leon enjoy the mischievous smile of Lerney''s daughter Fabiana, who would gaze at him sweetly.

    Shortly after, they entered the town and made their way through one of the wide streets to the floral Wrentus Square, adorned with a spacious bed of roses and shops, where locals always gathered.

    After tying up Athos, he made his way to a small, wooden shop window painted in dark green, in front of which several ladies waited restlessly, smiling and fidgeting as he came along.

    Writing above the door said: Coming out of Rafa''s boutique guarantees there''ll be no leak!

    "You''re going to kill me, I know," Leon apologized.

    "This is the fourth time you''ve been late since the last full moon. Things seem to have changed overnight and you no longer need the money. In that case, I''m glad you came just to chat."

    "I''m sorry, Rafa! It won''t happen again."

    "Someone who doesn''t know you would pay for you dearly, but since I know you well, you''ll be left empty-pocketed this time."

    Leon laughed out loud.

    "Come on, admit it to your old friend, you retook the three times longer route just to strut in front of the daughter of that snake Lerney?" Rafa asked. "How can you even ride through there every day? When I see that woman by chance, it''s three days of bad luck. And you seem to be deliberately looking for the devil[1]</a>..."

    "Well, Rafa..." Leon raised his eyebrow mischievously.

    "You''re incorrigible," he said laughingly, "but it suits your age."

    "How come it''s so crowded? It''s been long since we''ve had this much work."

    "Spring, my lad, spring. You know what women are like¡ªthe season completely fails if they don''t walk around in a new pair of shoes... Come on now, these ladies'' measurements won''t be taken on their own," he winked knowingly.

    Rafa was known in Terrun as a top cobbler. He made almost indestructible leather shoes.

    He lived a very modest and secluded life, entirely devoted to the trade and shoe store, which he barely left, except when hunting for new hide, and he had almost no friends except Leon. As a strong, middle-aged man with distinctly blue eyes, he was highly desirable among women, who visited the store in significantly greater numbers.

    Knocking on the door, a striking brunette protruded her pretty face, slightly restlessly checking out the cobbler and his apprentice. "May I?"

    "I''m sorry, young lady, but we''re not taking on any new customers at the moment."

    Rafa turned down new customers, sticking to a small, familiar circle of people.

    "Try at the old Luwin''s place; he might have more time," he said politely.

    "I''ve already tried it and don''t want to return there." She was curt and resolute.

    "I''m really sorry..."

    "I''ll pay double!"

    "I''m afraid it can''t double the time I have at my disposal..."

    "Triple!"

    "I don''t mean to offend you, young lady, but I don''t care how much you''ll pay..."

    She stormed off furiously, slamming the door hard.

    "Why do you keep turning customers down? You could earn a lot more."

    Leon had always been confused by Rafa''s modesty.

    "Then even more and more and so on indefinitely. Money is a damn thing, lad."

    "It wouldn''t hurt me to be a little damned, Rafa."

    When he started working for him, there wasn''t much work in the cobbler shop. He often didn''t even understand why Rafa had taken him on as an apprentice, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t find a better answer than pity, given that his father and Rafa were good friends.

    "Today we were more diligent than ever," said Leon later that day, when even the sun had grown tired. "This morning, I thought we would never finish, I swear."

    "There''s no such thing, my good boy, that you and I can''t handle. Come on now, lock the door and help me clean up, then get out of here. You don''t want to miss Lunary, do you?"

    Turning to the front door, Leon faced a man who was a head taller than him and at least twice as big. His shoulders were as broad as the door frame, narrow enough not to graze it. He stood upright, and in his dark eyes, confidence and conceit waged a fierce battle. When he spoke, it was the harshest voice Leon had ever heard.

    "Is it open?"

    "I''m sorry, sir, but we''re just closing."

    Rafa, who until that point had been focused on sorting leather samples, with his back to the entrance, now also looked at the visitor with an unfathomable expression.

    "It''s all right, Leon, let him in. You can go," he said curtly.

    "Are you sure? I still have plenty of time to help you. Sir, come and sit here; let me get what I need."

    The man swung his hand sharply, taking off his black cloak. Thick blonde hair, tied into a large braid, fell off his left shoulder and blended in with a thin linen tunic of the same color, tucked into black leather trousers. Across his chest, leather straps crisscrossed, and beneath them, a silver chain glinted briefly before vanishing again beneath the fabric.

    He sat on the green sofa, but to Leon, it didn''t seem that he needed new shoes. His black boots appeared new and expensive. By now, he had already learned to distinguish excellent from poor-quality boots, and these were of top-notch craftsmanship.

    "Leon, I said you could go. I''ll serve the gentleman myself; I believe I haven''t forgotten your part of the job yet."

    With the tone in which he addressed him, Rafa made it clear that he was not leaving room for debate.

    "All right. See you in the morning, Rafa," Leon said.

    "Be careful tonight, and don''t be late in the morning," he looked at him shrewdly.

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    "Me? No way!" Grinning, Leon left the workshop.

    The sun was already on the horizon, so the otherwise white stone facades were covered in shades of pink and orange.

    Soon, the full moon would rise in the sky, and Leon and Athos trotted carelessly, unconcerned about the remaining time until tonight''s holiday.

    His stomach growled as they passed the Golden Pot, reminding him how little he''d eaten for breakfast. The rich aroma of fresh beef broth and pork ribs with potatoes seized all his senses. Suddenly, hunger overwhelmed him completely.

    He left Athos outside the entrance and looked for a place next to the farthest window on the right, where he preferred to sit: it was free.

    The table was the last in a row, providing a good view of the entire inn; from there, he could observe and eavesdrop imperceptibly as tipsy guests talked about things they would probably keep silent about or, at least, speak more quietly.

    "What can I get you, honey?" Addie, the brown-haired innkeeper, approached Leon sweetly.

    "What have you been cooking today, Addie? I thought I smelled your juicy pork ribs and potatoes..."

    "... and veal broth with rosemary," Addie continued proudly. "That''s right."

    "Say no more. Bring me two portions."

    "Oh, darling, you must be starving. Did you and Rafa have a lot of work today?"

    "More than usual, but we were a good tandem. We managed to get everything done before dark. I didn''t even get to think about lunch, and I overslept this morning, so I had a light breakfast."

    "Everything is still warm. I''ll be right back."

    "Addie! And a pint of blackberry wine, please."

    The Golden Pot was unusually bright compared to other taverns in Terrun. Wooden beams protruded between the two large windows on each wall, and from the semi-vaulted ceiling, lined with densely packed reeds and separated by beams into three equal sections. On the right wall, near Leon''s table, a fireplace slept.

    "Don''t talk nonsense, Horrick. Stories about Thunderer[2]</a> are for little children..."

    "Nonsense, you say? Stories for little children? Then how do you explain the unheard-of storms of the last few nights? Dort, Henry, and Enoly''s houses were destroyed by lightning. There hasn''t been a storm in Terrun in decades!"

    "You mean two storms in the last two full moons? I don''t see anything strange about a few lightning strikes once every thirty years."

    "Of course you don''t because you''re a fool. I''m telling you..."

    "Horrick, lower your tone! Not everyone is in the mood to listen to your poppycock." Leon didn''t even notice when Addie came out of the kitchen and approached his table. "Here you go, darling."

    "Thank you, Addie."

    He was already dizzy with hunger. Veal broth with rosemary was still smoking.

    "Do you think this is nonsense, too? Is it possible that no one can see what this is all about? Is there no sensible person in all of Terrun?"

    "If there is, it certainly isn''t you, Horrick. Now, lower your tone, I warn you for the last time. Otherwise, you will be thrown out of here like an old bucket."

    Even though he was two heads taller and three times bigger than Addie, Horrick fell silent. He knew that she never promised what she couldn''t keep. He witnessed several times himself as she threw out men even bigger than him.

    The two men were speaking much quieter now, so Leon had to make an effort to hear what they were talking about, focusing simultaneously on their discussion and his veal broth, which was dripping down his chin.

    Here, in the Golden Pot, he had mastered lip-reading, whenever someone whose words he couldn''t catch drew his attention.

    "I''m telling you, Kayle," Horrick continued in a whisper, "this is no coincidence. Old Enoly claims to have seen a huge shadow over Terrun after her house was struck by lightning."

    "By god, I didn''t know that. Then it all makes sense..."

    "I knew there was still some brain left in that hot bald head..."

    "... because everyone knows that Enoly wouldn''t see a black bear in broad daylight, all clapping in front of her, but she saw a shadow flying over Terrun in the middle of a midnight storm. Of course! Sorry to doubt you, Horrick. Please continue¡ªthis is getting more interesting."

    Kayle drank his dark beer from a large mug in cold blood and stared at his interlocutor as the foam clung to his long mustache like frost on blades of grass.

    Leon was sipping soup that had already gone cold. He pushed the plate aside and pounced on the meat and potatoes. It wasn''t the first time he had listened to the discussions about the storms that have occurred recently, each time leaving considerable damage behind. Indeed, he doesn''t remember that the sky was ever raging so harshly on Terrun, but the belief that a bestia was behind it, right here, in Terrun, was just as incredible.

    However, this story inflamed his imagination, tickled his stomach, and put him in a state of tension: he was sitting in spasm.

    The Golden Pot was emptier than usual at this time because of the night of Lunary. Old Joe was sitting at the bar, leaning on his upper arms, dead drunk, as he was every day, though.

    Will she be there tonight? Of course she will. Everyone''s going to be there tonight. Maybe I better not go?

    "Can I put the plates away, darling? Are you done?"

    "Sure, and please," he quickly drank the wine from the jug, "pour another one, Addie."

    "Are you sure about that? You''re going to be late for tonight''s celebration. By the way, why aren''t you there already, young man?"

    "I think I''ll pass this time, Addie. I''m too tired..."

    "This time? Lunary doesn''t happen every day, for god''s sake! Where''s your youth? Look at old Joe. Hey, Joe!"

    Turning his head, half asleep, the old man ranted and sullenly tried to figure out who was calling him.

    Horrick was still talking heartily about the storm clouds, while Kayle was tirelessly taunting, so much so that Leon could no longer tell if he was joking.

    "Hey, Joe, over here! Do you know what tonight is?" Addie shouted.

    "Oh, Addie, for god''s sake! You scared me. You must be joking, is it getting dark already? I almost dozed off."

    Leon was trying to contain his laughter.

    "I''d better hurry. If I don''t leave right now, I will be late", Joe muttered to himself, continuing to establish the facts. "Can I pay you tomorrow?"

    "Did I ask you if you could drink tomorrow?"

    "Oh, you grumpy turkey, no wonder you''re still a spinster! Here..." He took out three forins and left them at the bar. "Luckily, it''s Lunary tonight, and not even a witch like you can spoil it."

    Joe stormed out, slamming the door, but Addie managed to repay: "Get lost, you drunken fool! You see," she said to Leon, "even this senile, drunken mule doesn''t want to miss this night. Although, he probably knows it''s his last."

    "Addie," Leon laughed.

    "None of us, my pretty boy, should miss a single moment in life. Especially not those wonderful ones because we never know how many more we''ll live to see. Life is too short to allow ourselves to be tired or listless. I''ll get you another pitcher to shake you up a little. After that, you''re headed straight for the Moon Lake. Do we understand each other? God knows how many girls are there tonight just because of you..."

    And yet, the only one I want to see...

    "You know what, Addie, you''re right. Come on, hurry up with that wine; you don''t want me to be late, do you?"

    "That''s the spirit! Oh, you young people! What I wouldn''t give to be nineteen again..."

    No one was left in the tavern but the tireless Horrick and poor Kayle, pale with distress.

    "The possibility that what you''re saying is true equals the possibility of a lame man growing a leg."

    "You know, Kayle, sometimes I wonder how you don''t wither away with all that skepticism. Can''t you see? Strange things are happening. I can feel it in the air."

    "Hey, Addie, do you hear this? What did you put in this fool''s drink, and where do you get that stuff anyway? I''m asking for an acquaintance..."

    "Even a fool would question these beliefs."

    "They''d question why they still listen to you. If the records from the empire are to be believed, legionnaires eradicated thunderers more than two centuries ago, right after the Great War. Even if what you''re saying is true and there''s a thunderer nearby, and I''d say it is, based on your unwavering beliefs," he said particularly sarcastically, "the last specimen of the species has long since rotted underground."

    "The only thing that''s rotten here, Kayle, is your soul. I''ve seen more life in old Joe while he''s sleeping at the bar. Hey, Addie, two more beers here."

    "I don''t serve anymore. We''re closing."

    "What? The night has yet to begin; you can''t close now!"

    "I''ll gladly ask for your permission when I account to you. Until then, drink what you have left and get lost; I have to go to the Ruvimi Valley. It''s Lunary tonight, you fool!"

    In the Golden Pot, the light has almost vanished. Through the windows, the street was slowly losing its colors, and the details were disappearing in rough contours. This was usually the time when Addie lit the oil lamps, restoring the golden hues to the, by then, sooty pot, and the light revealed how ruddy everyone had become from her blackberry wine. Not tonight, though.

    Leon drank his second glass and then trotted down the road on Athos.

    <hr>

    [1]</a> Devil ¨C Among both wizards and humans, there is a belief about a majestic humanoid bestia with crimson skin and a beastly face, a long fiery tail, and powerful limbs ending in poisonous black claws. It is believed that the devil is the most powerful, most dangerous creature that rules over the sun and jar, like no other; there are beliefs that it rules over all locuses. Many stories have been told about the devil and the horrors it creates, as well as various descriptions of its form and appearance. The existence of this creature is considered folklore and superstition for it has never been proven. Type: Unknown. Danger level: Unknown.

    [2]</a> Thunderer ¨C Extinct, bird-like creature that could reach up to six feet long, with a wingspan of up to fifteen feet in adult males. They were typically dark brown, while females tended to be slightly lighter and smaller. They reached sexual maturity after the fifth year when their beaks acquired reddish hues, and would mate for life. Throughout their lifetime, females would usually lay only one egg. If one partner died, the other would die of grief. Thunderers generally didn''t attack wizards, humans, herds, droves, or flocks in populated areas, but due to their strong connection to the locus of jar, their presence brought unprecedented storms and weather disasters, and they were actively hunted and killed because of that. Type: jarish. Danger level: perilious.

 2. At the Fathers Grave

    Dusk eluded the darkness as the full moon appeared in the sky¡ªthe largest moon in the last nineteen years. It seemed so close, as if it could be touched with fingertips, its light reminding us that we are just a fraction of something much larger: an infinite picture, which we find difficult to merge with as we wander, searching for meaning, searching for ourselves, for our shape and colors, for our place, with no idea what the whole picture should look like. Does anyone know?

    Athos and the great white rock in front of which they had stopped gleamed under the full moon''s light. Leon knelt and ran his palm over the chiseled inscription: Bruno of Terrun.

    "Almost three years have passed, Father, and it''s as if it were yesterday that I saw your face. They say years have healing powers, that they take away everything they bring. They lie. I still miss you just as much." He paused briefly. "You always said I learn quickly, but no lesson can compare to this one¡ªas I learn to live without you. But don''t worry, I won''t let you down; I''ll learn that too."

    A flock of luxories[1]</a> flew out of the canopy behind the grave. The moon shone as if to awaken the day. The small glade was strewn with moonflower buds[2]</a> and everything seemed so mockingly alive; even the silence smelled of excitement.

    "I''m sorry I didn''t come sooner. It took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I wasn''t your blood and that you lied to me for so many years. I''m sorry for seeing you off with bitterness and anger. I was hurt, so I didn''t think about hurting you. I take comfort in not knowing I was going to lose you so easily. Lousy comfort, I know. I was selfish."

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    Leon looked up to the sky.

    "You were saying that Lunary is the night of new beginnings and that the last one changed your life, but I didn''t know why for a long time. Then, after the celebration, you found me in the canopy on the outskirts of Terrun. That was the last story you told me... I never got a chance to thank you. I never got to thank you for everything you''ve done for me. I didn¡¯t know it then, but now I know that family isn¡¯t made up of blood ties, and that, no matter what, I am your son. And I am proud of it. I know you can hear me now..."

    A few hot tears streamed down his face as he lowered his eyes to the ground.

    The murmur of the Terrunians reached the glade; they had already gathered in the Ruvimi Valley, at the confluence of Ibry Creek and Moon Lake.

    "I forgive you, father. I hope you can forgive me, too."

    The moonflower on Bruno''s grave quivered. Pearly light emerged from the top, between the delicate, fragile petals lazily parting, and then it gleamed. Another shone after it, then another, and so tiny sources of light were born in the grass in a gentle wave, like tingles on the skin of lovers breathing into each other''s necks, from which they descended lower, towards their chest... From the glade of Terrun, lower, towards the Ruvimi Valley.

    Leon mounted Athos and rushed down the moonflower path straight to Moon Lake.

    <hr>

    [1]</a> Luxory ¨C Avian creatures without known powers. They are tiny, like sparrows; they come in almost all colors, and their bodies emit a faint light visible at night. There is disagreement among researchers about the locus with which they are connected. Type: non-aligned. Danger level: ordinius.

    [2]</a> Moonflower ¨C A ground-dwelling maguplantus with broad leaves. It blooms once a year, before the first full moon of spring, releasing seeds in tiny spheres that emit a pearly white light, resembling moonlight, hence its name. The seeds are carried into the air, where rain and wind bring them back to the ground, spreading and multiplying them in this way. Type: lunar. Danger level: harmless.

 3. Lunary

    Athos and Leon looked like sowers of stars as they approached the Terrunians who had swamped the estuary. With them came a gentle light that was spilling over the grass.

    The mild breeze carried the giggles and sighs of the locals, especially those for whom this was the first Lunary. The elders, however, would say that every time felt like the first.

    "Hey, Luke!" Leon shouted.

    "Where have you been? I''ve been looking all over for you."

    A tall, brown-haired young man with a pretty face came to Leon''s embrace. "Happy birthday, brother!" He patted him firmly on the back.

    "Thank you," Leon smiled, then added, "Though you know I haven''t cared for them since..."

    "I know. But that has to change," Luke grinned. "What took you so long?"

    "Sorry, I stayed longer than I intended."

    "Did Fabiana keep you? Come on, admit it, she finally pulled you off Athos and dragged you into the hay behind her house to give you a birthday present." He smiled mischievously.

    "Can you be louder?" Leon punched him in the shoulder. "No, I was at my father''s grave."

    Luke suddenly got serious.

    "Are you all right?" He looked at him worriedly.

    "Now I am. I feel like a tremendous burden has fallen off my back."

    "I''m sorry, I didn''t know..."

    "It''s all right, don''t worry," he fell silent briefly, then said, "It''s truly surreal, isn''t it?"

    "It''s breathtaking," Luke replied as they looked around and watched the Ruvimi Valley turn into a starry sky.

    "Listen, I have something to tell you," Leon lowered his voice.

    "What''s that?" Luke asked absentmindedly.

    "I stopped by the Golden Pot to get something to eat when I came out of the cobbler shop, and I heard Horrick and Kayle arguing about the storms."

    "What exactly were they arguing about?"

    "Horrick thinks there''s a Thunderer behind the storms..." Leon whispered the last sentence.

    "That''s impossible!" Luke shouted.

    "Don''t yell, you fool!"

    "It''s not possible," he repeated quietly. "There are no bestias in Terrun."

    Fear crept into Luke''s eyes.

    "It''s just impossible!"

    "There are no storms either, and yet they happened."

    "But that''s something else..."

    "Is it?"

    "What are you saying?"

    "I didn''t get a chance to think about it, nor did I associate the storms with bestias, but you must admit it makes sense. It has happened before."

    "Yes¡ªhardly ever. The last case was recorded how many ¨C twelve, thirteen years ago? And people still think that the bestia was nowhere near Terrun but was brought here. They''re just not around here."

    "Because it''s easier for everyone if they believe it. Why shouldn''t there be any?"

    "When did you hear that there was a bestia near the town? When did you see one in the woods or anywhere nearby?"

    "It doesn''t mean something isn''t here just because we don''t see it, Luke. The forest is vast, and it''s not as if any of the Terrunians were exploring. People are superstitious, and behind every superstition lies fear. They don''t seek because they know what they''ll find."

    "And you know the story of the first settlers looking for a land isolated from the world and magic."

    "I know, I''ve listened to it so many times..."

    "And you also know that even today, rites are performed that repel bestias from this land. The bestias are vulnerable here, upset, insecure..."

    "That''s nonsense," Leon said, but Luke didn''t care.

    "... this simply isn''t their habitat. There are none here." Luke spoke as if convincing himself.

    "Luke, no ritual can drive them away, but everyone feels better¡ªseemingly at peace¡ªif they believe it can. That''s why they choose to believe, even though they secretly fear. But I don''t believe it. Bestias were here. Bestias are here. It''s just luck that there haven''t been any unfortunate events lately. It''s not about any senseless rituals. This, with the storms, might not be a coincidence. Horrick might be right. It doesn''t sound unbelievable to me at all."

    "Maybe it''s because you''ve been obsessed with the Legion your whole life?" Luke was spiteful.

    "Perhaps. And maybe it''s because I don''t want to be constrained by other people''s convictions, and I think with my own head," Leon snapped, and then they continued to silently observe the scene.

    Leon''s look stopped at the couple sitting about twenty feet below them. They were facing the lake, so Leon and Luke looked at their backs. Still, he would recognize that graceful posture and chestnut curls, nearly brushing the grass, even from a far distance. He could almost smell her hair.

    Luckily, she couldn''t see him, as his lips had suddenly gone dry while his palms grew damp. The young man''s hand on her shoulder made Leon''s otherwise dark complexion take on a rosy hue. Something in his stomach¡ªlike a hoop tightening under his chest¡ªbegan to constrict.

    "Hey, look!" said the young man, and his hand flew off her shoulder into the air towards a glowing orb, like a miniature moon.

    I owe you for this, moonflower... You know how to pick the right moment.

    A white pearl was born from each moonflower, carrying a dazzling light, gently hovering above the ground as if someone were pulling them with invisible threads, wanting, simultaneously, to do it imperceptibly. While the flowers on the ground were slowly extinguishing, the air was illuminated by thousands of glowing pearls intoxicated by the moonlight.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "I think it''s time we take a peek at ourselves, mate. Don''t forget to make a wish at the end," Luke warned him. "In fact, two," he added, winking at him. "It''s your birthday, after all."

    Terrunians were a free people, a no man''s land. They didn''t pray to any god or bow to any ruler. They believed in freedom and peace. Records show that the first settlers arrived in the Ruvimi Valley centuries before the Great War, looking for a piece of land far from the rest of the world, far from conflicts and quarrels.

    They paid homage to the Moon, believing that man, like the moon, changes on their path, has their bright and dark side, matures. That''s why Lunary is one of the most significant holidays among the locals¡ªa night in which the moon reaches its full power and shines with its glittering, pearly glow, to illuminate the dark parts of one''s being.

    Besides creating one of the most beautiful sights, Terrunians believe that the moon and the moonflower help everyone unite with themselves and their soul. Therefore, it is a custom for everyone to vigilantly contemplate their thoughts, feelings, and wishes, eventually making one.

    Even though he closed his eyes, Leon could still see the chestnut strands. It took him a while to focus. He thought about his life, everything that had happened recently, and how long it had taken him to regain his strength and joy. He lost his father and found out that everything he believed in was a lie. Then he lost her as well. Still, he had learned a lot and emerged victorious in his inner war, losing a few battles along the way. But is there a war without casualties?

    He thought about what was behind him, but also everything life had yet to bring¡ªabout who he used to be; everything he is; and the man he wanted to become. He searched within himself, sifting through desires, seeking the one that burned brightest of all. He found it easily, wishing for it twice, for he had no other desires.

    He heard the sound of a mandolin. Gordon''s fingers danced on the strings. He opened his eyes and realized everyone around him was already on their feet.

    A handful of people danced on the sandy shore, moving to the melody, some more gracefully than others. Ariana watched them, swaying gently to the rhythm of the mandolin. She stood alone, and Leon felt his heart tremble.

    "Maybe we should go, don''t you think," Luke suddenly suggested.

    "The night has just begun, what''s your hurry?"

    "Uh, well, nothing... I don''t know. I''m getting cold," he said.

    "Is everything all right?"

    "Yes, yes, don''t worry," Luke replied. He glanced at Leon, then at Ariana, before saying, "You''re not planning to approach her after everything that happened, are you?"

    Leon watched the chestnut tresses that swayed with the soft movements of her body. An unbearable urge gripped him¡ªto get close, to touch and hold her.

    "I don''t know. Maybe... I''d like to," he said absently.

    "But there''s been nothing between you two for a long time..." Luke stared at Ariana. "I mean, you''re not even talking..."

    "That''s why. I have nothing to lose," Leon said resolutely. "Wait for me here, brother."

    He approached her quietly, smelling the scent of linden: the fragrance of her hair. His heart pounded even harder.

    "Would you dance with me?" he whispered softly.

    She turned eagerly as if she could hardly wait for someone to ask her to dance. But the smile quickly vanished, turned into a grimace, and the gleam in her eyes gave way to bitterness, disappointment.

    "Leon¡­ I wasn''t expecting you..." She said confusedly.

    She doesn''t feel delightful either, but "I didn''t expect to see you" is not the same as "I don''t want to see you".

    He reached out and offered her his palm. She looked over one shoulder, then the other, and then laid her palm in his insecurely. Leon''s heart was pounding so hard it almost drowned out the music.

    "Are you expecting someone?"

    "No," she said. "I just didn''t expect you. That''s all."

    "It seemed you wanted to dance, but you''re missing a partner."

    "Of course, that''s when you come in to save the day." He could hear the poison in her words. "What do you want from me, Leon? Why did you come to me?"

    Because I can''t get you out of my head...

    "I wanted to make sure you''re all right," he said.

    Ariana was silent.

    "Well, are you?"

    "Do I look bad?"

    Then Leon fell silent. If he says she looks terrible, he''d lie to her, probably even offend her. If he told the truth, he''d hurt himself¡ªshe looked beautiful, different: she was prettier than ever.

    "I''m finally fine. I''m happy. After all this time, I can finally say that. Thank you for caring."

    Poison, again.

    That was the answer he dreaded the most.

    "You''re not going to ask how I am?"

    "So I don''t get an answer again? No, thank you," Ariana said.

    "I see, you moved on quickly..."

    "Quickly? You rotten, selfish man!" She pushed him away. "Moved on? I had nothing to move on from! I''ve been looking for you for days. I begged you to talk to me after your father died. I wanted to be there for you because I couldn''t imagine how hard it was to lose the only family member you ever had. But all you could think about then was your wounded vanity. You didn''t care who you hurt along the way! You just disappeared, as usual."

    He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close. He could feel her heart beating strongly.

    "I''m sorry. I''m here now."

    He held her in his arms for a long time. She didn''t resist.

    When he opened his eyes, Leon realized that all eyes were on them. As she discreetly moved away from him, Ariana seemed embarrassed.

    "What are you looking at, you idiots?" someone in the crowd shouted. "The musician is playing the Love Dance of the Moon and the Sun! We''re not going to stand here watching you smooch until morning, are we?"

    Laughter echoed throughout the valley while many nodded approvingly.

    Ariana was nervous, like a thief caught in the act desperately seeking an escape.

    "Are you looking for someone?" Leon asked again.

    "Uh... No, no..."

    "Good. It''s not like we have a choice..."

    Feigning naivety, he appeared utterly cold-blooded, though his heart was racing up to his throat. He relished the fact that he would dance the love dance with her. The truth was, though, they, in fact, had no choice.

    According to custom, on the night of Lunary, the Love Dance of the Moon and the Sun would be played, and the couple chosen by the musician was expected to perform the traditional dance.

    Enthralled by their conversation¡ªoverwhelmed by emotions and all the unspoken words that had tormented them for so long¡ªLeon and Ariana didn''t notice when Gordon approached.

    This love story was one of Terrun''s most beloved legends, and the melody Gordon played was its hallmark, weaving through the tale from beginning to end.

    Once upon a time, there lived a love older than time itself, mightier than any force: the love of the Moon and the Sun. It was a time when there was no darkness in Eltrimera. Many creatures of Darkness tried, unsuccessfully, to extinguish the zeal of this love¡ªuntil the Darkness itself descended upon Eltrimera. It was so powerful that even the Sun and Luna struggled to resist it, so dark that it threatened to overshadow even their light. The battle raged for seven long days.

    Music followed the story, and Leon and Ariana followed the melody. The dance commenced with a couple''s dance, blending passionate solos and paired movements. The first part culminated with the dancers embracing a tranquil slumber. When they awoke, Darkness was all around them.

    In Terrun, this dance was taught from a young age and passed down through generations. There was almost no one who didn''t know how to dance it, whether gracefully or unskillfully.

    After seven long days, Darkness spoke to them, deceiving them. It led them to believe that the only way to defeat it was to illuminate the heavenly vault on both sides. At first, the Sun didn''t want to separate, but Darkness was convincing. It managed to deceive them: Luna agreed to part with her beloved Sun, only to banish the dark.

    On the eighth day, the Sun and Luna said farewell and headed for opposite sides of the sky, convinced they would soon be together again.

    Ariana and Leon separated, dancing their parts, continuing the story bathed in the pearly light of Luna and the moonflower, and the glistening looks of the locals who surrounded them.

    Deceived, the Moon and the Sun remained forever apart, and one side of the celestial vault was left in utter darkness. However, Darkness didn''t entirely win: their love was so strong that the light of the Sun always found its way to Luna, who absorbed it and brought it back to Eltrimera, ensuring that Darkness could never devour it completely. Their love watches over the world to this day.

    That is why the Terrunians adore Luna: she sacrificed her love to be the light in the darkness for the people. The Legend says that only love between two people, as strong as the love of the Moon and the Sun, will succeed in defeating and forever banishing Darkness, after which the eternal day will dawn again in Eltrimera.

    The dance ended with the dancers reuniting and immersing in a gentle embrace, symbolizing the victory of love and the end of darkness in Eltrimera.

    The scent of her hair brought back an avalanche of memories. The images lined up before his eyes while his heart pounded from fatigue and excitement. Ariana broke free from his embrace and hurriedly lost herself in the crowd. In Leon''s hand remained a blue satin ribbon she tied a lock of her hair with. He was left alone.

    People continuously applauded, smiled, and shed tears. He looked around for Luke, but he didn''t see him.

    He stared at the sky. The glowing pearls of the moonflower were high above, seeming to merge with the stars. The moonlight began to fade, like hope extinguishing when a cloud of sorrow hovers over it.

    Don''t look at me like that, Luna. You''ll have to find someone else to ward off the Darkness. From this love, only a small change remains.

 4. Hunt

    "You''re late, as usual," Rafa said, calmly reclining in his saddle, not far from Leon''s house. Dawn was timidly throwing its first spears through the dark gloom.

    "I''m sorry," Leon began...

    "And you apologize as usual, even though you fundamentally don''t change anything." A smile crossed his lips.

    "Then I''d better not continue with my usual phrase..."

    "That it won''t happen again?"

    Leon grinned.

    "Catch!" Rafa threw a spear with a finely polished handle and a narrow, long blade, impeccably abraded and sharpened. The spear had a blue tassel on the top. Leon caught it skillfully¡ªit was brand new.

    "Happy birthday, boy," Rafa smiled, seeing the look on his face.

    "Wow," he said, gazing at the blade. "Thanks, old man!" He grinned from ear to ear. "You didn''t have to bother..."

    "If I had to, I wouldn''t have done it. Ready?"

    "Always."

    "Let''s go then; it''ll dawn soon."

    Terrun Forest felt denser in the darkness as they ventured deeper. The towering trees grew more imposing, completely obscuring the starry spring sky. Amidst them, Rafa and Leon seemed small atop their powerful stallions, but their excitement rivaled the might of the centuries-old trees.

    "Did you make it to Lunary last night?" Leon''s voice echoed through the woods.

    "Would I miss a performance like that?" Rafa looked at him significantly.

    "You shrewd old fox," Leon laughed. "I didn''t see you."

    "Of course you didn''t. You had eyes for only one all night, and after that, you were too flushed to notice anyone, so to speak."

    "Every wolf clings to a pretty, young she-wolf; it doesn''t notice scruffy old wolves," he said with a shrug, pretending to be serious.

    Rafa laughed loudly as his mighty body swayed in the saddle. "You''re good, kid, you''re good. The score is one to one."

    "I would say zero to one, but so be it..."

    "You really don''t like to lose, and this isn''t even a defeat. I didn''t teach you anything."

    "What does that tell you?"

    "That you''re a bad student?"

    "No, that you''re a bad teacher."

    "Remind me to beat you up later."

    "Did you catch anything last night?"

    "I''m too old for those games," Rafa smiled.

    "Women in Terrun don''t think so..." Leon grinned.

    "I guess I''m used to different women."

    "A woman is a woman, old man."

    "Oh, boy, you''re so unaware of your ignorance," Rafa said. "I suppose that''s why you stuck to that she-wolf out of so many last night?"

    "Oh, these are low blows... But you''re right..."

    "I know a thing or two," he said with a wink, "even if I did drop out of the game. Just make sure you don''t get burned by the same fire twice¡ªthe second time, it hurts twice as much. Wiser men learn to blow on spring water after being burned by tea. And you..."

    "Are you saying I''m not wise?"

    "No, I''m saying you''re stupid."

    Now Leon chuckled, and the echo of his laughter resonated indefinitely.

    "What''s the current result, may I ask?"

    "You''re still poorly positioned. Athos, hyah!" Leon urged Athos, leaving Rafa and Hurricane behind.

    "Hey, cheater! Hyah! Hyah!"

    The sun warmly beckoned the dawn, and the path ahead became more apparent. After a long ride, the forest finally thinned out. The day was getting born. The high tree alleys were replaced by considerably lower trees, which got smaller at each subsequent foot and eventually turned into low underbrush scattered across the grassy vastness.

    Rafa and Leon slowed down as soon as they emerged into the clearing, transitioning from a gallop to a light trot and then into a leisurely stroll.

    "They shouldn''t be far away..."

    "There," said Leon, "look over there!"

    And indeed, in the distance before them, a herd of buffalo grazed peacefully, unaware of the looming danger.

    "You know the plan?" Rafa asked, shivering with excitement.

    "As always," Leon grinned.

    They crept forward slowly, buying time before the herd spotted them and grew agitated. The scent of bovine dung lingered in the air.

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    "On my mark," Rafa said when they were close enough. "Ready?"

    Leon nodded confidently.

    "Hyah," roared Rafa, forcing the Hurricane into a lightning gallop as Athos and Leon followed right in their footsteps.

    Noticing them, the herd fled, their eyes wide open, grouping into a densely packed formation, thus trying to prevent the enemy from weaving through them. Behind their huge, powerful bodies, which made the very ground tremble, flew pieces of torn-up soil and grass, crashing down on two riders who bravely chased them.

    Leon and Athos veered away, changed direction, then closed in again, trying to confuse and break the herd. Hurricane and Athos moved at an incredible speed, agile as if hunting to satisfy their own hunger¡ªlike powerful, wild cats.

    Finally, a few heads began to lag behind¡ªjust what Leon and Rafa had been waiting for. Seizing the opportunity, they boldly closed in on the straggling cattle from both sides, trying to cut them off completely.

    Frightened, one of the males tried to defend himself, charging briskly at Rafa with his sharp horns, the massive hump on his back looming over his neck like a mountain.

    But this time, his courage cost him dearly¡ªLeon intercepted him, cutting him off from the herd entirely.

    "Just in time!" Rafa shouted.

    The buffalo tried to turn and run back after driving Rafa away, but it was already cut off. Leon and Athos, waiting for it on the other side, became its new target. Lowering its head once more, it charged at them, its sharp horns poised to stab the stallion.

    Leon and Rafa held their weapons ready¡ªtheir spears longing to thrust into its hot flesh. As the buffalo charged toward Athos, Hurricane closed in from the side. Seizing the moment, Leon reacted with lightning speed¡ªjust as the beast turned back toward Rafa, he drove his spear straight between its ribs.

    "Hoo-ha!" Rafa roared as the buffalo spun, thrashing in a desperate attempt to free itself from the fatal stab. Its lungs were punctured, and the ground beneath it turned a deep crimson.

    "That''s my boy!" Rafa laughed thunderously, his voice echoing across the field.

    Leon grinned. "I learned from the best," he replied, soothing the powerful stallion. "Whoa! Well done, boy," he stroked his neck, lowering his face into Athos''s mane.

    "Your father would be proud," Rafa said, and the smile vanished from Leon''s face.

    "Thanks, old man."

    "The two of us were such a good team in buffalo hunting that I didn''t think anyone would be able to replace him, but what do you know," his blue eyes gleamed in the sun. "You do have something of his after all," Rafa said, grinning, but he quickly caught Leon''s look. "Sorry, kid... I didn''t mean it like that..."

    "Don''t worry, Rafa..."

    "I meant to say he trained you well for hunting."

    "No. Both of you trained me well. I never hunted more than does with my father. It wasn''t meant to be."

    "I''m sorry he''s not with us now..."

    "Me too."

    Twitching on the bloody ground, the buffalo took a final breath through its punctured lungs, then made two sudden jerks before it completely calmed.

    Leon and Rafa sat on their stallions, staring at the carcass before them, but their thoughts drifted far away, carried by a river of memories. Their eyes grew watery.

    "Come on, help me skin it," Rafa finally broke the silence.

    "You know how much I hate this part," Leon said disgustingly.

    "But you like it when we charge for every pair of boots, don''t you? Come on, jump off!"

    Leon assisted more by holding the carcass while Rafa skillfully skinned it with a sharp dagger.

    "Someday, you''re going to do this; you''re resisting in vain."

    "I''m happy that someday isn''t today."

    When they finished and tied the skin, they loaded it onto Hurricane and headed toward Terrun, leaving behind a skinned carcass to roast and stink in the sun. The first flies have already swarmed, drawn by the scent of sticky, fresh blood.

    It felt good when they reached the dense canopy and shade of the forest, trotting silently most of the way. Leon was pensive.

    "You''re getting better at this, I have to admit..." Rafa began.

    "Did you know?" Leon interrupted him with an unexpected question.

    "Did I know what?" Rafa was taken aback.

    "That I wasn''t his son."

    "I did," he said without hesitation. Still, he wasn''t looking at Leon, who expected him to look back at him.

    "Why didn''t you tell me?"

    "You never asked."

    "I mean earlier. Why didn''t you tell me before? While Bruno was still alive?" There was a hint of disappointment in his voice. Rafa heard it too.

    "Leon, in the years to come, when you become a mature man..."

    "I am a mature man..."

    "I don''t just mean being able to satisfy a woman," he added. "I mean the moment when you truly become a mature man, in the fullest sense. You''ll realize that not every battle is yours, and you shouldn''t be the messenger of every truth. Besides, each of us has a secret of our own."

    "Do you think it''s braver to keep quiet? That it''s wiser to lie?"

    "Silence and lying are different, and I didn¡¯t lie to you."

    "It amounts to the same thing..."

    "Only if you''re a fool. This is neither about bravery nor wisdom. Least of all, wisdom. I wasn''t the one who should have told you. Bruno did, when he felt ready, just as it should have been."

    "No one thought about me..."

    "I believe it''s the exact opposite. That you were the reason he kept quiet. He didn''t want to hurt you."

    "Or he didn''t dare to admit it to me."

    "He dared to accept you, to raise you and bring you up as his own blood. He dared to nourish you and make a man out of you. He dared to love you and give you everything he could. Isn''t that enough?"

    The color of Leon''s face turned rosy. His gaze was no longer as confident or angry as it was moments ago. Rafa was telling the truth. The truth that defeated him.

    "You''re right. I''m sorry. I don''t know what came over me," he finally admitted.

    "There''s no need to apologize. I understand how you feel."

    "Just when I think I''m over it, anger always defeats me."

    "Anger is a perfectly normal reaction to what lives inside you. But it''s not the anger that defeats you; it''s the darkness you have trapped in yourself. You have to learn..."

    "To control it? Believe me, I''m trying."

    "No, not to control it¡ªto release it," Rafa said.

    The forest held the sharp scent of damp earth and the bark of old trees, the odor of two horses soaked in sweat, and the freshly skinned hide that would soon become shoes.

    Leon was thinking about Rafa''s words. He regretted that, once again, his heart had overcome reason, that he had spoken from the lair of his vanity, that he had returned with ferocity and hurt to the place he decided to forget¡ªto forgive. And what we have forgiven others, we no longer have the right to resent.

    "Rafa, who was that man in the workshop?" he asked, recalling a strong, light-haired man.

    "A customer," he replied briefly.

    "I''ve never seen him before... I thought we weren''t accepting unknown customers?"

    "We don''t."

    "So how..."

    "I know him. It''s nothing to worry about."

    "All right."

    Briefly, silence fell between them again. All that could be heard was the dull beat of hooves. Once they reached the edge of the forest, Terrun appeared before them shortly after.

    "Rafa," Leon said uncertainly, then fell silent.

    "Yes, Leon?"

    "Speaking of secrets," he paused again. "There''s something I haven''t told you..."

    "I''m afraid it will have to wait..."

    "Why?"

    Rafa, smiling, looked at the house not far from them, nestled on the edge of thick foliage¡ªLeon''s home.

    "Then I''ll see you later," Leon said absentmindedly, spotting her.

    "You don''t have to come; I don''t intend to open the shop. I have more important things to do today; I have to prepare."

    "Is there anything I can do to help you?" Leon asked.

    "Thank you, but I think you also have more important things to do. Besides, I have to do this alone."

    Leon smiled tensely.

    "All right, old man, as you say. I''ll see you in the morning."

    "Remember my words: when you get burned by the same fire twice..."

    "... the second time, it hurts twice as much."

    "Good luck, boy. Hyah!"

    Hurricane surged into a strong gallop while Athos and Leon approached their home hesitantly. Leon dismounted with difficulty, but not due to fatigue or stiffness¡ªAriana stood before the entrance.

 5. Moment of Weakness

    She looked tense as her gaze wandered from the hem of her light blue dress to the canopy of an old oak tree, then descended to her palms and rose again, searching for the source of birds chirping. Leon clumsily got off Athos. Luckily, she didn''t see that.

    "Hey," Leon said.

    Ariana turned around, unaware of his approach. She no longer seemed tense. Her gaze crystallized. Feigning coldness, she donned a cloak of arrogance.

    "I believe you have something of mine," she said without hesitation.

    Something of yours? Yes, there is something left: the taste of your lips is still in my mouth; traces of your breasts are still all over my chest, and the imprint of your palm is still discernible on mine. Your hair strands are still in front of me, your fingertips are everywhere on my skin. Whenever I look up at the sky, I see your eyes. I sail the river of memories, rummage through the crate of your smiles, but you probably didn''t mean that...

    "Have you been waiting long?"

    "Tolerable, compared to the time I spent waiting for you in vain. At least this time, I was sure you''d show up eventually."

    He was expecting stings. He struggled not to smile because he had always found it amusing when she was angry.

    "Do you have my blue ribbon?"

    The one I took off your hair last night so I''d have a reason to see you again?

    "I do. It was stuck on my shirt, I didn''t notice it. I tried to find you last night, but you disappeared," he lied.

    "Can I have it back?"

    "Sure, come in."

    She entered uncertainly and stopped at the doorway of the large room, arms crossed in front of her.

    "It''s upstairs," Leon said, and Ariana followed him.

    They remained silent as they crossed the spacious living room, winding through the twisted stairs around the old oak tree. He didn''t know what to say. Every word he attempted to utter vanished on its way to the tip of his lips, and his mouth grew dry.

    "This ribbon must be very important to you..."

    Ariana stood by the window, appearing to be on pins and needles.

    "It''s a gift. I got it from my grandma." She looked away as she spoke.

    He already knew the ribbon was a gift; he also knew it was from her grandmother. She told him how she liked to tailor her dresses and choose colors according to her eyes, always sewing a ribbon for her hair. He also knew how much that ribbon must mean to her because her grandmother was no longer alive, but he didn''t know how to break the awkward silence. That was all he could come up with.

    "You just disappeared last night," he finally said. "Did I say something wrong?"

    "You didn''t say anything. That''s the problem."

    She spoke measuredly, avoiding details. She didn''t even look at him.

    "I don''t understand..."

    "Of course you don''t understand. I should get going. "

    She stepped back toward the stairs, but Leon grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him.

    "Don''t you ever touch me again! Never! Don''t come looking for me. Don''t come near me. How dare you¡ªafter all this time, after everything? Now, when I''ve finally moved on? Where have you been until now?" Her eyes filled with tears.

    "Here. Right where we''re standing. I don''t remember you coming to look for me." Leon''s gaze became restless, gloomy.

    "How can you say that to me? I''ve been looking for you for days¡ªfor months. I''ve asked everyone about you, and this is such a small place! Everyone had some news except me! To me, it was like you''d vanished into thin air. If I ever made an effort for anyone, it was for you. So how dare you tell me I wasn''t looking for you? What right do you have? Were you looking for me, by any chance?" Her voice trembled like a dove on the roof while winter howled outside.

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    "Maybe I did¡ªbut he was there whenever I tried to approach you. I couldn''t stand it. I couldn''t bear that you replaced me so quickly."

    She was flushed with rage.

    "Yes, he was there, Leon. He was there! That''s something you know nothing about. All you know how to do is disappear. Unlike you, some people care, show their feelings, they don''t hide. And just so you know, there was nothing between me and Mike. Never. Like a true friend, he was there for me in hard times. Something you know so little about."

    "And now?"

    "Now what?"

    "Is there anything between you and Mike now?"

    She went silent for a moment. "It''s too late now, Leon," she said, then looked him directly in the eyes.

    The hot hoop tightened around his chest. He was running out of breath.

    "Are you happy?"

    He, too, gazed into her eyes, searching for any sign. Anything. A glimmer of hope he could fight for. He didn''t blink, fearing that the glimmer might slip away.

    "I am, finally." She didn''t blink either as she spoke these words. "I have to go, Leon."

    Suddenly, his lips found hers, afraid that she might reject them. He kissed her as if parched, drinking water from her lips and couldn''t quench his thirst. His chest thumped vigorously against hers. She didn''t stop him¡ªthey were both thirsty.

    His hands moved fearfully from her waist towards the buttons on her dress, which was buttoned at the back. One. Then another. And another. He could have ripped it off her, but he didn''t want to scare her. He didn''t want her to change her mind. Not now. Fourth. Gently. Fifth. There were no buttons left.

    He tenderly touched her neck, from which he descended to the shoulders. He felt her skin shiver. Gently, he slipped the dress from her shoulders, caressing her arms with his fingertips. Her skin was soft and warm, betraying her boiling blood.

    She slipped her hands under his shirt, finding the perfect spot for them on his back. She hugged him passionately, then grabbed the hem of his shirt and took it off him, brushing her wet lips over his neck, then down towards his chest. This time, Leon shivered.

    Delicately, they wove a fiery wreath on his bed, upon which the sun sprinkled a honeyed brilliance.

    They didn''t move or talk for a while. She lay beside him, dreamy, with his hand on her breasts. He didn''t want to let her go, savoring the moment. They were flushed with passion and the pink rays of the already purplish sky that managed to wriggle their way to them.

    He felt her slipping away. She gathered her things from the floor, turning her back to him as if he had never held her. Now that the game was over, she pieced herself back together, pulling away as if she had never been his.

    The truth was, she never had been. And what could one moment of weakness¡ªan uncontrolled outburst of passion¡ªtruly change?

    He felt the weight of stone settle in his chest again.

    She took her blue ribbon, tied her hair, and finally turned to face him. "Thank you for giving me what¡¯s mine."

    She headed towards the exit, and he couldn''t utter a word.

    "You''re welcome," he mumbled as she disappeared.

    He lay naked on the feather mattress, gazing at the intertwined dry branches of his ceiling. They looked like a depiction of his thoughts. He had a weird feeling they were mocking him. Rising, he moved to the window and gazed at the path leading to Terrun, watching her leave while everything inside him withered again.

 6. Dream

    The sky growled angrily all night. The wind ordered the forest to bow, harshly punishing all who resisted. The mightier trees nodded subtly with their tops, while the weaker ones bent humbly before their powerful master. Those who resisted were conquered¡ªtheir branches plucked, broken in half, and carried away by the force of the wind. Flowers, grass, and the rest of the low-class forest inhabitants, bowed to the ground without any dignity.

    Thunderbolts frantically beat the eagerly awaiting ground, destroying everything in their path. Lightning flashes were so powerful that the dazzling light pierced through the thick canopy. Rain poured, threatening to submerge Terrun.

    After Ariana left, Leon sat at the window for a long time, gazing into the distance. He remained awake almost all night, powerless in the face of insomnia. The room still smelled of passion. He felt tingles as the images flashed before his eyes. The sweet taste in his mouth turned bitter.

    He went to the bathroom, heated a few buckets of water, and poured them into a metal tub. He wanted to wash it all away. He felt dirty. The warm water relaxed him as he listened to the rain drumming, driving away his thoughts.

    Screams of women and children echoed through the forest. Darkness swallowed the space, leaving nothing but blackness behind. A dark figure ran through the night. Venturing deeper into the woods, she glanced back every few feet. She was scared. The dark, bluish-green cloak fluttered behind her, snagging low foliage. Long black hair sneaked out from under a wide hood. She tightly held a bundle wrapped in blue fabric, gripping it desperately.

    When she was sure no one was following her, she slowed her pace. The forest grew denser, and the distant cries faded. She glanced around less often, her focus shifting to the path ahead, which had become ominously dark.

    She finally stopped, pulled back her hood, and looked up at the sky. An unusual sound escaped her¡ªinhuman. It was almost a scream. She did it again. Then, once more.

    She breathed calmly, as if she hadn''t just left an entire expanse behind her. Her gaze was determined¡ªangry. She set the bundle down and gently unwrapped it. Warmth filled her eyes as she looked at the newborn, and the rage vanished from her gaze.

    High above the canopy, an identical cry echoed back.

    Darker than the night, a creature flew toward the woman and the child. She raised her hand, and the bird-like being¡ªtwice the size of the newborn¡ªlanded on her upper arm.

    It had two pairs of wings, the rear pair slightly smaller. Its feathers were coarse, especially those on its wings. Seven long tail feathers fell heavily, each moving independently. Identical in number, seven smaller feathers hung from its head.

    Her arm looked as if it might buckle under the weight, yet she carried the bird as if it were a mere leaf. They locked eyes. The woman offered a gentle bow, and the creature lifted the seven feathers on its head, forming a crown-like shape, before lowering its head in return.

    It seemed like the bird was delving into the woman''s mind with its ink-blue eyes emitting a faint light. Shortly after, it lifted off her arm, floating in the air.

    The woman took the newborn and kissed it on the forehead. "May the heavens watch over you."

    She wrapped a blue fabric and lifted it high, and the bird scooped the bundle with its long tail and vanished into the canopy.

    Once again, a cry echoed from the sky, and the woman quickly disappeared into the darkness.

    Leon winced. The day had dawned. The wind no longer blew, and the rain had stopped falling: the storm had ceased. He shivered from the cold he had accumulated in the chilled water. He quickly stood up, wrapped himself in a linen cloth, and then ran to get dressed while the sun caressed his skin through the window panes. A sudden wave of warmth sent a trail of goosebumps across his body.

    "Damn it, I''m late again!"

    He hurriedly got into his brown trousers and pulled on a light olive-green tunic, cut obliquely so it fell longer on the left side. It didn''t have a collar and was fastened with three buttons. Leon buttoned only the first one. He then girded himself with a black leather belt, equipped with several rivets to hold pencils, a tape measure, and small tools while working.

    He rushed down the stairs, grabbed a quick bite of dried cheese as he passed, then put on his boots and saddled Athos.

    They rushed at the speed of a mighty wind, this time straight through Terrun, avoiding the longer, roundabout paths. It seemed as if the torrent had swept into the streets. The water still flowed down the road to the valley. The puddles lay everywhere, some deep to the bottom of the calves, Leon estimated every time Athos stepped into one of them. The roads were covered with a green carpet of newly grown spring leaves that the wind ruthlessly tore away. Athos jumped over broken branches and smaller trunks.

    People were clearing the areas before their homes, dragging severed branches, clearing paths. They tried to save the ruined gardens, or at least what could be saved. They patched up damaged roofs, mostly made of small wooden planks, but remarkably holding up well.

    Leon noticed three houses more damaged than the others: the ones struck by lightning.

    The houses were irregular in shape, more or less the same height¡ªone-story, built mainly of light stone and dark wood that cascaded from the roofs along the edges, surrounded by light stone fences. Yet, there was an unusual harmony in their disharmony which exuded warmth.

    On Wrentus Square, there was almost no one except shop owners cleaning the alleyways in front of their shops. The rose bed was destroyed, and several shop windows were shattered.

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    There were no customers outside Rafa''s store. No inscription. Nor the shop window. Leon left Athos and stepped inside. The door was open. Tiny crystals of broken glass, scattered tools from the shelves, glimmered over the floor. The sofa was covered in pieces of leather and paper. The lamp was knocked over. The table at the bottom looked messier than ever. The floor was wet from the rain that the wind crammed through the broken window.

    "Rafa?" Leon shouted.

    Although it was daytime, the cobbler shop was shrouded in darkness, especially its back part. Leon went to light the oil lamps, but all of them were shattered, and their liquid had left greasy traces on the walls.

    "Hey, Rafa? I''m here." Leon''s voice disturbed the silence, but there was no response.

    He had to clean up the mess in front of the back door, near the tool shelf, so he could open it. A narrow hallway led to the living room and the basement of old, unused items, food, wine, apple brandy, worn-out clothes, books, hunting weapons. Every step he took was accompanied by the creaking of the wood, which eerily groaned.

    The living room was a rather untidy space where Rafa slept, cooked, and ate. It had one table, two chairs, something that was supposed to be a fireplace but looked more like a hole in the wall, a wardrobe, and a bed concealed by curtains. Leon pulled them aside. The bed was unmade, the bedding crumpled; next to the bed, there was a large, old wooden box with a latch, locked with a padlock.

    "Where could he have gone? He should''ve been cleaning up by now. Maybe he left on purpose so I''d do all the dirty work. Typical of him. Shrewd crook."

    Leon lifted the crock lid in the fireplace, but the stale smell of chicken stew made him quickly put the lid back. It was cold. The fire hadn''t burned there for a long time.

    The table was cluttered with papers, books, and drawings of new shoes scattered over a large brown leather-bound book, covering almost the entire title, except for the first two letters: "Be..."

    The air smelled stale. He pulled back the curtains from the windows set into the stone walls, opened them, and felt a rush of fresh, damp air. The room was now filled with the scent of earth and wet grass.

    He returned to the store, reluctantly putting back everything the wind had knocked down. He then cleared the broken lamps and glass. He collected papers, booklets, and pieces of leather.

    He also tried to remove oil lamp stains from the walls but eventually gave up. No matter how much he rubbed, they became more apparent, and his fingers shriveled from the water.

    It was already noon when he tidied up the shop. All that was left was to clean the glass off the street, and Rafa wasn''t there yet. He glanced around carelessly, looking for him smiling wickedly from around a corner.

    He noticed a handful of people in the square and locals arriving. They stood still as if someone was performing an entertaining act, and anyone who approached would remain petrified, staring at what Leon couldn''t see.

    Not far from them stood a mighty grey stallion with a thick black mane flowing down its neck. It was Rafa''s Hurricane.

    "Of course he''s there. While I''m cleaning, he''s having fun."

    He left the broom and headed towards the square. Sighs grew louder, and a silent murmur intertwined with sounds of astonishment.

    This one must be really good, whoever they are. Surely some traveling artist...

    He looked for Rafa. Occasionally, an "oh" would escape when one of the newly arrived locals spotted the performer. They were so mesmerized that they didn''t notice Leon pushing them aside.

    As if someone had punched him in the stomach, he ran out of air. His legs tottered, and everything around him spun and swayed. His body went numb; sparks were flashing in front of his eyes. He fought for breath. He tried to speak, but he was voiceless. An invisible hand plunged deep into his womb and plucked a piece of his soul¡ªRafa lay dead.

    All eyes lingered on his lifeless body on the wet pavement. Rafa''s clothes were beastly torn. The bright shirt, damp and muddy, was all in fringes, revealing almost the entire torso. Four tears cut through the middle of the chest, descending to the stomach, so deep that part of the intestines was visible. The spacing between the cuts hinted at paws twice the size of a human hand.

    A similar claw imprint marked his left thigh¡ªsomewhat shorter but just as deep. The entire left trouser leg was torn off; the body was scratched as if a pack of wolves had dragged it. The corpse was already cold and stiff.

    He didn''t have scratches on his face. His eyes were insanely bulging, and his throat was slit so his head could barely rest on his shoulders; his mouth was open as if he had tried to say something but was petrified in the middle of the word.

    No one spoke; they just stared at the scene before them. Parents turned their children around, closing their eyes.

    The air was heavy, bleak, and humid. It reeked of mud and blood. Leon knelt with his head down. He wasn''t looking at Rafa anymore; all the liveliness had vanished from him. His body was limp, lifelessly still, and everything around him became empty. The spring in him suddenly dried up¡ªwinter had come. He trembled. He was cold. He felt the entire Terrun weighing on his chest. He still breathed heavily, but he no longer fought for air¡ªhe gave up. Collapsed.

    Someone grabbed him by the right upper arm and pulled him off the ground.

    "Brother!" Luke finally lifted him and hugged him tightly. "Leon? Leon, snap out of it!"

    He wrapped his hands around his face and shook him slightly. Leon didn''t blink. Luke grabbed him under the arms and led him aside. He placed him beside a bed of broken, plucked roses, on a nearby bench. He unscrewed the water paunch and offered it to Leon, but since he did not move, he poured water down his throat and shook him gently again.

    "Brother, can you hear me?"

    He finally looked up, expressionless.

    "Tell me I''m dreaming. This can''t be true..."

    Luke draped his arm over Leon''s shoulders. "I''m sorry, brother..."

    The news spread quickly, like a stormy wind. The locals kept coming, staying petrified above the body. Finally, a deep female voice cut through the silence like a sword.

    "Heavens! What happened here?"

    Everyone remained silent.

    "Will someone explain to me what happened?!"

    "Bestias are back in Terrun," whispered a bent old woman.

    "Oh, for god''s sake, Enoly!" sharply rebuked a stout woman beside her. "Shut up and don''t talk nonsense!"

    A brown-haired man with strong arms and shoulders rumbled through a thick beard: "I found him at the entrance to the northern part of the forest, Katya. I set out this morning to find a good tree for my destroyed roof. I came into the woods on the east side but was coming out on the north road. Rafa lay dead near the clearing. My stomach turned when I saw him. His entrails were about to spill out of him. I barely managed to get him in the cart and drag him here." The man was trembling.

    "Heavens! I don''t remember ever seeing anything like this." Katya stared eerily at Rafa''s lifeless body. "I beg you all to step back. Daedalus, Torrick! Why are you staring like that?! Take Rafa''s body to the Moon Lake; I''ll perform the ritual there."

    The two men carefully lifted the corpse, more gently than their own nature allowed, afraid that it might decompose in front of them.

    The assembled Terrunians slowly dispersed. They walked sluggishly, speechless, in groups, as if they were keeping each other''s fear.

    Leon was trying to mount Athos, unsuccessfully.

    "Wait, I''ll help you," Luke said.

    "Actually, on second thought, it''ll do me good to take a walk."

    "I''ll come with you."

    "Thank you, brother, but now I just want to be alone."

    "Leon, you''re not able to walk alone. I''ll walk you home."

    "Luke, please... Trust me, I''ll be fine."

    "Are you sure?"

    "I promise."

    "If you need anything, you know where to find me."

    "Thank you, brother."

    They hugged, and then Leon and Athos walked away. The sun was already high above Terrun, scorching the skin, futilely trying to overpower the fresh burn on Leon''s soul.

 7. Another Grave

    They wandered aimlessly, not stopping for a moment. They left town and ventured so deep into the woods that day and night became indistinguishable. For a long time, they walked the well-known paths they had galloped down countless times before.

    When Leon felt better, he mounted Athos and urged him into a frantic gallop, pressing his heels more firmly into the stallion''s sides. Athos ran as if death were chasing him.

    "Aaah!"

    Birds flew out of treetops, screeching in fright. Leon''s cry echoed through the forest like a lion''s roar. He urged Athos faster; he didn''t dare stop. Stopping would mean acceptance; it would mean the end¡ªand he couldn''t accept that he had lost him too.

    Thoughts echoed like thunders in his head, each more powerful than the last, creating a storm he could not contain. He thought his head would split open. His chest burned, and anger seethed within him, spreading insidiously.

    "Aaah!"

    The forest echoed his every scream as if mocking him. He had never felt so powerless. His entire life resembled this insane, purposeless gallop without direction, without meaning.

    Leon stopped Athos, dismounted, and hot tears streamed down his cheeks. He sobbed uncontrollably, roaring like a lion as he kicked up dirt, grass, broken branches and tree trunks. Suddenly, a tingling sensation coursed through him as a strange, sparkling force filled his body, flaring up and spreading rapidly.

    He felt the heat engulf him, restoring his strength, his pulse accelerating as a deafening noise clouded his mind. Shivers coursed through him, and a strange pressure built inside, overwhelming even the sorrow. The power surging through him was so immense that he felt invincible¡ªjust moments ago, he had been utterly helpless and desperate.

    But, alongside the power, he felt an indescribable fear.

    "No," he said, terrified, "Not again... Not again, please, no..."

    Athos became agitated. With widened eyes, he was stamping in place, watching Leon.

    Leon felt pain deep within him. The force that possessed him threatened to penetrate his skin and tear him to pieces. He gripped his temples tightly, trying in vain to reduce the headache. Everything was losing its outlines before his eyes, just as he was losing ground beneath his feet.

    The strength turned into pain, the pain into unbearable agony, and his whole body convulsed until he could neither see nor hear over the deafening ringing in his head. He fell to his knees.

    "Nooo!" He screamed in a cry of helplessness.

    Out of nowhere, glowing flames rose around Leon, trapping him and Athos, spreading the heat that burned their skin. The pressure in his body diminished abruptly. At last, he felt as empty as the air he breathed. And again¡ªthat deafening silence within him.

    Numb from fatigue, he collapsed, sweat dripping from his forehead. He no longer felt pain or pressure in his chest. He could breathe freely. However, fear created a storm within him. He rose and approached Athos, seeking an exit, losing his balance, but there was no way out. The flames wholly trapped them.

    "Breathe," he said to himself, closing his eyes. "Breathe, just breathe..."

    He inhaled deeply, slowly releasing the air, repeating it several times. The heat on his skin was getting weaker, as was the flickering light behind his closed eyes. He continued to breathe.

    Athos snorted fiercely and struck the ground twice with his hoof. Leon winced. The flames were almost gone, and Athos looked him straight in the eye, then snorted again and made an unusual nodding motion that resembled an invitation.

    The ceremony. "We''re going to be late for the ceremony," he suddenly realized.

    Athos reared up and neighed.

    "Run as fast as your hooves can carry you!"

    Leaping over the low fire, they rushed back to Terrun.

    The ceremony had already begun when they emerged from the woods. Katya performed a purification ritual, a ritual Leon had witnessed only once or twice. It was performed only for those who had been killed, cleansing their bodies of the forces that had defiled them so their souls could rest in peace. Otherwise, their souls would remain trapped in this world forever.

    Rafa''s body rested on a wooden raft, drifting among the white lilies. Katya stood beside him, reciting prayers. Beside her sat a bowl filled with crushed leaves of various herbs¡ªsome of which she named in prayer: asphodel, birch, cypress, mullein, basil¡­ She alternated between tossing a handful and sprinkling lake water over the body.

    Rafa lay motionless. It seemed like he was asleep. Leon thought the cold water would wake him any moment, but that didn''t happen.

    Katya had previously applied balms to the deadly wounds. He wore only a piece of white cloth wrapped around his pelvis, his arms crossed over his stomach.

    His body was exceptionally robust, seeming much younger than his face, his shoulders broad and muscular, his legs as strong as two tree trunks. Grayish hair¡ªon which a few brown strands still proudly held on¡ªshimmered in the sunlight. Even dead and torn, he lay proudly.

    Katya lit a wad of rue, which she had previously soaked with water so it couldn''t burn, and uttered the last words of prayer as smoke billowed. A simple white dress, with long wide sleeves, fell heavily soaked in water.

    "... may his soul rest in peace."

    "May his soul rest in peace," those present replied.

    She looked for Leon.

    "I believe Rafa would like us to bury him in the forest. He spent so much time in it."

    Leon stared at her, unable to speak. He nodded slightly when he realized their eyes had been locked for too long.

    Torrick and Daedalus took Rafa''s body to the forest''s edge. The procession followed them with Katya leading. Luke was among them, though he kept to himself. Leon and Athos were the last. No one spoke, not even the forest, which was unusually quiet. The leaves, which would normally chatter and gossip about anyone passing by, were silent, as if bidding their final farewell.

    Daedalus and Torrick quickly dug a hole with the help of two more men and placed the body in it. Katya said a brief prayer and threw a wad of smoked rue into the tomb, and then each of the attendees approached and threw a lump of excavated soil into the grave.

    Leon stood a few feet away. Everyone except Katya, Daedalus, Torrick, and Luke, had already left. Katya waited for Leon to approach so Daedalus and Torrick could bury the body, but he didn''t move. He couldn''t take a step. Athos gently nudged him with his nose at his back. His tunic pulsed to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

    "Katya, I''d like to bury him myself," he said shakily.

    The restlessness was bursting out of her eyes, but she just nodded.

    "I finished my part anyway," she said. "Look me up later; I think I have something for you."

    He waited for everyone to leave. Torrick turned around several times confusedly, and Katya scolded him each time for being rude¡ªquite rudely.

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    When there was no one left, Leon stood above Rafa''s grave. His body was partly covered in dirt. Just here and there could the light, gray skin be seen. His face remained unblemished.

    Leon squeezed the dirt between his fingers as if to turn it to stone. A hundred images came out before his eyes; Rafa''s voice echoed in his mind, as if he were caught in a whirlwind of time strangling him with memories. He heard his thunderous laughter.

    He filled the hole, moistening the already rain-soaked earth with his tears.

    "Why didn''t you call me, damn you?! Why didn''t you come and get me?"

    The black soil covered the body completely; only the luminous face eerily protruded.

    "... you would still be alive now, or at least I''d be dead, too. I wouldn''t have to go through this again. I can''t go through this again. I can''t lose you too!"

    Athos approached and gently nuzzled his neck with his snout. Then, he began to bury Rafa with the tip of his nose.

    "Oh, boy..." Leon caressed him. "You were just a colt when he brought you to me on my sixteenth birthday. How happy I was! It was one of the few beautiful moments after father''s death. You brought a smile to my face. He''s done so much for me. He taught me so much. He knew how to be there when no one else was, even when I pushed everyone away¡ªeven then, he knew how to be with me."

    Again, he felt the tingling and heat spreading over his body as his heartbeat accelerated.

    "No, no! Breathe!"

    He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths until the attack subsided, then continued to fill the hole until he shaped a grave. Athos helped him the whole time. Leon then gathered pieces of light stone and laid them over the grave.

    Not far from there, where light met the shade of the forest, a bush of white lilies grew. Leon pulled one stem from the ground, planting it on the grave before arranging the remaining rocks.

    Outside, it was already dark, and night began to fall.

    "I remember the story you told me after my father died," he said hoarsely through tears.

    "Once upon a time, in a far northern kingdom, there lived an old man with his only daughter, Uwada. Many said she was the most beautiful girl in the kingdom, more beautiful even than the princess herself. Yet she had no suitors and rarely went out, as she spent her days caring for her old, sick father. While he lay ill, Uwada would bring him fresh flowers from her garden every morning, then spend the whole day by his side, reading him the stories he loved.

    One morning, when she entered with a bouquet of fresh roses, she found her father lying dead. The girl wept inconsolably all day, sending away anyone who tried to enter her house.

    "Go away, go away! I want everyone to leave me alone! I want to die with him," she cried when the door creaked open again late that night.

    A rasping female voice behind her replied, "It''s not your time yet."

    A tall figure stood in the doorway, draped in a black cloak. The hood concealed its entire face. It crossed its long, bony fingers over its chest and seemed to float above the ground.

    "Who are you?" Uwada asked.

    "I am Death," the figure in black replied. "I came for your father."

    The girl wasn''t afraid¡ªon the contrary. "Take me with you," she said, looking Death in the face.

    "It''s not your time yet," Death said calmly.

    "But I want to die. I have no reason to live anymore."

    "You will die, like everyone else, when your time comes," Death repeated.

    "Then I won''t let you take him. I won''t let go of him; I will not move away from him. I''ll fight you if I have to."

    "No one can fight me."

    "I swear, you won''t take him from me!"

    Death made a strange sound, something like laughter. "I''ll leave him tonight," it warned. "But I''m coming for him in the morning." Then, it vanished.

    The girl stayed by her father''s side all night, weeping inconsolably. She kept reading him stories and holding his hand. When morning came, she didn¡¯t even go to pick fresh flowers, fearing that Death might deceive her and take him while she was away.

    The door creaked again at dawn. Death stood at the entrance.

    "I told you, I won''t let him go. Leave! You can''t take him from me. No one can."

    "He no longer belongs to this world. His soul must move on. This is the world of the living¡ªhe will only find sorrow here."

    "And I''ll be unhappy without him. I want you to take me! I want to die! I have no mother, brothers or sisters, husband, or children. I have no one. I don''t have cattle or poultry. No living soul. I have no treasure. I have nothing but this old house and that small garden. No one will miss me. Please take me! There must be a way... Tell me how to go with you."

    Death observed Uwada quietly.

    "All right, if that''s what you want. There is a way you can come with me. More precisely, there are two. One is that you die..."

    "And the other?"

    "I won''t tell you now. I will be back in seven days. Think carefully once again, I repeat¡ªit''s not your time. Once I take your hand, there''s no turning back," it said, disappearing again.

    The girl didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment. She grabbed a knife and thrust it toward her chest. But before the blade could touch her skin, the metal snapped from the handle and clattered loudly at her feet.

    She ran out into the garden, climbed a tall tree, and threw herself from its highest branch. Yet her dress caught on a limb just above the ground, slowing her fall. She landed with a soft thud, left in nothing but her undergarments, while the dress dangled above her.

    But she refused to give up. She gathered a few flowers from the garden¡ªpoisonous purple irises¡ªbrewed them in boiling water, and drank. The sickness came quickly. She was drenched in cold sweat, vomiting violently. The ground beneath her feet swirled, and she trembled from the cold. Then, she collapsed to the ground.

    "Finally," she said weakly, barely breathing.

    But later that day, she opened her eyes. "No," she thought, "It can''t be. I want to die," she sobbed, "My life no longer has a purpose."

    For the next six days, she continued her attempts to end her life, but each one failed. Her father lay already stiff and gray, and the corpse began to stink.

    On the seventh day, Death came to her door again.

    "Please, tell me another way," Uwada wailed. "I tried to take my own life, but I failed. Every attempt has failed."

    "I told you it wasn''t your time. No one can die when they want to."

    "But you said I could go with you¡ªthat there is a way."

    "There is. If this is your final decision and your will, I will take you with me. I ask you one more time¡ªare you quite sure you want to leave this world? Once you step into the afterlife, there is no turning back."

    "Yes, I''m sure." She replied like a bolt out of the blue.

    "All right."

    Death approached, taking both the girl and her father by the hand, and together, all three disappeared.

    When they arrived in the other world, Uwada was delighted.

    "Thank you! Oh, thank you! You saved me!" She said, then turned to her father: "Oh, dear father, I missed you. Now we can walk the heavenly gardens and tell stories."

    But the old man did not respond.

    "Father?" The girl called. "I say now we can tell stories again. Father, can you hear me?"

    "He can''t hear or see you," Death said. "This is the world of dead souls."

    "But I died."

    "No, you have crossed from the world of the living into this world, but you have not died."

    The girl cried desperately again. She screamed, "You fooled me! You vile, filthy creature! Why didn''t you tell me he wouldn''t be able to see me?"

    "You never asked."

    "And if I had died, would we be together now?"

    "Yes."

    "Show me when I''ll die!"

    "Never."

    "I beg your pardon?"

    "Never," Death repeated.

    "It''s not possible; we all die sooner or later."

    "Those who, of their own will, alive, cross into the world of the dead, never die."

    Uwada stared helplessly, unable to find the right words. She didn¡¯t even have a tear left. For the first time in her life, fear gripped her. Her mouth went completely dry.

    "What will happen to me then?" She asked with a trembling voice.

    "The same as with all of us who share this fate."

    Death spread her arms, and behind it appeared dozens of figures in black cloaks, with deep black hoods that concealed their faces.

    Terrified, Uwada trembled; fear made her heart throb. Color drained from her face, and her lips turned white. Wide-eyed, she stared in wonder.

    "No, please, no! I made a mistake. Please take me back; I was wrong. This is not what I wanted..."

    "Once we cross the bridge, there is no turning back. You will return, but with a completely different role. You will return as one of us."

    The girl screamed as her pretty face distorted and greyed, and her beautiful green eyes darkened until even the whites turned black. Her golden hair blackened, and the delicate pink dress transformed into a black cape that engulfed her.

    Everyone stood still. Wraiths in black watched her, and the souls of the dead didn''t even flinch at her scream. No one could help her anymore.

    The scream faded until it completely silenced.

    "Still, I need to show you something before you get back..."

    "I remember very well that you stopped here. You always knew how to heighten the pressure. To ignite the fire and then let me roast. I asked you what it showed her, but you just smiled mysteriously."

    "Please, Rafa, tell me, what did Death show her?"

    "On the eighth day, Uwada would meet a lost prince who set out to propose to a princess but veered off course and fell in love with her. He would take her to his faraway kingdom, to a lavish court with the most beautiful garden she had ever seen, and she would bear him four beautiful children."

    "Goodbye, my friend. I''ll miss you. Greet Bruno for me if you meet him up there. I''ll never forget everything you''ve done for me. Some spent a lifetime growing up without a father, and I had two. I hope to find a way to make you proud and repay you for everything you have done for me." He knelt on the ground and kissed the bare stone beneath him. "I swear on your grave that I will avenge your death. I will gut the bestia that did this, even if it''s the last thing I do."

    Hot tears poured down his face, dampening his olive-green tunic.

 8. Inheritance

    The night had fully embraced Terrun when he arrived at Katya''s house. The streets were empty, swallowed by darkness, interspersed with the occasional glare of oil lamps glowing timidly through the windows.

    No light emanated from Katya''s home. The purple curtains were drawn. Leon had no sense of the time of night or how much time had passed since the funeral. He knocked shyly, hoping she would hear if she was still awake. He felt uncomfortable coming to someone''s doorstep this late, even though he had been invited.

    There was no response from the other side.

    Damn, it''s too late. I''ll try tomorrow.

    He had barely reached the gate when the door opened. Katya stood at the entrance, wearing a simple dark blue dress that blended with the darkness. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, draping her arms to the elbows. She was small and slender, yet she stood proudly, with grace.

    "You''ve arrived..." She looked at him with her piercing blue eyes.

    "I hope I didn''t wake you?"

    "Oh, no, no. The night is my day." She laughed oddly.

    The light from a distant room flickered behind her. She stepped out on the doorstep and extended her hand toward the entrance. "Please, come in."

    A narrow hallway led to other rooms. Usually, houses in Terrun had simple and empty hallways, but Katya''s was covered with dark tapestries depicting the sky, namely the stars on it.

    Above the front door hung a dried bundle of herbs, of which Leon recognized only the head of garlic that stood out.

    She led him straight to the room where the faint glow of a half-burnt candle flickered on the table. The walls were draped with tapestries. The dim light revealed little¡ªonly the vague outlines of the spacious room. Above the purple curtains, Leon noticed bundles of feathers, rolled tight like bouquets.

    "Have a seat," Katya said.

    The candle wavered as they neared the table, causing their shadows to dance along the walls. Leon shuddered. He had never set foot in a caelumnar''s house, let alone Katya''s.

    In Terrun, wizards did not reside; magic was considered a wicked, cursed craft. Terrunians despised it so much that they barely spoke about it; it was a part of their ancient cultural heritage, as the indigenous people considered magic the cause of all evil in the world.

    Caelumnars did not engage in open magic or possess any powers, but they did walk a fine line: they foretold fates, read the stars, recited prayers, performed rituals, and for particularly superstitious Terrunians, that was sufficient. Caelumnars paid particular attention to the sky: they sought answers, returned to the past, and predicted the future. Often, these predictions were vague and unclear, instilling fear among the townspeople, as it is human nature to fear what one does not understand. They probably would have been banished from Terrun long ago if they hadn''t been excellent at healing with herbs and balms.

    "I''m sorry I''m coming so late, Katya, I''ve lost track of time."

    "I already told you I''m awake at night, stop apologizing like you''ve lost your mind."

    In the faint light, Leon''s blush was barely visible¡ªuntil he realized Katya might still notice, which only made him blush more.

    "I wouldn''t want to keep you too long. You said you had something for me?"

    She rose from the table and disappeared, the wooden floor creaking behind her. A distant noise echoed through the house.

    The room was lined with shelves, each filled with a variety of items: books, full jars, ceramic and glass dishes, stones, wooden boxes, and too many candles that were not burning. On the table sat bowls and dishes filled with various liquids¡ªsome with crushed herbs floating on the surface, others clear, and some thick and mushy. A vase of tiny wildflowers stood among them.

    The room smelled charming, though it seemed creepy. Leon noticed how his muscles involuntarily relaxed.

    Katya returned and slammed a plate in front of him.

    "Why are you staring at me? Eat first, and then we can continue our conversation. Your stomach is growling like you''ve swallowed a chorus of frogs! I can''t even think since you walked in."

    He had not yet fully recovered from the first pink outburst on his face when he was overwhelmed by a new one. He hadn''t eaten all day and felt he could eat an ox, but it was his first time in her house, and he hardly knew her. What if she put something in his food? What if she wanted to enchant him? Poison him? And yet, how could he refuse her without sounding impolite? He tried to push aside his suspicions and his belief in such circumstances. It was not in his nature to think like a typical Terrunian.

    He carefully took two or three slices of dried meat and a piece of bread, avoiding all the mushy contents on the plate and the boiled vegetables, not knowing what she had cooked them in. Just in case, a measure of precaution, he thought. He hardly ate anything out of mere politeness.

    Katya didn''t even look at him. She continued talking as soon as he ate a few bites and his stomach calmed down.

    "Are you done?"

    "Yes, I am. Thank you." He was happy she asked.

    She got up and cleared the plate from the table, the distant clatter echoing through the room, then returned with a medium-sized wooden box carved with symbols.

    "I''m sorry about Rafa," she said, "I know how close you were to him."

    How could she know?

    He was too tired to inquire, so he remained silent, wanting to leave as soon as possible.

    "Since Rafa has no heirs, spouse, children, or relatives, his house and all his property will belong to Terrun. The Council will assess its value, after which it will be available for sale," Katya explained.

    Leon didn¡¯t have time to think about it. Just a few days ago, they had been working together, hunting¡ªhe was there. Rafa was always there. It all happened so fast. Despair overwhelmed him: now, all of Rafa''s will belonged to some stranger.

    "Um, Katya... what will happen to the cobbler shop?"

    They had spent so much time together there.

    "Are you stupid or crazy? I just told you, everything''s going to be for sale. Everything! The shop is an integral part of his house¡ªprobably the most valuable," Katya snapped.

    Thoughts rushed in as if carried by the wind. He knew what he was asking was insane, but he asked anyway:

    "Is it possible to buy just the cobbler shop?"

    She gave him an inscrutable look.

    "I suppose so, yes, I believe someone might want to buy just the house, yes...," she said, then, as if suddenly realizing why he asked, she snapped, "But where will you get the money for that, young man? Do you even have any idea how much it will cost?"

    "How much?"

    She laughed resoundingly and plunged into the back of the chair.

    "How much? Ha-ha! You ask as if you were a goose laying golden eggs. A lot!"

    The way she moved¡ªher body language while talking, swaying back and forth, then suddenly leaning toward his face¡ªmade Leon uneasy.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    "Can you at least tell me an approximate value? Your free estimate?"

    He clung desperately to every salvation straw he could invent as if any of it mattered: he lived off the salary he earned at the cobbler''s and had no savings.

    He no longer had a job or a trade in his hands. Rafa never entirely taught him. He never disclosed his secrets to anyone; no matter how much Leon insisted, Rafa would smile and say, "All in good time, boy, all in good time." But all the time in the world had leaked out of the sand timer.

    "I can''t say exactly, but I believe the estimated value will be at least five hundred arkens."

    Leon became thoroughly disheartened. His salary at the cobbler shop was barely five hundred forins in a complete lunar cycle, not even amounting to five whole arkens. He had always known that Rafa had a soft spot for him and paid him more than he deserved. Even if he could find a job that paid equally, it would take him more than eight years of savings, provided he didn''t spend a single forin of what he earned¡ªwhich was impossible.

    "Clearly, we mustn''t wait too long for an assessment because the value decreases over time."

    Katya was one of the members of the Terrun Council, which wielded its power only in situations that left no other choice. Terrunians believed in freedom above all else, so the Council was established to protect and preserve customs, ensure freedom for the locals, and regulate life at a higher level without affecting personal lives, except in the case of judgments.

    They had the power to punish those who violated public peace and order, endangered the freedom and rights of the locals, and desecrated cultural monuments, wherever they came from, so the Council members were highly esteemed in society.

    It consisted of four members. The first two were representatives of the social groups: Keepers of Tradition, Art, Customs and History; Guardians of Public Peace and Order; the third member was a representative of artisans; and the last was Katya, a representative of caelumnars. The four members made decisions by voting.

    Each association elected a representative, who oversaw his domain, and the longest-serving member on the Council was worth two votes to prevail if the ballot was two against two. Katya had been the oldest member for several years, as the member mandate wasn''t limited. Caelumnars appeared to be the most united, even though they were the fewest.

    "Well." Katya abruptly broke the silence they had both drifted into. Leon startled. "As I already told you, I have something for you." She pulled the wooden box closer, unlocking a metal latch. Leon couldn''t see its contents.

    "Since Rafa had no heirs, I thought it was natural that his personal belongings, which we found on him, should belong to you, given that you were his closest friend."

    Closest friend. His heart skipped a beat. He felt a lump in his throat as she lifted the wooden lid. He didn''t expect anything Rafa owned to belong to him. No matter how much time he spent with him, they weren''t blood-related.

    She pulled out a dagger, which Leon took in his hand. It was as light as a feather. He''s never seen it before. The handle, which began with a shining ruby in the center and swirlingly ended with a grim-eyed bird with outspread wings that served as a comfortable grip, was made of pure gold. Two dark blue stones gleamed under the candlelight, like bird''s eyes. The blade, no longer than three lengths of an index finger, made of the finest steel, tapered towards the top, giving the impression that the gently curved edge, not thicker than a lion''s fang, could cut through the stone itself. The sheath was made of a sturdy material that Leon couldn''t identify. The top and bottom were adorned, and the sapphire-blue middle was polished.

    "This necklace wasn''t on him, but Daedalus found it not far from the body. I thought it might be his."

    A simple silver chain ended with a symbol of the sun with a crimson ruby. It was unfamiliar to him, or, at least, he couldn''t remember ever seeing it on Rafa, but he lied instantly at the thought of where it might end up if he told the truth.

    "It''s his."

    He knew that the best lies were the simplest ones.

    Then, she pulled out a ring that Leon immediately recognized. He had always admired it: cast in silver that broadened from the bottom to the top, ending with claws holding a beautiful deep-blue topaz, almost the same color as Rafa''s eyes. The four claws were made of the same stone. His eyes filled with tears.

    Katya also pulled out a wide leather belt, similar to the one Leon was wearing, which Rafa also personally made, but this one was black, with a few more loops and holes. She handed him a water paunch, too.

    A wave of warmth enveloped Leon. These things were far from replacing Rafa''s presence, but having something of his comforted him; it warmed his chest.

    The box remained empty, and Katya continued to gaze at Leon. For an instant, under the dim light of the burnt candle, her eyes seemed to glimmer as well.

    "Are you thirsty, boy?" she finally asked.

    Not even the whole paunch that stood before him could quench the thirst he felt.

    "No," he lied.

    "Of course you''re thirsty¡ªyour mouth is as dry as a rock." Before he could object, she poured liquid from a pitcher into the mug before him.

    For some reason, the mistrust was diminishing the longer he stayed in her home; the scents relaxed him. He cautiously took a sip. Chilled mint and lemon leaf tea moistened his dry throat and cooled his boiling stomach. The sensation was spoiled only by the unfiltered crumbs of dry leaves. He finished the entire mug in four gulps, after which Katya pulled it toward herself.

    "I won''t have more, thank you. I should go," Leon said, but she didn''t pour more tea. Instead, she stared into the mug as if reason had left her.

    She didn''t speak for some time, and Leon felt uncomfortable interrupting her.

    "Dark times await you, boy," she finally spoke. "A shadowy path lies ahead of you, hiding many challenges you haven''t grown into."

    From the top of his neck, a hundred ants crawled down his spine, descending to his feet, as she pierced the silence with her hoarse voice.

    "I see you divided several times; you stand between two fires, between heart and mind, not knowing which path to take. And just when you think you know¡ªlife will lead you to the other side. But before you even embark, your heart will be broken again."

    She spoke evenly, in one breath.

    "I see a tremendous burden, a grave secret you will carry with you, concealing it from the world. Because of it, your own life will hang by a thread. You will commit something unforgivable. A colossal shadow will loom over you. The child of darkness and night will be at your heels."

    Every word she said deepened the fear he felt.

    "Yet, only in that darkness can you find yourself. If you''re brave enough to dive into the night, many doors that have long been locked will open before you. Behind them is light; in front of them is darkness. Which of the two will prevail will be up to you. If you open them, many lives will be lost; if you don''t, they are already lost. But beware: once you open them, there''s no turning back. And be careful¡ªmany have gone blind before that light!"

    Leon was terrified. His palms were clammy, and his mouth had dried up. He nervously twirled Rafa''s ring in his hand. Though he couldn''t understand a word of what she said or find any connection to his life, something about it deeply disturbed him.

    Like a mug, she grabbed his hands with her long royal-blue nails, matching the color of her dress and eyes, and pulled them towards herself.

    Just a few days ago, he was ready to go hunting bears, buffalo, snakes with Rafa, and was happy about it like a child taking its first step. However, his heart wanted to jump out of his chest as he stepped into this woman''s house, and complete horror overcame him when she grabbed his hands.

    "Nothing," she said, cutting him off with a bewitching look as if piercing into the depths of his skull. He didn''t avert his gaze but swallowed the lump in his throat.

    "Nothing?" Leon asked shakily.

    It was incredible to him how long she could go without blinking.

    "But what does that mean?"

    "I see the magnificent but tragic fate of the past life, but in this life¡ªI see nothing. On your palm, there are no lines of life nor lines of fate."

    Something cut through his stomach.

    "Does that mean I will...?"

    "... Die soon? It may be. I''ve never seen a person missing both lines before. Either you''ll live long, or you''ll meet an early end. Be magnificent or be cursed. Become someone or remain nobody. Either way, your destiny will be different from all the destinies anyone has ever lived."

    "Isn''t the fate of each of us different?"

    Her laughter drove out the last shred of reason he had managed to hold on to.

    "Crazy boy, you really amused me! All of this has been seen before."

    "But..."

    She suddenly got up and, one by one, returned the objects she had previously given to Leon to the box. Lastly, she snatched the ring he had been unconsciously twirling.

    "You''ve put unrest under my skin, boy! Stop spinning that ring and cease shaking that leg like you''re out of your mind!"

    She threw the ring in the box, closed it, and shoved it into Leon''s hands.

    "I have no more time for buts. Come on, something much more important than your destiny awaits me."

    She stormed out, and he tried to keep up. It was already a pitch-dark night, but his eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness while sitting in Katya''s room.

    "There''s something else I need to show you before you go," she said.

    Katya turned right along a paved path leading from the house, flanked by various herbs, bushes, and flowers on both sides. Even in the dark, her garden was beautiful. Leon assumed she cultivated all the ingredients for her rituals, balms, teas, and potions there.

    The garden ended with a stone fence, next to which, at the trail''s end, stood Hurricane. Faint moonlight glimmered on his muscular, silvery body. The dark mane flickered in the midnight breeze.

    He stood proudly, his neck strong and resilient, his gaze lost somewhere in the darkness. It seemed he was waiting for someone, unaware that someone would never return. Yet, he appeared ready to wait forever. The shadows of the night accentuated every muscle on his body.

    "He''s been like that all day, refusing to move."

    "Hey, my boy," Leon whispered.

    The whole poem could be written about that fraction of the moment when their gazes met and what could be seen in their eyes: recognition, grief, pain, the missing part¡ªthe same one¡ªhidden tears, and warm blue eyes, the color of topaz.

    The stallion sighed several times, then neighed long and painfully as steam billowed from his nostrils. He lowered his head in front of Leon, who leaned his forehead against his long muzzle.

    "I miss him, too," he said so that only Hurricane could hear him, "but we have to move on. You know how he was¡ªthat''s what he''d want."

    They stood embraced for a long time, bathed in a pearly light. In that embrace, their hearts wove golden, unbreakable threads, only woven with rare companions. In silence.

    With wet eyes, Leon bid farewell to Katya, after which he would go home and finally close his eyes, ending this sad, gloomy and long day.

    He heard a soft trot behind him¡ªHurricane followed him.

    "Just as I thought," Katya said, "I have something else that belongs to you."

 9. Rumors

    The next afternoon, he went to cover the cobbler shop window. He knew no one else would do it, and until the house was sold, everything but the stone walls could rot in case such storms recurred. Luke helped him remove the pieces of glass that remained in the window frames and nailed boards in their place. His chest tightened with every nail he drove in, as if with each one he was sealing the end. Nothing would ever be the same. Never.

    "Are you all right?" Luke asked when they finished.

    "I will be," Leon said, wiping away tears, staring at the mournful scene before him, dreading how everything disappears in a day¡ªeverything changes. "Let''s go," he finally said.

    They stopped by the Golden Pot to invigorate themselves. Their mouths were full of food and words. Leon recounted his visit to Katya the previous night, and Luke, with wide-open eyes, absorbed every word, occasionally forgetting to swallow a bite. He stared at Leon as he casually gnawed on the pork ribs and recalled everything Katya had foretold to him, adding at the end:

    "Of course, none of it makes any sense, but last night, she instilled a fear in me like no one else ever has."

    Luke giggled meanly. "Coward, you got scared by that crazy woman blabbering a bunch of crap."

    "I''d see you if that same woman, with that lunatic look, under eerie candlelight, told you that you would die," Leon objected.

    "You didn''t believe her, did you? Well, they don''t call her Kat Splat for nothing."

    "Where''d you hear that?" Leon laughed.

    Luke straightened up, solemnized, and changed the tone of his voice: "You know I move in reputable circles."

    Their giggles mingled with other spices of the Pot: whispers, shouts, the creaking of chairs, the pounding of mugs on tables, loud laughter, burps.

    "Don''t worry about that nonsense, darling." Addie, as usual, came out of nowhere with two full mugs of the best wine in Terrun, slamming them onto the table. "I overheard you talking about Kat Splat."

    Luke grinned viciously.

    "Whatever that walleyed hen told you, it''s not worth mentioning. If she had any gift, we would have known by now. She better keep picking flowers and walking the streets like a loony¡ªshe really is good at that!"

    "Don''t worry, Addie, I''ve already explained everything to him," Luke said knowingly.

    "She probably told you a lot of rubbish to scare you. They all use fear; that''s their main trick. The more unrelated sentences wrapped in black, the better. The more frightened you get out of there, the stronger the impression they left. Forget about her! If it were up to me, none of them would be here. Double vote in the Council, ha!" She continued to circle around the tables, agile and swift.

    "Have you thought about what you''re going to do next? I mean, you did make a living off the cobbler shop," Luke asked.

    "Actually, I have."

    "If you want, I can talk to my father; you know he has acquaintances in the southern part of the empire¡­ He knows some shoemakers as well."

    "Do you want to see my back?" Leon feigned seriousness.

    "Don''t talk nonsense," Luke awkwardly laughed.

    "Thank you, brother." Leon was finishing up his plate of ribs. "Last night, when I was at Katya''s, I briefly thought about learning the trade and buying the cobbler shop so that I could pick up where Rafa and I left off. But then I realized I can''t earn that much money. According to her estimate, it will be worth at least five hundred arkens."

    "That''s a lot of money..." Luke exclaimed in surprise.

    "It is. Too much. However, last night, I realized that it''s not what I want anyway. I got carried away by emotions and what the shop means to me. But when I looked deeper, I realized I don''t want to be a cobbler. In fact, I never wanted that," Leon explained.

    "What do you mean? Wasn''t that your dream?" Luke was confused.

    "That would be my job, not my dream. A dream is what smolders deep inside us, what gives us strength. A desire so great that it frightens us. That''s why many never ignite it¡ªout of fear. That''s why it extinguishes. And when it does, we are just an empty shell, walking. A soul that has died, but no one has told the body yet. I have to try, Luke. Now or never."

    Luke paled. He knew well what Leon was talking about.

    "But Leon, you don''t even know anything about..."

    "It happened again," Leon said.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I''m sure you know." His gaze remained unwavering.

    Luke''s eyes widened. "You''re joking, aren''t you?"

    "No, I''m not joking."

    "When?!" Luke whispered.

    "Yesterday. In the woods. That same feeling overwhelmed me again. My whole body tingled. I had a panic attack, and..." Leon paused. "Suddenly, fire appeared around us."

    "But that''s impossible..."

    "I don''t even know why I''m telling you this," Leon snapped. "Everything is impossible for you."

    "It must have been a coincidence..."

    "Sure, because fire just happens to spring up from the ground by coincidence. This time, there was no fireplace to light a rag, Luke. Nothing around me could have caused the fire. I felt it¡ªjust like last time. I don''t know how to explain it, but I feel it."

    "But..."

    "I know you don''t believe me, but can you please stop? I''m telling you, I feel like the fire came from within me. I felt the magi..."

    "Quiet," Luke snapped, cutting him off. "Don''t say that in here! If any of the locals found out, the news would spread quickly to the Council and..."

    "What would happen?" Leon frowned.

    "You know very well."

    "They''d banish me? Big deal! I want to leave anyway."

    "I don''t know what''s gotten into you today." Luke was agitated. "You''re talking nonsense."

    "I''m serious. You know I never belonged here, Luke. Bruno confirmed it before he died. I know nothing about my roots, my origin. I have to leave. You know I''ve always dreamed of that. Nothing ties me to Terrun anymore except for the graves of those I love."

    "But Leon, we''re no longer children, and this isn''t child''s play. Are you aware that what you want is almost impossible?"

    "Almost impossible and impossible are not the same," Leon said tersely.

    Every word struck his heart like an arrow. He hated losing, especially in advance. Impossible didn''t exist for him.

    Above all, it''s astonishing how painfully breathless we become when those from whom we expect to ignite the fire within us seek to extinguish that flame. Even when they believe it''s for our good, it feels as though they''re extinguishing a part of us¡ªa part of life¡ªfor some fires are greater than ourselves. And Leon felt as if, his entire life, they had been blowing in his direction¡ªnot to kindle, but to extinguish him.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    "You know that young men and women across the empire prepare for that calling for years and still never make it into the Legion. It was a boyhood dream for us, Leon, but the reality is something else. Our reality is here, in Terrun. My family is here, my father''s workshop, and..."

    "And what?"

    "Isn''t that enough?" Luke replied. "The road to the north is dangerous. You know nothing about the empire or what you''re getting into. All we''ve ever heard are just stories..."

    "I have to try," Leon said. "I''ll regret it for the rest of my life if I don''t dare to follow my dream. You may be able to live with that, but I can''t. And I''m already late. I just turned nineteen."

    "Many have been preparing since they were sixteen, Leon, as soon as they developed magical powers. Some were mentally prepared even as children..."

    "Thank you for encouraging me," Leon snapped. "I intend to set off for the empire as soon as possible, precisely for that reason," he said decisively. "Besides, I have to avenge him, brother. I have to avenge Rafa''s death!"

    "What are you talking about? Rafa died during the hunt." Luke got visibly upset, hinting at what Leon was trying to say.

    "Nonsense!" Leon burst out.

    "It''s not the first time something like that happened; bears are very dangerous..."

    "I''ll be disappointed if you really believe that story, Luke. I''m sure no bear killed Rafa, and you know it well. There''s something else behind it..."

    "Something like...?"

    "A bestia."

    "Leon..."

    "Don''t try to convince me otherwise. You have the right to think what you want, but so do I, and you won''t change that."

    Luke silently stared at the empty mug in front of him. "You''re not joking," he said reconcilingly.

    "And you will stay in Terrun forever. Who''s the coward now?" Leon grinned.

    "Admit it, you couldn''t wait to get back at me," he said, smacking him on the head. They both laughed. "I know you well enough to know when to give up. I hope you''ve thought this through..."

    "I have, brother," Leon decisively stated.

    "When are you leaving?"

    "Soon. In two or three days. I believe it will take me that long to finish everything and prepare for the trip."

    It was already time for Addie to be lighting the lamps. The night peered curiously through the windows, hiding the daylight. Aside from Addie, the tavern was filled only with a drunken crowd of men, and, as it often happens, everyone talked to everyone¡ªa round of empty glasses, a round of lies.

    Eager for his moment of glory, Payle recounted how, a few days ago, while traveling to pick up goods from the southern empire, three women had cornered him in a tavern in Rugham. Two were married, and one was a divorcee. All three had lavish breasts, which he described in detail. In the end, of course, he failed to defend himself, and the sex lasted until morning. He claimed they''d slipped something into his drink.

    "You know how women are in Zarnobia: by the time you turn around, they''ve already bewitched you. When I got up in the morning, I was drained. I''m telling you, guys, be careful when you go up there."

    They all burst into clamor at this story, seeking a valid reason to travel north and grapple with the buxom Rughamians.

    "Even if I had a magic potion, I would have avoided Payle, even if he were the last man in Eltrimera. What do you think, but honestly, has he ever slept with a woman?"

    "With a woman, hardly, but with one of his sheep¡ªprobably," Luke said, and they burst into laughter.

    They had a great time.

    Then Haurt and Bran talked about their catch from the last tennal: a bear that chased them through the Terrun Forest all day. When it stood on its hind legs, it was as tall as the two of them together.

    "We had already started saying our farewells and praying to the heavens..."

    "¡­And then we decided to ambush it," Haurt added.

    "We were only sure of one thing," Bran continued, "if we didn''t try to kill it, it would surely kill us."

    "It drove us to the clearing; we barely escaped to the first trees."

    "Haurt hid in a big bush to my right; I was standing behind a thick cypress tree."

    "We didn''t have any more arrows; we fired them all¡ªthey just bounced off it."

    "They''ve rehearsed this story well," Luke whispered, and Leon grinned.

    "When it came between us, we made a noise, and both jumped at it at the same time."

    "It was throwing us on the grass for a long time, honest to god..."

    "But we managed to knock it down and strangle it with our bare hands!"

    "Way to go, boys, you''ve got some guts," Luke shouted, and everyone loudly supported him. "You see, Leon, fortune favors the brave." He kicked him under the table, and Leon chuckled.

    "I don''t know about you," Bart interjected in a shrill voice, "but after what happened to that shoemaker, I won''t go into the woods again."

    Thunderous approval followed.

    "There''s nothing that could make me go there," Trevor agreed.

    "Come on, guys," Payle interjected, "what''s so strange about that? It''s not the first time a man dies on a hunt, especially when he goes alone."

    These words wiped the smile off Leon''s face. His gaze clouded, drifted.

    "Besides, you heard Bran and Haurt¡ªwho among us knows how many such bears rule the forest?"

    "Or wolves..." Haurt said.

    "That''s not the deed of any bear, you fool. Even less so of wolves." An old man sat alone, scowling. He sipped a glass of dark draft beer and absentmindedly stared into it. Until then, he hadn''t participated in the conversation, so everyone tensed.

    "Who are you calling a fool, Slaven?" Payle jumped, and Bart grabbed his shoulder.

    The old man didn''t dignify him with a glance.

    "You," he burst out.

    "You know something we don''t, huh?" Haurt snapped.

    "You know nothing," he said, swirling an empty mug on the table with his fingertips.

    "You want us to show you what we know?" Bran and Haurt were on their feet.

    "And do you want me to show you how this bat can ring on those hollow heads?" Addie stood before the bar, pounding a bat on her left palm. "Sit in your seats or get out and fight outside. Whoever tries it here won''t have a good time."

    One by one, Payle, Bran, and Haurt sat in their chairs without saying a word. This brought a smile back to Leon''s face. Luke clutched his stomach with laughter.

    Anyone who visited the Golden Pot often saw Addie deal with drunk guests at least once, a topic that was discussed for days afterward.

    "There, there, boys, let the man say what he''s got," Bart said, trying to calm the passions. "What do you think, Slaven? What was it, then?"

    "It. You speak well, Bart. It." He mowed down everyone with his dark eyes nestled just below the eyebrows. "I spent decades in that forest. I hunted wolves, jackals, wildcats, even bears. Before my eyes, hunters died under their claws, but when I saw that cobbler''s body, my stomach turned upside down. I don''t know what it was, but no bear or wolf did it¡ªyou can be sure of that."

    Leon looked at Luke meaningfully, who anxiously averted his gaze. Silence suddenly ruled the tavern. Everyone looked confusedly at their palms or boots or the hems of their shirts, sipped alcohol out of their mugs or counted beams between the windows.

    Nothing like this has ever happened in this area, in this forest¡ªtheir forest¡ªand they believed they knew it so well. It was easier for them to justify crime with known felons. Terrunians were afraid of everything they didn''t know, and in the air hung something none of them could grasp.

    "Old Joe says that on the night after Lunary, he was sitting here on the eve of the storm. As the clouds loomed over the forest, he headed home to avoid it. He claims to have seen a huge shadow flying over Terrun. Immediately after that, the storm started." Keeping his eyes on his boots, Bart believed that the quieter he said it, the more easily it would be accepted.

    "What?!" Trevor roared. "That old fool is drunk every night. He sees giant shadows hovering over his head even during the day. Come on, Bart, don''t fuck with us."

    "Old Enoly saw the same thing when lightning shattered her roof," Haurt agreed.

    "Get me someone with proper sight," Trevor was determined.

    "Me," Bart shrieked. "I also saw a shadow over the forest the night before last. I went out to check if I had closed the cattle, and I swear something huge flew across the sky."

    "And common sense," Trevor didn''t give in.

    "Are you saying the thunderer tore the cobbler apart?" Bran gazed palely from Bart to his hunting brother.

    "I''m not saying that," Bart quickly interjected, "I''m just saying what I saw."

    "No wonder the world is fucked up¡ªblind old woman and drunken old man see a thunderer in the sky, and the next day everyone believes it."

    "I''m telling you, Trevor, I''ve seen it too."

    Trevor got up from the table abruptly and headed for the exit. "Addie, the money''s on the table." He tossed a couple of silver forins and went outside.

    "I''m going too; Vera must be waiting for me." Bran stood up.

    "Wait, let''s go together," Haurt lingered.

    One by one, the guests gloomily left the Golden Pot. Only Leon and Luke sat at their corner table, lost in thought.

    Addie hovered tirelessly around the tables, collecting empty jugs and glasses, rattling occasionally, frightening the silence left at their mercy.

    A fierce battle of rage and despair took place within Leon, his face alternating shades of red¡ªpartly from the wine, partly from the hot stone reigniting in his chest. The desire for vengeance flared up in him. Deep down, he felt that Rafa''s death had nothing to do with bears, buffalo, wildcats, or any other animal he had hunted until then.

    "You see, I''m not the only one who thinks that," he finally said, unable to keep his thoughts to himself any longer.

    "There is no evidence. It''s nonsense," Luke denied. "Just sheer speculation. Let''s go, too." He rose as if scorched by Leon''s words. "Everyone''s gone, it''s late."

    Leon didn''t have the strength to argue. They wished Addie good night and said goodbye to each other at the entrance, so each of them continued their own way.

    In the sky, a beauty contest unfolded. The stars shone with such brilliance that it seemed each one was shouting: "Look at me!"

    "No, look at me," the next one would retort. "I am the most beautiful," the following one would say.

    Or maybe they were saying something entirely different¡ªsomething much more important? Deeper? Perhaps, united, they were shouting something that needed to be heard but lost their voices. Who could say?

    Leon glanced up at the sky occasionally, but he didn''t look at the stars. It was as if he were searching for something. An answer? A sign to confirm the doubts of his heart? Yet, that night, it eluded him.

    He was exhausted when he got home. Sleep was already claiming his eyes before he closed them.

    "Leon!"

    Hearing someone call him, he winced and straightened into a sitting position, but silence followed.

    I must have been dreaming...

    He pulled the blanket over himself again.

    "Leon!"

    He got up and approached the window, looking towards the entrance.

    "Luke, what''s going on? I just lay down..."

    "I''m sorry, brother. I just talked to my father; he''s finishing another delivery for Kotar. I thought you might want to go to the empire with the cargo. I know you''ve never traveled there, so I asked him if he minded..."

    "And what did he say, may I¡ª"

    "Of course, consider it done," Luke grinned.

    "Great! Thank you, brother," Leon said radiantly. "I won''t forget this."

    "There''s only one small problem."

    "What''s that?"

    "Delivery leaves tomorrow. At noon."