The darkness of night slowly surrendered as the sun began to spread its light across the land. Birds chirped within the forest, their calls echoing through the trees. Flocks of birds flew across the sky as the moon disappeared.
Everything has its time and that time had ended.
Veder had reached the edge of the forest along with the merchant and Ava. In the distance, a small village could be seen. Between the forest and the village lay a vast open field, stretching silently under the morning light.
"All time... my eyes were fixed on that pouch of money, Veder thought. If I really wanted to steal... then why did I save them?"
He covered his eyes with his hand, trying to block his view-but even through the small gap between his fingers, his gaze still drifted toward the money pouch.
"That's why I hate helping people, My intentions always bad." hi thought.
Veder rubbed his forehead in frustration. Ava noticed and looked at him.
"What's wrong, Veder?" she asked.
"Nothing... it's nothing," he replied.
"What was this girl's name? I forgot again. still... these are good people. They gave me food."
Once again, his eyes shifted toward the pouch.
***
"Guuurrrr..."
A sound comes from Veder's stomach.
"What was that sound?" Ava asked, looking at him.
veder sat down, holding his stomach.
"This... this timing is terrible," he muttered lowering his head.
"Are you hungry?" Ava asked.
Veder looked up and nodded. "yes."
Ava opened the box near her feet. Veder looks at the box. There were apples in it.
She picked up a few and handed them to him.
"Here," Ava said.
Veder took them, staring in confusion.
"What is this?"
"These are apples," Ava replied.
Veder frowned. He had never seen anything like them before.
"Fruit... that's a fruit," Ava said, closing the box.
"Oh... a fruit," Veder said as he took a bite. His eyes widened. "It's... sweet."
He eat them happily and enjoying every bite.
"These apples are only found in Disail Kingdom," Ava explained. "We grow them across thousands of acres of farmland."
"So... you live in Disail Kingdom," Veder said, looking at her.
"Yes," Ava replied.
"Are you heading back there now?" he asked, finishing the last apple.
"Yes."
"Good thing I saved them, Veder smiled," Veder smiled inwardly.
"I'm going there too... could you take me with you?"
He lowers his head and places his hand on the back of his neck.
"That's fine," Ava said.
"Oh... thank you," Veder replied, raised his head.
"But first, we need to deliver this box to a nearby village," she added.
"Okay," Veder said, removing his sword from his waist and placing it beside him.
"I still don't understand... when did he even use his sword?" Question filled Ava's mind.
Far behind them, Lukas's body still lay in the forest-by now, probably beginning to rot.
***
Soon enough, they reached the village.
It was small, made entirely of wooden houses. The merchant stopped the carriage. Veder and Ava stepped down.
"I'll go deliver the box," the merchant said and walked away.
Veder and Ava waved goodbye.
"Veder, look... soldiers. And villagers too," Ava said, pointing to the right.
Veder turned his gaze.
"What is a group of soldiers doing here?" he wondered.
"Let's go," Ava said.
They approached the group. Several soldiers stood together. A small girl was crying. One soldier knelt down, placing a hand gently on her head.
"Don't cry," the soldier said softly. "Tell us what happened. We'll help you."
The girl continued crying.
Veder and Ava reached them.
"Her brother hasn't come home since yesterday." one villager said.
The soldiers turned toward him.
"Do you know where your brother went?" a soldier asked the girl.
She shook her head.
"Did anyone see him going somewhere?" the soldier asked the villagers.
Most shook their heads-no.
Then one villager stepped forward.
"I saw him going into the forest with some people," he said.
"What does he look like?" the soldier asked quickly.
"His name is Lukas," the villager replied. "He has a scar on his face... and he was wearing torn black clothes."
"A scar..." Veder thought.
His eyes widened. He looked down at his trembling hands.
Ava noticed. Her breath grew uneven. Her heart began pounding violently.
They understood.
The man Veder had killed... was this girl's brother.
The soldiers immediately headed toward the forest.
"Poor girl," one villager said. "She has no one in this world except her brother."
"Niya, don't cry," another villager said gently. "The soldiers have gone to search for Lukas. Until they find him, stay at my house. Come... you must be hungry."
Little Niya wiped her tears and followed the villager.
"Brother... where are you? Why havent't you come back yet?"
Her voice would never reach him.
Veder and Ava stood there silently. The ground beneath their feet felt as if it had collapsed.
Tears welled up in Ava's eyes. Her chest felt unbearably heavy.
"Why am I crying? she thought. That man tried to kill my father." Then another thought followed.
"But what about that girl? How will she live alone now?"
For Ava, the pain of that girl felt closer than the relief of her father being alive.
The village was small-but surrounded by nature, it looked peaceful.
veder stood silently, his head lowered. Darkness clouded his vision.
"I don't understand, he thought. Whenever I help someone... it becomes punishment for someone else."
"I don't regret killing that boy... But now I'm starting to feel like... I'm not made for good work."
His face remained expressionless.
Veder looked at Ava.
"Why is this foolish girl hurting? That man attacked her father. This world is full of mad people."
The sound of hooves echoed from a distance.
Tak...dak...tak...dak...
Veder looked toward the sound.
The merchant arrived. stopping the carriage beside them.
"Come on, get in. The delivery's done." he said.
veder climbed into the carriage. Ava quickly wiped her tears and followed. The merchant cracked the whip, and the carriage began moving.
The sun shone brightly overhead. It was already afternoon.
"Disail Kingdom... My first work is here." Veder said.