?Paper as currency, huh?

  ?The sun was setting over the hill of colorless flowers, casting long, bruised shadows across the wooden veranda.

  ?Zaek sat alone, turning a piece of thick, high-quality parchment over in his fingers.

  ?He stared at the intricate ink numbers scrawled on it.

  ?Tobias’s idea sounded complicated at first—madness, even. But in reality, it was terrifyingly simple.

  ?He wouldn't sell the paper. He would sell the promise written on it.

  ?How do you convince people to value a scrap of paper over a gold coin?

  ?Tobias had shown the answer yesterday in that blindingly bright vault. Trust.

  ?If people believe the gold is there, the paper becomes as good as gold. Better, even. Lighter. Faster.

  ?Gold is heavy. Trust is weightless.

  ?"What a weird world we are living in..." Zaek muttered, watching the orange light play on the paper. "To think a man could build an empire on promises."

  ?It was a brilliant idea for the wealthy, certainly. No more wagon trains of gold to attract bandits. But perhaps... if transactions became simpler, even the poor might breathe a little easier.

  ?Trust...

  ?The word tasted bitter in his mouth.

  ?He looked at the empty chair across the table. Searching for a girl who used to sit next to him, her quiet eyes either judging or following his moves with intent.

  ?But Aelira wasn't there.

  ?After hearing that they would stay in Oryndel for two more days but do nothing about Lassandra, she had retreated into silence. She had locked herself in her room the moment they returned upstairs.

  ?She didn't scream. She didn't argue. She just... shut down.

  ?What do I do with her now?

  ?Leaving her empty-handed was cruel. Letting her believe she had failed her nanny, that her promise to Flora was broken... it was a harsh lesson.

  ?But telling her the truth—that her own family orchestrated a murder and framed the victim—would be a fatal blow.

  ?He had chosen the "lesser evil." He had chosen to protect her life over her feelings.

  ?But looking at that empty chair... it didn't feel like a victory.

  ?"It's no use," he sighed, rubbing his temples.

  ?It didn't matter how long he stared at the sunset. He didn't have the answer. He was a warrior, a killer, a survivor. He wasn't a guardian.

  ?I've never been good with kids anyway. She probably despises me right now.

  ?He needed advice. Not about fighting, not about strategy. He needed advice on... this. On raising a child without breaking them.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  ?Is there anyone I can ask?

  ?A face popped into his mind.

  ?The flashy blue hair. The eccentric laugh. The man who, just this morning, had given a passionate speech about protecting children's dreams.

  ?Tobias.

  ?Zaek frowned. The man was definitely odd, even for him. He was ambitious, potentially dangerous, and possibly insane.

  ?He might be missing a few screws in his head... but he is a father.

  ?And right now, that was a qualification Zaek desperately lacked.

  ?"Better than nothing," Zaek grunted, standing up and tucking the paper currency into his pocket.

  ?He turned away from the sunset and headed towards the suite where the merchant was staying.

  ?Zaek knocked once and pushed the door open. The rich, savory aroma of spiced broth instantly washed over him, completely masking the cold, metallic scent of the evening air.

  ?Inside, Tobias was sitting by the window, waving at him with an energetic smile. A steaming bowl of noodles sat on his lap.

  ?"Hi, Zaek! Won't you come in?"

  ?"Yo," Zaek muttered, stepping inside. "How can you still be hungry after eating that mountain of breakfast?"

  ?More importantly: How is this guy still slim?

  ?Zaek knew someone like him—Vahram. The Hero of Kaelgrin. That guy was a bottomless pit too, always eating between battles. But Vahram burned those calories fighting. This guy was just a merchant sitting in a chair.

  ?"Well, it's called Ramen," Tobias said, expertly plucking a long noodle with his wooden chopsticks and slurping it down. "A specialty from the south. Have you ever heard of it? Wanna try?"

  ?"You can keep it. I'm not really hungry."

  ?"Is that so? That's really a shame. The broth is divine."

  ?Tobias returned to his meal, the sound of enthusiastic slurping filling the room.

  ?Zaek stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.

  ?"I'm actually here to ask you something."

  ?"Hmm?"

  ?Tobias turned to face him, his cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, full of noodles and broth.

  ?Isn't that hot? Zaek wondered, watching the man chew.

  ?"Ehem. I wanted to ask... if you could speak with Aelira."

  ?"Awout vat?" Tobias mumbled through the food.

  ?Zaek hoped he said 'About what' and continued.

  ?"She is very depressed. It's about... someone she lost. She wanted to find answers here in Oryndel, but she couldn't. And I... I stopped her from searching further."

  ?Slurp.

  ?The sound stopped abruptly.

  ?Tobias swallowed the noodles. He set the bowl down on the table with a soft clink.

  ?The carefree, gluttonous aura vanished. The air in the room grew heavy. Tobias wiped his mouth with a napkin, his eyes suddenly sharp and serious.

  ?"Zaek. Is this related to what you were muttering to yourself this morning? About protecting children?"

  ?"Yes..."

  ?A heavy silence stretched between them. Zaek waited for the merchant to offer a solution, a smooth lie, or a distraction.

  ?Instead, Tobias shook his head.

  ?"That won't do. You have to talk to her yourself."

  ?"What do you mean I have to?" Zaek frowned. "I don't know what to say. Did you not see her face? She looks like a walking corpse. Maybe someone kind, like a father figure, could—"

  ?"I am a father, yes," Tobias cut him off gently. "But I am not her father. And I am not her teacher."

  ?He looked Zaek dead in the eye.

  ?"She isn't hurting just because she didn't find the answers, Zaek. She is hurting because the person she trusted—you—told her to give up."

  ?Zaek flinched. The words hit the mark.

  ?"I did it to protect her."

  ?"I know. But does she know that?"

  ?"..."

  ?"If I go talk to her, I'm just a stranger offering empty comfort. It means nothing," Tobias said, leaning back. "You broke the trust. You have to be the one to fix it."

  ?"I have no idea what to tell her," Zaek admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "If I tell her the truth, it destroys her. If I lie, she hates me."

  ?"Then find the middle ground," Tobias said softly. "You don't have to reveal the ugly details of the world. But be honest about your intentions. Let her know that you didn't stop her because you didn't care... but because you cared too much."

  ?He picked up his chopsticks again, pointing them at Zaek.

  ?"A child can handle disappointment, my friend. What they can't handle is abandonment." He gestured to him to leave. "Go. Before the soup gets cold."

  ?Zaek stared at the merchant.

  ?Abandonment.

  ?"It's even less clear than my training instructions..." Zaek grumbled, turning towards the exit.

  ?"But it's better than leaving her world turned upside down," Tobias called out after him, already reaching for his bowl again.

  ?Zaek closed the door behind him.

  ?Be honest about intentions, huh?

  ?He looked down the hallway toward Aelira's room. Sighing, he took a step, then another, and another. Each felt heavier than before, his legs pulling him back.

  ?The legendary hero was now on his way to face his longest walk.

  Thank you to everyone who’s been reading and supporting it. You made this possible! ??