Some time had passed, but the rain continued to fall.

Inside a cave illuminated only by the faint light of a fire attempting to warm the three who were there.

Alma was standing, placing some clothes that were still wet under tall, sharp rocks inside the cave to dry while he himself wore only a dripping pair of shorts.

After that, he walked to one of the cave walls and sat down, looking straight ahead, seeing Viktor, who was also seated with his head lowered, seemingly staring at the fire.

"So, that's what happened?" Alma lifted his head, scratching his neck. "Honestly, I've always heard of warriors strong enough to split rocks in half, but using fire?"

"I don't need to lie, you saw how the village ended up." Viktor lifted his head, resting it against the stone wall. "That's what happened, even though I saw everything happen right in front of me."

"I know... If I hadn't been affected, I'd probably say you ate something bad." Alma looked down, forcing a slight smile, then continued, "Thank you for not giving up, neither on Nina nor on me..."

He turned his head and saw his sister sleeping on the ground, dressed in lighter clothes near the fire. Alma continued to stare, squinting, but soon Viktor took out the same bag that his father had stored the equipment in, although it was much emptier now.

Alma looked curious, not knowing what to expect, as Viktor put his hand in the bag searching for something.

Viktor's expression changed when he felt something and soon pulled out a golden ring that reflected the fire's glow.

Alma raised his eyebrows in surprise and asked, "What's this?"

"I don't know..." He frowned, leaving the ring in the palm of his hand, and while staring at the object, he said, "I remembered seeing a golden gleam in the same bag where my leather armor was, but before I could ask what it was, that happened."

"Why would your father give you a gold ring?"

"I think you know that if he wanted to give us money, it would have been better in coins than a ring... it must have some significance." Viktor raised his hand, placing the ring on his ring finger, extending his hand towards the fire as he concluded, "It was with the equipment, it must have some important ability or function."

"And this bow?" Viktor noticed the horned bow's tip sticking out of the bag and then wielded it.

"My father said to give it when I had the chance." With a long sigh, Viktor extended the bow, saying, "It seems he knew what was going to happen..."

"Then it has to stay with you." Alma crossed his arms, looking at Viktor's irregular sword sheath, furrowing his brow as he said, "Mr. Matthew taught both of us the basics of archery; in his stories, he used a bow and a sword during his youth... if you want to inherit that... now that your sword-"

"Don't speak as if he had died." Alma widened his eyes as the bow came towards him, easily receiving it as Viktor continued, "I didn't find his body nearby, and even if he had died, it was his wish for this bow to be yours; I already have my gift."

In the end, Viktor stood up, also placing his leather chest piece to dry, drawing his sword and examining the blade after that.

After receiving the bow, Alma lowered his head and said, "Sorry for speaking that way."

"Just... don't speak like that again."

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After Viktor's statement, silence filled the place, only the sound of rain outside and the crackling of the fire could be heard.

As soon as he left the chest piece under a rock, Viktor removed his sheath from his waist and stared at the sword in front of him, contemplating the weapon as he said, "Let's follow the road and hope to find a town. It might take some days, but we still have some meat, and whatever is left, we'll sell to buy arrows and try to get a new sword for me."

"Even after going through all that..." Alma looked to the side and saw his sister sleeping deeply without any injuries to her body. "Nina seems fine... I'm relieved we won't have to worry about medicine... but there's something that worries me..."

"That." Viktor looked at Nina's hand, which was still trembling slightly, even while unconscious. "She won't be able to hold a bow or a two-handed sword; it's going to be a problem."

"I never intended for her to fight; in any case, I'll do it for her." Alma interrupted and turned to Viktor, asking, "What's your plan?"

Viktor returned his gaze to Alma, who remained serious, and then Viktor stood up, walked to the cave entrance, noticing that the rain was lighter and gradually diminishing.

"I couldn't even move in that fight, so we need to get stronger and also find a place that can give us information." He put his hands in his pockets and said, "Let's do it the way you wanted."

"The way I wanted? You mean..."

"Yeah, there's no way around it; let's become soldiers."

After concluding his sentence, Viktor returned inside the cave, going near a wall, turning his back to the fire and lying down.

Once again, silence enveloped the place, and Alma stared at the fire, remembering the girl's description, causing him to furrow his brow.

"Her description... it's very similar to mine, isn't it?" Alma leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, saying, "I think it's always been because of my hair that the villagers treated me differently. Do you think that girl has any relation to me?"

"Does that matter?" Viktor asked without turning his face, maintaining a slightly lower tone.

"I don't know... I just want to understand what makes me different..."

He slowly closed his eyes, staying turned toward the fire in search of warmth, but soon returned his gaze to the cave entrance.

Considering the time the attack had occurred, he knew it was still night, and darkness still filled the place.

Then he looked back at the fire, seeing Viktor, who remained silent, causing the archer to sigh, closing his eyes while hugging himself, seeking warmth.

In the end, everyone slept.

Again, some time passed, and the clouds gave way to the blue sky, revealing the grass and the surroundings of a hidden cave in a desolate field.

Viktor and Alma knew that place only because they often roamed around there. Soon, Viktor emerged from the cave, already dressed in the chest piece and clothes that had dried overnight and in the morning sun.

He looked around and noticed in the distance the outline of his hidden village slightly obscured by the morning mist; the remaining buildings had collapsed, and nothing was left except for debris.

Soon after, Nina and Alma stopped by his side. Both looked towards the village and could see more clearly what was left of the town. Alma looked away, and Nina squinted, saying, "So, that's all that's left?"

"When Viktor arrived, it was already over, but don't worry." Alma passed under Nina's shoulder and said, "We'll find a new town."

"I only have a hurt hand, not the body." Nina gave a slight smile and stepped away, saying. "Even if I can't use a bow or a big weapon, at least I can throw stones to help. Just because I'm the youngest doesn't mean I'll be dead weight."

She wore a calm smile and continued walking at a steady and even slightly more cheerful pace, gradually distancing herself from the two.

Viktor walked up to Alma's side and focused on Nina, noticing that her right hand still trembled slightly. Despite no major injuries despite all the damage, her hand seemed to have been particularly affected.

"It doesn't even look like she was buried..." Viktor squinted while looking at Nina. "What happened there?"

"I don't know..." Alma adjusted the bow that was strapped across his body, still looking toward his sister. "I saw the flash, and then I woke up outside the house with Nina buried. I don't know how I got thrown out, and she didn't... we were inside the house; we should have been crushed..."

At the end of his sentence, he lowered his head and looked away, while Viktor continued to observe him with a serious gaze that soon returned to the village.

"But we're alive, and that's what matters..." Alma took a deep breath, sighing and forcing a smile, saying, "If you haven't given up, I won't give up either. Let's keep going..."

Alma concluded and resumed walking, following Nina at a slightly quicker pace. However, Viktor stayed behind, looking at the two, his thoughts flowing.

'Why, then?...'

Viktor lowered his head as he saw them moving away, but soon Alma stopped walking and turned, asking, "Are you coming?"

In the end, the archer continued to observe the swordsman who remained still, but shortly afterward, he took a deep breath, sighed, and walked towards Alma, joining Nina as they continued along the dirt road towards the forest.