Their customs had seemed peculiar to Dimer, yet his curiosity only deepened. A week had passed since Aelar's crowning, and with each day, Dimer learned more about these people. The most intriguing ritual was when Ayrn and Aelar braided their hair, then severed the plaits, tying them to each other’s braids.

“It will grow from his braid, signifying our connection, like that of a ruler and his sword,” Aelar explained to Tarkan.

“Would it truly grow?” Derya questioned, her doubt evident as she examined their braids. Dimer shared her skepticism but trusted the ritual's significance.Wandering through the village, now newly formed, Dimer was captivated. In just a week, they had built with astonishing speed, as if the stone and wood had sprung from their hands. The materials seemed endless, a mystery Dimer couldn’t unravel. The foreign architecture was stunning, and they had already begun constructing a castle around the throne near the beach.

When he first observed the construction, a girl perhaps a year older approached him, asking if he wanted to help. Dimer stared at her, searching for Tarkan but finding no sign of him. Uncertain of what they needed from him, he felt a wave of foolishness. He had watched them work for days, never offering assistance or feeling too awkward to ask. They hadn’t been fond of him until Zayn revealed he was adopted. The shift in their behavior towards him was stark compared to their treatment of others. Dimer understood that regardless of his words, they would continue to despise the Altans for ancient crimes committed by their ancestors.Realizing he had been staring at the girl with his mouth slightly open, he quickly shut it, feeling foolish.

He cleared his throat, but it came out choked, making him seem overly formal. He placed his hand behind him. The girl smiled, causing his stomach to tighten. Glancing at her confident posture, he wished he could disappear. His shoulders hunched, and he averted his gaze, focusing on the ground instead of meeting her eyes. She mentioned needing help with identifying fruits and growing food for farming, and Dimer agreed to show her. The problem was, he knew nothing about the plants. Rhea and Derya had the knowledge, but he wasn’t about to fetch either of them, knowing how busy they already were.

They ventured into the forest together, and as they did, the girl let out a sigh of relief.

“It's quite refreshing in here, isn’t it?” she remarked, glancing back at Dimer. He froze momentarily, then nodded in agreement.

“Yes, it really is,” he muttered. Her smile encouraged him.They walked in silence for a while until she stopped abruptly, turning to him with an amused expression.

“Shouldn’t you be leading the way, since you were going to show me where the plants grow?” she teased gently. Dimer felt like slapping his hand across his face in embarrassment, but he restrained himself, not wanting to reinforce any misconceptions about his intellect.

“Oh, yes, let me do that now,” he replied, chuckling awkwardly as he hurried to take the lead. He began to navigate blindly through the paths, deeper into the jungle.

“Are you sure this is the right path?” she asked dubiously.

“Of course it is,” Dimer asserted, feeling his ears burn with embarrassment.

“Well, I suppose you must know better than me,” she conceded with a shrug. “My name is Malise, by the way.”

“And mine is Dimer,” he responded, feeling a strange sense of ease settle over him as he said it.

“I know,” she replied, smiling again. Dimer stopped, realizing he recognized some plants from his time helping Derya wash them, though he couldn't recall their names. He knew they were edible, however.

``These are plants we can eat,” he informed her, pointing at them. She crouched down, examining the plants with intense scrutiny that made Dimer nervous about whether he had chosen correctly. She plucked one from the ground and nibbled on it gently before turning to Dimer with a smile.

“Quite pleasant, this one,” she remarked, holding out the plant towards him. Dimer hesitantly took it from her, nibbling off a piece, feeling a flush of warmth beneath his clothes. With a small pin from her dress, she affixed it to one of the plants before straightening up, her dress swirling.“Onto the ne—” Her words were cut off by a thunderous roar that shook the trees, charging towards them. It was a bear, larger than any Dimer had ever seen. In an instant, it swiped at Malise, sending her crashing to the ground with a cry. Dimer instinctively positioned himself between her and the bear, which roared menacingly, making him tremble. There had been no signs of bears in this forest—no tracks, no droppings—until now. Why would it appear at this moment?

Glancing back at Malise, Dimer felt a surge of emotions he hadn’t felt in years. Her face was mangled, bloodied beyond recognition as she tentatively touched it, hands shaking. The bear reared up, its roar thundering, and swiped a paw towards Dimer. But within him, something stirred, a power he had only glimpsed in visions—a mark on his hand pulsed with energy until it throbbed, creating a small black hole in front of him, devouring everything in its path, including the bear. As suddenly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving behind only fragments of the bear's head, a chilling testament to what had transpired. Turning back to Malise, Dimer dropped to his knees, gently holding her shoulders.

"I can’t see," she choked out. Dimer’s hands trembled as he realized she would never regain her sight. Her eyes had been gouged out by the bear, leaving bloody cavities where they once were. Deep, ragged claw marks marred the rest of her face, from which blood flowed freely. Knowing he couldn’t afford to freeze in place, Dimer gently lifted her, hearing a faint whimper escape her lips. He knew he had to act quickly for her sake.Running as swiftly as he could without jostling her, Dimer headed towards the Nirani village.

“The wind stings,” she muttered, her voice strained and feeble. Her torn lips caused Dimer to bite his own, blinking rapidly against the tears threatening to spill. Approaching the village within the forest, Dimer encountered Nirani men and women who questioned him, but he could offer no explanation, nor could he afford to pause. They soon realized the urgency as they saw her condition, and they joined him in haste.Entering the village, Dimer found a scene that, in that moment, seemed trivial and infuriatingly petty. Nirani knights and burly men clashed, but upon seeing Dimer collapse to his knees with the injured girl, they immediately ceased their conflict, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

“What happened to her?” demanded one of the villagers, getting in Dimer's face. They took Malise from his arms, and Dimer hesitated, reluctant to let her go. He didn’t trust anyone else to tend to her wounds, but he knew he lacked the skill to help her.

“Dimer, are you hurt?” Tarkan's voice broke through his numbness as he felt Tarkan's hands on his shoulders. Dimer looked down, realizing he was covered in Malise’s blood. He nodded silently, feeling overwhelmed.

“There was a bear,” he choked out in response to Tarkan’s unasked question.

“And you just watched as she was mauled?” came an angry accusation, the voice blending with others around him. Ayrn’s voice might have been among them, but all sounds seemed distant and indistinct as Dimer focused on Malise. He couldn’t tell if she still breathed, but a faint rise and fall of her chest stirred a flicker of hope within him. She mustn’t die. Not now. Not like this. For his sake, she couldn’t. Otherwise, Dimer would never forgive himself.

“Let’s get you out of here,” a voice said, and Dimer looked up to see Derya standing over him.

“No, stay here,” Tarkan commanded, taking Derya’s hand. Their eyes met, and Tarkan leaned in to whisper something to her, his words lost to Dimer in the chaos. Derya’s expression shifted from shock to understanding, nodding slowly as Tarkan lifted Dimer up from the ground.

“She’ll live,” Tarkan assured him, his voice steady and confident. “No matter the scars or pain, she’ll survive, and she’ll have you to thank.” Dimer’s voice was hoarse as he replied,

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“Would she even want to thank a man she can’t speak or see?”

“All life craves life, Dimer,” Tarkan replied, his tone unwavering. “She’s kind and loving. She’ll find a way to thank you. I promise.” Dimer looked up at his brother, seeing certainty etched into every line of Tarkan’s face.

“Let’s go back to our old camp,” Tarkan suggested, taking hold of Dimer’s arm. “I need to tell you something.” Dimer couldn’t fathom Tarkan’s calmness in such a dire moment, nor could he understand his apparent detachment. Following silently, they made their way back to the deserted camp. Zeno, lying against a tree with his sword nearby, cracked an eye open as they approached.

“What are you two doing here?” he muttered, clearly sleepy.

“Enjoying the sun, are you?” Tarkan remarked with a smile. Zeno shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips as well.

“I’ll take it in while I can. There aren’t many spots to sun oneself in Turukhan, you know,” Zeno remarked lazily. Dimer paused, withdrawing his hand from Tarkan's grip

.“While you can?” Dimer repeated, casting a skeptical glance between Zeno and Tarkan, narrowing his eyes. Tarkan scratched the back of his head awkwardly, pulling his mantle tighter around himself.

“That’s actually what I was going to tell you,” Tarkan admitted, avoiding Dimer’s gaze and stealing quick glances as if ashamed. “I’ve planned for us to leave in a week’s time. I’ve already informed Zeno and Aelar, but I wanted to tell you myself.”Anger surged within Dimer, feeling like a fire about to burst its confines.

“You thought you would tell me?” Dimer stepped forward, his voice tightening with frustration. Tarkan’s face turned red, but there was a sheepish smile playing on his lips.“What makes you think you can just decide such a thing?” Dimer started, catching himself before saying more, but the look on Tarkan’s face suggested he understood the unspoken accusation anyway.

“I feel it’s time for us to return home now. Our tasks here are completed, even if we weren’t appointed as wardens. They can’t demand more from us since it was never specified. Our relationship with the Nirans is strong enough; there’s no need for us here anymore,” Tarkan declared. Dimer turning away from Tarkan began to pace anxiously, hands covering his face. How could he leave now? He didn’t want to, not while she lay injured... It was strange—he had known her for less than half an hour, yet he felt a connection so profound, unlike anything he had ever experienced.“Don’t dwell on her,” Tarkan advised, prompting Dimer to shoot him a sharp glance. Could he read his thoughts? Surely not. What did that have to do with the situation at hand?

“What if, when I return, they insist I marry someone else?” Dimer asked, seeking guidance from Tarkan once more.

“By the gods, they couldn’t care less about arranging a match for you,” Tarkan chuckled. “Unless a suitor—or you—step forward, of course,” he added wryly. Dimer wasn’t sure whether to be offended, and Zeno’s condescending smirk didn’t help.

“Well, if you’re so certain,” Dimer muttered, scratching his chin, feeling a bit foolish for getting worked up. “When will you tell Derya we’re leaving?”

“When she’s finished,” Tarkan replied cryptically, smiling knowingly. Just then, Derya emerged from the underbrush. Dimer turned to her with surprise, half-expecting someone else to follow, but there was no one. She looked at him awkwardly before whispering something to Tarkan, who nodded in response.

“What’s going on?” Dimer asked, feeling his cheeks flush. Zeno snorted and laughed, pointing at Dimer as if finding his confusion amusing.

“I think you should head back to their village,” Tarkan suggested with a glint in his eye. “There’s someone waiting for you there.” Dimer stared at Tarkan, unable to fully grasp his meaning, yet his feet were already moving, backing into the forest. He turned and sprinted as fast as he could, ignoring obstacles in his path. His heart ached with a longing that surpassed any ordinary feeling—it was a fire that couldn’t be extinguished easily.Arriving at the village, Dimer found the Nirani people gathered around someone, tensions from earlier seeming to have dissipated. The human aggressors and their Nirani counterparts had likely been dealt with by their respective leaders.

“It’s him,” someone whispered, and all eyes turned towards Dimer, causing a hush to fall over the crowd.

“Unlucky,” another Nirani murmured quietly. “Better than nothing, though,” she added, receiving a playful punch from her companion. They reminded him of... As people moved aside, he saw her clearly. It was Malise, as beautiful as when he had first seen her. But her face—her face was miraculously unmarred, better than he could have hoped.Approaching her tentatively, Dimer met her gaze, feeling a rush of relief flood through him as if nothing had ever happened.

“I’m so sorry,” he managed to choke out, collapsing to his knees beside her, unaware of his posture.

“It’s okay,” she reassured him with a smile that eased the turmoil within him.“Next time,” she added cryptically. Dimer didn’t fully grasp her words, but in that moment, he didn’t mind.

“Did Derya do this?” Aelar’s voice cut through the intimate moment between Dimer and Malise.

“Yes, the Altan girl did it, my King,” a Nirani man affirmed, eyeing Dimer suspiciously. Aelar adjusted his crooked crown as he bent down to inspect Malise. Dimer glanced around, searching for Ayrn among the Nirani, though he was nowhere to be seen, likely nearby nonetheless.

“What happened to you?” Aelar inquired softly, gently brushing his fingers over Malise's face. She blinked in surprise but responded calmly, her voice steady.

“There was a bear, it came out of nowhere and scratched my face,” she explained, smiling at Dimer, who blushed and looked away. “Dimer brought me back here just in time, and his sister saved me,” she added, her voice brightening.Aelar straightened up, pulling Dimer to his feet with him.

“You have my gratitude,” he said formally, almost as if they hadn’t been friends just a month before. Dimer accepted it silently; Aelar was now a king, not merely their friend, and he would have to adjust to this new dynamic. Perhaps he was still Tarkan’s friend, but not theirs anymore.

“Of course,” Dimer replied, bowing his head slightly and matching Aelar’s formal tone. Aelar hesitated briefly before asking, lowering his voice as if to keep their conversation private.

“Was it the power of the mark that helped heal her to this extent?” he queried, his voice low. “They said it was quite...” Aelar trailed off, and Dimer understood whom he was trying to avoid implicating.

“I believe it was the mark,” Dimer affirmed. “If you’re asking whether we possess some miraculous medicine, unfortunately, we do not.”Aelar nodded thoughtfully, pursing his lips.

“That’s good to know,” he chuckled awkwardly. “Still learning from what we’ve taught you three, aren’t you?” he remarked with a hint of humor. Dimer attempted a smile but couldn’t manage it. Aelar cleared his throat and turned to address his people.“Take Malise to her home and let her rest. I’m sure that’s what she needs now,” he instructed, addressing the gathered Nirani. “We’ll need some help to get her there, unless she can manage on her own,” he added, catching himself and glancing down at Malise with concern.

“Absolutely not,” Dimer blurted out, his cheeks flushing crimson as he realized how foolish he must appear. The Nirani people chuckled softly, some suppressing their laughter with quivering lips. He couldn’t bring himself to glance at Malise; he had embarrassed himself and likely her too.

“Then Dimer can bring her back to her house,” Aelar declared, a hint of amusement in his voice. He sighed wearily. “Kaelar forbid we have no doctors,” he muttered, rubbing his forehead, before walking away. As he did, his crown slipped from his head and landed on the ground. A hush fell over the onlookers as Aelar seemed oblivious until he reached up, realized it was missing, and retrieved it, brushing off the sand. With regal composure, he placed it back on his head and continued on his way, ignoring the stares.Dimer knelt down again beside Malise, meeting her eyes sheepishly.

“Can I…” he started, feeling his cheeks burn hotter.She giggled softly, covering her mouth with a hand.

“You’ve already carried me once, I suppose it makes no difference now,” she teased gently.Dimer could only nod, feeling like a furnace inside. Carefully, he lifted her, supporting her back and legs effortlessly.

“You’re quite strong,” she remarked, her tone appreciative.

“Oh, uh, yeah,” Dimer stammered, glancing around. “Where’s your house?” he asked, eager to divert attention from his embarrassment.

“I don’t have a proper house yet,” Malise replied, pointing towards the houses under construction. “Mine is the little makeshift one at the end.” Dimer spotted it and felt a pang of disappointment; he had hoped she would live somewhere better.

“When will yours be ready?” he inquired as they walked along the street lined with half-built homes, evidently designed to accommodate multiple occupants, though Dimer couldn’t fathom why on such a spacious island.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, wrinkling her nose. “Maybe in a week’s time; mine will likely be the last.”

“Why’s that?” Dimer pressed gently.“It’s just how it is,” she replied simply. As they passed, Dimer noticed whispers among the Nirani men working on the houses, their eyes following him with curiosity and perhaps a hint of amusement.They arrived at her humble shack soon enough. Dimer carefully laid her down on the bed.

“You know, I could’ve walked here by myself,” she said suddenly, studying him intently.

“Well of course, it wasn’t your feet that were injured after all.” Dimer felt as if he was missing something from the way she stared at him but he didn’t know what he could do. “Well you should rest anyways.” He told her as he left.

“Thank you Dimer.” She whispered softly. As he left Dimer felt as if he had found the place- no the person, he belonged by.