Whoosh! Arrow flew fast, Flop! It hit the bush far out of the target mark on the logwood.

“Wow, you hit directly at the target. You are really good, Ivara.” Rain clapped his hands.

“Hehe, thank you, brother...” Stretched her back straight. said loudly. “No! It didn’t even hit the target at all. Brother is so mean.”

“Ah, sorry, I thought you were aiming at the bush.” Rain came closer and rubbed her head. “Even though this is already good. It’s only been a month, but your form is pretty good.” Yes, that’s really good with your tiny arm. You can shoot this far, around twenty meters, not counting the poor quality of her bow and arrow.

“But I don’t know why it doesn’t hit the target. Are my arm and poses wrong?” Ivara grabbed another arrow and posed her archery stance. Her three fingers, which drew the bow, got scuffed.

Rain lifted her drawing arm a little and pressed down the aiming arm. “Your arm and pose are kind of good. The point is in your breath control and the way you draw the arrow.” he tapped her shoulder, letting her shoot another arrow.

Whoosh! The arrow flew fast, Slack! It hit the corner of the target and then ricocheted away. If she had a good arrow, she wouldn’t need to compensate for the sway. The arrow should hit the center.

“Uwa, that was close. Let me try another one.” Ivara grabbed another arrow, but Rain stopped her and held her hand. “It’s already good. Don’t rush too much. Your hand is already red.”

“Um, but I still can’t hit the target,” Ivara said.

Rain tied her hand with a bandage, inside rubbing it with an herb called crocodile tail that could remedy the bump and scuffs. “Nah, it already hit the log. That’s super good. We can try again tomorrow. And the arrows we shoot are from the damaged item group. It’s hard to hit the target.”

Hearing what Rain said, Ivara still felt down, watching Rain do the bandage. She wished she could try shooting more and really hit the target.

Without looking at her face, Rain asked, “Why are you insisting on this so much?” Rain flipped to her other hand and started bandaging it.

“As I told you on the first day, Father and Mother really take care of me, give me everything, even though I’m not their real daughter. At this moment, especially this year, everything is so confusing. Father is a hunter, a lonely one from the refugee group. I want to give him a hand, help in any way I can.” And also you, brother, you’ve already done so much for us.

Huh~ my heart hurts. I’m not quite used to it. girls her age should just be talking about dresses and desserts, but she’s carrying a bow and arrow and wants to help her parents hunt. I’m really not used to it. “... that good,” Rain answered with a soft voice.

Rain finished bandaging Ivara’s hand. Ivara suddenly said. “So can I do more arrow... just one more.” Ivara said.

Rain shook his head and replied, “nope, Lady Ivara, I just finished taking care of your wound. Are you going to make my hard work in vain?” He put the bandages back in his pouch, grabbed a bow and other belongings, and prepared to return to the refugee camp. “Besides, this arrow is misshape, you can’t hit the target with it.”

“But Brother can hit it easily... at least, can you show me again?” Ivara clasped her hands together, pleading.

Rain sighed and said, “last one, okay? The sun is already setting, and the people at the camp will worry if we’re late.”

Ivara nodded and said, “Okay, just one arrow.” confirmed her answered, with one finger point up.

Rain picked up an arrow with three fingers, lifted his bow to a straight line, slowly drew back the arrow as if it were a feather, and adjusted his bow position slightly. He controlled his breath, his chest barely rising and falling. The only audible sounds were the wind, leaves, and their own hearts beating.

Whoosh! The arrow flew swiftly, faster than Ivara’s arrow, but it hit the corner of the target and ricocheted away.

“Huh~ as I told this arrow is not balance, It is hard to use.” Rain turned around and started walking back towards the camp. “Let’s go, Ivara. It’s already late, and I need to cook that meat soup again. I have some ideas. This time, I’ll prove that I’m also a Master Chef.”

Ivara smiled widely. Brother’s shot purposely hit at the corner of the log to replicate my arrow’s movement. And he did it while carrying all those bags. She followed closely behind him. “Brother is... best.” She whispered.

“Huh?”

“Ah, nothing.. I just thought that I will help brother taste the food that you want to cook,” she said.

“Oh, that’s great! I welcome you, Lady Ivara, as a second chef of Blue Fish House Restaurant.”

“Hahaha, what a weird name is that?”

“Really? I thought it was good...”

“How can that be...”

—§—

Crackle! fizzle, sizzle. Log that burn to the core cracked down hit the fire stone under it. Sun already setting, group of people sat closely around the campfire, using logs as chairs or simply sitting on the ground. Children played or ate their dinner. Meanwhile, adults engaged in conversations, expressing various emotions. Laughter, sadness, and happiness filled the air, depending on the topic of discussion.

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Two figures emerged from the shadows, carrying a full bag of assorted fruits, grass, and berries.

“We’re already running late... thanks to brother who always stops to pick up random things,” Ivara said, her hands covered in dirt.

“We need it! I have to create a new menu, a century soup!” Rain, dirtier than Ivara from head to toe, resembling a mole after digging its tunnel. His robe had covered in sticky dirt, grass stains everywhere.

“I know, brother, but do we really need this much?” Ivara showed him the overflowing basket.

Scratching his face, Rain smirked and said, “... Heh heh heh... We need it.”

Ivara watched her brother with a half lowered eyelids. “Four candies!”

“... O—okie...” the rain said.

Harsh sound loud out. “Why Every time you both came back, always come back with a full basket? Even when you return from the forest, you still managed to bring something back. Are you from the Elf forest?”

Thud! laid down the basket next to their seat. Looked at that man, he have a bulky muscle wearing a leather cloth, with brown eyes, brown hair, and a beard covering his face. He held a wooden cup, which that assumed contained an ale, as his cheeks were slightly red. “Thanks for the compliment, Mr. Radnor, but I’m human. I don’t have pointy ears or eyes that grow in the dark,” Rain replied, sitting down on a nearby log.

People waved at him and said, “Hi Rockman.” “Hi little Rock.” “Hi Father Rain.” Rain waved a hand back, answered their greeting.

“Hi father.” Ivara simply greeted her father and then helped Rain sort and pack the resources.

Her father looked at her with a serious expression, but suddenly broke into a wide smile. “My daughter Vara...” He looked at the others folk friends. “Is my daughter cute?”

People just laugh around. “Yes, yes, our little Vara is absolutely adorable. I still remember when she was little, running around and helping people carry boxes and bags,” one person chimed in.

“Haha, Yes I also remember when she was scared of the sea. When she saw a jumping fish, Even said that line...” uncle from afar stood up point finger to fire camp at front, rapidly stomped feet act like child then said, “I head, head, head sea fish!” then grabbed his own tip of shirt. “It was so cute when she mispronounced the word, hahaha.”

“Right! Hahaha” Everyone laugh loudly.

Ivara’s temperature increased, causing her face to turn completely red. Covered her own ear to try to not listen that old drunker said. but sound still pierce into her ear, but When looked at brother Rain. Her eye widen.

Rain has beads of sweat covered all over his face. “A—Are you not like... Fish?” as he held a grass tied into the shape of a fish, moving it up and down as if it were swimming.

Puffing up her cheeks, she stood up and shouted, “Bad Brother, all men are mean! I hate hate hate drunk people.”

People laughed louder, even tears and ales flew out. “Hahaha! That’s it, that’s it, our little Vava.” Cheer! Give me more Ale!

Hump! Hump! She stomped her feet, and Rain grabbed Ivara’s hand, gently pulling her back down to sit. He smiled softly at her and handed her a sachet. He moved his mouth up and down, said the word ‘sorry’ without sound.

Ivara looked at the sachet. It was a leather pouch decorate with dried flowers that preserve within wooden raisins. As she opened it, a rich, sweet scent filled the air, and it filled with a variety of candies. She headed up and said, “Thank y—”

“Oh, Father Rain, are you wanting some ale? Are priest can drink alcohol?” Radnor handed him a cup of ale.

“Thank you, but I will keep only your kindness. I don’t drink alcohol. My tongue can’t taste it.” He put a cup back to Radnor.

But the Drunk Guy insisted. “Just One Gulp, for our poor soul and bring color to our party, okay? Father Rain... just one gulp,” pressed the force back to Rain.

“Ah, no no, I don’t drink it.” Put back.

Smile widely. “Just one drip, okay~?”

Smack! A wooden bucket smacked on Radnor’s head. “Are you crazy, Radnor? Giving a child an ale? He is also a saint’s follower. Why are you rude to him like that? He refused you offer twice. Why you still force him like that?” Madam Iva scolded him. She smacked his head with a wooden bucket again.

“Ouch! Stop it, wife! That hurt! I won’t give him any more.” Radnor rubbed his head that gets bulk a little.

People laughed loud again.

Madam Iva looked at Rain. “Are you alright? I’m sorry for my rude husband. He always acts like this when he drinks liquor.” She placed the bucket in front of Rain. It filled with water. She soaked a fabric and handed it to Ivara to clean her hands, then handed another wet fabric to Rain.

“Thank you, Mother.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

In Ivara, just a simple sweep can clear all her dirty hands. But opposite when do with Rain, dirt is not clean at all, maybe it gets dirtier.

Madam grabbed another wet fabric to help Rain washed face to the spot that he didn’t do well. Rubbed out dirt that within his hair. But when looked at his robe, it was too dirty to clean with wipe fabric.

“Ivara, Help Father Rain take off the robe. We need to wash it entirely,” Madam Iva said. Ivara stood up.

“It’s okay, thank you, madam. I will go wash by myself,” he said as he tugged his robe tightly. Suddenly, he stood up and moved away from the campfire.

Ivara took a step back, but Madam Iva supported her. Madam looked at her daughter and nodded. She nodded answer back. Ivara walked, following Rain into the darkness.

—§—

Hours passed by, children, men, and elderly were already in the tent. There was no sound on this night, not even the sound of crickets that were often heard in the summer. Only the cold wind and the sizzle of the fire remained. A group of night patrols stood, fighting against the darkness. At least the warmth of the firestone still provided them comfort.

Rain walked back to the campfire, now wearing a black shirt decorated with a silver necklace and long black pants. His face was clean and neat, with his hair tied up in a high ponytail.

Phwwwwwhht! The man with red hair whistled when he saw Rain approaching. He hugged his own chest, examining Rain from head to toe. “Our sister's taste is really something,” he remarked.

Two other teenagers, one short and one tall, waved their hands and greeted Rain.

Why does he always greet me like that? Rain wondered to himself. Rain walked closer to the group, swiping his hand over his shoulder. “Nah, even though I’ve talked to you many times, I’m still not used to your greeting style, Rave,” He waved hand greet back to Twain and Throy.

Rave released his arm, put one hand in his pocket, tilted his head a little and said, “She’s such a kind girl, right?” A slight smile formed at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Rain.

Both of them looked at each other, paused for a moment, and then chuckled.

“Haha, this one is really good. It’s really like me,” Rain said, clapping his hands together. “Especially that word, ‘Right?’ The accent is absolutely correct.”

“Yes, I tried my best. Your mannerisms are so complicated,” Rave replied. He slicked his hair back into a thug-like style and returned to his normal posture, looking at Rain with serious eyes. “As you said, there’s something wrong in the city. There’s dark magic around.”

Twain and Throy approached Rain and took out a scrap of paper with a picture of a magic circle. “We found this in every house where people have gone missing,” they explained.

Rain took the paper, folded it back and forth, and transformed it into an irregular step, turning the picture into a tower shape with an eye at its center. “It’s from the Dark Tower Occult,” he concluded, face darken.