The green of the grove always seemed so free. Mana greatly enjoyed walking through the forest, and Green Lake was one of her favorite places, which she frequented quite often. She headed there after the workload at the inn decreased.

Usually, she helped her mother from early morning until the sun began to hide behind the huge mountain range at the back of the village. At night, they would close the inn, as they didn't want to bother the guests with noise, except on specific days.

There was still some light filtering through the canopy of leaves, casting vivid reflections on Mana's perfectly straight blonde hair. After hearing Agito and Inari say they had seen it at the lake, she couldn't resist; perhaps she could see it too. She had mocked them, but she hoped they hadn't lied.

She had already reached the edge of the forest where the creature was supposedly seen. She observed the entire area in front of her with her left hand resting on the trunk of a tree. Apparently, they had lied; there was no one there. She unconsciously clenched her fist and hurt a nail. She quickly brought her hand in front of her chest, holding her wrist. Blood began to ooze from under her index finger nail, but it wasn't serious.

She glanced back at the lake, giving it one last look before letting out a sigh. She was ready to head back. She let out an exclamation as she turned around. Igro had approached without her noticing.

—You scared me.

The boy's soft laugh instantly relaxed her.

—Did you come to eat some of those mushrooms? —Igro asked, amused, raising an eyebrow. He knew her too well.

The girl blushed like a tomato, caught and without a way to wriggle out.

***

—What sense does it make to risk their lives to take those of others? —Mana began once they settled by the lake. Igro, sitting with his hands resting on the soft grass, relaxed, watched her sideways.

Indeed, when put like that, it wasn't easy to explain.

She was sitting upright on her legs, looking at the piece of cloth her friend had used to stop the bleeding, still somewhat embarrassed.

—I couldn't explain it, maybe it doesn't even make sense. At least not to me. I just want to stay close to Aiacos, I'd follow him anywhere.

Mana gave a small, bitter smile.

Igro was always so direct. She knew very well that he admired Aiacos a lot; they were like father and son themselves. He became the pupil he couldn't find in her, someone to share his greatest passion with.

Sometimes she even envied him a little.

—It's been a long time since we played around the tree on that hill —she recalled nostalgically—. Now you spend most of your time outside, hunting with my father.

—I know. I'm sorry, but you can still play with my brother —Igro joked. Mana rolled her eyes and gave him a tap on the shoulder.

—We're no longer children, and besides, since your brother hangs out with Agito, he only gets into trouble. He doesn't even want to see me anymore.

The young hunter scratched his head. —It would help if you didn't tease him.

The girl pouted. She didn't regret it at all; they almost deserved it for always lying.

—Inari is just in a phase, he'll mature. I wish he wouldn't get into so much trouble, but as long as he's okay, I'm satisfied.

That was him, always worried about his little brother. When they were younger, he took him everywhere, and they quickly became close.

Mana hardened her face and lowered her gaze to her lap, her thoughts obvious.

—Don't worry, we'll be fine —Igro tried to calm her, but he knew it wouldn't help much.

—I hope you're right.

***

Later, Aiacos' group was ready to leave. The villagers had just left the inn. Elia hurried them because they had a couple of guests, and it was already night.

—Can you explain why you're leaving at night? You might as well be shouting for someone to kill you all —Mana commented sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

Her father rolled his eyes as he finished securing the straps on his wrist guards and leather belt. She wouldn't let him have peace, not even in the last minute. Igro, next to him, smirked slightly at the comment.

The rest of the hunters were already waiting outside the inn.

Elia approached Aiacos and handed him his sword, almost as big as a greatsword, but light enough to wield with one hand. Aiacos immediately sheathed it in his belt, ready. He grabbed Elia's waist with both hands and gently pressed his lips to hers, not in a hurry. He wanted to take his time exploring every part of them, full and juicy.

Mana made a face of disgust but didn't interrupt them, aware that each kiss could be their last. That was precisely what angered her so much; her father loved her mother more than anything in the world, except hunting. Why risk not being with her then?

Death lurked in the grove mercilessly. Many had perished seeking wealth and glory; her father, no matter how good he was, wasn't exempt from such fate.

Mana's heart sank at the thought of her mother suffering if something happened to him, and she couldn't bear it either.

Aiacos pulled back slightly, connecting their foreheads as they looked at each other for a few moments. His turquoise eyes were full of passion and determination, while Elia watched him with tender honey-colored eyes that contrasted perfectly with her light brown hair, tied in a high bun surrounded by a braid that fell behind. In her gaze, there was strength, confident he would return to her. She didn't doubt it for a second.

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They both nodded at the same time and separated, as they always did when he went hunting.

—Good hunting —she said.

He smiled like a child given something he always wanted. Elia supported him in everything, even when he spent several days in the forest, she waited for him with open arms.

He glanced to his right where Mana stood, a bit farther away, looking at the ground. He could sense her distress but didn't know what to say.

When she was little, she begged him not to go and spent entire nights crying until he returned.

Mana felt her father's gaze, and their eyes met.

*Don't go, please.* That’s what Mana wanted to say but looked away, crossing her arms. She clenched her hand against her skin in frustration. There was nothing she could say to make him stay.

—Don't worry, I'll bring him back in one piece. I'll cover his back out there —Igro said, trying to lighten the mood.

Elia thanked him with a nod and a smile, and Mana found some comfort in his words, relaxing her hand a bit.

They were leaving through the door when Aiacos glanced over his shoulder to look at his daughter, glad she didn't ask him to stay because he might have.

—Don't wait up for me —he said before stepping out, just as Mana's eyes filled with tears. She searched for him quickly but he was already gone, and she couldn't hold back the tears sliding down her cheeks.

When she was little, he always said that so she wouldn't stay up waiting for him, but for her, it was a promise he would return.

—Mother —she called to Elia, who came to wrap her in a warm embrace—. Why does he risk his life like that? Isn't he afraid of never seeing us again? —she broke into uncontrollable sobs.

Elia gently stroked her head, with a bitter smile full of sorrow. A few seconds passed as she tried to find words to soothe her daughter or at least make her understand.

—Do you know why this place... —Elia asked, glancing quickly at her inn— ...is called "The Hunter's Dream"?

The girl stopped crying as best she could and shook her head. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, somewhat comforted by her mother's affection.

—For a long time, it has been the meeting point for adventurers and hunters who came to Cepir in search of fame and wealth. Here their dreams were born, and my family has witnessed how great men and women performed incredible feats, true to their desires, with unyielding determination —Elia explained, with a strange gleam in her eyes that Mana couldn't decipher, a mix of bitterness and frustration—. Seeing your father living his dreams always reminds me why I run this inn. He risks his life for it. There's nothing stronger than the burning desire to fulfill your dreams —Elia concluded with a somewhat false smile.

***

Mana couldn't stop tossing and turning in her soft bed.

Her father was out there in the grove, and this time they were going to the dark forest, where all kinds of creatures lived. Her mother had tried to explain how strong her father's desire to hunt was, but she wasn't entirely convinced. She didn't understand it. How could someone risk losing everything and everyone for something as fleeting as a dream?

The only light in her room was what came through the half-open window from the moon, shining on her swollen cheeks, red from crying so much.

Hunting a boar or a deer was one thing, but now they were after a god. The chances of him returning safely were almost nil, at least to her; everyone else seemed to think it was just another hunt.

She couldn't stop thinking about it and sat on the edge of the bed.

She sighed, somewhat irritated.

A cold breeze opened the window a bit, and she rubbed her shoulders with her hands. She leaned back to take a look at the landscape outside.

From her room on the second floor of the inn, she could see a bit of the grove sticking out above the wall of sharpened logs surrounding the village. She

closed the window and got back into bed, trying to sleep.

She was already under her blanket when she heard the main door closing.

Her eyes widened.

He had returned; it had to be him. She jumped out of bed and rushed out of her room, crossing the hallway where the guest rooms were as quietly as possible.

She reached the railing overlooking the stairs leading to the hall and hid behind it, trying to listen to the voices coming from the first floor.

—We couldn't find it. We covered a good part of the grove, but it seemed to go beyond the dark forest's boundaries —Aiacos lamented.

Mana's ear-to-ear smile would have bothered him so much. He was safe, and apparently, they couldn't find the creature.

—I see —Elia nodded.

—Tomorrow we'll go deeper into the dark forest to find it, but for now, we decided to let it go. We need to be clear-headed to fight; it wouldn't help to exhaust our energies searching for it —Aiacos explained, as they usually camped in the forest and continued from there. But the dark forest was too dangerous, especially at night.

No one had ever entered and returned, it was a story used to scare Cepir's children.

He couldn't risk endangering his group by sleeping there; another creature might attack them before they even found their prey. He preferred to avoid unnecessary confrontations.

—You'd better rest tonight then. Let's go to bed; I don't want to wake Mana —Elia urged to return to the room.

Mana quickly returned to her room upon hearing them come upstairs and closed the door behind her. She fell back on her bed, free of worries, and pulled the blanket over herself.

Although they would try again tomorrow, he was fine now, and that was what mattered. The girl closed her eyes, sure she could sleep now.

***

The dark forest could be very creepy, but for him, it was different. He felt in total harmony walking through its dark brown trunks. The dry branches crunched under his steps, breaking the sepulchral silence.

This area was avoided even by hunters. It was too far away for anyone to find him.

He knew they had come looking for him and preferred to move a bit further away.

—Why did you flee here? —asked a deep, tired voice from an oak with enormous roots.

The creature stopped in front of it, giving a once-over to the arboreal being embedded in them. If it stood up, it would be at least twice his height.

—Mind your own business —he replied, as cold as an iceberg.

He turned to leave, as the humans had already left the forest.

—You don't seem like a God, boy —the voice pointed out as the creature walked away.

That's exactly what he thought.

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