The morning sun filtered through the tall trees, painting soft golden patches across the forest floor. Ezren stirred from his makeshift bed of moss and leaves, every muscle stiff, every bone aching—but his spirit, somehow, still intact.
"This isn't sustainable," he muttered, brushing dirt from his tattered cloak. "I need to find a way out of this forest."
No map.No supplies.No idea where he was.
Still, his legs moved, driven by sheer instinct. An aimless, desperate march in search of something—anything.
But fate, as always, had other plans.
After what felt like hours of weaving through twisting paths and ancient trees, Ezren stumbled—literally—into someone.
"Woah—!"
He caught himself before falling, blinking up at a strange figure.
An elderly man stood before him. His beard fell to his chest in snowy waves. A wide straw hat shaded his face, hiding sharp, unreadable eyes. His robes were plain, homespun—but the aura around him was not.
Ezren blinked. "Uh… hey, sir. Do you know how to get out of this forest?"
The old man peered down at him—quiet, calm… searching. Then, wordlessly, he reached out and placed a hand against Ezren's forehead.
Ezren flinched.
The man closed his eyes. A faint, satisfied grunt escaped his lips.
"You've wandered long enough, traveler," he said, voice deep and firm. "I know the way."
Ezren exhaled in disbelief. Thank god I can understand him… and I don't have to learn an entire language, he thought.
"What's your name, sir?"
The old man gave a slight bow."You may call me Master Qiu. Or Sensei Qiu, if you prefer."
Without another word, Qiu turned and began to walk, slow and steady. Ezren followed, unsure if the pace was due to the old man's age or some hidden lesson he didn't yet understand.
Eventually, the trees thinned. A long dirt road stretched ahead, leading to wide, sunlit fields that rolled off toward the horizon.
Qiu stopped and pointed forward.
"Your journey continues that way."
Ezren glanced at the open road, then back. "Will you not come with me?"
Master Qiu smiled faintly."There are matters I must tend to. But we will meet again, young one. Be careful."
Ezren nodded."Thank you… old man."
But when he turned to look back, Qiu was gone.
Arrival
The walk to town was longer than it looked. When Ezren finally saw rooftops in the distance, his legs nearly gave out from relief. A small town, lively and chaotic, buzzed with the sounds of everyday life. Merchants shouted their deals, children laughed, and the air carried the mouthwatering scent of grilled meat and fresh bread.
Ezren's stomach growled, loud and angry.
He moved toward a bakery stall, the smell too tempting to resist—when someone slammed into him.
"Hey—!"
A blur darted past. A boy.
Something flew through the air—a loaf of bread—and smacked directly into Ezren's chest.
Before he could react, shouting erupted behind him.
"THERE HE IS!"
Two guards burst through the crowd. One was tall, lean, with a scar across his cheek. The other short, round, with a nose like a potato.
They stopped in front of Ezren.
"What have we here? A thief?" the scarred guard sneered.
Ezren opened his mouth, closed it. His voice tangled with confusion.
"He's the thief!" the round guard snapped. "Let's lock up this scrubby scoundrel."
"I'm not!" Ezren protested. "It was a kid! He threw it at me!"
The scarred guard grabbed him."Like we'd believe a filthy peasant like you."
The shopkeeper stormed over, arms crossed."Always blaming others. Even a kid. Pathetic."
Minutes later, Ezren sat in a cold, damp cell, the scent of mold thick in the air. The bread was gone. His pride had vanished with it.
He sat in the corner, hugging his knees.
"This world…" he whispered. "Isn't any different."
No matter where he went, it was always the same.Just some useless stray. A scapegoat. A nobody.
Hot, silent tears traced lines down his cheeks.
"I hate this," he choked out. "Why is it always me?"
His voice cracked.
"I just wanted… a second chance. A life where I matter. Where someone actually gives a damn."
He stared at the grimy stone wall, eyes burning.
"…Maybe I really don't deserve it."