The morning sun filtered through the trees, painting golden streaks across the village walls. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of tilled earth and smoke from the forge.
Itsuki adjusted the sword at his waist as he prepared to head out with Lyra and a group of hunters. Rumors had reached the village whispers of survivors hiding in the forest, clinging to life far from the safety of walls.
"If the rumors are true," Lyra said as she tightened her bowstring, "we can't just leave them. But it could be a trap."
Itsuki nodded. "That's why we'll go prepared. If they're survivors, we'll bring them in. If it's a threat, we'll deal with it."
The Encounter
Hours later, they pushed through the dense undergrowth and came upon the remnants of a burned settlement. The smell of charred wood lingered, though the fire had long since died.
Among the ruins, a faint glow caught Itsuki's eye.
There, kneeling beside a fallen man, was a young woman. Her hands shimmered with pale blue light as she pressed them to his chest. Wounds closed beneath her touch, and the man gasped, color returning to his face.
Itsuki froze. Healing magic?
The girl turned at the sound of footsteps. Her hair was a cascade of soft brown, her eyes the color of amber honey. And her Dirt smudged her face, and her simple robes were torn, but her beauty was undeniable.
"Stay back!" she cried, pulling the wounded man closer. "I won't let you hurt them!"
Lyra raised her bow, but Itsuki lifted a hand to stop her. He stepped forward slowly, lowering his sword.
"We're not here to hurt anyone," he said calmly. "We're from a village not far from here. If you're survivors, we can help."
The girl hesitated, her glowing hands faltering. She scanned his face, then the hunters behind him, before finally lowering her guard.
"My name is Elara," she whispered. "I… I've been healing what few people escaped when the bandits burned our home."
The Decision
Itsuki moved closer, kneeling beside her. The man she had been healing was breathing steadily now, thanks to her magic.
"You saved him," Itsuki said softly. "How long have you been doing this?"
"Since the attack," Elara replied, her voice trembling. "I'm the only one left who knows healing magic. Without me… they wouldn't have survived."
Lyra stepped forward, studying her with sharp eyes. "Healing magic is rare. With you, our people would be much safer."
Elara bit her lip, torn between caution and hope. "And if I come with you? What happens then?"
Itsuki met her gaze steadily. "Then you'll have a home again. You won't have to heal alone. And I promise… no one will burn your home ever again."
For a long moment, she was silent. Then tears welled in her eyes, and she nodded.
The Return
By nightfall, they returned to the village with Elara and the handful of survivors she had protected. The villagers welcomed them with cautious curiosity, but when Elara demonstrated her magic on a wounded hunter, awe spread through the crowd.
The atmosphere shifted. Hope grew stronger.
That evening, Elara sat beside Itsuki at the central fire. Her fingers twisted nervously in her lap as she glanced at him.
"You meant what you said earlier?" she asked softly. "That this can be my home too?"
Itsuki smiled gently. "Of course. Everyone deserves a place to belong."
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she lowered her gaze. "Then… I'll heal and protect this village, Itsuki. I'll stand by your side."
Lyra watched the exchange from across the fire, her expression unreadable, though a faint smirk tugged at her lips.
The flames crackled, casting shadows across the growing village. Itsuki looked around at the people at Lyra, at Elara, at the villagers who now looked at him not as a stranger, but as their leader.
This is it, he thought. The kingdom I dreamed of is taking root and I'm not building it alone.