"Hufffhh… Hufffhh…"
I collapsed onto a nearby stone, gasping. My breath came in ragged bursts, chest heaving, lungs on fire.
Sweat trickled into my eyes, blurring my vision, and every muscle in my body throbbed from the strain. It felt like I was melting, every fiber of me unraveling in the aftermath of brutal training.
I slumped forward, arms resting on my knees.
And then—
"Umm… are you okay?"
Her voice was soft, uncertain, but filled with something I hadn't heard in a while—genuine concern. I looked up, blinking through the sweat. Cleya stood a few steps away, her fingers curled nervously at her chest.
Even through my haze of exhaustion, I noticed the furrow in her brow, the worry in her eyes.
I flashed her a grin, weak but sincere. "I'm fine. Just a bit… winded." My voice cracked from the effort. "I've been through worse."
Pushing myself off the stone made my body scream in protest, but I managed to stand. The breeze felt good against my skin, cooling the sweat.
"How's you leg doing ? Are you okay?"
She hesitated, then gave a shy smile. "I… am feeling a little better," she replied
That softness—it wasn't just in her voice. It was in the way she looked at me, like I wasn't just another face. Like I mattered.
And I wasn't sure why, but that warmth settled inside me.
"What's your name?" I asked, the words escaping before I could second-guess them.
She smiled.
"You can call me Cleya."
Her name fit her. Light, gentle, yet somehow full of mystery.
We sat down near the lake, letting the breeze and the rhythm of the water fill the spaces between our words. The conversation came easy—surprisingly so.
Cleya spoke about her childhood, her family, the silly stories that made her laugh.
"Wait—you actually got stuck in the pantry because your mom told you not to leave?"
"Hey! Don't laugh!" she pouted, swatting at me half-heartedly. "I was just following orders. My brother got out and left me there."
"You've got a little brother?"
"Yeah. He's always finding new ways to get into trouble."
I nodded. "I've got an older sister. She used to be kind but now bosses around."
Cleya burst into laughter, her hand covering her mouth. The sound of it—it was musical. Pure.
Then she tilted her head, curious. "You being here… in the forest. You're not just wandering around, are you?"
I shrugged. "Guess I'm not."
"Are you..... an adventurer?"
"Ummm..... Sort of."
Her eyes lit up. "Really? Can you Tell me about your adventures? everything! What kind of monsters did you fight? Any curses? Secret maps?" Her excitement was contagious.
"Hey hey don't be too hasty, I can't answer all at once"
I hesitated. Part of me wanted to stay quiet. But her joy... it was disarming.
I sighed. "Alright, alright."
"Yes!" She fist-pumped the air like a little kid.
"My mentor—Drake—used to train me until I collapsed. If I messed up, he'd bonk me on the head with his Iron hand of his. Every time." Then I continued speaking about Drake and how he used to teach me and make fun of me
Cleya giggled. "Ehehe."
"You're laughing at me now? Fine I am stopping it"
Cleya giggled. "Ehehe. Sorry! I'm not laughing at you, just… the image in my head."
"Oh, so now you're imagining me getting smacked, huh?" I raised an eyebrow, pretending to glare at her.
She giggled harder. "Hey, don't be mad!"
"Hmph."
"Oh no, someone's sulking now. Are you gonna cry?" she teased, grinning.
"Shad up," I muttered, turning away.
Her laughter rang out, bright and unfiltered.
Then suddenly, her tone shifted.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." She stood, brushing off her dress.
I eyed her suspiciously. "What now?"
"Close your eyes."
"...Why?"
"It's a surprise!" she puffed her cheeks, looking offended. "I promise it's nothing bad."
Reluctantly, I closed them. "If you tie me up or something—"
"Can you just stop your yapping?."
I heard a faint sound—metal? A snap? My mind raced. Was I just tricked by a cute girl in the forest? Classic.
Is she gonna kill me by holding my neck hard by some sort of metal?
Then—
"You can open them now."
I did. And I blinked.
Hanging around my neck was an emerald pendant, oval-shaped, glinting softly in the light.
Cleya stood before me, smiling with quiet pride. "It suits you."
My hand touched the gem, still warm from her fingers. "I… Cleya, I can't possibly accept this—"
Her finger pressed against my lips.
"Shhh," she whispered. "Let me thank you. For helping me. For being kind."
"But. cleya-"
Cleya gave me a shot look "Will you stop complaining already?!"
I stared at her. She was close—closer than she'd been all day. Her presence, her voice, her sincerity… it caught me off guard.
And something inside me cracked open.
"…Alright," I said softly. "But then you have to accept this."
I reached into my pouch and pulled out a silver hairpin. Purple jewel. I had bought it for my sister… but in this moment, it felt like to give it to her
I carefully pinned it into her silver hair. It sparkled against the light, matching her eyes.
"There," I said. "Perfect."
She touched it gently. "I didn't want anything back."
"It wasn't because of the pendant," I replied. "It was because I just wanted to give it."
Her eyes softened. "Do you… have a soft spot for me or something?" she teased.
I turned away, heat rushing to my cheeks. "Shut up."
She giggled again, then took a small step closer. "This is the first time I've talked to someone outside my family," she said, voice full of wonder. "I don't really… have friends."
I turned back to her, surprised. "None?"
She shook her head slowly. "But… I guess I do now."
There was a pause. A silence that said everything.
I pointed a finger on myself looking at her.
She nodded.
"You're an idiot," I said, smiling faintly.
Then—"Cle-Cleya!"
A distant shout echoed from the trees.
She turned, eyes lighting up. "Oh. I think they're here."
I stood. The moment was ending, fading like sunlight behind clouds.
Without thinking, I leapt up onto a nearby rock, high above the lake.
I turned back, heart pounding.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Cleya," I said. "I hope we meet again, friend."
Her eyes widened. "Wait—"
But I was already gone, disappearing into the forest's shadow.
Cleya whispered in a low voice in that direction
"What is your name…?"
---