A panting noise echoed in the depths of the forest—the labored breaths of a man.

  The sun edged toward the horizon, its outline barely touching the land. Heaven bled red as the day came to an end.

  An old man, carrying a child on his back, pushed through the dense forest. The bushes brushed against his body, gently resisting his advance. The shadow of night had already begun to fall, and his vision adjusted to the transition. Small insects of unknown origin lit up on the trees—tiny yet noticeable. Were they signaling for mating? Communicating? Expressing themselves? What was the point of lighting up their bodies? Shouldn't they be adjusting their vision to the dark instead?

  The boy on the old man's back was asleep, his mouth drooping, snot sticking to the robe like warm, sticky cheese. Walking slowly, the old man was reaching his limit. Fatigue had been building up, and now it reached a threshold. The tendons in his legs burned—they had been for a while—but now, the pain truly signaled him to stop. Willpower could only take him so far. In the end, physical limits would determine his advance.

  He stopped, assessing his surroundings. A cliff loomed nearby. Thinking he might find a small hole in the rock—a cave to rest in—he took careful steps toward it. As he reached the wall, full of cracks and scattered stones, he walked along the cliffside for a while until he found a suitable cave.

  He stepped over small boulders, navigating the holes and crevices that lurked like natural pitfalls, traps waiting for the unlucky to stumble and become prey to nature. But the old man was sturdy and strong, his movements flexible and sure. Skillfully maneuvering over the rough terrain, he reached the small hole in the rock face.

  The cave was empty, devoid of life—perfect for a resting spot. He cleared a small area on the ground, brushing away stones and debris before gently laying the child down. The boy stirred slightly, his eyes opening just enough to reveal unfocused pupils before going stiff and slipping back into deep sleep.

  The old man walked out, searching for something. He went deeper into the forest.

  I'm sure I heard water nearby.

  Following the sound, he walked for a short while before the echoes of water reached him. A river stretched before his eyes. The sun was gone now—night had taken its place. He studied the riverbank. The water was neither furious nor deep. It flowed calmly, ankle-deep.

  He bent down and started gathering small rocks from the river and the bank, using his robe as a makeshift basket. He collected dozens before heading back.

  Upon reaching the cave, he loosened the corner of his robe, letting the stones tumble to the ground. Surprisingly, the child did not wake from the noise. The old man then set out to gather branches and sticks—dry twigs for a fire. The rainy season in this region was no laughing matter. Once it rained, it would not stop by the will of men. Only heaven decided such things. Thankfully, it had not rained in a few days. The twigs should be dry enough.

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  He started a bonfire in the cave, using the flintstone he had gathered to ignite the fire. The opening was wide, allowing for good air circulation. He took off his shoes and set them near the fire to dry. The flickering flames cast the shadows of their figures on the cave walls, creating illusions of moving life, though in reality, no one stirred.

  Now, what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do with the kid? What should I do about myself now?

  What a bother. Life has been coming at me too fast lately. Just how many decisions must I make in such a short time? How many important decisions?

  The child woke, slowly rising, twitching and rubbing his eyes.

  "mmm... huh? Who are you, old man?"

  "Old man? I see. I guess I am pretty old now. Look at me kid, sit up and listen. My name is Han Anghert. Your parents are dead, and I am supposed to be your guardian now. Now, what is your name, kid?"

  "Huh? What do you mean? Mamma and pappa are dead? Liar. You're lying. You're lying!"

  Huh? What does he mean? Has this kid lost his mind?

  Well, I don't blame him. It must have been tough to go through that.

  What should I do now? He thinks I'm lying. Should I convince him of the truth, or should I lie to keep his hopes up?

  Is there really only two choices? No, there must be a third, there must be.

  But at that moment, Mr. Han could not come up with one. Without thinking about the outcome, he threw out his answer. In his mind, there were only two choices, and neither was inherently better than the other. The only difference was in the choice itself. Considering the current situation and possible future outcomes, Mr. Han decided it was better to lie.

  "Ahaha, you got me, kid. Well, it's true that your parents aren't here, but they're alive and well. They told me to look after you until you become an adult. Then they will come to meet you."

  "I can't see them until I'm an adult? What's an adult?"

  "Well, let's see... Do you know how old you are?"

  "Four."

  "I see. You'll be an adult on your 16th birthday. When you turn sixteen, your parents will come to get you and take you with them. Understood?"

  "Sixteen? Why so long? That's too long!"

  "Well... how do I put it? They've set out on an adventure. A dangerous one. Have you heard of the Adventurers' Continent?"

  "Father told me it's a place far away."

  "That's right. It's a place far, far away, deep in the central continent—the middle of the lands, the place of adventurers. Since you know it's far, you must understand why they couldn't take you with them, right? It's a long journey and your mother and father don't want to put you in danger. That's why they entrusted you to me. They said they'll take you with them when you're an adult and strong enough to go on a journey together."

  "Really? I can go with them? Father and Mother told me it was dangerous and that I should never go... but they're liars! They went there alone to have fun without me! Well, but I can go with them when I'm adult?"

  "Yeah, once you grow up, they will come and get you."

  "How long until I'm an adult, old man?"

  "Old man? Sigh... At least call me Mr. Han. Well, it won't be too long. You'll become an adult before you know it."

  "Not long?... If they said so, then it must be true... Mr... Ham?... I'm Rupert"

  Mr. Han was shocked by the child's name, as it resembled someone he had resented in a joking manner decades ago.

  "Rupert huh, nice to meet you, kid"