Smoke danced in the night breeze as the firepit offered his last breath. Lach tugged Elson under a blanket over a bed of straws. A dimly lit candlelight softly glowed as Lach ruffled the onyx-black hair. "Good night, little demon. I hope you don't give Mama too much of a hard time."

A loud yawn. "Mama said you are the one giving her a hard time."

A shadow through Lach's face, and he rose from the stool, wincing at the ghost of pain in his bones. "Time to sleep."

"What are you going to do?" His voice blurred with sleepiness stopped Lach, and he found the boy's half-closed eyes.

Lach tilted his head, and he winced. He massaged his neck. "About what?"

"The Princess." Elson rubbed his eyes. "Are you going to help her with the Favor?"

Lach looked to the side. The candle flame sought the end of his life as the wax buildup on the candle holder. He shook his head, ignoring the screaming of his neck. "I am going to bring her to Mias. There she will be safe."

The little boy's eyes blinked, fighting the crushing wave of sleep that would soon sweep him away. "I think you should go with her." His voice turned into a breathless yawn.

Lach tightened his lips. "This is not that simple." He turned on his heels, and his palm gripped the doorknob when the sleepy voice rose again.

"Papa would have gone with her," Lach's hand tightened his grip. His stomach twisted with that pain that had yet to go. He glanced over his shoulder, but the little boy's eyes were closed, and his breathing was even. A peaceful expression lingered on his face.

Lach's lips curved softly. "′ Night, Elson," he murmured before the door clicked shut.

**

The moonlight bathed the main room, transforming the chairs and tables into shadows. Lach let the back of his head fall against the door in a sigh before a crack in the darkness startled him. A silhouette emerged, and his heart almost gave up on him. He narrowed his eyes and sighed as he recognized the tiny silhouette. "Mom... why aren't you sleeping?" Lach passed a hand on his face.

"You are not sleeping either," she retrieved a chair and sat down as she tightened the shawl around her. She pointed her chin at the window. "Neither she is." Amaya stood between the trees, gazing at the sky. Something trapped in his chest. "And how can I sleep when you embarrass me like that?"

Lach sighed heavily. "I am tired and..." he rubbed his neck, thinking. "And, what did I even do wrong?"

Yehime's dull gaze bored into him. "Listen, son, they are ways to talk to a woman."

Lach's lips twisted. "I didn't mean to upset her, but this- this is insane." The whole idea of going after the Favor was just as nonsensical as throwing yourself into a fire and expecting your skin to not melt off your body.

Her tiny fingers massaged the place between her eyes. "If this is how you talked to Kristina, then it's no wonder she left you."

The groan he let out was guttural. "Mom...First of all, I am the one who left Kristina, and secondly...The situations are not even the same." Why did he come out of his room? He should have gone to bed and let his thoughts eat him alive it would have been better than this.

"Are you going to Mias?" she demanded, eyes filling with concern.

Lach gripped the back of a chair, leaning his weight on it. "This is the plan."

The woman paused before she blurted out, "Go find the Favor." His eyes widened. "Your father..." she started, a lump constricting her voice. "He always believed in the Favor. As long as the Sun God will be, the Favor will too." Lach's hands fell to his sides. "He wouldn't have believed it gone too."

Lach's jaw clenched. "Father wasn't there anymore when we lost the Favor. How could he- The chair scraped the floor as Yehime stood up. She pushed an old cracking cupboard, revealing a trap. Lach gaped. He had never seen it before. A key appeared between her fingers clicked it open. She dove her arms inside the small trap. "What is it?" Lach asked. Something long and consequent appeared from the trap. It was clothed in a blanket that was sure to have been white at some point but turned a dirty beige.

She approached Lach. "I found this in your fathers' belonging." She removed the blanket. The metal shone under the moonlight. Its leather-wrapped hilt had seen better days but was still strong, tight, and robust. The goldish pommel was engraved with a Sun. Lach's eyes widened. "The castle emblem," he whispered, observing the thick and sharp blade. Only a firm and powerful grip could swing something that heavy. "How is that possible?"

"I found it when your Father died," Yehime replied. "Until today, I had no idea he had it in his possession. "This is-"

"This is a knight sword..." Lach trailed off.

She extended her hands, presenting the sword like an offering. "Whatever you decide and wherever you go, I want you to have it," she said, her voice wavering but still tinted with that strength that Lach could only admire.

Lach grabbed the hilt. "I will."

**

Amaya's arms were tight around herself as she gazed over the vastness of the dark canvas. The tiny diamond flickering into the sky would never cease to amaze her, even when the world was crumbling around her. She sighed, leaving a white smoke from her mouth. Something shifted next to her, and she jerked her face to the side.

A shawl appeared before her. She looked up to see Lach, a soft smile carving his lips. He extended his hand more, and she reached for the shawl and murmured her thanks. It was made with yarn and was a welcome addition over her cloak. "I know why you are here. I must let you know that it is in vain," she said, her chin high.

Lach let out a snort and dipped his hands inside his pockets. "I am here to observe the sky and feel the icy wind." He shivered as the wind responded to him with a breeze. "Just like you...Nothing less, nothing more."

Amaya's lips curved. She turned her gaze back to the sky. "Have you ever questioned the vastness of the sky?" She could feel the man's dark eyebrow arch but went on nonetheless, "How far it extends..." Amaya met his gaze. "I know about constellations and stars. About Orion, Polaris, Sirius, the Sun...But I have no idea how far away they are from us." Lach turned his gaze to the sky. "Mother used to say that the stars were home for the souls. each time a person leaves this world, they find a place in the sky." Her lips curved down. "I wonder if she is out there too and if she can see me from that far away."

"Oh, I believe she can see you clearly." Amaya flickered her gaze at him. "She can see everything, including your hopeless stubbornness," Lach let out, deadpanned, and Amaya's face lighted up with one of her melodious chuckles.

Lach smiled softly before seriousness veiled his face. "I will go search the Favor with you." Amaya jerked her face to him, her eyes shimmering with hope. "But you must know..." Lach's tone turned grim. "Whatever you find out here will never be as enchanting as the life inside the castle..." Amaya creased her eyebrows. "The outside world is not pretty. It is full of wickedness, malice, weakness, corruption, heartbreaking sights..." His features hardened with each word. "But what makes it bearable are the people you surround yourself with." Lach glanced at the cottage. A thin veil of snow had recovered it. "All you hope is that what you bring to them will be enough."

Amaya's chest whirled. "You are a good brother and a good son. Your family is lucky to have you."

"I just want them to be safe." Lach breathed out, his tone frail. A window to the man's deep fear.

"I know," Amaya murmured. She stepped closer, searching his moonlit gaze. "I promise you that when we find the Favor. You won't have to worry about your family again, for the land will prosper, and the cold will vanish." His eyes twinkled. "It will be like before." His gaze fell to the side, and she grabbed his hands. His skin texture was rugged and the touch icy, but she held tight. "I owe you my life. Let me make it up for you and your family."

**

They fell asleep in the little bedroom that Lach shared with his brother. Amaya was offered Lach's bed, and the latter found a tiny place beside his sprawled brother.

Lach's eyes jolted behind his eyelids, shifting from side to side.

He found himself deep inside a dark forest with branches like claws ready to grab and tear him apart. Fear gripped each of his limbs so much that he could barely move as if his body was made of stones, but the branches were creeping closer. A bright halo emerged inside the darkness. White and blinding. He moved towards it, but a train of thick black smoke surrounded him, caging him. The smoke got thicker and darker, dulling the bright light as it seemed to move further away. Something red, harsh, and angry erupted from the forest, scalding, fiery, and ruthless. Flames. They erupted all around him like lava, trapping him. His chest burned with the acidic taste of ashes.

A scream. Acute, alarming, and desperate. A plea for life.

Lach whirled around himself as the screams seemed to surge from every corner. Until he saw her.

Amaya stood among the flames. They crept closer, and her screams became more acute.

"Amaya," Lach whispered, trying to reach her, but the flames burned his skin. He flinched. She gazed at him with water-filled eyes, and Lach advanced through the fire, ignoring the burning pain. He tried to scream, to tell her to run towards him, but nothing came out of his mouth besides a soundless cry.

The dark smoke reappeared, taking the shape of claws. They grabbed her wrists and her ankles under Lach's widening gaze. Amaya called his name a last time before the flames consumed her all before she disappeared into a pile of ashes. Lach cried so hard it pulled all the muscles of his neck.

Screams rose all over him again, and he turned around to see his father, mother, and brother turned into ashes.

The flames came for him, too, before he could even brace himself.

"Lach!" Lach gasped, his eyes jolting open as he propelled himself on his elbows. Amaya sat on the edge of his bed, watching him with concern. "What's wrong?" Lach's chest still heaved as he took in his surroundings. He lay on the straw bed, and its twin resided against the opposite wall. The sky was light and clear, and Lach wondered how long he had slept. The day had already started hours ago. He cussed internally. His eyes fell on Elson, standing away, his gummy smile gone and his expression stuck in bewilderment. He looked back at Amaya. Her face was intact. No traces of burn, and the ashes were gone. His heart calmed down.

"I'm-"

"You are crying," Amaya pointed out, and he felt the wetness on his cheeks. His forehead and shirt were also dripping. He swallowed thickly, still tasting the ashes in his mouth.

He wiped his eyes and removed the blanket from his body as he stood up. "I'm fine. It was just a nightmare." Amaya and Elson exchanged a gaze.

"You were screaming," Amaya followed him. "Are you sure you are fine?"

Lach nodded. The little boy hadn't moved since he woke up, still stuck with big round eyes. Lach kneeled next to him. "I am fine, Elson.

"It's like before," the little boy said, voice bleak.

Lach rubbed the tiny shoulders. "I am fine. Don't worry." The boy nodded, albeit after an hesitant moment. Lach head for the door. "Let's go down. We need to leave as soon as possible." The door burst open before he could reach it.

He met Yehime's wide eyes. A cloak covered her body, and she gripped a basket tightly. "Soldiers are in the village."

Lach froze, and he met Amaya's wide eyes.