Two years had passed, and Nerya was now nearing her fifth birthday, family life having continued on its peaceful course.

  Though the Oakmaw accident had cast a shadow over the village, people had returned to their habits.

  “Come on, Nerya, wake up.

  If you want to come with me to the market, you have to get up, my dear,” Zephyra whispered, stroking Nerya’s cheek.

  Nerya stretched at length, her eyes still half-closed as she struggled to sit up.

  “Come to the kitchen once you’re awake, I’ll prepare your breakfast, all right,” Zephyra added.

  She left the room, letting Nerya emerge, throwing off her blankets and slipping on her small woolen slippers.

  She joined the kitchen, where the smell of milk was slowly beginning to spread.

  “Good morning, Mama, what are we eating?” she said with a yawn.

  “I made you Golden Moons to dip in your milk,” Zephyra replied.

  She set a cup in front of Nerya and filled it with milk, then placed three Golden Moons, still steaming.

  The smell rising from them made her stomach growl, eager for her to finally eat.

  These things are crazy, they look like croissants with honey.

  Yet the recipe has nothing to do with that, Nerya thought, surprised.

  She took a small Moon and dipped it into her milk, then bit into it as the pastry crackled beneath her teeth.

  The honey on the crust melted against her palate, and Nerya sagged slightly under the rush of flavors.

  “Thank you, Mama, it’s really really good,” Nerya said, her mouth still full.

  “Well then, you little piglet, we don’t talk with our mouth full.

  Wipe your mouth, you’ve got milk running down,” Zephyra chuckled, handing her a cloth.

  The rest of breakfast passed in good spirits, Zephyra bickering with Nerya, who laughed while deliberately teasing her mother.

  “Never lose your smile, my dear, you’re beautiful like that.

  But don’t smile too much outside, I don’t want you making all the little boys in the village fall for you, hm,” Zephyra murmured, her gaze tender.

  Once the cups were empty, they cleared the table together, then got dressed to go out.

  The weather was clear, the sun timidly finishing its rise on the horizon, leaving the sky tinged with blue.

  “We’ll wait a bit, Telyssia is coming with us,” Zephyra explained.

  They waited several minutes, Nerya amusing herself by running around the garden after various things she spotted, while Zephyra read a small book on the bench.

  A small bell finally rang out, cutting Nerya short in her run as she rushed toward the gate.

  “Telyssia yaaay!” Nerya exclaimed, running with her arms outstretched.

  Telyssia bent down and caught Nerya, holding her tight as she straightened up, a wide smile spreading across her face.

  “Well then, I see there’s one of us full of energy, hm.

  So that’s how it is, you don’t even call me Tatayssia anymore, huh?” she said with a small laugh.

  But a shadow approached the two young women, a tension freezing them instantly, like a chill running through them.

  “Well then, Telyssia, you wouldn’t be trying to steal my daughter, would you?

  You want to take my place, is that it?” Zephyra growled, her gaze dark.

  “N– no, ma’am, I… that is not… my intention,” Telyssia replied, trembling.

  “Hm, very well then.

  I’m willing to let you have my idiot of a husband, but don’t touch my little darling,” she replied, bursting out laughing.

  The tension broke at once, Zephyra opening the small gate so they could all head out.

  “I swear, sometimes she scares me.

  I can never tell whether she’s joking or being serious in the moment,” Telyssia breathed in a low voice.

  “Mean Mama, you scared Tatayssia,” Nerya said, turning toward Zephyra.

  “No, my sweet, if I were serious you wouldn’t be in her arms.

  You should relax a little, Telyssia, your training keeps you on edge, I think,” Zephyra explained in a gentle but firm tone.

  Telyssia adjusted Nerya’s position, settling her on her right hip as a sigh escaped her.

  “I know, but the selections are coming up soon, and I’m anxious.

  All the candidates are strong, I have trouble believing I stand a chance and… the thought of failing bothers me,” Telyssia murmured.

  Seeing her troubled look, Nerya ran a hand through Telyssia’s hair and began to stroke it slowly.

  “When Mama does that, I feel all better after.

  I’m not scared of the bad monsters anymore,” Nerya said in her small, innocent voice.

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  The two women laughed at her gesture, Zephyra placing her hand on Nerya’s cheek and stroking it gently as well.

  “You’re a bit young to be comforting people, aren’t you?

  That’s supposed to be our role, don’t you think?” Zephyra said.

  “But Tatayssia was scared, you mustn’t be scared,” Nerya replied.

  They continued their way toward the main square where the market was held, shifting the conversation back to Telyssia’s examination.

  The square was packed with stalls of every kind, from clothing merchants to vegetable sellers, as well as arms and armor.

  Nerya went with her mother to the market once a month, spending several hours looking at the various goods, some of which changed regularly.

  Telyssia often accompanied them on those days, even if she had been less present in recent months because of her intensive training.

  But when she trained with Eldran in their garden, Nerya stayed close to her, joining them in their exercises, even if they were adapted for her.

  Though she could not yet use the sword she had been given on her third birthday, Eldran had promised that she would be able to wield it on her fifth.

  They stopped at a small wagon run by a young woman who was always smiling, whom Nerya liked because she always gave her a little treat.

  “Good morning, Melphina, business going well today?” Zephyra asked.

  “Always.

  If only you knew how good it feels not to have corrupt guards around.

  The capital exhausts me, it’s getting worse and worse over there,” Melphina replied, exasperated.

  “But you, how are you doing, Zephyra?”

  “Very well, thank you.

  We’re out for the young lady, tomorrow is her birthday.

  She’s finally going to turn five, time really goes too fast,” Zephyra sighed, stroking Nerya’s head.

  Melphina turned her gaze to Nerya, her smile widening as she looked at her.

  Though Nerya knew her, being stared at like that made her uncomfortable, and she clasped her hands a little tighter.

  “Already.

  I feel like we met yesterday.

  To think that my son will soon be twenty, and he still lives at home, without even a sweetheart.

  At this rate I won’t be having grandchildren anytime soon,” Melphina said with a laugh.

  “It will come.

  The day he leaves, you’ll wish he would come back.

  As for me, I’d like Nerya to refrain from thinking about boys for as long as possible,” Zephyra replied, laughing with her.

  “So, what do you need?

  I received new apples if you want some, they come straight from Kelmorra.

  I struggled to get them, they sell like hot bread,” Melphina explained, having turned serious again.

  Zephyra then looked over the goods laid out on the tables, picking up a few fruits and vegetables, testing them delicately.

  After several minutes of silent inspection, Nerya discreetly rolling her eyes at how long it was taking, Zephyra began to point at certain items.

  “I’ll take four of those, two of that, and a dozen of your new apples,” she said quickly.

  Melphina took a small cloth bag and slipped inside the goods Zephyra had asked for, handing it to her before turning toward Telyssia, who was still holding Nerya.

  She slipped her hands under the table, then finally went around it to approach her.

  “Tomorrow is a big day for you, young lady.

  Would you close your eyes for me, please?” she asked.

  Nerya looked to Zephyra, who closed her own eyes with a smile, signaling that she could do it.

  Nerya obeyed, closing her eyes and waiting for Melphina’s instructions.

  “You can open them now, you should like this,” she continued after a few seconds.

  Nerya opened her eyes and saw Melphina standing in front of her.

  But in her hands was a small white dress, adorned with lace in varied patterns that Nerya could not really make out.

  “You didn’t think I had forgotten that tomorrow is your birthday, did you?

  I chose it especially so you could wear it during your—” Melphina began.

  But Zephyra suddenly pulled her back, stopping her from finishing her sentence.

  Surprised by her mother’s behavior, Nerya watched the scene in confusion.

  Zephyra then spoke to Melphina in a low voice, too low for Nerya to hear.

  “Oh, I see.

  Forgive me, Zephyra, I didn’t know.

  I thought you had told her,” Melphina replied.

  “It’s all right, you couldn’t have known.

  But we haven’t told her anything, we’re keeping it a surprise.

  It’s something that only happens once in a lifetime, so she might as well discover it on her own,” Zephyra explained.

  Hearing this, Nerya began to fill her head with all sorts of questions, wondering what they could be talking about.

  But Melphina stepped toward her again, handing her the small dress, which Nerya took and pressed against herself.

  “And what do we say, my dear?

  We don’t forget our manners,” Zephyra said.

  “Th… thank you, ma’am,” Nerya finally replied.

  Melphina then sketched a smile, before offering with her other hand a small treat that brought a grin to Nerya’s face.

  She took it with a slow motion, then looked at her mother.

  “Yes, you can eat it, we’re still far from the meal,” Zephyra murmured softly.

  “You really need to stop giving her bad habits, the dress is already far too much, Melphina.”

  “Stop it, Zephyra, it’s nothing.

  And just look at that little face, how could I let such an opportunity pass?

  You have a beautiful daughter, and unlike you I’m often in the capital.

  So I have access to things you can’t find here,” Melphina replied with a smile.

  While the two women were discussing all this, Telyssia cleared her throat loudly to draw their attention.

  “I don’t want to interrupt, but it’s almost time for me.

  I have to join Eldran for training, Zephyra,” she said, a little embarrassed.

  “Yes, yes, me too, me too.

  I want to train with Papa,” Nerya exclaimed when she heard that.

  Zephyra let out a sigh, understanding that she did not really have a choice in the face of Telyssia’s obligation and Nerya’s excitement.

  They said their goodbyes to Melphina, then moved away, heading back toward their home.

  “I didn’t think we’d take so long, sorry, Telyssia.

  But don’t worry, if Eldran says anything about your being late, I’ll take care of his training personally.

  Getting beaten in front of his student, he won’t appreciate it, so he won’t say a word,” she said along the way.

  “Don’t apologize.

  And besides, it was for this little one that we took our time.

  Tomorrow is a special day, it has to be prepared properly,” Telyssia replied.

  The rest of the way passed in silence, Nerya wriggling with excitement at the idea of training once again with Telyssia and her father.

  When they arrived at the gate, Eldran was already waiting for them, sword in hand.

  “So this is the hour you arrive, ladies?

  There’s a bit too much laxness, I didn’t even have time to grab a bite.

  I’ll have to change wives, I feel neglected, Zephyra,” Eldran said, half laughing.

  But he set his sword against the bench and walked over to Telyssia, taking Nerya into his arms and lifting her into the air.

  Nerya burst into laughter as Eldran brought her back down toward him.

  “Look who’s here, it’s my beloved daughter, hm.

  The best daughter in the whole village,” he went on in a silly voice.

  Telyssia and Zephyra rolled their eyes at the sight, settling on the bench while Eldran finished his moment.

  After several minutes of playing with Nerya, he finally set her back on the ground and turned his attention to Telyssia.

  Zephyra went back inside, while Telyssia and Nerya took their positions for training.

  The day slipped by at a swift pace, Nerya caring about only one thing now, making the most of this moment where everything seemed wonderful.