Chapter Text
Fear.
Fear is something a warrior does not feel—something they must not feel. Least of all a paladin.
A paladin must be brave. They must be fearless, strong, a hero. They cannot be broken by anyone or anything, neither beast nor man. They must always stand against any danger, no matter what it is. Otherwise, what would be the point of bearing the title of a paladin? A paladin must never be weak, cowardly, much less sensitive.
Words a small boy repeated to himself over and over, desperately trying to find comfort in the dream he had once wanted more than anything. The dream of becoming the bravest... and the strongest.
A dream that seemed farther away every time those older boys mocked him and beat him, making him look even weaker. Driving him to the edge of tears. Proving, once again, that he was weak—that he wasn't, and never would be, made for this.
To become a paladin.
To become Michael, the bravest paladin in the kingdom... perhaps even in all the kingdoms and lands.
"Frog face, you'll never be good enough to be a paladin."
"Just give up."
"You're pathetic. So tiny and weak."
And once again he believed them.
He ran into the forest behind his kingdom's great castle, hiding among the towering trees, where only the silence of nature surrounded him. The only sound that echoed through the woods was his quiet sobbing, as broken as the heart that was beginning to give up.
Hidden behind a fallen tree trunk, he hugged his knees tightly against his chest, burying his face in his arms. He felt so... pathetic.
He could hear the whispers of the wind weaving through the branches, stirring the leaves overhead. It reminded him that he was completely alone with his misery and his sorrow.
He had been gone for hours now. The training had probably ended by now, and he doubted either his instructors or his family had noticed he was missing—not yet, at least. Sooner or later, his sister or his mother would come looking for him.
He clumsily wiped away his tears, his brow furrowed as he fought not to give in to the sadness and the cruel words. "No..." He took a deep breath, trying to clear his stuffy nose. "T-They're wrong!" He kept rubbing the tears from his face.
He spoke loudly. He knew he was alone in that forest. No one ever came this far—not with how wild, unexplored, and isolated it was. There weren't many animals around either. At most, a few birds and an occasional squirrel.
He was alone.
He wiped at his face harder and harder, frustrated, using his fists. He scrubbed too roughly over his cheek, where there was already a fresh bruise. A pained whimper escaped him, only making him angrier, because a paladin wasn't supposed to feel pain. And if they did they were supposed to endure it.
"Stupid!" he snapped at himself once more, grabbing his assigned weapon—a small sword—and throwing it as far as he could.
Now he felt even worse...
He buried his face in his hands again, sobbing into his palms as tears slipped through his fingers, running over the backs of his hands before trailing down his forearms. He could taste the bitter salt of them on his lips.
Crack.
A faint snapping sound echoed somewhere nearby. He jolted, his tear-filled eyes darting around in search of whatever had made the noise. His heart lurched violently in his chest, and he held his breath, straining to hear anything else.
His gaze landed on his little sword lying a short distance away. After one last glance around, he sprinted toward it, snatched it from the ground, and immediately raised it into a defensive stance, waiting for something—anything—to appear. "W-Who's there?!" His voice trembled, whether from fear or from crying for so long, he couldn't tell. His vision was still blurred through watery eyes. "Come out, whoever you are!" he demanded again.
Nothing.
No one answered, and no other sound followed. The silence was unsettling... yet strangely peaceful. It didn't feel like danger lurked nearby, but he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. Then, a tiny speck of light drifted down from the canopy above, descending gracefully, almost as though it were dancing through the air.
It landed gently on the edge of his sword.
It felt so peaceful... so calming... that, for a moment, he forgot he was supposed to stay alert for any danger. If he were being honest, though, he didn't feel like there was anything dangerous there with him. At least, not right then.
Even so, he gave his sword a small shake and pointed it at the tiny speck of light, knocking it gently onto the ground. "W-What are you? Are you going to hurt me?! I'm Michael, the paladin! Don't try anything strange unless you want to regret it!" The little glow did nothing. It simply rested there on the grass, radiating a faint golden light.
Mike felt a little foolish, though he still refused to lower his guard.
He waited for something bigger to happen, something terrifying, something monstrous. But nothing.
He let out a long sigh and lowered his arms, defeated and thoroughly embarrassed. At least no one had witnessed his humiliation.
Without really thinking about it, he looked up toward the treetops. More tiny specks of light had begun drifting down through the branches, like snowflakes decorating the kingdom when winter arrived. Only these weren't white, they were gold.
He couldn't look away. His eyes sparkled as he watched the countless little lights descend with impossible grace. Some landed on his clothes; others settled in his wild dark curls. One floated down onto the tip of his nose, tickling him and drawing a few quiet giggles from his lips.
The tiny lights slowly gathered together, separating into larger clusters, as though each one were searching for a shape to become. Mike watched them in complete wonder.
Those strange masses of light began forming glowing animals, almost like connecting dots in the sky. Like constellations. "Wow..." It was beautiful. He was completely captivated.
Above his head, a small bird took shape, beside him appeared a tiny deer, on his other side, a little cat and right in front of him a fluffy rabbit with long ears. He crouched down and carefully extended his hand toward it, hoping it would come closer. "Come here... don't be afraid." His voice came out softer than usual. The little rabbit hopped forward a few times, slowly closing the distance until its tiny nose brushed against his hand. Then it rubbed its head affectionately against the palm of his hand.
It was strange, because he couldn't actually feel it touching him and yet warmth radiated from the little rabbit, just as if it were real. He carefully stroked the creature, making sure not to disturb the tiny particles that formed its body. The magic felt weak, but pure and innocent. It wasn't dangerous and somehow, he could tell it had no ill intentions at all.
He lowered his guard completely and stretched out his other arm toward the little deer, which approached him as well, this time with much more confidence.
He laughed. A genuine laugh. The little animals gathered around him, pressing close as though they were giving him a warm embrace. Mike couldn't stop smiling. A comforting warmth spread through him—the same warmth he felt whenever his mother hugged him after he had been frightened or after he had cried. It was strange, but... He couldn't quite describe it. It simply felt... good.
Once the animals stepped back, he gently picked up the little bird from its nest in his curls and held it carefully in both hands. "So... what exactly are you?" The tiny bird tilted its head curiously, as though Mike had just asked the silliest question imaginable. He laughed again.
"I mean... I know you're animals... but I've never seen animals like you before. Animals that shine... and make everything feel so...good." His voice was soft, quieter than usual. He felt so peaceful and he didn't know whether someone had secretly cast a sleeping spell on him... or whether he was simply intoxicated by that familiar warmth.
None of them answered. Each little creature seemed content in its own world, though none strayed very far from the boy.
Mike sat down on the grass and let out another sigh, this one heavier with exhaustion. He placed the little bird back atop his hair, and before long the rabbit hopped over, curling up comfortably in his lap. "You don't talk much, do you?" he murmured with a smile. "That's okay. I can talk enough for all of us. My sister says I talk way too much. She says it's annoying." The little rabbit looked up at him, giving him its full attention as it settled into his lap. "I think it's a good thing to always have something to say. You know... always having a story to tell. I've got lots of stories, and I've only been alive for nine years..."
Without even realizing it, the little animals gathered around him once more, listening quietly as he spoke. He rambled on about the silliest things—like how he loved bothering his sister. He carefully avoided talking about the thing that truly hurt him. The thing that had made him cry for hours before the lights had appeared. It was rather pointless, considering they had already found him in the middle of his misery.
Lost in his stories and in the peaceful comfort the animals brought him, he failed to notice the sky slowly turning shades of orange, violet, and blue. The sun was beginning to disappear behind the towering mountains surrounding the kingdom.
He had no idea what time it was anymore. And honestly he didn't care. If it were up to him, he would have stayed there forever.
"And then Nancy chased me all the way down our street! But I got her back. I mean, I wasn't going to steal from her for no reason! I just ‘borrowed’ it." The little rabbit twitched its nose, as though it were trying to react to the story. Mike laughed, then finally fell silent for a few moments. He sighed.
"I know..." His voice softened. "I know someone else is doing all this. That someone is listening to me." He never took his eyes off the little rabbit, which continued watching him attentively. He gently stroked its head again. "Thank you... for doing this..." His smile faded slightly. "I... I didn't have a very good day and..." He hesitated a few seconds. Still, he continued. "I didn't want to be alone. I've never seen anything this beautiful."
"MICHAEL!" A distant feminine voice echoed through the forest. It was his sister, Nancy. He could hear footsteps weaving through the trees—still far away, but close enough to know she was coming.
The little rabbit immediately jumped from his lap, and the tiny bird flew from his curls. Almost by instinct, Mike stood up and brushed the leaves and dirt from his clothes.
"I should go now. Looks like I've stayed out too long." He chuckled softly before looking one last time at the glowing creatures. He fidgeted with his fingers, suddenly feeling shy. "Um... will I see you again? O-Or... all of you? I don't know. This is a little confusing." He laughed again.
The little deer simply gave a gentle nod. Mike's eyes lit up, and a huge smile spread across his face.
"I'll come back tomorrow! Same time!" He picked up his sword and adjusted his cape. "See you then!"
He took off running through the trees, following the sound of his sister's voice. Soon he spotted Nancy walking carefully, lifting the hem of her dress so it wouldn't drag through the grass and dirt. He smiled to himself at the sight before hurrying over. That immediately caught her attention. She planted her hands on her hips, clearly ready to scold him. "Michael!" Nancy sighed, "Why didn't you come home?! Mother was so worried about you!"
"I'm really sorry!" he said, embarrassed. "I lost track of time. It won't happen again."
Nancy was about to continue lecturing him when she noticed his swollen eyes... and the cut on his cheek. She blinked a few times, her expression immediately softening as she lowered her hands. She crouched down in front of him and gently brushed the leaves from his messy curls, getting a better look at the wound on his face. "What happened to you?"
A flicker of panic crossed Mike's face. He gently moved her hands away from him, almost hopping backward. "Um..." He didn't want to answer and he definitely didn't want to worry either his sister or his mother.
It was true that he'd wanted someone to comfort him, but somehow, after that magical encounter with the lights and the glowing animals, he already felt comforted enough.
He lowered his eyes to the ground again, embarrassed. "Training was... pretty rough today, you know."
Nancy didn't completely believe him but she also knew she couldn't force him to talk. With no other choice, she let out another sigh and took his hand. "Come on. Dinner's ready, and Father wants to talk about how you did during training."
The two of them walked back toward the castle. Every so often, Mike glanced over his shoulder, hoping to catch one last glimpse of the glowing creatures. He didn't.
The very last thing he managed to see was the little rabbit peeking out from behind a tree, twitching its tiny nose as if saying goodbye. But Mike knew it wasn't a farewell, it was simply ‘See you tomorrow’. Smiling to himself, he subtly lifted his free hand and waved goodbye to the little creature.
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"How did training go today, Michael?" Karen asked as she fed the youngest Wheeler at the table.
Mike ate his dinner with surprising enthusiasm. The day had been a complete disaster, a really hard one and part of it had been the worst he'd experienced so far. Yet, for some reason, he smiled as though it had been the best day of his life.
He couldn't stop thinking about the glowing animals, about how they'd made him feel and how that feeling still lingered. He couldn't wait to go back the next day and witness that wonder all over again. He wasn't even worried about whether the older trainees would bother him again.
That had become the least of his concerns.
Now he was simply counting the seconds until the day ended so he could run back into the forest and meet whoever was behind all of that.
Once he finished eating, he looked up at his mother, who had been patiently waiting for his answer. He cleared his throat, trying to calm himself. "It was a good day. I learned a lot today." He smiled, almost convincing himself of the lie. His expression was genuine enough for his mother to believe him.
"I'm so glad to hear that, Michael." She gently ruffled his unruly curls before returning to her meal.
The boy gathered his plate and carried it over to where the dirty dishes were stacked. After saying goodnight to everyone, he headed upstairs to his room.
He didn't fall asleep until hours later. He was simply too excited to see the glowing creatures again. He kicked his feet beneath the blankets, smiling into the darkness of his room.
The next day began like any other. A light, balanced breakfast. Training, giving every exercise his all. That day, the insults from the older trainees didn't come right away. During a brief break, the instructors allowed everyone to rest. Mike sat alone, away from the others.
"What are you doing over here all by yourself?" An older boy approached. His tone was anything but friendly. Mike instinctively held his breath, as though that could somehow make him invisible. "So you're still clinging to that little dream of becoming a mighty warrior?" The same mocking, hostile tone only made Mike's blood boil with anger. Even so he didn't do anything. Not after what had happened the day before.
His cheek still ached from the punch he'd received. And from how roughly he'd wiped away his tears afterward, only making the wound sting even more. He didn't want any more trouble. At least his family had believed his story—that he'd simply gotten hurt during training. A rookie mistake. Just part of the job.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" This time it was one of the girls from the same group. Her voice sounded concerned, but Mike knew perfectly well it was just another way to make fun of him. She crouched down in front of him before roughly shoving a finger against his forehead. "Talk, frog face. Or did the cat get your tongue?"
Mike tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword, but he didn't react. He let the teasing continue. He only had to wait for the day to end. No matter how much they mocked him, he wasn't going to abandon his dream. Not for them.
When the break finally ended, he simply stood up and walked back toward the rest of the trainees, ignoring every insult the older kids threw after him.
Training was much like any other day. Mike was still a beginner, so he made plenty of mistakes, and he was still far too young. Many of the trainees were still surprised that he had even been accepted into the program. Maybe that was why that group picked on him so much, just because he was younger, smaller, weaker. The truth was, Mike knew he was still physically weak. But he also knew that, with time, he would become stronger.
That was exactly why, if he couldn't be physically strong yet, he at least tried to be emotionally strong. He tried not to cry and he tried not to let his emotions control him. Most of the time, he failed. He could be far too impulsive whenever he got angry.
When training finally ended, he didn't waste a second and he practically bolted toward the forest, making sure no one was following him. That place, the magic that had appeared before him and whoever had created it. That secret belonged only to the mysterious stranger... and to him.
The sun was already beginning to disappear behind the mountains. The forest was slowly bathing itself in shades of gold and amber. So he hurried, arriving at the exact same spot where he'd been the day before, hoping to see some sign or some light. Anything. Nothing. Not yet.
The only sounds were the familiar whispers of the wind and the quiet song of nature. A peace that soothed his racing heart.
"Um..." He fidgeted with his fingers, suddenly feeling shy. "Hello... I'm back!" he called out, looking around hopefully. Waiting to see anything at all.
A few more seconds passed in silence. "Are you here?" he asked quietly, his voice timid but eager as he searched the forest around him.
Then… A brilliant glow appeared from behind the trees. Several tiny particles drifted toward him, carried by the breeze without ever breaking apart. Mike's eyes lit up and a huge smile spread across his face. Relief flooded his chest as he hurried toward the lights, which immediately began circling around him.
He laughed softly. "So... you really are here..." he murmured in that gentle voice he almost never used—not with anyone. "I'm glad to see you." He admitted it to the open air, his eyes once again searching the forest around him. Those words weren't meant for the magic itself. He hoped the message would somehow reach whoever was behind it all.
He watched as the glowing particles floated down to the ground, gathering together once more until they formed the little rabbit of light. This time it looked just a little happier. A little more comfortable around him.
He sat down in front of it, gently rocking back and forth with excitement. "I had a terrible day," he admitted with a smile. The rabbit's ears perked up in confusion.
His words, his tone and that smile. For some reason, Mike felt as though the little rabbit was asking him, ‘Then why are you smiling so much?’ "Those idiots picked on me again, and training was exhausting..." He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed as warmth crept into his cheeks. "But ever since yesterday..." he lowered his hand from his neck and looked at the little rabbit with that same soft smile. "I don't know... I felt... less alone because of you." He paused for a moment. "It sounds silly, but... I'm really happy to know I wasn't crazy or that I didn't imagine you."
Silence.
Mike wasn't entirely sure what he had expected, but somehow he felt as though the rabbit had been moved by what he'd said. There was something in its eyes that made him think so. He swallowed hard and rested both hands in his lap.
He opened his mouth to say something else, but before he could, the little rabbit hopped forward until it landed on his legs. Then it curled up comfortably against him, as though it were trying to tell him that the feeling was mutual. That whoever was behind all of this... felt the same way.
Mike smiled and he gently stroked the rabbit's head. A quiet laugh escaped him. "It's amazing what you can do with light..." The rabbit's nose twitched, though it remained comfortably nestled in place.
Something warm settled inside Mike's chest. He couldn't quite explain what it was, but it felt similar to when his mother prepared his favorite meal after a difficult day. Or when he could run into her arms and feel safe again. As if someone had lit a small campfire inside him.
As if...
Someone had lit a light within him.
He spent the rest of the afternoon talking to the little rabbit about countless meaningless things. For now, it was the only glowing animal that had appeared.
But he didn't mind.
Even seeing the floating particles would've been enough to remind him… that he wasn't alone.
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The days passed, and before he realized it, an entire week had gone by. Even a little longer than that.
Training was still a complete disaster—that much hadn't changed. The older kids were still there, picking on Mike. But there was one major difference now, the insults didn't seem to affect him anymore. That, in turn, only frustrated his bullies. On top of that, he looked more focused and far more cheerful during every training session.
Visiting the same spot in the forest at the same time each evening had become part of his routine. Just before the sun reached the mountaintops and began to disappear behind them.
Sometimes only the rabbit would appear. Other times, all the glowing animals would come, but the rabbit was always there. It was still the one that filled him with the greatest tenderness. He would tell them everything about his day or simply ramble about how training had gone.
"Troy bothered me again today... But I don't care anymore. They can say whatever they want." The animals always seemed to agree, even if none of them ever spoke.
With the rabbit curled up in his lap and the little bird hiding among his unruly curls, he let out a sigh before glancing over at the little deer lying beside him. "Do you think... I'll become a great paladin someday?" The little deer lifted its head. It didn't blink, yet there was something in its gaze that stirred a strange feeling inside Mike's chest. "I know I'll become a paladin. But... do you think I could become the best one?" The little deer blinked once and its expression softened. It gave a gentle nod before settling back down.
Mike thought about that constantly. About the idea that someone believed in him. He knew his mother believed in him too. But... she was his mother. Of course she'd always believe in him. Knowing that someone else did as well made him happy. It gave him even more determination.
So day after day, he gave everything he had during training. The improvement still wasn't obvious. Not physically, but his attitude... that had changed tremendously. Both at home and on the training grounds.
"You've seemed much happier lately, Michael," his mother commented one morning. Mike simply nodded as he continued eating his breakfast. "It looks like you're really enjoying yourself. I'm so happy to see that." She gently rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah!" he laughed. "I'm still terrible, but I think I'm getting better."
"And..." she hesitated for a moment. "Have you made any friends yet?"
Friends.
Mike didn't know how to answer. He didn't talk to anyone during training and if anything, they only picked on him. But he supposed he did have a friend now. The problem was that he couldn't exactly tell his mother, ‘Yeah, Mom. I made a friend... but I don't know who they are because they only talk to me through light and glowing animals.’ She'd think he'd completely lost his mind.
To be honest... He didn't even know if the feeling was mutual. If that person considered him a friend as well. After all, Mike had no idea who they were. Whoever they were, they had probably seen him. Maybe they'd been watching him since that very first day.
Well... that's obvious, he thought to himself.
He walked through the forest, following the familiar path that led to the place where he always met the lights. Curiously, the little rabbit was already waiting for him, completely alone. Mike smiled and waved as he approached, kneeling in front of the tiny creature. "I'm here. Have you been waiting long?" The rabbit twitched its nose. Mike wasn't entirely sure how to interpret that, but he decided it probably meant no. His smile widened. "Alright..."
He was about to sit down when the little rabbit suddenly grabbed the sleeve of his tunic and began hopping away, gently tugging him along. "Huh... what's wrong?" He allowed himself to be led several more steps until the rabbit finally let go and continued hopping toward one of the trees. Curious, Mike followed.
The rabbit stopped in front of a particular trunk. Mike's gaze shifted back and forth between the tree and the rabbit, still unable to understand what it wanted. "What's so special about this tree?" The rabbit's nose twitched again, its eyes fixed on the bark.
Mike stepped closer. The rabbit's glow suddenly grew brighter, illuminating what appeared to be a sheet of paper pinned to the trunk. It had been fastened there with a small knife whose handle was made of gold and decorated with a ruby. Mike looked first at the knife and then at the drawing.
"This..." he carefully pulled the knife free from the tree, releasing the page. Taking it gently into his hands, he stared at it in amazement.
It was him. Mike.
It wasn't perfect, but it was one of the best drawings he'd ever seen. Far better than the awful sketches he made himself or the ones his little sister Holly usually drew.
He was wearing a beautiful suit of armor with a long red cape. A great sword rested in his hands. He looked tall and strong.
A quiet laugh escaped him and something in his expression softened. His eyes began to sting. "Y-You... You made this." It wasn't really a question. It was a statement. The rabbit twitched its nose once more before dissolving into countless glowing particles that floated around him, almost as though they were embracing him.
The breeze carried the page from his hands, lifting it into the air. It spun gracefully before drifting back down. This time the back of the page faced upward. There was writing on it. The handwriting didn't look like an adult's, that gave Mike a small clue. Whoever this person was they were probably around his age.
"Michael, the brave paladin." He read the words aloud. A huge smile spread across his face. "This is amazing. I love it! You're incredible!" and once again, he spoke to the unseen person behind all of it, his eyes searching between the trees.
He waved the drawing excitedly in the air. "I'm going to keep this forever!" he lowered his gaze to the drawing once more. There was something in his eyes that he couldn't quite describe. A gentle feeling.
If he knew more adjectives to describe what he was feeling, he would've used every single one of them. Because what washed over him was an overwhelming wave of emotions. His smile stretched from ear to ear. Without thinking, he pulled the drawing against his chest, hugging it as though he were embracing whoever had made it.
"I don't know how to thank you," he admitted, looking at the glowing particles before glancing around the forest. "But... Um... This is really beautiful. Thank you."
He looked at the note on the back again and let out a quiet laugh. "By the way... 'Michael, the Brave.'" he chuckled softly. "I like that title. I think I'm going to steal it and use it from now on." The particles' response was immediate. They began spinning around him again, tousling his curls. Mike laughed. "Alright, alright... I guess I'll give you a little credit for it."
Then the conversation he'd had with his mother resurfaced in his mind. "Um..." He lowered the drawing and watched the particles drifting in front of him. "I wanted...I wanted to ask you something." He fidgeted with the edge of the paper, careful not to wrinkle or damage the drawing. The particles stopped moving altogether. They remained suspended in the air, as though waiting for his question. Mike blinked and then continued. "I... you... are we... are we friends?"
Nothing happened. It was as though the entire forest had stopped breathing after his question. Seconds passed, the particles remained perfectly still and Mike could feel his heart racing with anxiety. Now he felt foolish. Maybe it wasn't the same for the other person. Maybe he had assumed something that simply wasn't true.
He awkwardly shrugged and began fidgeting with his hands. "N-Never mind! Tha-That was a weird question." He lowered his gaze, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "You don't have to answer...well, you can't even talk..." he bit his tongue. "N-Not that that's a bad thing! I just...ugh... What am I even doing...?" he muttered, mortified by how pathetic he must have looked.
All he could think was that whoever was behind the magic was probably laughing at him right now. That thought stung more than he wanted to admit. Becoming someone's joke again, especially someone who had quietly become important to him. Hurt. No matter how hard he tried to silence his thoughts.
He sighed. "That was stupid..." Then, the particles slowly began moving around him once more. Their golden glow grew brighter. Mike stared at the warm light radiating from them.
He wasn't sure whether that was a good sign or a bad one.
"Um... Does that mean..." He licked his lips and a tiny smile slowly appeared. "...we're friends?" The glow flared brightly for just a second. A silent, unmistakable yes.
The particles gathered together once more and this time, the little bird appeared. It flew straight into his hair, cheerfully ruffling his curls before circling around him with infectious excitement. Mike couldn't help laughing, knowing that for the very first time in his life he had a friend. His first friend.
A best friend.
Eventually, it was time to say goodbye and Mike started making his way home, practically skipping with excitement. He couldn't wait to tell his mother that he'd finally made a new friend. Even if he still had no idea who that friend actually was.
But who cared? He'd made a friend! Nothing could take away the happiness he felt at that very moment.
He arrived home and immediately ran upstairs to his room. Climbing onto his bed, he carefully pinned the drawing to his wall. He tucked the small knife safely into his satchel so he wouldn't lose it, deciding he'd keep it as some sort of lucky charm.
His hand gently brushed over the drawing, almost as though touching it too roughly might make it disappear. As though it were something too precious to disturb. He smiled so brightly it almost hurt. He was enchanted by the drawing, enchanted by the magic and enchanted by the person behind it all.
He had no idea who they were. But he was completely captivated.
"MICHAEL! DINNER'S READY!" He jumped off his bed in one swift motion and ran for the door.
"COMING!"
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"Last night my mom made her famous—and delicious—wild berry tarts," Mike said as he pulled several small pastries from a clean cloth wrapped around them.
By then, two and a half weeks had passed since he'd started visiting the forest. And maybe Mike was just going crazy... But each day, he felt the presence of someone watching him from the shadows more and more clearly. As eager as he was to finally meet whoever was hiding there he remained patient.
The little rabbit hopped closer to the pastries and began sniffing them. Its ears perked up in surprise as it kept smelling them. Mike let out a quiet laugh. "Yesterday was a good day. Better than most." he admitted it as he took a bite, savoring the sweet yet slightly tart flavor of the flaky crust and the rich berry filling. "I did better during training. I managed to win one of the practices matches we usually have." he spoke with his mouth full, covering it with his hand so he wouldn't spray crumbs everywhere—or let the rabbit see.
After swallowing, he continued more properly. "My mom was really happy and proud. Nancy congratulated me with one of her ridiculously tight hugs." he sighed. "My dad... well, he's a man of very few words." He took another bite of his tart. "But I know he's proud too."
The rabbit watched him attentively, sitting comfortably on his leg while listening to Mike happily talk about everything that had happened. And about how proud he felt of the progress he'd made.
Mike looked at the rabbit and then at the remaining tarts. He blinked a couple of times before picking up another one, then wrapped the rest back inside the cloth and tied it into a small bundle. "Here." He held it out toward the little rabbit. Its nose twitched curiously. "You can have the rest. There are more at home, and I've already eaten way too many. Besides, I never bring you anything when I come here, you might be hungry."
The rabbit simply stared at the little bundle, but it couldn't pick it up. Mike watched curiously.
The rabbit dissolved back into glowing particles and tried lifting the bundle. It struggled. Mike observed the attempt for a few moments before finishing the last of his own tart. Then he picked up the bundle again. "Don't worry. I'll leave them here so the ants and bugs can't get to them." He hung the little bundle from a low tree branch and finally he brushed the crumbs off his clothes before smiling once more at the floating lights. "I've got to go. See you tomorrow!" And with that, he left, wearing the biggest smile on his face.
The walk home was peaceful. His thoughts wandered through everything that had happened since the mysterious lights had entered his life. The forest. His training. His recent victory. He felt satisfied and so happy. Happy enough that he could brag about it as much as he wanted and not even Nancy would be able to shut him up.
When he got home, he was greeted by the familiar noise and bustle of his mother and sisters, who were probably busy with something—or simply playing with the youngest of them. He walked right past them and headed straight to his room. His eyes drifted to the drawings he'd received from the Light Person. That was the pet name Mike had given them.
After the drawing of himself as a tall, strong paladin, he'd received several more. One showed Mike defeating a dragon and another showed him hugging the little rabbit. He wasn't sure why the Light Person liked that animal so much, but honestly, he didn't mind. He thought it was adorable.
He lay back on his bed and simply stared at the drawings, trying to imagine what it would be like if they finally met face to face someday. If he was honest, he didn't really care what they looked like or who they were. He only knew that he loved spending time with them. That they were kind and that he longed to hear their voice. He eventually fell asleep with those thoughts on his mind.
The next day was Saturday.
There was no training, so he accompanied his mother to the kingdom's market to buy food and replenish their supplies. He walked hand in hand with her while she inspected the fruit stalls.
Mike's gaze wandered from person to person, from stand to stand. They sold almost everything. Fruit. Vegetables. Dairy products. Meat. Clothes. There were even stalls selling plants and ingredients for those who practiced magic, meant for potions or spells. Magical trinkets weren't uncommon either. Some enchanters claimed their charms brought good fortune and prosperity. Mike watched as people bartered for them, impressed by how expensive they could be.
His thoughts inevitably drifted back to the Light Person. It was pretty obvious they belonged to the magical class... But what exactly were they?
He didn't know enough about magic to even guess. Come to think of it, he had never actually asked the Light Person what kind of magic they practiced.
His gaze continued wandering until he noticed a woman at one of the stalls not too far away. She seemed to be browsing the section with plants for potions, though he couldn't tell for sure from where he stood. What truly caught his attention, however, was the little boy clinging tightly to the hem of her long dress, shyly hiding behind her.
The child was staring at him and then, their eyes met. They were hazel with a soft hint of green. Large. Curious.
Mike blinked several times, intrigued by the little boy who looked at him as though he were some kind of monster or a ghost. As though he were afraid of him. At least, that's what it looked like from the way he kept hiding.
"Come on, Michael. We still have a lot left to buy," Karen said, pulling him from his thoughts as she guided him through the crowd, causing him to lose sight of the little boy with the beautiful eyes. Because yes, they were large and such a beautiful shade that you hardly ever saw anywhere in the kingdom.
What caught Mike's attention the most was the way the boy had reacted when their eyes met. Did he look intimidating? Was the child afraid of him? He hoped not, that wasn't the impression Mike wanted to give. And if that were the case, he hoped it wasn't the reason the Light Person still hadn't revealed themselves. He couldn't bear the thought of them believing he would ever hurt them.
They continued shopping until it grew late. Mike became increasingly restless, knowing he was running out of time to see his friend.
His mother didn't quite understand why he was so desperate to get home and put away the groceries. Still she didn't question it.
The moment they arrived, Mike ran toward the forest, hoping to find the lights waiting for him. Embarrassed by how eager he felt, he hurried between the trees until he reached their usual meeting place. But this time there was nothing. Not a single glowing particle nor creature of light.
That immediately struck him as odd. "I'm here!" he called loudly, waiting for an answer.
Maybe they got tired of waiting and they'd already undone the spell. They must be tired...
There was no answer nor even the faintest golden glow. That worried him even more. "Um..." he fidgeted with his fingers, growing tense. "Are you here?" only heavy, overwhelming silence answered him. It felt strange.
Mike couldn't sense anyone's presence and that alone was enough to make him anxious. Even so, he sat down to wait for some sign. The forest remained quiet except for the wind whispering through the leaves. Birds sang overhead, flying from branch to branch, doing what birds always did.
He wandered around, pretending to duel a tree, using his imagination to picture it as some terrifying creature. Later, he lay on the ground, watching the sky slowly fade from orange until it became almost completely blue. The kingdom's lights began to glow in the distance, illuminating the road back home.
He waited for hours, patiently and with anxiety quietly gnawing at him. Whenever he stopped moving, his thoughts immediately drifted to his friend. He couldn't stop wondering whether something had happened to them. He hated not knowing how to help or even who they really were.
He threw himself into little flips and clumsy rolls across the ground, trying to keep his mind occupied. But his heart felt... dim. A strange feeling settled in his chest, leaving his stomach hollow. Maybe it was hunger or exhaustion. But deep down, he knew those were only secondary reasons. The real cause was the fear and how much he missed the Light Person.
He still refused to think the worst. Maybe they had simply been busy today. Maybe something had come up, and they couldn't make it. Sooner or later, that was bound to happen. He barely knew anything about them. Everything had gone too perfectly for it to always stay the same.
With a heavy heart and saddened that he hadn't seen those beautiful, gentle golden lights that day... He finally headed home. His feet nearly dragged through the dirt as he walked.
He was hungry and tired. But above all, he was sad.
"Maybe they'll come tomorrow," he murmured, trying to cheer himself up. "Then I can bring them some dessert or something to eat. Yeah... that's what I'll do!" his spirits suddenly returned out of nowhere. It was almost impressive.
The next thing he knew, he was running toward home, determined to help his mother bake some dessert so he could bring it the following day.
He was grateful that his mother had so much patience with him, and that he genuinely tried to do everything as carefully as possible. Otherwise, the entire kitchen would probably have been destroyed... or on fire. In the end, the two of them baked some delicious honey braids. He was so excited—and so proud of how tasty they turned out—that he went to bed that night with a smile on his face.
Though he also fell asleep wondering... Would they be there tomorrow? He hoped so. He wanted them to be.
The next morning began as usual. With one honey braid hanging from his mouth and two more wrapped neatly inside another clean cloth, he ran toward the forest like he always did. This time, however, he intended to be the one waiting. The lights always appeared before he arrived, so now it was his turn to surprise them.
He finished eating his braid and hung the remaining ones from the same branch where he'd left the tarts before. Then he spent long minutes playing by himself. He knew it was still far too early and that it wasn't time for the lights to appear yet, but he didn't want to miss the chance to apologize to his friend for arriving so late the day before. Besides, that painful pressure in his chest still hadn't gone away. He still didn't know what had happened.
He spent the morning doing flips and practicing by himself. He was bored and overwhelmed. He didn't know how to let all those feelings out.
Whenever insects caught the sweet scent of the wrapped bread, he shooed them away before they could get too close. It was an interesting enough morning and afternoon, even if he spent them completely alone.
The sun eventually reached its highest point in the sky and Mike guessed it was around one in the afternoon. At last, he sat down to wait for some kind of sign. Now… he had nothing but his own thoughts to keep him company.
What if they're upset because I showed up so late yesterday? Or what if something happened? Are they okay? What if they're in trouble?
Suddenly, he stood up with determination, forcing those thoughts away.
No. They had to be fine. They probably just had a lot to do and hadn't been able to come yet. Nothing bad had happened.
At least that's what he wanted to believe.
Frustration slowly built inside him. Unable to sit still any longer, he began running through the forest, trying to distract himself from everything the Light Person's absence was making him feel. He didn't want to imagine they were angry with him, or worse... that something terrible had happened.
He ran and leaped from place to place until, eventually, his legs refused to keep going. They trembled beneath him and his breathing came in harsh gasps. His lungs burned with exhaustion, and his heart pounded wildly inside his chest. He had no choice but to collapse onto the grass once more and wait. Wait for something. Anything...
A sob escaped him.
His vision blurred with tears, and his eyes stung as they filled. A bitter taste settled in the back of his throat while his own thoughts continued betraying him.
A new insecurity crept in, trying to consume him. He didn't want to think about it or about the worst possible outcome.
Too many hours had passed and there was no one there but him.
Something happened to them...
His lips twisted into a sorrowful frown as he wiped away his tears and furrowed his brow again, never lifting himself from the ground.
Of course not! No... that's- that's impossible!
But then night fell once again and there was still no sign of them.
What if they don't want to see me anymore?
That thought shattered his heart. He took the honey braids that still hung from the branch and began the walk back home, even more discouraged than the day before. He couldn't stop thinking about the Light Person's absence. Part of him kept wondering if he'd done something wrong by arriving late that day. Another, much larger part, simply hoped they were okay.
Only two days had passed. Maybe they'd just been busy. That was still a possibility.
Mike attended training as usual. Just another ordinary day, trying to improve despite the emptiness that had settled in his chest ever since Saturday.
He hadn't lost hope. Somewhere inside him, he could still feel a faint light telling him they would see each other again.
"Why the long face?" Troy asked, the same boy who always picked on him. He smacked the back of Mike's head after noticing how distracted he'd been since training had started.
"Leave me alone," Mike muttered quietly.
He wasn't intimidated, but he also didn't feel capable of dealing with them that day. Guilt kept eating away at him.
"Oh yeah, Frog Face?" Troy sneered. "Gonna run crying to your mommy? Gonna cry?"
Mike simply clenched his fists tightly and shut his eyes, trying to ignore every cruel word they threw at him.
Another hit landed on the back of his head. The boys burst into laughter. "That's why you're all alone. Nobody wants to be your friend."
He froze. His mind replayed those words over and over again, and suddenly he felt even worse. Just like the first day he'd found the lights. The difference was that this time he believed them.
Was Troy right?
Maybe that was why the Light Person had disappeared. Maybe they'd realized how weak and pathetic he was and decided to stay away from him. Maybe everything he'd lived through during those two weeks had been a lie. And the worst part is, those had been the happiest days of his life.
Training continued, but Mike was no longer paying attention like he had just minutes before. Inside his head, doubt began taking root. Fear. The possibility that he was alone again and that he'd lost his very first friend.
During one practice match, he took a heavy blow that sent him crashing to the ground, completely defeated and broken. He couldn't find the strength to stand back up and keep fighting, so he simply stayed there, face-down on the dirt, barely supporting himself on his forearms. His instructor called an end to training. One by one, everyone began leaving... leaving the dark-haired boy lying there, sad and motionless.
The words kept hitting him again and again. Kicking him now that he was already on the ground.
His mind began creating one painful scenario after another, one where he was hurt all over again. One where the Light Person left forever. Where one day they simply never came back. Where the warmth they had once given him faded away, leaving him alone again.
Soon, he found himself surrounded by raindrops. Even the sky seemed to decide that today was a sad, disappointing day, as though it somehow understood the misery he was drowning in. He wanted to cry and to go home and hug his mother. To hear her tell him that everything would be alright. But he knew it wouldn't be enough to soothe that sharp ache buried deep inside his chest. Inside his heart.
The rain completely drenched him, soaking his face and running down his eyelashes. Water blurred his vision. He couldn't stay there...
He pushed himself to his feet, wiped his face, and simply started running. He let his feet guide him somewhere—anywhere— as long as it was somewhere that didn't hurt this much. He didn't want to think.
By the time he realized where he was running and didn't turn back. The forest now looked imposing and terrifying. Everything that had once given Mike peace and comfort had disappeared along with the lights. Even so, he stepped inside. He wasn't sure what he expected. He didn't know if those lights would ever return to his life or if he would once again be swallowed by darkness, just like on that very first day.
He reached the same clearing. The treetops shielded him from part of the heavy rain. He sat on the damp grass and wrapped his arms around himself, shivering slightly. He didn't know what to do with everything he was feeling. Too many emotions flooded his heart. They overwhelmed him. He didn't even know which one to focus on.
A long sigh escaped him, as though he'd been holding his breath the entire time. Even now it still felt that way. Like he was suffocating.
"Where... where are you?" he whispered, his voice cracked as he tightened his grip around himself. He held onto his own arms, desperately trying to anchor himself to reality. "Please... be okay."
But no one answered his quiet, sorrowful pleas. No one could hear him there, all alone and broken... in the middle of the forest, letting the rain soak him until he probably caught a cold. His torso still ached from the blow he'd taken during training. The way he was sitting only made it hurt more.
The sound of the rain striking the ground and the leaves above was the only thing calming him, if only a little. He closed his eyes for a moment; his breathing grew heavier.
"This time they we’re right..." he whispered at last, finally admitting it to himself, feeling completely defeated. The tiny spark of hope inside him slowly began to fade, taking with it the illusion that they would come back. That the lights would embrace him again. "I'm all alone again..."
He'd been far too naïve. It had simply been too good to be true, just that he had only wished that beautiful dream had lasted a little longer. That feeling of peace. That quiet comfort and the excitement of talking to someone... even without knowing who they were.
The emptiness spread through his chest, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Then a soft sound echoed before him. Something light landing on the ground. When he opened his eyes he saw it, a paper airplane. It seemed to be protected by some kind of spell, untouched by the pouring rain. He blinked several times, swallowing with difficulty as fear settled inside him. He was afraid to find out what was written on that folded sheet.
He remained frozen where he was for what felt like forever, unable to take his eyes off it.
His heart began pounding so violently that it drowned out every other sound around him. He started trembling again, this time out of fear.
How ridiculous. Why was he so afraid? There weren't many things Mike feared. He'd been through practice battles and honestly he wasn't afraid of the older kids who bullied him. He wasn't afraid of the dark. He wasn't afraid of anything... or, well, almost anything. Because right now he was terrified of picking up that piece of paper and finding exactly what he feared most. Abandonment.
His breathing grew heavier, driven entirely by the frantic pounding of his heart.
His hands dropped to his sides, pressing into the grass beneath him. The damp blades tickled between his fingers. His whole body twitched with indecision. Should he pick it up or leave it there and pretend it didn't exist? His lower lip trembled.
Someone had thrown it. Someone was watching him at that very moment, waiting for him to unfold the airplane. That much was obvious. That frightened him even more, because he didn't know if someone was simply playing a cruel joke or if it was them… he wanted to believe it was the second option. He desperately wanted to cling to that belief. But now He was scared. Troy's words had buried themselves so deeply inside his mind that he no longer knew what to believe.
Slowly, he began moving. Crawling until he was only inches away from the folded sheet, waiting to be opened. He swallowed again, This time, with even greater difficulty. His heart pounded so violently that his ribs were beginning to ache.
He took a deep breath and picked up the paper.
He shut his eyes and slowly unfolded it, almost as if he were shielding himself from something that could blind him. His trembling hands held the now-open sheet. Fearfully, he cracked one eye open, just enough to peek at what was written. There were only two words, written large across the page.
He squeezed his eye shut again. Pressed his lips together and braced himself for the worst...
Then he opened both eyes. ’I'm sorry.’ The words were written in large letters, with a tiny sad face drawn just beneath them.
The air rushed from his lungs, only to return a second later as relief flooded through every part of him. His heart was still pounding, but the pain was gone.
He read the words again and again. His fingers tightened around the page before he finally pulled it against his chest, right over the bruise that still ached from the blow he'd taken earlier.
He curled into himself while his vision blurred with tears. He was sobbing.
"You're okay... you're here..." he whispered with a smile hidden from whoever might still be watching him. Then he laughed softly, barely louder than the rain.
He felt so... happy. So incredibly fortunate.
He still couldn't quite believe it, but he knew that everything was going to be okay again.
──────────── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ────────────
"Did you like the fritters I brought you yesterday?" Mike asked with a huge smile on his face, while gently stroking the light rabbit’s head. Curiously, it looked smaller than before.
He could see the animal’s nose twitching, signaling a positive response. "I'm really glad, seriously. I also really liked the drawing you made me— well, I like all the ones you give me" he let out a soft, short laugh.
His smile faded a little as he remembered everything that had happened. "Uh... I'm sorry for making you come back at night just to give them to you... I guess your return was…" he paused for a few seconds, searching for the right word “unexpected... but I'm glad you came back, I really mean it."
It was a new day. It seemed like everything had gone back to normal, and that comforted Mike.
The rabbit simply curled up a little more. No more words were needed, at least not for it. The silence said more than it seemed. He could still feel something in his chest, like a small thorn stuck there. It didn’t hurt, but it was annoying.
Losing someone like that—someone who had already become important to him—felt almost like the end of the world. And worse… not even knowing who they really were. Still, he didn’t want to pressure the Light Person. He was afraid of scaring them away… afraid that this time, they wouldn’t come back at all. So he was patient.
He kept stroking the rabbit’s head, feeling the tiny light particles tickling his fingers. The forest felt peaceful again. Not like the day before—dark and melancholic.
He closed his eyes and let the calm wash over him. The comfort. The happiness.
And yet, there was still something. A lingering unease. A small discomfort he couldn’t quite name. And without knowing it, he wasn’t the only one who felt afraid. The difference was that the source of that other fear remained hidden in the shadows, high up in the trees.
A pair of curious, beautiful eyes watched him closely. Observing every movement, every expression, everything. Making sure Mike would never feel sad again… and especially not because of them.