Ero sprinted through the village, his breath coming in ragged gasps. When he reached the inn, he burst through the blue wooden door, nearly tripping over himself.

  An older woman stormed out of the kitchen, wielding a ladle like a sword.

  "Who's slammin’ doors in my inn now?" she demanded.

  "Cook Kary!" Ero gasped, his legs giving out beneath him. He felt like he might throw up from running so hard. But it didn’t matter.

  Duckling needed help.

  Cook Kary rushed over, still gripping the ladle. "Tara! Tara, get down here! Ero's hurt!"

  "Not me," he wheezed, barely able to get the words out. He lifted Duckling toward her. "He's sick."

  Cook Kary’s eyes widened. The ladle clattered to the floor. "He's kidnapped a baby this time! Tara, get yer ass down here!"

  Footsteps thundered down the stairs as a younger woman hurried into the room, her black hair tied neatly behind her head.

  "Ero, what'd you do now?" she asked, sounding tired.

  "I swear," he panted, still catching his breath, "we didn’t kidnap him."

  He took a deep gulp of air, coughing slightly.

  "We found him in a basket of ice in the river."

  Cook Kary and Tara exchanged a look. One that made Ero’s stomach drop.

  "What?" he asked, starting to feel worried. "Is something wrong?"

  "Nothing," Tara murmured, though her expression said otherwise. She reached out, gently lifting Duckling from his arms.

  "?"

  Ero hesitated before letting go, but it was Tara. If anyone could help, it was her.

  "He has a fever," he said quickly, making sure they understood.

  Tara nodded. "Alright, we’ll try to help him. Kary, go get me some towels and herbs."

  Cook Kary huffed, but picked up her ladle before hurrying off to do as she was told.

  "Ero," Tara said softly as she cradled Duckling, rubbing his back soothingly. "Where’s Arsi?"

  "She… um… she told me to run ahead with Duckling," he answered honestly.

  Tara raised an eyebrow. "Duckling?"

  "Oh, that’s his name," Ero said with a grin, starting to feel a little better.

  For a moment, Tara just stared. Then, to his shock, she burst out laughing.

  Real, loud laughter, the kind he hadn’t heard from her in a long time.

  Tears glistened in her eyes as Cook Kary returned.

  "What’s all the fuss about now?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

  "They… they named him Duckling," Tara wheezed.

  Cook Kary cracked a grin. "Tiss a very nice name for a baby."

  Ero felt his face grow warm. Still, as he looked around the room, he realized something.

  He hadn't seen everyone this happy in a long time.

  "Why weren’t they always like this?"

  Ero caught himself before the words could slip out. The question sat heavy on his tongue, but he swallowed it down.

  Just then, Arsi burst through the front door. He rolled to the side just in time. Otherwise, she would’ve smacked him right in the face with it.

  "Tara!" Arsi beamed, barely noticing Ero as she nearly trampled him.

  "," he thought, glaring up at her. But he didn’t want to ruin the mood.

  Tara was still smiling as she said, "Alright, we’ll take care of Duckling. You two better go get cleaned up."

  "And put the fish in the kitchen," Cook Kary added, following Tara upstairs with Duckling in her arms.

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  Ero watched them go.

  "They looked happy," Arsi murmured. She probably hadn’t meant to say it out loud, judging by the way she glanced at him, looking almost uncertain.

  "I agree," Ero said softly, a small smile forming on his lips.

  Well, let’s go get the fish…

  Ero didn’t even finish his sentence before Arsi bolted.

  "HEY!!!" he yelled after her.

  "I already brought it here!" she called back, smirking as she disappeared through the swinging doors at the back of the inn.

  "You…" He started to snap back, but let out a loud sigh instead, trudging outside.

  Arsi had left their bundle of gear sprawled messily on the ground, the basket of fish sitting haphazardly beside it.

  "At least she didn’t spill it." He thought with relief as he picked up the basket.

  His eyes flickered up the stone walls of the inn.

  Cracks snaked across the weathered surface, twisting vines creeping through the gaps. The door was made of some kind of bluish wood.

  He could never remember the name of the tree. Arsi probably knew, though.

  He hated to admit it, but she was smart like that.

  "Well… at least in that aspect," he thought, shaking his head as he recalled the countless times she’d done something unbelievably stupid.

  Ero grabbed the basket and carried it around to the back door of the kitchen.

  The moment he stepped inside, the rich aroma of food wrapped around him.

  And… the kitchen was defenseless.

  No Cook Kary watching like a hawk. No ladle swinging at his head.

  A grin spread across his face as he set the basket down and carefully glanced around.

  Just to be sure.

  "Clear."

  He sprang forward, snatching a cookie off the counter before darting back outside.

  "Heh mission success." He thought proudly, biting into the stolen treat.

  So good he mumbled, his mouth full as he chewed.

  With the cookie successfully secured, he wandered back to the front of the inn, scooped up all the gear, and hauled it over to the shed.

  "." Ero thought about as he locked up the shed.

  It was way too soon to go back inside. Cook Kary might realize he had stolen something.

  No matter what he did. He could eat thousands of vegetables, scrub his face a million times, but she always knew.

  Honestly, he was starting to think she wasn’t human.

  He shuddered at the thought. Since entering the inn wasn’t a safe option right now, he might as well go back to the kitchen. Which… was completely contradictory, but that didn’t matter to him in the slightest.

  "Maybe I can grab two this time."

  Then again, he wasn’t that eager for death.

  Maybe, just maybe, she’d be too busy to notice. And he really

  If he died… well, at least he got to eat.

  //////////////////////////////////////////////////

  Arsi locked the washroom door and sank to the floor, her arms aching from carrying everything for so long.

  She glanced at the bruise on her arm. The one those jerks had given her.

  "Should I tell Ero?"

  She thought about it, then shook her head. "It doesn't bother me that much."

  "That’s a lie…"

  She tried not to dwell on it as she cleaned herself up, grabbing a towel to dry her hair.

  She needed a brush. Maybe it was in her room… maybe not. She couldn't remember.

  ." She’d figure it out later.

  For now, she'd go to the kitchen.

  Ero was definitely raiding it especially since Cook Kary wasn’t around.

  "Ero!" Arsi yelled as she pushed through the kitchen’s swinging doors.

  A loud clang echoed across the room.

  Ero spun around, eyes wide with pure terror, like he had just been caught committing a serious crime.

  She burst into laughter.

  "Arsi, you jerk," he muttered, bending down to pick up the pot he had knocked over in his panic.

  Her eyes landed on the cookies stuffed into his pockets.

  "Give me one," she said, pointing at them. There was no way he wasn’t getting caught.

  "No," he glared at her defensively, stuffing more into his already full mouth. "Get one yourself."

  She rolled her eyes. "Fine," she grumbled, snatching one from the counter.

  "You should go clean up," she added, grinning as she pointed at his chocolate-covered face.

  Ero paused, wiped a hand across his mouth, then groaned when it only smeared the mess worse.

  "You’re right," he admitted, sprinting out the door.

  But then his head popped back in.

  "You better not take anymore, Arsi." he advised her. "Otherwise, Cook Kary will notice they’re missing."

  "Are you serious?" she shouted after him, but he was already gone.

  She smirked. He was so going to be in trouble later.

  She wanted to check on Duckling, but Tara and Cook Kary were probably too busy taking care of him right now.

  "Maybe I’ll take a walk," she thought, turning toward the back door and stepping out into the yard.

  The sun was starting to go down behind the mountain now.

  It really was beautiful out. The sky was purple and full of soft pink and orange clouds. The air smelled fresh and the grass was starting to get wet with dew.

  She could even see the moon well now along with a few stars.

  It was almost as nice as a sunrise. But not quite like it since the trees didn't sparkle as much anymore.

  Arsi got bored wandering around with no one to talk to.

  "I'll check on Duckling now," she thought, heading back inside.

  It seemed Ero had the same idea. He was already halfway up the staircase when she walked in.

  "Took you long enough," he said, glancing down at her.

  "I was waiting for you," she shot back, glaring.

  They walked down the hall in silence as they approached the room where they heard Cook Kary and Tara talking.

  The door was slightly cracked.

  Arsi was about to push it open, but Ero stopped her.

  She hesitated. Then she started listening.

  "There’s no doubt 'bout it, Tara. He’s a noble’s son," Cook Kary said, loud and sure.

  Arsi frowned. "How could Duckling be a noble?"

  "It’s clear they didn’t want him, Kary. And you know why," Tara replied, her voice tinged with something heavy... something sad.

  Arsi glanced at Ero.

  He wasn’t looking at her. He was too focused, too caught up in their words.

  "What about what Ero said?" Cook Kary asked, sounding drained.

  Arsi heard the bed creak as she sat down.

  "It had to be a Drezaki’s work," Tara sighed, sitting beside her.

  "What’s that?" Arsi had never heard that word before.

  Ero, however, clearly knew. He looked… shocked. But also weirdly happy.

  "Are we goin' to keep him?" Cook Kary asked.

  Arsi’s heart raced. She had never considered that they might not keep Duckling. She inched closer to the crack now peering in.

  "You read the note too, Kary. You know what will happen to this child if we abandon him now."

  Cook Kary sighed and stood. "It won’t be easy. But I’m not heartless enough to send away a small baby."

  Relief flooded Arsi’s chest. She grinned.

  They were keeping Duckling.

  "We’ll have to let the kids know we found out his name," Tara said, standing now too.

  Ero turned to Arsi with the look. The one that meant, 'Move. Now.'

  She quickly followed as they stepped carefully down the hall, stopping halfway down the stairs.

  Acting like they had just arrived as Tara and Cook Kary left the room.

  "How’s Duckling?" Ero and Arsi asked at the same time.

  She shot him a look of disgust.

  He returned it.

  "He’s fine, kids," Tara said with a strained grin. "But we need to have a talk."

  Arsi frowned. "?"

  She followed Tara and Cook Kary down the hall, still confused.

  Ero trailed behind at a distance. At first, Arsi didn’t get why.

  Then it clicked.

  A smirk curled on her lips.

  "Hey, Cook Kary," she said sweetly, shooting Ero a look.

  He paled, shaking his head in warning.

  "Yes, deary?"

  She could feel the fear radiating off Ero.

  "I was just wondering if you could…" she started innocently, dragging it out. "Tell me why exactly are we having a talk?"

  Ero stiffened beside her.

  Cook Kary let out a breathy chuckle. "Ye’ll know once we talk. Now go to the baby’s room and don’t cause trouble."

  She ruffled Arsi’s hair before walking ahead.

  Arsi didn’t even need to turn around to know Ero was glaring daggers into the back of her skull.

  She could feel it.

  This lasted until Cook Kary suddenly noticed and swatted him on the back of the head.

  "Ero! Stop glarin’ at your sister for no reason."

  He muttered a barely audible apology, and Arsi grinned in victory as she stepped into the room ahead of him.

  Duckling lay sleeping peacefully.

  Arsi started toward him, but Tara cut her off.

  "Don’t bother him yet, Arsi," she said, sitting down on the bed next to the baby.

  It was clear from Tara’s tone that she wanted them to pay attention.

  "First off," she said, stopping to smile before continuing, "we found out that Duckling’s name is Azriel."

  , Arsi thought, glancing at him sleeping peacefully on the bed.

  Ero was grinning, looking way too excited, but she felt conflicted.

  Can I still call him Duckling

  Tara suddenly coughed, and Cook Kary pressed her lips together like she was holding back laughter.

  "Yes, you can still call him Duckling," Tara assured her, seeming to settle down. "Just try to use his real name too."

  Her tone shifted.

  "Now," she said seriously, "neither of you are to ever mention how or where you found Azriel."

  Arsi wanted to ask why, but Ero beat her to it.

  "Why?" he asked, eyes narrowed.

  Cook Kary’s face darkened. "It’s for yers and Azriel’s safety. If word got out, he might end up dyin’."

  Tara nodded firmly. "Cook Kary is right."

  Ero wasn’t satisfied. "Can we know why?"

  He held Tara’s gaze, determined.

  "No," she answered simply, standing up.

  Arsi watched as Ero clenched his fists, his jaw tight with frustration. She sort of understood how he felt… but not completely.

  Tara left the room, and Cook Kary started telling them to get ready for bed.

  But Arsi barely heard her.

  Her eyes stayed on Ero, who wasn’t even looking at her. He was staring at Duckling… or Azriel?

  She wasn’t sure yet. She’d probably call him both.

  Cook Kary said something else before leaving. Arsi just nodded vaguely, then stepped toward Duckling.

  "Doesn’t it make you mad?" Ero asked, his voice quiet.

  "Yeah, it does," she murmured, just as frustrated.

  "We rescued him… how are we supposed to protect him if we don’t even know what we’re protecting him against?"

  Arsi frowned, feeling lost in his words.

  "I don’t know, Ero."

  He was quiet for a moment, then muttered, "Why won’t they trust us with anything?"

  She could tell he was really getting angry now.

  "I think they just want to protect us," she whispered gently.

  "I know that," Ero said, voice tight. "But that’s what makes it even more frustrating."

  Arsi didn’t entirely understand his anger. She was also curious, but he seemed to need to know more and want answers .

  "I don’t really get it," she admitted, patting Duckling’s head, relieved he was safe.

  Ero let out a small breath, forcing a smile.

  "That’s okay," he said. "You will someday."

  He gave her a small hug.

  When was the last time they’d done that?

  It caught her off guard, but she didn’t complain. She didn’t mind his hug.

  "I’ll protect you both," Ero told her firmly.

  "Sure," she said with a grin. "I’ll protect you even better than that."

  He let go, only to mess up her hair.

  "You jerk," she grumbled, swatting at him. "You’re my guard now. You can’t mess with your superior."

  "Who said you’re my superior? Duckling is," he shot back.

  She glared at him, annoyed.

  "I’ll be sure to tell him that in the future so he can boss you around for me."

  Ero rolled his eyes and gave her a light shove.

  "I’m sleeping with Duckling tonight," she declared, feeling both happy and sleepy.

  "Then I am too," Ero said quickly.

  She gave him a weird look.

  "I have to… um… to protect you both from monsters," he added, stumbling over his words.

  "Sure…" she said, rolling her eyes. "That’s all it is."

  Ero glared at her but climbed onto one side of Azriel, while she took the other.

  Soon, her eyelids grew heavy, and she struggled to keep them open.

  "Ero…" she mumbled, her voice soft and half-asleep.

  "Yeah?"

  "You better not break your promise."

  "I won’t," he whispered quietly. "And you better not either."

  "Duckling comes first though," she said, sitting up and sticking out her pinkie finger.

  "Are you serious?" Ero sighed but sat up anyway, holding out his pinkie.

  "Pinkie swear it."

  "Fine," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "You won’t need it anyway."

  She lightly smacked his head. "It’s just so you don’t do something stupid."

  "Says you…"

  She lay back down, feeling sleep slowly pull her under.

  "Arsi…"

  Ero’s voice was muffled, distant in her mind.

  "Never mind. Goodnight," he said. Those words came through clearly.

  "Goodnight," she mumbled back, then drifted asleep, her hand still holding Duckling’s.

  //////////////////////////////////////////////////

  Ero couldn’t sleep. His mind was full of countless questions…

  "Why didn’t Tara trust them?"

  "What if he wasn’t strong enough to protect them?"

  "Was he even good enough to say he’d protect them?"

  "I need to get stronger," he muttered to himself.

  Arsi’s promise had thrown him off guard. He hadn’t expected that.

  "Arsi…"

  She didn’t respond.

  He hesitated, then asked quietly, "Do you think I’m a good person?"

  As if in response, Duckling stirred, his tiny eyes blinking open.

  He looked right at Ero, squeezing his finger with his small fist.

  Ero’s breath hitched.

  Never mind he said softly, swallowing down the question. "Goodnight."

  "Goodnight," Arsi mumbled back, already drifting into sleep.

  He waited till the baby’s breathing evened out, soft and steady.

  Ero let out a quiet sigh, his body finally starting to relax.

  "Maybe I don’t need all the answers right now," he thought.

  For now, this was enough.

  His eyes grew heavier, the weight of exhaustion settling over him.

  Eventually, he let himself close them, drifting off to sleep.