A Little Chat

By the fire, as its light flickered and danced on the walls, we began to talk together. While the warm glow of the flames warmed us from within, Daneel fixed his eyes directly on me and asked:

"I found you on the side of the gravel road, covered in blood, son. From what I can tell, you come from far away. Tell me, who are you? Where have you come from, and where are you going?"

When Arwa heard her husband's hasty interrogation, she frowned slightly. Her voice was a little annoyed, yet still full of kindness.

"Daneel, the young man has barely recovered. Can't you let him rest for a while? What's the rush? It's as if you're trying to salvage goods from a fire."

I could feel the elderly couple's concern. It was obvious that they cared for me. To put them at ease, I gave a faint smile and tried to compose myself as I spoke.

"Arwa, thank you for your kindness. I feel quite well. Though my memory is a little hazy due to hitting my head, I will try to explain who I am. My name is Aleksandu, but everyone calls me Alek. A war broke out in a city called Parha, and I lost everything—my family, my job, my home... I have no money left, nor a place to seek refuge. I heard from people that the city of Apsa is full of opportunities. So, I decided to go there. I set out from Parha to Apsa, but the journey was long and exhausting. Hunger, fatigue, and thirst brought me down, and I passed out. You know the rest. If it weren't for kind-hearted people like you, I would probably be dead by now."

My words lingered in the air for a while. A shadow of sorrow fell over the elderly couple's faces. Daneel pondered for a moment before taking a deep breath and speaking.

"Parha is very, very far from here. When I was young, I once traveled there by ship. I was a soldier back then. Parha was a lively and prosperous place where many different peoples lived together. Walking such a long distance by land is incredible. The gods must have truly wanted you to survive. Your journey was filled with dangers—hunger, thirst, wild animals, the suffocating waters of rivers, steep cliffs... And worse still, the cruel raiders, mankind's most dangerous enemy... That you made it here alive is nothing short of a miracle."

Arwa let out a deep sigh at her husband's words. Her eyes grew moist, as if she had lived through that long and arduous journey herself.

"Oh, my dear! What a life of suffering you have endured. But at least you are here now, safe and sound. And you have only a few hours left to reach Apsa. War... What a greedy, merciless beast you are! Devouring everything in your path—innocents, homes, hopes..."

Tears, like pearls, rolled down her cheeks. Seeing his wife in this state, Daneel stepped closer and gently touched her shoulder to console her. The tears in Arwa's eyes were those of a mother mourning a lost child.

Seeing this made my heart ache. As people grow older, they truly become less able to control their emotions. When one is young, the painful memories of the past are veiled by a mist, but as old age comes, that mist lifts, and one is forced to confront the sorrows they thought they had forgotten. Would I, too, be like this when I grew old? Would the shadows of the past find me as well?

Daneel's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Forgive us, son, my wife's memories have resurfaced. When she saw you, she was reminded of our son. We could not have children for a long time, but the gods finally blessed us with a child. That was the happiest day of my life. Our son was a young man around your age. He wanted to follow in my footsteps and became a soldier, but he passed away at a very young age. His loss made me withdrawn and reserved. We have been alone ever since. But do not be troubled, son. Since you arrived, my wife has seemed happier. She only remembered the past, that's all. We old folks sometimes hold on to our memories too tightly."

The old man's voice was sorrowful, but there was a sense of acceptance in his grief. In response to his words, I lowered my head slightly and spoke sincerely.

"I take no offense at all. I am infinitely grateful for Arwa's delicious meals, the warmth of your fire, and your hospitality. If it were

My words seemed to bring some comfort to the old woman's face. The sorrow in her eyes gave way to a softer expression.

"My dear, did you really like my cooking? Then I shall prepare the best meals I can for you. I haven't known you for long, but I have this feeling… as if I have known you for years. You leave an unexplainable impression on people."

Daneel sat silently beside her, nodding in agreement. We talked by the fire until night fell. Our words melted into the warmth of the room, blending with the flow of time.

Here, people went to bed early. Or perhaps it was just this elderly couple, accustomed to rising and resting with the sun. Since we did not each have separate rooms, we slept in different corners of the same room, making the most of the fire's warmth. At first, the idea of sharing a room with others seemed uncomfortable to me, but here, in their presence, it brought a strange sense of peace.

Before sleeping, I witnessed the prayers offered to the gods. Compared to my old world, the people here were far more devout. To adapt, I joined them in their prayers and prepared to spend the night in this unfamiliar yet welcoming world.