The duo left the overgrown forest the following morning, Edan was gritting his teeth from the constant aches and pains all over his body. As the sun was at its highest point in the sky, the town of Vindelstorn was in their sights. Edan’s let out a huge sigh in relief, momentarily forgetting about his pain. His Master then mentioned that it was another hour or two to reach the front town security.

“Security?” Edan whined, rubbing his ankles as they sat along the River J’Rhoa.

“Aye,” his Master replied, splashing water against his face, then patting dry with his spare handkerchief, “Vindelstorn, like other towns and cities, has a reputation to uphold. They don’t want thieves or unwanted folk there to cause any trouble.”

“Have there been problems before, Master?”

“Ah,” his Master tilted his head back, as if trying to reach from the back of his head to pull out a memory, “not that I have heard, I don’t doubt that there weren’t predicaments before. Maybe a guard can tell you if you’re really that curious.”

“Maybe one with a really large scar?”

“Sure, if that is what you fancy meeting.”

As they chatted, Edan pulled an apple from his travel pouch. He came across an apple tree earlier along J’Rhoa as they traversed. He plucked a couple and stored them in his pouch, just in case. Crunching down, the juices of the apple spread across his palette, drowning him in a wash of sweetness. The Gods-given fruit was a treasure compared to the number of hares, mice, and acorns they ate in the wretched overgrowth from before. He felt a smile creep along his face.

“I see you’re enjoying one of those apples, m’boy.”

Edan nodded, wiping his lips with the back of his wrist. Apples were relatively common in his village, but none compared to the freshness of the J’Rhoa’s fruit that She bared. He hoped on his journey back home, he could bring some back to his family and help make his grandmother’s infamous tarts.

“Such a shame you didn’t offer me one, son. All to yourself, I suppose?”

“AH!” Edan scrambled for his bag, desperately grabbing for an apple. But just as he started to pull out a fresh one, his Master was already crunching down onto his own. Edan huffed in annoyance. “Why did you trick me?!”

“HA!” His Master scoffed, swallowing his first bite, “I didn’t trick you; you’re just too easy to pester. You’re young, naive, and kids your age tend to be too... quick with their decisions and emotions.”

“N-no we’re not, I’m definitely smart for my age. That’s why you picked me instead of the other boys in the village. You see me as a man.”

“One day, if you ever get as tall as me, maybe I’ll give you the title of Man, hm?”

“I won’t turn down that challenge!”

Smirking, his Master chomped down the apple in just a few bites. Even if it has been less than a week of travel, Edan felt that he could get along with his Master. He hasn’t forgotten about the mistakes he’s made, though. And the thief that brought up such unfamiliar words really bothered him. His stomach turned sour, he had a hard time willing himself to eat another bite. He bit his lip, aggressively pulled the apple apart, and threw the pieces into J’Rhoa.

“Master, you asked me to be on this quest because you see something in me, right?”

“That’s correct,” His Master licked his fingers, studying him, “in my own words, I said that you had potential.”

“Potential to protect my village, correct?”

“Yes. Where are you getting at, m’boy?”

Edan swallowed hard, watching J’Rhoa flow from west to east. Her waves were strong, despite the gentle gurgling of bubbles and fish swimming through her veins. Her looks were deceiving, much to how Edan felt about his Master’s true intentions.

“Am I going to become a Protector?”

The only sound following was the river’s soft murmur, slapping softly against the dirt and pebbles’ edge. The sound was evergrowing to Edan’s ears, almost deafening. The silence from his Master made his stomach twist and turn. He turned around, his Master still studying him carefully. Why hasn't he said anything to me about these Protectors? He thought, his heart beating hard against his chest. He knows something I don’t, that is the truth.

“Yes,” His Master finally spoke, almost as a heavy sigh, “you are on your Walk; to become a Protector. That is what I intend for you to do.”

Edan could only look down at his feet. The questions reeling through his head made him feel dizzy, the twisting in his gut amplified. He didn’t like the way it sounded; it carried so much unknown weight behind it. He clenched his fist into his tunic, his knuckles turning white.

“Am I not supposed to know, Master?”

“Yes.. and no.”

“Should I stop asking questions?”

“I can’t answer that. I must help you continue your Walk; that is my task.”

“How am I supposed to accept such a journey if I can't know anything? It's making me incredibly angry! Go on my Walk, then become a Protector, the end! I can't truly know anything else? That's it?"

His Master studied him once again, frustrating Edan with his silent responses. Edan then walked past his Master, grabbed his travel goods, hucked them over his shoulder and glanced back towards the west, back where his home was.

“The Walk is a burden, boy. As we continue, many of your questions should be answered. But that is all I can tell you.”

His Master glanced up at the sky, his hand cupped over his eyes. Edan waited there, thinking of what to say next. His Master then looked at him again, giving him that familiar somber smile.

“It’s your choice, Edan. Either we continue on to make you into a Protector worthy of helping your people, or we go our separate ways, returning you home and forget this ever happened.”

“Why do I feel like I have no choice but to go with you?”

“That I cannot answer, either. Once we reach Vindelstorn, we’ll be able to get a few good night’s rest, some warm food in our bellies. When we’re refreshed, make your decision then.”

“I suppose... Thank you, I think.”

“But of course. This Walk is a true test to man, but I’m here every step of the way. Now, the sun is moving quickly, we must reach Vindelstorn before the guards can’t accept visitors for the rest of the day. Come now.”

“Yes, sir.”