Felix approached a small, decrepit house, weathered by time. A multitude of items, from tools to barrels and hay, cluttered the area around the house. Many villagers had shown their gratitude in this manner to the woman who had saved their children from death during the dark nights of their early months of life.

Several knocks yielded no response, only Bernard blinked a few times in an attempt to wake up, but then fell back asleep. Felix contemplated peering through the window, in case Calma was not inside, but he decided to simply call out her name.

"Lady Calma! Are you here?"

There was no response. Felix wasn't an overly curious person; he usually went with the flow rather than against it. Stepping back from the door, he turned to leave but suddenly heard something fall inside the house and turned back in response to the sound.

After a brief wait, the door swung open, and from within emerged an elderly woman—Calma.

"Why have you come? Who are you? I've never seen you before!" she spoke incredibly hurriedly, so much so that Felix couldn't respond to any of her questions before she fell silent.

"I'm a traveler," Felix began while noticing that Bernard had opened his eyes and was observing the woman intently. "I was seeking a wet nurse."

Calma swiftly took the child from Felix and offered him her breast. Felix was surprised but handed over Bernard without resistance. The baby latched onto her breast and began nursing quickly.

"Do you have milk?" Felix was astonished; he had thought only young women could provide milk.

"I've nourished the whole village; it seems like every year, I have to feed someone," she began to walk towards her house, where a stump was nearby for her to sit on, and continued, "Even I, when I bore children, but they were all stillborn. Many were born not fit to live, while others succumbed to illness."

Her eyes welled up with tears, but the old woman had long come to terms with her role in the world. "I've always wanted to raise someone, but the world..."

Felix knew just how cruel and bloodthirsty the world could be.

"Take care of your son; he's growing big and healthy."

At the word "son," Felix was taken aback. He hadn't expected anyone to say something like that. He had never had long-term relationships with women; he always ventured to distant lands when many young women wanted to live peacefully in nearby villages.