The almost harmonious commotion of crickets, frogs, and other insects, once frightening for a child Iltier in the midst of survival training, was just enough to compete for the forest's attention with two other types of sounds not very common there. The first was the irregular and brilliant spectacle provided by the campfire; the second came from the voices of two people who had just met but conversed as if they were decades-old friends.

"But what about your book? What is it about?" "Mhmm, I think you can help me with that a bit."

Confused by Iltier's lack of response, Liv simply continued chewing on some spongy mushrooms, alternating with roasted fish. Since he had entered Veralda, it was the first time he had eaten so well. He was determined to savor every bite of that feast, even if it meant recounting his life story from birth or answering random questions that were not of his interest.

"Are you going to eat the last fish?" "You can have it." "Help with what?"

Iltier adjusted her body, finding a stance where she could stay longer, and looked around as if searching for something. Liv observed her curiously while chewing incessantly.

"The book is about a princess from an Empire. She leaves for a year to explore the entire region of the Empire, competing for the crown. And during this journey, she befriends six people."

"Mhmm, okay."

"When she returns from this journey, some time later, there is an assassination attempt on her life, and these six people are framed."

"Were they the ones who did it?"

"No."

Even though Liv was more interested in eating than listening to the story of a stranger's book, his stomach was now relatively at peace, which consequently allowed one of his interests to surface: immerse himself in fantastical tales.

One of the few things Liv was allowed to do in his household was to read. Despite his young age, he had read extensively and possessed much more knowledge than his siblings and, in certain subjects, even more than his parents. In storybooks, the genre that captured his attention the most was fantasy, as it always transported him to places he couldn't go in reality.

The book the person in front of him was writing seemed cliché, dealing with a scenario similar to the empire he lived in, but he was content with the delicious food and was willing to help with whatever that unhappy author needed.

"Does the princess know that?" "Yes."

After reading book after book, Liv had a sense of those that had some foundation and those that didn't. Some authors simply didn't think through the scenario properly while writing, and that bothered him.

"How can she be sure that it wasn't really the six who planned the assassination against her?"

Iltier looked intrigued at Liv and pondered for a few seconds. There was no way she could know that the six friends she had made on that journey were not responsible for the assassination attempt she suffered, but still, she wanted to believe that wasn't the case. But more importantly, how old Liv was? Iltier pondered for a while.

"...She's not su... I mean, I wrote the story as if they weren't guilty." "Ah, okay."

Determined not to dwell on the matter, Iltier continued. "As per the Empire's decree, the six are sentenced to execution." "Do they escape?"

Caught off guard once again by the question, Iltier rested her chin on one hand while averting her gaze. No. As I believed they were innocent, I didn't risk helping them escape... I never even considered that possibility. I believed that...

"...right... The Princess believed she could prove their innocence, and because of that, they don't escape. Mhmm..."

"But she failed."

"Yes, and the only thing she accomplished was killing them herself." "Wahh. What do you mean by 'accomplished,' and why would she do that?" Ahaha,.. it was the only thing I could do for them. "She claimed to have hatred towards them and wanted to kill them personally, but obviously, that was a lie. She just wanted to make their deaths quick and painless. Considering the laws of the empire, that was the only thing she could do for them since they would be executed in the most painful manner possible."

Me and my excuses... Iltier laughed at herself; now speaking openly about the matter, it all seemed like her trying to justify her own incompetence. "That makes sense... but then? What part are you unsure about?" "Hold on, I'll get there."

Liv threw the remnants of the last fish into the fire and sighed contentedly. The fire that was crackling with vigor at the beginning of their conversation was now so calm as if it wanted to sleep.

"Days later, she kills herself because she can't live with the guilt. She was having constant nightmares where her friends blamed her." "Huh, but then the book ends? Wasn't she the main character?"

"Right after she dies, she meets a deity that gives her a unique chance to go back in time and prevent the tragedy." "Mhhmmmmm, why did this deity do that?" ...How old is this child again? Iltier looked astonished at the small person in front of her. The questions Liv asked were obvious, but Iltier had never stopped to think about them. For a few seconds, she felt embarrassed for letting things happen and not questioning anything that came her way. Despite being overcome with shame, Iltier was feeling something new—she wanted to talk more and more with that child.

"...True, right? I don't know... I mean, I haven't thought about the reason yet." "And does she go back?" Can I get a writer to make Liv an editor? Is this child a genius??? "...Ahaha, she could have refused, but yes, she goes back." "Alright."

"My question is: Should she just give up the crown since it's this competition that led to the assassination attempt and everything else?"

"Yes, considering all that, she could just give up the crown, but that's not the issue." "How so?" "The problem itself isn't this character being the princess or the future empress. The problem lies with the people who did this to her. If their goal is the crown and they were capable of doing this to her, they'll do the same to the person who would be crowned in her place. The problem persists even if she gives up the crown. Whether she decides to give it up or not is irrelevant to the progression of your story."

"...” Iltier felt the weight of her own incompetence once again. A child who appeared to be no more than ten years old had thought more thoroughly about the entire situation than she had. Despite all her knowledge of the empire, the feelings of guilt and injustice had blinded her judgment. There was still much needed improvement in her way of thinking and analyzing things around her. Giving up the crown didn't solve the problem, and as obvious as that might seem, Iltier had overlooked the fact. Liv continued.

" I mean, with the crown, she would have more authority to handle the situation, but that doesn't change the fact that things will progress whether she gives up or not. Oh, but if this princess is someone who only thinks about herself and not the Empire as a whole, then it would make sense for her to just give up and let things be." "...No. She's not that kind of character."

"Giving up the crown is acceptable because of the guilt, but letting these people go unpunished is wrong; she is aware of their existence." Iltier placed her hand on her chin as she nodded approvingly. Even though the age difference between her and the boy was significant enough to embarrass her, the boy's analysis of the matter had been accurate and morally sound. Iltier laughed at herself, thinking that with her twenty-six... twenty(?) years behind her, she had no more maturity than a ten-year-old child.

The night continued filled with conversations, laughter, the chirping of crickets, and the almost inaudible crackles that the fire still made in protest of the lack of wood. A few hours later, Iltier decided to prepare the bed as she noticed Liv involuntarily closing his eyes. Iltier observed Mana, Kalgaz's horse, already lying down as she arranged the bed for her and the boy to use nearby.

Noticing Liv still awake even after lying down, Iltier decided to talk a bit more, perhaps sleep would come again.

"Tell me about your family." Liv sighed heavily at the question and didn't bother turning his body towards Iltier. The starry sky was magnificent, and now with the fire practically extinguished, it was easier to observe. "...It's tiring to live with them."

"They're not worried? You don't seem to be doing very well here."

"Yes, they are. One of my brothers came to get me, but I refused to go back and have been here ever since. My only issue is getting food, but I prefer living here." "So you, uh, with nowhere to go, no survival skills, and tired of your family, came here?" "...Yes." "Ahaha." For the first time, Iltier silently thanked herself for undergoing survival training when she was young. She had hated absolutely everything about that infernal training, but the fact that she was capable of living without problems in a forest wouldn't leave her in the same situation as Liv. "It's hard to get used to living in a forest when you've spent your whole life inside a house, receiving things from others." "...I know." Iltier looked to the side and noticed that Liv had his eyes closed; she did the same.

***

"Urgh, good morning, Mana."

Still groggy with sleep, Iltier looked at Mana, who had halted her morning ritual of chewing on her hair. She hadn't thought about it until then, but suddenly it occurred to her that Mana always did that to wake her up. Looking at the robust horse now grazing in another corner, Iltier chuckled softly. Before going back in time, she could communicate with Mana because she had undergone Natura training. Now, even without the training, Iltier felt that understanding her longtime friend wasn't as difficult. Liv, who was sleeping soundly beside her, was sprawled across the bed - which Iltier had improvised for the two of them - almost occupying it despite his small stature. "Wake up, Liv, we need to go."

"Uuurrrggghh, go where?" Already sitting on the improvised bed, Liv still rubbed his eyes while Iltier, kneeling, arranged things around. "To the next town, we need to get a horse for you." "Huh? A horse?" "Yes, you want to stay away from your family, right?" Iltier extended her hand to help Liv up and effortlessly pulled the boy's weight when he accepted the gesture. "Yes."

"So come with me; I'm in the middle of an adventure heading to Viscerda, and I think you'll enjoy seeing new things in Lurda."

Liv, who until then seemed still half asleep, looked at Iltier with a seriousness she had only seen the night before during the conversation about how his family treated him. He blinked a few times robotically, furrowing his brow as he looked around. "Viscerda? Lurda?" Iltier grabbed Liv by the shoulder and led him to a spot near what remained of the fire, continuing to fold and arrange things around. "Don't worry; we'll be back to Ashtaria soon, and you can decide what to do." "..."

Without receiving a response, Iltier - who was finishing securing the saddle on Mana - looked at Liv. There was a brief moment where Liv and Iltier stared at each other without saying anything. The silence was broken by Liv, who took a long step back, distancing himself from Iltier.

"Nah, I don't know what you're going to do with me in a place I've never been." The boy turned his back on Iltier and Mana, beginning to walk away, waving goodbye with one hand. Mana neighed in a way that seemed more like a laugh, and Iltier looked at her, trying to understand why she found it amusing. "Liv, wait." Approaching the boy, who had stopped and turned around, Iltier showed him a type of identification that everyone in Ashtaria knew. Iltier's, however, indicated that she belonged to one of the 5 Founding Families of the Empire. "I won't do anything bad to you, I promise." Liv looked at the identification, then at Iltier, and then at Mana. The two of them looked back, intrigued. "You're going to Tabas now, right?" "Yes, indeed." Iltier smiled. In the worst-case scenario, Liv could steal Mana if that author turned out to be some crazy weirdo, and in Tabas, he knew people who would help him.

"Mhmm, can you teach me how to ride? I always wanted to learn, but my family never allowed it either." "Sure." Before setting off for Taba Siguas, Iltier taught Liv enough about riding so they could continue the journey. After the dinner the night before, this was the second thing he was getting excited about. Iltier and Mana, now accompanied by Liv, set off on their journey some time later.