Beren smiled, pride evident in his gaze. "You've got a real knack for hunting, lad. Stick with it. Knowing your way around the woods could be vital someday. Your grandfather has the final say, but your mother and I support you."

"Only if you promise to be careful and always heed your grandfather's advice," Elara interjected firmly, pausing her work to give Astria a pointed look.

"I always do, Mother," Astria assured her, meeting her gaze.

"Well then," Beren said, "try asking your grandfather again tomorrow. Maybe he'll agree to take you along."

"I will! I'll definitely ask him," Astria said, a grin spreading across his face.

"Good luck, kid," Beren said, giving him an encouraging nod.

As the evening wore on, Astria found a quiet spot by the fire, the bard's melodies floating softly in the background. He stared into the flickering flames, his thoughts a whirl of heroic tales and whispered war accounts. Could he one day carve his own path as those legendary figures had done? The possibility both excited and daunted him, filling his young heart with a mixture of ambition and wonder.