Chapter 10: The Hermit
"Sister, I am thirsty," Sandoz said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He had just finished devouring a fist-sized chunk of boar meat and a banana, his small hands wiping at the corners of his mouth.
Lara bent down and unearthed a bamboo tube half-buried in the ground. She handed it to the boy, the water inside now cool after being previously boiled. She was confident it was safe to drink.
Her thoughts wandered to the river nearby. Was the water there drinkable? Perhaps it was. But boiling it had become second nature to her—an ingrained habit born of caution when she lacked the means to purify it chemically.
The old man's sharp eyes followed her every movement, observing in silence.
"Sir, may we know your name?" Reya broke the quiet, her voice casual as she chewed on a handful of wild berries to mask the lingering taste of the meat.
"My name is Jethru," the old man replied, his tone firm but his expression unexpectedly kind. "But you can call me Grandpa."
He leaned slightly forward, his gaze steady. "Where are you going? And what is your plan?"
Lara glanced at him from beneath her lashes, her face impassive but her mind racing. She was weighing her options, debating whether or not to reveal the truth to this stranger.
"Grandpa, we want to return to Northem, specifically to Savadra," Reya answered cheerfully, her voice bright with optimism.