A Traveller by the Fire 1

It had been three weeks since Strixx and I first met.

 Before that, I was nothing—a person without purpose, wandering through life without direction. But now, for the first time, I had a reason to keep moving forward. A journey. A path to follow, even if I didn’t fully understand where it would lead.

 Our travels brought us to the Lysendrall Ranges, a vast stretch of snow-covered mountains that reached endlessly into the sky. Strixx, ever curious, wanted to see what lay beyond them. And so, we walked.

 For a week, we braved the cold, the biting wind cutting through our cloaks. Yet, despite its harshness, the mountain provided. Fin mushrooms strange, thick-stemmed fungi grew in abundance. They looked unappetizing, but when cooked, they tasted like tender meat. The land, though frozen, was kind in its own way.

 Then, one evening, as the sun dipped behind the peaks, we saw him.

 A lone traveler sat beside a flickering bonfire, his face calm, his body relaxed against the quiet embrace of the wilderness.

 The flames cast a soft glow around him, making the snow shimmer like tiny stars.

 Strixx froze beside me. I felt her fingers tighten around my sleeve.

 She always reacted this way to strangers—wary, distant, unsure.

 The traveler looked up and met our gaze. Then, with a warm, inviting smile, he gestured to the fire. “You two must be cold. Come, sit. The fire’s warm.”

 Strixx flinched slightly, her grip on my sleeve not loosening.

 But… there was something about the way he spoke. There was no demand, no force. Just an open kindness, like someone offering shelter from the rain.

 I took a step forward. “Thank you,” I said. “We appreciate it.”

 Strixx hesitated. Then, slowly, cautiously, she followed, though she kept her hood low, hiding her face.

 The traveler watched us with gentle eyes, not prying, not questioning. Instead, he simply smiled. “Where are you two headed?”

 I thought for a moment before answering. “Nowhere in particular,” I admitted. “We don’t have a destination. We just… want to see what lies beyond.”

I glanced at Strixx. “I guess you could call us explorers.”

 The traveler chuckled, his voice carrying a warmth that seemed to melt the cold around us. 

“To be young… what a beautiful reason to walk the world.”

 His gaze drifted to the flames, as if watching old memories dance within them.

 “Reminds me of the past,” he murmured. “There was once a time when my friend and I dreamed of exploring together… but life had other plans."

 I studied him, sensing the weight in his words. “Where are you headed?”

 His expression softened.

“North… to the northern lands.”

 When I heard the traveler was heading north, I couldn’t help but ask,

 “I’m just curious… why are you going north?”

 He glanced at me, but before he could answer, I spoke again.

 “ Because I… come from a village in the northern lands. 

That place was once my home.”

 My voice grew quieter. “Six years ago… it was destroyed. Everyone was killed.”

 A faint smile crossed my lips—empty, meaningless.

 “Can I even be considered lucky? I was the only one who survived.”

 For six years, I wandered aimlessly, with no purpose, no destination.

 And yet… here I am.

 “But meeting her,” I said, glancing at Strixx, “gave me a new hope.

  So… here I am.”

 I let out a small, awkward laugh.

“Ahaha… sorry, what am I even talking about?”

 Strixx suddenly clung to my arm, her grip tight. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite name.

 “Luca…” she murmured.

 The traveler watched me—not with pity, but with understanding.

 “I see…” he said. “Despite losing everything at such a young age, you’ve come this far.”

 Then, with a quiet chuckle, he reached out and patted my head.

 “You’re strong, boy.”

 A small pause. Then, his tone softened.

 “That’s quite a past you carry.”

 He folded his arms. “You shared your story, so it’s only fair I share mine. Otherwise, I’d be a rather rude traveler, wouldn’t I?”

 His lips curled into a faint smile.

 “So, what do you say? Are you two interested in hearing the reason behind this lonely traveler’s journey to the northern lands?”

Strixx nodded, her face still hidden beneath her cloak.

 I joined in.

 “Of course, I’d like to hear it too.”

 Riko gave a small nod. “Very well, then.”

 He paused, then let out a quiet chuckle. “That reminds me—I haven’t even told you my name yet. That’s rather rude of me, isn’t it?”

 Straightening slightly, he placed a hand over his chest.

 “I’m Riko.”

 His gaze shifted to us. “And you two? What are your names, young man and young lady?”

 I looked at him. “I’m Luca. Just… Luca.”

 Beside me, Strixx spoke softly from within her cloak.

 “Strixx is Strixx.”

 

Riko smiled. “What a beautiful names.”

 I glanced at him. “You have a beautiful name too, Riko.”

 His smile deepened for a moment before he continued.

 “I shall continue with my story, then.”

 His expression grew thoughtful as he gazed into the fire.

  “I’m traveling to the northern lands for one purpose. Although… it’s already quite late.” His voice softened. “But I couldn’t delay it any longer. If I did… maybe I’d regret it one day.”

 He exhaled slowly.

“I come from the south, from a town at the base of these mountains. Many years ago—twenty, to be exact—a war broke out over territory disputes. It wasn’t our fight, but our town got caught in the crossfire. Everything fell into chaos. Families were torn apart, people fled in every direction—no one knew where they’d end up. I was one of them. In the panic, I ran, seeking shelter like everyone else.”

 A quiet breath escaped him. “But when the dust settled, I came back. The town was different… quieter, emptier. Many never returned.”

 His fingers tightened slightly around his cloak.

 “That’s when I learned my friend and his family had fled north, seeking refuge. They were supposed to come back once it was safe.”

 “But they never did.”

 Silence settled between us, the fire crackling softly.

 His fingers brushed against the snow. “After the war, everything returned to normal… but my only friend was gone. And for the longest time, I wanted to go find him.” His expression grew distant. “But I kept hesitating. Maybe I was afraid… afraid that if I searched for him, I wouldn’t like the answer I found. Maybe I convinced myself there was no point.”

 “Years passed, and I kept putting it off. But time never waits. It kept slipping away, taking pieces of my resolve with it.”

 His voice lowered. “But one day… I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing anymore. So I decided to go on this journey—to find him.”

 His grip on his cloak loosened slightly. “Before it’s too late… I want to find him. I want to tell him that those walks through the forests and mountains—those quiet moments we shared—meant something to me. That it was fun, after all.”