"How's your stomach? No pain?” Lyaria was at his side in case he lost his balance.

“None. I don't have any problems eating either, your grandfather was right that my organs weren't that damaged.” The only problem was the yellowish-green stain he had from the blow when he faced the bear.

“That's good, if you want you can walk around the outskirts of the cave. You could use a little sun, but don't go too far away, and nobody can see you.” She warns him and starts taking inventory of the ingredients on site.

Ezer watches her for a moment, lost in his own thoughts, and then decides to accept her proposal by heading for the exit.

The weather was warm and one could hear the birds singing, Ezer walks through the trees until he can see the towering white mountains at cloud level and even higher. The bases were pitch black and steep, making Ezer wonder how he managed to find a way through them.

“I cannot continue like this. First it was Relen, now Lyaria and the old man. I have to get stronger to be able to live and I have to if I want to pay my debts to them.”

Ezer knew how incredibly lucky was to be able to meet good people every time he ended up badly hurt, and that it probably wouldn't happen a third time.

He walks in the opposite direction of the cave lost in his own thoughts and the peace he felt, the sight of a village down the hill brings him back to reality.

It was surrounded by a wooden wall made of cut tree trunks that ended in points, more than being a village it seemed like a small town. The houses were crowded one with another demonstrating the attempt to take advantage of the space between the walls.

Around it, maybe a kilometer, sprawled farmland that ended in the forest. Towers stood on these fields, and there were at least one in each direction.

“They are for surveillance, if there is a person in the fields there must be another one watching, that is our law. We live with the constant threat of beasts that eat our parents and siblings.” Lyaria appears from behind without him noticing.

He doesn't turn around and just listens to what she has to say, subconsciously enjoying every time he hears her voice.

“It is difficult and often sad, but we manage it somehow. The question is until when.”

"Are the beasts like the ones in the mountains?" He didn't want to bring it up any further, but couldn't bear to be curious, especially if this was about something that could take his life.

“Worse. The mountains act as a barrier for them, although it does not always work. Anyway, we can handle it by acting together and because we're... special.” She hesitates for a second and changes the sentence that was about to say, for reasons she didn't even understand. "You'll understand in time.” Ezer doesn't ask directly, but Lyaria reads his question from his expression.

From the walls, the ground rose slightly until it ended in a great mound of rocks and earth in the center. On which rested a large wooden house attached to other buildings that he could not recognize from a distance.

Ezer knew immediately that this was perhaps the most important place in the village and the most important people resided there.

“That is my home.” Lyaria points her finger at the center of the village.

“That means?”

“I am the daughter of the Alpha who rules over us all.” She doesn't notice it, but a slight pride can be heard in her voice.

“Alpha?” The term seems very strange to refer to someone of power.

“It is the highest rank and only one person can hold it, although an unspoken exception was created a few years ago when new candidates were selected.”

".........." Ezer was a little confused at the difference in culture between him and Lyaria.

“I'll explain it to you in detail later, we have our own customs that completely differ from where you come from.” The conversation dies until she picks it up a few seconds later.” Living so far away made us angry towards foreigners, that's why you can't let yourself be seen by anyone.”

“It's a bit extreme, but if it allows them to survive in this place I understand. “Ezer knew firsthand how dangerous the beasts were.

“Your case is special, if they discover you it is very likely that they will kill you.” Lyaria looks him straight in the eye.

“What!? For what reason?” Ezer doesn't remember provoking the wrath of these people, in fact, it's the first time he's come to this place. Not to mention that it is the first time that he has truly left the lands of the Inmerlan.

“It's because of what your family did to us.” She turns away and makes it clear that doesn't want to talk about it anymore.

Ezer is stunned for a moment processing the information, in the end he can't help but ask himself a logical question.

"Then why do you think differently?" At least now Ezer understands the reason for the old man's mistrust of him.

Leaves accumulated at the cave entrance, some were brown, red, or yellow, giving the forest floor a multi-colored charm. This clearly signaled the beginning of a new season, colder and duller than the previous one.

Ezer was sitting on the rock eating a fruit after peeling it with one hand. After using his left arm for so long, there is almost no difference in skill from his right hand.

“It's been over a week since she last came back. I think I'll start setting traps, I don't have much food left.” During all this time Lyaria visited him and kept him company at times, in addition to bringing him food or anything needed.

But after these visits, times of loneliness followed, she went in search of the same plant that saved him to fulfill a promise that, according to what she said, was very important. Ezer didn't mind this, he was used to solitude thanks to the time he spent in the mountains. In any case, he couldn't deny that several times missed her company.

At first Lyaria set out with confidence to find this flower again, but after repeated failures, confidence turned into anxiety. Ezer could see how much this weighed on her, both in her expression and in the wounds that sometimes came as the only result.