When the celebration ended and dusk had already fallen, Andy sat at a table, reading "The Ascent of a Brave Adventurer: The Quest for a Legendary Weapon." The candlelight illuminated the girl's face, her green eyes shining as she read this autobiographical novel.
Her mother worked as a librarian, giving Andy access to many books, though she only read novels and stories about adventures and knights.
The candle slowly flickered out, her eyes beginning to close, and as soon as the candle extinguished, Andy fell onto her bed and began to ponder her own adventures, for when she herself would become the heroine of her own story.
When the first rays of light began to illuminate the girl's room, Andy quickly got out of bed and washed up. After breakfast, she ran into the forest to her father. He was an adventurer in the past, until he came to this village and married her mother. Now, he works as a huntsman in Father Ray's forest.
Andy walked along the path, remembering how her father sometimes took her to work; she knew this forest well.
"What are you doing?" Andy asked with a smile, approaching her father.
"The same as always, right now, patrolling the forest, such a bore, you wouldn't believe it," her father replied. He was tall and bearded, also with light brown hair, his gray eyes seemed to radiate warmth, and he looked young and lively.
"Oh really? What about hunting animals, shooting with a bow? You do that, don't you?" the girl continued to question.
"I do that, but not always. The hunt you're waiting for will happen when Father Ray wants it, or if there's a sick or weak animal around here. I don't have the right to shoot just like that. When I was an adventurer, I almost ended up in jail for shooting some game in the Duke's forest; they almost tortured me there!" the man said, a slight smile on his face as he recalled his youth.
"Wow! That must have been cool! Being an adventurer, sleeping in the forest, and then new adventures the next day!" Andy exclaimed excitedly.
"Something like that, but I still have a lot of work. Go hang out with your friends instead, or you'll die of boredom," he said with a smile.
"I will, since there's nothing interesting here," she replied with a sigh.
Walking home and passing the evergreen trees, Andy thought about the adventures she would face in the future. At home, the girl rummaged through her father's belongings and found a sword.
"Oh... Still sharp..."
The sword was one-handed. With some effort, Andy managed to lift it. A slight surprise was on her face.
"I didn't think swords were so heavy..."
Both her hands held the hilt. Andy tried to swing the sword; it was unsuccessful. She slipped and almost fell, but it seemed cool to her, as if she was already a professional. Her eyes glowed.
"I need to show it to them, they'll be shocked!"
A smile was on her face. Slipping the sword into its scabbard and slinging it over her shoulder, she ran to the river, usually where they spent their time. Everywhere, green trees, birds singing, and she was heading to the river with pride, as if she were the heroine of her own novel.
Akito and Ray were by the river and seemed to be fishing. Akito was adjusting his cloak, while Ray's dark eyes closely watched the float.
"Look what I found!" Andy shouted, smiling.
The boys jumped in surprise, their faces showing a mix of shock, irritation, and curiosity.
"What did you find that scared away all the fish?"
Akito asked, visibly surprised and a little irritated, his cloak slipping from his shoulder again.
"Andy, don't do that again."
Ray said, his hair as unruly as ever and swaying in the wind, his eyes already showing a certain resignation.
"Look then. But yes, don't be surprised by my skill, it's in my blood."
With a confident smile, the girl tried to pull the sword from behind her back, but it didn't work.
"W-wait! That's not all!"
After a minute, Andy finally got the sword out, and then she actually swung it.
"Look! Isn't it cool!?"
Her eyes shone. Akito and Ray exchanged glances, then burst into loud laughter.
"God, that was worth it, right, Ray?"
Akito asked, laughing and wiping away tears, looking at Ray.
"You bet! Even fishing isn't as interesting as this sight!"
Ray laughed even louder, and Andy's confident smile disappeared, and she began to blush.
"T-that's enough... Enough! You've had your laugh! That's enough of you, when I become an adventurer or a knight, we'll see who laughs then! I swear!"
"If you're that serious, I can ask someone from the court to teach you fencing."
Ray said, wiping away tears and smiling. His dark eyes showed kindness.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier!?"
"Because you didn't seem to ask me about it at all."
Ray brushed off her questions, smiling and looking away.