The Promises of Youth — Small Loves and Dreams of Tomorrow
As Akio’s town grew livelier with each passing day, with adults devoting themselves to their roles in its prosperity, the children he had once saved were now blossoming into young men and women. Among them lived the promises they had made in their earliest days—unchanged, yet now carrying a firmer weight as they stepped into their futures.
Alto, having reached adulthood at fifteen, flourished both as Akio’s right hand and as Dolgan’s apprentice. He handled the fine woodwork for the new central hall, and under his master’s strict eye, took charge of key processes at the smelting furnace to produce strong iron. He also continued his sword training with Leonora, and the gaze in his eyes was no longer that of a timid boy, but of a youth ready to defend the village.
And always at the heart of his resolve stood Miko, now eleven years old. She learned herbs and household skills from Sylvia and Ayane, and with her natural sensitivity, she nurtured flowers and small creatures with gentle care. Her gift for drawing remained, too—on the new paper she sketched scenes of the village, the young sacred beasts, and at times the strong profile of Alto at work.
Between them, in the shade of the Tree of Life or by the new herb garden, they shared quiet moments that needed few words.
“Alto Niichan, thank you for your hard work today. Look, I found this herb. Sylvia-sama said it’s good for easing fatigue.”
When she pulled the plant from her basket, Alto blushed but accepted it with genuine delight.
“… Thanks, Miko. If it’s from you, I bet it works better than any medicine.”
Her shy smile answered him, and so their bond deepened—still young, but already a love both pure and steadfast. Everyone believed that one day, when Alto stood as a master craftsman and Miko as a healer of the village, they would build a home together.
Kenta, now thirteen, remained the liveliest spirit of all. He admired Alto at the forge, but his restless curiosity drove him through the forest, where he discovered berries and mushrooms, or learned hunting tricks from Kina. His quick reflexes and fiery spirit shone in Leonora’s sword training, even if he had yet to match Alto’s skill.
At his side, and ever in his thoughts, was Yume, now ten. Though she still carried traces of the little girl who once clung to him, she had grown into a reliable helper—tending livestock like forest fowl and goat kids, and assisting Ayane in the kitchen. Her sunny smile was a source of comfort for the whole village.
“Yume! I found some super sweet raspberries deep in the woods. C’mon, let’s eat ’em together!”
Kenta unwrapped his treasure from a leaf, presenting it as if it were gold.
“Wow! Thanks, Ken Niichan! They look yummy!”
She bit into them with joy, and Kenta, seeing her smile, grinned in turn. Though they played like siblings, a tender feeling had already begun to bloom between them—something more than childhood friendship. In time, when Kenta became a hunter or warrior and Yume a nurturing figure in the village, their lives too would surely entwine.
Akio watched it all with the warm eyes of a father. The children he had once protected were growing strong, following dreams of their own, and one day they would shape the village’s future with their own hands. The thought filled him with happiness beyond words, and with a renewed vow to safeguard the home they were building together.
As the young leaves of the Tree of Life swayed in the breeze and the sacred beasts’ cubs bounded about, the next generation’s story quietly but firmly began to turn its pages.
What do you think about this chapter?
