The sun had almost disappeared behind the trees, leaving the sky in soft orange and pink colors. Lys, Elara, and Mira were still laughing and splashing each other at the well. Water was everywhere. Elara’s wet dress clung to her body like a second skin, showing every curve. Mira kept teasing Lys by flicking water at his face, her own body shining and fresh after the bath.

  “Okay, okay, enough, you two!” Elara laughed, finally calling a stop. “It’s getting dark. Let’s go inside before we catch a cold.”

  They grabbed their dry clothes and walked back into the hut together, still smiling and dripping water on the floor. The happy sounds of their voices filled the small yard one last time before the door closed.

  Inside, the oil lamp was already lit. Mira shook her wet red hair like a dog, sending drops flying. “Ahh, that felt so good. I’m not sticky anymore.”

  Elara squeezed water from her long hair with both hands. “Me too. My back doesn’t hurt now, even after bending down for that long.” She looked at Lys with warm eyes. “It felt very good, right, honey? It was nice having all three of us working together.”

  Lys smiled as he dried his chest with a clean cloth. “Yeah, I liked it too. We should do this more often.”

  Mira sat on the edge of the mat layed down on the floor, and started combing her wet hair with her fingers. “You were acting strange today, brother. Complimenting my buckets, saying you’ll get us a house… what’s going on in that head of yours?”

  Lys chuckled. “What, can’t a guy be nice to his family?”

  Elara laughed softly while she changed into a dry dress of hers. The thin fabric slid over her still-damp skin, sticking in places and showing the shape of her full breasts. She was without her undergarments now. “He’s right, Mira. Let him have his little secrets. What harm could it have? As long as he comes home safe, I’m happy.”

  The three of them sat together for a few minutes, enjoying the quiet after the busy day. Mira leaned against Lys’s shoulder, still a little playful. Elara sat across from them, combing her hair slowly. The room felt warm and peaceful.

  knock knock knock.

  Suddenly, a firm knock sounded on the wooden door.

  Mira jumped up first. “Huh, who could that be at this hour?” She walked to the door, looking cautious. She opened it just a crack and peeked outside.

  A servant woman from Sara’s house stood there, holding a small lantern. She looked like she was shivering from the cold wind.

  “Um… is Lys here?” the servant asked. “Miss Sara sent me. It’s important.”

  Mira turned her head and called loudly into the room, “Brother! Someone came for you. It’s a servant from Sara’s house!”

  Lys stood up quickly. Mira didn’t move from the doorway. She stayed right there, watching everything with narrow eyes, clearly protective of her brother.

  The servant stepped inside a little when Lys came forward. “Umm, Miss Sara found a buyer for your wolf pelts. The merchant woman is leaving for the capital very early tomorrow morning. She wants to see the pelts tonight and secure them now if possible, or you’ll have to wait two weeks for the next merchant to come to this village.”

  Lys nodded. “Okay, wait for me, I’ll get out right away.”

  He came inside the room and covered himself with another fresh set of clothes, and came out to the door where Mira was still standing.

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  Mira crossed her arms and looked at Lys with worry. “You’re going out again? It’s almost night. After working so hard today, do you still have energy to walk around?”

  Lys gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m okay, sis. Plus, it’s important. This is about selling the pelts for good money. I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”

  “Okay then. I’ll also come with you. Let's go.”

  Lys blocked the gate.”I said it's okay, right? Don’t worry. It's just going over her house and coming back home, nothing hard or complicated. Help mom cook dinner.”

  Mira frowned but didn’t argue. “Fine… but come back quick. And be careful.”

  Lys turned to Elara. “Mom, I’ll be at Sara’s for a bit. Don’t wait up for me if I’m late.”

  Elara looked a little concerned, too, but she nodded. “Alright, honey. Just… stay safe.”

  Lys gave them both a quick smile and stepped out into the dark village path. Mira stayed at the door, watching him until he disappeared around the corner.

  -------

  Just as Lys stepped out of the hut, suddenly he felt the night air cool on his skin after the warm bath earlier.

  The village was quiet now. Most houses had their lamps turned low, and only a few lanterns glowed along the dirt paths. The streets were almost empty and dark.

  The servant woman from Sara’s house waited a few steps away, holding a small lantern in her right hand. She was the same silent one who had helped him in the forest to collect his pelts. Now she was completely silent, like back then. She kept her eyes on the ground and didn’t say a word.

  ‘Huh, she is always always silent. At least she can talk, that's a relief.’ Lys thought as he fell into step beside her. “Hey… It’s cold tonight, isn’t it?”

  She gave a tiny nod but didn’t look at him.

  He tried again, keeping his voice friendly. “I’m Lys, by the way. We worked together earlier with the pelts, right? What’s your name?”

  The woman walked a little faster, her lantern swinging gently. After a long pause, she finally answered in a quiet voice.

  “Bertha.”

  “Nice to meet you properly, Bertha,” Lys said with a smile. “You were really strong today, carrying those heavy pelts. How long have you been working for Sara?”

  Bertha kept her eyes straight ahead. “A few years.”

  Lys tried to keep the conversation going. The village road felt longer in the dark. The only sounds were their footsteps and the soft wind.

  “What do you usually do at Sara’s house? Cooking? Cleaning? Or helping with the fields?”

  “Whatever Miss Sara needs,” she answered shortly.

  Lys rubbed his arms against the cold. “That’s a lot of work. How many people work there? Must be nice having so many hands.”

  Bertha shrugged. “Enough.”

  He tried to soften the mood between them one more time, smiling even though she wasn’t looking. “You don’t talk much, right? Even earlier, you were silent when Myora was chatting a lot when we were skinning the wolves. Everything okay?”

  Bertha’s cheeks turned red under the lantern light. She walked even faster. “Nothing, I’m fine.”

  Lys gave up trying to force it. He understood why she was so tight-lipped now. She might be just an introverted type, or just shy around strangers. Or she might be just cautious around him, trying not to reveal anything about her master accidentally. He nodded to himself, leaving the big woman alone.

  The village felt empty and cold. A dog barked once in the distance, then went quiet. Most houses had their doors shut tight. Only the faint glow of lamps showed that people were still awake inside.

  They turned the corner toward Sara’s bigger house. The gate was open, and a few lanterns hung along the path.

  Lys tried one last friendly line. “Thanks for coming to get me, Bertha. I know it’s late.”

  She just nodded, still not looking at him.

  They reached the main door. Bertha opened it and stepped aside. “Miss Sara is waiting in the hallway ahead.”

  Lys walked inside. The house was warm and smelled of wood and incense. He followed the light to the room she indicated.

  Sara was sitting on a comfortable chair, looking fresh and composed. Across from her sat another woman, mature, probably in her forties, with sharp eyes and a confident posture. She had dark hair pinned up neatly and wore expensive traveling clothes.

  The moment the woman saw Lys, her face lit up with a warm, interested smile.

  “You must be the young man who brought those special pelts,” she said, her voice smooth and friendly. “I’m very pleased to meet you.”

  Sara stood up with a small smile. “Lys, this is Madam Vesper. She’s a merchant who is willing to buy your pelts. Sorry for asking you to come at this late hour, she leaves for the capital at dawn, so I had to.”

  Madam Vesper leaned forward slightly, still smiling at Lys. “I hear those wolf pelts are quite unusual. I can’t wait to see them.”

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