Altair crouched down to Verda's level, voice low and gentle, not wanting to startle the little girl.
"Did your brother tell you when he'd be back?" he asked softly, his sharp features softened by concern.
Verda, perched on the tree like a tiny forest creature, nodded with childlike enthusiasm. "Mhm! Brother said he go get food for Verda!" she chirped with a wide smile.
Altair hummed, his brows knitting together in thought. If her brother had simply gone to find food… Why was he taking so long? Did something happen?
A small yawn escaped Verda's lips. Her sleepy eyes blinked slowly as she swayed in place, on the verge of dozing off. Altair's expression softened. Children really were simple. If they were hungry, they ate. If they were full, they played. And when they were tired, they slept.
He carefully lifted her down, placing her back inside the hollow of the tree. It was snug—just the right size for her. Safer, too. She wouldn't fall from there. He added an extra blanket, tucking it around her tiny frame with surprising gentleness.
"You should rest a bit," he murmured. "I'll be nearby. If your brother comes back, I'll talk to him."
Verda nodded drowsily. "Okay…" she mumbled before curling up in the blanket like a small kitten.
Altair waited beside the tree until her breathing deepened, slow and steady. Once he was sure she was asleep, he leaned back against the trunk and let his eyes drift shut.
If her brother returned, he'd pass through here.
With that final thought, Altair let himself slip into slumber.
—
When he woke, the sun had already begun its descent. Golden light slanted through the trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor. A cool breeze stirred the leaves overhead.
Altair rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched, wincing at the stiffness in his shoulders. How long had he been out?
His first thought was Verda.
He quickly climbed up to the hollow and found her wide awake, happily playing with a handful of twigs, humming to herself.
As soon as she spotted him, her eyes lit up.
"Uncle!" she called out cheerfully.
Altair froze mid-climb. Uncle?
His hand instinctively went to his face.
Do I really look that old? He was only twenty-three, damn it!
Granted… years of hardship had taken their toll. His sharp features and sunken cheeks probably made him look older than his age. Maybe to a child, he did look like some kind of grumpy uncle.
Altair sighed heavily, resigning himself to the new title. If I end up adopting her, being called 'Uncle' won't be the worst thing.
He shook his head, returning his gaze to Verda. She was still watching him with that wide, expectant smile.
But her brother still hadn't shown up.
Was he truly abandoned? Altair's frown deepened. Or… had something happened to him?
Either way, he couldn't just sit and wait any longer.
"Let's go, Verda," he said, lifting her gently into his arms. "We're going to find your brother."
"Find Brother!" Verda echoed happily, completely unaware of the tension in his voice. To her, this was a fun little game.
With his bag slung over his back and the girl clinging to his neck, Altair set off toward the town.
They approached a group resting near the opening of the forest.
Altair stopped. He was thinking that perhaps someone had seen Verda and her brother.
"Have any of you seen this child before?" Altair asked, shifting Verda slightly so they could get a better look.
The people glanced at each other and shook their heads.
"No, we just arrived today."
"A lot of folks have already been picked up and moved to the city," someone added. "The government's been rushing the process."
An elderly man let out a weary sigh. "If the kid was left behind… she was probably abandoned, lad."
Altair's grip on Verda tightened and put his hands on her ear. Fearing that she might understand what they said.
Could her brother really have just… left her?
He thanked them and turned away.
Compared to before, the crowds near the registration area had thinned.
It seemed that what they said about the transport being accelerated was true. What used to take weeks was now being cleared in days.
Something had changed.
He didn't have to wait long for confirmation. A soldier nearby, noting his curious expression, spoke up.
"They sent an awakened healer from the capital," the man explained. "With her stamina boosts, the horses don't need rest. They've been moving people almost nonstop."
An awakened healer? All the way out here? That was unusual. The association usually kept their healers protected and centralized.
Altair's thoughts immediately jumped to what he discovered—the ones about organized bandits in the area. Could this be connected?
Before he could ask, the soldier talked again.
"You registered yet? If you sign up today, you'll be leaving by tomorrow."
Altair hesitated, then shook his head. "Not yet. I've still got business here."
He still has to wait for the go signal from the soldiers.
He'll have to check again later, he thought.
He also has to find Verda's brother. If her brother really came back for her in that hollow, someone had seen him take Verda. The town was small and if he was here, then he'd be able to find them.
He gave himself three days.
If no one showed up by then…
He'd adopt Verda.
For now, though, they needed food.
—
The food lines were short, and Altair managed to get two portions without trouble. The meal was modest—hard bread and a watery soup with traces of cabbage and potato. Barely enough for one, let alone a growing child.
But it was warm. And in times like these, this portion was already precious.
Verda nibbled happily at her bread, her small feet swinging as she sat beside him, cheeks puffed up like a squirrel.
Altair smiled faintly. At least she's enjoying it.
But before they could finish, a sudden commotion broke out near the edge of the camp.
Soldiers marched past, escorting a line of children—each one bound together by rope.
Altair's expression darkened.
"What's going on?" he muttered.
Nearby, a woman murmured, "Those kids got caught stealing from the food warehouse last night."
Her husband shook his head. "… theft during this time? Don't they know that the government was guarding the warehouse like it was their lifeline? Well they need to be caught and punished, if not, more people would have thoughts in the future."
Altair nodded. Food had become more valuable than gold. Stealing the food used as rations of the people, is a big thing. If people starve, there will be chaos.
But even so—he also felt that these children were pitiful.
And then—
"BROTHER!!"
Verda suddenly shot to her feet, waving her arms wildly.
Altair's breath caught. Brother?
He followed her gaze—and there, at the very end of the chain, was a boy no older than ten. His messy reddish hair and worn-out clothes were unmistakable. His wide eyes locked onto Verda, filled with disbelief and worry.
Altair's brow twitched.
This was her brother?
He had expected a teenager—maybe even an adult.
Instead, it was just another child.
And he was one of the thieves.