Lucia Lior, the mother of Ymir Lior, watched with quiet amusement as her daughter eagerly named their guest.
Ymir, a bright-eyed 10-year-old girl with golden hair and light eyes, sat across from the nameless boy at the dining table. Though he appeared to be the same age as her, his existence stretched far beyond human understanding—Axel Waybright, a being who had walked through the ages for nearly a million years.
Ymir beamed as she announced the name she had chosen. "Axel Waybright!"
Lucia chuckled, setting down her cup. "That's a cute name, but why Waybright?"
Ymir tilted her head proudly. "I just like the way it sounds!"
Axel bowed his head slightly. "Thank you for the name."
Lucia smiled warmly as they continued their meal, her gaze settling on Axel. "Are you sure you're okay with your last name not being 'Lior'?"
Axel nodded. "Ymir gave me a full name, and I love it."
Ymir's face lit up with pure joy, her bright eyes practically glowing with happiness.
Axel watched her expression, and suddenly, something unfamiliar stirred deep within him. She looks divine… Like a goddess in human form—kind, pure, and radiant. His chest tightened, and an odd warmth spread through him. He quickly looked away, his face flushing ever so slightly.
Ymir frowned. "Hey, why'd you look away?"
Axel cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. "It's nothing."
Lucia, watching the interaction, chuckled softly to herself.
Ymir leaned forward, grinning mischievously. "Come on!" she teased, playfully shaking Axel's head.
Axel groaned. "Cut it out! I have to clean the dishes."
Lucia stood up, gently taking the dishes from him. "It's okay, dear. Just play with Ymir. She doesn't have many friends in this village—there aren't a lot of children around here."
She turned toward the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves as she began washing the plates.
Axel glanced at Ymir, who was still grinning at him, her gaze filled with curiosity and warmth.
Outside, the quiet village rested under the golden glow of the setting sun, a peaceful moment suspended in time.
The morning sunrise came laughter rang through the backyard as Ymir and Axel chased a chicken, their playful competition in full swing.
The challenge was simple—whoever caught the chicken first would get the first bite of the warm garlic bread Lucia had baked.
Axel sprinted forward, nearly grasping the chicken's tail feathers, but at the last second, the bird swerved sharply to the side, evading his grasp. Off balance, Axel stumbled, his foot catching on the uneven ground. He tumbled into the grass, rolling a few times before coming to a stop.
"Ahahahahaha!" Ymir burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she doubled over.
Axel groaned, pushing himself up. "Come on, I almost had it."
Still giggling, Ymir extended her hand to help him up. "It's okay, you—" She stopped mid-sentence, her expression shifting. Her eyes widened. "Wait… what's that?"
Axel followed her gaze, looking down at his left knee. A faint hissing sound filled the air as thin wisps of steam rose from a small scrape.
He blinked. "Oh… I got injured." He inspected the wound casually. "But it's fine—it's already healing."
Ymir frowned. "Healing? What do you mean?"
Axel dusted off his clothes. "Yeah, whenever I get hurt, steam appears. My blood evaporates, and the wound disappears almost instantly."
Ymir blinked, struggling to process his words. After a moment, she simply shrugged. "Uhh… I see? Well, at least you're not hurt anymore."
Axel chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah…"
The chicken clucked loudly, flapping its wings as it darted farther into the yard—completely forgotten in their moment of discovery.
As Axel and Ymir failed to catch the chicken, they both give up and strolled through the village, the warm afternoon breeze carried the scent of freshly baked bread and the chatter of merchants calling out their wares. The streets bustled with life—villagers tending to their daily routines, children playing with wooden toys, and the rhythmic clang of a blacksmith's hammer ringing in the distance.
Ahead, they spotted Lucia at a fish vendor's stall, carefully inspecting the freshest catch for dinner. Excited, they ran toward her.
"Mom!" Ymir called out, waving.
Lucia turned, her face brightening as she saw them. "Oh, hi, dear. And hello, Axel. You two are out exploring?"
Axel nodded. "Yeah, we were just walking around. There's not much to do today."
Lucia chuckled. "I see. But don't wander too far, alright? Stay within the neighborhood and be home before sunset."
Axel nodded. "Yes, Mom." He turned to Ymir. "Let's go!"
"Yay!" Ymir cheered as they ran off.
The two spent the day exploring the vast golden wheat fields that stretched beyond the village, the crops swaying like waves under the gentle breeze. The distant mountains loomed tall against the deep blue sky, a breathtaking sight of untouched beauty.
They eventually lay in the grass, gazing at the endless sky. A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the rustling wind and the occasional chirp of birds.
Ymir turned her head toward Axel, smiling. "Your eyes... they're the same color as the sky."
Axel blinked, caught off guard. He turned to her, observing how the sunlight reflected in her warm, golden eyes. "And your eyes shine like the sun—so bright."
Ymir's cheeks flushed slightly as she quickly looked back up. "Uhmm... so my eyes are like the sun, huh?"
Axel simply smiled, letting the moment linger.
As the sky burned orange with the setting sun, they made their way home, welcomed by the warmth of a peaceful house, a loving mother, and the simple joy of an ordinary day.
But miles away from the Eldian Kingdom…
The sound of marching boots echoed across the darkened plains.
A horde of bandits, armed and ready, moved with purpose—toward Eldia.